Monday | June 02, 2020 | Volume 92 | Issue 01
INVES
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANCIA HENRIQUEZ BENSON | The Signpost
OGDEN MARCHES FOR FLOYD >> PAGE 8
02 | MyWeberMedia.com| June 02, 2020
DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS? By MARISA NELSON Section Editor
a. 400
1.) This past week Trump tweeted about a new development that would take place locally in Ogden, Utah. His tweet referenced which project?
b. 430
a. A Wall
c. 343 d. 323 3.) May 30 is a new day in history for NASA and SpaceX, having launched the Dragon Capsule into orbit. It was the first rocket and team to leave from U.S. soil in almost 9 years. Where will the Dragon Capsule be heading to?
b. A Bus Service c. A Hospital d. A Super Mall
d. Orbit the Earth 4.) Protesters all over the United States are gathering and rioting over George Floyd’s death. New York and Portland have experienced riots. On May 30, Ogden’s own protest was underway. But unlike the violent and outgoing protests in other states the event Facebook page said the protest would be a call to ____. a. Peaceful Protests
a. The International Space Station
b. Gather in Understanding
b. The Moon
c. Stand in Solidarity
d. Gather in Somber Silence 5. During the George Floyd riot in Salt Lake City violence ensued, and Governor Gary Herbert activated the National Guard as protesters vandalized and set fire to ____. a. Street signs b. Small c. The police station d. A SLC police car Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
pixabay.com
2.) On May 29, Utah had a record high of COVID-19 cases. This number surpassed the previous high of 230 new cases. The new high is now ____.
c. The Sun
SpaceX launched their first shuttle to the International Space Station on May 30.
ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS ON PAGE 11
WSU DISTRIBUTES
MyWeberMedia.com| June 02, 2020 | 03
Weber State University
CARES ACT MONEY TO STUDENTS
WSU students receive CARES Act money for summer and fall semesters. By JENNIFER GREENLEE Editor-in-Chief
Many Weber State University students are eligible for funds from the recent Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act after it was signed into law at the end of March, providing WSU with $11,714,226. The CARES Act requires that 50% of the money must go to students based on criteria decided by individual institutions. The $5,857,113 that will go to students at WSU began dispersing over the past week based on the criteria the President’s Council has decided for students, along with input across campus. The student’s overall Title IV eligibility and Expected Family Contribution, along with the number of credits the student enrolls in each semester, determines the amount the student can receive from CARES.
Title IV eligibility refers to a student’s status as eligible for some federal financial aid, which is based on the financial need demonstrated by students filling out FAFSA. FAFSA factors in how much money students are expected to get from family in the Expected Family Contribution and gives students federal funds based on the remaining number. Title IV funds include everything from a Pell Grant to an Unsubsidized Direct Loan. “These funds are not as dependent on the Expected Family Contribution like a Pell Grant would be, but students did have to be Title IV eligible,” President Brad Mortensen said. “The other criteria was that students receiving aid had to be enrolled in face-to-face classes on March 13.” Students who are currently enrolled in summer semester credits are considered Title IV eligible and should have received
an email regarding the distribution of funds. According to WSU’s information on their site, as of May 24, $930,483 had been distributed to students, and 2,633 of the 8,680 students who are eligible for the CARES Act had received the monies. The CARES Act funds will be distributed again for those enrolled in the fall semester sometime in August, according to Mortensen. “We really tried to focus on students who would have their continuing education potentially disrupted,” Mortensen said. “That’s why we are continuing to award the funds to those enrolling in summer and fall.” Some students who require these emergency funds will not be Title IV eligible, whether they don’t qualify for funds or have not filled out the FAFSA at all. These
students will be able to apply to a pool of emergency funds, some of which are from private donors, according to Dr. Brett Perrozi, vice president of student affairs, during the town hall on March 22. The summer emergency funds will be distributed based on application, which closes on June 12. A second emergency fund will open for the fall semester. Students can apply at this link. A separate guide to frequently asked questions about the CARES Act was posted on WSU’s website to help students find out if they will receive any of the CARES Act money or questions about its distribution. This page includes links to help students enroll in unemployment and other state resources if needed. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
04 | MyWeberMedia.com| June 02, 2020
WHAT GRADUATION LOOKS LIKE
Photo courtesy of Airman 1st Class Ireland Summers
FOR A 2020 SENIOR
Graduates wait for the ceremony to begin on Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, May 21st. Team Kirtland hosted a graduation ceremony for graduating seniors to honor their accomplishments amid COVID-19. By DARYN STEED Managing Editor
We have been grieving since March. We are grieving jobs and loved ones. We have lost vacation deposits and retirement savings. We have been without church meetings and sports games; we are grieving togetherness. Under the weight of so much
uncertainty and loss, it might seem silly to mourn losing a graduation ceremony. But you are taking your next step in life, and we want to celebrate you. You, who powered through the strangest of circumstances to arrive here. One cold Friday in March, you were sent home from school, and you didn’t know you’d never return. You’d never say goodbye to
your teachers; you’d never crowd around yearbooks in the hallway with your friends. Your spring break extended week by week until reality finally settled in: you were never going back to high school. Mina Porter is a recent graduate from Summit High School in Orem. She graduated on May 1, and the school held a small ceremony for the graduates on May 13,
where they were able to put on their cap and gown and receive their diploma. In the middle of March, Porter was standing with friends in the school hallway, speculating about what it would be like for school to be cancelled. The next day, school was suspended for two weeks. Before the end of the two weeks, it was cancelled for the rest of the school year.
MyWeberMedia.com| June 02, 2020 | 05
“I was angry, because I like to going to school,” Porter said. “And I was sad, because I wouldn’t be able to spend the rest of my time with my friends at Summit.” Like many students, Porter struggled with the lack of structure with remote learning. “I procrastinated a lot,” Porter said. “I’d wait until the last day and then get all my work done. I still got it done, but I put more stress on myself.” Porter had been looking forward to graduation since she arrived at Summit. “Summit’s graduations are not like your typical graduation,” Porter said. “It’s more meaningful. That’s the thing that upset me the most, that I wouldn’t get the full Summit graduation experience.” Though she didn’t get the graduation she’d been hoping for, Porter’s family made the day memorable. “My family and friends did their absolute best to give me a full experience,” Porter said. “I ate dinner with friends, and I got gifts. I don’t regret graduating that way.”
Porter plans to attend Utah Valley University in the fall. With some colleges already announcing a move to online schooling in the fall, Porter is anxious about the possibility of not having in-person classes. “College is already different,” Porter said. “You’re on your own. They aren’t bugging you constantly to get things turned in. And I don’t like online school. I don’t learn that way.” Porter is hopeful that things will go back to normal soon. “I’m just excited for the college experience,” Porter said. “But I’m worried even if we do end up going back to school, nothing’s ever really going to be the same.” Thirty minutes north of Summit High School, a neighborhood in Syracuse is preparing to celebrate its group of graduates. There are 3.7 million high school students graduating across America; in Syracuse, there are 650. My brother, Justin, is one of these graduates. If there is a way to thrive in Zoom education, he has done it. He prepared for
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three AP exams; he did hours of homework for calculus and physics and he logged on for study sessions and test reviews. In August, Justin will start at Weber State University. Like most graduating seniors, he has no idea what his immediate future will look like. He doesn’t know if his classes will be online or if clubs will be able to meet face-to-face. Normally a time of relief and excitement, this graduation only marks a blip in a season of uncertainty. Students preparing for college don’t know if they will even leave home. Some have sacrificed thousands of hours to earn scholarships and don’t know if their sports team will play, or their choir will sing. Anxiety about the future is thick in the air, sometimes so stifling it can feel hard to breathe. But here, things are quiet. Families are gathered around driveways in the Bluff Neighborhood in Syracuse. Soon, fifteen high school graduates will begin a slow parade around the neighborhood, driven in trucks decorated by loved
ones. My family is gathered around our driveway, holding dollar-store airhorns and balloons. Across the street, our neighbors are setting up lawn chairs and blankets. A family we’ve hardly spoken to gathers on their front porch, waving. When the graduates make their way past my house, we will wave our banner and shout their names. This may not be the graduation you wanted. But I hope you’ve been able to make the best of it. So congratulations, class of 2020. No matter where you end up this fall, we are with you. We don’t know what’s going to happen next, but the future is yours.
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JUSTICE
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06 | MyWeberMedia.com| June 02, 2020
AN ARREST By JENNIFER GREENLEE Editor-in-Chief
Eight minutes. For eight minutes, Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck as Floyd lay handcuffed, face down on the pavement. For eight minutes, bystanders begged Chauvin to move, saying Floyd couldn’t breathe and wasn’t resisting. For five minutes, Officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao watched as George Floyd strained to cry, “I can’t breathe!” After five minutes, Floyd appeared un-
conscious. Chauvin didn’t remove his knee from Floyd’s neck until EMS moved him into the ambulance. Floyd was declared dead at the hospital less than two hours after the first call to police. Police were called because an employee suspected Floyd of using a counterfeit $20 bill. When police arrived on the scene, he was handcuffed and detained. The next minutes of video are of him suffocating with a knee to his throat. There were eight minutes to save a man’s life, and the three other officers on the scene did nothing and watched as their fel-
low officer committed murder and ended an innocent man’s life. These saddening and disgusting moments remind me of the privilege I have in my hands. The color of my skin will not get me killed. The color of my skin doesn’t make me scared to be arrested. The color of my skin doesn’t make me wonder if I’ll come home at night. Those of us privileged enough to feel safe in our skin must not stand for these injustices. There is no defense for this act. There was no mistake. There was no weapon in Floyd’s hands. This was murder. There are protests taking place across the
nation because this isn’t the first time this has happened, and, without change, this won’t be the last either. As these protests continue, we will hear Black Lives Matter competing with All Lives Matter. But Black Lives Matter does not mean that other lives do not. It doesn’t mean that my life isn’t important, but my life is not in danger when I am pulled over and reach for my wallet. Black Lives Matter is a rallying, saddened plea that Black Lives Matter just as much as everyone else’s. Black Lives Matter should remind us that while protests about reopening Michigan
went on as protesters armed with assault rifles stormed the capital, nothing happened. Black Lives Matter should remind us that when peaceful protesters took to the street protesting the murder of an innocent black man, these protesters were sprayed with tear gas and rubber bullets before any riots began. Black Lives Matter should remind us that if you’re more upset about the riots than the innocent men and women being murdered, you’re part of the problem. Black Lives Matter is the cry of mothers losing their sons in the streets when they have Skittles in their pockets. Black Lives
AUBREE ECKHARDT | The Signpost
IS MORE THAN Matter is the cry of loved ones watching their family go on a run and never coming back. Black Lives Matter does not mean that other deaths cannot be unjust or saddening or disgusting, but it is to shout from the rooftops that police brutality disproportionately affects black men in the United States. Black Lives Matter reminds us that we shouldn’t need reminding that racism is still alive and well. This is one of the many cries for reform this week. This is a call for those in power to recognize the need for change and to act on it.
This is a call for those who consider themselves allies to these communities to brave the messy and inconsiderate system and fix it with our privilege. When we see injustice, we should attack it from every angle and build up the communities our privilege has harmed. We weren’t the ones that built the broken system, but we have to be the ones to wade in and fix it. Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The arrest is a small step in the right direction. It is not the end. One arrest in a sea of problems won’t end the hostility the communi-
ties feel against them or the pain of another brother, father, mother or sister gone. So I add my voice, my privileged voice, to the many crying out and ask for reform. I add my voice and grieve for a life lost. As George Floyd’s name joins the many others on a too-long list of innocents murdered, I refuse to believe this is a necessity in our country. I refuse to believe nothing can be done to save children and men that die for nothing more than being born with skin darker than my own. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
8 | MyWeberMedia.com| June 02 , 2020
DEMANDING JUSTICE
FOR THE FALLEN
By FRANCIA HENRIQUEZ BENSON Desk Editor
FRANCIA HENRIQUEZ BENSON | The Signpost
Hundreds of protesters gathered to demand justice for the murder of George Floyd and in solidarity with Black Lives Matter in Ogden on May 30 Speakers, including an 11-year-old girl, lined up along the steps of the Ogden/ Weber Municipal Building to share their thoughts and feelings with the crowd. During their speeches, those who identified as white allies formed a protective barrier around speakers and protesters. “As a mother and grandmother of brilliant black sons and grandsons, I am suffocated by the burden of the responsibility that I have to render that talk of the unwritten rules of how to make it home alive,” Monique Reed said, reading a poem she wrote. “I can’t breathe. I am angry.” When Reed began to cry, four women standing around her extended their arms to give her support. Reed cried silently, as did many of the speakers and members of the crowd.
“I can’t breathe. I am paralyzed with This protest was Ogden’s largest Black ended with all walking away peacefully. disappointment at the death of my sons,” Lives Matter protest, according to speakers she said, concluding her poem. at the event. Even with the many police Comment on this story at Men, women and children wore shirts cars and officers in the streets, the protest signpost.mywebermedia.com with the insignia “Black Lives Matter” and held signs showing support during the protest and during the addresses. Those gathered for the protest chanted “I can’t breathe” throughout the day. Protesters also held a moment of silence for George Floyd’s wife. During these moments, the protest became tearful and emotional for many of the members. Malik Dayo, the event organizer, asked the multitude to sing, “I can hear my brothers crying. I can’t breathe. Now I am in the struggle, and I can lead calling on the violence of the racist police. We ain’t gonna stop ‘til people are free.” Support and pride were abundant in the crowd as the chants and protest began to disperse. “It was a powerful protest, and I am proud to be from Ogden,” attendee Alli- A sign sits during a Black Lives Matter protest on the steps of the Ogson James said. den/Weber Municipal Building in Ogden, Utah on May 30.
FRANCIA HENRIQUEZ BENSON | The Signpost
Monique Reed reads her poetry during a Black Lives Matter protest on the steps of the Ogden/Weber Municipal Building in Ogden, Utah on May 30.
LOW RISK PRECAUTIONS FOR WSU
MyWeberMedia.com| MyWeberMedia.com|April June14, 02,2020 2020| 33 |9
By MARISA NELSON Desk Editor
Schriever Air Force Base
Weber State University has been helping students stay up-to-date on campus changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent updates from the university indicate that the campus is moving to the low risk stage. On May 28, WSU announced that, as previously stated, they would continue to be in moderate risk until May 31 and will then move forward to the low risk on June 1. “This change is consistent with the governor’s Utah Leads Together plan,” the WSU Update COVID-19 page stated. Because of this change in moving to the low risk phase, fall 2020 classes can now be held face-to-face, with options and accommodations for remote and online learning. Social distancing is encouraged be followed when gathering with large public settings, as well as maintaining proper hygiene. Surfaces in highly-used areas will be disinfected regularly, and WSU will be taking “reasonable precautions” according to the Phased Guidelines for Pandemic Recovery, which can also be found on WSU
COVID-19 update site. To stay updated on information visit weber.edu or Many universities are following suit after the an- go to WSU’s Keeping Connected site, which is updatnouncement from Utah System of Higher Education. ed frequently. Comment on this story at David R. Woolstenhulme, interim Commissioner of signpost.mywebermedia.com Higher Education, said that the plan for fall semester is still undecided but will be adaptable as changes could occur without notice. The commissioner also feels that “we are on a trajectory to welcome our students back to campus while taking necessary precautions.” As always the university follows the guidelines of the CDC as well as state and local governments to make decisions about the future of university Social distancing guidelines for high risk communities. activities.
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POLICE OFFICER FATALLY SHOT IN OGDEN
By FRANCIA HENRIQUEZ BENSON Desk Editor
Nathan Lyday, an Ogden police officer, was fatally shot while responding to a domestic violence call in Ogden on May 28. Another officer with adult probation and parole was also struck with gunfire and transported to McKay-Dee Hospital and was released with non-life threatening injuries. Officers responded to a call on May 28 from a woman who reported her husband was threatening to kill her. Randy Watt, Ogden police chief, said a suspect was on his porch when officers arrived at around noon. The suspect acted uncooperative, went inside the house and began firing through the door. He shot Lyday to death and struck the other two officers. The call was located in the 300 block residential area of Jackson Avenue. City residents were asked to shelter-inplace due to the active shooting.
Residents from Weber County reported to have heard gunshots and several police cars rushing towards the area. Around 2 p.m., the Ogden police Facebook page posted “officer involved shooting in the area of Jackson and Harrop. The scene is active.” An hour later, they posted that “there is no threat to the public.” The alleged killer was found dead inside the house, but the children inside were able to be removed safely. A procession from the hospital began around 5 p.m., taking the fallen officer to the state medical examiner. Lyday had only been on the job for 15 months and would have been celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary with his wife, according to Watt.
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DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS? 1. The correct answer is B. Bus service. The route will go between WSU and McKay-Dee Hospital according to the tweet by President Trump.
cording to KUTV.
QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 2
3. The correct answer is A. The International Space Station, according to NPR. SpaceX hopes that this will be the launchpad for sending paying customers into orbit around the Earth.
2. The correct answer is C. 323 new cases were reported on May 29, which makes the total cases in Utah 9,264 ac-
4. The correct answer is C. Stand in solidarity, according to abc4. The event page stated that they wanted to stand with Floyd’s family and citizens of Minnesota that are mourning the tragic loss. 5. The correct answer is D. A SLC
police car, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. The police station and capitol were also found to have vandalism on the exteriors. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com FRANCIA HENRIQUEZ BENSON | The Signpost
Many signs were brought to a Black Lives Matter protest on the steps of the Ogden/Weber Municipal Building in Ogden, Utah on May 30.
THE SIGNPOST TEAM Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Greenlee jennifergreenlee@mail.weber.edu
Photo Editor Robert Lewis robertlewis7@mail.weber.edu
Sports Editor Raymond Lucas raymondlucas@mail.weber.edu
Managing Editor Daryn Steed darynsteed0@gmail.com
Asst. Photo Editor BriElle Harker brielleharker@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Sports Editor Miles Shaw milesshaw@mail.weber.edu
Chief Copy Editor Nic Muranaka nicholasmuranaka@weber.edu
Culture Editor Aubrielle Degn aubrielledegn@gmail.com
News Editor Marisa Nelson marisanelson@mail.weber.edu
Asst. Culture Editor Caitlyn Larsen caitlynlarsen@mail.weber.edu
Asst. News Editor Francia Henriquez Benson fhenriquezbenson@weber.edu
Social Media Manager Kalli Prendergast kandidkalliP@gmail.com
Design & Graphics Editor Aubree Eckhardt aubreeeckhardt@mail.weber.edu Asst. Design & Graphics Editor Alli Rickards alexandrarickards@mail.weber.edu Videography Editor Sarah Earnshaw sarahearnshaw@mail.weber.edu
Webmaster David Morris david.lee.morris@gmail.com Adviser Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu Ad Manager KC Sanders kcsanders@weber.edu The Signpost is a student publication, written, edited and drafted by Weber State University students. Student fees fund the printing of this publication. Opinions or positions voiced are not necessarily endorsed by the university. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and to refuse to print any letters. Letters should be submitted online to thesignpost@weber.edu and read letter to the Editor in the subject box. Letters should not exceed 350 words.
KEEPING CONNECTED WE ARE STILL HERE FOR YOU! Find virtual services and engagement opportunities:
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