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

Month: January 2025

HB 265—potential budget cuts, impact on Utah Tech

by Alyssa BaylesPosted on

With the fear of an estimated 10% budget cut, students, faculty and staff gathered in the Gardner Student Center Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. to discuss the potential effects this could have on Utah Tech University.

The Institute of Politics and Public Affairs hosted the event to create conversation about the upcoming bills proposed for the 2025 Utah State Legislature that affect higher education. With the goal of informing the audience, a discussion was held amongst a panel of speakers. Led by moderator Vince Brown, director of the Institute of Politics and Public Affairs, the panel included:

  • Stephen Lee, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Julie Chew, Faculty Senate president
  • Geoff Allen, assistant professor of political science
  • Bella Estes, student body president
  • Brad Ashay, president of the American Federation of Teachers of Utah

Brown said the panel was selected to give diverse thoughts and opinions regarding the upcoming bills, specifically HB 265, and the effects they could have.

“There is a lot of concern amongst the faculty, staff and students about what is going to happen in the legislature this year in terms of bills coming down that affect higher education, including possible cuts to funding,” Brown said. “At the IOP, our job is just simply to try to provide as much information as we can, and in this case, to allay concerns or to make people aware so that they’re active and involved.”

The Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment Bill, HB 265, is sponsored by Republican Representative Karen Peterson and is discussed in this year’s legislative. The legislature is in the process of removing $60 million from institutions statewide to be placed in a reinvestment fund, and Utah Tech’s estimated portion would be around $2.5 million.

Thus, the bill will “require each degree-granting institution to create a strategic reinvestment plan to reallocate funding from certain programs and divisions of the institution to certain programs and divisions that merit additional investment.”

The effective date for the bill is May 7, 2025 if passed, with universities having three years to implement the investment plan.

For many in attendance, the event was a way to become more informed about the potential effects on the university in the future. Kyle Killebrew, instructor of English, attended the event to learn more about the upcoming bills that could affect universities in Utah, specifically information about reallocation and budget cuts.

“Theoretically, if some of the proposed reallocations end up going through, it could negatively impact some of the important programs here at Utah Tech, especially if anything goes through that impacts faculty lines,” Killebrew said.

Similarly, Shauna Wight, assistant professor of English, said she is concerned about the impacts the bills could have on the students’ offerings, like the courses they can take or are required to take.

Daniel Klingler, a junior English major from South Jordan, was among the students who attended the event. Klinger said they attended to learn more about how the bills would potentially affect the university, fellow students and themself. However, a big concern of Klinger’s is the effect these bills could have on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences department.

“I just don’t see them [CHASS] getting as much funding, or they’re going to get downsized to such a degree we’ll lose a lot of degree programs, things like my degree, creative writing,” Klinger said.

With these potential cuts to certain programs, Klinger is concerned about the skills students will lose by not having these classes. He said these programs encourage people to create cultural impact.

“If we lose the ability to learn these skills to create change, then humanity stalls,” Klinger said. “People aren’t going to be able to fight for what they believe in if they don’t have the words, language or understanding to do so.”

Dean Lee discussed amongst the panel the importance of CHASS and the skills it can help students develop. Some of the skills mentioned in the discussion were critical thinking, communication and innovation. He said it’s important to be able to look at issues from multiple perspectives and challenge ourselves environmentally, which ultimately prepares you for life after college.

Lee said, “It is that we’re preparing you for life-ready and citizen-ready; that you are indeed a contributor to society and an informed citizen because that’s where your liberal arts or humanities and social science training will come to bear every day.”

An additional discussion that arose was the potential cutback on the credits required for general education. Part of this would mean that students could get a degree in three years instead of four. With a shorter time at the university, it would be a cutback on general education and elective classes. Chew discussed with the panel how these classes help make a more rounded individual.

“I think you learn grit and develop resiliency through taking classes that make you critically think, make you collaborate, make you examine values and beliefs and how they fit in with that, and develop an ethically principled adult who works in the world effectively,” Chew said.

The Utah State Legislature session begins on Jan. 21 and will go until March 7. If interested in taking action, Utah Tech Day on the Hill is Jan. 29, which is an opportunity for anyone to voice concerns at the Utah State Capitol. Moreover, if you want your voice to be heard, you can also email Governor Spencer Cox regarding concerns about the bills.

“It starts here, but it doesn’t end with us,” Klinger said. “They’re going to push these studies out without realizing the impact if we don’t stand up and fight back.”

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Home court energy fuels Trailblazers’ conference victory

by Rylee HjorthPosted on

Bright lights, loud music and an electric, energetic buzz filled the Burns Arena Jan. 16 as fans gathered to watch the Utah Tech University women’s basketball team take on the Redhawks from Seattle University.

The Trailblazers were on the hunt for their first win of 2025 and their first conference win after coming off of a seven-game losing streak, which began with an away loss to the Rice University Owls Dec. 4.

However, it seems that there is no place like home as they defended the Burns with an 80-70 win, which included an impressive 27 points scored in the first quarter.

The team was backed by the Stampede student section, the band, the cheer team and Utah Tech’s very own Blaze dance team. The smell of popcorn from the concession stand permeated the air as the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers to welcome the starting five from each team onto the floor. 

“I just love it, honestly,” Allison Park, a junior marketing major from Bluffdale, said when asked about the atmosphere in the arena. “I think one of my favorite parts of the Burns is the band. They always bring such high energy… and the Burns Arena in general is just so iconic.”

Park also serves as the social media manager for Stampede, and she plays a role in promoting the games on the Stampede’s social media pages. 

Brooklin Cattoor, a senior accounting major from Douglas, Wyoming, said she enjoys coming to the games because it’s an easy, free activity for her and other students. 

“I think [the arena] can be pretty electric depending on the amount of people that are there,” Cattoor said. “The announcers do a great job of keeping the energy high and the crowd gets really involved, especially in tight games.”

This game was tight for a moment, but the Trailblazers were able to hold off the Redhawks to secure the win. Freshman guard, Ellie Taylor, a freshman elementary education major from West Jordan, put up 18 points, nine rebounds and six steals, and Emily Isaacson, a master’s student in recreation and sports management from Perry, scored her 1,000th career point in the third quarter.

Another key player in the rotation is Aaliyah Ibarra, a junior psychology major from Las Vegas. She is a junior college transfer who played her first two years of college basketball for the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.

“The level is definitely way more competitive,” Ibarra said when asked about the differences between Division I and Juco. “[Division] I has definitely taught me patience on and off the court.”

Ibarra tallied three 3-pointers in the team’s win, and she had a slightly different perspective on being able to play in the Burns. She said it was beneficial to the team to be practicing on the same court that they play games in, and that the team’s focus on energy helped them on game day. 

“Game day prep for us is all about energy and having fun,” Ibarra said. “I think it’s really easy to get caught up and worried about it, but when we have fun and we’re just, you know, doing what we know how to do… everything just works out for us and energy is really big for us.”

The team is in the thick of conference play, and the trek to the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Las Vegas is in full swing. The remaining schedule can be found here.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

OPINION | Why St. George expansions are a game changer for community

by Karston MinerPosted on

I have lived in St. George all my life, but it wasn’t until I got my driver’s license that I started noticing how much this city has grown over the last couple of years. As more and more people come to St. George, it is important that the city grows to support the increase in popularity.

As I started driving, I started using landmarks to navigate around town, and as I tried to communicate directions, I realized that the number of landmarks I was seeing had been increasing. One example is the new Panera that is being built by the Green Springs area.

Over the weekend, I drove out to check the new Black Desert Resort in Ivins. I am never on that side of town, so I haven’t seen all of the construction over there. It’s crazy how much construction there is right now. It takes up a large chunk of the area. What used to be a field of lava rock is now multiple hotel buildings, a clubhouse and a golf course. All of the buildings are huge, with the clubhouse having beautiful decorations on the exterior.

Even with all the construction, Ivins is still the prettiest area around. The resort consists of a 19-hole golf course as well as a resort visitors can stay at. As a golfer myself, I am excited for the course. It quickly became a bucket list item for me.

The combination of the lava rock, the classic golf scenery that I grew up with, and the Ivins’ red rock creates a breathtaking atmosphere. If I were to describe my happy place, this would be what I saw that night. 

I am excited for the future growth in this city. As I have started driving, I have come to get to know the area around me, and when it changes I am not prepared for it. One example is the new merge lane as you pass The Boilers Park in Washington. The first time, I was driving normally in the right lane, when a car came zooming past me from my right. It scared me. I’m now used to the merge being there, and I can prepare for the possibility of a car trying to pass me.

I have learned to appreciate things like good parking lots. A good parking lot to me is one that has plenty of room to get in and out of. I get stressed out when I don’t have enough room to back out and make the turn to leave. I am the type of person that will park in a different, more manageable parking lot and walk over to where I am going.

So, I have great appreciation for when I don’t have to worry about getting out of the parking lot I trapped myself in. There will always be an adjustment period, but I will eventually get used to the changes and plan accordingly.

Since I have lived here my whole life, there are certain things that have been here the entire time, that have recently been changed. For example, the traffic light that has been added by my house. I will never get used to it being there.

Despite this, I am grateful for the plans coming in the future. I have come to appreciate adjustments to various roads to make them bigger and more accessible, after the construction is done, of course. One example of this is the changes made to I-15 with the added lane and new access points from exit 12 to Main Street.

I am hyped for the upcoming businesses. We are getting another Costco and Recreational Equipment, Inc. I always dream about being more active and when the dream comes alive, I will check the store out.

Another upcoming business is Hobby Lobby for when I’m feeling crafty, which admittedly doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it hits hard.

The growth makes me inspired to go out and explore these places, and I welcome new additions to the town I grew up in.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

How St. George thrift stores are making a difference for local communities

by Karston MinerPosted on

Thrifting is a big part of St. George’s culture because it allows people to give back to their community. By donating to thrift shops it helps reduce waste, and there are plenty of causes donors can support.

Some examples of the different causes donors can support include covering medical expenses for animals in a shelter, helping the homeless find housing and helping women during unexpected pregnancies.

Here are five local thrift stores that all support different causes.

Switchpoint

Switchpoint is a nonprofit organization, but Switchpoint is more than just a thrift store. They have a boutique, a coffee shop and a place called The Point, which is apartments for those in need.

One thing that makes Switchpoint unique is that all of the funds that the thrift store earns go toward helping the Switchpoint homeless shelter, in addition to providing various items at affordable prices.

Drew, a volunteer at Switchpoint, said, “If you walk into any thrift store, you will find that there is more in there than any one person or group of people can even have, so I think whoever wants to thrift should be able to thrift.”

Thrift stores have plenty to offer, all at a cheaper price than other stores. They offer a wide variety of goods from clothes, to home decor, to old electronics.

Indy Clover

Indy Clover takes a different approach to thrifting. At Indy Clover, the person donating is more involved in the process. The donor can set the prices for their items and book a booth for them to be sold. When the clothes sell, the donor receives two-thirds of what it is sold for. This is a great way to reduce waste and even make some money while doing it.

The first thing that pops out to customers as they walk in is how colorful the store is. All of the walls are bright pink and orange. It makes the store stand out among others as Indy Clover focuses more on fashion compared to others on the list.

The Hope Chest

The Hope Chest is a nonprofit organization that supports women with unexpected pregnancies through the Well Pregnancy Resource Center.

Thrifting allows people to give back to their community by supporting different causes. Shopping at the Hope Chest helps support women during a difficult time.

Shellie Deveaeu, a manager at The Hope Chest, said: “People should thrift, especially for a nonprofit, because if you love to just have fun buying stuff, this is a double whammy. You get your treasure that you found, and it supports local women with an unexpected pregnancy.” 

Deseret Industries

Deseret Industries is a nonprofit organization that is owned and operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All of the money earned from donations goes to funding their job training program.

Their job readiness program helps people prepare to go into the workforce, removes employment barriers, explores career options and even helps with the job search process. 

PAWS Thrift Store

PAWS stands for Providing Animals With Support. They are a nonprofit organization that supports the rescue of stray cats and dogs.

The funds from the thrift store go toward getting food and medical services to animals in the PAWS adoption center. PAWS saves animals that are scheduled to be euthanized at other shelters due to lack of space. They also help animals find homes through the adoption center.

Another thing they do is hold events that allow for a chance to meet the animals in fun ways. Last year, they offered a kitten and a puppy bowl, where the kittens and puppies would compete in a miniature game of football.

They also offered a PAWS paint night, where people could come paint with animals for a night. All of the money from the events goes to helping the animals, and it is also a great opportunity to meet and adopt an animal.

Lynn Burger, the executive director at PAWS, said: “One reason to thrift is to save money. You can get very nice items for cheaper prices. The other is… to recycle. They want to reuse things rather than buy new. It’s for the environment and also if the thrift store has a mission they want to support.”

Thrift shops allow for opportunities to help out the community in different ways. They provide essential items to people who need them at an affordable price. Thrifting is a great way to obtain fun, unique items for your collection, all while helping out people or animals who need it the most.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Lawsuit against Utah Tech results in faculty resolution, update on presidential search process

by Madisyn BishopPosted on

When the lawsuit against Utah Tech University administrators was released to the public, students, faculty and staff experienced a multiplicity of events.

This 42-page lawsuit named 13 administrative faculty and staff, as well as the Utah Board of Higher Education, the Utah System of Higher Education, Utah Tech University and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

This lawsuit was a result of repeated discriminatory, harassing behavior that three Utah Tech employees faced. These employees were:

  • Rebecca “Becky” Broadbent, general counsel
  • Jared Rasband, senior associate general counsel
  • Hazel Sainsbury, director of equity compliance and Title IX coordinator

This lawsuit shed light on what was going on inside Utah Tech. A court date has yet to be released to the public, even after the 2024 semester ended.

However, many things have changed around campus since the release of this lawsuit. First, quickly after the lawsuit was released, the Utah Tech Faculty Senate proposed a resolution to faculty members regarding administration.

The proposed resolution included a vote of no confidence in administration with executive duties in leadership positions which included:

  • Interim president Courtney White
  • Provost Micheal Lacourse
  • Del Beatty, vice president of student affairs
  • Jordon Sharp, vice president of marketing and communication
  • Henrie Walton, assistant to the president for government and community relations and interim chief of staff
  • Travis Rosenberg, executive director of human resources

A section of this proposed resolution states:

Screenshot of a section of the resolution published in The Salt Lake Tribune Nov. 24, 2024.

The resolution continues, saying the faculty senate will meet with the general faculty Nov. 20, 2024 to recall for the following actions: reviewing the allegations against the university and ensuring accountability, strengthening protections for whistleblowers, publicly sharing and detailing a plan addressing a recommitment to fostering a respected workplace culture, and acknowledging the apology issued by Courtney White to faculty and staff.

Robert Hall, assistant professor of communication and faculty senator for the communication department, said: “We didn’t just do this on behalf of faculty; we did take into consideration the student’s concerns. After we saw the news piece from the Sun News, I reached out to our senate president, president-elect and other members and said, ‘Our students are calling this out, we cannot be quiet.'”

After voting in favor of the resolution, the faculty senate met with Geoffrey Landward, Utah System of Higher Education chancellor, to express their concerns and aspirations for a new president.

Hall said it was a good opportunity to meet and discuss their concerns with him and they have been meeting regularly with the board of trustees since their initial meeting.

The Faculty Senate also hoped to bridge the gaps between administrators, students, faculty and staff. Hall said they are trying to figure out how to collaborate and be in the same lane rather than having faculty and students in one lane and administration in the other. The board of trustees has been working with the faculty senate to resolve this.

The second change occurred during the 2024 winter break, Dec. 24, when the Utah Board of Higher Education emailed the campus community to announce a new presidential search committee.

Student body president, Bella Estes, a senior communication major from Scottsdale, Arizona, said she was surprised they were establishing a new search committee.

In this email, UBHE announced that it had established a 10 member search committee to expedite the search for a new president.

Furthermore, the committee included Utah Tech and Utah Board of Higher Education trustees faculty, staff, students, alumni, administration and the local community, all of which will decide who the new president is.

These members were:

  • Danny Ipson, search committee co-chair and Utah Board of Higher Education member
  • Deven Macdonald, search committee co-chair and Utah Tech board of trustees member
  • Wendi Bulkley, Utah Tech director of community relations and athletic development officer
  • Jennifer Ciaccio, Utah Tech Faculty Senate president-elect and biology professor
  • Jon Cox, UBHE member
  • Bella Estes, Utah Tech student body president
  • Dan Nielson, alumni, Utah Tech administrator, Coral Desert Surgery Center administrator
  • Rich Nye, Utah governor’s senior adviser of education
  • Tasha Toy, assistant vice president and chief compliance officer at Utah Tech
  • John Willis, St. George city manager

In the email, the UBHE stated they understood the importance of this transition and, “want to reassure you that every effort is being made to select a president who will lead by example, elevate UT’s mission of innovation, strengthen the campus community, and further advance hands-on, student-focused learning.”

Moreover, on Jan. 9, UBHE held a Committee of the Whole meeting, during which they discussed the reasoning behind creating a new committee.

Utah System of Higher Education board member, Javier Chavez Jr., said they were determined to reconstitute a new committee to have a fresh perspective and fresh start.

Chavez said: “The search committee is proceeding on an expedited basis with the goal to appoint a new president by early March. That area of the state, that community, that university requires the care and attention for a president; therefore, the decision has been made to expedite the search. I want to reiterate by no less, does that mean that it’s a hurried search.”

With the formation of the new committee, a expedited timeline was also created, which proposed a new president by March 2025. However, the committee was not the only thing that changed with the presidential search. The presidential position details and requirements were updated when the search was announced.

The new, largest change made was lowering the minimum education requirement for prospective presidents. Now, applicants are no longer required to hold a doctorate and can maintain a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

“There are things we are still not happy with,” Hall said. “One thing we are very displeased about is that they changed the qualifications.”

While a graduate degree is still preferred, the minimum qualification could change the application pool significantly, creating the possibility that most of the faculty would be more educated than the president.

Estes said the qualification changed to broaden the overall scope. She said the committee would still do its due diligence and ensure the new president has leadership experience and upholds the university’s values.

“I would anticipate some people being frustrated, but I’m not quite sure because we wouldn’t know who that applicant is yet, so I can’t speak on it,” Estes said.

Once the committee narrows down to three to five finalist candidates, they will come to Utah Tech to meet with different stakeholders. Estes said these stakeholders represent different perspectives on campus and around the community.

“Those groups in those stakeholder groups get to share their feedback on those three to five candidates,” Estes said.

As the student representative on the search committee, Estes was advised to pick 10-12 students to represent the student body.

“I wanted to pick students who represent different areas, so I picked my UTSA executive council because they oversee different branches,” Estes said. “Then I chose student groups who oversee a large number of students in different branches.”

She also picked a student representative from the Peer Coach program who works with first-year students, a representative from the Ambassador Program who works with prospective students, and a representative from the Alumni Ambassadors. Estes said once the stakeholders met, USHE would pick a finalist who may come speak at the university.

“I appreciate everyone’s patience on this. This has been a very sensitive challenging topic,” Chavez said. “The system [of higher education’s] goal is that the people of Utah win, the students win.”

The university has experienced a myriad of changes over a short period of time. If students, faculty and staff have concerns about the presidential search, they are encouraged to provide anonymous feedback through the USHE form listed on the presidential search website.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Hey batter batter: Utah Tech softball gearing up for another season

by Rylee HjorthPosted on

It’s sluggin’ time again in St. George, and the Utah Tech University softball team is ready to take the field for the 2025 season. Last year, the Trailblazers finished fifth in the Western Athletic Conference and are coming off of a 19-31 overall record in 2024.

Head Coach Randy Simkins is feeling confident about the team’s chances for success. A few new faces were brought to the team in the offseason, and he’s excited to see what everyone will be able to do. 

“I think we’re better defensively and we’re definitely going to be a better hitting team,” Simkins said. “Pitching is still a little unproven because we’ve got four new pitchers… but they all have a tremendous upside to be very good pitchers.”

The team has some formidable matchups to keep an eye out for, including a University of California, Los Angeles team that made an appearance in the 2024 Women’s College World Series, a Brigham Young University team coming out of the loaded Big 12, and Grand Canyon University, the first place conference foe who went 50-13 this past season. 

“We try not to worry about the name on the front of their shirt,” Simkins said. “We try to take care of what we want to do offensively and defensively.” 

Freshman infielder Jorja Crider, a freshman criminal justice major from Eagle, Idaho, said, “I think it’s exciting because we’re able to come in as the underdog and just be able to perform without any pressure, no worries about having a big loss or anything, so that’s nice.” 

Crider is one of the many new faces that Simkins has brought to his team in his 17th year at the helm. He said that they have brought great energy to the team to help prepare for this upcoming season. 

“Everything is super exciting,” Crider said. “We all play super well together and we’re excited to see how the season is about to go. We all just love playing with each other and it brings good energy.”

Senior infielder Ellie Evans, a senior English major from Sammamish, Washington, is pumped about the season as well, and she is playing a crucial role on the team as one of its on-field leaders. She said the most important thing to her as a leader was to look out for her teammates and try to stay healthy so she could be there for her team on the field. 

This season will be the first year that the Trailblazers will be eligible for postseason play since transitioning to Division I, as per NCAA rules. The team is aiming for a chance to play in the Women’s College World Series, the most prestigious championship in college softball. Coach Simkins said that this is only one of the teams’ goals this year.

“Our goal is to make great young ladies,” Simkins said. “Our focus when we recruit is a good person first, good student second and good athlete last. We want to send them out of here as amazing young ladies who are going to rule the world.” 

The team will play in a handful of tournaments beginning in Los Angeles and ending in Honolulu. Their first home game at Karl Brooks Field will be Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. Their schedule can be viewed here.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

OPINION | Expanded College Football Playoff brings added parity, drama but has room to grow

by Curtis KeddingtonPosted on

As college football transitioned to a 12-team playoff, it has provided increased opportunities for all schools but also still has room for improvement in terms of seeding.

In 2014, NCAA college football began utilizing a four-team playoff to determine the national champion. While the four-team playoff was successful, it also left many other deserving teams out of it as fans debated who was snubbed year after year.

In an attempt to overcome these yearly debates, the playoffs expanded to 12 teams in an effort to give teams the opportunity to win a national championship. 

Nebraska University head coach Matt Rhule described the College Football Playoff as being the “NFL of college football.”

The expansion to teams has largely been positive as it gives teams from smaller conferences, such as Boise State University in the Mountain West Conference, the chance to earn their way in.

Boise State, led by Heisman trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, went 12-2 before losing to Penn State University. Despite their loss to Penn State, Boise State was able to gain more notoriety in part due to the increased parity that the 12-team playoff encourages between conferences. 

While the expanded playoff does provide smaller teams the opportunity to gain recognition on a larger scale, the playoff can still be improved.

This year, the four highest-ranked conference champions earned a first round bye. Oregon University, Georgia University, Boise State and Arizona State University were all given first round byes. In the future, the first round byes should instead be given to the four highest ranked teams to allow for a more balanced field. 

This year’s playoff has seen the four highest seeds all lose their quarterfinal games, and many of the games overall have been one sided. Allowing the four highest ranked teams to have first round byes would not only provide a more balanced field, but would also give viewers better matchups as the tournament progresses. 

In the current evolution of the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame and Ohio State University both punched their tickets to the national championship Jan. 10 as Notre Dame beat Penn State 27-24 and Ohio State beat Texas University 28-14. 

Notre Dame relied on a late interception by defensive back Christian Gray on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar that resulted in a game winning field goal by Mitch Jeter to punch the Fighting Irish’s ticket to the national championship.

“Just catch the ball. Just catch the ball,” Gray said about his interception. “That was going through my mind, and I knew I was going to make a play.”

Another key defensive play helped settle the latter semifinal game. As Texas drove down the field and trailed by a touchdown, Ohio State was in need of a critical stop to keep their season alive. As Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers dropped back to pass on fourth and goal, Ohio State knocked the ball loose before returning the fumble 83 yards to put the game on ice for the Buckeyes. 

“I saw the ball pop out right to me after I tackled him,” Sawyer said. “I was just thinking, I’ve got to stay on my feet because I almost blacked out when I scooped it and saw a bunch of green grass ahead of me.”

While the expanded College Football Playoff is not without its flaws, it still has provided for increased parity among the conferences and has raised the stakes throughout the season.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

OPINION | Golden Globe winners are deserving—even if they weren’t your picks

by Carly MaxfieldPosted on

Awards season is officially here, and to kick off the year, the 82nd Golden Globes took place Jan. 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. A huge conversation starter during this season revolves around snubbing. These conversations are pointless and overshadow the deserving winners.

Public perception of the show seemed to improve drastically this year over last year’s, especially leaning in favor of this year’s host Nikki Glaser over last year’s Jo Koy. 

Koy was spoken out against all over social media in 2024 after his opening monologue included some unfunny and outright offensive jokes at the expense of some nominees like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”

Nikki Glaser’s monologue, on the other hand, included jokes about Ozempic and Glen Powell that were far more outstanding than Koy’s disaster last year.

While the public perception of this year’s Globes had a far more positive spin than last year’s, many audience members felt that there were a few snubs. One of the biggest complaints audiences had—and the only one I have—this year had to do with the Best Original Song category.

Twitter users were outraged that “El Mal” from the motion picture “Emelia Perez” won over other entries like “Compress / Repress” from “Challengers,” or from other films that weren’t even nominated, like any of the songs from “Wicked.” 

I can see in some circumstances how it would make more sense for other films to win over what is actually chosen to be the winner. Using this year as an example, the Best Original Song winner, “El Mal,” was not a good song.

There were others on the nomination list that deserved the award. “Compress / Repress,” was a much better song, that not only represented themes of the film, but also reflected where pop culture was at the time. It’s electronic sound mirrored albums that were popular last summer like Charli XCX’s “Brat.”

Snubs become a very contentious point of conversation around awards season. Fans of actors or films often feel cheated on behalf of their favorites when they don’t win in their nominated category. The conversations around snubbing can be pointless and blinded by biases. It’s hard to be objective when something you love is nominated.

However, in a different example, some Twitter users felt that Timothée Chalamet deserved the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture Drama over Adrien Brody. This is not a fair assessment, even though I liked Chalamet’s nominated performance in “A Complete Unknown.”

Both performers are dedicated to the roles that they played. Chalamet spent years studying Bob Dylan and this really shines through in his performance. But, Brody always does a phenomenal job when it comes to portraying subtle character traits, and he deserved the Globe for this performance.

Though there was some talk of snubbing, this year had some very deserving winners. Kiernan Culkin was stellar in his supporting role in “A Real Pain” and has been showing his chops as a great actor in the years leading up to this. 

Sebastian Stan, who received two nominations and won for his role as Donald Trump in “The Apprentice,” also had an exceptional year. He was able to capture Trump in acute detail, without it feeling like he was doing an “SNL” style impression of him.

Some of the best moments from the Globes happened outside of the actual ceremony. Demi Moore ignored Kylie Jenner the entire time she was standing right next to her, Kathy Bates ripped up an acceptance speech after it was announced that she did not win the Globe, and some jokes that Nikki Glaser had to cut at the last minute.

The Globes can sometimes, not in an official capacity, be used as an indicator for the far more prestigious Oscars that happen later in the year. Winners like “The Brutalist” from director Brady Corbet, and “Challengers” from Luca Guadagnino, both have a lot of hype from audiences and critics alike. You should keep an eye out for both when Oscar season rolls around, but don’t let unnecessary talk of snubbing distract you from enjoying the films that do win awards. 

Conversations around snubbing can be pointless and blinded by biases toward a film that may not be as deserving of an award, as the film that won. Just because an actor you really like is in the film, or it may be one of your favorite directors, does not mean that the film deserves to win.

Hopefully, we can look forward to more entertaining hosts like Nikki Glaser, more deserving nominations and wins and less snub talk next Golden Globes.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Biannual Club Rush encourages students to get involved on campus

by Rylee HjorthPosted on

From K-pop to accounting, chess to Taylor Swift, there is something for everyone on the campus of Utah Tech University. At the beginning of each semester, clubs all across campus get the opportunity to showcase what they are about and try to draw in new members at the biannual Club Rush.

At 9 a.m. on Jan. 15, the sidewalks along the Gardner Student Center, also known as the diagonal, were buzzing with high energy and excitement as the event began. A handful of tables were playing music and many more were decorated with bright colors and flags, making the atmosphere burst with life and excitement.

Mike Nelson, director for student belonging, was present to ensure all was running smoothly.

“The big goal for me personally is to give the students an opportunity to connect and find their people… we want to be able to connect them with the interests that they have,” Nelson said.

In total, 75 clubs were present at the event, a handful of which included Birds Aren’t Real, the Latter-day Saint Student Association, the Utah Tech Pasefika Student Union and the ASL Club. 

Birds Aren’t Real president, Nick Fajardo, a senior history education major from St. George, was rallying his troops at the event. The group focuses on community events that center on bonding and providing a fun space for everyone to come and meet new people.

They hold karaoke and PowerPoint nights and spend the majority of their time jokingly plotting against the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds. Their club name is also their mantra.

“We are taking the gaslighting to a whole new level, especially when it comes to SUU men’s basketball…” Fajardo said. “We’re gonna have a lot of signs and posters.”

Another group on campus that focuses on community events is the Latter-day Saint Student Association. They were serving hot chocolate to combat the icy cold weather.

President Alex Johnson, a sophomore hotel and resort management major from Noblesville, Indiana, said their activities are focused on inclusion.

“We like to help others kind of feel included on campus,” Johnson said. “We do a lot of collaboration with other clubs and try to build service opportunities. We do lots of food based activities as well… Anyone who wants fast friends, definitely come over to this club.”

The Pasefika Student Union had one of the most lively booths at the event, with their table decorated with various Polynesian flags and music to attract passers-by.

“We are doing a showcase [this semester], where every PSU club in all the colleges in Utah come together and we all dance,” said social media manager Kayla Talauega, a freshman computer science major from Draper. “I think the big overarching [event] is the Poly games that we’re doing.”

The ASL Club was present as well, and their focus is teaching sign language to those who want to learn.

“We love new people,” said money manager Olivia Evans, a junior ASL and English interpreting major from Salt Lake City. “Even if you don’t know how to sign, just come on over.”

The club recently elected a new president, and they are most excited to see all the new faces who will come to their club next semester.   

Each club expressed similar advice for anyone who was unsure about joining a club, and that was to just show up and go for it.

“I think you should just go do it, like just show up,” Fajardo said. “That’s like 90% of the battle. Just come get our food, and like, at least it’ll make us happy and you happy.”

Happiness was definitely in the air at this semester’s club rush, and each group was excited for the new semester and the fun to come. There are over 100 clubs on campus, and if you didn’t get the chance to go, you can find each of them here. 

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY

Red Cross Association urges locals to donate blood—here’s how students can help

by Carly MaxfieldPosted on

The Red Cross Association of Utah is urging Utah locals to donate blood after a winter storm across the Midwest has forced cancellation for over 250 Red Cross blood drives. This has led to the loss of over 5,000 blood donations.

Disasters of this sort are common during this time of the year. Winter storms, alongside holiday and travel plans, always halt blood donation appointments during the winter months, but the Red Cross is constantly in need of blood.

“In January 2025 the American Red Cross declared a national emergency blood shortage due to the declining number of donations,” Bronsen Snyder, a freshman population health major from Blanding, said.

Snyder works part time as a paramedic and these shortages are having effects in real time. 

“Currently, less than 1% of ground ambulance agencies carry blood products, and as it stands, only 46-50% of ambulances carry blood products,” Snyder said.

Due to blood donation shortages, emergency services are not able to carry the ideal amount of blood they need in order to perform life saving procedures. This is one reason the Red Cross has called for more donation sign ups.

Other challenges include an uptick in illness in the winter months. Illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu may require some patients to receive blood donations. 

“Blood is vital in the treatment of many various instances [like] trauma patients, out-patient services for treating numerous ailments/illness, and replacement of blood lost in surgery,” Snyder said. 

Carla Weaver, director of medical services and health promotion at the Utah Tech Booth Wellness Center, said that not only can disasters interrupt blood donations, but also lessen the current supply of blood available. 

“Disaster can interrupt blood donation supplies and if there are injuries, it can drain the supply of what they have,” Weaver said.

Severe winter storms can limit blood supply for a number of reasons. There can be damage to centers, donors can be prevented from leaving their homes and forced to cancel donation appointments, or staffing can be short.

Kate Ball, a junior nursing major from Syracuse, said that there is an option on the Red Cross website where students can sign up to receive text messages. The organization will frequently host giveaways or other rewards to encourage blood donations.

Plasma donations are another vital part of blood donation. St. George has two BioLife locations where students can donate plasma and even make some income. 

Blood donations are a vital piece of essential health care. It is more important now than ever that students do their part and donate blood.

Students can aid in the Utah blood shortage by going to the American Red Cross donation center located in St. George. You can visit their website to schedule an appointment or call the center at 1-800-RED CROSS.

ALSO ON SUN NEWS DAILY