The Signpost: THE RETURN OF FOOTBALL >>>PAGE 8

Tuesday | March 02, 2021 | Volume 94 | Issue 41

THE RETURN OF FOOTBALL >>>PAGE 8

CULTURE » PAGE 4

NEWS » PAGE 3

LEARNING THE SCIENCE OF RACISM

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW ISRAEL CAMPA

SARAH EARNSHAW

2 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 02, 2021

DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS? 2. Former President Trump re3. In what year was March ob4. What country has rejected inturned to the Republican political served as the first Women’s History formal nuclear agreement talks spotlight at the CPAC on Feb. 28. Month? with the U.S. and EU, demanding 1. The CDC gave the green light What does CPAC stand for? the removal of sanctions? to a third COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. a. 1968 28, produced by what company? a. Conservative Political Action a. Russia Conference b. 1978 a. Moderna b. North Korea b. Conservative Party Annual Conc. 1980 b. Johnson & Johnson ference c. Iraq d. 1987 c. Merck c. Conservative Public Announced. Iran ments Committee d. Bayer d. Conservative Populist Action Commission

By JOSHUA KAMP Reporter

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS ON PAGE 15

WSUSA Candidates 2021-22 Weber State University Student Association voting opens at midnight on March 2 and closes on March 4 at 12 pm Presidential Candidates Ben Ferney Hannah Olsen Shane Weaver Executive VP Nathan Hole Maren Dawson Hunter Branch Activities Madilyn Gomm Leslie Davis Colette Martensen Diversity and Unity VP William Angel Community Engagement VP Megan Ferney Rylie Howard Mario Rivero College of Engineering, Applied Science and Technology Senator Paige Dawson

Clubs and Organizations VP Masha Mwanganyi J. Blake Bolingbroke Erica Teaford Brennan Smith Kamryn Eden

College of Health Professions Senator Savannah Coburn

Leadership VP Ashley Potokar Lauren Bailey

Davis Campus Senator Kelli Denos

African Diaspora Senator Seth Perkins Asian Senator Suzanna Luo College of Business and Economics Senator Taylor Hill Katie George Elizabeth Richards College of Education Senator Sammy Caldwell

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Senator Kaylei Morris

Graduate Senator Kris Sanford Housing and Residence Life Senator Cassie Strong Enallia Brooks International Senator Suresh Shrestha Students with Disabilities Senator Mykala Senator

SARAH EARNSHAW | The Signpost

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OGDEN’S NATURE CENTER

BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH BIRDHOUSES In the center of a trail that leads to the Ogden Nature Center, there is a section without trees that allows visitors to see the valley surrounding Ogden. Each year, the Nature Center displays birdhouses from their annual competition.

By SARAH EARNSHAW Videography Editor

Hidden in the middle of the bustling industrious area of northern Ogden lies a nearly-silent trail that leads to Ogden’s Nature Center.

The trail is filled with hundreds of birdhouses, signifying to members the purpose of the Nature Center’s statement, which is about uniting people with nature. The Nature Center has displayed these birdhouses for 28 years in conjunction with an annual competition that supports the center’s mission statement.

This year, the event will go on, despite the ongoing pandemic, and the guidelines for accepted birdhouses and entry forms are available on the center’s website. Entries will be accepted for this year’s competition March 15-20. Officials are requiring social distancing and masks for the drop off, and participants will only be allowed to submit one birdhouse.

Each year, the birdhouses entered into the competition are placed across this trail. Many

of them are sold or taken home by the creators, but some are left to become a permanent part of the trail.

After walking beneath the tree line, a sign appears to the left. This sign explains the purpose of the birdhouses and that most of them come from past years. Surrounding the sign are four permanent birdhouses. One of these birdhouses is built with license plates and another is roofed with mason jar lids.

“In the middle of the birdhouse trail is this great view of what’s around us in the city,” Linda Babcock, chairman of the birdhouse competition, said.

The open area to the trail allows visitors to see the mountains surrounding Ogden, including Ben Lomond. Babcock said there are few open areas like this part of the trail that allow people to experience nature in this way in the Ogden area.

Towards the end of the short walk to the Nature Center, visitors are greeted again with

more trees and more birdhouses from the competition.

“When the school kids walk down the trail, they are just fascinated by this,” Babcock said.

The birdhouse competition is meant for all ages, from children to adults.

In normal years, there is an awards ceremony, but this year, the Nature Center will announce the winners over social media on April 17.

“The nature center is one of the few places that people can go and feel safe because it’s an outside activity,” Brandi Bosworth, the public relations officer for the Nature Center, said.

Bosworth said the birdhouse competition is an activity that people can see and do safely.

“When you see kids submitting something, that’s kind of cool — grandfathers helping their grandkids out, or a dad and his son — it’s a fun way to do something and get involved,” said Ben Velasquez, last year’s artistic/imagi-

native second-place winner.

Last year, the event was shut down for a period because of the pandemic.

“We were in the middle of it when everything’s shut down, like pretty abruptly,” Bosworth said.

Eventually, the competition was able to reopen as COVID-19 knowledge continued to grow.

The Nature Center is not concerned that the competition itself will pose a threat to the spread of COVID, since it is outside and any in-person part of the event has been moved online or canceled.

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University of Utah professor William Smith posed two questions during his virtual speech on Black History Month on Feb. 23: “Why do we need Black History Month?” and “Why do we need Black history?”

The speech was hosted by Shawn Newell, vice president of Industrial Supply, and cochair of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Diversity Council and James Jackson III, president and founder of the Utah Black Chamber.

Smith addressed the questions, starting with the history of racial injustice in the U.S. and the impact it’s had on people of color.

“A racist telling of history can make a person falsely believe he or she is superior. An accurate telling of history has the ability to heal and inspire,” Smith said.

Smith brought up the topic of scientific racism, which he described as a difficult part of this country’s history.

“Much of what we learn as citizens in this country was based in scientific racism,” Smith said.

Dr. Samuel Cartwright wasn’t the first to use science to justify racism, but he came up with some of the terms that are now recognized as part of scientific racism.

The first term is drapetomania. According to Smith, Cartwright believed that this was a mental illness and caused enslaved people to flee captivity. Cartwright stated in his paper that Blacks who were treated too well or equally by their masters, that they would develop drapetomania. According to Smith, the treatment for drapetomania was whipping.

The second term Cartwright came up with was dysaesthesia aethiopica, or the predisposition for Blacks to have insensitive skin, and this made them lazy. The treatment of this supposed mental illness, again, was whipping.

Smith said Blacks were laid out on the ground, lathered in oil and then whipped. This supposedly stimulated the skin and made them motivated to work.

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Reporter

“Many people we hold in high regard had this same kind of mindset, for instance Thomas Jefferson,” Smith said. “Thomas Jefferson said that Blacks smell bad, and were physically unattractive. They were dumb, cowardly, incapable of feeling grief and were required to get less sleep.”

Smith grew up in Illinois and was taught that he had to love Abraham Lincoln, especially as a black person. It was into his graduate studies that he learned that, while Lincoln was against slavery, he was a white supremacist.

Smith talked about how many leaders held in high esteem in history had many great qualities but were not immune from bad ones.

“We have to be careful of who we celebrate.

We need to understand the person and their views,” Smith said.

Smith also brought up the topic of racial battle fatigue. Smith said that anti-Black rac- On Feb 25, University of Utah professor William Smith gave a presentation ism is a global public health crisis. He admit- to Weber State on the education of Black History and why it is needed in ted that during the George Floyd incidents, he society today. had about five weeks of insomnia due to what he was witnessing.

Smith described racial battle fatigue as psychological, emotional and physiological overload. It is a race-related stress caused by taxing or exceeding the available mental and emotional availability, endangering one’s health and well being.

“Racial battle fatigue is not PTSD,” Smith said. “It is a repetitive race-related stress injury. It goes from the cradle to the grave.”

There are multiple symptoms of racial battle fatigue according to Smith.

Smith said the best way to help is by having trauma informed care, or as he puts it, “the three R’s.”

The first is realizing the need to realize the systemic and individual nature of racism and how it causes racial battle fatigue. The second is recognizing the need to be able to recognize the symptoms of racial battle fatigue in friends and family. The third is resisting systematic, individual and institutional attempts at racial re-traumatization.

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By KIERSTYNN KING

Shawn Newell, the presenter for the Black History Month lecture, is the Vice Comment on this story at President for the Salt Branch of the NAACP. signpost.mywebermedia.com

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Profesor de University of Utah William Smith hizo dos preguntas durante su discurso virtual sobre el Mes de la Historia Negra en feb. 23: ¿Por qué necesitamos el Mes de la Historia Negra?” y “Por qué necesitamos historia negra?”

El discurso fue presentado por Shawn Newell, vicepresidente de Industrial Supply y copresidente del Diversity Council del Salt Lake Chamber y James Jackson III, presidente y fundador del Utah Black Chamber.

Smith abordó las preguntas, empezando con la historia de injusticia racial en los EE. UU. y el impacto que ha tenido en las personas de color.

“Un relato racista de la historia puede hacer que una persona falsamente crea que él o ella es superior. Un relato precia de la historia tiene la habilidad de curar e inspirar,” dijo Smith.

Smith sacó el tema del racismo científico, en que el describió como una parte difícil de la historia de este país.

“Mucho de lo que nosotros como ciudadanos en este país se basó en el racismo científico,” dijo Smith.

Dr. Samuel Cartwright no fue el primero en usar la ciencia para justificar el racismo, pero ideó algunos términos que ahora se reconocen como parte del racismo científico.

El primer término es drapetomanía. Según Smith, Cartwright creía que esto era una enfermedad mental y provocó que la gente esclavizada se huyera del cautiverio. Cartwright declaró en su artículo que los negros que fueran tratados muy bien o igual por sus amos desarrollarían drapetomanía. Según Smith, el tratamiento para la drapetomanía era los azotes.

El segundo término que Cartwright ideó fue disestesia aethiopica, o la predisposición de los negros a tener piel insensible, y esto los hacia perezosos. El tratamiento de esta supuesta enfermedad mental, otra vez, era los azotes. Smith dijo que los negros fueron ten-

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Translator

necesidad de poder reconocer los síntomas de la fatiga de la batalla racial en amigos y familiares. El tercero es resistir los intentos sistemáticos, individuales e institucionales de volver a traumatizar la raza.

En Feb. 25, profesor de University of Utah William Smith dio una presentón a Weber State sobre la educación de Historia Negra y por qué se necesita en la sociedad de hoy.

ISRAEL CAMPA | The Signpost

By LISSETE LANDAVERDE

didos en el suelo, enjabonados con aceite y luego azotados. Esto supuestamente estimuló la piel y les dio motivo a trabajar.

“Muchas personas que tenemos en una alta estima tenían este mismo tipo de mentalidad, por ejemplo, Thomas Jefferson,” dijo Smith.

“Thomas Jefferson dijo que los negros huelen mal y no eran físicamente atractivos. Eran tontos, cobardes, incapaces de sentir tristeza y era necesario que durmieran menos.”

Smith se crio en Illinois y le enseñaron que tenía que amar a Abraham Lincoln, especialmente como una persona de raza negra. Fue en sus estudios de posgrado que aprendió que, aunque Lincoln estaba en contra de la esclavitud, era un supremacista blanco.

Smith habló sobre cuántos los líderes que tenemos en alta estima en la historia tenían muchas grandes cualidades, pero no eran inmunes a las malas.

“Debemos tener cuidado a quién celebramos. Necesitamos entender a la persona y sus puntos de vista,” dijo Smith.

Smith también saco el tema de la fatiga de las batallas raciales. Smith dijo que el racismo en contra de los negros es una crisis mundial de salud pública. Admitió que, durante los incidentes de George Floyd, tuvo unas cinco semanas con insomnio debido a lo que estaba viendo.

Smith describió la fatiga de la batalla racial como una sobrecarga psicológica, emocional y fisiológica. Es un estrés relacionado con la raza causado por gravar o exceder la disponibilidad mental y emocional, poniendo en peligro la salud y el bienestar de uno mismo.

“La fatiga de la batalla racial no es PTSD,” dijo Smith. “Es una herida repetitiva por el estrés relacionada con la raza. Va de la cuna a la tumba.”

Según Smith, existen varios síntomas de la fatiga de las batallas raciales.

Smith dijo que la mejor manera de ayudar es tener atención informada sobre el trauma, o como él dice, “las tres R.” La primera cosa es darse cuenta de la necesidad de darse cuenta de la naturaleza sistémica e individual del racismo y cómo causa la fatiga de la batalla racial. El segundo es reconocer la

Shawn newel, el presentador de la conferencia del Mes de Historia Negra, es el vicepresidente para el Salt Branch del NAACP.

Weber State volleyball wins the Feb. 27 game against Sacramento, breaking their previous record of 9 straight wins at the opening of the 2016 season.

By JACE COOK

Reporter

The Weber State Wildcats achieved the program’s best start to a season after getting wins number nine and 10 against Sacramento State on Feb. 26 and 27.

The Wildcats are undefeated in their first 10 games of the season. This broke the previous record of nine wins to start the season in 2016.

This also ties the volleyball program’s longest-ever winning streak. The team last hit this achievement of 10 straight wins in 1988, which was achieved twice that year.

The Wildcats’ ninth win came on Feb. 26 against the Hornets at Swenson Gym. They won the match 3–2. The first set was won by Weber State 27–25. The Hornets won the second set 27–25 and the third set 25–18. The Wildcats tied the match in the fourth set by winning 25–23. The final set was won by Weber State 15–12.

Weber State achieved 58 kills, nine aces, eight blocks, 55 assists and 89 digs.

Sacramento State had 63 kills, six aces, nine blocks, 60 assists and 85 digs.

Wildcat Rylin Adams led her team in kills with 23. She also contributed three blocks and one assist. Ashlyn Power assisted 53 times. Makayla Sorensen had 21 digs, one assist and two aces. Dani Nay contributed 17 kills, four aces and 17 digs.

Hornet Caitlin Volkmann led her team with 16 kills. Sacramento State’s assist leader was Ashtin Olin with 32 assists. Caty Cordano led with 31 digs. Kalani Hayes had six blocks, and Bridgette Smith had two aces.

The Wildcats’ record-breaking win was on Feb. 27. They played Sacramento State again at Swenson Gym. The Wildcats won 3–1. Weber State won the first set 25–18. The Hornets won the second set 25–23. The Wildcats then won the third and fourth sets 25–23 and 25– 21.

Weber State earned 60 kills, seven aces, eight blocks, 58 assists and 97 digs.

Sacramento State had 48 kills, four aces, 14 blocks, 45 assists and 73 digs.

Adams led the Wildcats with 20 kills, Nay had two aces and 23 digs, Sam Schiess had five blocks and Power had 50 assists.

Macey Hayden led the Hornets with 11 kills and two aces, Sarah Falk had seven blocks, Olin contributed 22 assists and Cordano had 35 digs.

Wildcat Head Coach Jeremiah Larsen spoke his thoughts after the second game.

“They’re [Sacramento State] probably one of the best defensive teams in our league,” Larsen said. “They could dig, and they could block, and they just really made our life miserable.”

These are some of the reasons that made this win feel good for Larsen.

“That’s a really nice win against a really good volleyball team,” Larsen said. “I’m hap-

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py that we just kept on fighting.”

Larsen also talked about how his team was able to keep fighting in a tough match.

“I think our kids have character,” Larsen said. “They’re not the kind of kids to just lay down. They’ve gone through a lot to get where they’re at, so it’s kind of instilled in them to keep on fighting, regardless of the score.”

The second match was close and had people wondering who would end up with the win, which many volleyball fans found entertaining.

“If you love volleyball, you can’t go wrong with that match,” Larsen said.

The next volleyball match will be March 7 at Northern Arizona.

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The Wildcats celebrate their first two wins of the season after their games on Feb. 25 and 27.

By EMILY MILLER Reporter

The Weber State women’s basketball team has faced a long line of losses in their 202021 season. The Wildcats walked into this past week with a 17-game losing streak before taking on the Sacramento State Hornets on Feb. 25 and 27 at the Dee Events Center.

Trailing the Hornets for the majority of the game, the Wildcats rallied together and brought in their first win of the season with a score of 79–73.

Sacramento State opened the contest by putting two up on the board in the first few minutes of the game. From there, the Wildcats played a game of catch-up with the Hornets in scoring.

Kori Pentzer led the squad in the first half with 4 of 6 from the field and 1 of 2 from the

3-point range, totaling nine points. Alongside valiant efforts from Pentzer, Jadyn Matthews put seven points on the board, and two players were tied with five points for the first half as lead scorers.

The largest lead was in the second quarter, where the Hornets pushed themselves past the Wildcats to a 16-point gap.

By the end of the first half, the Wildcats were trailing 31–43.

“We’ve been down before, that’s the thing,” Wildcats’ head coach Velaida Harris said. “We know we can fight back. It’s about digging in and fighting together.”

Sacramento State quietly entered the third quarter against WSU. The Wildcats were able to lock down their defense and started shooting, resulting in them outscoring the Hornets 26–11.

The Hornets were torn up by the claws of

the ‘Cats not only in the third quarter, but in the fourth as well. WSU outscored Sacramento 22–19 in the fourth.

Daryn Hickok, the star of the game, did most of the heavy lifting and scored 20 points in the second half. This was 11 points more than any other Wildcat. She shot 9 of 13 from the field, made one of two attempted 3-pointers and went 6 for 6 at the free throw.

“We picked up our defense and the offense came with it,” said Hickok. “We were able to hit shots today, which was really big.”

Ashley Thoms had a technical foul in the second but came second in scoring. She was at 3 of 6 from the field, 2 of 5 for 3-pointers and six of six from the free throw.

Weber State outshot Sacramento State 43.3% to 35.3%, making 25 of 27 free throws.

The Wildcats rolled into their second game against the Hornets on Feb. 27, hopeful after

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their first win of the season.

Five players for WSU scored in double digits on Saturday to push the ‘Cats past the Hornets in a 75–69 overtime win.

Hickok led the squad with 25 points, going 9 of 16 from the field, two of three for 3-pointers and five for six free throws. Aloma Solovihad and Emma Torbert tied for second with 13 points each, and Pentzer and Dominique Williams tied for third with 12 points each. Williams led the Wildcats with eight rebounds.

The Wildcats will be on the road to close out regular-season play at Northern Colorado on March 3 and 5 before playing in the Big Sky Tournament in Boise, Idaho March 8-12.

WSU is currently on a two-game winning streak, 2–7 at home and 0–10 on the road.

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By MILES SHAW

Asst. Section Editor

After a fifteen-month gridiron hiatus, Weber State pounced into action against the Idaho State Bengals in Pocatello. The Wildcats scored seven touchdowns, four by air and three by land, on the way to a 49–21 blowout victory.

“Just to get back out there and play against somebody else other than ourselves and to be playing for something again was huge,” Wildcats head coach Jay Hill said. “Man, [I’m] super happy with the players and how they responded. It’s good to come up here and get a win.”

The Wildcats scored the most points in a season opener on the road in school history, and Hill earned his 35th Big Sky win — the most ever for a WSU head coach.

Freshman quarterback Bronson Barron completed 17 of 27 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns in his first start for the Wildcats.

The American Fork native was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 28.

“You know, my teammates around me were giving me the support I needed the whole time,” Barron said. “And we got great guys in the quarterback room and we love one another and we push each other, each and every day.”

On the ground, Josh Davis, WSU’s twotime First Team All-Big Sky Conference running back, took a 64-yard run to the house, followed by redshirt freshman running back Dontae McMillan finding the end zone twice on two short-yardage runs from inside the Bengals’ 5-yard line.

“I thought it was a very well played game for it being the first game and having not played for over 430 days,” Coach Hill said.

Holt Arena, the Bengals’ home field, was filled at 18% capacity with 2,211 fans cheering in the stands when the Wildcats took control of the game early on in the first quarter.

After both team’s offenses went three-andout and punted on the offense’s first possessions, the Wildcats received the ball back.

WSU started moving the ball down the field on a 12-yard pass from Barron to McMil-

lan, but were forced to punt three plays later.

ISU quarterback Tyler Vander Waal moved the Bengals across midfield and into Wildcat territory on a pass to tight end Nate Shubert who was brought down at the Wildcats’ 25yard line.

“He’s [Vander Waal] a tough kid and we threw a lot at him, and he’s going to be a good player for them,” Hill said. “He’s been a good player in his past; he won some big games when he was at Wyoming.”

But the Bengals’ drive was halted when ISU committed the first turnover of the game.

WSU’s senior linebacker Conner Mortensen grabbed an interception off a deflected pass thrown by Vander Waal.

On third-and-3 Barron dropped back and hauled off a 48-yard pass to Ty MacPherson, who was brought down at the Bengals’ 23yard line.

The Bengals’ defense swatted away two of Barron’s passes intended for wide receivers Josh Amasio and David Ames on second and third down, forcing the Wildcat field goal unit onto the turf.

The game remained scoreless after WSU’s freshman kicker Kyle Thompson missed the field goal.

ISU drove the ball inside of Wildcat territory again, but punted to end the first quarter.

The Bengals would punt four times from around the Wildcat 35-yard line.

After both teams punted back and forth to start the second quarter, Wildcat D-lineman Logan Lutui came down with the defense’s second interception of the game on a deflected Vander Waal pass.

“Going into the game it was a big confidence booster knowing I have one of the top defenses in the country,” Barron said. “Having the defense out there to get me the ball back makes a world of difference.”

Two plays later, Barron tossed his first touchdown as a Wildcat to Davis, who ran across the goal line untouched for the 27yard score and WSU’s first touchdown of the season.

“We knew our game plan coming in as a team, so honestly there wasn’t that big of a change. It was just doing what we know how to do, and then we put it all in place,” Barron

said of the offense’s slow start.

The Wildcat defense forced another ISU punt, which set the offense up near midfield.

On first-and-10 Matt Hammer, WSU’s offensive coordinator, dialed up a reverse flea flicker.

Barron handed the ball off to Davis, who pitched it to a receiver cutting back across the line of scrimmage who then pitched the ball back to Barron.

The Wildcat quarterback then launched the ball to a wide-open Ames for a 55-yard touchdown, taking a 14–0 Wildcat lead which the team took to the halftime locker room.

“The O-line, you know they’re special. Without them, I’m not able to take those shots downfield,” Barron said.

Coming out of the half, the Bengals responded with a quick scoring strike.

Vander Waal threw a short pass to senior wideout Tanner Conner, who bounced off two WSU defenders and outran the rest of the defense for a 74-yard touchdown, cutting the Wildcat lead to 14–7.

WSU received the ball and Barron dropped back, hitting all-American senior wide receiver Rashid Shaheed in stride down the right sideline for a 38-yard touchdown to extend the Wildcat lead to 21–7.

“Having guys like David Ames, Ty MacPherson and Rashid Shaheed, man, I just throw it up there and those guys make plays, simple as that,” Barron said.

The scoring was just beginning for the purple and white, and a Wildcat feeding frenzy ensued.

With 10:28 to go in the third quarter, WSU sophomore cornerback Eddie Heckard stripped the ball from ISU’s Conner and safety Desmond Williams recovered it for the Wildcats.

“I thought the defense played outstanding.

We did basically everything we wanted to do in the first half,” Hill said. “We confused them we got some sacks, and we got two turnovers.”

After a short offensive drive down the field, Shaheed snagged his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard pass from Barron in the front corner of the tiger-striped end zone, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 28–7.

Davis capped off WSU’s 28-point third quarter by ripping off a 64-yard touchdown run followed by McMillan plunging in from the ISU 4-yard line to take a 42–7 Wildcat lead.

“It was 42–7, and at that point we made the decision. We got five or six real key guys, and at 42–7 the game was pretty much over.

We didn’t want to do something dumb with them,” Coach Hill said. “So we subbed out maybe six or seven guys.”

ISU gained momentum in the fourth quarter after Vander Waal threw two touchdowns including a 52-yarder to Conner with under 10 minutes to play.

Vander Waal completed 17 of 42 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Bengals.

By the time the dust settled, the Wildcats had gained 289 total rushing yards and 638 yards of total offense.

“We’re explosive and we love to compete, and that’s something you’ll see throughout the whole season,” Barron said.

WSU is ranked No. 2 in the FCS — the team’s highest ranking ever.

“We got to stay humble and just keep getting better. That’s the key,” Hill said.

The Wildcats were scheduled to travel to San Luis Obispo, California to take on Cal Poly on March 6, but due to COVID concerns, the game has been postponed to April 19.

WSU’s next game will be in front of a limited audience at Stewart Stadium on March 13, in what will be WSU’s first home game since the Wildcats defeated Montana in the FCS Playoff quarterfinals on Dec. 13, 2019.

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WSU Athletics

The Wildcats scored the most points in a season opener on the road in school history.

WSU Athletics

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After a fifteen-month gridiron hiatus, Weber State pounced into action against the Idaho State Bengals in Pocatello.

10 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 02, 2021

WRITING KILLING INTO THE CURRICULUM

JENNIFER GREENLEE Columnist

OPINION

Woodshop. English. Math. Firearm training.

This is what high school students’ class options might look like next semester if HB 258 passes the Utah House of Representatives and Senate and is signed into law by Gov. Spencer Cox. HB 258 would offer high school students the option to take a firearms training course.

This would focus on some gun safety, but it would be taking students out to shoot guns in an indoor or outdoor course.

However, I don’t really think this bill goes far enough. They told us to arm teachers to prevent school shootings. Well, let’s just start arming the students. Give every student a gun with their school laptop. Bullets come with the mashed potatoes at lunch.

Sure, under the current bill, students would only be firing guns with an on-site instructor, but giving them free range of using these guns will really teach them how to be responsible with a firearm. It will only take a few accidents before students start using them really carefully. I’m sure they’ll pay attention to all of those nit-picky laws. They won’t be texting their friends about shooting anyone during class.

I mean, really, let’s just hand out M-16s.

Why not? We just want them to be safe in their schools, don’t we? If we think about it, the deadliest and most publicized school shootings used semi-automatic or automatic weapons, so let’s make sure they can fight back tit for tat.

I’m sure that without training on these weapons and military protocols the students will be fine. They’ll know what an active threat looks like. I’m sure no one would mow down their English teacher when they get a bad grade on a paper.

And because we’re clearly so worried about student safety here, we might as well introduce those military tactics. We’ve militarized everything else, so we might as well start a little younger. Make sure they have PTSD before they have their first kiss or driver’s license.

Really, it’s probably a me problem that I still jump at cars backfiring in a campus parking lot. It’s probably just me who looks for an escape route in every classroom I walk into. It’s probably just me who stares off into space during class, wondering what I would do if someone with a gun just walked in. I mean, it’s only been three years since I graduated.

No lasting trauma was done.

There’s already rising youth depression and anxiety rates. Surely, no harm can come from allowing them to take out their frustrations.

Especially not if they have a gun. Seeing what could have been themselves and their friends reflected in a list of casualties doesn’t give minors any type of survivor’s guilt or trauma.

None of them deal with lockdowns more frequently than assemblies — assemblies were so last decade anyway.

And, really, learning how to use a firearm will give them better aim. I’m sure none of

them will picture their bully, teacher or victim as a face on that target. I’m sure none of them have thought about killing anyone ever. Honestly, the targets won’t just be a practice run for the running targets in the hall. Maybe we should even consider adding moving targets to the curriculum just to make sure they’re prepared for war, hunting or math class.

Our legislatures were thinking about us when they decided to pass and sign into law HB 32, which no longer requires a permit to conceal carry a firearm. No training, just buying and hoping you don’t shoot yourself in the foot.

I mean, let’s be honest — if you were white, you didn’t need a permit anyway. They weren’t going to stop a white person with baggy pants and a gun. I’m also sure it will be really distinguishable if it’s a 15- to 17-year-old with a firearm tucked in their pants. It will be so helpful for identifying potential threats near a school.

Obviously, guns aren’t allowed inside anyway, but it’s clearly no concern.

Now, because guns will be a staple of the curriculum, guns might have to be allowed in anyway. I’m sure students will never forget their gun and have to have their parents drop it off for them. I’m sure they’ll always load it properly and won’t blow their fingers off.

And since these kids will learn so much about gun safety, they’ll probably be storing their guns in a safe. The same safe as their parents’ guns. I’m sure that could never cause a problem.

I’m sure buying guns for these children won’t give them access to a deadlier suicide method or homicidal way to end their problems.

Let’s even go another step further and make

sure even more people have access to guns.

If we really want to prevent school shootings, we’ll arm all students who are old enough to point and shoot. Middle schoolers, elementary students, all of them. I mean, if the third graders had guns at Sandy Hook, there would have been no problems at all.

No, I’m sure I’m the one overreacting.

Clearly. I’m sure I’m the only one who is sick of seeing what could have been me on the television. I’m sure I was the only high school student after the Parkland Shooting who saw a huge increase in death threats at my school.

I’m sure everyone remembers the school shooting threats in the 80s, and this is no different, right?

But, for your freedom, we will continue to let children die before they ever experience adulthood and what freedom may really look like. For your comfort, we can just ignore all the problems that this bill will cause, and you can pretend you did something to arm and protect your babies. You can just pretend you did anything that mattered when they come home from the place they were supposed to be safe in a coffin.

Just to make sure your rights aren’t violated, we will violate our nation’s children, until they only fear a failing grade, tests and being shot.

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MyWeberMedia.com| March 02, 2021 | 11

AUBREE ECKHAR

DT | The Signpo st

HB 258 would allow students to practice with firearms as part of the curriculum.

12 | MyWeberMedia.com| March 02, 2021

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STRESSED? WE CAN HELP!

virtual

Wildcat Chat College life can be stressful and sometimes you need someone who understands these stressors to chat with or even just vent to. Your fellow Wildcats are here and ready to listen!

Learn more and see the complete schedule at: weber.edu/CounselingCenter/wildcat-chat.html

virtual

world

By LUCAS MOORE Reporter

The United Nations recognized Feb. 11 as International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

This includes the achievements women make in our society today in careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

As for the history of this day, the General Assembly made it a reality in 2015. The main motive and movement of this day is to recognize and encourage women and girls entering this field.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, total gender equality is a global priority, and over the past couple decades, this goal has been getting closer to being achieved.

Weber State University has its own representation of this. Jennifer Morales, a junior and double major in computer science and professional sales, is a prime example of the excellence in the Women’s Tech Council with her recently acquired Student-Pathway award that acknowledges female students pursuing a career in tech.

Morales was recognized by WSU faculty, stating that she had no idea she was nominated until she was addressed as a finalist.

Morales feels very inspired to encourage others around her, especially first-generation college students like herself, to pursue this position.

“While volunteering at the first Lego-League at Weber, an event where kids from elementary schools come to build robots and make obstacle courses, it had a sentimental effect on me to see the impact someone can have on young minds in tech science,” Morales said.

Morales also credited Pat Dejong, her computer science advisor, as fully supporting and encouraging her from the moment she met her on her first tour of Weber State.

One recent example from the past year of how women have been accomplishing major feats in this field of work is the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many individuals have been putting time in to help the world become more knowledgeable about the virus and generating the vaccine to combat the virus.

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Anxiety Toolbox Group Most of us have some level of anxiety, but we still have to know how to manage it and keep living life. Anxiety Toolbox is a virtual group where you can learn about anxiety. It is not a counseling or therapy group, it is an educational group.

Learn more about the group at: weber.edu/CounselingCenter/virtual-anxiety-toolbox.html

In 2020, Jennifer Morales was awarded the Student Pathway award by the Women’s Tech Council.

WSU

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S PPORT The Signpost

The pandemic has been especially hard on advertising revenue at The Signpost, and we are turning to our alums and supporters for help. You can buy swag and boost student journalism at the same time. Purchase a cup, a mask, Weber-branded Coke bottles or commemorative art of the iconic Stewart Bell Tower.

Prices start at $20.20, to cap a year for the history books. Visit The Signpost’s e-store and order now! https://secure.touchnet.com/C20249_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=158

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DO YOU KNOW YOUR NEWS? 2. The correct answer is A, Conservative Political Action Conference. Ac-

cording to CNN, Trump spoke at the Orlando, Florida conference, pushing back against his critics in the GOP but dismissing fears that he would start a separate “MAGA” party. He did not explicitly state whether he would seek another term as president in 2024.

3. The correct answer is D, 1987. According to the Library of Congress website, the first Women’s History Month was March 1987. It was expanded from Women’s History Week, created under President Reagan in 1982.

cording to CNBC, Iran rejected an invitation on Feb. 28 to discuss a potential return to the negotiating table regarding nuclear weapons.

4. The correct answer is D, Iran. Ac-

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1. The correct answer is B, Johnson & Johnson. According to NBC News, the vaccine is a single-dose and the first shots could be administered as early as March 2.

QUIZ ANSWERS FROM PAGE 2

Another COVID-19 vaccine was just approved by the FDA on Feb. 28.

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