UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | October 05, 2025

Month: October 2020

Dia De Los Muertos celebration brings culture to campus

by Arielle CabreraPosted on

Fall comes and Halloween is everywhere, but that’s not the only holiday that is coming; there’s also Día De Los Muertos, or Day of The Dead.

Día De Los Muertos is a holiday of remembrance that originated in Latin American countries and has made its way into the U.S. It generally spans two days and is celebrated with family, including the deceased ones.

Every year, families gather to make food and lay out flowers, traditionally marigolds, to honor and remember those who have passed. Graveyards are filled with lights and marigold trails to lead the dead back to their loved ones.

Cesaria Selwyn, Multicultural Inclusion Center Coordinator for Latinx students, put together a Día De Lost Muertos celebration on campus. The Hispanic Heritage Club will be in charge of this event. They are taking over this years celebration, though there has been previous Dia De Los Muertos events at DSU.

Students can RSVP for the event to have special altars to celebrate with. The event will also include traditional Mexican food, candles to paint, and a showing of the movie Coco.

The event will have a few crafts as far as painting your own “veladora” or prayer candle that are traditionally found on altars. There will also be paper marigold flowers to make and keep for altars at home.

Coco is culturally accurate to how the holiday is celebrated in Latin American countries. It follows the story of a young boy who travels to the land of the dead on Dia De Los Muertos.

“The reason I wanted to do a Dia De Los Muertos Festival for the university, and hopefully have this be a yearly-annual thing, is because for me when I was growing up, I would say it was the most important family holiday of the year,” Selwyn said.

Selwyn said she wants to focus on bringing the culture into this event and to recognize all the different Hispanic cultures that are on campus.

“I think this is a really beautiful aspect of the culture to bring in that helps increase cultural appreciation,” Selwyn said.  

The students are also looking forward to the holiday, as well as the event on campus. Carla Navarrete, a junior biology major from St. George, has family from El Salvador and still celebrates here.

“My family typically expresses this by leaving flowers on [our deceased loved ones] graves,” Navarrete said. “I love being able to celebrate my culture and show other people that part of me.”

Miranda Acosta, a junior raspatory therapy major from Las Vegas who is planning to go to the Dia De Los Muertos event, said she is used to seeing the holiday; however, does not celebrate it as much as other Hispanics.

“I love being able to celebrate my culture and show other people that part of me.”

Carla Navarette, junior biology major

“People usually make altars by putting pictures, favorites foods, decorations and the traditional “pan de muerto” for their loved ones that have passed,” Acosta said. “My family is from Hispanic decent, but we don’t celebrate Dia De Los Muertos as much as other Hispanics do.”

Halloween is a more known celebration in St. George and the one generally celebrated by the public; however, the two aren’t mutually exclusive.

Día De Los Muertos falls on Nov. 1 and 2 this year, but DSU has its celebration a few days before on Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., so students can learn about the culture of the holiday and make altar decorations to celebrate on their own.

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OPINION | Protesting during pandemic acceptable

by Natalie LightPosted on

Although we are told to social distance, protests are the exception. Protesting is essential.

Over the summer, protesters across the world took to the streets during a global pandemic for reasons such as racial inequality, police violence and even mask-wearing mandates.

According to Utah’s COVID-19 website, a majority of counties in Utah, including Washington county, are at a high level of transmission. At this high level of transmission, it’s recommended for gatherings to be limited to 10 or fewer people, and masks should be worn in public settings when distancing is not feasible.

Protesting during COVID-19 is the exception. You should still be careful, but when there’s an important issue, in-person, collective action leads to positive change.

By definition, to protest means to make a statement or gesture in objection to something. Throughout history, protests have led to real, positive change. It’s a way groups can make it publicly known that they believe something should change. Even the American Revolution included forms of protest such as the Boston Tea Party.

Collective action has been a thing for a long time. In an article about the psychology behind protesting, Nicole Fisher writes about the efficiency behind protests. When one person is talking about something, it can be ineffective in creating change. She writes, “When messaging is aligned (think hashtag campaigns), whether that be in-person or on-line, louder volume, greater funds, and more people means more time and attention on the issue at hand. Thus, our one small act feels like it carries greater weight and has more significant consequences.”

The Civil Rights Movement is an example of a protest. During the 1960s people protested racial inequality by marching, and having freedom rides, sit-ins and more. Active, in-person activism has always had a level of risk. People risked public push-back, jail, violence, and more. Violence against protesters is never OK or justified, but there is a risk. Today, there is an added level of risk with a pandemic. People risk getting sick themselves or infecting others unknowingly. There is an added amount of worry when you protest during a pandemic because you never know if someone around you is sick. That’s also a risk.

When people protest, risks are worth taking because urgent change is needed. George Floyd’s death was a tipping point for an important issue in the United States. Across the country, people came together to protest racism and call for police reform.

In early June 2020 at a World Health Organization press conference, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “WHO fully supports equality and the global movement against racism. We reject discrimination of all kinds. We encourage all those protesting around the world to do so safely. As much as possible keep at least one meter from others. Clean your hands, cover your cough and wear a mask if you attend a protest.”

Staying safe is still important. If you are at a higher risk of infection because of age or pre-existing health conditions, consider that before protesting. There are many things you can do in order to stay safe and still participate in protests. If you are in frequent contact with people who are considered high-risk, consider getting a test before seeing them again after a protest. If you are actively showing symptoms of COVID-19, do not join a large protest. Online activism and talking to people around you is another way to create change.

In June of 2020, thousands of people gathered for protests against police brutality in downtown Salt Lake City. I rode there with friends and we marched with the group to the police department and to the University of Utah campus. Masks were required and people stayed with people they knew.

Even with a global pandemic, if there is an issue you feel is important enough, protesting is OK.

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OPINION | Politics not to blame for relationships ending

by Kiara ParhamPosted on

Politics doesn’t ruin relationships, the lack of communication on personal views is what ruins relationships, so don’t blame politics.

Communication plays a huge role in how you see a person. If there was communication about politics while dating, divorces would be less likely to happen during this election season.

An article from mindbodygreen.com stated, “Understanding your partner’s inner world and having them understand yours is pivotal to true connection.”

The article goes on to say if your communication does not evolve your relationship, you start to grow apart.

In a conversation with my grandma, she was explaining how people at her church are getting a divorce because of politics. These couples had been married for years, if not decades, and I couldn’t believe that people are calling it quits because two rich men are arguing over who should lead our country for the next four years. The one thing she said that resonated with me was, “I’m so glad your grandfather and I share the same political viewpoint.” 

The question that came to my mind was: are relationships truly ending because of political viewpoints or are they ending because people haven’t spoken about politics?

In a New York Times article, New York divorce lawyer Ken Jewell talked about how he had clients in his office ranting about their partners’ outlooks on initiatives such as Black Lives Matter, Save the Children and human rights.

Jewell said, “Before that, it never really became much of an issue because you didn’t have the divisive candidate.” 

Relationships are bonds between people; there’s no time limit on how long someone will be in your life, but marriage is a bond between someone you can share your life with forever. Why is something so temporary, such as presidential elections and debates breaking these “forever” bonds?

An article from quickanddirtytips.com stated: “Your political viewpoint just feels like a part of who you are. For most of us, it’s not something we’re interested in changing, even for someone we love.”

Politics can be talked about and people can accept their partner’s political difference. You just have to have an understanding that everything is not going to be agreed on.

“Your political viewpoint just feels like a part of who you are. For most of us, it’s not something we’re interested in changing, even for someone we love.”

quickanddirtytips.com

Before the pandemic, a lot of people were busy with their own lives, not focused on issues in the world, but people were forced to sit down and actually talk to a person. The honesty of how someone felt about a certain topic was avoidable.

This created the problem. 

It takes a good conversation to stir the pot enough to end in divorce. We can’t blame politics though. Blame yourselves. Put the blame on the lack of getting to know your significant other before jumping into a marriage. Put the blame on the fact that people say never mind to avoid talking about a controversial topics. 

There’s more to relationship than the surface. You need to dig deep to ask your significant other the tough questions and truly getting to know them before committing to the life long bond.

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‘There’s not really a weakness to her’: How Keslee Stevenson is the ultimate teammate

by Megan WebbPosted on

At Dixie State University, only one member of the women’s basketball team has played four seasons of basketball. She was a member of five-year head coach JD Gustin’s first-ever recruitment class, averaged 31 minutes and 9.1 points per game her junior year, and is one of the team’s captains this season.

Keslee Stevenson, a senior exercise science major from Willard, is a cornerstone of the women’s basketball team. Gustin said he has nothing but praises for his star guard. She is known to be dedicated to her team and the ultimate teammate.

“[Stevenson’s recruitment] class was a real challenge for us,” Gustin said. “For her to stick through all the adversity, it’s really made her grow. She’s a foundation piece to this program for as long as we’re here.”

Stevenson took a chance on coming to the DSU women’s basketball program because as a star in high school, DSU was a risk for Stevenson due to the program going through a transitional period. Gustin said he recognizes that looking back, but is grateful she chose DSU.

“Our program was average,” Gustin said. “She took a chance on us.”

Stevenson opted to come to DSU because it was in close proximity to her hometown in northern Utah, but appreciated she was still far enough away to be independent.

Stevenson said while it was hard at first moving down to DSU as a freshman, “my coaching staff and my teammates helped me to push through and without them I wouldn’t have been able to [stay all four years].”

Although Stevenson credits Gustin with helping her grow, Gustin also sees Stevenson’s growth both on and off the court from when she was recruited.

“She didn’t really bounce [the ball that] well, she didn’t guard,” Gustin said. “Now she’s really developed her game. Now she’s our team’s best defender, she’s our team’s best on ball and team defender.”

Not only has her game developed on the court, but Stevenson is also outstanding academically and a leader on the team. Not only was Stevenson named to the RMAC Academic Honor Roll, but she is also a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative for the women’s basketball team and one of the basketball team’s captains this season.

“We’re going to show everyone what we have to offer. [We’re] all working our hardest day in, day out and not taking anything for granted. We’re ready.”

Keslee Stevenson, a senior exercise science major from Willard

Gustin said, “There’s not really a weakness to her in any part of her life.”

Stevenson’s teammates have similar thoughts. Breana Moea’i, a senior communication studies major from St. George, shared a story of a time when Stevenson did a conditioning drill alongside her to help Moea’i believe that she could finish it and be that little extra push she needed.

“She’s a really strong leader for us,” Moea’i said. “She leads by example and by what she says to us. Her standards are pretty high, so for us to see that, we want to meet her rather than stay on our level.”

Being a good teammate is the most important thing to Stevenson. She knows that no day is guaranteed anymore with COVID-19 and there’s always a possibility of the season being canceled at a moment’s notice, so she does what she can to support her teammates.

“My biggest thing is if people enjoy playing with you, if you’re a good teammate,” Stevenson said. “They’re all like my sisters, so being that big sister for them is important to me and helping them get through their struggles and things I also went through in the past.”

As the women’s basketball team prepares for its season to start, the teammates are excited about the chemistry and family bond they have developed. Stevenson and her team are ready to compete and are confident they can make a splash in the Western Athletic Conference this season.

“We’re going to show everyone what we have to offer,” Stevenson said. “[We’re] all working our hardest day in, day out and not taking anything for granted. We’re ready.”

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DSU postpones events due to COVID-19 cases

by Kristi ShieldsPosted on

Thursday was a turning point for Dixie State University. The university announced the postponement of the remaining Homecoming Week events, and the College of the Arts announced the postponement of the Celebrity Concert Series.

According to the DSU Trailtracker, several Trailblazer football players tested positive for COVID-19 this week and in an effort to halt the spread of the virus, all football team practices and activities are paused for two weeks.

Jyl Hall, director of public relations, said in an email Thursday morning the Homecoming Week events originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday are postponed.

The Powder Puff game scheduled for Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., and all events scheduled for Oct. 24, including the Traditional Tailgate at 4:30 p.m., Greater Zion West Grandstand Groundbreaking Ceremony at 6 p.m., and the Red and White Scrimmage at 7 p.m., are postponed as a precaution to continue to protect student and community health.

It is not yet confirmed what dates the events will be rescheduled for, but it’s possible they will be in mid-November.

Amelia Slama-Catron, a sophomore environmental science major and Powder Puff player from Salt Lake City, said: “Obviously, I am disappointed about the game being postponed; the team was practicing really hard. … I’m super competitive and I love sports, and I was super ready to play.”

Powder Puff coach Micah Gardner, a freshman criminal justice major from Los Angeles, said he would love if the event were to still happen because the girls were putting in all their effort in practicing for the game. They were also putting in extra practice time before and after practices.

“They are definitely passionate about the game, and they deserve the opportunity to play,” Gardner said.

Slama-Catron said the game scheduled for Oct. 23 was going to be coached by a couple of the football players, so considering the positive COVID-19 tests, it was a smart call to postpone the game.

“Realistically, COVID is getting worse in the county; I was even surprised that we were already having in-person things like this, but I won’t be surprised if we don’t have it at all,” Slama-Catron said.

She said on the other hand, there is still a possibility the university would allow it to continue if the football players quarantine for two weeks.

“Realistically, COVID is getting worse in the county; I was even surprised that we were already having in-person things like this, but I won’t be surprised if we don’t have it at all,”

Amelia Slama-Catron, a sophomore environmental science major

“I’m honestly not sure how [the postponed game] is going to work; the virus brings a lot of uncertainty,” Gardner said.

According to The Spectrum: “Health officials counted 1,543 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, a new record high for the number of new cases reported in one day. The state reported six new deaths. The state has now counted 99,549 cases in total, and 563 deaths have been reported.

President Richard “Biff” Williams said as of now, he anticipates campus remaining open throughout the rest of the fall semester.

“DSU is continuing to monitor the number of cases in southwest Utah and will keep the health and safety of our campus community in the forefront of any decisions moving forward,” Williams said.

The most recent report, updated Oct. 21 at wellness.dixie.edu/coronavirus-information, stated DSU had 35 new cases in the past week and 28 currently active cases. In total, DSU has had 180 reported cases among students, faculty and staff since March, which Williams said is a low number when considering the university community consists of 13,500 individuals.

“Since campus numbers have continued to remain relatively low and steady, I’m optimistic that our protective measures are working,” Williams said. “I want to continue to encourage students and others on campus to stay diligent about following guidelines.”

Williams said the health and safety of students and the community is a continuing priority for DSU.

“As the university community keeps diligently following COVID-19-related guidelines, we will continue to be able to offer students the in-person educational experiences they want,” Williams said.

The College of the Arts announced Thursday that The Celebrity Concert Series, which is an annual performing arts series originally set to proceed through December, will be postponed until January 2021, according to the Celebrity Concert Series website.

“Unfortunately, we have watched the steady increase of COVID cases in our areas and the safety of our patrons has always been our number one priority,” the message reads.

Anyone who has tickets to the canceled show will be refunded in the upcoming days. Those who have tickets for events from January through March should keep their tickets because it’s possible that the remaining season will continue as scheduled.

“It breaks our hearts to cancel when we know the healing power of the arts is so very needed in our communities right now,” the message reads.

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How to avoid getting COVID-19 this holiday season

by Autumn NuzmanPosted on

As the holiday season approaches, people may be heading home to spend time with their families, so members of the Dixie State University community are taking precautions to avoid getting COVID-19.

“As you travel and spend the holidays with friends and family, there are some tips that can help you reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 and other seasonal illnesses,” said Jamy Dahle, mental health counselor and outreach coordinator.

Check CDC guidelines

“I defer to the CDC for COVID-19 guidelines,” said Callie Peacock, Booth Wellness Center registered nurse.

The CDC has a webpage dedicated to guidelines for celebrating holidays during the pandemic, and the page also features links to other pages with recommendations tailored to specific locations and celebrations.

Steve Johnson, associate athletic director of media relations, said, “For our student-athletes who plan to go home for the holidays, we will tell them to continue to follow all DSU, local, state and federal CDC guidelines.”

Dahle said the Booth Wellness Center as a whole recommends checking CDC guidelines.

“We [at the Booth Wellness Center] encourage you to check out the CDC holiday travel guidelines,” Dahle said. “By practicing these guidelines over the holidays and winter break, you can help reduce the risk of spreading illness.”

Get tested before and after

If possible, students and anyone they plan on visiting should get tested in the days leading up to their trip so they know ahead of time whether there’s a risk of infection. It’s also a good idea to get tested before coming back to DSU, something student-athletes will be required to do.

“When our student-athletes return to campus, they will all be subject to COVID-19 testing and will be isolated from all team activities and athletic facilities for a minimum of 72 hours,” Johnson said. “If the COVID test comes back negative, they will be permitted to return to their respective team activities and athletic facilities after the 72 hours has expired.”

Testing is especially encouraged if students feel unwell when they return to DSU.

“If at any time you are feeling unwell, have tested positive for COVID-19, or had close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19, avoid contact with others and fill out a self-reporting form at the Booth Wellness Center website,” Dahle said.

Wear masks and social distance

“Don’t forget to wear a mask while in public places [and] maintain 6-foot distancing from those not in your household,” Dahle said. “Avoid contact with others who are feeling unwell, gather outside if possible and limit gathering in crowded places.”

Johnson said student-athletes are told to wear a mask, social distance and stay away from large crowds as well.

The CDC’s holiday travel guidelines state: “Wear a mask in public settings, like on public and mass transportation, at events and gatherings, and anywhere you will be around other people. Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arms’ length) from anyone who is not from your household.”

Practice good hygiene

As the CDC has stated since the beginning of the pandemic, adhering to simple hygiene standards is among the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Specifically, hand-washing is highly recommended.

“Practice good hand hygiene,” Dahle said.

Johnson said student-athletes are being reminded to wash their hands.

“Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol),” the CDC’s holiday travel guidelines states. “Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.”

Avoid going home

“I’m not going home,” English professor Stephen Armstrong said.

Choosing not to go home this year and instead celebrate from afar might be in the best interest of some, especially considering the high risk of infection in group gatherings and what that risk means when coming back to DSU.

“If any student-athlete tests positive for COVID-19, they will be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days and will have to be asymptomatic for at least 24 hours after that 14-day period in order to return to team activities or the athletic facilities,” Johnson said.

According to the CDC, celebrating virtually or with members of your own household is a good low-risk alternative to traveling this year. In the end though, it’s up to the individual to decide how to celebrate and avoid getting sick.

“We [at the Booth Wellness Center] want students to know that despite the current circumstances, we want them to connect, engage and have fun, all while following the CDC guidelines,” Dahle said.

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UHSAA Region 9 men’s basketball rivals to allies

by Michael SantoscoyPosted on

Even though St. George continues to grow as a city, it’s small enough where 4A high schools in the Utah High School Athletics Association Region 9 still have rivalries.

Each UHSAA Region 9 school is within 45 minutes of each other and those schools are: Canyon View, Cedar, Crimson Cliffs, Desert Hills, Dixie High School, Hurricane, Pineview and Snow Canyon.

Guard Brock Staheli, a sophomore accounting major from Santa Clara, played for Snow Canyon when he was in high school and said UHSAA Region 9 athletes were able to answer the question who was their biggest high school rival. He said now that has changed because every high school is a rival because they want to beat one another.

“You want to beat everyone, you know everyone, you played with everyone, and you see them all the time and you don’t want to lose to them because you know you’ll hear about it the next day,” Staheli said.

Text Box: 4A Region 9 High School Men’s Basketball Standings

No. 1 Dixie High School Conference: 13-1 Overall record: 23-3
No. 2 Cedar Conference: 10-4 Overall record: 17-7
No. 3 Pine View Conference: 9-5 Overall record: 13-9
No. 4 Crimson Cliffs Conference: 7-7 Overall record: 10-12
No. 5 Desert Hills Conference: 7-7 Overall record: 13-13
No. 6 Hurricane Conference: 5-9 Overall record: 13-11
No. 7 Snow Canyon Conference: 4-10 Overall record: 9-16
No. 8 Canyon View Conference: 1-13 Overall record: 5-19

Taking a look at last season’s 4A Region 9 High School men’s basketball standings, Dixie High School is the reigning 4A Region 9 champion and the 2020 UHSAA Boys State Basketball champions. Dixie High School owns some bragging rights over the other 4A Region 9 schools.

Forward Noah Lemke, a freshman criminal justice major from St. George, was a part of the Dixie High School championship team last year and he said his team was in the toughest region to compete in because any team could come away with the win at any night. It was up to who performed better, and who had more chemistry.

Guard Mason Chase, a freshman general studies major from St. George, played for Desert Hills in high school and said playing against other UHSAA Region 9 schools was entertaining because of the trash talking with old friends he grew up playing with and eventually went up against in high school.

“In the end it’s fun playing with someone you know that’s from here because you kind of had the same path getting here, you had to work hard, you weren’t given anything, and you had to earn everything,”

Brock Staheli, sophomore accounting major

Chase said the team he looked forward to playing the most was Pine View because both schools anticipated going head to head against each other and it being a fun match up. He’ll never forget last season during his senior year the atmosphere of playing at Pineview in the playoffs where Desert Hills defeated Pine View 57-56.

Chase said: “I think it was the second round of the playoffs and it was the loudest gym I’ve ever been in. We were shooting free throws at the end of the game and I had to plug my ears on the court because it was so loud.”  

Now all roads connect for Staheli, Chase, and Lemke as they’re now teammates for the Dixie State University men’s basketball team.

Since Staheli graduated high school before Chase and Lemke they didn’t compete against each other, but it’s all respect.

“In the end it’s fun playing with someone you know that’s from here because you kind of had the same path getting here, you had to work hard, you weren’t given anything, and you had to earn everything,” Staheli said. “Now [myself, Chase, and Lemke are] on the same team, working hard to beat everyone else instead of each other.”

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Halloween Art Show

by Christina BlockPosted on

A painting of a girl running through a dark and haunting forest, a bright orange pumpkin designed with a spooky face, and a horrifying animal mounted on a wall with large horns sticking from its head are just a few art pieces presented at this years Halloween Art Show.

With no specific title or theme this year, there are all kinds of art that project the Halloween season. Everything from cute, fun and kid-friendly to fright, terror and dismay are projected through paintings, sculptures, drawings and more.

When entering the show, artwork is mounted along the walls and select ones are on white blocks in the middle of the room that you can walk around and easily observe.

Next to each piece of art is a white tag with the artists name, the title of art and the cost of work.

To purchase a work of art, you must contact the artist by contacting the director of the gallery who has all the names and contact information for each artist.

This is the fourth annual Halloween Art Show hosted in the North Plaza Gallery inspiring students to start creating their own art.

Like previous years, students, faculty, staff and community members have their art featured in the show.

Creator of the Halloween Art Show Jeff Yule, professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences, has always had a love for art and Halloween, and was honored to be asked by his colleagues to do something for the holiday.

He said the inspiration for the show, “is that a lot of people like Halloween, it’s a holiday that I’ve always enjoyed and some people that I worked with knew that I liked Halloween and they said, ‘hey not that much goes on really at the Halloween around Dixie State, is that something that you can maybe help out with and change a little bit?’ and I said sure.”

Yule taught a class about Halloween art and has been collecting Halloween artwork, which inspired him to create the show and make it an annual tradition.

McGarren Flack, assistant professor of studio art, has worked with Yule in the past to jury the show. In previous years, the show has been hosted at the St. George Art Museum, but after the director of the museum quit last minute and the COVID-19 pandemic came about, the show moved on campus. Flack helped move the show to campus and set up this year’s event.

Because of the last minute notice with the museum, this year’s show didn’t have a title like the previous shows, such as “Scary Fun” in 2017, but this allowed artists to submit any kind of artwork that fit the Halloween theme.

Overtime, someone suggested that a People’s Choice Award should be included in the show. Now, when observing the show, every person can cast one vote for the award, which is like a popularity contest, Flack said.

The winner of People Choice will receive an award at the end just like other pieces of art that will be judged by the jurors. The inspiration behind people’s choice was to go deeper than just what the jurors think, but more what people who may not know about art think.

Next to where you can submit a vote is a purple buttons designed with a white ghost and a spooky pumpkin head.

The purple button has, “DSU ANNUAL HALLOWEEN” written across the top and “ART SHOW” written across the bottom. In the center is a white ghost with an orange pumpkin head. The year 2020 is divided by the ghost. One 20 is written in orange lettering to the right of the ghost while the other 20 is written in black lettering to the left.

The black numbers on the left reflect the shadow that is shown on the pumpkin and ghost, giving the button detail.

All together the pin reads, “DSU ANNUAL HALLOWEEN 2020 ART SHOW.”

“It’s a nice little flare you know? Spreading the happiness of Halloween to other people.” Flack said about the buttons that were inspired by Yule.

The buttons are free and everyone can grab one or two after the show. They have a pin on the back, allowing you to put them on your shirt, jacket, bag or whatever appeals to you.

Beth Axelgard, Honors Program Support Coordinator, said she did a few small backend things for the show this year, like button ordering.

She wants students to know that art can be fun, not just during Halloween but all throughout the year.

Flack said he wants to build up a community that loves Halloween art.

He said, “Were working on building a good presence … making it a national show so that we would have a better presence, and then making it online.”

The show will continue to be an annual event, hopefully reaching a national show in years to come.

“I think it’s a great show, people should come and see it,” Flack said.

The show is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and ends at the beginning of next month when artists fetch their art on Nov. 2.

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How to celebrate Halloween in a COVID-friendly way

by Sydney BerenyiPosted on

For students at Dixie State University, celebrating Halloween this year will not be the same.

Typically on Halloween night you might come across ghosts, goblins and ghouls, but the spookiest thing to beware of this year is COVID-19.

What was once a night filled with trick-or-treating, decorated houses and parties, will now likely be spent at home. Here are some ways you can turn your boring night-in into a COVID-friendly celebration of spooky season:

Halloween Bake-off

If you enjoy making sweet treats and a little competition, this activity is for you.

Grab your roommates or close friends, create teams, wear matching costumes and choose judges. Each team has the responsibility of creating the best Halloween-themed treat, which will be judged based on taste, look and creativity. The winner will receive a grand prize at the end presented by the judges.

Connor Baird, a sophomore population health major from Heber, said: “Food is always a great way for people to get together and bond, especially for Halloween night. This is a great idea for people like me, who want to stay low-key [during the holiday] and just chill at home with some close friends and goodies.”

Pinterest offers several mouthwatering recipes and Halloween-themed treats that students can look up and use during the competition.

“I love baking and adding a little dazzle to my treats by the way I decorate them,” said Abigail Yadon, a freshman exercise science major from Idaho Falls, Idaho. “Adding some competition will only make baking even more fun, especially because my friends and I will be dressed in our costumes. I’ll even throw on a scary movie that we can watch as we bake in the kitchen.”

Pumpkin Painting

Bring out your inner Bob Ross as you paint pumpkins while listening to Halloween music with friends or roommates.

“Painting pumpkins is something that I do every year with my friends either the week of or night of Halloween,” said Hannah Waddell, a junior elementary education major from Pleasant Grove. “Basically, we just lay some paper down on our table, wash any dirt off of our pumpkins, fill some jars with water, grab acrylic paint, and play some music as we paint and talk.”

Students can also turn this activity into a competition if they want to do something more serious, fast-paced and upbeat. Waddell said she no longer uses the activity to create any serious paintings or designs, but likes to chit-chat and joke around with friends as they create their masterpieces.

“As freshmen, my roommates and I took the painting seriously and tried to make our pumpkins really cute,” Waddell said. “Now, we just do it for fun and mainly joke around. One of my friends painted ‘Venmo Me’ on her pumpkin this year along with her user name and we left it on our front porch. Hopefully, someone will eventually Venmo her $1 at least.”

For creative inspiration, students can look at painted pumpkins on Pinterest for ideas on how to design theirs.

“I think I’m going to do this idea with my friends, and we’ll have music, food and dress up in our last-minute costumes,” Baird said. “We’ll even add some pumpkin carving in the mix.”

Halloween Spa Night

Trick or “Treat yourself.” A cozy night in is the perfect opportunity to work on self-care and pampering.

Start by throwing on Halloween pajamas and fluffy socks or your comfy costume. Before the night begins, go shopping with your roommates or friends for face masks that are traditional Halloween colors like purple, orange, green or black. You’ll also need nail polish and your favorite treats to snack on.

“I’d start by turning the lights out and lighting some of my favorite fall scented candles to give our apartment a peaceful vibe, kind of like the spas do,” said Chelsea Wistisen, a freshman elementary education major from Soda Springs, Idaho.

Wistisen said students can then put on their face masks, munch on their favorite finger-foods and watch some of the classic Disney Halloween movies like “Nightmare Before Christmas” or “Halloween Town.”

Wistisen said students can also combine this activity with others mentioned, such as painting pumpkins or baking Halloween treats since having a spa night can be quick after washing off your face mask or doing your nails.

“I feel like even us guys would like this idea,” Baird said. “Most Halloweens are all about feeling fear and being spooked, but this is more about just relaxing and enjoying the night at home.”

Home Costume Competition

Stuck at home and bored with your roommates on Halloween night? This activity is cheap, quick, one that everyone will get a good laugh out of, and will test your creativity.

You and your roommates will be in teams with one to two people sitting out as judges. You will have 10 minutes to create the best Halloween costume using the everyday household items within your dorm or apartment. One of the group members will be the person who is getting “dressed up” and the others are the ones who create the costume.

Josh Phillips, a freshman general studies major from Pleasant Grove, said: “One year, I did this with my family and they dressed me up as a mummy using a roll of toilet paper. It was funny and embarrassing all at the same time, and I think doing this with friends would be a great activity if you plan on staying home on Halloween.”

At the end, the winner will be given a prize presented by the judges of the contest. Phillips said a good idea for the losers in the competition is they have to post a picture on one of their social media platforms showing their ridiculous costume.

Halloween Karaoke Night

No party, no problem. You can still create the atmosphere of a party without actually throwing one.

Ask your roommates or close friends to wear their costumes and gather in the living room of your dorm or apartment. If your TV can connect to YouTube, that is a great way to play karaoke music and show the lyrics of a song. If your TV does not connect to YouTube, all you’ll need is a phone and a speaker. Take turns eating pizza and Halloween candy while singing your favorite songs in a jam session with your friends.

“This is an activity I loved doing with my friends last year during Halloween,” said Haley Hedricks, a junior art major from Portland, Oregon. “Although we didn’t do it on Halloween night, we still dressed in Halloween-themed clothes and just all sat in our living room while we sang our favorite songs and ate candy.”

Hedricks said she also played her guitar as her roommates sang, which gave the night a more personal feel.

“It was a good way for us to get closer as roommates, and we even danced around to some of our favorite remixes of Halloween music,” Hedricks said. “I still have the funniest videos from that night, so this is definitely an activity I would recommend to everyone if they’re comfortable enough to sing, dance and act crazy with their friends.”

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OPINION | Celebrities should not influence voters

by Hannah HickmanPosted on

Celebrities shouldn’t pressure people into voting a certain way.

As we approach Election Day, there is more and more coverage of celebrities endorsing certain candidates. In an article from People, the list of celebrities endorsing President Donald Trump include Kanye West and Jon Voight, while celebrities such as Cher are endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden. One thing is clear: They are swaying public opinion through their social media endorsements.

Morning Consult conducted a survey asking adults if they were more likely to vote a particular way based on the topics celebrities voice using their platform. The survey found overall 36% of Gen Z adults are influenced by celebrities while only 32% of Millennials said they would be influenced by celebrities. This survey shows the impact celebrities are having on younger voters.

It may feel intimidating being a first time voter, especially in the tense political climate in which we all live in today; however, we need to come to our own conclusions when it comes to voting.

An article from Iowa State Daily said fanbases are just following celebrities without doing their own research on politics. While this is not the reality for everyone, celebrities need to stop being so aggressive with their endorsements.

Instead of some people going out and doing their own research, they are relying on what their celebrity idols are saying and going with what they hear on social media. The problem with this is people aren’t being accurately informed in what is happening politically in our world. If we continue to take things as we hear it, we are at risk of having no say over anything politically.

Many of the celebrities endorsing candidates on either side of the political aisle do not have any political experience, and yet they are still being aggressive in their approach to get fans to vote.

One of the big issues celebrities are perpetuating is the voting booth selfie where they are taking photos with themselves in the polling booth or are just flat out sharing photos of who they voted for.

An article from Vox said one of the issues with the ballot selfie is how it opens up the possibility for vote buying. By having celebrities post photos with their ballots, they are yet again encouraging people on who to vote for.

One of the other ways celebrities are influencing fans is the crafty way they have taken to social media to get their point across. I’ve come across social media posts and articles stating how celebrities are enticing fans with the promise of something not related to politics and in turn send them to a voting site.

For example, an article on USA Today went over how actress Kerry Washington enticed fans with a fake movie teaser and when fans clicked on the link, it took them straight to a voter registration site.

While promoting voter registration and having your voice heard is a good thing, hiding the meaning of your intended post to get fans to the voting site is misleading.

An article from PsyPost stated, “People who read about the celebrity endorsements were more likely to agree with them.”

If fans have a favorable view of certain celebrities, they are more likely to be influenced by those celebrities.

While not everyone is following what their favorite celebrity has to say, we need to start taking a step back and doing our own research on things before we feel pressured to vote a certain way. No one should be pressuring you into voting a particular way; if you aren’t sure what to do, fact-check for yourself, do the research and respect others who may vote differently than you.

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