Month: October 2013

It’s as though the actors get younger and better each fall at the Field of Screams, but that’s not the only way Staheli Family Farm has stepped up its game this year.

The family-owned farm has been in operation for years, and it holds fall and Halloween-themed attractions annually. The time that goes into setting up and coordinating the actors to work together behind the scenes seems immeasurable. The props and scenes in the Field of Screams are extremely creative and realistic, and there is always something new to the attraction.

Much like every typical haunted house, you begin in a room where a creepy butler-esque figure instructs you to enter and move forward. The actors hover behind you and direct you through the rest of the maze, making sure to creepily whisper in your ear and breathe heavily on your shoulder.

The actors

From young girls with creepy dolls to lanky kids making strange gurgling noises, the actors proved to be phenomenal. Some of my personal favorites were the clowns and, as always, the chainsaw guys. Others worth mentioning include a zombie gymnast and even the Queen of Hearts herself.

For the most part, the actors remain professional. Sometimes, though, an actor knows you outside of the attraction, and he or she says your name in an attempt to be more scary or funny, when, in fact, it jeopardizes the experience for you and those around you by them stepping out of character.

I have to hand it to the guy who was hanging on the wall, with the lower half of his corpse splattered on the ground below him. His performance and makeup were my favorite. The terrifying sounds he made and the way he hopelessly looked at you as you walked by was fantastic acting. The blood and guts looked very real.

The props

I don’t care how tough you think you are; the props and scenes in the Field of Screams will make anyone cringe in fright.

The Field of Screams is a relatively small attraction compared to the competition in Utah. However, the detail that goes into the props in each room throughout the maze reminds me of the props on many Disneyland rides. So much consideration and time goes into the creation of the Field of Screams. Each room is delicately created, and decked out with strobe lights, fake spider webs, tight spaces and much more.

Although I give the scenes, special effects and acting two thumbs up, each year I find myself asking, “What’s the point of the honking bus?” While it initially made me jump, it wasn’t scary at all. In fact, many agree it’s utterly obnoxious. I also don’t recommend the Field of Screams to anyone who may be sore or have a sprained ankle because the hidden mattresses on the ground and the large, rolling tubes can make you feel queasy and cause you to trip and fall. Be aware to follow the safety rules and contain yourself from running away from the actors, and always watch your step. 

The price

It may initially seem as though $12 for the Field of Screams is too much to pay, especially if you are a student. However, if you have Dixie Direct or a Starving Student Card, the prices are cut significantly. So if you plan on going and you want to keep it on the cheap side, remember to bring your coupons. 

Also, once you have your tickets, you’re allowed to join in on the honky-tonk activities that are strewn around the rest of the farm. The farm has a bonfire, a huge jumping pillow, petting zoo, corn slide, swings and much more. Whether you’re looking to get scared, spend family time, or go on a date, there is something for everyone at the Staheli Family Farm.

University Avenue leads community members down the road of education.

The St. George City council unanimously voted Oct. 17 to name 700 East University Avenue. The new name comes with support from community members, local government leaders and school officials.

“If you have a university in your town, you need a University Avenue,” President Stephen Nadauld said. “It is fun and brings school spirit to the town.”

St. George has not been considered a college town in the past, which is something Nadauld and city council members have been trying to change.

“Changing the name of the street shows some coordinated effort between the school and the community,” Nadauld said. “We are hoping that it helps both of them grow.”

After the change was announced, some were worried the name change would ruin the grid system St. George streets are based on.

“We already called the post office and have things sorted out,” Nadauld said. “While the signs will say University Avenue, the street will still technically be 700 East. People won’t need to change their address and will be free to choose what name they would like to have on their envelopes. Of course I hope they choose to have it say ‘University Avenue.’” 

Sarah Melling, a sophomore a general education major from Spanish Fork, said she was worried she would have to change her mailing address with the new name change. However, she is excited to live on University Avenue.

“It is pretty cool,” Melling said. “Not everyone gets to live on a University Avenue.”

Officials don’t know when the new signs will be put up, but they imagine it will not take long because of the past experiences they have had when the school was changed to a university, Nadauld said. 

“The state had the signs changed on the freeway very fast after we achieved university status, and I assume the same thing will happen in this situation as well,” Nadauld said.

Extra publicity was another benefit that came with the new university title.

“It is an inexpensive way to get our name out there,” Nadauld said. “The more branding a school has, the better it is. Even if it is something like a street sign, it is a big deal.”

The new name creates an image of learning in the community, Nadauld said.

“We want people to be able to drive down the road and know that they can find an education at the end of the road,” Nadauld said.

Chuckwalla trail is brimming with scenic hikes and picnic spots, but one element hikers might overlook is its 15 rock climbing routes.

These climbs aren’t meant for beginners, and Luke Wilkins, outdoor recreation coordinator, said it would be smart to climb with four to six people and someone who knows his or her way around the rocks.

The routes are meant for intermediate and advanced climbers because climbers need to set up their own top rope. Thus, someone needs enough knowledge to lead the climb and position the rope in the bolts so others can climb safely.

Another fact climbers need to keep in mind about the climbs at Chuckwalla is the sandstone rocks can cause blisters.

“It’s pretty rough on your fingers,” said Paul “PJ” Morris, a junior business major from South Jordan.

There are different levels of climbs for anyone interested in a challenge. The easiest climb is a 5.8, and other routes grow more difficult with each hold and angle. Those climbs are scattered along the trail, and it’s best to climb with someone who knows which route is suitable for specific skills.

If climbers decide to climb the 5.8, the beginning of the climb isn’t too difficult. Climbers can make the climb halfway with ease. Once they reach the halfway point, the climb gets more difficult with small holds where fingers can barely fit inside. There are also times when climbers need to stretch and reach for a better hold to keep them on the rock. If they aren’t able to get past the core of the route, climbers can ask the person on belay to help them swing to the right for an easier grip. Once they get past the challenging core, climbers need to keep their hips in and stay tight to the rock. The route becomes easier proceeding to the top.

If climbers decide to proceed with a more difficult route, they need to be careful not to take it when they have been climbing all day and their arms are sore and tired.

“PJ just saved my life last Saturday,” said Josh Chipman, a junior psychology major from St. George. “I took a 25-foot fall. I was at the top, slipped and fell all the way down. I brought PJ in the air about 4-5 feet. It riled me a bit. It was a good fall.”

Chipman decided to challenge the 10c climb after he had been climbing all day and his arms were weak.

“(He) fell a lot farther than I thought (he) would fall,” Morris said.

Chipman said whenever climbers are out on the routes, they are risking their lives.

“The typical [situation] is you pretty much just expect to die,” he said. “You just have to live with it.”

However, Wilkins said if climbers have someone with them who knows what he or she is doing, climbers don’t need to worry about death or injury. It is a sport no one should be afraid of.

“Typically in climbing, it’s the human error that kills you—not the climbing,” he said. “If everything is done properly, it is a safe sport.”

Essential supplies are climbing shoes, shorts or pants, a T-shirt, food and water.

The best time to climb during this time of year is any time when the sun is out. Chipman said it is not too hot, and it is not too cold. If climbers decide to go later in the year, they can’t forget to take a jacket.

If climbers aren’t as advanced, they can plan on climbing Chuckwalla in approximately two hours. If climbers are advanced, they can plan on climbing for about four to six hours.

Chuckwalla is on the left-hand side of Bluff Street, approximately one-half mile past the Snow Canyon Parkway intersection.

If climbers need a helping hand, the climbers at Dixie’s Outdoor Recreation Activities Center are there to help. They provide shoe and harness rentals, and they can help climbers with any advice or questions they may have. Climbers can contact the ORAC by phone at 435- 652-7986 or by email at odr@dixie.edu.

Tattoo popularity is increasing in St. George and so should our knowledge.

Students clad in graduation caps and robes are more than six months way, but a deadline looms close.

The deadline for Dixie State University students graduating with a bachelor’s degree next spring is Nov. 1. Although the process consists of numerous steps, completing the application process can motivate students to make the final push toward receiving a degree.

Students hoping to graduate next spring have a few options to begin the application process. The page www.dixie.edu/graduation includes links to a graduation audit page, which confirms students have met degree requirements; to an online graduation application; and to a search where students can find the adviser for their disciplines. 

Hanna Rahilly, theater lecturer and adviser, said she suggests theater students meet with her twice a semester. By doing so, they keep their goals in mind, so by the time the graduation deadline approaches, these students have already prepared themselves.       

After completing a degree audit, passing all their required classes, and signing paperwork, Rahilly said students not only know what they must do to graduate, but also continue to work hard. 

The fact students must apply for a bachelor’s degree more than a semester before graduation day is actually beneficial, she said.

“It’s good because the graduation paperwork, which they sign when I finish it, is like a contract that says: ‘I will do all this,’” Rahilly said.

However, coordinating graduation with part-time jobs and other academic endeavors in advance can also create problems if students aren’t fully prepared.

Madison Morrell, academic advisement general education adviser and a recent DSU graduate, said if students haven’t met with an adviser in the past, they may reach numerous hurdles that impede their progress to graduate when they first intended. Departments offer some classes once a year; degree catalogues change, making classes that were once required for programs in the past insignificant. When students face these dilemmas, their plans can change—even making them wait for the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance Marches” a year later.

“Students can tell [the adviser] their plan and then have them double-check it, so if anything goes wrong or classes are cancelled, they can help rearrange [a] schedule,” Morrell said.

Along with mismanaging class schedules, students who hold jobs struggle to graduate when anticipated, Rahilly said.

“It is really tricky, especially if the student is working,” she said. “That’s the trickiest part; students who aren’t working tend to graduate in four years.”

Rahilly said while applying for graduation can seem daunting, since the four or five-year road to completing a degree is a difficult one, it lets students breathe easily before wrapping up their work. Students who apply for graduation rarely fall short of graduating, she said.

The moment the ink-filled needle enters your flesh, there’s no turning back.

It’s no longer rare to see tattoo-covered students roaming Dixie State University. There’s no shortage of Asian-inspired sleeves, infinity symbols and cursive words written in permanent ink. With the rising popularity of tattoos, students need to ensure their dream tattoos don’t turn out to be bloody nightmares.

314 Tattoo, located at 551 N. 1400 East, is a popular spot to get inked. 314 tattoo artist Jasen Workman said patience makes all the difference when deciding on a tattoo, and it’s important to think long and hard about getting some owl tattoo you found on Pinterest.

“I tell people to go home, look at your walls, and go through old photographs,” Workman said. “Make a list of five things that are going to be unique to you. You’ve got to look deeper and find out what the tattoo means to you.”

Trendy tattoos like feathers and typical tribal designs make Workman’s skin crawl, and he advises students to pick a tattoo that will stand the test of time.

Tommy Trotta, a junior automotive major from Salt Lake City, has a full sleeve of ink and warns students to not make impulsive decisions when choosing a tattoo.

“You can’t erase it once you have it,” Trotta said. “Never get a girlfriend or boyfriend’s name on your body. I knew a guy who had at least three girlfriends’ names tattooed on him. He ended up having to cover them all up with black ink.”

Tattoo artists typically have portfolios that display previous work, and looking at multiple artist portfolios is a practical way to find an artist who complements your style, said Rollen Pool, a tattoo artist at Last Call Ink, located at 344 Sunland Drive.

Pool said once you find an artist you like, let him or her run with your initial idea. If the artist is gifted, he or she might come up with something even better than you thought.

“Getting a tattoo is like going to a restaurant,” Pool said. “You tell the chef you want a steak and how you want it cooked, and then you sit back and let the professional do the rest.”

Kahill Hunt, a freshman health science major from Price, has his last name in black and bright green tattooed down his torso and plans on getting many more tattoos. But he’s not following in his sister’s footsteps.

“My sister got a tattoo that she didn’t think through,” Hunt said. “She got a big ol’, messy fairy on her back. It just looked really bad.”

You get what you pay for when buying a tattoo, Workman said. So avoid getting inked in your friend’s basement, and don’t be a cheapskate when comparing prices. Tattoos can range from $50 to thousands of dollars.

“Do your research,” Workman said. “A lot of people want instant gratification: fast, now, I want to get it tomorrow, and that’s when people have the most regrets. I recommend going online and looking at all the artists in the area, and if you want a particular style and you have to go out of state to get it, go!”