Month: January 2026

Utah Tech University’s Institute of Politics held a discussion and dialogue on Venezuela and foreign affairs in the Gardner Student Center building Jan. 27.

This event was the Institute of Politics’ first event this semester. The event consisted of three guests on the discussion panel.

The guests talked about the current conflict between Venezuela and the United States, and also the legal aspect that goes into foreign affairs. The IOP holds discussions and dialogue to engage in civilized discussions about political events, and for students to learn more about how to discuss political topics in a productive conversation.

The conflict

On Jan. 3, 2026, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, was arrested by United States forces. Maduro is facing charges of drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

The raid of the arrest left many Venezuelans and Cuban personnel dead.

There is a debate over whether the United States invaded Venezuela to arrest Maduro or if the arrest was justified.

Some argue the U.S. president doesn’t have the power to declare war, and the Constitution gives that power to Congress instead.

Others argue that the invasion wasn’t a deliberate war declaration.

The discussion

The guests for this event consisted of: Tim Anderson, Shadman Bashir and Geoff Allen.

Tim Anderson is a lawyer for the law firm Kirton McConkie. Anderson brought up the legal justification regarding the conflict of the arrest.

“There’s no posse rule outside of the United States,” Anderson said. “Meaning, the military can also be involved in law enforcement. If he had been in Hong Kong or Cairo, or [anywhere] else, they could have done the same thing.”

Anderson was interactive with the audience, asking the crowd to raise their hands if they had an interest in law, encouraging them to get involved with current issues.

“We are right now in a world that is prepositioning itself for world conflict on a larger scale,” Anderson said. “And if you don’t understand that, then you’re very naive.”

Shadman Bashir, executive director of the Office of International Programs on campus, brought a global perspective into the debate.

“International law is different,” Bashir said. “What that means is two countries, two regions, two international entities can meet and say, ‘Hey, this is an agreement, and this is how we’re going to respect each other’s regulations.'”

Geoff Allen is a history and political science professor on campus. Allen brought up the power the president has over foreign affairs and how legal documents outline responsibilities.

“U.S. law doesn’t clearly, under Article II, apply in non-U.S. territories,” Allen said. “That would be a recipe for government overreach in a way that I think most of us would find objectionable.”

Article II of the Constitution outlines the president’s roles, powers and responsibilities.

Student involvement

After the guests had their discussion, the floor was opened to people who attended the event to ask questions.

People who attended the event were encouraged to bring up topics that weren’t already discussed or ask the guests to go more in-depth.

The questions that were asked involved the effects of the economies, the alliances with other countries and how global populations would be affected.

The guest speakers answered each question with their own perspectives and knowledge.

“We are political scientists on how we deal with life,” Anderson said. “How we deal with our families, how we deal with our communities.”

Two years after the start of remodeling the America First Performing Arts Center, previously known as the Cox Performing Arts Center, the Utah Tech University community can expect to see a reopening in the 2026 fall semester.

The America First Performing Arts Center is in the final stages of renovation. The building, once completed, will have:

• An additional 10 thousand square feet of space
• A second floor rehearsal space and banquet hall
• Improved acoustics and new technology for enhanced performances
• Increased seating, including new layout with center aisles
• Bigger lobby space

The certification of occupancy of the building will be March 27, said Jon Gibb, director of facilities planning and construction. Gibb has been managing the remodel of the center. Departments will be able to move material into the center, allowing for performances to be in the fall.

Over the past two years, the Utah Tech art department has been performing in the Dolores Eccles Fine Arts Center. Once the remodel is complete, the different sections of the art department will be able to have more available space to perform again.

This will allow for more connection between faculty and staff, along with everything needed being in one place.

“It’s going to be a very elegant space that demands respect for the arts,” Gibb said.

Aside from the main added renovations, there will be added outdoor and indoor seating for before and after performances.

One main element that will enhance the center is improved acoustics and new technology.

Before the remodel, Jeff Jarvis, dean for the College of the Arts, said the auditorium felt “dead.” An acoustician was hired on-site to ensure that the space’s new acoustics would align with the performers and the audience. It has been enhanced to both electronic and acoustic instruments and sounds.

Jarvis explained that the newly added advancements are a space for students and performers to connect more with the audience. With the new additions, the performers will be more in tune with the sound of the art created.

“It’s warmer and richer, and it’s a whole different feeling,” Jarvis said.

The center will hold more than just student performances. Events like celebrity concerts, orchestras and other live performances will be held at the center. Jarvis said when the community comes to Utah Tech, they are supporting both the university and the culture that is built.

“Anytime you can get people who live here to come onto campus, you help [build] relationships,” Jarvis said.

Christy De La Cruz, a senior theater major from Las Vegas, has been attending Utah Tech since before the renovation. Though there have been challenges with every art section being in the Eccles for two years, she is excited to perform in the new center.

De La Cruz said: “I’m relieved in a sense that we have a space [to perform]. We are on campus and a part of something.”

Though there is no official reopening date for the America First Performing Arts Center, the Utah Tech community can anticipate performances to happen in the upcoming fall semester.

“Now you get a space that invites people. [This space] calls to them, ‘Come visit, come watch, come participate in the arts.’ That is what is going to draw people in.” Jarvis said.

Utah Tech University aims to remain transparent with students through the Utah System of Higher Education policy R516. With the policy put in place, students have the opportunity to know what student fee money is going toward.

R516 states, “Institutions must identify the specific purpose for which revenue generated from a general student fee will be used.” Student fees cannot be used for academic or educational purposes, as under the policy, universities are required to take from tuition for any reason that isn’t focused solely on students.

R516 requires institutions like Utah Tech to state the specific purpose behind the usage of general student fees.

Under the policy, institutions are able to request fees be used on student-approved facility construction, student-approved facility operation and student activities, programs and services. The policy also states that any changes in student fees must be posted to the university’s website.

Along with transparency, R516 states that student voices must be involved in student fee decisions. Utah Tech approaches this demand by hosting the Student Fee Advisory Board.

“There’s a process for selecting students for the fee board,” said Luke Kerouac, executive director of student engagement and leadership. “It’s the student body president and vice president of the student council. Then there’s students at large. But who decides that is essentially every fee program manager. If you receive a student fee, you’re a fee program manager.” 

The Student Fee Advisory Board decides whether student fees are increased, decreased or cut entirely. 

Kerouac explained that every spring semester, Utah Tech advertises a meeting mandated by the Utah System of Higher Education called Truth in Tuition.

The meeting includes an appearance from the administrator over tuition, with an explanation of what the plan is for distribution of tuition money, what it is funding and how it’s split up. 

During the Truth in Tuition meeting, the student body president or another member of the fee board will explain where student fees are being moved, any future plans and any changes to the current distribution of fees.

Kerouac said that events like these offer students opportunities to learn about student fee money and where it’s utilized.

“I just really want to encourage students to come [to Truth in Tuition],” said Shellsea Ramirez, Utah Tech Student Association student body president, and a senior individualized studies major from St. George. “If students ever have any feedback, obviously I want to hear some of that so I can make sure to advocate for students in the ways that I can.”

Ismael Medina, a sophomore business administration major from St. George, said: “I’m not entirely sure where the student fees go. I would assume fees for classes.”

Kerouac pointed to the tuition and fees page on the university website for more insight into where fees currently go.

“Go on to the tuition and fees website at the university, and you can see all of the different fees, and they have the names associated with them of what fees on our campus are used for,” Kerouac said.