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

Month: April 2024

Trailblazer Queen score miscalculations lead to incorrect crowning

by Madisyn BishopPosted on

The day after the Trailblazer Queen pageant, the Utah Tech University Student Association announced there had been a miscalculation with the scores of the crowned winners. This miscalculation resulted in a mistake with the announced Trailblazer Queen.

On the original day of Trailblazer Queen, April 9, UTSA, Trailblazer Queen and Utah Tech University posted on their Instagram pages and stories about the newly crowned queen, Angel Wood, a senior media studies major from Surprise, Arizona. Twelve hours later, UTSA and other accounts deleted the posts and posted new photos announcing Allison Park, a junior marketing major from Washington, as the new Trailblazer Queen.

The originally announced queen and attendants were:

  • Trailblazer Queen – Angel Wood
  • First attendant – Sydney Sorenson
  • Second attendant – Amira Hassan
  • Third attendant – Nicole Parkin
  • Fourth attendant – Breonna Bingham
The original UTSA post announcing Angel Wood as the new Trailblazer Queen before the post was deleted.

In the new Instagram announcement, UTSA wrote, “Due to a calculation error, the court was announced incorrectly during the event. We sincerely apologize for the mistake and any frustration this may cause our contestants and their loved ones.”

The new queen and attendants were announced as:

  • Trailblazer Queen – Allison Park
  • First attendant – Angel Wood
  • Second attendant – Sydney Sorenson
  • Third attendant – Olivia Shoaf
  • Fourth attendant – Amira Hassan
  • Fifth attendant – Nicole Parkin
  • Sixth attendant – Breonna Bingham

After the announcement, the new queen was crowned at Live and Local April 10.

Alijah Caskinette, the 2023 Trailblazer Queen, crowned Wood the night of the pageant. She said the miscalculation shows the importance of meticulous planning, preparation and accountability.

“When I first heard the news, I was shocked and immediately heartbroken for Angel,” Caskinette said. “At the same time, I was also happy for Allison, but Allison was not announced as being within the top five at all on the night. So it was probably really exciting for her.”

She also said she had never heard of this situation happening before.

“It is such a heartbreaking situation, and I’m sure that all the girls involved felt very confused, hurt and upset as a result of the mistake,” Caskinette said.

After reaching out for further information on the miscalculation, Karson Ray, UTSA vice president of student life who was involved in the production of the pageant, declined to comment on the matter.

Luke Kerouac, director of student involvement and leadership, spoke on UTSA’s behalf. Kerouac said the miscalculation occurred due to a formatting error on an Excel spreadsheet. Sun News was unable to obtain a copy of the spreadsheet with the error. Kerouac said this pageant was not run differently this year and that the pageant, “has been a student event and will continue to be a student event.”

“After it was brought to my attention that there was an error, it fell on me to fix it,” Kerouac said.

Wood posted on her Instagram talking about her experience with the Trailblazer Queen pageant.

In her post, she tagged Kerouac and Ray, saying: “I hope your daughters or future daughters never have to feel the immense pain I’ve felt this past week,” Wood wrote. “Please do better to not only advocate for the members of your own organization but also the student body.”

Wood’s talent for the pageant was a speech from her column, Angel Wood Know, which she used in her post.

She wrote: “As I stated in my Trailblazer Queen speech, ‘Doors open and close all the time as I firmly believe in the phrase ‘everything happens for a reason.’ At the end of the day, our worth isn’t measured by a cheap tiara and sash. It’s measured by our hard work, our experiences and our desire to continue blazing our own trail.”

Wood said when she woke up April 10, she had a text from Sophie Sparks, who directed the pageant. After she received the text, she went to the UTSA adviser’s office to meet with Ray and Sparks.

“They told me in person, which I was grateful for,” Wood said. “They explained to me there was a miscalculation that had looked like Allison placed, but they weren’t sure when they told me. I felt immediate heartache, and it was so painful to hear.”

At Live and Local, Wood was given the first attendant crown and sash where she also crowned Park as Trailblazer Queen. Park posted on the Trailblazer Queen Instagram, announcing her new title.

She wrote, “I’m so grateful for all the queens who competed in this year’s pageant, it was truly the best night. Even though there was confusion, I am excited to be a part of this D-week tradition!”

After speaking to Ray and Sparks, Wood said Jordon Sharp, vice president of marketing and communication and previous UTSA adviser, was the third party who recounted the points and that she was told the Excel sheet was formatted for 23 contestants instead of 26, which resulted in the errors on the spreadsheet.

Wood said, “Although mistakes happen, being a little more careful and considerate can stop the same mistakes from happening again.”

Sparks, Sharp and Park declined to comment.

Editor’s note: the editor-in-chief of Sun News Daily Angel Wood was not involved in the process of writing, editing, interviewing or publishing this story. This story was edited by news editor Lexy Borgogno, opinion editor Grace Kazmierski and copy editor Alyssa Bayles.

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Juanita Brooks Lecture Series delves into Utah history

by Mason BrittonPosted on

Utah Tech University added the 40th conference to the Annual Juanita Brooks Lecture Series at the Russel C. Taylor Health Science Building.

The Juanita Brooks Lecture Series started in 1984 to spark interest in history and provide different perspectives on various events throughout Utah’s history.

As a former professor at Utah Tech, Juanita Brooks was known for her groundbreaking research on heavy topics such as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, all while being a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her research paved the way for exploration into Native American stories long after she died in 1989.

This year’s conference was co-sponsored by the O.C. Tanner Foundation and the Utah Tech Library. The lectures were held Thursday from 7 – 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The conference went to Short Creek April 20 to discuss the Fundamentalist Movement with the Mayor of Hildale, Donia Jessup. During the closing speech of the lectures on Friday, the chair speaker for the final block of the conference, Cristina Rosetti, assistant professor of humanities, said Short Creek, a town with different ideologies than most and one that is often a spectacle in the media, is still a town and must be treated with respect.

Many professors and historians all over Utah come to these conferences to educate and inform the community about ideas or teachings that might be biased or potentially inaccurate altogether. 

Cassandra Clark, assistant professor of history, who is currently writing a book on the history of insane asylums in the Intermountain West, said she supports conferences like this and how they benefit all students, not just those studying history. 

“I would encourage anyone to attend this conference or any history conference overall,” Clark said. “Not only does it help people to make a connection to the past, which is relevant beyond a college class… it connects past to the present as well, so it’s useful in all aspects.”

Clark is not the only historian who shares this belief. Jenny Lund, conference attendee, independent scholar and museum consultant, said, “Understanding the past is crucial, particularly understanding the past of the place where you live is crucial.”

She said conferences like these, even though they are historically based, are made to appeal to the general public. You do not have to be a specific major to attend these lectures. 

The separation of lectures in the conference’s program allowed students, professors and other historians alike to show up at various times, allowing them to contribute to the most interesting discussions. The various speakers covered topics such as civil rights in St. George, polygamy, women’s burdens, adoption, abuse and mixed-race identity in the 19th century.

Barbara Jones Brown, author of “Vengeance is Mine, the Mountain Meadows Massacre and its Aftermath” and director of Signature Books Publishing, has a background in studies of 19th and 20th century Utah history. As the former executive director of the Mormon History Association, she said the importance of conferences is to promote networking and allow fellow historians to communicate and reach out to potential collaborators.

“I love going and hearing scholars’ most recent research and hearing their presentations,” Brown said. “I also enjoy listening to conference attendees, like what they are enjoying, what they are interested in [and] seeing what kind of history they are interested in as well.”

The Juanita Brooks History Conference offers a wide variety of lectures that are meant to appeal to the general public, not just here in southern Utah. Promoting active learning and teachings about the rich history this land has to share at these conferences coincides directly with Utah Tech values: academic distinction, student learning and success, equity and inclusion and collaborative culture.

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OPINION | Utah Tech’s top events from the 2023-2024 school year

by Nicole RogersPosted on

With the school year coming to an end, there have been many events that have occurred over the school year, each one unique and different and full of fun for everyone to enjoy.

Utah Tech University has put on some killer activities this school year that I have loved. Many people attended these events and had a great time. Here’s a look back at my top Utah Tech activities. 

Foam Dance

The Foam Dance took place Aug. 25, 2023, and was a great party for all students to attend. The dance was themed “Barbie” in honor of the new “Barbie” movie that came out. 

This event was put on by the Utah Tech Student Association and was held in the Campus View Suites II parking lot. 

With this dance, people got a live DJ, and tons of foam sprayed all over the venue and themselves. People could be in the mosh pit right at the stage in the heart of the loud music, or, if they weren’t into that, there was plenty of dance room outside of the mosh pit so they could avoid the jumping and dancing.

The DJ had great taste in music, and the pink foam really added to this experience. I enjoyed my time here and would definitely go back for more next year. The event was a highly recommended experience for all students to participate in and enjoy.

Chaos

Chaos was another dance held Oct. 31, 2023. But instead of foam and “Barbie,” this one was all about Halloween. UTSA put on the event and they did not disappoint in their delivery of a good time for everyone. 

During their annual Halloween dance, people got to dress up to their heart’s content and party it out. There were many activities for students to engage in, including tarot card reading, a rage room, carnival games and just enjoying the music and dancing.

I loved every aspect of this activity because not only did I get to dress up, but I also got to enjoy the various carnival games and live DJ performing dance-worthy music. A definite 10/10 rating in my book for this activity.

Kite Festival

The Dixie Power Kite Festival was held April 6 and was a fun-filled day for families, students and children to come and enjoy their time.

The festival was put on by Dixie Power to raise money for literacy to donate to the Washington County School District. Children were able to participate by reading charts and turning them in during the festival to win prizes. 

There was food, live entertainment, various vendors, bounce houses and kite flying. It was a great time for everyone to come and engage with people and get out of the house. 

I loved the family aspect of this event. It wasn’t only tailored to Utah Tech students, but everyone in the community. It had an upbeat and carnival feeling to it, making it fun and inviting for anyone who wanted to participate. 

Live and Local

Live and Local, which was held April 10, allowed students to come to the Encampment Mall to enjoy live bands. They were able to sit out on the grass with blankets and enjoy food and drinks.

The atmosphere was fun and relaxing as students were able to get away from homework for the night and enjoy music and food and spend time with friends as well. 

I included this event because dances or bigger events may not be every student’s thing, so this is perfect for them. A student does not have to be into dancing or being in a huge crowd to attend Live and Local. It’s an event someone can attend alone or with friends and just sit and listen to music. 

I did not have to party or dance or be incredibly social. I was able to sit in the grass on a blanket and watch live bands perform for free. It was a much-needed break from homework. 

D-Week Carnival

D-Week is an annual week filled with various traditions, from painting the “D” on the hill to the Great Race and the Carnival.

The Carnival was held April 12 and was open to all community members who could come to play carnival games, jump in bounce houses, win prizes from games and enjoy food and drinks. 

This was a great day for children, families and students as it had something for everyone.

It was a great event because of the various carnival games students and community members could play and win prizes throughout the day. This enhanced the experience for me.

These events allowed the community and students to enjoy a day filled with fun. I look forward to the fall 2024 – spring 2025 event schedule. USTA should continue to have these events because they increase the fun college experience and allow community members to join in on the fun.

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Protect your digital footprint with these cybersecurity tips

by Nicole RogersPosted on

One of the biggest threats we face today involves cybersecurity. Statistics show that a cyberattack happens every 39 seconds.

There are many ways that scammers attack their victims like the typical phone call, text message, email or social media message.

With cybersecurity being prevalent with the advancement of new technology, it’s good to be mindful and careful with anything and everything. 

Oftentimes, scammers target elderly people because they are trusting and can be taken advantage due to their lack of technological knowledge. But it’s not only them. College students can fall victim to scammers too. With everything students post online, information gets out to scammers.

Jay Sneddon, assistant professor of the practice in information technology, said students don’t realize how global the internet is, so they overshare online. An example of oversharing would be posting pictures of themselves and saying where they are, which lets everyone know their location.

Sneddon said: “You have cyber stalkers, you have regular stalkers, you’ve got people who have no business really knowing your address, your phone number, and yet, those things are out there, and they take advantage of you for scams, for other kinds of problems like that.”

Matthew Kearl, assistant professor of the practice of software engineering, said there used to be sites where scammers could spoof people. They could use a number like 911 to trick people into thinking it was real, when it was actually a scammer trying to get information.

People may often think, ‘That can’t happen to me,’ but it can. It can happen to anyone. People who aren’t careful can fall victim to cyber scams. This can spread across all demographics.

Phishing is another cyber scam. This is portraying a site to be legitimate, but instead, it takes the user to a harmful site. Phishing includes fraudulent emails, text messages and phone calls.

Spoofing is where a scammer calls from a known number, like a dentist’s office, but it redirects the victim to the scammer.

In watering hole attacks, scammers portray themselves as legitimate and wait on actual websites to target people. These scammers use persuasion and intimidation to get what they want. They also use the tactic of being time-sensitive where they request the website user to respond quickly or else they will miss out on a deal. This encourages users to not think about the deal, just to buy it.

Another scam tactic used is acting as an authority, like the IRS, to get money from the individual. Scammers also use smishing, where they send out a text message to an individual trying to get personal information. 

Sneddon said it’s important to protect your bank account since scammers are after your money. It’s important to check your account monthly to make sure your credit card charges are in order.

Ways you can prevent these scammers from attacking you is to refrain from oversharing on the internet. If the deal seems too good to be true, then it most likely is. Sneddon said students have to be careful with their gaming sites. They should go to legitimate and trusted sites. He said to make sure they are encrypted, so scammers with peering eyes can’t harvest information. 

Ensuring cybersecurity is important and there are ways of doing this. Using strong passwords can ensure no one can hack into your account. Install antivirus software on your computer to protect your data.

Pryce Seely, a senior criminal justice major from Santa Clara and the president for the Cybersecurity Club, said, “If your web page blocks the site and says, ‘Past this, it’s been deemed a malicious site,’ just trust it.” 

Seely said to use your better judgment on these things. If something feels off, block the person or do what is necessary. If you don’t recognize a person or a name, then do not add them or accept their message.

There is a website called virustotal.com where you can copy a URL and put it into the website to check and see if the URL is a virus or not. 

Seely said, “Stop and think about things first before you react and stay calm.”

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A student’s guide to the exercise machines

by Joseph Avila HernandezPosted on
The Human Performance Center is a great resource for all students to strengthen their minds and bodies. However, the machines can be intimidating at first. Utah Tech Students are here to show you how to use some of the most popular HPC workout machines. Anna Casey | Sun News Daily

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Angel Wood Know what it takes to be an editor-in-chief

by Angel WoodPosted on

Question: What does it take to be an editor-in-chief?

Dear Lexy, 

If there is one thing I am almost an expert about, it’s how to be an editor-in-chief of a news organization. I’ve spent a full year watching someone else in the role and then a year learning the role myself. Now as I move on from the EIC position, I know Sun News Daily is in good hands with someone fully capable of fulfilling the responsibilities as the head of our news organization. 

An EIC has many tasks including editing everything that will be published, teaching the staff different media principles, and standing up for the staff when others may want to tear it down. The most important role an EIC has is leading the staff in being “The Voice Of Utah Tech.”

You are a leader and others will look up to you more than you know as you guide the staff throughout the year. When times get tough, sources don’t respond or others turn against Sun News, the staff will look to you for strength, answers and courage to continue on the powerful path of student journalism. 

As EIC, you will need to have courage. The life of an EIC is far from easy, and there will be times when you feel like quitting. You will need to have the courage to not only encourage others to never give up but to stand as an example of perseverance yourself. 

You will also need to be adaptive. Things will not always go your way or the staff’s way. Sources won’t always get back, stories won’t always work out, and people won’t always stay on Sun News. But, there is always another way to do things, so ensure your vision is not blurred by a single option. Somehow, things have a way of working themselves out, so just go with the flow and don’t forget that everything happens for a reason. 

On top of being positive, hardworking, inclusive and many other things, knowing how to effectively communicate will bring you much success as EIC. Communication is the foundation of everything we do as student journalists, so never silence yourself when it comes to being honest.

Leave those edits even if they may seem harsh. Have those hard conversations even if they may seem pointless. Stand up for yourself to others even when it may seem scary. Saying what you need to say is far better than keeping it to yourself and never seeing change. 

Know that it’s OK to delegate. That’s why you have a staff because as much as we go-getters want to do it all, we can’t. As mentioned before, the role of EIC is not easy and will come with many challenges and bumps in the road, but your staff is here to support you and keep you on the road to success. You don’t have to do everything on your own, so ask for help when you need it. 

Just a heads up but 3 a.m. will be your new bedtime and a planner will become your best friend. The bulk of your life going forward will be related to Sun News, so having and keeping good time management skills will be the best thing you can do for yourself and for Sun News.  

Although being EIC will not be smooth sailing, you will see all the rewards that come from holding this position. Being EIC will teach you more about who you are and who you want to be. It will bless you with some of the strongest relationships you’ll ever have with staff members, professors and other staff and faculty at the university. It will teach you more than you’d ever thought you’d know about being a leader and a student journalist. The blood, sweat and tears will all be worth it at the end of the day.

Lastly, one thing I’ve come to realize is that Sun News does not make you. You make Sun News. Toward the beginning of my leadership in the position, I put too much of my worth on Sun News. The position defined me and the job overcame me. I also found myself comparing myself to others who had come before me, thinking that I was not good enough to be EIC. 

You are what will make Sun News so great and so credible and so rewarding. Although it’s great to learn from those who have come before you as EIC, know that it’s OK to do your own things, make your own rules and lead in the way you feel inspired to. You were chosen for the position because you are Lexy Borgogno, so don’t forget who you are, and you will make Sun News amazing. 

Lexy, you are going to do so many amazing things and leave behind a legacy that won’t ever be forgotten. As EIC, you are not just a leader; you are the guiding light of Sun News Daily, so let that light shine as you continue blazing your trail.

Sincerely, 

Angel Wood

If you are seeking advice on something, message me on Instagram at @angel.utahtech.

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OPINION | Sports editor’s predictions for fall sports

by Emily VanmiddendorpPosted on

Fans gather in the Greater Zion Stadium. The stands are flooded with red. It’s time for fall sports to take center stage.

After a few short months away for summer break, students head back to campus for fall, and that means it’s time for some of my favorite sports.

This upcoming season holds new possibilities for the Trailblazers. The question is: will they harness their potential or fall short of expectations?

Based on roster changes, previous stats and some speculation, here’s how I predict the fall season will go.

Football

The football team ended their 2023 season with a disappointing 2-9 record overall and 1-5 in conference play. However, the team has made some big changes since the end of the season.

The program named Lance Anderson as their new head coach in December following the unsatisfactory records under the leadership of former head coach Paul Peterson.

Along with the new head coach, the program has eight new additions to the coaching staff and only retained two of the coaches from the 2023 staff.

The team has also signed over 20 new players to their recruiting class. Does new talent equal mean records?

One can only hope that with an almost complete overturn in staff and the addition of new players, the record will show some improvement for the Trailblazers in the upcoming season.

However, the team will need a building period. Time to rebuild and change the culture under a new coaching staff, and time to build team chemistry. Because of this, I predict the record of the 2024 season will be similar to that of 2023. The team will improve under the new leadership, but this won’t happen overnight or in one season.

Women’s Soccer

The women’s soccer team had a successful season with an 8-6-5 record during the regular season, ending the 2023 season ranked fifth in the Western Athletic Conference.

At one point in the season, they had a 10-game unbeaten streak. The team just wasn’t able to carry that success into the WAC tournament, losing to Grand Canyon University in their first game of the tournament.

Since the end of the 2023 season, the team has signed 10 new players.

The team has also been playing spring games in preparation for the upcoming season.

I predict that under the leadership of head coach Lexi Brown, the team will thrive this season. The 2024 season will be the second season under Brown’s leadership. Combined with the talent the new additions will bring, this team is more than capable of big things this upcoming season.

Men’s Soccer

The men’s soccer team ended their 2023 season with a 9-9 overall record. The team ranked third in the WAC conference.

The team went on to win against San Jose State University in the WAC quarterfinal but lost to California Baptist University in the semifinal.

The preseason coaches poll in 2023 had ranked Utah Tech University to finish last in the WAC conference.

If last season has anything to say about the team, it’s that they should not be underestimated. The bar is now set high for the team.

The 2024-2025 season will be Utah Tech’s first season being eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play upon completion of its four-year reclassification process. Let’s see some Division I level playing this season. Students at Utah Tech are Trailblazers, meaning they set themselves apart from others in great ways. Utah Tech sports teams are made up of those Trailblazers.

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OPINION | SUU’s lockdown was a reminder to enhance campus safety procedures

by Madisyn BishopPosted on

Southern Utah University went on lockdown last Thursday due to an active shooter threat. SUU was in lockdown for three hours, which got me thinking about safety on our campus.

There are many current safety procedures in place to keep our campus safe, but these procedures need to be updated often, and many students don’t know where to find them.

While our campus has not had any recent threats, I still worry that something may happen on campus. I also fear a situation where I wouldn’t know what to do if something did happen.

SUU’s lockdown scared a lot of students, including myself. The whole morning, my Instagram page was covered in posts updating what was happening at SUU.

While I have full trust in our campus police, I feel like there’s still a lot of work to do to keep students safe.

Wes LiCalzi, Utah Tech’s interim chief of police, has been devoted to maintaining a safe campus for students. Recently, they set up a safe place for students to buy and sell things online.

“If you’re meeting someone you aren’t sure of, I want this to be a place where students can come and park or come in the lobby and meet them,” LiCalzi said. “Everyone’s safety is paramount in my mind.”

This is a really big step to ensure students stay safe, and I hope more things like this keep coming.

The meeting spot was initially set up so that students wouldn’t have to give somebody their address if they bought something from Facebook Marketplace or even meet somebody they met online for a date. This way, students can stay near the officers on campus and meet where multiple cameras can record.

Another change that should be made is an active shooter drill. We have an emergency plan for every type of emergency, including a map; however, the map is really hard to read and needs an update.

The one place that I don’t necessarily feel safe, however, is in the Holland building. It’s not because it’s an unsafe building, but because every room is made of glass. I constantly wonder what would happen if we were in a lockdown.

Recently, high schools around St. George have had quite a few active shooter threats similar to SUU’s.

Snow Canyon High School had quite a few active shooter threats during the fall semester, and a student was arrested recently for calling in the hoaxes.

Hurricane High School had an active shooter threat April 1 serious enough that multiple police departments responded, including UTPD. It seems like these threats have become a trend in our community, making me fear that our school could be next.

Because of these threats, LiCalzi said he hopes to create more safety drills for students in the event of an active shooter.

I feel safe on campus knowing that the police department is dedicated to our safety and is constantly changing and learning new ways to stay safe.

Staying vigilant and prepared for an emergency can keep students safe. LiCalzi said even small incidents should be reported because you never know if it’s related to a bigger issue.

Another way to keep campus safe is through communication. Currently, the only way to contact UTPD officers is through dispatch, and many students don’t feel comfortable with that.

”I want people to feel like this is a home, not a castle,” LiCalzi said. “If they feel like something is weird, even if there isn’t necessarily a reason or if they just need somebody to walk them to their car, I want them to feel like they can call us.”

LiCalzi said he is currently working on a messaging service that may connect to the myUT app. He also hopes that this could be a way for students to easily message and get an officer to them faster in non-emergencies.

This is a great addition to safety on campus. It could allow students to feel more comfortable reaching out to the police, and having it right on our phones would make it much easier to stay safe.

The current changes to campus safety are a safe meeting place and a messaging service. LiCalzi said he has more ideas in the works, and I’m really curious to see what those will be.

With these changes, students including myself, could feel a little safer on campus knowing that there are multiple actions in place to prevent lockdowns that schools around us have had.

Aside from these, I do feel safe on campus. I feel confident that the police department will continue to make changes that keep us safe.

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