UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 15, 2026

Tag: Featured News

Meet the candidates running to be your next student body president

by Alfonso RubioPosted on

As Utah Tech University swiftly approaches the halfway mark of the 2026 spring semester, the Utah Tech Student Association looks to find its next president-elect. Each of this year’s four candidates has differing values and focuses.

Beau Kendrick

Kendrick is a junior digital media and marketing major from West Haven. His campaign is focused on building stronger connections between the campus and local community, improving student involvement and empowering students by helping them get connected to campus resources.

Kendrick emphasized his experience in leadership positions.

“I currently serve on the Utah Tech Student Association as a marketing manager,” Kendrick said. “I have held several leadership positions at Utah Tech, including serving as a Lambda Pi Eta officer, X Club President and as a graphic designer for clubs across campus.”

Kendrick hopes to help the student body succeed amidst new opportunities arising at Utah Tech.

“As student body president, I would be honored to be part of this exciting chapter and lead alongside students during such a motivating and transformative time,” Kendrick said.

Ethan Aparicio

Aparicio is a junior psychology major from St. George. His campaign is focused on representation, creating an inviting environment and helping emphasize the opportunities that Utah Tech has to offer.

Aparicio highlighted his experience with involvement on campus, mentioning his leadership positions and collaborative opportunities.

“Although I have not held a [UTSA] elected position yet, I have remained deeply involved on campus,” he said. “I am a peer coach and have held leadership roles within the program. I am also a club president, which has strengthened my ability to lead, collaborate and create spaces where people feel safe and welcomed.”

Aparicio made his love for Utah Tech clear. “Regardless of the outcome of this election, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the student body,” he said. “I truly love Utah Tech and everything it represents, and I am especially grateful for the amazing people I’ve met throughout this journey.”

Javier Martinez

Martinez is a junior history and Spanish major from Hurricane. His campaign focuses on improving communication with students, empowering the student body by giving them a voice, and bridging the gap between the student body president and the general student body. 

Martinez currently holds the position of recreation clubs representative for UTSA, where he has represented students for a semester and a half.

“I will be honest, I don’t have as much experience as an elected leader,” Martinez said. “Part of my desire to run for president has come from the opportunity made available to me by Utah Tech. Without this university, I would never have known that I want to be a leader.”

Martinez clarified his love for the campus, while making note of its flaws. “I love this campus, and I love it enough to say that it’s faltering in certain areas,” he said. “We provide so many free resources to students, yet do a terrible job of marketing said resources. There’s too much of a disconnect between the students and our president.”

Representation is important to Martinez. “If I’m elected student body president, I’ll do everything I can to know how to best represent you.”

Michael Olsingch

Olsingch is a sophomore pre-engineering major from Wildomar, California. His campaign is focused on strengthening the bridge between students and administration, creating clearer and more accessible ways for students to share their ideas and concerns, and increasing opportunities for involvement.

When it comes to involvement, Olsingch has his own roles under his belt. “I have served as the cultural club representative in UTSA, represented Utah Tech as an ambassador, worked in the Peer Coach Program, am currently the vice president of the Pasefika Student Union and am the president of the Roblox Club,” he said.

Olsingch made his goals regarding emphasis on student voice clear. “Your voice matters, your experiences matter and your presence here matters,” he said. “This campus belongs to all of us, and together we can shape it into something even stronger.”

Olsingch attributes his community for making him who he is today. “I am deeply grateful for the community that has shaped me here,” Olsingch said. “If elected, I will lead with integrity, transparency and dedication… Real change begins with us, and I’m ready to lead that change together.”

Students will be able to cast their votes starting March 2. Voting will be closed on March 4 at 5 p.m.

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Truth in Tuition: proposed 4.54% tuition increase, 6.45% student fee decrease

by Annie MuirbrookPosted on

The annual Truth in Tuition was held Feb. 24 in the Dunford Auditorium, proposing a 4.54% increase in tuition and 6.45% decrease in student fees for the 2026-2027 school year.

Bryant Flake, executive director of planning and budget, started the meeting with graphs and statistics regarding inflation for tuition.

  • Resident tuition will increase from $2,785 to $2,910
  • Nonresident tuition will increase from $8,900 to $9,304

Flake said that Utah Tech University was faced with a new challenge of keeping the inflation of tuition to align with the cost of living. He also stated that after Utah Governor Spencer Cox requested a tuition freeze for higher education for the 2023-2024 school year, it presented challenges for day-to-day operations. These challenges from the freeze, along with inflation, are still seen through the upcoming school year.

“We had to pivot and prepare for that significant change, after the government made that request,” Flake said.

The proposed tuition changes were developed through the university’s budget process along with the Student Fee Advisory Board. The proposed fee changes must be approved by the Utah Tech Board of Trustees and reviewed by the Utah Board of Higher Education March 27 before taking effect.

How would tuition money be used?

Utah Tech continues to have the lowest tuition out of the four regional universities. The majority of general revenue comes from state appropriation, meaning the state of Utah funds most of the money. In total, the school has allotted $121,030,800, with 39% from tuition and 61% from state appropriations.

“This is actually a pretty big deal,” Flake said. He also mentioned how in surrounding states, universities will often get 30% to 50% funding from the state.

With the increased 6.45% tuition costs, Flake provided this graph:

  • Compensation and state services increase: 2.13%
  • Replace eliminated student fees: 1.85%
  • Faculty rank advancements: 0.56%

Louraina Minor, a junior English education major from Moab, said: “When you actually look at it from like a college’s perspective, it makes a lot more sense. I also think this was a lot more clarifying than I thought it would be.”

Student fee decrease

The Student Fee Advisory Board proposed 6.45% decrease, making the student fee total $427.50.

The board has students who were not affiliated with Utah Tech Student Association, also known as students at large. These students were included on the board to give more insight and perspective on how student fees are managed and dispersed. The board consisted of six UTSA members and four students at large.

Shellsea Ramirez, a senior individualized studies major from St. George and UTSA president, said, “It’s kind of awesome to be able to express your peers’ perspectives.”

The Student Fee Advisory Board referenced Policy R516 to inform students how fees were being implemented for each category.

The Booth Wellness Center and Department of Student Involvement and Leadership will have eliminated fees. The Student Fee Advisory Board recommended that the university still maintain the free mental health consultations for students into the 2026-2027 school year.

The money eliminated from the Department of Student Involvement and Leadership and the Booth Wellness Center is not being redirected to a single program, but instead into the overall cost of tuition.

The removal of those two fees, combined with increases for the Student Union Building, athletics, athletic bands and a 4.54% tuition increase, were calculated together as part of a broader financial restructuring.

Flake said that eliminating the two fees helped offset the new increases, meaning students will see a smaller rise in tuition cost than they would have if the fees had remained in place.

In order to get approved, the Student Fee Advisory Board will present to the university council, the board of trustees and USHE. This will be taking place within the next few months.

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Butterfly wing necklaces, live music, sustainable clothing — Fashion Club hosts first Flea Market

by Daniel KlinglerPosted on

Brightly colored clothes, well-loved jewelry and new shoes — Fashion Club’s first-ever Flea Market garnered a large and enthusiastic crowd at the Gardner Ballroom.

The booths were set up by members of the club and community. Some booths consisted of bright dresses, flannels, punk jackets and even handmade items. Live music was performed by the vice president of the club, Jasmine Vera, and attendee Logan Gonzales.

According to club president Emily Ashton, a sophomore general studies major from Eugene, Oregon, this event was inspired by the club’s message of sustainable fashion, a lack of decent options for thrifting in St. George and politics.

“We’ve been thinking about doing this event for a while now, but the initial motivation was to just introduce more people to sustainable fashion,” Ashton said. “Politics influence my daily fashion decisions, to be honest. I just think the culture of the world can be so greedy and focused on money, and this is just a way we’re helping.”

One way students were encouraged to consider the impact of their fashion choices was through a clothing exchange. Several tables were set up near the dressing room where students could drop off clothes they no longer wanted or needed and exchange them for other clothes available. Students added sparkly skirts and once-worn T-shirts, then left with new jackets and leggings.

Vendors, such as Gwen Turner, a freshman art major from Lehi, a member of the Fashion Club and owner of Lovebug Accessories, also encouraged students to think critically about ethical sourcing. Her jewelry is fashioned from the wings of butterflies and thrifted beads.

“I used to work at a conservatory up north where there were butterflies,” Turner said. “They [butterflies] lived out their whole lives naturally, and so once they died a natural death, you could collect them [wings] and purchase them from the gift shop.”

Turner presented necklaces, bracelets, bookmarks and more fashioned from a variety of these ethically-sourced butterfly wings. She even offered discounts to interested students for the handmade items toward the end of the event.

Anneli Rasi-Koskinen, a representative of the Fashion Club and freshman art major from Riverton, said she was inspired to join the event because she runs a Depop where she sells thrifted items. Her booth consisted of many thrifted items, including brand new shoes, pins, jewelry and a leather jacket, each at a relatively low price.

“Honestly, we should all be more involved in fashion and sustainability, and I think that our Fashion Club does great with that,” Rasi-Koskinen said.

Information on future Fashion Club events can be found on their Instagram page. The club is always welcoming new members.

“Fashion is supposed to be a way to express yourself,” Ashton said. “You can reflect a lot of your beliefs and your style and your taste [through fashion].”

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Utah Tech music, history departments host ‘America 250’ concert to celebrate nation’s history

by Maddy HymasPosted on

Utah Tech University’s music and history departments held “America 250” concert in the Eccles Fine Arts Center concert hall Feb. 19, celebrating America’s 250th year in history.

The concert was a collaboration between the university’s music, history and American Sign Language departments. The concert consisted of musical ensembles and speeches.

Glenn Webb, the associate dean of the College of Arts, put together the concert and was the first speaker. Webb talked about how the music program has been doing these concerts for about 10 years, and how this concert was diverse.

“I am grateful for the assistance of our colleagues in history and American Sign Language,” Webb said. “I’m excited to hear all of the performances and speeches tonight.”

Robert Matheson, an associate professor in the music department, likes the unity of departments that comes from the themed concerts.

“I think that’s one of the great things about our themed concerts,” Matheson said. “Every year, we put these on with a different theme and have faculty from different departments come and speak for it.”

The musical ensembles consisted of saxophones, brass instruments and pianos. Additionally, Matheson played a double bass with live electronics.

The songs that were played varied in years, documenting American history. In between songs, members of the music department explained the historical significance. Byron Ward, a visiting instructor, played in the brass ensemble.

“‘[Oh] Shenandoah,’ which speaks of maybe a different, sad, more pensive, melancholy look into the lives of America during the western expansion,” Ward said. “The lyrics of ‘Shenandoah’ speak of the wild ones, or their kind of journey, their path to this new land.”

Along with the historical importance of the music, speakers also explained the history of America as a country.

Tanner Ozdoba, a sophomore history major from Albuquerque, New Mexico, talked about the U.S. Constitution.

“The Constitutional Convention feared a Constitution too specific to stand the test of time,” Ozdoba said. “This becomes clear when amendments are ratified in a flurry, like after the Civil War, with the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, which were proposed and ratified to abolish slavery and to allow black men to vote.”

“I would like to challenge everyone in the room to go read the U.S. Constitution,” Ozdoba said in a call to action. “The best way to honor our nation’s 250th anniversary of independence, and the countless people who have contributed to its history, is to learn more about our history and our many constitutions.”

Cassandra Clark, an assistant professor of history, gave a speech about 250 years of American progress.

“Today, the legacy of the original colonists that supported the revolutionary effort by bravely deciding to stand against government corruption, tyranny and a lack of representation continues to inspire people living in the United States and around the globe,” Clark said.

Toward the end of her speech, Clark gave the audience a reflection on the history of our independence.

“History, of course, is about perspective, and in the case of the Declaration of Independence, we can look to the average American colonists, often referred to as the Daughters and Sons of Liberty, who joined enslaved and free African Americans, Native Americans and all the others who fought for political representation, freedom and equality,” Clark said.

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Sears Art Museum’s 39th annual invitational highlights art of the West

by Alfonso RubioPosted on

The Sears Art Museum serves as a stepping stone for hundreds of artists to get their art exposed to the community. The museum displays six exhibits a year and shows hundreds of pieces of art in all differing styles.

The museum was established with the goal to “Engage visitors in discovering meaningful connections with artistic expressions and presents opportunities for conversation, contemplation, and a cooperative experience.”

Sears Art Museum kicked off its most recent exhibition with a gala held Feb. 13, where around 300 attendees, consisting of patrons, artists, staff and students indulged in the art. Utah Tech President Shane Smeed and First Lady Smeed showed their support, also being in attendance for the event.

Getting work displayed in the invitational event can be a difficult task. The invitational saw over 1,000 works of art created by professional artists submitted to be featured. Submissions came from not only Utah, but the entire American West, although Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Nevada were given priority.

The decision on whether a piece of work is approved is made by a jury of art experts who decide which pieces are the best. Out of the thousand works submitted, only around 230 were juried into the invitational.

The President’s Day weekend exhibition stands out amidst the rest, being the museum’s only fundraiser for the entire year.

“The invitational, now in its 39th year, is the museum’s only fundraiser. About half of our funding comes from this one exhibition,” said James Peck, museum director and curator. “Proceeds from each work of art sold are split with the artist. You could say it’s a win-win-win. The museum gets crucial funding, the artist gets exposure and a potential sale, and purchasers get a beautiful work of art for their home.”

Many of the works focused on highlighting the American West, specifically southern Utah. Some artists emphasized the importance of displaying the art of the region. 

“I began taking photos on my road trips through Utah and noticed that most of my photography focused on what I classify as unseen beauty, natural occurrences that oftentimes go unnoticed,” said Tracee McDonald, artist and St. George local. “Nature is unique and can inspire us if only we stop to embrace it.”

The exhibition has caught the eye of individuals throughout the state, not just in St. George. “This was my second year with a piece,” said artist Kevin Wallace from Midway. “I think it’s a great showcase of Utah and Western artists. It’s a really well-run exhibition, and I think people’s lives are enriched by being around art and beauty.”

The museum’s success is possible through the support of the local community, which Peck hopes he can help give back to.

“Everything we do is for the community,” he said. “The Sears Art Museum is a tremendous resource for students, faculty and staff, and for the broader southern Utah community. We collaborate with local and regional artists, students, musicians, dancers and poets, you name it. We are a resource for all local communities.”

Peck encourages everybody to attend, emphasizing the quality of the work. “This is our premier event. Come by and take a few minutes to look at over 200 amazing works of art by more than 190 professional artists from Utah and across the West.”

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Utah Tech University students take the stage for annual Black Student Union Poetry Slam

by Annie MuirbrookPosted on

Slam Poetry, which originated from African American roots in the 1980s, is continuing to be a tradition at Utah Tech University.

The Black Student Union, in collaboration with Alpha Pi Epsilon and Writers Block, hosted the annual Poetry Slam event Feb. 17 at the Gardner Student Center in the main ballroom.

This event was held in honor of Black History Month, as part of events and celebrations held this month by BSU.

The event invited students to share both original and borrowed poetry. There were two rounds of poetry in the event, with an open mic at the end while contestant scores were counted. At the end of the night, there were three winners, all given gifts from the clubs hosting the event.

Riya Miles, a freshman general studies major from Las Vegas and a member of BSU, was the emcee. At the beginning of the event, Miles described slam poetry as a “space that becomes movement… rooted in Black culture.”

Slam poetry has been a prominent tradition in African American culture. Originating in the 1980s, the tradition has been used as a platform to discuss politics, race, religion and community.

At the event, students expressed feelings of confusion, sorrow and nostalgia. Metaphors of shoes in closets, language and family were recited to reflect on personal experiences. Treats were shared among contestants, welcoming an inviting environment.

Bristol Lym, a junior English and secondary education major from Sandy, won first place and performed two original poems. The first was titled “Story of Nothing,” reflecting on the history of the English language and how much history has been lost. The second poem was titled “Love it to Love Her,” reflecting on expressing loss and differences in family relationships.

“It was overwhelming and a little scary,” Lym said. “But I feel I almost got to release something… [it] felt like a weight off my shoulders.”

Anibal Montano, a junior information technology major from West Valley and second place winner in the contest, said, “It’s just a great opportunity… and just a great time to show unity in the community.”

Montano shared an original poem and a borrowed poem. In his original poem, he expressed what it is like to live as someone speaking two languages, and the expectations that come with it.

This annual event is important to the BSU. Miles said BSU doesn’t plan on ending the tradition anytime soon. Miles also said this event allows students from all backgrounds to voice concerns and express creativity.

“We want to hear voices from different cultures, different experiences and different lives,” Miles said.

More events will be announced on the BSU Instagram.

Miles said, “I think it’s important to give students a voice. I think it’s important to have a space where you feel safe enough to use that voice… poetry slam is a beautiful way to convey those thoughts and feelings.”

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Indigenous Student Organization kicks off semester with letters, Olive Garden, pizza

by Maddy HymasPosted on

Utah Tech University’s Indigenous Student Organization held its first event of the semester, where attendees wrote letters to their future selves.

The event was held Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. in room 524 of the Science, Engineering, Technology Building. At the event, the club’s presidency provided craft materials for letters, such as stickers and markers. Originally, the club provided pasta from Olive Garden, then they had a bigger turnout than expected, so they also ordered pizzas.

Kiyarah Myron, a freshman pre-engineering major from St. George, is an ambassador of the Indigenous Student Organization and had the idea of writing letters to their future selves.

“I mostly got inspired by it because I felt like it’s always good to put expectations for yourself,” Myron said. “Once we get back the letters, they’ll be able to look back [and say] ‘I was at this point, but now I’m at this point,’ and just feel good about yourself and the progress that they have made.”

The ISO decided to have the letters be written to the writer’s end-of-semester self to see the personal progress the writer has made.

“I feel like as college students, we always have that pressure that we’re not doing enough,” Myron said. “So, I always like the idea of always being grateful for the journey and remembering why we started and where we are right now.”

Malia Delmar, a sophomore criminal justice major from Page, Arizona, is the president of the ISO this semester. Delmar thought this would be a great opening for the semester for people to learn more about the club and ease into the club with a relaxed event.

As a campus club, ISO hopes to build a community and increase education on Native American heritage for the rest of the semester.

“Community is a huge thing,” Delmar said. “Spreading knowledge on Native Americans and our heritage, and just learning new stuff.”

“I feel like we are very focused on educating more people about our Indigenous people,” Myron said. “I feel like that’s something that can always be taught. Of course, a lot of people aren’t educated, and we wish to educate and also embrace other cultures and allow them to come here and let them be educated and also feel more connected with us.”

Lily Leggat, a junior biochemistry-molecular biology major from South Jordan, is the Utah Tech Student Association’s vice president of clubs. As VP of clubs, Leggat is in charge of the club council. Leggat dropped by the event to write herself a letter.

“I think this club is just so great,” Leggat said. “I think any club where you can feel connected to people is so important, and I think any club can do that, but especially culture clubs.”

Leggat thought the event was a nice way for anyone to attend, eat some food, write a letter and build connections with other students.

To learn more about the Indigenous Student Organization and their upcoming events, their Instagram is indigenous.ut.

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OPINION | Head-to-head: What Valentine’s Day means for relationships

by Sun News StaffPosted on

Valentine’s Day sparks different reactions each year, especially when it comes to its impact on relationships. Some view the holiday as a meaningful opportunity to celebrate love in all its forms, while others see it as a source of pressure shaped by expectations and commercialization.

This head-to-head explores both perspectives, inviting readers to consider how Valentine’s Day influences modern relationships.

Mackenzie Robb – Valentine’s Day is worth celebrating all types of relationships

Love is in the air. Pink and red fill store displays. Stuffed animals and chocolates are everywhere. Valentine’s Day is a holiday centered on spreading love. 

While expectations for Valentine’s Day may have shifted, the core meaning of the holiday remains the same. The day focuses on showing appreciation for the people you care about. It does not have to be romantic — love can be shared with friends and family as well. 

Valentine’s Day does not have to be centered on spending money. A simple celebration can still show someone you care.

Consider Galentine’s Nights. While they may include decorations, those items can be inexpensive, and everyone can contribute snacks. These gatherings often include crafts or movie nights. Rather than extravagant parties, Galentine’s celebrations are girls celebrating their friendships. 

The main objective of Valentine’s Day is to spread love — a tradition introduced during childhood. Students exchange Valentines and candy with classmates. That tradition can continue into adulthood by showing appreciation for loved ones.

Like other holidays, Valentine’s Day is about celebration. Christmas is often associated with gift-giving, while Easter is celebrated with baskets and eggs. Most holidays include expressions of joy through giving. It is the extra mile to show you care for someone. 

Gift-giving doesn’t have to be over the top. As clichéd as it is to say, the thought is what counts. Small gifts like handmade notes, small crafts or flowers are a great way to show love. Gifts don’t have to be grand to show your appreciation.

Alfonso Rubio – Valentine’s Day is the death of relationships

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that, on paper, looks completely harmless, but a very ugly and sad truth hides behind the scenes every Feb. 14.

Every year, couples go out of their way to make their Valentine’s Day special with gifts, romantic dates and chocolates with flowers. That in itself is not harmful, but I can’t help but notice that the inclusion of a designated “romance day” can often expose underlying issues in a couple’s relationship.

Studies show that relationships are more likely to end within the two weeks surrounding Valentine’s Day compared to other times of the year due to the reevaluation of romantic relationships.

During that reevaluation stage, couples realize that their partner isn’t as romantic as they would like. The idea of having one day of the year being set apart for your partner to act romantically is so undervaluing the concept of romance.

Outside of undervaluing the concept of romance, Valentine’s Day can also be detrimental to the mental health of those trying to perform well for their partner. It’s one of the most commercialized holidays in the United States, with advertisements for consumerism being thrown in your face.

It’s estimated that there will be a whopping $29.1 billion spent on Valentine’s Day this year. The holiday demands high performance, costly gifts and cultural expectations to be met, which circles back to exposing underlying issues in couples’ relationships. 

The day of “love” is a stressful holiday with little to no pros. Valentine’s Day has the potential to be something great, but the expectations and consumerism surrounding it have plagued romance as a whole. 

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St. George Running Center hosts fifth annual Galentine’s Night

by Mackenzie RobbPosted on

St. George Running Center hosted its fifth annual Galentine’s Night, bringing community members together for an evening featuring prizes, local vendors and socializing.

Store owner Kendra Hooper said she created the event as a way to give back to women in the community and provide a welcoming space to connect. The event was hosted Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. and was open to girls and women ages 14 and older.

Galentine’s Night followed the store’s Galentine’s Run earlier in the day, a three-mile community run where participants were encouraged to wear pink or red.

Hooper said the event began five years ago as a small gathering and has grown into a yearly tradition focused on community and friendship.

“You don’t have to be a runner. It’s just [for] anyone that wants to have a good time,” Hooper said.

The running store gave swag bags to the first 50 guests and provided 100 free smoothies. Activities included a photo booth, a Valentine’s card-making station and vendor booths featuring spoon rings and ear piercings.

The swag bags included hats, socks, energy chews, stickers and other promotional items from the store and vendors.

Refreshments included a charcuterie board, snack cups, cookies, lemonade and soda for guests.

Silver Spoon Rings sold handmade rings in a variety of sizes and designs during the event. Guests could also receive lobe or cartilage piercings from a visiting vendor.

In previous years, Hooper invited vendors she knew personally, but she said she expanded outreach this year to include new small businesses.

“It’s cool that all the women here that have similar interests can come together and meet others,” Tia Mitchell, a Smoothie King employee, said.

The store hosted multiple prize giveaways throughout the evening, including running shoes, apparel items, HOKA tumblers and socks. Guests could also participate in a guessing game by estimating the number of Sweethearts candies in a jar for an additional chance to win prizes.

“I think it brings people together,” attendee Abby Meier said. “I feel like there’s not many people our age that have a lot of social paths besides Utah Tech University.” 

All apparel in the store was discounted 30% during the event, and many guests browsed merchandise while visiting with friends. Hooper said the store typically holds major sales only twice each year — during Galentine’s Night and Black Friday.

“The big giveaways keep us coming back,” attendee Shaylee Barney said. “It is exciting winning items that I know I will use every day.”

Meier said she learned about the event through social media and decided to attend with friends.

“We aren’t runners, but it looked interesting so we decided to come check it out. I have had such a great time talking and meeting new people,” Meier said. “I would love to come back every year.”

“It’s an event I love hosting every year,” Hooper said. “I love to see a community with common interests come together and have fun.”

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BSU events foster inclusion, connection during Black History Month at Utah Tech

by Annie MuirbrookPosted on

Black History Month celebrates more than community at Utah Tech University; it celebrates standing together and inspiring the future.

Black History Month at Utah Tech provides students with opportunities to reflect on African American history while fostering inclusivity and connection across campus. Events hosted by the Black Student Union aim to create spaces where students feel welcomed, represented and supported.

The Utah Tech Black Student Union held a Back to the Function: Kick Off event Feb. 3 at the Gardner Student Center. This event, partnered with the Utah Tech Peer Coaches, had food, music and a photo booth for students to enjoy. Back to the Function was the beginning of many events happening in February to celebrate Black History Month, like the annual Poetry Slam and Excellence Gala.

Hudson Greenhalgh, a peer coach and senior marketing major from Roy, said, ” [We wanted to] come to their other things they have throughout the month, and just let them know we [peer coaches] are with them.”

Students filled the Gardner as music played, as they gathered around tables and posed for photos in the booth. Music played throughout the night as students danced on the dance floor. The event created a welcoming atmosphere, allowing students from different backgrounds to interact with and learn about the Black Student Union.

Shariya Miles, a freshman general studies major from Las Vegas, and the committee chair for the club, said events like this are important for building relationships.

“It’s a time for everyone to come together, everybody to have fun and recognize the importance behind this month, while also kind of making it lighthearted,” Miles said.

Sharniece Pinex, a sophomore psychology and criminal justice major from Chicago, and vice president of the club, expressed Black History Month as being about celebrating each other with a purpose.

Pinex said Black History Month is about honoring historical figures who paved the way for African American individuals.

“This month is to honor them and their hard work and their dedication to making sure everyone is equal, everyone is heard,” Pinex said.

Anyone can join the BSU. The club centers around honoring and welcoming African American students while encouraging allies to participate and support the club.

Kennidi Wilkins, a senior accounting major from St. Louis, said her favorite part of the club is, “The community, the togetherness, everyone, knowing how to get along easily with each other.”

Some other events the Black Student Union will be holding to celebrate and honor Black History Month will be their annual Poetry Slam Feb. 17, a Family Reunion Cookout Feb. 19 and an Excellence Gala Feb. 26. These events are held to inspire and acknowledge African American students, staff and faculty members on campus and throughout the community. More information can be found on their Instagram page.

Students involved in the Black Student Union hope events like these encourage greater understanding and connection across campus. Through celebration, education and unity, the organization continues to inspire students and build a supportive community at Utah Tech.

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