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

Month: October 2023

Despite loud Homecoming crowd, Trailblazers took defeat

by Brandt FaurschouPosted on

For the second week in a row, the Utah Tech University football team lost a close matchup within the final minutes of the game.

Trailblazer nation showed up for the homing football game against Eastern Kentucky University with the Greater Zion Stadium buzzing with excitement. However, the night would be filled with twists, turns and ultimately, heartbreak as Utah Tech fell to EKU with a final score of 34-30.

Utah Tech set the tone of the game early with an interception in the first play for defensive lineman, Fasito-Otai Sagapolu. Utah Tech was first to put up numbers on the scoreboard with a 55-yard field goal by Connor Brooksby.

Keith Davis, a senior media studies major from San Diego, California, was a key player for the Trailblazers with seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Davis said the team was constantly competing and putting up a fight but struggled to close out with a win.

“All the work we put in through the offseason is finally starting to pay off, but we still didn’t finish,” Davis said. “That’s all I really care about is getting that dub.” 

The team continues to struggle to come out of games with a win. Last week, Utah Tech lost to the University of Northern Alabama with a similar score of 30-31. North Alabama scored in the final minutes of the game against the Trailblazers to put it into a point game. They attempted a two-point conversion, but UNA’s defense was able to stop them.

The Homecoming game saw multiple lead changes with both teams going back and forth. At the start of the fourth quarter, Utah Tech was down 31-23. Davis scored his second touchdown of the night changing the score to a one-point game. In spite of that, Eastern Kentucky answered back with a field goal to extend their lead. 

With a chance to win the game, Utah Tech marched down the field and got in striking distance of the end zone. However, Eastern Kentucky’s defense came up big with a fourth-down incompletion to seal their victory.

Head coach Paul Peterson said, in an interview with Rod Zundel for SportsVision, that games can sometimes come down to a single play but the team has to figure out how to make plays on the field. Peterson said the tipping point is just around the corner.

“I’m really proud of the way our guys fought,” Peterson said. “That was my message before the game, I want to see them fight every snap the whole entire game and they did that. I wanted to see them give it all they had, and they did that.”

Looking into the crowd, you’d see a sea of red with the amount of Utah Tech fans that showed up. Before the game, there was a Homecoming parade and a tailgate for students and fans. The student section brought the energy and would erupt whenever Utah Tech made a play.

Dondi Fuller, a fifth-year senior management major from Belleville, Illinois, said the energy from the crowd helped the team come together and stay persistent throughout the whole game.

“The crowd always sticks with us, nobody leaves the stands, and they cheer us on no matter what,” Fuller said. “They always have our back, and they never give up just like how we never give up on the field.”

While the Homecoming game may not have ended in the Trailblazer’s favor, it was a night filled with spirit and camaraderie that brought fans together for the back-and-forth matchup. 

Utah Tech will make an effort to capitalize next week after the back-to-back losses. They will travel to Abilene, Texas where they will take on Abilene Christian University Nov. 4.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Homecoming carnival brings variety of fun to students and community

by Jenessa WalgrenPosted on

For the past seven years, Utah Tech University has hosted a carnival, car show and tailgate throughout Homecoming Week. This year was planned a little differently.

This year, Homecoming Week fell on the same week that the Utah Tech Events and Promotion office usually hosts their annual Tricks & Treats event.

Tricks & Treats is an event that is open to the community. Various booths are run by Utah Tech athletic teams where the players volunteer to pass out candy to children all decked out in their costumes.

The Utah Tech alumni staff expressed their excitement that this year’s Homecoming carnival could be such a large event, featuring all three of the festivities in one place at the same time.

“It’s perfect, just a huge celebration to really promote and embrace the Utah Tech Trailblazer spirit, not only for students but the community too,” said Isabelle Peck, events and promotions assistant.

At the carnival, children from the community, their parents and students enjoyed the numerous games, food trucks and vendors offered. At the carnival, attendees could play games like spin the wheel and bottle ring toss in order to win tickets for prizes like stuffed animals or candy. For those who preferred a more calm environment, the car show was a slower pace.

David Bowler, adviser of the Utah Tech alumni ambassadors, said in previous years, the car show and the carnival were two separate events until the staff started asking themselves, “Why don’t we just put them together to make one grand celebration?”

“Having all the events together today with the different organizations is like one big happy family,” Bowler said.

Brook Sullivan, the assistant director of alumni relations, said all the events being held together were a good mix so everyone could find a little something that interested them.

Vendor Wendy Walton, the owner of Dixie Pixie Face Painting, had a long line of carnivalgoers at her booth throughout the entire event. She is a former Dixie State University alumna and is always excited to return to campus.

“I get invited to paint at around three Utah Tech events a year,” Walton said. “I get so excited to see repeat customers that come see me while I’m on campus.”

Though Utah Tech invited a few outside vendors, most of its staff were Utah Tech volunteers from various associations. Each one put in some serious elbow grease in order to make the carnival better than the year before, which is the progress they strive to make every year to make it a more memorable event for attendees.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

The Golden Generation: 50-year reunion brings memories, friends together

by Lexy BorgognoPosted on

While few in numbers, those who attended the luncheon for the 50-year reunion showed they have just as much school spirit now as they did in 1973. 

On Oct. 27, a luncheon was held at noon for those in the class of 1973. It’s been 50 years since they graduated from, what was then, Dixie College. 

As guests arrived, the program went as follows: 

During the trivia portion, it was discussed that some traditions from 1973 are still happening 50 years later today. Those include Painting the D on the mountain and the Great Race.

John Bowler, director of alumni relations, told the class of 1973 that class sizes have remained relatively the same since then, despite the immense student enrollment growth.

Memories were shared throughout the afternoon including the mural on the Kenneth Graff building being the same. Another memory the alumni shared was of one specific dance where the entire building shook so much, they no longer had dances at that building. 

The class of 1973 members shared life updates, which included careers, marriages, children and grandchildren. They shared stories of when they were going to school and how one couple who attended the luncheon, Jene Lyday and Denise Nelson, met at Dixie College and are coming up on their 50-year wedding anniversary. 

St. George resident Alve Ann Bowers, whose last year of school at Dixie was in 1973, said her favorite class was program bureau, which was taught by Roene DiFiore. Students would sing while DiFiore would play the piano. Program bureau would travel all over Utah, Las Vegas and some of California to promote Dixie College. 

Bowers said she had fun riding the bus to these places and promoting Dixie. She also has fond memories of driving her Volkswagen around St. George and the people she met here. 

“I have a friend and we’re still friends, we met the first day we came here to register,” Bowers said. “We both had a Paisley three-ring binder, and that brought us together. We’ve been friends ever since.”

Bowers also met her husband while attending Dixie College. She met him in the old institute building that just got torn down. 

Class of 1973 alum, Rex Williams from Beaver, said his duration at Dixie College was his time to “discover the world.” Part of that discovery included his astronomy class, which had an impact on his learning experience.

“I remember looking through that telescope for the first time, looking at the ring around Saturn,” Williams said. “This is why I came to college, to discover the world.”

Being back on campus, with all the changes since 1973, Williams said it’s unrecognizable with all its growth. 

“Such a profound progress,” Williams said. “That’s what I have to say is profound progress.”

Brooke Sullivan, assistant director of alumni relations, said in order to do reunions, it starts with obtaining updated records on the individuals in the class. 

Sullivan said it’s difficult because the Alumni Association has names but no current addresses. The association searches for class information in as many ways as possible. First, they start calling phone numbers associated with individuals and try to track down the people they are looking for. 

That process starts months in advance for a reunion like this one, and once individuals from the class are located, invitations are sent out to them. 

“Basically, what we’ve done is we’ve continued to celebrate that 50-year class, and we call them, we induct them officially into the Golden Generation,” Sullivan said. 

According to Utah Tech University’s website, the Golden Generation scholarship is funded from the class of 1941 endowment. It provides a one-year scholarship and academic merit.

Not only is there the luncheon to celebrate the class, but this year, members of the class of 1973 got tickets to the homecoming football game, were invited to tailgate and were included on the alumni Homecoming float.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Utah Tech women’s basketball star turns heads before start of season

by Brandt FaurschouPosted on

After last year’s performance by Breaunna Gillen, she was named the 2023-2024 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year. 

Gillen, a fifth-year senior exercise science major from West Jordan, has an extensive athletic resume while playing at Utah Tech University with multiple awards and milestones including:

  • 2023-2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year
  • 2022-2023 First Team all-WAC Selection
  • 2022-2023 CSC Academic All-District Selection
  • Three-time Academic all-WAC Selection (2020-2023)
  • Utah Tech Career Assist Leader (393 Assists)
  • Utah Tech Third All-Time Leading Scorer (1,112 points)

She has also been named in the 25-player preseason watch list for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, presented by Her Hoop Stats. 

Gillen was honored to be named WAC Preseason Player of the Year, but all that meant was there was more work to be done. The bar to perform just as well if not better than last year is set, and Gillen said it all comes down to confidence when dealing with the pressure. 

“It’s not worrying about the preseason honor, but it’s worrying about our team goal and what I can do to play within our system to help us get to our team goal and be on top,” Gillen said.

Gillen was the WAC’s second-leading scorer for the 2022-2023 season with 17.8 points per game and led the WAC in assists at 6.45 assists per game. 

Emily Isaacson, a redshirt senior recreation and sports management major from Perry, said no one is more deserving of this title than Gillen. Isaacson said Gillen is a great leader on the court from her hard work and humbleness to her being dependable and pushing her teammates to succeed. 

“One of my favorite memories is when we were at New Mexico State, and she hit the game-winner,” Isaacson said. “Game winners are special, and she had the confidence to go up and take the shot. We call her “old reliable” because she’s reliable, and she was that game.”

Maggie McCord, a fifth-year senior criminal justice major from South Jordan, has been friends with Gillen ever since middle school. McCord said she and Gillen grew up playing on the same club teams, and out on the court is where that friendship grew.

Off the court, Gillen graduated with her bachelor’s degree in exercise science earlier this year and plans to pursue a physician assistant career once she’s done playing college sports.

“She is like a mom to everybody,” McCord said. “She’s always willing to do things for other people. When I think of the nicest person, I think of her. She’s the most dependable person that I’ve ever met.”

Gillen aims to uphold the title of WAC Preseason Player of the Year as she and the Trailblazers prepare for their season opener against the University of La Verne at the Burns Arena Nov. 8.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

OPINION | Homecoming at inconvenient time, increases stress for students

by Kellason WalkerPosted on

It’s too much.

It’s. All. Just. Too. Much.

We just finished midterms, had two days for fall break, and now we’re right back into it. Into what exactly? Well, the aftermath of Homecoming Week at Utah Tech University and all the events and chaos that come with it. 

This semester seems like it’s gone by so quickly, yet it just keeps dragging on. While there have been several stories about the beauty and light of Homecoming, the ugly truth is sometimes it’s too much. 

It’s a busy time of year for everyone, but as students, it feels like we barely even got a chance to catch our breath before we were thrown back into all the chaos. If you’re like me, you didn’t get a chance to catch your breath at all.

Maybe I do that to myself, but I’m struggling with this year as a whole. The stress of Homecoming Week, in particular, does nothing but distract me from the constant noise and guilt in my head.

Bicycle events, senior games and a 50-year class reunion on campus were all hosted in St. George within just a few weeks of each other. That’s a lot to expect of a town that can barely provide for the people that actually live here.

It’s not just these events though. Snowbirds have been coming down to their winter homes to escape colder temperatures, and there was an eclipse that happened a few weeks ago that people were rushing down here to see, which resulted in traffic and more law enforcement driving about.

I drive to and from campus with a 30-minute drive each way almost every day of the week, and the ever-growing rate of traffic makes the commute less than tolerable, to say the least.

The influx of people, with both temporary and permanent residents, also makes it unnecessarily hard to find off-campus housing, let alone home rentals or affordable apartments for those of us who want to move out of our parent’s house.

All of this leads to students feeling overwhelmed. I know that all these little things will pass eventually, but the stress has been causing some students to either drop classes after midterms or stop going to classes altogether. I know because I did that. I dropped a class halfway through the semester, and I’m still struggling to lift myself out of the hole I’ve found myself in.

Even while feeling down, students still show up to events like the Miss Utah Tech pageant, the football game and even Halloween that has Chaos booked, along with others planning their own parties.

I’d be lying if I said this semester wasn’t hard. I would be lying if I said this whole year wasn’t difficult for me personally. Working a part-time job while maintaining a status as a full-time student and having to pay tuition out of pocket is hard. I’m struggling to keep afloat in the sea of expectations and events, and both my grades and mental health show it. My physical health is starting to show it too, and it’s difficult to participate in these events when I can barely participate in keeping myself healthy.

I think it’s fun and exciting to be a part of something, but the solution is that there needs to be more spacing between events so students aren’t trying to scramble around trying to pick everything back up.

It’s overwhelming and it sucks, and while Homecoming should be a time to enjoy myself and really take in a sense of pride for my university, it’s so hard to ground myself while all these different things have my mind up in the air.

I’m tired, and I know other students are too. 

It’s too much.

It’s. All. Just. Too. Much.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Stay safe this Halloween: tips to ensure safety and fun

by Laura McClurePosted on

Halloween is a time for scary events and horror movies, but we don’t want any of those themes to actually happen. 

Safety on Halloween is a priority for not only the children who are out trick-or-treating but also for those college students who are going out to parties and having fun around town. On average, 3,200 people will go to the emergency room for injuries on Halloween, whether that be from carving pumpkins, getting in a car accident or even getting caught on fire.

Ron Bridge, chief of police and director of public safety, said, “Halloween brings a significant increase in pedestrian traffic, which can be the cause for vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic-related accidents.”

Here are some ways you can stay safe on Halloween.

Never go out alone

Going out with a group is always a smart choice. Halloween is often a time when being in public with costumes, masks and makeup on can invite those with bad intentions to the scene. Staying with a group can help defy the odds of someone approaching you due to being outnumbered.

Making a buddy system when you’re going out is important to stay safe, but it is especially important when going out to parties. Having someone know where you are at all times or having someone with you is a smart way to lessen the chance of something bad happening like a kidnapping or being attacked.

Be aware of your surroundings

Knowing the route you will take is a way to avoid getting lost or in a place you’ve never been before. This will also help with crossing the street less and avoiding the risk of getting hit by a car. Making a clear order of how the night will go as well as who you will be with can make things run smoother.

Be aware of what you’re putting in your body

Being aware of your surroundings also includes being aware of what you’re ingesting. Never take anything from someone you don’t know, and never leave your drink or food unattended.

Knowing and trusting your neighbors doesn’t always mean that the candy they are handing out is safe. Checking candy for any danger is the best approach to make sure none of it has been opened or tampered with.

Parties always happen in college. This can influence drinking and drug usage as well as making bad choices when you are with others. It is important to be responsible from the very beginning of the night. 

Bridge said: “Drinking responsibly and using a designated driver may save a life. It may also keep you out of jail.”

Wear brighter colors to be seen by traffic.

With cars zooming past, people who are wearing dark colors have a higher chance of getting hit by a car. Wearing brighter colors like yellows or pinks will allow you to be more seen in the dark. This doesn’t mean that if the bright colors are worn, the risk is completely gone. It simply helps the issue.

Always use caution when crossing the street, especially with young children.

Don’t drink and drive

Caden Doyle, a junior English major from Park City, said he thinks the biggest issue on Halloween is the traffic.

Have a designated driver picked out from the very beginning of the night. If a designated driver isn’t available, have a plan of how to get around safely whether that is an Uber or some other form of transportation. If transportation isn’t available either, make sure wherever you end up for the night is a safe space.

Along with drinking, be sure to stay aware of how much you are drinking. Mixing substances as well as over-drinking is dangerous. An estimated 40% of people killed in car accidents involved at least one intoxicated driver.

Joseph Gee, a sophomore English major from Preston, Idaho, said, “There should be a little more heightened awareness for any emergency.”

Halloween is a night that many people celebrate, but it is also a night that many people dread due to the high levels of danger. Enjoy this Halloween, but don’t put your life or anyone else’s at risk while having too much fun.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

OPINION | Beware of these frightfully awful Halloween costumes

by Annie MuirbrookPosted on

Imagine you are going to a party this Halloween. The room is crowded, and you keep bumping into people. The room is 10 times hotter than it should be. You see someone wearing an awful costume with no thought put into it, and the sight of it makes you want to question their thought process. What costume is it?

The worst Halloween costumes are the ones that make you cringe or don’t even make sense. If you are going to dress up as any of these things for Halloween this year, think again, or maybe don’t dress up at all.

Offensive and racist costumes

When I go to Chaos and see someone wearing a costume that is offensive, I want to barf. This is not only cringe-worthy, but it is something that is going to bite you in the back in 10 years. Rethink dressing up as Pocahontas or Rasta if this is not your culture or ethnicity. You are offending and humiliating many people because of racial and ethnic stereotypes. Not cool. Stick to something else this year.

There are so many different costume ideas out there, and being racist is not one of them.

Blow up costumes

Inflatable costumes are also known as the bane of my existence. They are cool for five seconds until you are trying to talk to the person inside, and you can’t understand them. Even worse, you are trying to walk around and accidentally get knocked over by a dinosaur running through the room.

Can we also talk about how expensive they are? These costumes average around $60 for a cheap piece of plastic. I don’t think so. I would rather spend that money on a good costume that isn’t hot and won’t continuously bump into people.

Don’t get me wrong. These ideas seem cool at first until you are bumping into everyone, and the room gets 10 degrees hotter. The end result is everyone being annoyed, and you regretting your decision. Are these costumes really necessary this year? I think not.

Food costumes

The classic avocado and toast, ketchup and mustard, and so many other food combos are one of the most cliche Halloween costumes. These turn into the same problem as the inflatable costumes. They are hot, big and always in the way.

Also, if you are dressed up as a ketchup bottle and walk away from the hotdog, you look silly as a plain bottle of ketchup. The same goes for a hotdog. Don’t be the hotdog this Halloween.

There are so many cool duo costumes you could be. Barbie and Ken, Tinkerbell and Wendy, angel and devil, and the list goes on. Be a costume that shows your personality and is creative, unlike a food option.

This year, think outside the box. Try something new. Don’t go straight to some of the worst costumes ever. At the end of the day, Halloween is supposed to be a fun holiday to celebrate. Don’t ruin it by wearing an uncreative, offensive or unnecessary costume.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

OPINION | New roster challenges Utah Tech men’s basketball team

by Emily VanmiddendorpPosted on

The Utah Tech University men’s basketball team is faced with the challenge of defying expectations after being ranked 11th in the Western Athletic Conference coach’s preseason poll.

The team has an almost entirely new roster this season after a majority of their players graduated. With 10 new players added to the program, the 11th-place ranking of the team in the poll is rational.

It is difficult to determine how this new program will perform. This is the program’s last year of its reclassification period after transitioning from Division II to Division I.

Utah Tech is only five points behind Southern Utah University and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley who tied for ninth in the preseason poll. SUU has a new program with a new head coach this season. UTRGV has a history of outperforming the preseason polls. Given these factors, the ranking of these three universities will be difficult to predict as the season unfolds.

Utah Tech will play their first game of the season away Nov. 8 against Santa Clara University.

Santa Clara finished third place in the West Coast Conference back-to-back. The Broncos had a 11-5 record in their conference last season, while the Trailblazers went 5-13 in their conference.

Comparing the universities’ stats from last season, both universities have similar numbers when it comes to shooting, which could lead to a close game. In order to win this match-up, the Trailblazers will need to focus on a strong defense.

Despite an almost completely new roster, Utah Tech has two players returning this season who proved to be key players for the Trailblazers last season. Those players are Noa Gonsalves and Tanner Christensen. Gonsalves had a career-high last season, scoring 24 points against New Mexico State, and Christensen led the team in rebounds last season.

These two players will play key roles in the Trailblazers’ game against the Broncos as well as the rest of the games this season.

In order to make for a successful season, the Trailblazers will need to develop strong team chemistry. Evaluating how each player will fit into the team is crucial for developing a plan to work with each player’s strengths and knowing where the team may be lacking.

As Utah Tech gets ready to play their first conference game against Utah Valley University Dec. 2, only time will tell if the Trailblazers will be able to outperform their 11th place spot in the poll.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

The History of Utah Tech’s Homecoming Week

by Emily VanmiddendorpPosted on

Homecoming has been a long-standing tradition at Utah Tech University with Homecoming royalty being mentioned in yearbooks dating back to 1952.

The celebration of Homecoming at Utah Tech began in 1951. An issue of The Dixie Sun dated Oct. 28, 1952, details that the day of Oct. 31 would be set aside as the college’s second annual Homecoming and Founders’ Day that year.

A Dixie College yearbook from 1960 described that year’s Homecoming and Founders’ Day as the most all-inclusive one yet to be staged at Dixie.

For a majority of the university’s history, Homecoming and Founders’ Day were celebrated in conjunction with one another.

John Bowler, director of alumni relations and former student body president in 1984-1985, said when he attended the university the parade route began at the university and ended at the tabernacle located at 18 S. Main St. Inside the tabernacle would be the Founders’ Day assembly after the parade.

After the tabernacle went through a full renovation in 2016, making the venue no longer available for the event, the parade route was changed. Following the closure of the venue for renovations, the Founders’ Day aspect of the Homecoming Week became separated.

Homecoming events such as the parade; the Homecoming pageant, which is now the Miss Utah Tech pageant; and of course, the homecoming football game are traditions that have been a part of Utah Tech’s Homecoming Week throughout the years.

For some events, while the idea has remained the same, the way the events are celebrated has evolved.

One event that has remained a part of the Homecoming festivities but is represented very differently now is the Homecoming dance.

In the history of the university, the Homecoming dance had been a formal dance. We still have a dance during Homecoming Week, the Dirty Thirty dance following the football game, but this dance is far from formal.

Another difference between Homecoming in the past and now is the week having a theme. In previous years, there have been themes such as “Red Hills of November” for the Homecoming in 1960 and “The Golden Year” in 1961. However, in more recent years, Homecoming Week has not been given a particular theme.

Karson Ray, vice president of student life and member of the Homecoming committee, a senior healthcare administration major from Hurricane, said rather than a theme, the committee decided to focus on school spirit being incorporated throughout each event with school colors and logos.

“Homecoming Week, it’s just a time when all the students can start building a lot of their school pride,” Ray said.

The week of Homecoming is filled with events for students and the community to enjoy while bringing together new and old traditions.

Bowler describes the significance of Homecoming as an impactful time for those who get to come back to the campus and reminisce about all the fun they had when attending the university. A time when they can look back at all the meaningful relationships they built, and a time for current students to see that someone still really cherishes what the students themselves are currently living through.

“It gives everyone a little perspective,” Bowler said. “It gives a sense of belonging.”

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Angel Wood Know: how to lose a woman in 10 days

by Angel WoodPosted on

Question: What are turnoffs for women?

Dear reader, 

So you thought your first date went well, but she ended up ghosting you after? Well, if that’s the case, a variety of things could have happened, but let’s talk about the things you can control for next time.

In reference to the romantic comedy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” a journalist tries to drive away a new boyfriend in 10 days by exhibiting all the classic dating mistakes, while he simultaneously attempts to make her fall in love with him for a bet. 

How ironic is that? I am a journalist with expertise on what drives women crazy when it comes to dating. So, instead of how to lose a guy, this is how to lose a girl. 

Taking forever to reply

We all know you aren’t that busy. Your 12 credit courseload, gym time with the bros and lazy sleep schedule do not mean you can’t reply back.

We can see when you are active on Snapchat, and whether or not you like it, we know when your Snap score goes up. 

When you take hours to reply, it gets hard for us to be patient, especially when we know you aren’t actually doing anything. So, instead of living every day in frustration because the guy we like can’t reply back, we’d rather drop you.

If you really like a woman, a quick reply will mean the world. It takes three seconds to ensure a woman is happy. It’s really not that hard. 

Lying about everything 

Women are smart, and we know when you are lying. It might be our common sense, or we might actually know for a fact when you are lying because we’ve already done our research—by the way, we were born FBI agents—but just don’t lie. It’ll dig you in a hole you can’t escape from. 

It’s the dumb, small lies that really irk us. So you “went to the gym” even though I saw you at Olive Garden with your friends? Or you don’t have any money to go on dates even though you just bought new Nikes? Interesting. 

When we notice you are lying over and over again, whether about things big or small, just know that we stopped being attracted to you the moment you first lied. 

Bragging about your kiss count

No one cares you kissed 12 different people at True Trailblazer. I’ve noticed that almost every guy I’ve hung out with at Utah Tech has brought up the university tradition and how proud he was that he kissed every girl in the fountain. 

We don’t think that’s cool. We don’t swoon over you because your lips are popular. We get grossed out and see you as a player. 

Ultimately, we are looking for someone who does not make us feel like we need to compete, and how can we compete with every woman at the university, even if they were just “meaningless” kisses? 

Not taking “no” for an anwer

No means no. It’s that simple. No, we don’t want to send nudes. No, we don’t want to be sexually harassed. No, we don’t want to go any further. 

Whether we say “no” or do a variety of other things to express the answer, just listen to us. Leaning away from you, saying we have to go, moving your hand away, pushing you off of us, leaving you on delivered. Read between the lines that we give you, and don’t try to push us to do things we don’t want to do.

It’ll forever ruin your chances of pursuing anything with us, even a friendship. 

Not making an effort 

This is the absolute worst thing you can do, and a woman will leave immediately if she notices that you aren’t putting in effort to keep the relationship going. 

We understand a guy doesn’t have to plan every date, pay for every meal and drive us everywhere, but once in a while, it would be nice. What you put in is how much we will put it, but when people don’t make an effort to communicate consistently, plan meaningful dates, and simply just show they care, it is the biggest turnoff. 

At the end of the day, if you do not like someone and they keep trying to pursue you, just tell them you are not interested. Yes, it’ll sting, but it’ll allow us to move on and heal faster than if you lead us on. 

Make an effort. Learn how to take a “no.” Keep your kiss count to yourself. Be honest. And reply in a timely manner. If you do these things, you’ll be on the right track to ensure your dating experiences don’t resemble a certain romantic comedy where all the wrong moves were made. 

Sincerely, 

Angel Wood 

If you are seeking advice on something, it can be anything, message me on Instagram at @angelsunnews.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY