UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | February 16, 2025

DSU women’s soccer goes 1-1

It was a weekend of tricks and treats for the Dixie State University women’s soccer team as it lost Saturday but won Monday.

DSU faced off against Dominican University Saturday and fell 1-0, snapping its season-high seven-game winning streak.

The Trailblazers outshot the Penguins 9-3 in the first half, but neither team was able to get the ball in the net. This was the game of tricks—shots that were open and looked good would continue to bounce off the crossbar.

“We had wide open shots in front of the goal [tonight] that we overshot,” head coach Kacey Bingham said. “We broke them down. We just did not have the mental edge to finish.”

DU broke the scoreless tie in the 51st minute with the ball hitting the back of the net just outside the reach of senior goalkeeper Angelica Ciucci.

Neither team was able to score after that, but not by lack of effort from the DSU side. The Trailblazers outshot DU 12-5 in the second half and 21-9 for the whole game but were never able to find a score.

“[This loss] will put a fire in us and we will come out stronger for our final three games,” said freshman defender Bailey Kroll said, a business major from Meridian, Idaho. “We can still win this conference, we just have finish strong.”

After DSU narrowly lost to DU Saturday, and with postseason play just around the corner, DSU needed to beat Notre Dame de Namur University and continue to win out to secure a spot in the playoffs.

With the score tied 1-1 and under six minutes to play, it looked as if the game would end in a tie and nearly shut the door on the playoffs for the Trailblazers.

Redshirt senior forward Erica Gonzalez came to the rescue with an unassisted 30-yard dagger that put the Trailblazers on top for good.

DSU struck first in the match with a goal from senior midfielder Alexis Torres in the 24th minute. The goal was assisted by freshman forward Kamie Hunter who got it to Torres before she scored from 10 yards out.

The game remained 1-0 until NDNU tied it in the 74th minute as the Argonauts were able to connect from 10 yards out.

After DSU retook the lead, every Argonaut attempt to tie the score was foiled by the stingy Trailblazer defense. Junior defender Montana Hadley made a diving stop near the goal in the final minute to secure a 2-1 victory. 

“The intensity from the bench to the field was outstanding, and I think they contributed to our success,” said freshman goalkeeper Felicity Tarr, a chemistry major from Tucson, Arizona. “We have to keep up the intensity. We have to win out and play like Dixie.”

At 10-6 overall and 8-3 in Pacific West Conference play, DSU hosts Concordia University-Irvine Thursday at Legend Solar Stadium at 7 p.m.

DSU reporting largest enrollment increase

Dixie State University has reported the highest enrollment increase of nearly 7.4 percent in Utah, but it’s not as high as the institution’s goal is.

Andrea Brown, director of institutional research, said the institution’s goal is to be at 12,500 students by 2020. DSU’s enrollment increase for the 2015-2016 year is the highest over all colleges in Utah with the institution having the largest percentage increase of full-time students and total headcount.

“We’re probably lagging around a little bit right now,” Brown said. “That would mean at this point, we’re 3,500 short. We would need to be growing just over 875 students every year for the next four years in order to meet that goal.”

Brown said this goal will be a lot more obtainable if the institution focuses on retaining students instead of consistently trying to replace new students. She said spring enrollment usually dwindles due to students running out of money and needing to work more.

“I think here in Utah, there’s a mentality that [students] should never take out loans,” Brown said.

Students shouldn’t go overboard on loans, Brown said. But it might be “worth getting into some debt” if it allows students to continue going to school.

High school students in the Concurrent Enrollment Program have also added to this enrollment boost by growing 25 percent, Brown said.

“The sooner we can get high school students thinking seriously about a college education, the better,” said Michael Lacourse, vice president of student affairs and provost, in a press release.

Brown said there’s some new incentives to try and retain students such as the new app Ellucian Go. It allows students to prepare their spring schedule ahead of time. When students’ time frame opens to register, they can register all of their classes “with a push of a button,” she said.

A spokesman from the Utah System of Higher Education did not respond to Dixie Sun News’ request for comments. 

Brett Schwartz, director of new student programs, said this enrollment growth has to do with DSU’s largest freshman class in history, where new freshman enrollment increased by 27 percent compared to last year.

“The enrollment growth means that students are realizing that DSU is a premier open-enrollment institution that offers one of the lowest tuition costs in the Western United States,” Schwartz said. “It’s a clear sign that DSU is trending upward.”

Reyes kicks game-winner against ASU

Anthony Reyes experienced something every kid dreams about Saturday.

21 yards separated Reyes and the field goal posts with one second remaining in Dixie State University’s road matchup against Adams State University Saturday in Alamosa, Colorado. Reyes made the game-winning field goal and gave his team a 24-21 victory.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” said Reyes, a sophomore kicker and an exercise science major from Queen Creek, Arizona. “I told my team we were going to win, and we weren’t going to overtime.”

The field goal was set up miraculously as the Trailblazers gained 66 yards in the final 35 seconds, leaving one second for the kick. 54 of those yards were eaten up on one play—a massive run by senior running back DeJon Coleman, which took DSU to the 12-yard line.

Following a 10-yard holding penalty on the next play, Coleman struck again with an 18-yard gain to put the Trailblazers on the 4-yard line with one second left.

Reyes finished his warm-up kicks and stepped onto the field, but knew it would be awhile before he would attempt the field goal.

“I looked at the scoreboard and saw [ASU] had three timeouts left and they would try to use them to ice me,” Reyes said. “I told my snapper to hike the ball no matter what so I could kick a few times.”

ASU did just that. It used each of its remaining three timeouts to try and deter Reyes’ confidence, but to no avail as Reyes split the uprights as the clock hit zero.

 “We work on that all the time in practice,” Reyes said. “It’s a much different feeling doing it under pressure, though. It was a good team win for us.” 

Coleman’s performance is not to be overlooked, however. He rushed for 206 yards and one touchdown and, in the process, became DSU’s all-time leading rusher with 1,505 yards and 15 touchdowns. 

“It means a lot to me,” said Coleman, a sociology major from Los Angeles. “I’ve set goals for myself and it feels good to have accomplished them.”

Coleman wasn’t the only rusher to surpass the century mark in the game. Redshirt running back Clifford Simms managed 105 ground yards and a touchdown in the win. As a whole, DSU gained a total of 378 yards on the ground.  

“[Coleman] has always been a team guy,” head coach Shay McClure said. “He carries himself well on and off the field.” 

DSU found itself trailing early in the first quarter after the Grizzlies returned an interception for a 63-yard touchdown. The Trailblazers would find their stride in the second quarter, however, as they scored 14 unanswered points to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.

ASU tied the game at 21 with 10 minutes to go in the game just 78 seconds after Simms muscled his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown for the Trailblazers. 

“Every week is a different challenge,” McClure said. “With their backs against the wall, the kids did a great job. They played hard.” 

With the win, DSU set another program record by winning its fifth game of the season—the most ever in its Division II era.

“I’m glad I have been a part of this season,” Coleman said. “It’s an honor to be a part of a team that has had a lot of success.”

The Trailblazers move to 5-4 on the year and 5-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, good for fourth place. They will play their final road game of the season Saturday against Colorado State University-Pueblo before returning to St. George for the final home game of the season against Fort Lewis College Nov. 12.

Volleyball takes two in Bay Area

Dixie State University women’s volleyball killed their California trip by winning their three games  Friday, Saturday and Monday.

The Trailblazers’ victories puts them at 15-8 on the season and 11-4 in the Pacific West Conference.

DSU opened the weekend with a win in Belmont against Notre Dame de Namur University  with a 3-set victory.

The team started scoring 25-18 in the first set. The victory kept going as the Trailblazers spiked 25-11 in the second set and ended the match with a 25-23 winning set.

Senior outside hitter Delayne Daniel stood out in the match with 15 kills and 13 digs, followed by sophomore outside hitter Taylor Duryea with 14 kills and seven digs.

“We had the mindset on winning and we were doing a great job,” said Duryea, a communication major from Logan. “We have been focusing on the process in order to get the outcome we want.”

DSU got its second victory in the Bay Area against Academy of Art University Saturday in San Francisco.

Once again, the Trailblazers got a 3-0 lead win in the match with 25-19, 25-22 and 25-19. The team kicked off the second win with a total of 42 kills and 58 digs. Duryea said despite the victory, they had a lot of errors in the match. 

“When you have a match with a lot of errors, it drowns out the great things you did, so those wins don’t feel good.” Duryea said. “However, a win is a win, and we are happy to be winning again and getting back to doing what we do well.” 

The Trailblazers finished their California trip with their last victory against Fresno Pacific University Monday.

Once again, DSU swept the Sunbirds in 3 three sets 25-18, 25-22 and after a tough final set,the Trailblazers got the win, 25-23.

“We played really solid and had a great team win,” said junior libber Jaclyn Condie, an exercise science major from Cottonwood Heights. “Both offense and defense were working together, and we meshed really well. It feels great to have won our three games in 3 sets.”

The game ended with an overall of 45 kills and 55 digs. Daniel with 17 kills and Duryea with eight kills stood out in the match getting the win.

“It was a great weekend for us to get back on track, I think we played with a lot of confidence and it felt good to get back into our winning ways,” said Head Coach Robyn Felder. “With five games to go, anything can happen and we are going to do everything to finish strong.”

DSU will play their next game against Dominican University at the Student Activities Center Saturday at noon.

Clowns spotted on screen at Horror-Fest 2016

It was a night like any other night. Grey clouds loomed over a near forgotten movie theatre not far from Telegraph Street.

Despite its tucked-away location behind the Red Cliffs Mall, the lobby at the Megaplex Theatres at Washington Red Cliffs radiated electric energy Saturday night. A community of filmmakers, actors and fans gathered there for this year’s Horror-Fest, a guerrilla film making challenge and festival which just celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Filmmakers were challenged to create a film under six minutes in length that included a red ball or balloon and the phrase “the circus is in town.” The theme for the challenge was clowns, a subject that has caused community members some alarm in recent months.

Adam Mast, Horror-Fest creator and programmer, said the audience chooses three winning films at the close of the night, but he doesn’t like to make it about competition. The goal was to have filmmakers challenge themselves creatively, he said.

“We are a community of filmmakers encouraging each other,” Mast said. “That’s really what [Horror-Fest is] about.”

Several Dixie State University students and alumni took part in Horror-Fest, including Carlee Whalen, a junior communication major from Las Vegas.

Whalen played the lead in a short film called “Sasha’s Birthday,” directed by Jeremiah Holt. In the story, Whalen’s character, Sasha, arrives home on her birthday to find a creepy robotic clown sitting in her living room. The robot-clown begins following her and Sasha discovers a creative way to defeat the unexpected birthday guest, only to realize the robotic clown was a gift from her mother.

Another audience favorite was “Silly Willy,” directed by Dan Bringhurst. In the film, a man unintentionally summons a malicious clown from another dimension, reminiscent of the well-known Netflix TV show “Stranger Things.” Crowd members laughed aloud as a giggling clown pulled his victim back through a hole in the drywall and exited through a tree trunk into what some might call the clown upside-down.

After attendees from all age groups cast their votes, filmmaker Cragun Clayburn snatched first place for his stop motion animation film called “2 For the Show.” The film tells the story of a clash between a clown and two otherworldly beings disguised as humans and definitely did not skimp on blood and guts. Of all 18 films, “2 For the Show” was easily the goriest of them all.

“I’m a gore fan,” Clayburn said. “I love the art of well-done gore.”

Clayburn revealed that no script was written for his film, and there were a few alternate endings. Normally focusing on special effects, Clayburn said he is relatively new to stop motion animation.

Horror-Fest newcomer Tanner Lund took second place for “Laughing Matter.” There was a tie for third place between “The Circus is Coming to Town” directed by Lonie Black and Brandon Tippetts and Dan Bringhurst for “Silly Willy.”

It was a bittersweet night for longtime patrons of Horror-Fest. The Red Cliffs theatre, where Horror-Fest was hosted for multiple years, closed its doors permanently to the public after the last showing on Saturday.

“It’s sad because a lot of people have a lot of memories here,” said Brandy Jacobs, general manager of the Red Cliffs and Main Street locations. “It’s a nostalgic thing.”

The film festival has taken place at other venues, and Mast said the Red Cliffs’ closure won’t put a stop to Horror-Fest. In fact, he is planning another festival to happen during the Christmas season.

“We love filmmakers of all ages and skill sets to be involved,” Mast said. “If anyone at DSU wants to take part, we’d love that.”

If you’d like to take part in the Christmas guerrilla film challenge, contact Adam Mast through Facebook message.

Why Hillary Clinton should be our next president

As I gaze at the insanity that is the presidential election, it is obvious that Hillary Clinton is the far superior candidate for becoming the next president of the United States.

When Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination she said, “America’s strength doesn’t come from lashing out. Strength relies on smarts, judgment, cool resolve and precise and strategic application of power.”

Clinton has a strong political résumé that focuses on human rights and dignity. Voting for her means voting for a person who supports acting rationally with good judgment, unlike her opponent who throws tantrums over tweets. She will help fix our broken healthcare system and support those in our country who are often voiceless.

Healthcare

Rather than tossing the Affordable Care Act out the window as Donald Trump has promised, Clinton has proposed expanding the ACA to address its current problems. This would include lowering insurance premiums and deductibles and adding “a tax credit of up to $2,500 for individuals whose out-of-pocket medical spending exceeds 5% of their income,” said Olga Khazan, writing for “The Atlantic.”

It is foolish to assume that going back to how our healthcare system operated before the ACA would be preferable to fixing what we have to help more Americans obtain needed healthcare, especially as Trump has not provided concrete evidence as to what he could do following the herculean effort of tearing out the ACA.

Women’s reproductive rights

Clinton is strongly pro-choice and supports women having access to proper reproductive healthcare.

In the third presidential debate, Clinton said, “I strongly support Roe v. Wade, which guarantees a constitutional right to a woman to make the most intimate, most difficult in many cases, decisions about her health care that one can imagine.”

Unlike Trump, who has previously said he supported punishments for women having abortions, Clinton understands the difficulty that comes with making the decision to abort a pregnancy, recognizing that women do not undertake these decisions lightly.

In regards to third-trimester abortions, she said, “[Roe v. Wade] is very clear, that if you take into account the life and health of the mother, there can be exceptions to restrictions that are imposed, that are lawful, constitutional.”

Abortion is never an easy decision, but I do not want to imagine what would happen to women faced with these situations if their only option was a high-risk, back alley procedure with unclean and unsafe methods, a reality we would face if abortions were made illegal.

LGBTQ rights

Despite the Supreme Court’s landmark decision for marriage equality, the U.S. continues to struggle with LGBTQ rights. This can be seen by the bickering over giving transgender people access to bathrooms of their preferred gender and with the horrific shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Clinton strongly supports LGBTQ rights, even receiving the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign. During a 2011 speech in Geneva, Switzerland, Clinton said, “Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights.”

Despite Trump offering sympathy and support following the Orlando, Florida shooting, he has also said that he opposes same-sex marriage and hopes to appoint Supreme Court justices to overturn the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that legalized gay marriage.

Supporting Trump over Clinton is supporting taking steps backward in protecting our LGBTQ neighbors and friends. I refuse to take backward steps in basic human dignity.

Supreme Court and criminal justice

Clinton has called for justices who will defend both women’s and LGBTQ rights, support Roe v. Wade, and reverse the Citizens United decision, a 2010 ruling that overturned the ban on unlimited spending by corporations and unions to influence elections. Clinton wants the court to “stand on the side of the people” instead.

Clinton also supports reform for our broken criminal justice system; she promotes ending the “era of mass incarceration” and helping formerly incarcerated citizens to successfully re-enter society. She also recognizes the inherent racial problems in the relationship between police officers and citizens and wants to give police officers greater training in de-escalation and community policing.

Trump has remained mum on answering the problem of mass incarceration. Take just one criminal justice class, and you will see how massive this issue really is. America is often known as an “incarceration happy nation.” I’d like to see that stereotype fade away, and it is only Clinton who will even try.

Taxes

Clinton’s tax plan won’t add to the national deficit while Trump’s will, according to a study by the Tax Policy Center.

Trump has proposed the steepest tax cuts ever seen, said Jackie Calmes of The New York Times. These cuts would reduce the federal revenue by an estimated $6.2 million in the first ten years and would mostly benefit corporations and high-income Americans. Trump’s plan would also reduce taxes on the wealthy, revenue which helps finance the Affordable Care Act.

In contrast, Clinton seeks to raise taxes on high-income taxpayers with reductions for middle- and low-income households

In this circus of an election, Clinton is America’s only hope. Trump is a racist, sexist man who would not only bring utter shame in his victory but would take us backward in human rights. Don’t toss away your vote to such a man.

Local politicians make pitch to millennials

While Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump dispute over leaked tapes and deleted emails, local political candidates are seeking to earn the vote of Dixie State University students.

The following questions were posed to local politicians on subjects that are important to DSU students:

1. Why should millennials care about local elections, and why should they vote for you?

2. What is your position on how to strengthen the minimum wage and job force in St. George?

3. How will you strengthen DSU and its students? 

Dorothy Engelman (D) for State Senate District 29 

1. [Millennials] should care because they are going be living in a world created by whosoever is in the legislature … The people right now are the ones making the laws that will effect air quality, the roads and education tremendously. Even though these topics may not be as important right now, five years down the road, they will be.

2. Minimum wage is a concern, especially when I look at minimum wage for wait staff … Unfortunately, over the years, I have seen a high level of greed come in. One of the concerns I hear and see often is business owners have to keep hiring new employees because employees don’t stay. As people from outside the area move in, it will entice different businesses to come here. I think we need to look at value added businesses. Until we have a livable wage for those people working in service positions, we are going to have a very rocky environment.

3. One the things I am just so excited to see is the diversity in the clubs at DSU. Diversity is one of the best ways to strengthen DSU because of the different thinking patterns that are presented. I think we also have to be more supportive of the pay that instructors, especially adjunct professors, receive. These are people with master’s degrees that are teaching, and I think they need to be fairly compensated.

Sen. Don Ipson (R) for State Senate District 29 

1. I think [millennials] should care because it is important to them to set policy that will determine the direction that their lives will go in the next 50 years. I think they should vote for me because I have had the experience and the trust of my colleagues to set policy … I have been in the area and understand the needs of our constituents. I intend to keep taxes low. I come uniquely prepared for this experience and want to represent the people of Washington County. 

2. Our market in itself has the ability to strengthen minimum wage, and I think it will do that. I run convenient stores where employees start at $10 an hour whether they are part-time or full-time. I think that says a lot for the minimum wage. If you make the minimum wage too high, small businesses can’t afford to pay it. As the market improves, better employees will be available for hire.

3. I think I will stand on my record for the things that I have done for DSU. I have helped take DSU to university status. I have fought for more money for additional programs such as the Physician Assistant program. I have a passion for DSU and when there are buildings on the list to be approved and need funding, I will work tirelessly to make that happen.

Rep. Walt Brooks (R) for State House District 75

1. Millennials are one of the biggest voting blocs and because of their voice, they can help make a difference. I am a big local guy and am at this level to make sure the state government doesn’t tell Washington County how to run things. A few hundred votes on the local stage can make a huge difference, and a millennial’s voice can be heard if they care about what is going on. 

2. A lot of jobs in our economy are service based jobs and most jobs that people go for don’t really start at minimum wage unless they are entry workers. I don’t necessarily like messing with the minimum wage. When it is raised, items become more expensive and the cost of living goes up, especially for those who make around $15 an hour … It is also important to lower restrictions on employment opportunities for those who need to requalify for jobs. I think on-the-job training is good enough for people to get their licenses back and save people from the cost of it all.

3. I love DSU and am a graduate of the school … I ask myself why it’s the lowest funding school in the state per pupil. What I want to do is make sure there is more funding and different programs. I want to make sure it has the resources and structures it needs in order to help it grow. DSU plays a huge part at helping the economy grow.   

Josh Warburton (I) for Washington County Commissioner Seat C

1. Millennials, in my opinion, should care about voting and try to be active on a civic level just as every other generation. Decisions made by local governments affect the everyday lives of people … As to why millennials should vote for me, I care more about the same issues that they do. I care about the quality of our environment and the rights of the LGBTQ community. My values align with the values of millennials. 

2. The ways we can indirectly affect the wages in Washington are by paying our employees a fair wage and keeping our taxes low. By doing these things, it raises the bar and keeps the government from being less intrusive. It will also help keep housing more affordable. 

3. I will always support more funding going into our education system and spending the money we have wisely. At a county level, we can be the backbone by providing quality roads and effective police and fire departments. Our impact is in more of an indirect manner. 

Dean Cox (R) for Washington County Commissioner Seat C 

1. Millennials should care about local politics because they should be invested in a quality life … I want my children to want to work and live in this area. I have spent a lifetime building relationships and understanding the issues. Honestly, I feel I understand the issues better than the other candidates. I am not doing this for the money, I am doing this because I think I can make a difference. 

2. Though this area is one of the lowest paid populations in the nation, it can be contributed to the retirees that have moved here. Another thing the county can do is partner with the college and other area businesses to grow our economic base in an attempt to bring in businesses that can contribute to our area. The university connects to this point by providing a qualified workforce. 

3. The county is levying a sales tax (Proposition 1) to help improve the busing system and road maintenance. The county also seeks to help DSU secure funding for new buildings for the school and further education. For example, the county has pledged $2 million from the tourist tax that is collected to help build a new sporting complex for DSU. 

Though early voting has started at several locations in the St. George area, the election takes place Nov. 8. To find your polling location and more information on these candidates and others, visit vote.utah.gov.

Book Nook: ‘Liberal Redneck Manifesto’ brings humor, wit to tough topics

I never thought I’d string the words “liberal redneck” together. 

One slim white book has changed that for me. “The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin’ Dixie Outta the Dark” came to stores on Oct. 4, and was written by three comedians: Trae Crowder, creator of the hit YouTube series “The Liberal Redneck”; Corey Ryan Forrester; and Drew Morgan. They approach topics like gun control, racism and religion in their book with wit, personal anecdotes and a good mix of hard facts. With all three comedians claiming Southern roots, this book is a great blend of calling for accountability while being compassionate to the peopleSoutherners or otherwisethat they are addressing.

One of the sections that particularly caught my eye was when the writers pointed out that Southerners who vote conservative are effectively voting against their own interests. After touching on the crushing poverty that is a lifelong reality for many in the South, the writers made it clear that by voting for Republicans, Southerners were voting for people who “enact policies that prey on the poor in devastating ways.”

At the same time, something I found difficult at the start of the book was the vernacular in which it was written. The authors had chosen to write as Southerners speak, so every time I stopped reading only to come back later, I felt like I had to re-acquaint myself with the dialect.  

In that vein, the authors did include footnotes to help explain or just add commentary to some of terms they used. The footnotes also allowed the authors to interject humorous punchlines throughout the book that otherwise may have broken the flow of what they were trying to get across.

This section and its relevant footnote made me laugh at what I thought was a typo:

“Sundy chicken12 is a tradition in the South, directly related to eatin’ after church.”

“12. Sundy chicken—we spelled it right. Momma makes it right, too.” 

While I found the vernacular difficult at times, it was important for the authors’ points to be made in that dialect, which they explained in the book. However, if there was one thing that I never understood, it was the insertion of the different authors’ “Porch Talk.”

In the book, a “Porch Talk” was when one of the comedians would break in and speak just from their perspective. While I liked these sections for the personal take, these sections were inserted mid-chapter, breaking the flow of the overall narrative. So whenever one came up, I put my finger on the page and skipped it until I hit the end of a section and then went back to read it. If you pick up this hilarious book, I recommend you read the “Porch Talks” this way too.

Also, a quick warning to those of you who object to profanity. There is plenty of swearing in this book.

Overall, I found this book to be engaging, hilarious, and unexpectedly thought-provoking. I’m definitely guilty of not giving the South much thought beyond my own stereotypical views. In any case, I enjoyed being challenged by these authors to change my ways.

Dixie Sun News rating: 4.5 suns

DSU faculty, students say Trump, Clinton gained nomination due to certain characteristics

A Dixie State University faculty member said Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton didn’t become presidential nominees because they were likable. 

In fact  both candidates have a greater negative rating than they do a positive rating, said Associate history professor Joe Green.

A poll done by ABC News and the Washington Post showed Clinton with a 59 percent of negative  favorability and Trump with a 60 percent.

“Both of these candidates are tremendously flawed, and I think people on both sides of the aisle can respect that,” said Henrie Walton, DSU’s community, state, and federal relations officer.

Walton said anger and frustration is what has led Trump to win the Republican nomination and Clinton’s dominance on the Democratic side gave her a shoe-in.

Why Trump ?

Walton said the Republican party has controlled the House of Representatives, and Republican party supporters are asking why hasn’t anything been done like cutting taxes or balancing the budget.  A lot of support for Trump comes from Americans who are fed up with the government system, he said.

“[Trump supporters] realize Donald isn’t perfect and has flaws, but [they] are willing to try anything different and Donald Trump is what is different,” he said.

Green said a big issue for people right now is not having enough jobs. Most of those missing jobs were in the manufacturing industry.

“Technology has replaced those jobs and positions,” Green said. “So [people] find themselves taking either minimum wage, near minimum wage or two jobs, and they are upset.”

The U.S. is still a leading world manufacturer, but people are open to blaming the lack of jobs on immigrant labor and trade, Green said.

Walton said Trump is brash, arrogant, outspoken and unorthodox, but those characteristics have been his strengths and weaknesses in this presidential race.

“We have seen Trump say things and do things that would have destroyed any other candidate in another election cycle, but Trump’s numbers continue to grow,” he said. “[Trump supporters] aren’t worried about whether it is an orthodox path or a traditional path—they just want something different.”

Garrett Gordon, a senior business administration major from Moab, said Trump was a well-known public figure before his run in the presidential race, so his popularity along with not being a politician has created support for Trump. 

“People are sick of politicians in general and they are ready for something different,” Gordon said. “[Trump] represents what is different.”

 Why Clinton ?

Clinton’s campaign fed off a lot of inertia and her experience in the government, Walton said.

“I think a lot of Democratic candidates that could have been viable candidates stayed out of the race because they kind of assumed Hillary had a lock on the election,” he said.  

Green said she got the nomination because it was her turn after President Barack Obama beat her before.

“She had too many votes [in the primaries] for (Sen. Bernie) Sanders to catch up,” Green said.

Clinton has about 30 years experience and has been trying to further her agenda since, Walton said.

“Whether she has made the changes she believes in is up for debate,” Walton said.

 Gordon said Clinton’s popular figure also helped her gain support, but she is still a politician. 

“Hillary’s experience makes it valuable to those who want a candidate that has been in politics for a long time, but if people are ready to change and not want a politician, than they are willing to go against Hillary,” Gordon said.

Gridlock

Walton said both candidates are going to have a difficult time doing what they say they want to do as president.

Trump’s ideas are radical and going to be difficult to pass under any congress, and Republicans will do what they can to block Clinton’s agenda, he said.  

“Unfortunately, in all likelihood, we are going to see four more years of gridlock in [District of Columbia]” Walton said.  

Gordon said he doesn’t like Clinton or Trump and thinks he will keep his integrity and vote for presidential candidate Evan McMullin, a candidate who he said he can actually support. 

“Even though my vote won’t make a huge difference, I still can’t bring myself to vote for somebody I can’t trust or support,” Gordon said.

Maria Savoca, a sophomore pre-physical therapy assistant major from Rainier, Washington, said this election is really a vote between the lesser of two evils and hopes whoever takes office can be able to put aside their political ideology.  

“I think if people were able to step outside of that mindset of ‘I am this’ and ‘I am that,’ they might see that maybe they want things that are more common than they really believe,” Savoca said. “I would like to see a president who takes office (to be) someone [who] is trying to unite the things that are common to people.”

Kaepernick protests skipping DSU

A knee has not yet been taken during the national anthem in ten states; Utah being one of them. 

According to Think Progress and its map of tracking “The Kaepernick Effect,” or protesting and kneeling athletes, the trend is only missing in 10 states. Utah is still standing as one of the remainders.

Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback, took his first knee during The Star Spangled Banner Sept. 1 and has started awareness for discrimination movement since.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told Steve Wyche, a National Football League reporter. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Shay McClure, Dixie State University head football coach, said whether you are an athlete or not, you have the right to protest peacefully.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and how they want to make their opinion felt,” McClure said.

Traditionally, DSU teams aren’t even out of the locker room for the national anthem, but in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, is it required that they are, McClure said.

“I simply told our kids, ‘I can’t tell you how to act. I can’t tell you what your belief system is. The only thing I ask is you don’t draw attention away from the team. It’s not about you, if it’s about a social issue that is your choice,’” McClure said.

Darius Matthews, a senior communication major and football team captain and defensive tackle from West Jordan, said he had a plan to follow Kaepernick’s trend but didn’t out of respect for his coach.  

“There have been times at certain events when they have done the national anthem and I did put my fist in the air, unashamed,” Matthews said.

DSU’s athletic director Jason Boothe said it is a good thing to get more of a discussion going.

“[Kaepernick] has got a very good point,” Boothe said. “There are very concerning things going on in America.”

DSU does not have any policies in place to follow during the national anthem and students’ opinions are protected under the DSU’s speech policy No. 110.

As long as the protest done by the student-athletes doesn’t cause interference with the event or make it unsafe, they have every right to protest, Boothe said.

He said if repercussion were to happen, then it would be handled in a professional and tactful manner.

“Just as it’s the student-athletes’ right to voice their opinion, it’s the fans’ right to voice their as well,” Boothe said.

Matthews said what Kaepernick has done is great for the NFL, young people and the world.

“The fact that he has decided to take a stand separates him from the athletes that are worried about saving their careers,” he said.

Matthews said more athletes need to take a stand no matter what their race is.

“I wouldn’t be offended if [Caucasian people] took a knee,” he said. “That is the point- to stand in solidarity. If we come together like we should, we will have no more racism.”