Month: February 2020

“Horatius At The Bridge” may have been a silent production, but it spoke volumes to the audience

The play was presented as a pantomime, which is when the actors mostly use sound effects, grunts and music while acting; there is no dialogue in these types of plays.

“Horatius At The Bridge” was produced by Micheal Harding, associate professor of theater. The production aired the Feb. 26-29 at the Eccles Mainstage and was free admission.

By fighting viciously upon their wooden bridge and dancing across the stage, actors showcased the original written story of the play they’ve been practicing since fall semester.

“Horatius At The Bridge” tells the story of two twin sons, Demetius and Horatius, born to the king and queen. Their father, the king, fights against a neighboring enemy and takes their king’s daughter and the twin’s sister, Venezia, as a hostage to marry one of his sons. The queen soon falls ill and dies, leaving the king heartbroken. He then kills himself, leaving his sons a scroll to tell who is the king next. Demetius is next in line to be king and to marry Venezia.

The nearly silent play is full of plot twists and chaos.

The production has elements of Greek, pantomimes and original work so theater students can hit all the major genres that they need in order to graduate, said Chelsea Richards, theater program director.

Although the play is composed of darker stories, students still came out and enjoyed the play the theater program produced, said Richards. 

It’s a whole different experience than anything you’ll ever get,” said Dusty Ravsten, a junior theatre major from Tremonton who also plays Dementius. “There are musicals, there’s Tuachon, but here you’re gonna get a way different experience than that here and it will impact you.” 

Connor Buehner, a theatre major from Salt Lake City, who also plays Horatius, said that actors practiced every night for around three hours to make sure they produced their best work.

“All actors have been enthusiastic about the production and their hard work has finally paid off as they end the last show,” said Jeff Jarvis, dean college of the arts.

If you missed “Horatius At The Bridge,” another theater production, “Proof,” is set to debut at DSU.

“Proof” is about a girl who’s father is an insane mathematician and she then starts to believe she is following in his footsteps and becoming insane. The play revolves around math equations, numbers and ideas. Keep an eye out for “Proof” in late March at the black box in the Dolores Doré Eccles Fine Arts Center.

Bon Appetite!

Dixie State University students have the opportunity to sample foods from different cultures at the “Taste Around the World” event.

Taste Around the World is an event presented by the DSU Multicultural and Inclusion Center as a part of Diversity week on campus. 

“This has been our biggest signature event as a department,” said Mike Nelson, assistant director of the MIC. “It focuses on food from various cultures, races and ethnicities, but that’s not exclusive to only multicultural students.” 

Nelson said this event is a way for DSU students to get out of their comfort zone and try something new. Trying new things and learning new ideas from different cultures is an essential way to add inclusivity on campus.

“Food is such a connector,” Nelson said. “Food is one of those things that is so unique to every individual culture. With every individual and family, there are those special recipes that grandma passed down from generation to generation; it’s universal.” 

Culture is not a term that is only explained through the aspects of race and ethnicity, Nelson said. Culture can involve the geographic region you come from or even your religious practices. It is anything that involves your family history and origin. 

Nelson said even Utah has a particular culture, so local students can get involved at the event as well. 

“At freshman orientation, we asked our in-state students ‘what is something that is a part of Utah culture?’, almost all of their answers were ‘fry sauce,’” Nelson said. “So, culture is not just something that is exclusive to students of different races, but something all of us can enjoy.”

Jasmine Magana, a senior Spanish major from Los Angeles, said she is preparing chicken floutas with guacamole, salsa, cheese and sour cream. 

“Growing up, my mom and I would make hand-made tortillas corn and flour,” Magana said. “We would make flautas, also known as taquitos, stuffed with chicken and cheese. To top it off, we make a tomato salsa, add cabbage, a drizzle of Crema Mexicana and a sprinkle of Cotija cheese. My mom says the salsa is the main thing that brings it all together.”

Magana said “Taste Around the World,” is the chance for students to broaden to their flavor pallet. It also gives those who cook a chance to share what they learned while growing up in their home kitchens.

“The way you prepare something makes it yours and the different flavors that are added makes it unique,” Magana said. 

Another student who is excited to prepare a dish from her culture is Miss Native Dixie herself, Phyllis Kitseallyboy. The senior exercise science major from Kirtland, New Mexico, is preparing frybread with squash, corn and ground beef. 

“At this event, I’m able to share my Navajo culture with DSU,” Kitseallyboy said. “So many people are intrigued by the food me and the Native American Student Association have put together.”

Nelson said frybread is a staple to the Native American diet. It is a dish students can always expect to see at “Taste Around the World.”

“Frybread is four simple ingredients,” Kitseallyboy said. “Blue Bird flour, salt, baking powder and hot water. You knead the ingredients into a dough, then fry it. It was a super easy bread to make and it reminds me of home.”

“Taste Around the World” is an event that brings everyone together and can even help you make new connections and friends, Kitseallyboy said.

Nelson said the variety of dishes prepared are almost never the same annually, but students can expect to see Dutch-Oven potatoes, Cowboy beans, several Asian and African rice dishes, Polynesian food and more.

“By breaking bread, we are breaking barriers,” Nelson said. “Many students will go to the event and experience a particular dish they have never eaten before; it opens their eyes.”

Other events happening during Diversity Week include “Conversations at High Tea,” “Operation Underground Railroad,” the “El Baile de Primavera” dance, “Pizza and Politics” and the “Treat Yo’ Self” event.

Navigating your 20s can be rough, but it doesn’t have to be.

Any tips and tricks for a college student can be helpful; however, when it comes to navigating your years outside of being a teenager, life can be a little tricky. Here are just a few tips from students entering their 20s or are already in them:

When entering your 20s, it’s important to start gathering and organizing the important documents you may need in the future.

Megan Benn, a sophomore biology major from Lompoc, California, said no one really tells you when you need to have all your important documents such as tax records, birth certificates and medical documents organized, but you will need them.

Benn also addressed the concern of being pushed off of your parent’s insurance once you turn 26.

The advice Benn wished to have had when entering her 20s was how to act around people. Benn said when you act childish people will treat you so.

Benn said the best part of her 20s is feeling like an actual adult. Even though you’re legally an adult at 18, Benn said her adult life didn’t start until she reached her 20s.

Benn said, “You don’t really realize how much of an adult you become until you reach your 20s.”

KateLynn Norton, an incoming freshman who will be majoring in criminology from Las Vegas, Nevada is 24, and said she would have liked to have known the benefits of keeping a full-time job, since this can help with things such as car payments and insurance.

Norton would advise those entering their 20s to go to school and stay in school.

“Go to school,” Norton said, “That’s one thing I really wish I had done.”

While in her 20s, Norton said she wants to graduate college, start her career and settle down to start making a family.

Samantha Lyden, a freshman art major from Lehi, said she wishes there was more advice available to her.

“I would like to get advice on doing things like taxes,” Lyden said, “Nobody really teaches you how to do it so I would like advice on that.”

When she graduates, Lyden said she wants to be able to function and know how to live without relying on the steady pace of being a student.  

“I’ve always been a student; I’ve never not been a student,” Lyden said, “So it’s really scary when you grow up and you have all this freedom that you don’t know what to do with.”

Whether it’s filing taxes or gaining newfound freedom, Lyden said she wants her 20s to be full of adventure and doing things for herself and hopes others can do the same.