UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | October 03, 2025

Month: December 2023

OPINION | From on the field to in the classroom: student-athletes shouldn’t receive special treatment

by Laura McClurePosted on

Student-athletes are not more special than other students enrolled in college.

With football being the top sport in U.S. college campuses and basketball being the second, these students get a lot of opportunities that other non-student athletes could only dream of. They worked very hard to get to that point, but all the special treatment is unnecessary.

A great example of special treatment is the gear and money that college football teams get. The University of Utah gave every football player on scholarship a 2024 Dodge Ram pickup truck. I’m confused as to why that money isn’t going to something better like other programs within the college that need it more.

Universities give football more support and money for the team, therefore giving the athletes better gear and support from the school. This is great and I’m glad they have the support from these different people and places, but it goes to many of the athletes’ heads.

Specifically at Utah Tech University, the athletes can have early access to class registration because of their busy schedules. I have an incredibly busy schedule as well, but I do not get to register for classes early. I may not be in a college-level sport, but I have important things I need to do. If these athletes are having a hard time finding classes that fit around their schedule for the sport they are in, maybe the school should think of alternative opportunities for the athletes.

An article proposed the idea of doing an all-athletes school. It would keep those students in line with their own priorities as well as not affecting other students in class who aren’t athletes. It would also give those pro-level teams a pinpoint location or school to find the best of the best athletes to recruit.

What I mean by affecting other students is specifically in group work. If you’re put into a group where you have one or two athletes, and they have a game over the weekend but your project is due on that upcoming Monday, sometimes those athletes will just leave the work to the rest of the group. This puts more pressure on everyone else rather than doing what they should be doing and helping out. This is just one example of how their lives are different, and it would be beneficial to both parties if there was a better solution.

The point of me writing this is not to bash on athletes. I do agree that they work very hard. They have school, practice, games and sometimes a job on top of all that. But many athletes, no matter what school they go to, do get special treatment in the fact that they have more leniency and support when it comes to their education. That is the upsetting part. 

As I mentioned before, this is not always the case. So, if athletes are going to get help from the school and teachers in their classes, there needs to be a deeper discussion between the athletes involved and the classes they are taking to be sure that they can do and be the best that they can be without abusing the trust they have with the school.

If you are going to college for a sport, you should be putting as much effort into the school aspect as you are into the game you’re playing. That’s not to say that it’ll be easy by any means, but there are too many athletes out there who are abusing the help and support they are getting from peers, professors and community members.

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Utah Tech women’s basketball came up short in conference home opener

by Brandt FaurschouPosted on

The Utah Tech University women’s basketball team is 1-1 in Western Athletic Conference play after losing at home to California Baptist University Dec. 6 with a score of 78-69.

Fresh off a victory from the previous game, Utah Tech opted for a strategic rest day to preserve their bodies and fine-tune their offensive plays. The emphasis in practice during the week centered around improved ball movement and reading the opposing defense. However, the game against CBU proved to be a challenge.

Utah Tech has a historical series record of 4-16 against CBU, with a home record of 2-7. Notably, two closely contested matches occurred last year. The most recent one culminated in an 81-72 defeat in the quarterfinal round of the 2023 WAC Tournament held in Las Vegas.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Trailblazers were trailing by 11. Macie Warren, a redshirt sophomore history major from Lehi, said the team maintained a steadfast mindset. She said given their style of play, the game was far from over.

“We tell ourselves it’s two, five-minute games,” Warren said. “That is what we stuck to in that fourth quarter was taking it five minutes at a time, chipping away at the lead they had.” 

Warren scored a season-high against CBU with 26 points, just three points shy of her career-high of 29 points. With 11 of her points accounted for in the fourth quarter, Utah Tech tried inching its way to victory.

Assistant coach Matt Thune expressed pride in the team’s performance despite the loss. He said the players want to win every time they step out on the court. 

“We’re happy with the effort we gave tonight,” Thune said. “We had it within two points where we were at the line having a chance to tie it but just didn’t go our way.”

With pride in the players’ dedication, the focus now shifts to addressing areas for improvement in practice, Thune said. As they prepare for the next set of games, the team aims to channel their energy and determination into securing a victory.

A notable highlight of the game was a player’s achievement in entering the record books. Breaunna Gillen, a fifth-year senior exercise science major from West Jordan, became the all-time scoring leader for Utah Tech women’s basketball. Gillen said it was an honor to have accomplished this feat.

“There’s a lot of great basketball players in the record book, and I’m just happy to be one of the ones in there as well,” Gillen said. 

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Students from the Institute of Politics travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Utah senators

by Annie MuirbrookPosted on

Stepping out of southern Utah, the Institute of Politics journeyed to Washington D.C. from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 to discuss with Utah senators the problems college students face today.

Students met with Senators Mitt Romney and Mike Lee at their offices in Washington. They were able to introduce themselves and the organization, as well as discuss their accomplishments this semester.

Hannah Snyder, a sophomore emergency medical services major from St. George, said, “When we met with the senators, they were happy to hear from us and hear what was important to the university students in their state.”

Before traveling, the Institute of Politics conducted a survey for students to ask senators questions. The poll asked students what issues they felt strongest about and what they would want the Utah senators to know. Some of the issues students responded with in the poll included:

  • Climate crisis
  • Inflation
  • Foreign relations
  • Gun control
  • Utah mental health crisis
  • Cost of housing in Utah

The top results from the poll were housing costs and inflation. The students expressed those concerns to the senators hoping to help senators understand why these topics are important to college students and how they will shape the future.

Serena Cervantes, a senior criminal justice major from Chino Hills, California, said, “They [senators] are the ones making policies and laws that will end up affecting you and your everyday life.”

A poll conducted by Forbes in 2022 found that 66% of college students believe voting matters in our democracy. But how many stay informed with government leaders? If it is known that voting is important, how can students start getting involved?

The Institute of Politics understands the importance of the influence that the younger generation has on voting. Staying informed about local and national politics holds significance for the younger generations. One place where students who aren’t informed about politics can start becoming more educated is through social media.

Social media is a place for students to start navigating the world of politics. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have opened up an easier way for the younger generation to stay informed.

Cervantes said, “You can find your state senators there and follow them to stay updated about what they are doing like you would a celebrity.”

If you wish to speak with a senator, you can write them a letter, visit their websites or direct message them on social media. Most U.S. senators are active on social media and express opinions and concerns on platforms like Instagram and X.

Snyder said: “Being involved and educated in politics is something that many students find intimidating, and it’s easy to see why. There is a wide variety of views out there and lots of passionate voices.”

Students looking to grow more confident in their knowledge of politics can attend events held by the Institute of Politics. One event is the Pizza and Politics event held once a month. At these events, students are invited to learn more about politics in a welcoming environment.

Cervantes said: “Decisions made in politics are something that affects your and your family’s everyday lives. Even if you feel like there is no point in staying informed about politics, no matter the level, it is truly so important for you to stay informed.”

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Matt Smith-Lahrman’s dedication to sociology, teaching, rock ‘n’ roll leaves lasting impact

by Angel WoodPosted on

Utah Tech University has been through many name changes since its creation in 1911. One professor at the university has been able to witness many of the name changes as he has taught at the university for over 25 years. 

Professor of Sociology Matt Smith-Lahrman was the only sociology professor for his first 17 years of teaching at the university. Within that time, he was able to build the applied sociology program and get it to be its own bachelor’s degree program. 

“Matt does all of the heavy lifting for the applied sociology program, so he’s kind of the OG of the department,” said Lish Harris, the department chair of applied sociology and criminal justice. “All of the sociology majors and all the applied sociology graduates over the last handful of years owe a lot to Matt and what he’s been able to build in that program.”

Lahrman’s interest in sociology started way before he got to St. George. It started when he was in high school and read a book by Jane Goodall called “In the Shadow of Man.” The book taught about the study of chimpanzees in the context of human behavior, and Lahrman said he thought it would be interesting to study humans in the way Goodall studied animals. 

He took his interest to the University of San Diego in the early ’80s and majored in anthropology. Shortly after, he transferred to Northern Arizona University and took Introduction to Sociology, which changed his mind and major to sociology. 

After hard work and dedication to the field of study, Lahrman left NAU with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in sociology. He then went on to Northwestern University in Chicago to get his Ph.D. After his schooling, he was offered a job at Utah Tech in 1998.

“I like teaching sociology here because I think it’s a great age, in the sense that I get to teach young adults,” Lahrman said. “They’re on their own for the first time, and most people have no idea what sociology is when they get here. I’m introducing them to a whole new way of thinking about the world, and I get a blast out of that.”

Not only is Lahrman able to impact his sociology students, but he also gets to impact others around campus through his knowledge, positive attitude and sense of humor.

“He always seems to have students’ best interests kind of at the front of his mind,” Harris said. “I think that the students that are not just in his program but campus-wide really benefit from faculty members like him.”

Westley Trease, a junior psychology major from St. George, said he appreciates many of Lahrman’s qualities, particularly noting him as a “comedic genius” who injects humor into his classroom. He also enjoys Lahrman’s teaching style as his lessons are directly applicable to his students’ lives.

“He is engaged, and I know he is concerned about my experience as a student,” Trease said. “He is a major influence for me…I’ve enjoyed exploring his world through the lens of sociology.” 

As for his teaching style, Harris noted that his earliest memory of Lahrman included seeing him lecturing one of his classes while riding down in between the desks on a skateboard, which Harris thought was very admirable and entertaining of a professor. 

Part of this laid-back way of teaching comes from his love for rock ‘n’ roll, which caught his attention back when he was in fourth grade and received a KISS record from his mom. Since then, he has collected many rock records, wrote his Doctor of Philosophy dissertation on rock music in Chicago, and created a book on a rock band called “The Meat Puppets and the Lyrics of Curt Kirkwood from Meat Puppets II to No Joke!” He also teaches Sociology of Rock Music at Utah Tech.  

“Rock music feels good, and it feels right,” Lahrman said. “I like that mixture of poetry with the music, and I like that it’s countercultural. It’s an avenue for people to challenge your parents’ generation, challenge politics, challenge race, challenge all sorts of things.”

What inspired him to write a 294-page book that took him about ten years to write was his favorite band, the Meat Puppets. To help in the completion of his dissertation, he reached out to the members of the band for an interview and was successful in his request. 

Lahrman said after completing his dissertation, he wanted to continue learning more about the band. He said, “So just for fun, almost just like journaling, I started going through every album and the lyrics on each of the albums and CDs, and I started analyzing the lyrics.” 

Through his analysis, he has received feedback on his book including a Kindle customer who said, “This is the greatest book ever written about the lyrics of Curt Kirkwood! No competition!”

With his love for sociology, dedication to teaching and passion for rock ‘n’ roll, Professor Lahrman hopes to continue impacting students and fostering an active learning environment for many years to come.

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Looking for a job? Here are 5 tips for finding the ideal college job amidst the chaos

by News SubmissionsPosted on

By Joseph Avila Hernandez

Getting the right job that is flexible with your school schedule, social life, activities and homework is not an easy task. 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 74% of part-time students and 40% of full-time students have jobs to help pay for classes and other living expenses. Most full-time college students work 20 to 34 hours a week, while part-time students mostly work 35 hours.

The problem comes when looking for that job. Where do you look? How can you make sure you get the job? No matter the situation, here are five tips to aid you in job hunting.

Make an appointment with your career coach

Making an appointment with your career coach could be the first step to finding a job. You can set up an appointment through Navigate, email or a phone call. They can also perform mock interviews, and you can acquire a professional wardrobe from their career closet. Career coaches can help you decide what career path you want to take or make sure the one you are on is the right one for you.

Employment Specialist Cheryl Brandt said, “Talking to one of our career coaches is a good way to get some help as far as finding jobs.” 

Keep your resume updated

Keeping a resume updated is a good habit to have. You never know when that job will show up, and being the first one to apply is an advantage you want. A resume is the first thing an employer will look at. Making it sweet and short will increase the chances of a callback.

The Career Center can also give you tips as you write for your resume. 

Nathan Brown, a junior digital film major from Truth and Consequences, New Mexico, said: “Cater your resume to whatever job you’re applying for. It’s nice to have a blanket resume, but everyone has different skill sets that are going to be best suited to a particular job.”

Look everywhere

The place that Brandt recommends looking at is Handshake, a job posting website that every student has an account to. To sign in, use your Utah Tech University login. The university and other local companies post on Handshake. Handshake is also where you can find work-study jobs on campus.

Brown said, “What really worked for me was a Facebook group called St. George Jobs Hiring.” 

Brown isn’t the only one who found a job from a different source. Kayci Dopp, a sophomore art major from Vernal, said: “I applied to a different job that I saw on Indeed, and then I saw other jobs on the official city website.”

Keep an eye open for job openings around campus as there are opportunities posted on campus. One place to look is at the career fairs that take place in the Gardner building. When there isn’t a fair, there may be recruiters on campus.

Brandt said there are three fairs throughout the year. There is a student job fair usually at the end of August, as well as the fall and the spring.

The spring career fair will be in the Gardner Ballroom Feb. 22, 2024. At the job fair, there will be multiple companies with a variety of positions. Companies will also recruit outside of the fair in between the Snow and Browning buildings three times a semester.

Don’t be afraid of asking peers, instructors, coaches or even the company itself. You can volunteer at places you are interested in with a better chance of getting hired for the future.

Sam New, a senior individualized studies major from Leeds, said: “I talked around, asked and I started volunteering at Techie For Life. When a friend of mine worked there, he eventually referred me, and I got the job.”

Any job will do

As college students, we tend to get tunnel vision seeing what we can do with our majors, which narrows down the possibilities of potential jobs. Opportunities will come in the future to get into the field you have always wanted.

“I started off looking for film or editing jobs,” Brown said. ”As time went on, I became more and more desperate and just opened it to anything. I was looking for anything paying more than $12 or $13 an hour.”

Money is another factor that college students consider. The job you get during college is temporary and is there to help you cover the cost of any unexpected or expected expenses.

The different work experiences you get, the better. Employers are looking for someone who can adapt or be flexible in their positions, along with culture. If you fit within their work culture, then the chances of you getting the job are higher.

Brandt said, “A lot of companies are looking for what’s going to best fit their culture.” 

Don’t give up

It’ll be hard getting no response from employers after a while, but keep trying. Eventually, you will get a response. If one method isn’t working, then try from a different approach.

It will take little time out of your day to consistently look at job postings. Also, don’t be afraid to keep applying to jobs. It’s better to have many options than none. You can always decline a position if a more preferred employer responds afterward.

“Just browse the job listings for 45 minutes to an hour and a half every day,” said Brown. “Because they come and go pretty quickly.”

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Master the art of selling your housing lease with these tips and tricks

by Laura McClurePosted on

If you needed to move back home, received an amazing opportunity elsewhere or even experienced the worst roommates possible, would you know how to sell your housing lease?

There is a long road ahead of you, especially if you need to get out of your lease in the middle of the lease period. That is why it is important to have patience and know what your contract entails before you sign it. Some situations make needing to get out of a lease complicated, but if you keep pushing through, it is possible.

Brandon Nelson, the property manager at 605 Place, said: “It’s a process. Be realistic with that timeline, and as soon as you know you want to sell your lease, take action on it.”

Nelson said these leases are signed and legal contracts. The best and most respectful thing to do is to give your leasing office and roommates a heads-up so they can figure out how they are going to go about the change.

People are usually trying to sell their leases around the December and January months. This could be for many reasons including:

•Graduation

•Moving away

• Bad roommates

•A better housing offer

Since the most common time of year to sell a lease is in the middle of the school year, most students already have their leases and housing situations figured out, which does not leave much space or time for those who need to sell their leases. 

For those students who are trying to sell a lease, the best place to do so would be on social media. Utah Tech University students have many platforms like Instagram, X and Snapchat. The most popular is Snapchat with the Utah Tech stories that students post daily. They post things such as events that are going on, things they see on campus and the leases they are trying to sell.

Haidyn Follett, a sophomore general studies major from Saratoga Springs, said: “Start early because it is so hard to find people, especially when lots of other students are selling their leases. I also would suggest getting really nice photos of wherever you live to make it appealing.”

Asking your friends and family to post those photos can also help. 

“If it’s harder to sell your lease, you can do a special,” said Ellie Lindsay, the assistant property manager at 605 Place. “Like saying you’ll pay the first month’s rent or you’ll pay for their security deposit so they don’t have all those fees, and they can just move in. It makes your lease selling stand out.”

Using these tips and resources as well as those around you is a good place to start when tackling the challenge of selling your housing lease.

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New Campus View Suites III brings lack of parking to light

by Laura McClurePosted on

Utah Tech University is one of the many schools across America that have continuing parking problems.

Depending on the time of day, almost all six campus parking lots get very full. Finding a parking spot can be competitive and hard to do, and most students will spend a long time circling parking lots on campus and end up not being able to find a spot at all.

Sarah Witt, a sophomore media studies major from Heber, said: “It’s easy most of the time to find a spot as long as you get there early and have time to scan the parking lot, but a lot of the time if you’re running a little bit late or you have a class at one of the busier parts of the day, it’s nearly impossible to find a spot.”

On top of the time that is taken while trying to find a parking spot, the parking spot is often on the opposite side of campus than where the student or faculty member is trying to go, adding an extra ten or more minutes to the commute. 

Utah Tech University has spoken in the past about the university’s master plan including a new parking garage to allow more available parking. This has yet to be finalized.

Jon Gibb, director of facility planning and construction, said the university will not start this new project until the campus runs out of parking completely. They will do their best to use surface-level parking first, having the first expansion be North of the SET building. If parking does end up running out, the parking garage would likely be located North of the Burns Arena.

For those students living on campus, the lack of parking is becoming more apparent with the new Campus View III suites being built. The parking lots near on-campus housing are predicted to be more full than before. The new building is to be doubled in size compared to the other two housing complexes. Therefore, more students who stay on campus will be taking parking spaces that could be used for students who live off-campus. 

Even for other campuses, this is a continuing problem. Parking is hard to figure out, especially with students coming and going all day long.

Nate Snow, an assistant professor of communications, said: “I’ve never been to a campus that had it figured out. I’ve been on small and large campuses all over the world, and every single one was crammed with cars, scooters and bikes.”

Things that students can do to help this ongoing dilemma is to carpool if possible. This will allow more parking availability for others who need it as well.

Gibb said that there is still parking available. It is just farther away than most would like. He said students will “for sure get their steps in.”

They can also be aware of the classes that are switching out. Sitting in your car for 20 to 30 minutes after a class can be frustrating to others who are trying to find a spot and get to class on time. Be aware of those around you and help keep the availability open.

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Grocery store under Campus View III will provide students with healthier meals, miscellaneous necessities

by Lexy BorgognoPosted on

Imagine you don’t have to catch a ride to the store to get your groceries. Instead, you just simply walk on campus. 

That fairytale is becoming a reality. Campus View Suites III will have a grocery store on the first floor for students to use.

Jon Gibb, director of facilities planning and construction, said construction for the new housing complex started Aug. 24, 2022, and will be completed June 30, 2024. 

Zach Gates, director of dining services, said that the idea for an on-campus grocery store originated when he returned to our university in 2021 as the dining director. Gates toured the Brigham Young University campus and gained some ideas to bring to Utah Tech University.

Gates said because our university’s dining space is limited, he went to BYU for ideas that he could incorporate into already existing buildings on campus. His original idea was to upgrade and expand Brooks Stop, but Paul Morris, vice president of administrative affairs, suggested using space in CV3.

Seth Gubler, director of housing and resident life, said this is when Morris decided to add the concept to the overall construction project of CV3. 

The grocery store will offer a convenient option for on-campus students to go grocery shopping within walking distance of their dorms. Those who do not have means of transportation or would rather save time and gas, won’t have to worry about any kind of driving conflicts to get their groceries. This will also provide jobs for students. 

While the inventory of the grocery store is still being decided, it will include food and non-food items, like toilet paper and personal hygiene products. Gubler also said student fees will not increase with the addition of the store. 

Gates said: “This is part of the campus housing build. Dining doesn’t get to use student fees for any of our operations currently. We are a self-operated entity that has to earn our own money to pay for staff, equipment…This will only be on campus as an added benefit to students.”

Any student, faculty, staff or St. George community member will be able to shop, although Gates doesn’t foresee any non-students visiting the grocery store as much. He said the store will be small, but it will cater to students’ wants and needs. Students will be able to spend dining dollars, Bison Bucks and meal plan money at the store as well. 

Prices at the store will reflect the prices at Harmons and Lin’s. Paul Morris, vice president of administrative affairs, said this is because the university is partnering with Associated Foods. He said the store has to meet minimum sales requirements to participate in the Associated Foods distribution program. 

Roxanne Krietzman, resident life area coordinator, said that based on the items expected to be in store, students will have access to ingredients that will ensure healthy meals. 

“While I believe [Utah Tech] is far from the comprehensive dining program that our students deserve, the addition of a grocery store is still a great step in the right direction…The convenience will be unparalleled.” 

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The Agvocate: eggs are not dairy, even though they are sold in the dairy aisle

by Jenessa WalgrenPosted on

Eggs are not dairy products. Eggs are laid by chickens which are birds. Dairy products come from animals that have mammary glands such as cows and goats.

Chicken farms in America are ethical, clean and safe. It is a common misconception that chicken farms inject hormones and steroids into chickens. The whole campaign has been funded by corporations who want you to pay more for hormone-free and steroid-free chicken when there have never been those in chickens to start with.

In mainstream media, fear sells products, and agriculture usually is given a bad rep through uneducated people trying to influence the masses. The false information is also funded by “animal rights” activists who are trying to get people to go vegan.

The United States food supply is greatly regulated and constantly undergoing testing, but since big corporations can’t make money off of the truth, they have to make up lies to scare consumers into buying “safe foods.”

Eggs and dairy products are categorized as protein foods by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Both are high in protein, and that is one of the small amount of similarities they share.

Around the age of four months old, laying hens will start to produce eggs daily. As they age, their production will become slower, but on average, people can expect a hen to keep producing eggs for up to six or seven years. In hens, only the left ovary matures to be able to release eggs. However, a single hen’s ovary can hold thousands of little future egg yolks.

When most hens stop producing, they are then butchered for meat. They serve their purpose while they are alive and serve a purpose when butchered. If every laying hen was kept after she stopped producing, farms would not be able to run because it is impractical to keep thousands of alive chickens that cannot produce what Americans need, which is eggs.

It takes up to 25 hours for a hen to produce an egg. It is usual for the shell to be formed in around 19 hours, a process called calcification. In this whole process, a hen is calm while she eats, drinks and relaxes in her living area. Most chicken farms have hundreds of chickens, and for employees to inject or administer chickens with anything harmful, one by one, is truly impossible.

After the egg is laid, it will either be picked up by a chicken farmer or fertilized by a rooster. The eggs we eat do not contain embryos unless a big mistake has happened and an egg was accidentally fertilized. Before the eggs are sold in grocery stores, they must undergo specific procedures to go out to feed the public.

USDA has said that egg processors who participate must spray-wash their eggs with warm water and use a sanitizing rinse and air-drying techniques specified by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.

The egg-producing industry plays a significant role in agriculture, providing a valuable source of nutrition and economic stability. The industry has been able to meet the growing demand for eggs while ensuring the welfare of the hens.

The next time you are with your family grocery shopping and they walk up and down the aisle reading all the labels, take the opportunity to share the good news.

American agriculture works tirelessly to put safe and nutritious food options in stores. Teach them to not be fooled by “hormone and steroid-free,” and teach them producers are also consumers. Agriculture is not the enemy.

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Shred the pow with the Snowboarding club

by Brandt FaurschouPosted on

The Utah Tech University Snowboarding Club is a group of passionate riders turning the mountains into their canvas, and you can do the same.

This newly created club was founded this school year and already has over 100 members. Each week the club travels to Brian Head Resort and spends the entire day on the mountain, enjoying the snow, fresh air and cold breeze.

Whether you’re a seasoned rider or strapping on a board for the first time, the club offers a welcoming environment for all skill levels. Experienced members willingly share their knowledge, providing mentorship that goes beyond the snow-covered terrain. 

Bailey Naber, a freshman general studies major from Eastvale, California, heard about the club through one of her friends. Naber said she joined with the hope of connecting to others with the same interests. 

“I thought it’d be a super fun way to meet new people,” Naber said. “I love snowboarding, so why not do it with a bunch of people that also like it? I get to meet new people and have a lot of fun on weekends.”

The club, although rooted in snowboarding, extends an open invitation to skiers, fostering a welcoming environment for all winter sports enthusiasts. 

The creation of the snowboarding club was prompted by a perceived gap in the clubs offered on campus. Jillian DeGidio, club president and founder, is a junior design major from Mission Viejo, California, who wanted to fill that void and provide students with an opportunity to connect over a shared passion for snow sports.  

With the cold months coming, DeGidio said there is no better time to join the club than right now.

“We have been trying to talk to Brian Head about getting student passes,” Degidio said. “If we do end up going through with that, then we would probably add a fee later on. But for now, it’s completely free.”

While the club regularly hits the slopes at Brian Head, DeGidio envisions broader horizons for future excursions. Degidio said there are plans underway to organize trips to other renowned resorts like Park City.

DeGidio talked about the future of the club saying they are trying to collaborate with the university’s recreation center to make snowboarding gear accessible for rentals at lower costs.

Henry Levitan, a sophomore criminal justice major from Los Angeles, said those interested in joining the club can connect with the members of the club to find out more information. Students can email or send a direct message to the Utah Tech Snowboarding Club Instagram. 

“Just reach out and ask,” Levitan said. “We’re open to all new members, and then we’ll give you the link to our Slack.”

As for activities, the club adopts a flexible approach, typically organizing trips every Saturday. While regularity is aimed at, members also have the freedom to organize outings based on individual schedules.

As the snowboarding club at Utah Tech continues to grow, it leaves an indelible mark on the university’s culture. The mountains surrounding southern Utah aren’t just a backdrop; they are an integral part of student life, fostering a sense of adventure, skill development and community.

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