Tuesday | September 4, 2018 | Volume 89 | Issue 11
WEBER STATE FALLS TO UTAH 41–10
JOSHUA WINEHOLT | The Signpost
NEWS » PAGE 10
NEW FACE, NEW FUTURE AT OGDEN LDS INSTITUTE
NEWS » PAGE 6
NO PARKING STRUCTURE ON WEBER’S HORIZON
2 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 4, 2018
WSU AND OGDEN EVENTS STUDENTS JOB FAIR
BONNEVILLE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
By JENNIFER GUZMAN
Diversity Editor
Career Services will be holding their annual student job fair this upcoming Sept. 5 in the Shepherd Union building. Local community employers, alongside various departments here at WSU, will be looking for new hires while giving students an opportunity to network with potential employers. All students are invited to attend, however, as stated by career services themselves, this is an event that junior and seniors “will not want to miss.” Students are encourage, although not required, to bring resumes and also sport a “business casual” look for the event. For more information about the fair, visit weber.edu/ careerservices/.
With traditional and classical music from Brahms, influential works from Danish composer Carl Nielsen and a free performance dedicated to those with developmental needs, there is sure to be something for everyone at the 12th annual Bonneville Chamber Music Festival. The two day event, beginning Sept 7, will take place between Weber’s very own Val A. Browning Center and Allred Theater. Fabio Zanon, guitar professional and international soloist from the Royal Academy of Music in Lonon, will perform alongside WSU’s chamber choir to present the Romancero Gitano, a musical rendition of the gypsy ballad poem book by Federico García Lorca. Tickets are $4.50 for WSU students, $7 for adults and $6 for seniors/military. For more information about each event, and for ticket purchasing, go to weberstatetickets.com.
Wikimedia Commons
WC OPEN HOUSE The women’s center will hold their annual open house Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The open house will give students and community members the opportunity to meet with staff and advocates who work with the center, along with the services offered. There will be a drawing to win prizes and light refreshments will be served. The women’s center is located in the Shepherd Union building in room 322
Wikimedia Commons
5TH ANNUAL GREAT BASIN BUCKAROO GATHERING Bringing country and ranch lifestyle into the city of Ogden, the Great Basin Buckaroo gathering will showcase ropers and traditional working bridle horses this Sept. 7 and 8 at the Golden Spike Event Center. A horsemanship and stockmanship clinic will be available to help riders improve their themselves alongside their horses, hosted by Martin Black, a horse trainer from Bruneau, Idaho. Tickets are $10 for adults and children 12 and under a free. To purchase tickets, visit buckaroogathering.com/ tickets. Wikimedia Commons
Correction: The cover photo for the last edition, printed Aug. 30, should be credited to Joshua Wineholt and the photos on pages 8 and 9 are courtesy Weber State University.
Publicdomainpictures.com
SARA PARKER| The Signpost
MyWeberMedia.com | September 4, 2018 | 3
MOON TAXI TAXI MOON
LIGHTS UP THE TWILIGHT CONCERT STAGE By HILLARY REILLY A&E Reporter
The Twilight Concert series may have come to an end in Ogden, but the series in Salt Lake is just taking off. Salt Lake Community College is sponsoring the series this year, which is taking place in the Gallivan Center. So far, the Salt Lake series has hosted Diplo and Robert Delong, with opening acts like DJ Dizz, Mojave Nomads, DJ Logic and DJ Jarvicious. Brian Cleveland worked security at the venue. This was his first summer working during the concert series. He said it’s been a safe environment, and he’s enjoying his job.
“It’s been a really good crowd,” Cleveland said. On Thursday night, Moon Taxi drew a crowd of thousands of locals. Hannah Longhurst and Patrick Buckner have been frequent Twilight Series attendees, and Moon Taxi marked their first Twilight concert in Salt Lake this year. They enjoyed the intimacy of the crowd and the music. Opposed to past years where things could get out of control, Buckner thought this concert was calmer. “You can tell more people want to be here for the music,” Buckner said. Both Buckner and Longhurst enjoy the Gallivan Center more than Pioneer Park. “You can see the stage better,” Longhurst said. The couple enjoyed the Ogden series this summer.
They appreciated that Ogden’s venue was small and intimate, and they thought Ogden had a better lineup than Salt Lake. And the summer fun isn’t over yet. The Salt Lake series is putting on two more concerts. On Sept. 6, DJ Snoopadelic — i.e., Snoop Dogg — will hit the Twilight series stage. King Princess and Flora Cash will close out the series. Several of the opening acts from the previous three shows will be reprising their roles as crowd warmers for the final pairing.
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4 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 4, 2018
By BRANDON MAY Sports Editor
Weber State University Athletics announced the start of construction of a state-of-the-art athletic complex on Aug. 17. The facility will be built on the north end of Stewart Stadium surrounding the Chick Hislop track. The project will include the Barbara and Rory Youngberg Football Center, the Sark’s Boys Gateway, the Stromberg Strength and Conditioning Complex, the Marquardt-Kimball Plaza and the Behnken Plaza. The Sark’s Boys gateway, which will provide a new main fan entrance, is named after former head coach Sark Arslanian. Recent concept illustrations show a more modern design. “This complex is transformational to our program,” Weber State athletic director Jerry Bovee said. “Over the past ten years, we have made great strides in improving the athletic and academic facilities for our student-athletes, and this capstone project will insist in the development of not only the football program
but all of our sports.” The new complex will bolster the existing strength and conditioning facilities, provide new home and away locker rooms for the football team and features an expanded equipment room. A new video board will also be a part of the facility — the second in the stadium. “The complex allows for an expanded space for our training and nutritional needs,” Bovee said, “which will benefit all our 16 sports.” The 27,000-square-foot multi-use building will add a new plaza for fans to gather before home games. An upgraded ticket office and merchandise shop will take the place of the pre-existing trailer and shack. The Barbara and Rory Football Center will include new coach offices, position group meeting rooms and a 125-seat team room that will benefit all Weber State athletic programs. “This building demonstrates to recruits, players and staff the commitment that Weber State University has to its student-athletes,” head coach Jay Hill said. “The new facility is critical for our
program’s progress moving forward. It is fundamental for recruiting and the future development to all of our players.” Some students on campus believe Weber State is funding this project with student’s tuition and fees. For Bovee, and the rest of the athletic department, it was important to stress the community-driven funding for this new project. “This facility is made possible through all of the generous donations of community members and former student-athletes,” Bovee said. In 2016, Bovee and the athletic department hoped to raise at least $7 million from fundraising, and at the time of the first meeting, they were already halfway there. Initially, concerns were raised over the complex taking out some of the parking in the W5 lot, just north of the stadium. “The complex itself will not be taking out any of the parking spaces on campus,” project manager Travis Hogge said. “However, because of the equipment and space we need to build this, we have blocked off a few spaces for the year it
will take to complete the project.” Hogge explained that the facility will reside between the stadium’s track and parking lot. The complex will follow the track connecting the east and west grandstands. As Weber State’s athletic director, Bovee has upgraded many of the athletic facilities on campus — most recently adding lights to the women’s soccer field in 2016. Stewart Stadium has not had any additions since 2011 when a new track was laid down around the stadium and the field was converted from grass to artificial turf. Construction began on Aug. 28. Fans and students who arrive early for the first Weber State home game on Sep. 15 against South Dakota can attend a groundbreaking ceremony an hour before kickoff, starting at 5 p.m. The complex will be completed for the 2019 football season, marking 100 years of football at Weber State. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com | September 4, 2018 | 5
The new building will serve as the main entrance to Stewart Stadium. (WSU Athletics) WSU Athletics
6 | MyWeberMedia.com | Septmeber 4, 2018
By DEBORAH WILBER News Reporter
Convenience comes at a price. Every semester students are faced with the daunting task of finding a convenient parking spot, particularly during peak hours for classes, from 8:30 to around 11:30 a.m. Among people circling a W lot waiting for a space was Adrian Cendejas. “I’ve been driving around for nearly an hour,” he said, and he still hadn’t found a spot. Every so often, rumors will surface about the possibility of a parking garage. Recently, they’ve begun cropping back up. It looks like a simple and easy solution to the problem of finding parking. Vice President of University Advancement Brad Mortensen, however, confirms this is, in fact, a rumor. The university has absolutely no plans of building a structure for additional parking. The decision to decline on such a proposal mostly has to do with the cost associated in building and maintaining the structure. According to Greg Montgomery, planning manager for the city of Ogden, each
individual stall in the parking garage would cost anywhere between $18,000 and $20,000. Additional surface parking averages at $3,000 to $4,000 per space. “We are not entitled to close, free parking,” Montgomery said. Parking on campus comes at a price, a price that does not even guarantee a spot since the space would be limited. To avoid such a situation, parking services recommends students purchase a Dee Events Center permit if they attend class during peak hours. Students can park at the Dee Events Center and then take a shuttle over to campus. “There are still over a thousand empty parking spaces at the Dee Center during this time frame,” Crystal Taylor, from parking services, said. Mikala Standing is among those who wait to take the shuttle from campus to the Dee’s Event Center parking. Standing purchased an annual W pass for $75, “but there’s never any parking the first few weeks,” she said. Finances to fund extra parking, should the university decide to do so, will have to
come from somewhere other than money received through parking passes and tickets, which pay for parking services employees and maintenance for existing parking. In related efforts, university officials are working toward making campus transit-friendly. Mortensen believes building a parking garage would only encourage students to drive to school and could actually contradict the university’s efforts to lessen its carbon footprint. In 3 years, although subject to change, the university hopes to have solved all parking issues with the completion of a Bus Rapid Transit system. As a carbon-neutral mode of transportation, it will have a net zero carbon footprint, keeping with the university’s sustainability goals while allowing students to get to campus without battling for parking. The BRT was one of three projects considered to aid busy bus transit corridors and reduce heavy traffic. The Ogden-Weber State University Transit Corridor project will provide rapid transit from the Ogden Intermodal Center/FrontRunner Commuter Rail station to major areas in downtown, Weber
State University and McKay Dee Hospital. Driving right into the heart of campus in front of the Browning Center, students will be able to expect to see a bus every six minutes at each BRT stop. Dubbed “TRAX on rubber wheels” for its ability to change traffic signals in its own designated lane, the BRT will provide both WSU students and the general public with minimal traffic, according to Carl Arky, public information officer with the UTA. Orem and Provo have seen a huge impact on traffic since the completion of BRT in those areas because of its minimal stops and high frequency. There are multiple municipalities and government entities involved with financing the project, however, so completion will require time in addition to major construction.
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MyWeberMedia.com | September 4, 2018 | 7
AN OPEN LETTER TO ANYONE IN PAIN JENNIFER GREENLEE Columnist
Dear Anyone in Pain: This is an Open Letter to anyone in pain. Don’t take no for an answer. If you’re in pain, you deserve to be heard. You don’t need to be put in the boxes “too young” or “too fat” for your pain to be taken seriously or “weak” for seeking help. Your suffering is unacceptable. The healthcare system allows for this, but you can fight it. You can go for second and third opinions. The pain shouldn’t make you hide from your life, shouldn’t make you sick to your stomach. This is my story. During my sophomore year in high school, I took Fit for Life, a now-required physical education class, which meant running a mile or more every period, followed by strength training. During one of our mile-long treks, at the end of April, I tripped in a hole and thought I heard a pop as my ankle turned. Within a few days, I was at my primary care doctor, who then referred me to a podiatrist, Dr. P. Unluckily for me, my X-ray came back negative for any bone damage. Besides, as they so tactfully told me, “No one can walk on a broken ankle,” and “If you were in as much pain as you said, you couldn’t walk on it, let alone run in gym class.” Since I still “claimed” to be in pain, Dr. P ordered an MRI. When that came back clear, I was told that there was no way I felt the pain I said I did. It must have just been “growing pains” because I was “too young” to feel that much pain. I was told that if I lost some weight, the pain would go away. I gave up. I got a brace from Walmart and slapped a bandage on a bullet hole. I was told nothing was wrong, and I believed them. I believed the pain was in my head and that I was just lazy. I believed the pain was just an excuse. Two years later, May of this year, I tripped and fell over a curb, and my friend falling on top if my ankle. Truthfully, I barely felt it. I was more worried about my friend, who I thought had taken a much harder fall. A few weeks later, summer had arrived, and my ankle and foot were swelling. I gave in and went back to a doctor. It was a new podiatrist, Dr. O. I checked in at 8:15. At 9:30, I left in a cast. The nurses all turned their noses up at my pain. Remember that “no one” can walk on a broken ankle. X-rays were for precaution, not for someone who drove themselves here.
Dr. O took one look at my X-ray and showed me where the side of my foot had broken. It had broken along the growth plate where the tendon attaches. The bones in my foot and ankle were at a 30 degree or greater angle from where they should be. Suddenly, wheelchairs and sympathy were abundant. With the damage I had, surgery became the immediate recommendation. Since I had a tendon loose, there was concern my bones wouldn’t reattach. When I came back for X-rays, sure enough, there was no growth between the fragment and the rest of the bone. Surgery was imminent. The doctor offered the option of an MRI. He said I didn’t have to, but if something else in my ankle was wrong, he wouldn’t be able to fix it if they found it during surgery. With all the pain in my ankle I’d had for years, I decided to do it. The MRI report said nothing was wrong, other then what we already knew. Dr. O pulled the images up and told me I had unusual swelling around my joint. He zoomed in carefully and found a bone fragment floating in my joint and a tendon that had torn off. The pain hadn’t been all in my head. The pain I had worked 20-hour weeks on, the pain I graduated with, the pain that was a part of me was finally going to get fixed. The surgery was a success. I started my college life with a new scar but less pain then I’d had in a long time. Pain is not normal. Don’t let anyone underestimate your pain because they’ve “had it worse.” Don’t let someone tell you it’s a “First-World problem” or tell you how much worse others have had it. Someone has had it worse. That does not nullify what you feel. Doctors don’t always listen to you. Find ones who do and go to them for referrals. The healthcare system is broken. It favors those who are well — those who don’t need help. For those of us in pain who don’t fit into a cookie-cutter diagnosis, the system is damaged. Today’s world says we should push through pain: physical, emotional, mental. Wrong. Pain is your body saying something’s wrong. Don’t push it away. You’re feeling it for a reason. Find it. Don’t take no for an answer. Only you know the pain you’re in.
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o o o o o o x x x xx x x x x 8 | MyWeberMedia.com | Septmeber 4, 2018
SARAH CATAN| The Signpost
MyWeberMedia.com| Septmeber 4, 2018 | 9
’Cats falter fast in Utah showdown “No need to freak out now, first game of the year.” - Brady May
By RAYMOND LUCAS Sports Reporter
The Weber State University Wildcats, who are ranked eighth in the STATS FCS poll, kicked off their season in Salt Lake City on Thursday night against the University of Utah Utes. The Wildcats had a strong first half before falling 41–10, dropping down to 0–5 all-time against the Utes. “No need to freak out now, first game of the year,” senior fullback Brady May said. The in-state matchup brought 45,948 people into the stands at Rice-Eccles Stadium, over 10,000 people larger than last season’s Pac-12 matchup. There was a solitary section of purple for the Wildcats, but the stadium as a whole was a sea of Ute fans head-to-toe in red, packed shoulder-to-shoulder to see if WSU was ready to give them a game. Last season, Weber State won a school-record 11 games and won the Big Sky title, achieving their highest ranking in school history. It was one of the best years in the program’s 56 year history—with room to grow in year 57. The Wildcats opened their 2018-19 campaign with the ball, but the game was scoreless for over 10 minutes. Utah coughed up a punt return late in the first quarter that was recovered by junior long snapper Kallin Fisher. The ’Cats were able to recover in Utah territory, leading to a 42-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Trey Tuttle. After the ensuing kickoff, the Utes offense came out on the first play and threw an interception to senior LB Landon Stice who returned it 30 yards to the two-yard line. The interception came after several defensive stops. Stice said, “We were stopping their run pretty good and had tackles for a loss and made them throw it.” Redshirt freshman quarterback Kaden Jenks, who was playing in his first career game, then waltzed into the endzone which resulted in the WSU team
throwing up W’s with their hands to the Utah fans. Weber State football head coach Jay Hill thought his team came into the game prepared from the opening kickoff. Hill said, “Fast start, I thought they came out the gates not intimidated and excited about the atmosphere.” The Utes answered the Wildcat drive with a trip to the endzone of their own, cutting the Wildcat lead down to 10–7 and bringing the first quarter to an end. Although the Wildcats were winning the game, their offense was inefficient, something that would come back to bite them as the game played on. “I thought we were playing dang good defense there for a while but we went a little haywire at the end of the second quarter, start of the third,” Hill said. “I think we were trying to make plays that weren’t there to be made, had a couple injuries and didn’t respond well to adversity.” Throughout the second quarter, the Wildcats failed to put any points on the board and the Utes were heating up offensively — scoring from 86 yards out and adding a field goal to take a 17–10 lead into halftime. This would be the last time in the game where the Wildcats were within one score. In the second half, the Utes showed off their Pac-12 talent and went from being down 10–0, to scoring 41 unanswered points and advancing to 1–0 on the season. “In the second half, we came out and started to do a little too much at times instead of trusting the process and trusting our assignments,” May said. “Obviously we got some things we need to clean up but it’s the first game of the year so that’s completely normal.” For the Wildcats, this was the best team they will play all year and they can learn from the loss. Up next for Weber State is a trip to Cal Poly on Sept. 6 before their home opener Sept. 15 against South Dakota at 6 p.m. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
The WSU offense huddles up to start their drive againt the Utes
10 | MyWeberMedia.com| September 4, 2018
FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS: LDS RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE GETS A FEMALE PRESIDENT By HANNAH OLSEN News Reporter
“Just keep trying and trusting,” advised Macey Quigley, speaking to a new class of Institute students. Quigley is the new, first-ever female President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Religious Institute in Ogden, Utah. Not only is Quigley the first female president in 50 years, she’s also the youngest president the Institute has ever seen at 20 years old. Director of the Institute, Brother G. Bradly Howell, verified his search through the Institute’s history that there hasn’t been another female president as far back as 1974. Howell has been involved in church education for 32 years. Despite the tradi-
tionally male-dominated nature of this field, he expressed that the church had an air of utter comfort and acceptance regarding Quigley and her role at the Institute. “She is very mature,” Howell said. “Age is sometimes not a factor so much as character and preparation is. She definitely fits the bill. We have a lot of confidence in Macey.” Howell added that Quigley is also the only president in recent memory who is not a returned missionary. Quigley grew up in a family heavily-involved with the LDS church in Mountain Green, Utah. She has attended Weber State University since graduating from Morgan High School in 2016. She is pursuing a degree in vocal performance, which is what led to her becoming involved at the
Institute. She said joining the choir at the Institute changed her life drastically. “I always wanted to be on the Institute council,” Quigley explained. “But I knew it was a calling from our priesthood leaders and, really, from our Heavenly Father.” Howell explained the process to becoming president is a lengthy one, starting with recommendations, but ultimately, he said it was a church calling. “When they initiated the call to me to serve as president, I was like, ‘I didn’t know I could even be the president!’” Quigley said. “But, everyone has been so supportive of it.” Her new responsibilities include leading the council and their co-chairs to plan activities and, according to Quigley, “to help bring others to Christ and to see The
Savior in their daily lives.” The secretaries of the Ogden Institute, Gaylynn Ballard, Lynnea Hamatake and Connie Robbins, spoke about how much the Institute has already benefited from Quigley’s presence. They praised her on her talk in devotional, but Robbins particularly remarked that Quigley was “so real.” Quigley hopes, in her role as president, she will be approachable and aims to create the idea of a safe place in the LDS Institute with the overall message of acceptance. “Everyone is welcome at the Institute, no matter where you are in your life,” Quigley said. “There’s a place for them here.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
Macey Quigley is the first female president in over 50 years of recorded history of Weber State’s LDS Institute. (Bella Torres/The Signpost)
Women’s Soccer game against North Texas (Bella Torres/The Signpost)
WEBER STATE SOCCER
LOSES IN 0-1 HEARTBREAKER
By JAPHETH PLEASANT Sports Reporter
The 2018 Weber State University women’s soccer team has had a bumpy start to their season, losing two of their first three games. Not an unprecedented result for a team with only eight upperclassmen out of a total 32. Fortunately, it’s just the start of the season. With 14 games left, including the Big Sky Tournament, there is plenty of time for the Wildcats to turn their season around. In their first two matches, Weber State took a tough 2–0 loss to in-state rivals University of Utah in their season opener, then tied with the University of Nevada. On Thursday, Aug. 30, the Wildcats hosted the University of North Texas. The Mean Green controlled most of the possession in the first 45 minutes, finishing the first half with 10 shots to Weber State’s one. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Nikki Pittman, however, prevented North Texas from being able to cash in on any of their 10 shots. Even North Texas coach John Hedlund was impressed with the way Pittman played.
“They’re a very hardworking team and their goalkeeper played outstanding tonight,” Hedlund said. Pittman ended the game with six saves. After some halftime adjustments, the Wildcats rediscovered their sense of urgency and siezed more opportunities on the offensive end. Sophomore midfielder Mylee Broad, who showed excellent control on-ball and made smart decisions with her passes, stood out in particular. Broad instigated the team’s offense, and the Wildcats were finally able to put pressure on the backline of North Texas in the second half. The defensive side for the Wildcats was anchored by sophomore defender Haley Thomas, a former all-conference honorable mention, the most vocal leader on the team. Each team had four shots in the second half, but in the 83’, North Texas’ Taylor Torres had her shot saved by a diving Pittman — the ball ricocheted right to the feet of Freshman Olivia Klein, who was positioned before an open net. Klein’s second goal of the year won the game and gave the Mean Green their third win of the year.
It is important for the team’s future to see players like Broad and Thomas, both sophomores, stepping up and making plays early in the season. As long as the Wildcats continue to inspire this level of performance from their younger players and maintain the work of seniors Madison Garlock and Chansi Crompton, the Big Sky conference championship trophy is well within reach. Weber State remains winless on the season with big non-conference games coming up against UTEP, UC Santa Barbara and Arizona State. But as of now, the Wildcats are only focused on next week when they’ll play another in-state rival at Utah Valley Univeristy on Sept. 4 and UC Davis on Sept. 6, both on the road. Weber State’s next home game will be Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. against UTEP. If the Wildcats have their way, they won’t be looking for their first win against the Miners. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
12 | MyWeberMedia.com | September 4, 2018
NEW COLLEGE OF SCIENCE DEAN BRINGS SPIRIT OF GRENADA TO OGDEN By ZAC WATTS S&T Editor
Dr. Andrea Easter-Pilcher, Weber State University’s Dean of the College of Science, draws on her experience at St. George’s University in Grenada and with wildlife and conservation biology to make plans for the college’s future. Though Grenada and its surrounding Caribbean islands are considered paradise by some, Easter-Pilcher was born in Missoula, Montana and says the Rocky Mountains are just as much a paradise to her. “We loved Grenada. It is a beautiful, volcanic, tropical island, but we were there for ten years,” said Easter-Pilcher. “We built a wonderful community of colleagues and friends, but it was time to come home.” Easter-Pilcher said that same sense of community was a part of her decision to come to Weber State. “The interview process here was pretty extensive, and I met a lot of people,” said Easter-Pilcher. “I really felt I could work with the people I met. I felt it was a great community. We had to transition back to the United States at some point and Weber State seemed like a great way to do that.” Looking out at the mountain vistas outside her office window, she added, “And look at the view! What’s not to like?”
Easter-Pilcher said her plans for the college’s future will be focused heavily on that strong sense of community she felt during her interview process. “My faculty at St. George’s University, where I was dean of the school of arts and sciences, would say I’m a collaborative and inclusive leader,” said Easter-Pilcher. “I want to communicate with all of the leadership team in the college of science and individual faculty to get their ideas. I prefer things happening from the bottom up as opposed to the top down.” Easter-Pilcher hopes that sense of community will continue to grow and become even more inclusive. “We really need to increase the numbers, percentages, of underrepresented minorities and women in the sciences. That is a big goal of mine,” said Easter-Pilcher. She also said she wants students of the College of Science to have more awareness and better relationships with the faculty “When people walk through this building, they need to get a sense of who our faculty are,” said Easter-Pilcher. “I’m going to get some nice displays where we can highlight their research, have their books out, and show the articles they’ve written so that when people walk through the halls, they can see how incredible and effective the faculty are.” Easter-Pilcher also hopes to get in-
volved with undergraduates herself. “I’ve done a lot of work with undergraduates to get them to do research myself and a lot of faculty do that here. I’d like to highlight that,” said Easter-Pilcher. Easter-Pilcher said she also wants to expand the programs offered by WSU’s College of Science. “We are looking at some new possible associate degrees, and I would like to look at the idea of some masters programs coming out of this college,” said Easter-Pilcher. She also said she wants to extend her focus on community and collaboration to the program expansion. “I’d like to see some more interdepartmental collaboration in terms of degrees, and I know there are some departments working on a new associate degree together,” said Easter-Pilcher. Easter-Pilcher hopes to rename the Geosciences Department the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department. “I am a wildlife and conservation biologist, so environmental science and wildlife and conservation biology programs are really appealing to me,” said Easter-Pilcher. Easter-Pilcher’s outreach experience includes wildlife conservation research in Russia and time spent as a delegate for Grenada at the Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species. “That’s a pinnacle career experience for someone like myself,” said Eas-
Monika Clarke | The Signpost
ter-Pilcher. “There is some suggestion that may continue. We’ll see whether I have time for that because it’s a lengthy two-week commitment.” Easter-Pilcher hopes to draw on her outreach experience to expand the College of Science’s relationships with other programs and universities. “I think the college is pretty aware of my interest in building international affiliations with a couple of different universities in the Caribbean, and if we are able to, even some universities in Russia,” said Easter-Pilcher. “There’s a lot we can do in terms of connecting in those areas with the local community and the regional community here.” Dr. Easter-Pilcher’s time as dean at St. George’s limited her ability to get out into the field herself, and expects that to continue here in Weber State. “That was a big crossroads for me because I have been very active in research,” said Easter-Pilcher. “I’m sitting on a doctoral committee and a masters committee now, and that’s a way to keep my hand in the research side of things.” Easter-Pilcher’s collaborative approach to research and progress appears to be reflected in the faculty she manages. “There are a lot of motivated, thoughtful faculty here and I think we’ll forge a way forward together.” Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
MyWeberMedia.com| September 4, 2018 | 13
Andrea Easter-Pitcher, the new Dean of the College of Sciences.
Bella Torres | The Signpost
14 | MyWeberMedia.com| September 4, 2018
1 Million
Dollars
a Day
By NIC MURANAKA
News Editor
When Weber State University alum Zach Smith and Brigham Young University alum Thomas Alvord founded their company Funded Today in 2014, they didn’t think that by 2018 they would have raised over $1 million dollars a day, every day, for the last four years. Now, halfway through the year, their company doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Every year, INC. magazine puts out the INC. 500 list, a list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the world, and this year, Funded Today has surpassed Smith and Alvord’s expectations to rank in the top 30 on that list. Smith and Alvord’s company was recently named the INC. 500’s third fastest-growing company in the marketing and advertising category and the 27th fastest-growing company worldwide. They are the second fastest-growing company in Utah, second only to the software company Podium. Funded Today helps companies get crowdfunding operations off the ground, and if the $210 million raised thus far is any indication, they are good at what they do. Back in 2014, however, Smith and Alvord weren’t sure they would even start the company. Smith said they created a small operation, but people kept asking them for help on their crowdfunding campaigns. “At that point, we realized we were onto something,” Smith said. Working on their third campaign, they stumbled into the realization that they could, should and would be doing this as a company. “On our third campaign, we invoiced $60,000 U.S. to our client,” Smith said. “We then asked ourselves, ‘Wow! Is this something we could do, once per month?’” They decided that yes, it was, and they ran with it. A startup company itself, Funded Today now helps others do just what they did. When Funded Today was starting out, Smith said they initially had no clue about the market Zach Smith
potential of a company focused on crowdfunding consultation. They knew it was a service they could offer, and it was an untapped portion of a wide market space. “Anyone starting any new business or entrepreneurial venture experiences the same thing. You might think there is huge potential, and then you test things out and find you were wrong,” Smith said. “You might also accidentally stumble into a huge market. It’s all about moving and pivoting quickly.” Smith attributed their success to the work they have done, of course, but also their execution. “It’s about learning, and the practice we had 4-5 years prior prepared us to ‘seize the day’ when we started Funded Today,” Smith said. Part of that learning came from his time at WSU. Smith strongly believes the saying “Luck is where prior preparation meets opportunity” held true not only for his company but for anyone looking to start their own business. Preparation was instrumental in Funded Today’s success, as was Smith’s and Alvord’s readiness to adapt to a new and changing market by staying flexible and encouraging growth. Ultimately, Funded Today’s success presents Smith with greater opportunities. In such a dynamic and fast-moving business, he spoke about how the excitement and freshness never wears off. “It’s so exciting to be able to help new inventors, small business owners and entrepreneurs bring their new ideas to life,” Smith said. “Every day, we’re working with new clients from all across the world. It has been very easy to be passionate about what we do, day-in, day-out.” More information about the Ogden-based company can be found online at their website, www.funded.today.
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MyWeberMedia.com| September 4, 2018 | 15
HELP WANTED
FEATURED INTERNSHIP
FEATURED JOB
SALES CENTER INTERN
BUSINESS ASSISTANT
The position performs the following functions and duties: • Chosen applicant will assist Sales Center Director, faculty and staff with Sales Center admin/social media duties including: social media management, electronic messaging and branding, email, copying, data entry, filing, helping to maintain accurate and organized records, mail distribution, and document scanning. • Minimum Qualifications: Current WSU Professional Sales students,
social media experience with content creation, familiar with Adobe Office Suite or Microsoft Publisher. • Must be Federal Work Study eligible and have Work Study Certification Card from the Financial Aid Office before applying. $10.00
Requisition Number: H00320P
Mechanic’s Assistant Vehicle Repair $10.00 Requisition Number: H00399P HR Clerk Assist VP Human Resources Office $9.00 Requisition Number: H00401P Enrollment Services Clerk Davis Campus Enroll Services $8.50 Requisition Number: H00301P Testing Proctor Testing Center Varies Requisition Number: H00142P
THE SIGNPOST TEAM
The position performs the following functions and duties: This position at The Signpost student news organization will: • Assist the advertising manager in sending out invoices. • Assist the adviser in reconciling Signpost accounts with university accounting. • Order office supplies as needed. • Assist with travel documentation. • Staff the front desk as needed. The successful candidate must have:
Tutor for Science Courses (Student Support Services) Learning Support Center $9.00-$10.50 per hour. Requisition Number: H00029P
$10.00-$12.00 Requisition Number: H00403P
Telecommunications Campus Operator Telecommunication Services $8.50 Requisition Number: H00396P
Sales Center Industry Content Manager Intern - Part-time Professional Sales n/a Requisition Number: H00273P Student Involvement and Leadership Summer Aid Student Involvement and Leadership $12.50 Requisition Number: H00342P
• Knowledge of basic bookkeeping principles. • Ability to organize, prioritize and meet deadlines. • Detail oriented. • Proficient in Microsoft-based PC and associated software (Word, Excel, Access) and QuickBooks. • Ability to learn other software quickly.
Student Equipment Manager Athletics Admin $9.50 Requisition Number: H00405P Employer Outreach Assistant / Website Manager Career Services $9.00 Requisition Number: H00347P
LRC Open Lab Aide CHP Learning Center $9.00 Requisition Number: H00094P
Welding Lab Aide Dean Eng Appl Science and Tech Off $10.00 Requisition Number: H00011P
Editor-in-Chief Harrison Epstein harrisonepstein@mail.weber.edu
News Editor Nic Muranaka nicholasmuranaka@mail.weber.edu
S&T Editor Zac Watts zdwatts@gmail.com
Office Manager Georgia Edwards gedwards@weber.edu
Graphics Editors Samantha Van Orman samanthalvanorman@gmail.com Madison Osborn madisonosborn@mail.weber.edu
Asst. News Editor-Diversity Jennifer Guzman jenniferguzman1@weber.edu
Webmaster Nate Beach nathanbeach@mail.weber.edu
Ad Manager Shelley Hart shelleyhart@weber.edu
Sports Editor Brandon May brandonmay1@mail.weber.edu
Social Media Manager Chloe Walker chloewalker@mail.weber.edu
A&E Editor Daryn Steed darynsteed@mail.weber.edu
Adviser Jean Norman jeannorman@weber.edu
Photo Editor Sara Parker saraparker2@mail.weber.edu Chief Copy Editor Cole Eckhardt eckhardtco@gmail.com
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.
16 | MyWeberMedia.com | Septmeber 4, 2018
CELEBRATE CLASSIC COMPOSERS
BONNEVILLE CHAMBER MUSIC WITH THE
FESTIVAL
By TIANA PACK A&E Reporter
The Annual Bonneville Chamber Music Festival will be held Sept. 5-8 in the Val A. Browning Center’s Allred Theater. This classical performance will showcase music from both local musicians and industry icons alike. The work of famed Danish composer Carl Nielsen will kick off the event on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. University of Utah professors Hasse Borup and Andrew Staupe will perform Nielson’s work on the violin and piano, respectively. On Friday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m., the audience can look forward to a performance by world-renowned, award-winning guitar professor Fabio Zanon of the Royal Academy of Music in London. Zanon will perform
the Romancero Gitano in partnership with Dr. Mark Henderson and the Weber State University Chamber Choir. At 11 a.m. on Sept. 8, the AZURE concert will create an open and friendly atmosphere designed for those will developmental disabilities and their families. This event is free and open to the public. The festival will conclude on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. with the celebrated Nobilis Piano Trio taking the stage. The finale will feature violinist Aaron Berofsky, cellist Suren Bagratuni and pianist Stephen Prutsman performing the work of celebrated composers Brahms and Schubert. Tickets for these events are $4.50 for students, $7 for adults and $6 for seniors/ military. Tickets can be purchased online at weberstatetickets.com. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com
NEED A JOB?
Come to the student job fair TOMORROW, Wednesday September 5, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Atrium & Waterfall Plaza Sponsored by WSU Career Services Employers attending are: Bolt, Northwestern Mutual Utah, Discover Financial Services, The Sherwin-Williams Compan, FedEx Ground - Utah, Amazon, Rise Inc., Utah Behavior Service, Kelly Services, Rocket Lawyer, Alternative Behavior Strategies, Powder Mountain, Lyft, Waterfall Canyon Academy, Wayfair, Choice Medical, Link Interactive, General Dynamics , Elevations RTC, Energy Savers / ES solar, Bright Horizons, Park n'JET, Hilton Grand Vacations, Chrysalis, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), The Hertz Corporation, Young Automotive Group, Autosource, Weber State University, Platinum Payments, Chick-fil-A, HELP International, Snowbasin Resort, Vector Marketing, Pointe Pest Control, Pictsweet, Cracker Barrel, Alpine Sports, WEX Inc., Admiral Beverage & Waterford Research Institute.
Career Services Corporate Partners: ARUP, AvantGuard, CHG, Enterprise, Exeter, Fastenal, Focus Services, Get Air Management, Home Depot, MarketStar Mountain Star, RC Willey & Vivint