UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | September 08, 2024

Month: March 2018

Walking in their shoes: A day in the life of DSU’s campus police

by Emma van LentPosted on

Campus police: we see them walking and driving around campus on a daily basis, but what exactly do campus security officers do at Dixie State University?

Tasha Brothers, a junior elementary education major from West Valley City, said she never sees security on campus, and it makes her wonder if they are even there. Ron Isaacson, the assistant director of public safety at DSU, said even though you don’t always see officers on campus, they are patrolling and available to help students any time of the day.

Isaacson said, although the officers on campus are working 24/7 to ensure the safety of the university’s students, faculty and staff, most of the interesting calls happen at night, explaining why some students don’t see the officers as much throughout the day. Night shifts typically run from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

5 p.m.-10 p.m.

Ola Kaonohi, a DSU police officer, said the first part of a night shift is pretty similar to what officers on campus do during the day. When working the night shift Kaonohi will spend these first five hours cycling through the buildings on campus and patrolling around the grounds, focusing on places with higher foot traffic like the Gardner Center or the Jeffrey R. Holland Centennial Commons.

Kaonohi also said the campus police officers will often take turns patrolling in their vehicles in order to work areas of higher traffic. Kaonohi said a common place they patrol is on the corner of 400 South and 900 East because students often run the stop sign there.

10 p.m.-3 a.m.

After 10 p.m. things tend to calm down as far as on campus activity, so this is when the officers will go around and check on student housing. Kaonohi said whoever is on campus patrolling will go around and make sure the housing on campus is secure and there are no disturbances, while St. George City police officers will patrol around and check off-campus housing for anything out of the ordinary.

Kaonohi also said this is when campus police are most likely to respond to dispatch calls regarding trespassing, drugs or theft that come through.

Drug responses

Kaonohi said the most common calls they respond to are drug related. He said most are from students calling in about the smell or sight of marijuana either on campus or at their housing complexes.

As far as reprimanding students who are caught smoking or carrying weed, Kaonohi said it all depends on the situation. For students who just smell like weed or have a minimal amount of marijuana in their possession, the officers are likely to confiscate the substance and write the students a citation; however, for those carrying larger amounts of contraband, or those caught actually smoking the substance, arrests will likely be made.

Officer Kaonohi wanted to stress that the police officers on campus are here to help students and make the campus as safe a place as possible for everyone. He said the officers are connected with St. George’s police dispatch, so it’s easy for students to call in and campus police to respond.

 “You have officers who are out there, and if you see or hear something, call dispatch,” Kaonohi said. “If you are in immediate danger call 911, but if you see something and you aren’t sure, it’s OK to just call dispatch. We’re here to help.” 

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Love, Simon’ opens mind to others’ point of view

by Jonn HollandPosted on

   After I saw the film “Love, Simon,” I was asked if it pushed a gay rights agenda, and comments on Facebook I saw were against the film because of its subject matter.

   “Love, Simon” is not that kind of film, not in the least. Yes, the main character Simon is gay, and so is his love interest, but the film doesn’t preach to us about gay rights and how the LGBTQ community should be treated or their fight for equal treatment. 

   The film is about a young man who is gay but has not yet come out to his family or his friends and finds someone else going through the same struggle as him. In providing encouragement and support for one another, they fall in love.

   The problem is they do not know each other’s true identity because they are talking on a public internet forum and are using different names so nobody discovers their secret.

   To make matters more complicated, a classmate of Simon’s named Martin, discovers the messages Simon and “Blue” are sending and uses that knowledge to get Simon to set him up with Abby, who is a close friend of Simon’s.

   I thought it was clever to have Simon attempt to bring his friend Abby and Martin together. It led to some interesting and funny conundrums for both Simon and Martin, though ultimately, Simon’s inability to see what his friend’s real feelings and interests were — including his best friend Leah’s feelings for him — leads to disaster.

   Although I found the plot to be engaging and smart, seeing how much Simon struggled to come to terms with having to tell the people he has known all his life that he is gay, opened my eyes to a point of view I will never experience.

   There is a scene that really grabbed my attention and helped me to have an inkling of what it is like to come out to your loved ones.

   In that scene, Simon is ruminating over the whole “coming out of the closet” idea to Blue and asks why being straight isn’t the thing that one needs to come out about. What follows is a hilarious montage — Simon’s fantasy of his friends coming out to their parents as being straight and of course, the parents all respond horribly.

   It provided a paradigm shift of sorts and had me thinking about if being straight was not the normal thing, would I have had the experience that so many gay, lesbian and transgender teenagers have had?

   I immediately thought of my brother, who is gay, and how he must have struggled through high school knowing that there was something different about him but wasn’t sure what it was, I thought about how he must have felt the day he told me and the rest of our family that he is gay, and how hard that must have been for him and for Simon in the film too.

   You will have to go see the film to know what becomes of Simon and his love interest and how things turn out with his family and friends. It would be unfair to the film to spoil it.

   “Love, Simon” is the kind of love story that is needed because it gives all who see it a point of view they would not otherwise experience. It is a film that’s message is not about the rest of society coming to terms with homosexuality, but about understanding that being gay doesn’t change the fact that everyone loves the same.

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Collegiate DECA offers students connections, real experience

by Taylor LewisPosted on

Before a Dixie State University alumna became a member of the collegiate DECA club, she went through the motions of school without a clear vision of her future.

After taking a two year break from school to work full time, alumna Emily Fisher found a passion for digital marketing and returned to DSU to pursue a communication degree. 

Although she was driven to further her education in digital marketing, Fisher said she didn’t know what steps to take to turn her passion into a career; however, the moment she joined DECA, she found a constant source of inspiration that narrowed the direction she wanted to go.

Collegiate DECA is a business and marketing association that focuses on five categories: business management and administration, finance and accounting, marketing and communication, hospitality and tourism, and entrepreneurship. Students can participate in the club and enroll for collegiate DECA 1530R to practice how to analyze and solve real world business cases in front of their peers.

“Talking to advisers and hearing their wisdom, as well as interacting with the students in the class and the club, helped me build the stepping stones to where I am, and even have the stepping stones to where I want to get in the next three to five years,” Fisher said. “If I wouldn’t have been a part of DECA, I would’ve been directionless after graduation.”

Aside from encouraging students to find their way when they eventually graduate, DECA focuses on:

Competing nationally and internationally

Within these five categories, students can compete alone or with a partner to develop a solution to a real business case scenario. After developing a structured presentation, students present their approach to a judge for evaluation.

This year, all 14 of DSU’s DECA students who competed in the 2018 Utah Collegiate DECA State Career Development Conference qualified to compete in the international conference in Washington D.C.

Although DSU is a relatively smaller school compared to its Ivy League competitors, Karman Wilson, the cultural arts coordinator and DECA co-adviser said DSU continues to come out with top 12 or top three placements.

“The advisers know how to prepare students, but…we just have an amazing caliber of students who are willing to put in the time to be ready for competition,” Wilson said.  

Practicing interview skills and public speaking

Matthew Harris, assistant professor of management information systems, said by competing in various conferences, students not only learn how to focus on the most important elements of their presentation, but they also grow to become more comfortable speaking in front of larger audiences. 

“The feedback I get from students who have done it in the past, especially if they’re like, ‘I’m not much of a public speaker, and I’m not good at that type of stuff’…by the end of the course and the club, they’re like, ‘Interviews? No problem,’’’ Harris said. 

By strengthening students’ ability to speak in a confident and concise manner, Wilson also stressed how crucial it is for their future career endeavors. 

“In any profession you need to be able to market yourself,” Wilson said. “The best way you can do that is how you present yourself and how you speak.”

Whether you are in class presenting practice business solutions or competing conferences, Wilson said DECA can significantly sharpen your interpersonal skills.

Networking

Because DECA students are given the opportunity to present real solutions to issues businesses face, Adobe reached out to various DECA chapters to compete. After reviewing multiple solutions, Adobe implemented DSU students’ ideas and even offered them the chance to tour their facility, Harris said.

“We had some students who took advantage of the opportunity and contacted [Adobe], and they took a tour of the Adobe Headquarters in Salt Lake City,” Harris said. “[An Adobe Employee] said to them,  ‘I am shocked [because] we rarely have students come back and take the tour. You guys stand out to me because you took the time to see what we are all about.’”

For Fisher, networking among her peers in DECA proved to be another valuable asset. 

“DECA is an incredible networking tool because you’re interacting with some of the smartest and [most] driven students at DSU,” Fisher said.

By engaging with these students, she not only made lasting friendships, but also was informed of a potential internship opportunity at Wilson Electronics. Today, she manages the marketing for this consumer electronics brand.

“It’s fun looking back now where I am professionally and seeing exactly how it opened doors of opportunity for me,” Fisher said. “A lot of the skills I practiced in class and during competitions applies every day to what I do.”

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New football coaches bring past experience as student athletes, coaches to DSU

by Alexis McClainPosted on

Football season for the Dixie State University Trailblazers is not around the corner but expect to see three new faces within the coaching staff in the coming year. 

Head coach Shay McClure said while searching for these new coaches, he wanted individuals who interacted with their players in a certain way and had skills in recruitment. 

“[Recruitment] is a big part of what their jobs are,” McClure said. “They should be able to go out and find student athletes that fit both the athletic, academic and social profiles we’re looking for.”

The three assistant coaches are as follows: Carl Franke for the running backs, Famika Anae for the tight ends and Junior Tanuvasa for the linebacker.

Carl Franke 

Franke identifies the moment he realized his love for football when he was in the eighth grade, and the coach for the local high school asked if he had plans to play for the high school team.

Before entering at DSU, Franke was the head football coach at local Desert Hills High School, where he led the Thunderbirds, ranked 10th in the state at the time, to the state championships in 2016. 

McClure said part of his reasoning for hiring Franke was because he is a local coach with connections within and outside the coaching world. 

“Watching him go to the [state] championship and seeing him interact with the players… I knew when they came out they would be able to demand from their players and [coach] in the right away,” McClure said when discussing state picks Franke and Anae. 

Franke plans to grow the relationships with the running-back group and wants them to learn to trust his coaching. 

“[I want] my group to trust what I’m telling them and go out and play hard for themselves, me and the team,” Franke said. 

Although Franke has attended previous DSU football games, he was eager to say entering the collegiate level has always been a goal of his, whether it was at DSU or another institution.

“My wife played soccer here [at DSU] when it was just a club team,” Franke said. “ I’ve always said how cool it would be to be on staff [here].”   

Franke said he is happy to be a part of an identity that has shifted from a junior college to a Division II university. 

For Franke a high school football team compared to a collegiate one is not that different in terms of coaching, but when it comes to playing, he believes student athletes have take on a whole new responsibility. 

“[For coaching] it’s really all the same; football doesn’t really change,” Franke said. “But for student athlete itself this is now a job [instead] of a extra curricular.” 

Famika Anae 

Head coach McClure did not know Anae personally but knew of his father Robert Anae who attended and played for the Brigham Young University Cougars as the center and offensive guard from 1981-84. 

Anae identifies his dad as a leading figure directed him to learn to love football.

“I was born and raised in football,” Anae said. “My dad is the offensive coordinator at the University of Virginia and has coached Division I college football all my life. I was born into it; I didn’t really have a choice.”

Anae said his dad and all of his brothers played for BYU in the early 80’s, thus influencing Anae and his cousins to play for BYU as well. 

Anae said he’s had a short career in being a coach, but along with his student athlete background there are certain things he has learned that he wants to share with our Trailblazers.

“My biggest thing that I have learned so far is to be a complete student athlete,” Anae said. “That goes for academics and being an athlete [as well as] being a contributor to the community.”

 Anae said those are the three main aspects of every student athlete’s job he hopes the football coaching staff can work on every day.

Junior Tanuvasa 

After knowing and associating with Tanuvasa for 10 years McClure was excited to have him on the DSU coaching staff.

Although Tanuvasa recognized football as a career path for him at 7 years old, it wasn’t until his senior year in high he realized he wanted to coach football as well.

Tanuvasa said it was his coach Bill Smith who inspired him to pursue coaching.

As far as what brought Tanuvasa to DSU, he accredits it to the university’s reputation. 

“Dixie State is up and coming,” Tanuvasa said. “There’s a lot of good things as far as that can happen for me; I just don’t think it’s been really tapped into yet.”

When Tanuvasa was graduating high school, DSU was still a junior college, so seeing it come this far has been inspiring for Tanuvasa. 

He said there is only one way to go from here, up. 

Tanuvasa said that mentoring is a key part  that a coach can teach his players. 

 “The biggest thing for the [linebackers] is to get them showing up with a passion and purpose,” Tanuvasa said. “If you take this game lightly this game will chew you up and spit you out, so you have to show up ready to take [football] head on.”

Head coach McClure recognizes the tasks football demands and commends his staff for being diligent in their work. 

“These guys don’t get paid a lot of money, and they spend about 100 hours a week working,” McClure said. 

Trailblazer football will start its season in fall of 2018, with their first game against Colorado State University-Pueblo.

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Former DSU baseball players honored with retired jerseys

by Dixie Sun News StaffPosted on

Three jerseys hang on the fence in left center at Bruce Hurst Field, immortalized in Dixie State University baseball history.

Each jersey has an assigned number, a number that will never again be worn by a DSU baseball player. These retired numbers are the numbers nine, 25 and three, belonging to DSU alumni Brandon Lyon, Brad Thompson and Brandon Kintzler.

Lyon, Thompson and Kintzler all are right-handed pitchers who played for DSU when it was a junior college and went on to have careers in Major League Baseball. Their legacies and accomplishments at DSU led to them being able to say their numbers will never be worn again.

No. 9 Lyon

Lyon pitched for DSU for two seasons (1999-2000). Lyon went to Taylorsville high school and was drafted out of high school in the 37th round of the 1997 MLB draft by the New York Mets but opted to come play college ball at DSU before pursing life in the major leagues. Lyon had a win-loss record of 24-3 in 29 appearances, totaling 193 innings with only a 1.59 earned run average during his two seasons at DSU. 

Lyon was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 14th round of the 1999 MLB draft. Throughout his 12-year career in the majors, he played for seven different organizations, ending with a 42-47 record and a 4.16 ERA in 572 games and 681.1 innings pitched, most of them as a relief pitcher. Lyon pitched last in the MLB in 2013 and currently lives in St. George.

No. 25 Thompson

Thompson is from Las Vegas and most recently played for DSU back in 2002 before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2002    draft. Thompson went on to play for five years with the Cardinals before finishing his major league career with the Kansas City Royals in 2010. He pitched in 405.1 innings in the majors, ending with a even 21-21 record, an ERA of 4.46 and 201 appearances. According to his Twitter account, Thompson is currently a radio co-host of The Fast Lane in St. Louis with the local ESPN Radio station 101 ESPN.

No. 3 Kintzler

Kintzler is also from Las Vegas and was a member of the DSU team that won the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship in 2004. Kintzler was 9-1 during that year on 13 appearances, finishing with 74.1 innings pitched with a 2.30 ERA and 69 strikeouts. Kintzler was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 40th round of the 2004 draft. Kintzler is currently still in the MLB and playing for the Washington Nationals as the 2018 season gets underway. Kintzler was selected to the American League All-Star team in 2017 as a member of the Minnesota Twins.

“Obviously the more [numbers] you [retire] the more special contributors [there have been] to the program,” DSU head coach Chris Pfatenhauer said. “There’s a certain mystique to that, maybe wanting yours up there one day and striving for greatness, whether that be during your time here and or what you are going to do beyond here.”

While the three standouts made great impacts on the program during their time at DSU, they all played well before most of the current players were even out of grade school. Catcher Jake Foster, a freshman general studies major from Bountiful, said he has never talked personally with any of the retired players.

“Sometimes they will show up to different banquets,” Foster said. “Sometimes they’ll talk to us and give speeches but as far as coming to chill or hangout at least as I’ve been here [it hasn’t happened].”

Pfatenhauer said there are no specific qualifications to getting a number retired; it is based on how important the player or person was during their time at DSU and what they were able to accomplish after.

“I think its an honor to have your number retired, to have it put up on the fence for everyone to see,” said pitcher Tyler Rosas, a junior exercise science major from Twin Falls, Idaho. “[The retired numbers] motivate me to try and get my jersey up there.”

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Board of regents approve tuition increase

by Dixie Sun News StaffPosted on

The Utah state board of regents approved all tuition increase proposals including a 3.5 percent increase for Dixie State University at the annual board of regents’ meeting March 30 at Dixie State University.

DSU proposed a second tier tuition rate increase of 2.5 percent on top of the first tier 1.5 percent increase proposal.

According to a board of regents meeting agenda item, the tuition increase will raise tuition cost by $150 for full-time, graduate, resident students for the upcoming academic year excluding the summer semester, bringing the total tuition cost from $4,308 to $4,458. This means going from $2,154 a semester to $2,229 a semester, and from $6,888 to $7,128 a semester for full-time, nonresident students.

DSU also made requests for an online tuition fee schedule and differential tuition for nursing, dental hygiene and accountancy degrees.

Jordon Sharp, chief marketing and communication officer, said, “DSU’s two percent second-tier tuition increase requested for FY19 is anticipated to yield approximately $600,000 of additional funding for the campus.”

Sharp noted students who receive financial aid will be eligible to receive an increase of up to $175 for the upcoming year.

Sharp said the second-tier increase is supported by Utah’s System of Higher Education because the additional funds will help keep DSU in line with other Utah institutions and it will help DSU keep up with its rapid enrollment increases.

Andy Velasco, a sophomore criminal justice major from Los Angeles, said the increase will not affect him in a significant way, but he still hopes some of the increased funds will be allotted to better serve all students on campus.

“I hope there’s an improvement on resources like the Tutoring Center and the Writing Center,” Velasco said. “I feel like they’re helpful, but they can only handle so many students…”

Velasco said he’d like to see student resources on campus expanded to be able to help more students than they are now. He said student resource improvements would make him happier with the campus, along with updated dining options on campus.

Sharp said, “The university has increased efforts to raise scholarships dollars for our students and has raised a record amount of money for needs-based scholarships for the upcoming year.”

DSU’s tuition still remain well below the western-region average.

President Richard “Biff” Williams said, “We are striving to maintain affordability while simultaneously increasing quality and variety in our academic programs.”

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Softball changes mindset after losses in Hawaii

by Naomi VazquezPosted on

After taking two losses in Hawaii, the Dixie State University softball team kicked off their first of six games Wednesday at the Karl Brooks Field victoriously but still took two losses.

Before the critical week of hosting Azusa Pacific University and Biola University, the team had a week at home to practice and prepare for the upcoming games.

“We kind of struggled in Hawaii, but I feel like we’ve really refocused and I expect us to do really well this week,” said Outfielder Kenzie Sawyer, a senior biology major from Cedar City.

Second Baseman Bailey Gaffin, a junior general studies major from Glendale, Arizona, agreed refocusing is a big goal for the team.

“I think it’s really important that we work on our fundamentals,” Gaffin said. “I think the Hawaii trip for sure drained us so we need to get our energy back.”

Gaffin said she’d like to see the team play with more intensity and focus as they attempt to recover from the losses.

Despite the losses, Gaffin said the team still worked hard and adjusted well after an injury forced a few players to take on unusual positions during the games in Hawaii.

“We have great communication,” Gaffin said. “It’s awesome … that we can easily adjust to something that’s out of the ordinary and still thrive.”

Both Sawyer and Gaffin said they looked forward to the upcoming competition of playing six games against two strong teams: a 4-game series against Azusa Pacific University and a double header against Biola University.

“We know Azusa Pacific is pretty good … we know it’s a tough match-up so we’re definitely going to come out ready to play,” Gaffin said.

Sawyer said she looks forward to the games as well and focusing on getting timely hits against the competition.

“I’m really excited to see how everyone comes out and plays and to see where we stand after this week,” Sawyer said.

Head Coach Randy Simkins said after a week of practice, the team is refocusing to string together some victories to hopefully see a conference championship in the future.

Softball won three of four games against the Azusa Pacific Cougars.

The Trailblazers dominated the field during their first game racking up a score of eight and leaving the Cougars scoreless. Pitcher Cambrie Hazel, a freshman general studies major from Spanish Fork, pitched a five-inning, no-hitter game with four strikeouts. The Trailblazers finished the game with two home runs and one triple. Sawyer held three hits, and Gaffin completed one of the Trailblazers’ home runs.

After their victory, Wednesday’s games were split as the Trailblazers took a loss to the Cougars when they finished their second game with a score of 21-19.

DSU bounced back and took two wins to finish their four-game series Thursday. The Trailblazers took the third game with three doubles and a home run at a score of 7-2, and wrapped up the fourth game with three doubles and a score of 15-1.

Then Saturday was another split day as the Trailblazers blazed through the first game and finished at 9-1, but trailed the Biola Eagles during the second game and lost at a score of 6-3.

The first game of the double header went well for DSU, racking up two home runs along with one triple and two doubles.   

The Trailblazers dropped the ball as they wrapped up the week with a loss to the Biola Eagles, but made a home run, a triple and a double throughout the game. 

Next up, DSU softball will visit California State University East Bay in Hayward, California, April 4. DSU softball is now sitting at 26-4 overall.

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What’s in your backpack?

by Cody EckmanPosted on

Because of preference, need and other considerations, the make-up of someone’s backpack is a pretty personal thing. I interviewed Leighton Ipson, a sophomore undeclared major from Washington, Sarah Eggett, a senior secondary education major from Bountiful, Jake Barrett, a sophomore music major from Logan, and Adam Garceau, a junior pre-nursing major from Sacramento to find out what makes their backpack habits unique.

Q: Do you keep your backpack pretty organized?

Leighton: “I keep my backpack pretty organized so I can know where all of my stuff for each class is.”

Sarah: “I keep my back pack very organized.  Each pocket has a specific purpose or certain thing that is put in it — of course, the bigger the pocket, the more things that I assign to put in it.”

Jake: “My backpack is anything but organized, but I can navigate [it] well, I guess.”

Adam: “Yes. I know where everything is at all times. It’s important to keep track of it all so I don’t forget something for class.”

Q: What’s the most important thing you bring with you to school each day?

Leighton: “My laptop — I use it for almost every class.”

Sarah: “For academics, pens/pencils and notebooks for each class. For health, my water bottle is a must.”

Jake: “My music.”

Adam: “My phone. It’s my best study resource and great for taking notes if I forget my notebook.”

Q: Is there anything you carry with you regularly that you think is unique?

Leighton: “I keep a first-aid kit with me and it’s come in handy.”

Sarah: “I always keep a game with me. For example, [I carry] a deck of cards or mini-farkle.”

Jake: “[I carry] a kitty folder.”

Adam: “I like to carry my grip exercising ring so I can stay strong and a pocket face mask for CPR.”

Q: Have you ever tried going without a backpack?

Leighton: “I really haven’t. I need everything in my backpack.”

Sarah: “I tried just going with a shoulder bag for a day, but there weren’t enough pockets, no pocket for my water bottle, and my shoulder started hurting.  So, needless to say, a backpack is normally my standard.”

Adam: “I’ve always used a backpack. I tried to replace it with just my iPad, but then I found I had to carry paper homework and a pencil. My backpack has gotten smaller. I’ve definitely become more minimalist over time.”

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Graduates need to be focus of 2018 commencement

by Markee HeckenliablePosted on

There’s nothing more satisfying in college than the day you graduate.

You can finally kiss the in-between goodbye and say hello to being a full-fledged adult in the workforce. Graduation is the most important ceremony/celebration for an institution, but it sure doesn’t feel that way with this year’s commencement at Dixie State University.

With graduation set at 8 a.m., this year’s graduates have to be ready and on campus by 7:15 a.m. 

That’s way too early. 

College students sleep through their 8 a.m. classes; how do you expect us to wake up and look presentable by that time?

Having graduation at 8 a.m. also makes it inconvenient for family members traveling to watch their loved one graduate. This means they either need to travel extremely early in the morning or spend more money on hotels.

Graduation will also be outside this year in the Trailblazer Stadium. While I sure do love warmer weather and the beauty of St. George during spring time, sitting in the sun for hours and graduation gowns do not go together. And sweat doesn’t make for memorable graduation pictures either. 

Also, have you ever seen women in heels walk across turf? I didn’t think so. 

I appreciate DSU’s diligence to the institution’s growth with new infrastructure, but does graduation have to be the time officials show off their big, fancy stadium? I doubt most graduates will even step foot in that stadium again after graduation. There’s no need for this year’s graduates to be the institution’s guinea pigs. 

Although officials say the stadium will be complete in time for graduation, after seeing the delays in construction for Campus View Suites and Vintage at Tabernacle, I don’t have much faith.

Baccalaureate and associate graduates will also be combined this year – that’s 1,762 names to read all during the same ceremony. 

Students getting their associates are important, but it would be gratifying for the students who are receiving their bachelor’s to be separated and acknowledged from the rest. We persevered for four years; we deserve our own ceremony.  

Although I’m disappointed in the way graduation is set up, I will gladly walk and celebrate the four years of college I endured to receive my diploma. I just hope in the future DSU will put its student’s needs above anything else.

 

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DSU names stadium Trailblazer Stadium after ending naming-rights agreement

by Markee HeckenliablePosted on

A mutual decision was made between Dixie State University and Legend Solar to cut ties over the stadium’s naming-rights agreement. 

According to a statement released by university officials, the decision was made by both DSU and Legend Solar. The stadium will instead be named Trailblazer Stadium, and the construction of the east-side grandstand is still set to be completed by the end of April, which means 2018 commencement will be unaffected. Out of the $10 million donation, DSU only received $150,000. 

According to the university’s statement, “The project will be funded by alternative revenue streams that were designated prior to breaking ground, as is done on all DSU building projects.” 

Jyl Hall, director of public relations, said phase two of the stadium renovation is now being funded by institutional resources. She also said no tuition or state allocations will be used, and DSU also received funding from Washington County. 

The stadium was supposed to receive solar panels, but Hall said the stadium will instead continue using traditional power sources. 

According to an article from the Salt Lake Tribune, annual sales for Legend Solar dropped from $32 million in 2016 to $12 million in 2017. 

“We have been in constant communication with Legend Solar in recent days and made this decision together to allow Legend Solar to focus on serving their customers, employees, and the community,” according to the statement from DSU.

Legend Solar hasn’t responded to Dixie Sun News’ request for comment.


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