Month: April 2015

Two former women’s basketball players are seeking legal action against Dixie State University for racial, religious and sexual discrimination.

The lawsuit also includes former head coach Catherria Turner and Athletic Director Jason Boothe as defendants.

Turner served as the women’s basketball head coach for the 2013-2014 season. According to her termination letter, Turner was fired Nov. 7, 2014 for “withholding critical information from the athletic department,” and “committing a 2nd NCAA violation during her 18 months of employment.” 

Austen Harris, one of the plaintiffs and a senior integrated studies major from Phoenix, said a lawsuit has been the plan for nearly a year. Former player Nanea Woods is also a plaintiff in the lawsuit. 

According to a complaint filed April 15 in the district court, Turner allegedly violated NCAA regulations by forcing the players to take 500 shots each day in addition to their regular training and conditioning. The complaint details Turner’s discriminatory treatment of the African-American players who were on the team by frequently referring to them as the “Sistas.”

Turner participated in religious discrimination by requiring Woods and Harris to pray before each game, and the players were instructed by Turner to say “hallelujah” and “amen” during team meetings, the complaint said.

The document details Turner’s “fixation” on sexual orientation, and she accused Harris and Woods of dating each other, according to the report.  

Harris said she and her parents sought legal action after Turner was not terminated after some team members expressed their concerns multiple times to the DSU athletic department and administration.

“Boothe knew about it and didn’t do anything,” she said. “We approached him earlier last year before everything got worse, and he just swept everything under the rug. As the athletic director, you should help the players. He listened, but he didn’t do anything about it.”

Boothe and other members of the athletic department declined to comment. 

“It’s almost like [the athletic department] didn’t want to fire [Turner] for the racial or sexual discrimination, and they needed something extra,” Harris said.

Harris said the lawsuit should take about another year to be finalized, depending on DSU’s response. Combined with taking 21 credits this semester, Harris said dealing with the lawsuit has been stressful, but she’s happy it’s moving forward.

“Me and [Woods] are doing it for the other girls,” she said. “I’ve lost a whole year of playing basketball … It’s just not fair, and I’m glad the girls this year didn’t have to deal with that, but last year it was hard for all of us.”

Article by Candy Rolland. 

Free T-shirts, full-size Hershey’s bars, four films, one destroyed Apple MacBook, and a bombardment of “Lord of the Rings” screen savers are all to get all eyes on the “D.” 

The Dixie State University Information Technology Department has been working earnestly for a year on the new Dixie ID project. The goal of the project will be combining the accounts individuals use under one authoritative database. Each student, faculty or staff member will only have one username and one password for all Dixie accounts, hence, “One account to rule them all.”

Technology is moving toward being even more connected, said Craig Southwick, director of systems administration. The combined ID makes things simpler, more secure, and builds for future IT projects like a single sign-on system, where you will only have to log in once to access all your accounts, Southwick said. 

The new Dixie ID project will be initiated May 16.  Students, faculty and staff will have to remember to place a “D” before their student or employee ID number. There will be no difference in student and employee accounts, but the change is a bit bigger for the employees. The password for students will be the same password used for their Canvas or mydixie. The password for employees will be the one used for their dixie.edu email. 

IT has spent significant time and so far $20,000 for this project, not including the wages of the staff who have been working on it. 

Southwick said he was asked, “Why has the DSU IT department been going to such lengths for marketing this project? After all what is so difficult about adding a “D” to your Dixie ID number?”

IT is actually improvising, Southwick replied. A project like this normally takes years, adding more full-time staff, consultants, and a lot more money, he said.  However, the IT department will spend what it must to support campus with this transition, Southwick said. 

The main reason for the marketing now is to bring awareness to students who will be using their accounts over the summer and to prevent as much confusion as possible when 9,000 students try to log on in the fall, Southwick said. 

DSU Films has been playing a big role in the marketing, with two films already out and two to go. 

IT had asked DSU Films for its help at the beginning of February to try and help promote this “mundane information,” said Ben Braten, director of film production and editing.

“We are all kind of like giant geeks, and so we all like ‘Lord of the Rings’… We all have that in common right?” Braten chuckled. 

Braten said he doesn’t think most people know how difficult it is to actually put something like this together. You have got to find the actors, the costumes, order the costumes, wait for the costumes, find out the masks are awful, make everyone’s schedules work, and sometimes stay out until 2 a.m. filming, he said. 

So far about 16 students and a handful of staff have been involved with the filming, but Braten estimates about two to three dozen students will have been involved when everything is said and done. 

“[We’ve] pulled off something pretty funny,” Braten said. 

DSU Films had planned on having the films done last week, but with the semester winding down and finals nearing, Braten said, schedules have been extra difficult. He said they are shooting to have them done this week but definitely by the end of the semester.

IT will be sending out emails in the near future to remind students, faculty, and staff about the login changes. Marketing will pick back up in the fall, and at least for the first week of school, six of 24 trained IT students will be staffing the front desk in the Holland building for extra assistance. 

“If marketing helps and the more people [that] seamlessly login the first week the better,” Southwick said. 

Remember everybody, in the words of DSU YouTube Gollum, “Give it the D.”

To watch the films and/or for more information, visit dixie.edu/dixieid. 

Article by Nick Barnum

The business world is constantly changing, and four students at Dixie State University are researching how values create such a difference.  

Cam Caldwell, an adjunct professor of business, has brought his knowledge in business to the DSU business program. He is giving four young students the opportunity to get a class research project published in an international business journal.

This is the first year Caldwell has taught at DSU, and he wants to bring higher business learning to the university.

“The focus of our class is to help the students to distinguish themselves from other students so they can have a leg up … and get published,” Caldwell said. 

Jia Wei Liu, a senior business major from Wuhan, China, is the brain behind the research project idea. Liu grew up in China and has brought his perspective to business and wants to make a change.  

Liu had the idea to study how Americans rate certain values compared to his home country.  

“Business is about culture, especially international business,” Liusaid. 

The study is called “Value Perception of US and Chinese Business Students: Implications for Application in the Global Economy.”

The study looks at over 147 different business values and how they compare in different situations.  

Liu is a student who came to America with no real purpose but has since found himself as a man that wants to change the world.  In the project research, Liu refers to the “Post Generation.” These are young adults in business, ages 19-27.  

Liu wants to be the example on how to create change, and he is planning to do just that. When Liu graduates he wants to return to China and present his study to universities all over China and help them understand what values can be changed to create a better business environment for the country.  

“If I can’t change the (Chinese) government, what can I do?” Liu said. “I can change the people.”  

A value in particular Liu wanted to look at was “guanxi.”  “Guanxi” is a Chinese value and translates as “the requirement to establish a personal relationship before doing business.” 

America is a very individualistic country and personal connection is mostly unknown within the business world, Liu said. However, in China you are expected to have a personal relationship with whomever you do business with. This means you are loyal to them in business and will always go to them whether it is for you paper needs, or your need for whatever you may need to run a business, Liu said.

The United States has an individualistic view on business versus a Chinese view of collectivism. Liu talked about each of the two business systems having their own perks, but a mix of the two would create a great balance in values for doing business.

Liu said he believes it doesn’t matter what the government does, and it doesn’t matter what businesses may do — what matters is how people act. Liu wants his actions to show his business values and in turn create change in China. It is a strong ambition that drives Liu, and he will not stop until change is accepted, he said.

Liu is working with Eric Burrows, a junior business major from St. George, Vivianna Harris, a senior business major from Gunlock, and McKenzie Thompson, a senior business major from Milford. These four students are all looking to create change in business and want to help Liu achieve his goals.

If you feel like there’s not enough emphasis on custom, quality neckwear in the fashion industry today, then know a group of Dixie State University students know how you feel and have come up with a solution. 

Accidental Gentleman is a new company started by students at DSU that specializes in custom, screen printed neckties. Since its birth last fall, it won first place at the Dixie State University Opportunity Quest competition for startup companies, was a top 20 finalist in the 2015 Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, and the company Kickstarter campaign was successfully funded by donors around the world and highlighted on the website as a staff pick.

Before all of this, Accidental Gentleman was just an idea between two brothers. 

Garett Garcia, a junior business major from St. George, and his twin brother Jeremy, a sophomore art major, were taking a business class together when Garett approached Jeremy with his idea for screen printed ties. 

Jeremy Garcia had been interested in screen printing since he was a teenager, and he said this business was a way to combine his hobbies and his experience with his brother’s. He said this is an important part of the success of their company, or any company. 

“Do something that you’re passionate about,” Jeremy said. “We are striving to be the best … That’s a huge drive for us.”

The brothers also recruited two more friends, Miles Manwaring, a senior art major from St. George, and Chris Nasshan to be a part of the company. 

Their education at DSU has played an important role in how they operate in their company. 

Manwaring works as the graphic design manager for Accidental Gentleman and said his experience doing the graphic design for the Dixie State University Student Association and other advertising design jobs have been beneficial for the company.

“I’ve been interested in graphic design and screen printing for a long time now, and at Dixie State, I’ve been lucky enough with classes to be able to develop my skills in both of those areas,” Manwaring said. “With the education and real-world experience I’ve gained here at Dixie State, it’s had a huge impact on me and the direction that we’ll be going with Accidental Gentleman.”

Jeremy Garcia said another big influence was Eric Pedersen, the science and technology dean, who encouraged them from the beginning.

“He’s very encouraging of entrepreneurship and very excited about it,” Jeremy Garcia said. “He really kind of lit a fire in us to try this out.” 

Currently the entrepreneurs are working on making a shop to increase production of their ties. Jeremy Garcia said they’ll have a full ecommerce site for taking orders as well. 

They have many designs already created and ready to print, some of which were collaborations with other artists. Jeremy Garcia said the exciting part for him is the custom work. 

“We can print just about anything people bring to us,” he said. 

So for those interested in having their idea printed on a tie, Accidental Gentleman is here to make it possible.

It is the night before finals, and students all across campus — no, all across the planet — are cramming for their exams.

Students’ habitual practice of avoidant coping strategies leads them down a path of emotional turmoil that often proves more destructive than the procrastinated event would have.

As the brain evolved, its neurological connections increased. Therefore, humans became capable of complex thought. The issue is that higher intelligence led to a process of perceived-pain avoidance, which aids in our innate procrastination, said Christine Chew, Dixie State University assistant professor of psychology. Students often practice faulty thinking as to the cause and effects of procrastination, but there are some ways to combat it.

“I don’t know if there is one answer for why people do it,” Chew said. “They know they have things to do, but they would rather be biking, hiking or whatever else students do for fun.”

Chew said procrastination is simply people putting off the things they do not want to do. People innately conditioned to seek pleasure — to feel good. People have things that come up and cause a need for prioritization, and sometimes, people use those things as an excuse to procrastinate.

“I procrastinate on almost every assignment,” said Aaron Crane, a senior communication major from Glenns Ferry, Idaho. “I know I shouldn’t do it, but things come up, and I just push it back.”

There are many different neurological reasons for procrastination, said Palwasha Ahad, DSU assistant professor of psychology. The emotional center of the brain, the amygdala, resides in the limbic system and has more time to develop than other areas, so there are neural connections, which creates a complex connection between logic and emotion.

“Things that cause us anxiety; studying, cleaning, relationships; can cause our amygdala to become negatively stimulated,” Ahad said. “One way to override the negative stimulation would be to procrastinate.”

Ahad said if people fail to take control and properly prioritize, continued avoidance could cause continually increasing anxiety. If persistent, avoidance causes the body to produce an abundance of stress related neurohormones.

“I get stressed, and I go through and prioritize when each assignment is due,” said Kyle Smith, a junior criminal justice major from Springdale. “Then, I see how long I can put it off.”

Chew said some people seem to think they work better under pressure, but no matter the circumstance, if people are working under pressure they are not functioning in their full capacity.

“I actually think I work better when I have a deadline or when I’m under pressure,” Crane said.

Tacy Neilson, a senior communication major from Salt Lake City, said she procrastinates 60 percent of the time. However, she has never given much thought as to why.

“Maybe I’m lazy; maybe it’s self-gratification,” Neilson said. “I’d rather watch TV or spend time with my children than do an assignment — it’s a habit.”

Completing assignments in a timely, prioritized manner lessens the long-term release of stress hormones that reinforce avoidance, Ahad said.

“For any behavior that people tend to procrastinate with but want to do, they should set short–term attainable goals,” Ahad said. “Focus on steps. Allow their brains to complete steps quickly and efficiently with very little stress, so they can create healthy productive brains.” 

As the school year draws to a close, so does the journey of Student Body President Gregory J. Layton.

There have been ups and downs this year according to Layton, a senior English major from Cottonwood Heights. He is proud with his accomplishment of gaining the trust of the students, faculty, administration and the board of trustees. He said he wishes he could have helped make the attendance of activities better.

Layton said he worked hard to be the best representative of the students. He did this by being hard-working, professional, personable, responsible and reliable.

“I met with administrators from other schools in Utah and even in Japan who were shocked at how much our leaders listen and act based upon the opinions of students,” Layton said.

Layton said it is also special that he is not only a student but a board of trustees member as well. He said having this position didn’t give him any power: Power is earned. He said he gained enough respect to have his opinion matter.

“Many of the student initiatives and desires would not have been considered if administrators didn’t have respect and trust in me,” Layton said.

Layton said he worked hard to build relationships, and that helped him to become a better leader because he knew what it was like being on the opposite side of where most students are.

Layton said next year’s student body president, Matt Devore, a junior integrated studies major from Mesquite, Nevada, plans on continuing with the changing the identity and will not let anything fizzle out; it will be completed.

“The most frustrating aspect of higher education is the length of time it takes to make changes,” Layton said.

Layton said DSU’s identity has been included in the strategic plan, and it will be completed in May. Layton is not exactly sure what will happen from where he and the other executive council leaders left off, but he knows there will be forward action.

“I do know there is a dire need to improve [DSU] identity from the massive amount of negative and confused opinions shared about where the institution’s nickname and mascot are currently,” Layton said.

Something will happen with the identity. Layton said he isn’t sure what the exact course of plan is, but the effort from students will not go unnoticed.

Layton may be off to bigger and better things, but he said he will miss plenty about DSU, including the students, faculty, staff and administrators.

“There are so many wonderful people at DSU who have made my life so much better that I am going to feel like I lost my family,” Layton said.

He said his time at DSU has been the best period of his life. Layton said he will never forget the fun, difficult, funny and hard times.

“I hope everyone who has played some sort of role to help me become a better person knows that I appreciate their efforts and influence,” Layton said. “Being president gave me a sense of worth that I am going to need to find in my next journey.”