UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | February 19, 2025

Athletics’ move to RMAC problematic, coaches say

Despite Dixie State University athletic’s plan to apply for full membership of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, many coaches are opposed to changes the move would bring to their programs.

Athletic Director Jason Boothe announced Dixie State University would be applying for full membership in the RMAC at the board of trustees meeting Sept. 23.

Boothe and President Biff Williams will present DSU as a potential member of the RMAC Oct. 25 at a conference meeting in Denver. Members of the conference will then vote, and if DSU gets at least two-thirds of the vote, they will be in the RMAC for the 2018-19 season.

Boothe said DSU would be one of 13 public schools in the RMAC, making the conference a better long-term fit for DSU.

“[DSU’s] athletic budgets would be a lot more similar to [RMAC teams’] athletic budgets,” Boothe said. “In the PacWest, there are some schools, namely private schools, that not only have a higher athletic budget than us, but they’re are a lot higher.”

The move will put all of DSU athletic teams in one conference. Swimming currently competes in the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference, because the Pacific West Conference doesn’t have swimming, so moving to the RMAC would bring them into the same conference as DSU’s other teams. 

As for head baseball coach Chris Pfatenhauer, he said he does not see the move as beneficial.

“I just don’t think it’s the right move for the majority of our sports,” Pfatenhauer said. “[The move] is going to cost the school more money, it’s going to cause longer travel times, whether that’s on a bus or on airplanes, and our players will miss more school.”

Pfatenhauer said he is worried about athletes from warm weather climates like California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii, because a majority of DSU teams are made up of players from these climates, and moving to the RMAC will affect recruiting.

“Playing in locations where you recruit is vital to those kids wanting to play in your program, because they get to go back home and their parents, friends, and families get to see them play,” Pfatenhauer said. “So [the move] will greatly change our recruiting plan.”

Pfatenhauer also said the RMAC has Sunday games almost every week, while the PacWest has games on few Sundays throughout the season.

“Obviously, with the large number of religious students here, [Sunday games] create a problem,” Pfatenhauer said. “Not to mention, our athletes won’t get a day to rest. They will get home early Monday morning and then still have to go to class that same day. It will be a grind all seven days of the week for them.”

Head women’s soccer coach Kacey Bingham said she doesn’t believe that moving to the RMAC would be the best move for soccer.

Bingham said she is concerned about outdoor play, weather, elevation, travel components and Sunday play when it comes to moving conferences. But she said at the end of the day, although she might not love it, the team is still committed to winning every game in whatever conference it is in.

“We’re not in favor of [the move],” Bingham said. “But if that is the ultimate decision, we want our kids to be on board, and we will support it the best we can, even though we wish we were staying in the PacWest.”

Head volleyball coach Robyn Felder said the RMAC school locations are more of a grind, but she sees the move as something new and exciting.

“[The volleyball team] has established itself as one of the top teams in the PacWest,” said Felder. “So we will kind of have to start over. It’s a good challenge for us.”

Felder said the athletic funding in the PacWest gave DSU a disadvantage, so being in the RMAC would even the playing field for everyone.

“Change is hard,” said Felder. “But I think that [the move] will be better for everyone in the long run.”

 

Nigerian Independence Day celebrated at DSU with food, fashion

Students at Dixie State University dressed up and gathered together to celebrate the Nigerian Independence Day with food, games, dress and fun Friday.

Starting the event with authentic Nigerian food, students of all cultures enjoyed comedy, a fashion show, music and Nigerian dancing in the Gardner Student Center Ballroom. The event was hosted by the Nigerian Student Association.

“I really enjoy the rice from Nigeria,” said Chidera “Mikraking” Ezech, a freshman nursing major from Awka, Nigeria. “In Nigeria, we also have a big cake with our flag colors on it and celebrate with fireworks.”

Though Nigerian Independence day is celebrated on Oct. 1, the Nigerian Student Association wanted to involve as many students and faculty as possible to show appreciation to this celebration.

Cynthia Konye Ojoko, a sophomore chemistry major from Lagos, Nigeria, is the president of the Nigerian Student Association. She said she helped put the Nigerian Independence Day event together and was grateful for the attendance of students, faculty and residents.

The independence day event included singing the Nigerian national anthem, and pledge of Nigeria, along with cultural dances by Ojoko, and a brief history of Nigeria. A fashion show with vibrant clothing followed, to show viewers the dress culture of Nigeria.

“I really liked going up on stage and learning their traditional dances,” said Natasha Cannon, a sophomore elementary education major from St. George. “I went last year and would like to go and see it next year.”

Riddles and jokes were also given about Nigeria and other cultures.

Traditional Nigerian food was served for everyone who attended the event. Fried rice, Jollof rice, plantain, chicken, chicken gizzards and Zobo — a Nigerian tea-like drink — were all served at the event.

“I am grateful for how far Nigeria has come as a country,” Ojoko said. “I hope that many other cultural events can be attended at DSU so we can all learn from each other.”

Donations were optional for the Nigerian Student Association to continue events like this one and help DSU continue to be a diverse culture university. 

Student parents balance kids, school with few campus resources

For many parents at Dixie State University, being a student while taking care of a child’s life can put a spin on school, social life and family time.

Kyla Mercier, a senior integrated studies major from St. George, said she understands the struggle of parenting and being a student. Mercier has one child, is a single parent and is currently affiliated with the Free2Feed organization located in St. George.

Free2Feed is a non-profit organization that empowers and supports mothers. The organization offers breastfeeding classes, motherhood education, babysitting and joint activities to build and support parents, such as a 5-kilometer on Oct. 29

When Mercier began attending Dixie State University, she said she had an eight-week-old baby and found it difficult only having access to two mother rooms, one located on the fifth floor of the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons and another at the Russel C. Taylor Health Science Center. These rooms are specifically for pumping breast milk in privacy and are more sanitary than a restroom. Mercier said she wishes more rooms were provided so mothers could feel comfortable and have privacy to take care of their babies.

Mercier said she has worked to build a Motherhood Support Group at DSU to help mothers get through school and still be active parents. This group is currently not chartered by DSU because too few full-time students serve on the group’s council, but Mercier said she believes it can help parents stay in school.

Although Mercier said she still finds it a little difficult to tend her daughter and go to school, she is grateful to the Free2Feed organization for helping her as a parent and as a student.

Free2Feed provided Mercier with the knowledge she is not the only one in her situation, introduced her to other moms she trusts with her baby, helped her make new friends, and encouraged her to be more involved in the community while learning how to be a better mother, Mercier said.  

Mercier said being the parent of a toddler and being a full-time student with 14 credits can be difficult and busy. While Mercier attends school, she said she has her ex-husband take care of their child. 

Anne Pinegar, a sophomore nursing major from Provo, said she is grateful for the way DSU faculty deal with her being a parent. She said her teachers are considerate and reasonable about her raising her child as well as going to school. She said she hopes other student parents can feel the same way she does about her teachers.

“Being a parent and going back to school is difficult and a lot of work,’’ Pinegar said. “I don’t think others see how difficult it can be.”

Pinegar said she is getting a better education to better both her life and her daughter’s life. Pinegar said she finds it hard to balance time between school and being a mom but said she always helps her daughter first and then finds time for school.

Parents who have younger children such as infants and toddlers also have a different schedule from parents whose children are older.

Craig Bohannan, a senior criminal justice major from Peoria, Illinois, is attending school to help him progress in his career as a chief firefighter. Bohannan said he is the father of three children, all of whom are in grade school, and said he doesn’t have enough time in the day for both his activities and his family. Bohannan said he gave up hunting, fishing and hanging out with his buddies on the weekends to spend more time with his kids as well as to complete school assignments.

Bohannan said his father told him, “You better keep your ass in school. I don’t care what it is, get a college degree of any kind.” 

He said these words still ring true and motivate him to continue his schooling. Though Bohannan has to sacrifice a lot to juggle the time for his family, money and work, he said he knows going to school is the right decision.

“Without the support of my wife, I would not be able to do this,” Bohannan said. “When I’m away with work and school, she has to pick up the slack and play both roles as a parent.”

Bohannan said he strives to be a good example for his kids, not just as a parent and husband but as a student.

The resources available for student parents include a preschool on campus for practical experience for early childhood education majors, but it only operates on limited hours.    

Meetings for the Free2Feed organization are held Mondays from 10-11:30 a.m. at 224 S. Valley View Drive in St. George.

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated, scholarships available

Dixie Hispanic Student Association starts off the Hispanic Heritage Month with an opportunity for Latino Hispanic students and a variety of events for the community.

DHSA is a student run organization that focuses on raising the awareness of Hispanic diversity on campus, exploring the culture in different ways, and creating a positive impact on the community through academia and service.

“I consider the club a friendly, fun and out-giving environment where I have been able to share about my culture, learn about others, and create strong friendships,” said DHSA member Jesus Rosas, a sophomore mathematics major from Guanajuato, Mexico.

The Latino community is celebrating the Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated every year between Sep. 15 and Oct. 15 to recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States. It started with the Salsa Dance Night on Sep. 15 where students learned some Latin moves and tasted chips and salsa. 

DHSA is run through the Multicultural Inclusion Center; they are established to support students with various cultural backgrounds and increase cultural diversity.

“There are approximately 2,000 students with a multicultural background, which makes them a racial minority on campus,” says Sandra Aguirre, President of the DHSA. “About 1,000 of them are part of the Latino Hispanic Community, which is the largest population of racial minorities on campus.”

The MIC offers The Multicultural Diversity Scholarship, which is given to students who are eligible and meet all the requirements of a high GPA and community service. Also, there is the Dreamers Scholarship that is available for undocumented students who are not eligible for financial aid or university scholarships.

Mike Nelson, Outreach Coordinator of the MIC,said the money for this scholarship comes from donations and fundraising events like the Diversity Week, where there are performances and dances from different cultures. The ticket profit from this event goes to the Dreamers Scholarship to help those students pay for their tuition.

To complement the celebration, according to an email sent from the Paramount Public Relations, Big Red, “America’s original and best-selling red soda,” has partnered with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities to grant five $1,000 Big Red ¡Avance! scholarships to help students with their education. Students can learn more about the scholarships at www.bigred.com/scholarship and sign up to be notified when the scholarship application is available in January 2017.

The Hispanic Heritage Month events continue with the Diversity Week Game Day Loteria Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. at the Rebels Forever Memory Garden outside the Browning Learning Resource Center. At S’mores and Art on Oct 5 at 7:30 p.m at the Amphitheater by the Fountain, there will be a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, art, an art contest and giveaways. Movie Night on Oct 6 at 7 p.m. at the Gardner Student Center, students will be watching “McFarland, USA” and the celebration events end on Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gardner Student Center with the MIC Fashion Show. The third annual MIC Fashion Showcase is an event encouraging cultural diversity and awareness. It includes a cultural showcase of upbeat, high-energy performances, a fashion show featuring attire and music from various countries.

Football preview: Chances slim for DSU in WSCU game

The Trailblazers face a tough opponent in Western State Colorado University and will need to play their best game of the season if they hope to come out on top.

Dixie State University returns home after a two-game road trip to resume conference play Saturday. Here’s the scoop.

What happened last week

The Trailblazers were blown out by the Central Washington University Wildcats 40-18. They gave up season-highs in points (40), rush yards (275), pass yards (215), and total yards (490).

DSU got off on the wrong foot to begin with. On its first series, its punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown just three minutes into the first quarter. Things didn’t get much better from there. CWU led 27-10 at halftime and the Trailblazers were never able to fight their way out of the deficit.

DSU was never able to get the ground game going. It was only able to manage 86 total yards on the ground. The Trailblazers were outmatched up front and had to rely on the pass game, and that hasn’t been their strongest aspect so far this season. The good news is it was not a conference game, so DSU can learn from it and move on.

Last meeting with WSCU

DSU and WSCU have never faced each other before, making Saturday the first ever matchup between the schools. With DSU now in the RMAC, these two teams will face each other at least once a year now.

DSU vs. WSCU by the numbers 

When comparing the numbers between the two teams, there are some glaring differences. This could be a very ugly game for the Trailblazers if their defense doesn’t play well.

The Mountaineers are an offensive juggernaut. It’s a big reason why they are 3-1 on the season. They are averaging 455.5 yards per game and are coming off a game in which they gained 582 total yards of offense. The more impressive stat, however, is how many rush yards they gained. WSCU torched Colorado Schools of Mines and Technology for 334 rush yards. The scary part was this wasn’t even their season high in rush yards. That came against Chadron State with 377.

For the Trailblazers, they’re averaging 393 yards of total yards of offense, 124 yards rushing and 263 yards passing. They’re averaging 20 points per game and allowing opposing teams to score 26 points and gain nearly 400 yards on offense. DSU has also not been very disciplined so far this year as it averages 7 penalties for 68 yards per game.

What to expect 

No surprise here.  WSCU is going to run the ball. This is their biggest weapon, and they are going to use it.

WSCU is led by senior running back Austin Ekeler, who last year, as a junior, racked up about every offensive award one can get. He was selected to the All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference first team, and was a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, an award that is given to the top player in Division II, among others.

This year is no different. Ekeler is the Mountaineer’s battery. He is getting an average of 29 carries a game and rushes for 208 yards per contest. He alone has scored 9 touchdowns this year. In comparison, DSU’s entire team has scored 11 touchdowns so far. As a team, WSCU is rushing for just under 300 yards per game which makes up for 65 percent of its offense. The offense puts up nearly 35 points per game. 

My take

The Trailblazers have their work cut out for them. This is going to be DSU’s toughest matchup of the year. It needs to put all its attention on containing Ekeler. If the Trailblazers don’t do this, he is going to run up and down the field all day. If the defense can hold Ekeler to under 100 rushing yards, they will have a chance to win. If not, it could be a long game.

DSU can’t try and outscore the Mountaineers – they won’t be able to. WSCU is too good offensively. DSU’s defense has to have its best game of the year. WSCU has won all three of its games this year when they scored over 14 points. If the Trailblazers can’t limit them to a similar total, WSCU might score 50 points.

DSU has to limit penalties. It can’t afford to give a team like WSCU any more yards. The offense also has to play better. There is still a big question mark at the quarterback position as sophomores Tyson Blackner and Blake Barney might not be available for the game due to injury. If they can’t play, it will be up to freshman quarterback Josh Thompson to lead DSU’s offense, which has struggled mightily in its last two games.

It could be a long game for the Trailblazers, but if they can do these things, they can secure their best win of the season.

Halloween party to replace homecoming dance

Members of the Dixie State University Student Association decided to ditch the formal homecoming dance and try a Halloween party instead this year. 

The 2016 DSU homecoming is still full of all the same traditions, like painting the “D,” Miss Dixie, Rock the Mall, the drive-in movie, the homecoming parade and football game, but DSUSA will also be bringing back the old tradition of powderpuff football and adding a new Halloween party called CHAOS.

“[DSUSA] is shooting for it to be the largest Halloween event in southern Utah,” said Colton Campbell, DSUSA vice president of public relations and a junior integrated studies major from St. George.

Dixie State University’s homecoming theme, “Red, Wild and Free,” was inspired by the newfound feeling on campus, Campbell said. 

“We felt like there is just so more school spirit than we have had and it’s crazy and it’s wild, and people feel free to express the pride they have [for] their school, which is something we haven’t seen a lot of in the past,” Campbell said. 

Early bird spirit

The painting the “D” tradition will be the pre-homecoming festivity before the Monday kick off, which will be Oct. 17 at 8:30 a.m.

Students will be painting the “D” at the intersection of 800 East and 400 South in front the entrance to the Burns Arena before homecoming Oct. 10-12 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. 

In with some old and new

DSUSA has brought back the gender role switch tradition of powderpuff football after skipping a year due to scheduling conflicts.

DSU women will split up into two teams based on their class to play flag football. The upperclassmen seniors and juniors will make up one team, and will be facing off against the lowerclassmen sophomores and freshmen Oct. 20 starting at 8 p.m. at  Legend Solar Stadium.

“We are hoping we can combine classes and try to create some friendly classmen rivalry,” said Cajun Syrett, DSUSA vice president of student life and sophomore integrated studies major from Bryce Canyon City.

Campbell said student feedback from the DSUSA comment box, social media, and focus groups indicated that the traditional homecoming dance is not the best college event. So instead, DSUSA will be putting together a new Halloween event called CHAOS, Campbell said.

A few of the activities CHAOS will be featuring is 9-hole glow-in-the dark mini golf, a reptile exhibit, an oxygen bar, 300 designs for airbrush tattoos, an obstacle course, a dance floor with DJ Marcus Wing, photo booth, and a surprise in the Gardner Student Center ballroom.

“We are hoping people enjoy it so much that it will become a tradition, not necessarily a homecoming tradition, but a Halloween one,” Campbell said.

CHAOS will only be pre-selling for a $5 early bird sale starting Oct. 7-12, rise to $10 Oct. 13-17, rise to $15 Oct. 18-21, and will be $20 at the door with student I.D.

CHAOS will be Oct. 22 starting at 9 p.m. followed by True Trailblazer at midnight in the fountain.

In-between events

DSU clubs will dance and sing their own renditions of the DSU school song for Rock the Mall Oct. 21 at noon outside of the Gardner Student Center.

Most DSU clubs get pretty creative with make-up, costumes, and will add its own twist to the school song or make it into a parody, Syrett said.

Clubs will be competing this year for $40 merit money and get a free meal at The Pizza Factory, located downtown St. George.

The DSU drive-in movie will be at the old airport Oct. 19 at 8 p.m.

The drive-in is free and open to students and the community, so students will want to get there early to secure a close spot to watch the movie “Zootopia,” Syrett said.

$5 events

DSUSA will be offering two priced events for $5.

Tickets for the Miss Dixie Pageant will be $5 for students with student I.D. and $10 for faculty, staff and community.

Syrett said the price was raised for DSU faculty, staff and community to be able to maintain the quality of the Miss Dixie pageant.

About 25 DSU women will dance their way onto the stage at the Cox Auditorium, perform a talent, answer questions, dress in swimsuits and evening gowns for the whole pageant package on Oct. 18, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Students can find a full schedule of DSU Homecoming 2016 at https://alumni.dixie.edu/traditions-events/homecoming/.

“There is a different type of event for every type of student,” said Student Body President Sarah Ramaker, a senior dance major from Midland, Michigan.

Relationship roles should be flexible

There is no rule book telling men and women their defined roles in romantic relationships. 

As time changes society and culture, it alters the role for both sexes in relationships. 

To me, men and women, have traditionally always followed a non-official guideline when it comes to what responsibilities they take upon themselves in their different relationships. 

I noticed that men typically fulfilled the role as the authoritative figure, were the primary breadwinners and had the last say in conversations. 

Women were the nurturers. They fulfilled the balance needed to counteract the stubbornness of men and were the emotional structure that dictated the mood within the relationship. 

Unfortunately, society ran with these ideas for centuries and they eventually became the stereotypes for both sexes. Our culture embraced these ideas so well that they became the expectations both men and women were supposed to live by. If either sex failed to live within these boundaries, society immediately placed judgment upon them for being different from everyone else.

In today’s world, traditional romantic relationships have become retro and old-fashioned. Society is all about changing those aspects and seeking evolution. 

I have noticed that men are starting to acknowledge their feminine traits while the women acknowledge their masculine traits. In today’s world, you can see more stay at home dads and men who portray a touchy-feely personality in comparison to women who deal with the discipline and courtship decisions.  

Can a man still hold on to his man-card while participating in something feminine or can a woman fit the macho-man description? 

My answer to these questions is yes. 

“Neither men nor women are all a certain way, and society is now allowing people to openly allow their personalities to show, which is a great thing,” Shanelle McArthur, a senior communication major from St. George, said. 

If a man wants to think outside of the box by planning a date for his partner that would resemble a female’s touch, then I say go for it.  What is wrong with planning a candlelit dinner with beautiful music in the background that sits as a precursor for a chick-flick? My wife would love it. 

If a woman feels she needs to make tough decisions because her partner can’t, then all the power to her.

Dannelle Larsen-Rife, an assistant professor in the psychology department, said, “[As an example], it’s more acceptable now for women to ask men out on dates [and] for women proposing marriage to men.”

Shelby Yung, a senior communication major from Upland, California, said it should be normal for men in relationships to show emotion. Yung said she knows some women who want their men to have a sensitive side and be willing to talk about how they feel.

“It doesn’t make me think of men any differently if [they are] emotional or want to share [their] feelings,” Yung said.

For some people, like myself or Ross Salanoa, a junior CIT major from Laie, Hawaii, we grew up under a traditional relationship between our parents. Our dads were the ones that worked in the business world while maintaining order and control at home. Our mothers watched out and cared for the well-being of the children, while being emotionally supportive to every individual in the family.

The traditional roles for men and women have their good and bad aspects. I believe each couple ought to find what works best for them in each and every situation. Maybe it is necessary for the female to work because the male can’t find work or for the male to show compassion and tenderness in a difficult time for the woman. 

Salanoa said: “Every situation is different; when I got married, I had initially thought that I would always work and my wife would stay at home with the kids. [Due to attending school, I] kind of had to take a step back and [let my] wife go back to work.” 

Whatever style or balance a couple has, they need to make it work because each relationship is different. Roles should be defined but flexible at the same time.

Hairstyles not cultural appropriation

Continuing to cry out cultural appropriation for something as simple as a hairstyle continues to divide us.

Marc Jacobs, a well-known fashion designer, was under fire by critics last week for cultural appropriation when he sent Caucasian models down his runway with fake dreads. Cultural appropriation is taking elements of one culture and using them in another and is often seen in a negative light.

Jacobs should have known better to have a variety of different models when it comes to skin tone. But when it comes to the hair of his models, maybe what he saw in his models having dreads was art, not necessarily cultural appropriation.

For me, hair is art and a way to appreciate another’s culture. According to dreadlocks.org, dreads originated from Jamaica and are continuing to grow into a popular hairstyle. So what’s the big deal with Caucasian women wearing dreads?

I have white friends who decided to try dreads, and they were frequently hit with the phrase “you must be a stoner.” Or they even gotten stares because white people typically don’t wear dreads. But they just liked the way dreads looked and were not trying to mock one’s culture.

If we bat our eyelashes when someone has dreads, then why don’t we do the same when someone wears a braid? Braids weren’t originated from the United States of America, yet it’s still a popular hairstyle for both white and colored women to wear, even for men as well.

Being angry over someone wearing dreads is like trying to compare the stereotype of how colored women usually don’t have straight hair because that is simply not true; many colored women have natural straight hair. While dreadlocks on most white women are not natural, do dreads have to be natural in order for them to not push the boundary of cultural appropriation?

If society truly believes certain hairstyles are cultural appropriation, we might as well get rid of hair salons and beauty schools.

I believe in cultural appropriation to an extent. It’s not right for someone to dress up as a Native American and pretend to be one, especially when he or she doesn’t know much about the culture. That’s ignorant. But we can’t compare a Halloween costume to a hairstyle.

There are quite a few things that apply to cultural appropriation, but hairstyles shouldn’t be one of them.

ASL Talent Show encourages audience connection with deaf community

It was the hearing people who were the handicapped ones at the third annual American Sign Language Talent Show at Dixie State University Wednesday. 

“Deaf people are only handicapped when there are hearing people around,” said Allyson Hamilton, assistant professor of ASL. “We did not provide voice interpretation for the performances for this reason…I wanted the audience to feel the connection to deaf people and to ASL and to realize there wasn’t much difference.”

The ASL Talent Show brought a crowd of about 170 people to the Dunford Auditorium of the Browning Learning Resource Center. Students and community members who were either deaf or knew ASL silently told stories, cracked jokes and signed the words of songs. 

“The language of ASL is not limiting,” said Tony Park, an adjunct instructor of ASL who is deaf. “You use the whole body. That’s the point when you have such an expressive language.”

Park helped facilitate the talent show, announced the performers in ASL, and performed his own ASL storytelling act. Patrick Lein, of St. George, jokingly knelt on his hands and knees after the talent show and bowed to Park to show his appreciation for the talent show.

“I was honoring [Park] because I was like ‘wow,’” Lein said. “Deaf culture is very dramatic, so I wanted to show him how proud I was as a deaf man.”

Hamilton said the ASL program at DSU has grown from zero adjuncts, two classes and 58 students in 2014 to three adjuncts, nine classes and 158 students this fall. This is the second year an ASL interpretation emphasis has been available as part of an integrated studies major, and Hamilton said by January 2017, an ASL minor will be available.  

Jenn Marsh, a sophomore English major from Salt Lake City who signed the words of Josh Groban’s “The Prayer” at the talent show, said she plans on graduating with the ASL minor. Although Marsh is not deaf, she said it was fantastic to see so much support for the deaf community.

John Lampe, of St. George, said he is like “the ASL grandfather of St. George.” He said he has seen progress for people who are deaf in St. George throughout the past two decades, and the talent show exhibited how far the ASL community has come. 

“When I moved to St. George in the 1990s, it was a dark time for the deaf community here,” Lampe said. “I was really sad. Since then, it has shot off and it has really expanded.”

Lampe said since he moved to St. George, more people who were deaf started moving here, and then church groups, high school classes and a deaf center were established to give resources to the deaf community. Lampe said it was special to see the talent show and to meet so many students interested in learning ASL.

“The more students we have that know how to communicate with people of the deaf community, the wider the [students’] world gets,” Hamilton said.

Coed sports not helping push for equality

The nationwide push for gender equality has garnered tremendous success, but still has room for further growth at Dixie State University.

Here at DSU, the push for gender equality hasn’t quite reached every aspect of this campus, specifically coed intramural sports. There needs to be a change because the way they are set up now is not equal.

DSU does a tremendous job of providing both male and female students with opportunities to be involved in intramural sports. From basketball to soccer to flag football, there are a plethora of all-male, all-female and coed sports to participate in. 

Yet, when examining how these coed specific sports are set up, I don’t quite see gender equality. For instance, in flag football, a touchdown by a female is worth nine points while a touchdown by a male is worth six. The ball is forced to go to a female every other play on offense, and on these plays males cannot guard females or even be within the same vicinity. And if a female plays quarterback, males can intercept the ball only on specific plays.

From a male’s perspective, this does not look to me like gender equality. If anything, it feels to me females are given handicaps because they are perceived as weaker and in need of special rules to succeed or even keep up.

While playing in these coed intramural games, I feel I am making a more concerted effort following these gender specific rules and including the females than I am actually playing and competing.

Although the intended purpose behind the gender specific rules may be a noble one, there are female participants of these coed sports that don’t want to spend the game being catered to because they are female.

“It is very frustrating,” said Abby Henderson, a nursing major from West Jordan. “I feel as if I am a relatively athletic girl, and when these handicaps are applied, it makes me feel like people think I’m not capable of competing at a certain level.”

As gender equality continues to reach every corner of society, I hope that it will wash away all of the ways women are still perceived as weaker or in need of extra help. 

The notion that women are inferior is extremely erroneous. As long as we continue to treat women subjacent in any way, the complete implementation of gender equality will never be fully instituted into society.

Rules for males and females should not be separate; they should be equal. Women did not get to where they are today by being OK with being treated differently they did so by working just as hard as men and not backing down when perceived as weaker.

The U.S. has come so far, so let the push for equality continue to sweep every corner of this campus.