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.
In December 2024, Lin’s Grocery Store donated $20,000 worth of products to Utah Tech University’s Blazer Food Pantry, located at the Browning Learning Center. Donations included non-perishable food and hygiene products.
Theassistant vice president and dean of students, Ali Threet, saw increasing costs for housing, food, transportation, tuition and fees.
In order to relieve economic stressors, Threet worked with the Student Resource Center to provide food for all students on campus through the Blazer Food Pantry.
Threet said: “We just know that hungry students—they are not going to be able to focus on school. They’re not going to be able to focus on the things that we want them to if they are just hungry all the time. So, we want to help with those basic needs.”
Lin’s was able to supply these needs, making it so that the Blazer Food Pantry is able to support more students for a longer period of time.
Dru Bottoms, director of the Student Resource Center, said the donation included—but was not limited to—high demand items such as spaghetti sauce, pasta and a pallet of hygiene products. Notably, the donation also included items that are not often attained through community or humanitarian aid, such as cereal and ramen noodles, which are highly preferred by students.
Lin’s Grocery Store has been in contact with Bottoms to assess products that are in demand, and will provide aid in those specific products. The donation is a part of a two-year partnership between Utah Tech and Lin’s.
“My understanding is they plan to continue this partnership forward as long as it is approved by their corporation to use the money within our community,” Bottoms said.
Recently renovated in 2024, the Blazer Food Pantry is now equipped with fridges that allows storage of perishable items and a larger containment space. These factors have made it more possible for students to receive a variety of food and has increased the awareness and accessibility of the Blazer Food Pantry.
This initiative relieves students of not being able to afford food or other essentials like hygiene products, allowing them to focus on their academic careers.
Since its renovation, the Blazer Food Pantry has also adopted an online ordering system, which allows students to order pantry items in the comfort of their own space. Employees then package ordered items into baskets, which allows for a short and seamless process when students arrive to pick up their orders.
Grace Haglund, a freshman general studies major from American Fork, who is also a student employee for the Blazer Food Pantry, said: “People would be surprised how many people use that resource and how many people take advantage of the food pantry. Sometimes, I think it is easy to think you are the only one or you are all alone, but so many people use it.”
The usage of the Blazer Food Pantry has increased since it’s renovation, which allowed for the food pantry to store and distribute perishable items along with non-perishables.
“January 2023 was when we first had an automated system to start reporting data. Last year, we had a 52% increase in the use of the pantry,” Bottoms said.
When referring to the recent donation from Lin’s, Threet said the donation is “imperative to our success,” as the Blazer Food Pantry does not receive legislative funds specifically designated for such purposes.
Threet said community funding is important and mentions ways in which the community has helped fund the Blazer Food Pantry, such as donations from faculty, staff and The Fire and Ice Gala.
Thus, the Blazer Food Pantry is an example of how students, faculty and the community have come together to bolster the success of students at Utah Tech.
To order items from the Blazer Food Pantry and learn more about other food resources on campus, please visit this link.
Keeping a successful club requires much effort from the leadership of the clubs as they plan activities, service projects and recruit new members.
“Club presidents, they’re passionate about what they do, and they’re putting in five to 10 hours a week because they love their club,” Mike Nelson, director of student belonging, said.
To recognize the work these presidents put into their club, a new club tier system has been created that divides the clubs into three tiers. Clubs that lie in the first tier receive priority on A-frames, spots for club rush and more funding. The presidents also receive a scholarship for their work on campus.
“We were like, ‘You know what? Let’s compensate them. Let’s award them a leadership scholarship,'” Nelson said. “Just because they don’t have an official title in a formal university leadership program like the ambassadors or alumni ambassadors or UTSA, doesn’t mean they’re not student leaders.”
Criteria to be a tier one club has to include four of the following:
10+ events per semester
50+ active members
80% inter-club council meeting attendance
Major campus event contributions
Two annual service projects
Effective activity tracking
The last two on the list are required to make sure the number in attendance is known, and the clubs are giving back to their community. Tier two does not include a scholarship, but they receive more benefits, such as priority on funds and promotion, than tier three.
The criteria of tier one ensures that a variety of clubs can earn a spot. They don’t necessarily need a large membership and campus presence to be considered for the tier.
“We wanted to make sure that even if it was a small club, you have just as much opportunity to be a tier one club as a club that has 150 members,” Nelson said.
The tiers are reevaluated every semester to give more students an opportunity to showcase their dedication to their club by earning their spot in tier one. This also is helpful for clubs that have activities primarily in the spring semester, such as the Black Student Union and Pasefika Student Union, whose heritage months are in the spring.
The clubs that were in tier one for fall semester are:
President of the Table Top club, Miranda Keller, a freshman biomedical sciences major from St. George, thinks the tier system is a great way to help students.
“I think it’s really nice how they want to support the clubs that put so much into the community, giving them more support and money to continue giving to the community and to the students,” Keller said.
The tier changes have already helped in increasing club presence on campus.
“Up until this semester, the largest number of clubs that we’d ever had chartered in a single semester was 17. This semester, we’re at 30,” Luke Kerouac, director of student involvement and leadership, said.
The tier system is meant to encourage students to be more engaged within their clubs and to reward the effort.
“So, essentially, the reason behind it is we’re trying to create more opportunities for more students,” Kerouac said. “We want more students to be involved. We want more clubs to have leadership opportunities and then reward those students or incentivize those students for the things they want to do.”
The system was new this semester and is still being adjusted and fixed as new clubs are created and clubs are changed.
Kerouac said he and the rest of his team want students involved in the process to provide their feedback, but there is no specific way to give feedback other than contacting those in charge of the system so they can work to better serve students.
This event was held in the Gardner Ballroom, where even though the doors didn’t open until 7:30 p.m., it didn’t stop the students from showing up early to secure their Let is Snow Somewhere Else crew neck.
Students were lined up at 3 p.m., student body president Bella Estes said.
Sydney Porter, a sophomore history major from Weber, said she was there at 5 p.m., and the line was almost out of the door.
UTSA created activities where students could sit down and make a wide variety of decorations and ornaments with friends and other students. An additional activity students could participate in was writing letters. These letters are being sent to senior homes to bring joy and the Christmas spirit into their lives.
With these activities, UTSA created a Christmas environment with Christmas songs, people full of Christmas spirit and delicious pancakes that left you wanting more. The pancakes were served with maple syrup and whipped cream. They ran out of pancakes halfway through the event.
“It’s like you’re a kid again,” Gabby Gonzales, a junior digital design major from Logan, said. “Making all the cute little ornaments I used to make in elementary school.”
Dimmed lights, a projected fireplace, paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, Christmas lights draped around the ballroom, a Christmas tree and candles on all the tables—these decorations set the merry mood, even though it is before Thanksgiving.
The atmosphere was like a chill Christmas, Porter said.
“I started planning for this event during the summer, although I didn’t start putting everything together until eight weeks out,” Journey Catlett, a junior marketing major from Wasilla, Alaska, and director of traditions in UTSA, said. “At four weeks out, I am planning the looks, purchasing items and begin working with our lovely marketing team on how I am wanting the event to be portrayed when being presented to the student. At about two weeks out, I begin finalizing with marketing on their design they create and any last requests.”
An event this size takes many hands, and there were multiple branches of UTSA that were responsible for planning and carrying out the event. The student life branch was responsible for the event. Academics were in charge of the pancakes. The service branch was in charge of distributing the letters to the seniors. The marketing team took care of promoting the event and the crew necks. Lastly, the volunteers helped with the different sections of the event.
Catlett said: “The hardest part about planning any event for me personally is figuring out how I want to budget certain things… How much money I want to put towards food, how much I want to put towards the decorations, the craft. So, figuring all that out was the hardest part, but I’m stoked about how it came together.”
To figure out a budget, Catlett converses with her adviser, and they figure out the number of students they hope to serve at the event. The last thing that goes into the budget is the decorations since they can be made and reused.
The event left students with happy memories, new friendships and gratitude that comes from serving other people.
Catlett said: “My favorite part is getting to see all the friends together and laughing and enjoying… It was really sweet to see how many people participated.”
The annual Jubilee of Trees kicked off its 41st year of being a St. George tradition for many families welcoming in the first leg of the holidays.
The event brings holiday cheer, dazzling decorations and beautiful trees for the public to see and enjoy while getting in the festive spirit. The event is held at the Dixie Convention Center and has Christmas trees that are up for auction to raise funds for this years cause—”A future where no cancer is untreatable.”
This cause area focuses on raising money for St. George Regional Hospital’s advanced cancer services.
“There is something for everyone, people of all ages, to be uplifted by the holiday spirit and to join with us and ensure that every cancer patient has access to services, the latest state-of-the-art therapies, and personalized, multidisciplinary approach to their care,” Loriana De Crescenzo, executive director at Intermountain Health Foundation, said.
The Jubilee of Trees showcased a beautiful array of large trees, mini trees and everything in between designed by local designers and businesses. Even Utah Tech University’s Fusion got in on the fun and decorated a bison themed tree.
The designers who are volunteers start planning their trees a year in advance, and register for their spot when registration opens July 1. This gives them a few months to begin forming an idea of what they want their tree to look like and time to start collecting the different ornaments and decorations for their trees.
“We have several designers that have come back to decorate trees. We even have a tree that the Future Farmers of America club at Desert Hills High School designed and donated,” Colin Searle, vice president of programmatic giving at Intermountain Health Foundation, said.
To reinforce how important Jubilee of Trees fundraising is to advance cancer services, they told the story of Autumn Rasmussen, who survived Ewing sarcoma, which is a type of bone cancer. Rasmussen, who endured months of chemotherapy, replacing her hip socket joint and pubic ramus bone and having a chunk of her femur removed, found that this year’s event brings on a new meaning for her.
“I am even more excited now for Jubliee of Trees, because before my treatment, I loved coming and seeing the trees, but now I feel like I love coming to support the cause area… Because I am more immersed in it and what the fundraiser is for,” Rasmussen said.
The funds raised from Jubilee of Trees, will be benefiting patients like Rasmussen, who may find themselves face to face with rare and aggressive forms of cancer.
“We wish no one gets a diagnosis of cancer, but if you do, we want you to know that there’s excellence of care, compassionate care thats close to home,” De Crescenzo said.
For many attendees, Jubilee Of Trees is a part of their holiday traditions. Whether it’s marveling at the trees, children enjoying writing letters to Santa and even getting a picture with him, or donors quietly bidding on trees and wreaths to fund this year’s cause area, this event fosters a sense of hope and togetherness.
For more information about the Jubilee of Trees or to contribute to the cause, visit their website or follow their Instagram.
Title IX is a federal law that protects faculty, staff and students from discrimination, sexual and non-sexual harassment and retaliation.
The specific details of this law change depending on the university, and each university may have a different statement surrounding Title IX. Utah Tech University specifically states that the university is committed to maintaining a safe environment where everyone in the community is treated with respect and dignity.
What happens when a law designed to protect those in an educational setting repeatedly fails?
On Nov. 9, ABC4 News released a 42-page lawsuit that named administrative faculty and staff members at Utah Tech. The lawsuit stems from a series of Title IX breaches, but the final straw for the plaintiffs was a “gag gift” sent from former president Richard “Biff” Williams.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that this gift included two homegrown eggplants and Williams’ record-breaking zucchini placed strategically to represent a phallus. Williams did not sign his own name on the gift. Instead, he signed the gift—without their consent—from three employees:
Rebecca “Becky” Broadbent, general counsel
Jared Rasband, senior associate general counsel
Hazel Sainsbury, director of equity compliance and Title IX coordinator
Many of the incidents outlined in the lawsuit include inappropriate signage on the walls of an office, racially charged jokes and retaliation for reporting these incidents to Title IX.
The Salt Lake Tribune met with the three plaintiffs, Broadbent, Rasband and Sainsbury, which is the first time the three spoke to a news source about their lawsuit against Utah Tech.
As the Title IX director, Sainsbury told The Tribune the gift had completely undermined everything she does at Utah Tech.
Sainsbury said: “What kind of victim is going to approach my office if they believe that I participate in these types of vulgar jokes? How would a victim feel [confident] in my work?”
Reporting cases of harassment is protected under this federal law, meaning they should not face retaliation for reporting breaches of Title IX.
However, after filing the lawsuit, Broadbent was placed on leave and has been away from her office for nine months, forced to turn in her laptop and key cards. The university still has not made a statement about Broadbent.
Rasband told The Tribune he had to watch Broadbent get escorted off campus by two human resources officials with only a five minute notice of her suspension.
“She’s sitting there in tears, completely shocked and taken aback,” Rasband said.
In the article, Broadbent said during her leave, no one at the university checked on her, which has proven to be a very difficult time period.
“There’s a heavy burden for any complainant that brings forward concerns that they feel they have been subjected to misconduct,” Broadbent said.
Meanwhile, Williams, who is a defendant in the report, stepped down from his position at Utah Tech in January. After stepping down, Williams was able to live in the presidential home rent-free for six months, as stated in the lawsuit, and was paid from Utah Tech until he obtained his position at Missouri State University.
The lawsuit reports that Broadbent spoke to Williams about her concerns; however, he was dismissive and attempted to manipulate and silence her about her concerns, assuring her she was “loved and part of the family.”
Sainsbury told The Tribune she was subjected to racist jokes by administrators because “the institution was not prepared for someone like me to do the work so effectively… They’ve attributed malice to my work and compared me to a previous Black administrator that they found to be problematic.”
The Utah System of Higher Education is also named in the lawsuit. This is because after the three plaintiffs reported their concerns, USHE intentionally avoided the policies, processes and timelines that should have been afforded to the plaintiffs as employees of public institutions of higher education.
Broadbent told The Tribune, “They [USHE] need to stop covering up bad behavior, stop paying off bad actors and start owning up to the need to provide proper oversight of presidents and their administrators.”
Jordon Sharp, Julie Chew, Tasha Toy, Travis Rosenberg, Tiffany Wilson and Henrie Walton declined to interview with Sun News Daily about the incidents of the lawsuit.
The 42-page report states that Sharp and other team members of the University Marketing and Communications department shared a group chat, replying to the “gag gift.”
Jyl Hall, director of public relations and defendant in the lawsuit, said in a statement that UMAC is aware of the complaint filed against Utah Tech and is committed to working with all parties to reach a resolution.
Part of the statement said: “The University takes all allegations seriously. We have been actively following established university procedures to thoroughly review any concerns brought to the University’s attention, including hiring neutral third-party professionals to evaluate these complaints, and are taking necessary steps as appropriate.”
Nearly a week after ABC4 News released the 42-page lawsuit document, Courtney White, Utah Tech interim president, addressed faculty and staff:
This email was sent specifically to faculty and staff at the university, meaning students not working for Utah Tech still have not received a statement, which made some students discouraged by the consistent lack of integrity of the university faculty.
Savanna Romero, a senior English major from St. George, said, “It’s kinda sad to me that we deal with this as students, but the issues are a byproduct of immaturity because our highest faculty also don’t know how to act appropriately.”
The lack of accountability is a recurring issue the plaintiffs face. The Tribune reported that the three plaintiffs never pictured themselves in this situation, nor did they want to file the lawsuit.
“There just needs to be accountability,” Sainsbury said. “That’s what’s been missing out of this whole thing… We have great people at Utah Tech who have devoted themselves to our students, and they deserve a productive, safe place to work.”
The Utah Tech chapter of the American Federation of Teachers responded to this lawsuit Nov. 13.
The press release states the AFT “strongly condemns all such practices and actions by individuals or governing bodies, past, present and future… Any individual, regardless of position in the university or its governing bodies, who is proven to engage in a pattern of discriminatory, unethical, or illegal actions or who engages in continued behaviors that create a toxic, unsafe, and hostile environment—including retaliatory actions—is unfit to work at or on behalf of Utah Tech University.”
James Stein, associate professor of communications, is not connected to the lawsuit but wanted to voice his frustrations. He stated faculty was never informed of this incident, despite asking repeatedly what happened when Williams stepped down, as well as when Micheal Lacourse, provost and vice president of student affairs, was placed on leave.
The reason why Lacourse was placed on leave is still unknown, though it is said in the lawsuit he was verbally abusive to Sainsbury. In one meeting, Lacourse allegedly, “pointed a finger at Sainsbury and aggressively slammed his fist on the table, demanding to know ‘who do you think you are!'”
Stein said he was simply angry that this was happening, and believed he had an obligation to speak out for those who could not.
“As a person with ‘power’ in this university, it is my obligation to do more than just pretend none of this is happening because that is how we got here in the first place,” Stein said.
A month after Williams stepped down, White was named the interim president, and Stein said this should have been a more comprehensive search because of the pattern of behavior shown by the current administration.
“When we were looking for an interim president, we just went, ‘Who’s available?’ and it turned out to be somebody who is also named in the lawsuit,” Stein said. “Instead of doing a comprehensive search and unpacking why the president stepped down, and who would be a better fit to replace them, don’t you think maybe, perhaps, if we have this pattern of men engaging in inappropriate behavior, then we need a more diverse perspective on leadership?”
He said that the university needs to look elsewhere for the next president and the pattern of inappropriate behavior proves that.
“If the men in this community have proven that they are incapable of leading, then maybe its time for women to lead, for people who aren’t from this town to lead,” Stein said.
Rasband said the new president needs to be somebody with moral courage who will not be afraid to hold people accountable if their behavior does not meet expectations.
Broadbent said it needs to be someone who “is not part of the existing boys club [and will] hold people accountable to the values and the policies the university espouses, so when we recruit in students and employees it’s not a facade.”
A court date has not been released to the public. Title IX is a federal law that protects everyone from situations like these, and students can still report if they are being discriminated against or harassed.
Visitors to Zion National Park now have a new, budget-friendly travel option. SunTran has launched a 42-mile route connecting St. George to Zion on Nov. 1. The route includes stops in Washington, Hurricane, La Verkin, Virgin and Springdale. The new service aims to reduce traffic congestion and cut down gas and parking costs.
With daily operating hours from 5:40 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., the service makes it easy for locals and tourists to hop on a bus and make the trip to Zion stress free. Instead of navigating the busy roads or dealing with Zion’s limited parking, visitors can enjoy a relaxing journey straight to the park.
Megan Willie, public relations and communications intern with the city of St. George, said: “The city of St. George saw this route as a way to support both locals and the millions of visitors coming to Zion every year. The main goals are to reduce traffic congestion, make travel more sustainable and ensure that Zion is accessible to more residents, especially those who don’t have personal transportation.”
The route is also set to reduce the number of cars on the road in Springdale, easing traffic congestion in this gateway town. Fewer cars mean fewer traffic jams and a more pleasant experience for visitors and residents. The town of Springdale also has a significant amount of employees who live in St. George and Washington and can now take advantage of the new transit option for their commute.
Barbara Bruno, Springdale’s Mayor, said: “Our average age is pretty advanced. And so a lot of people don’t drive anymore or don’t want to drive. So it’s really going to have a positive impact. I know at least one elderly woman who has been using it since it started, and she said she’s a lot more relaxed, and she’s just thrilled about it.”
Springdale residents have expressed frustration over rising traffic and limited open space. This steady influx of tourists contributes to congestion and noise, highlighting the town’s struggle to balance its charm with the quality of life for locals.
The town’s 2022 General Plan said: “Despite the Town’s efforts to create a comprehensive transportation system, the Town experiences periods of traffic and parking congestion during peak visitation to Zion National Park. In 2018, the Town instituted a paid on-street parking program. This has helped manage and organize visitor parking and has reduced many of the negative impacts of visitor parking congestion. However, during peak periods parking demand exceeds capacity and parking congestion problems continue in the community.”
By introducing this route, SunTran has taken a significant step toward sustainable tourism at Zion National Park. With fewer cars on the road and more visitors choosing public transit, SunTran’s new route helps to preserve Zion’s natural landscape while providing a wallet friendly option for reaching the park. Fewer cars on the road mean reduced emissions, supporting Zion National Park’s mission to protect its natural environment.
The route is funded to operate for the next 10 years. To gauge its effectiveness, the city plans to monitor several key factors. Rider usage will be closely tracked to understand overall demand and how the demand changes during different times of the year. The city will also analyze which stops are successful. This could lead to certain stops being eliminated and stops being added where needed.
David Cordero, communications and marketing director for the city of St. George, said: “The greatest success would be full buses and a public clamor for more times. I think being realistic, we want people to use it, and our hope is that it’ll slowly increase over time as people find out about it and see how easy it is.”
With SunTran’s new route in place, going to Zion National Park is now simpler, more affordable and eco-friendly for everyone. Whether it’s residents commuting to work or tourists exploring Zion, the new service marks an important shift toward convenient and responsible tourism in southern Utah.
To discuss the 2024 election from both political sides, the St. George Chamber of Commerce focused their monthly Bills, Rights & Bites event—hosted by Intermountain Health Care—on the election results.
The panel included Sherry Nicholes from the Democratic Party standing in for chair Chuck Goode, and Lesa Sandberg, chair of the Republican Party in Washington County. Henrie Walton, the Chamber of Commerce’s public policy committee chair, mediated the event.
The event had around 30 people in attendance. Most seemed to know each other, chatting before the event officially started at noon. Lunch was provided by Intermountain Healthcare, so the audience members could eat while they listened to the panel.
The panel took the form of a discussion, so there was no debate happening. The representatives did not share the same opinion on everything, but they both expressed the importance of collaboration.
The result of the 2024 election was a surprise to both Nicholes and Sandberg. For Nicholes, it was a disappointing surprise, but Sandberg was delighted her candidate won.
“I was delightfully surprised and even more surprised and delighted that it was such a big win. That not only did we get the electoral votes, but we also got the popular vote which we haven’t had in 20 years,” Sandberg said.
The Republican party hasn’t won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. This is a win former president Donald Trump did not receive when he ran against Hilary Clinton in 2016.
“Even though the margin is pretty small, it’s still a pretty big shift compared to what we have seen in previous elections,” Geoff Allen, assistant professor of political science at Utah Tech University, said. “Republicans, when they win, it’s because they have a slight advantage in the Electoral College, but a slight disadvantage with the popular vote.”
Another surprise in the 2024 election was the fact that Trump won the electoral votes for all seven swing states.
“That has only happened a few times in recent memories, where every swing state goes toward one candidate. It’s pretty uncommon,” Allen said.
Both parties campaigned differently in the messages they shared and the ways they got their message out to voters.
“I don’t know that the Democratic candidate, that all the Democrats were behind her. It was a whirlwind kind of nomination—and unexpected nomination. And I think there were Democrats that stayed home frustrated, which helps in our win,” Sandberg said.
Trump campaigned on a message of boosting the economy and stopping illegal immigration. Many Americans are very concerned about the economy.
Allen said, “Democrats were not that successful across the whole country in telling their story about the economy, which that story is supported by our economic indicators is that the economy for the last 18 months has been pretty good… We have had really low unemployment rates. We have had pretty low inflation numbers today and we have pretty good and robust growth numbers, but that message did not get through to a lot of voters.”
Concerns were raised about how collaboration between parties will work with the Republican Party having power over the U.S. presidency, Senate and House of Representatives.
“I think it’s going to depend a lot on the majority. We all saw what happened in the last four years, with all the fighting all the time, not getting much accomplished. If we’re willing to talk to each other, I think we should be more collaborative. Compromise is not a dirty word… I hope that we will be able to work together,” Nicholes said.
Sandberg was a lot less optimistic about collaboration happening on the national level.
“I’d love to see collaboration. Realistically, I don’t see much of it happening. We haven’t seen it for how many years. It’s not just this last four, the four before that or the four before that. Our country’s been very polarized,” Sandberg said.
However, on a county level, there has been a lot of collaboration between parties. Goode and Sandberg work to collaborate on issues in the community. Nicholes mentioned Goode’s idea that a good idea is a good idea no matter where it came from—a Republican or a Democrat.
“I understand that Utah, on the surface, is a Republican state, but we need people to represent both sides and when you have the Senate and the House and they pass everything and the Governor rubber stamps it, that’s not good for us,” Nicholes said. “And I feel like that’s what Governor Cox has turned out to be even though he said he was going to be different.”
Nicholes was very supportive of Lyman as a write-in candidate because she hoped it would split the votes, Cox would not be elected and as she said, “we’d have a little bit of common sense in our state representatives.”
Sandberg was against the write-in because it stole votes from Cox, but overall, she got the outcome she was hoping for.
The attendees left with a greater understanding of the events of the 2024 election and an understanding of who is involved in the governing of this area. There was also a main message of respect for people of other political views and understanding that collaboration is possible between the two groups without resulting to insults and contention.
The students living in Campus View Suites I experienced a startling incident the morning of Nov. 1 when three students were sexually assaulted in their dorms by a former student.
Wes LiCalzi, Utah Tech University chief of police, stated officers were dispatched to CVI at 3:08 a.m. for a reported sexual assault. Then, a safety notice was sent to students later that morning, which said after arrival, officers were notified of a second attempt in the same building.
This is an open investigation, though various news sources said the suspect was 22-year-old Alex Gabriel Barajas. Arrest records have confirmed this; however, details about this incident are not available to the public. Because he was not an active student, how he got into the building is still under investigation.
Micheal Martin, a Fox 13 reporter, stated the suspect was booked into Purgatory Correctional Facility and faces multiple charges, without bail, on three alleged counts of rape and burglary, two counts of lewdness and one count of criminal trespass.
LiCalzi said, “We believe that any time an incident occurs, it is important that we take the time to debrief after all of the facts are gathered to determine what action, if any, could be taken to prevent something like this in the future.”
Concerns have been raised by students on campus regarding how the suspect was able to enter the building. Sydney Burnett, a freshman marketing major from St. George who lives in CVI, said she did feel safe living there until the night of the assaults. Seth Gubler, director of student housing, said students and parents have expressed their concerns.
“We understand that incidents like these are unsettling, and we are here to listen and support our students,” Gubler said.
Students are encouraged to lock their doors. Even if the outside doors are security protected, they should err on the side of caution and shouldn’t let people into the building without a student ID. An additional safety notification was only sent to students living on campus, urging students to stay safe and vigilant. It also stated that students should contact dispatch if they see or hear anything suspicious.
“While we maintain a safe campus, it is important to remember that criminals can act unpredictably, making it difficult to achieve complete immunity from those willing to harm others,” LiCalzi said.
Despite precautions set in place, this incident is a first for some students, making them feel unsafe on campus.
“I think UTPD is doing a good job, but I also think they could respond to calls faster,” Burnett said. “I do know that it’s a very scary situation, and I think it’s really important for me to keep my doors locked at all times for my own safety.”
For students who may feel unsafe on campus, LiCalzi stressed three main points:
“I want to remind all our community members that we are available 24/7 for calls of suspicious activity, information or service. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help… [through] our myUT form. While this form is not designed for emergencies, it immediately notifies on-duty officers of the assistance needed. We encourage you to use this form as often as necessary to ensure your safety and comfort.”
“If you feel uncomfortable walking from one building to another, remember that officers are available to provide safe escorts. Even if you can’t pinpoint exactly what’s wrong, but something doesn’t feel right about a person or situation, please let officers know. We are always ready to respond and assess the situation to ensure the safety of our community.”
“Your well-being is our top priority, and we are here to support you. By working together and maintaining open communication, we can create a safer environment for everyone on campus.”
There are many resources for students to go to if they feel unsafe on campus. Students are encouraged to reach out if they need help.
Gubler stated all buildings have reliable security functions, including Resident Life staff, who perform rounds each night and are on call and UTPD regularly patrols all buildings. They are also reviewing security protocols and recommendations for safety.
“We remain committed to fostering a secure environment… our priority will always be the safety and well-being of our students,” Gubler said. “We appreciate students’ vigilance and willingness to share concerns, and we are here to work together to maintain a safe and supportive community.”
This incident is a startling reminder that anything can happen and to not be afraid of reporting anything they feel is important to UTPD. LiCalzi said they continue to receive calls and tips from community members.
LiCalzi said: “We want to stress that our priority is ensuring that victims receive the resources and help they need to cope with this incident. We will not seek action or get anyone in trouble for their actions that night; our focus is on providing the necessary support and resources through the university and our officers.”
For any information regarding this incident, safety concerns or help contact for non-emergency situations, you can call dispatch at 435-627-4300 or contact UTPD through the myUT app. For emergencies, call 911.
A break failure incident that left a St. George firefighter injured has since brought the local community together during his journey to recovery.
Brandon Redd is a 22-year-old firefighter for the St. George Fire Department and is also a member of the United States Marine Corps. On Oct. 30, Redd was on-duty after a ribbon cutting event. When returning from the event at Fire Station Ten, Redd faced brake failure from improperly fixed brakes while driving the antique 1948 Ahrens-Fox fire engine to Fire Station Nine.
An anonymous source said once Redd realized the brakes had failed, he tried shifting to lower gears to slow down, but it was too late. This resulted in a T-bone collision with an SUV, which ultimately ejected Redd from the engine due to the lack of safety restraints in the old cab.
The emergency responders arriving at the scene found Redd across the roadway against a curb, where he was rushed to the emergency room. According to St. George News, the occupants in the SUV were reported uninjured at the scene.
Redd broke one of his vertebrae in his back and received the kyphoplasty procedure to help with proper healing. The anonymous source said the procedure went smoothly, and he can stand for short periods of time.
“If it would have gone a centimeter closer to his spinal cord, then he would have been paralyzed,” the anonymous source said. “The fact that he is able to walk or stand after that is really cool.”
Logan Wallace, friend and SGFD engineer, was off-duty when he received the text that Redd had been in an accident. Wallace said his initial reaction was to find out what exactly happened. Since then, Wallace has been checking in frequently on Redd to see if he needs anything and said the St. George community and fire department have also stepped up to help Redd in any way possible.
“It’s been awesome to see that if something happens, we come together and put all of our differences aside, whether we don’t work on the same crew or don’t really know that guy very well, it didn’t matter,” Wallace said. “Everybody came through to make sure that they were showing support, and same with the community.”
Part of the support includes fundraising for the expenses during recovery. Firefighter Christopher Bedke from SGFD suggested a fundraiser within the department by selling off-duty hats to fellow firefighters.
“We did hats last year, so we were getting ready to do an order this year, and I asked one of the captains if he thought it’d be a good idea if we just made it into a fundraiser,” Bedke said.
The SGFD also has a spreadsheet amongst the firefighters, where meals are being brought to Redd. Wallace said everybody has dropped off a variety of meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner to make sure Redd and his family don’t have any stress added to their days.
Redd has a long road ahead of him before he can make a full recovery and step back into the shoes of a firefighter. Wallace said the main concern the doctors have is kyphosis starting to appear. Similar to scoliosis, this would cause Redd’s spine to change shape by rounding forward from the weakened bones. If this did begin to happen, another surgery would need to occur to place metal rods alongside the spine for support against the kyphosis.
“If he gets internal rods put in place, that’s more or less a career ender,” Wallace said. “He’s medically retired at 22 years old.”
Even through this all, Wallace has noticed that Redd has stayed positive and in good spirits. He said that Redd has said he is more or less happy it was him and not another firefighter because he knows he is strong enough to make it through.
“We are blessed and lucky that Redd is alive, and a broken spine is the only thing that he received out of it, and I hope that it’s not downplayed at all because the only reason they’re not trying to plan a funeral right now is because Redd is a tough son of a bitch,” Wallace said.
Through this incident, the community of SGFD and local friends have stepped up to support Redd on his path to healing. A fundraiser is available to help Redd during the recovery process.
