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.
With the flashing disco lights and glowing headphones, students at Utah Tech University danced the night away at Silent Disco Jan. 10.
While the event began at 9 p.m., students embraced the cold in a line that ran out of the Student Activity Center and toward the Human Performance Center 15 minutes before it started. Speakers were set up outside, which even further pumped up the attendees as they all sang along to their favorite tunes in anticipation of the event.
This was the first time Silent Disco was created by the Utah Tech Student Association as a new addition to the event calendar. At the event, students were given headphones as they entered the door. On these headphones was the option to change between three different music channels, and depending on the channel, the headphones would light up different colors: red, blue or green. The red channel played today’s hits, the blue was a live student DJ and the green offered throwbacks.
Breonna Bingham, a senior recreation and sports management major from Salina and UTSA social events director, was an event planner from UTSA for Silent Disco. She said the inspiration was to create a dance experience for the students, something many may not have experienced before. With funding for the event from student fees, attendees were able to attend at no charge.
“It’s a mission of the student life team to create weekly events to provide students with no-cost social activities to accompany their academic experience while at Utah Tech,” Bingham said.
Isabella Budge, a freshman biology major from Gresham, Oregon, was persuaded to attend the event because of her roommates but found the event to be enjoyable. She said it was cool to be listening through individual headphones to songs that were shared amongst the crowd.
“It’s a good break [from school] because you’re hanging out with a bunch of your peers, and it’s a good way to meet people,” Budge said.
At the event, a room overlooking the gym dance floor was decorated with disco balls, and drinks were offered to anyone who needed a break from dancing. If dancing wasn’t someone’s forte, there were also tabletop games set up in the room. However, for some, it was enjoyable to see the different channels everyone was listening to.
Daniel Osorio, a sophomore software engineering major from Bogota, Colombia, said he walked around enjoying the music, meeting up with friends and simply dancing to the music playing.
“It’s the first week of classes, and it’s already a bit overwhelming,” Osorio said. “When I heard about the silent disco and some of my teachers confirmed what it was, I decided to give it a try. Honestly, it’s better than I expected.”
At the front of the room, the DJ controlled the music playing on the three channels. When popular songs like “Dancing Queen” by ABBA would play, the room was filled with voices singing along to the music from the headphones. While the event was titled Silent Disco, oftentimes, the room was filled with singing, laughing and the sound of people dancing.
“If it [depended] on me, I would make this a monthly event because, with all the academic toll, listening to music and chilling around, it’s pretty nice,” Osorio said.
The “zuweenie” is just the tip of the iceberg—what seems like a harmless joke barely scratches the surface of a lawsuit against the Utah Tech University administration about racial comments, misconduct and toxic work environments.
If this was just about the “zuweenie” incident, it wouldn’t have been a whole ordeal. However, the names signed on the “zuweenie” were people who had no idea about it and didn’t consent to having their names signed.
Because this isn’t the first time within the past eight years that faculty or staff members have sued the administration, all under Richard “Biff” Williams’ presidency, this is an unprofessional and embarrassing look for our university that we once had pride in. Yet, we are concerned administrators will receive no consequences for creating toxic work environments.
Background
The Salt Lake Tribune published an article Nov. 8 that said employees Hazel Sainsbury, director of equity compliance and Title IX coordinator, Rebecca Broadbent, general counselor who hasn’t been allowed to return to her position in nine months, and Jared Rasband, senior associate general counsel, filed against:
Richard “Biff” Williams, previous Utah Tech president
Jordon Sharp, vice president of marketing and communication
Del Beatty, vice president of student affairs
Michael Lacourse, provost and vice president of academic affairs
Henrie Walton, interim chief of staff, BOT secretary and assistant to president for government and community relations
Tiffany Wilson, chair of the Utah Tech board of trustees
Utah Tech University
Geoff Landward, commissioner for USHE, UBHE and OCHE
Utah Board of Higher Education
Utah System of Higher Education
Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education
Alison Adams, general counsel for the UBHE, USHE and OCHE
Eric Pedersen, professor of software engineering and previously a dean
Matt Black, photographer and videographer
Jyl Hall, director of public relations
Jared Madsen, director of university design and branding
Stacy Schmidt, assistant director of public relations
Brooke Ulrich, director of university events and promotions
Travis Rosenberg, executive director of human resources
Courtney White, interim president and previously chief of staff
The 42-page report includes allegations of resistance, intimidation, harassment and retaliation. This includes the unknowing signing of the three plaintiffs on the note with the “zuweenie,” mockery of Title IX, Broadbent’s wrongful put on leave, obscene and vulgar quotes on a public break room wall, harassment from mandatory reporting, verbal abuse and discrimination based on Sainsbury’s race.
Embarrassing and concerning
It’s difficult to have pride in our university when lawsuits over hostile environments are filed every couple of years, yet these administrative individuals remain working here.
Despite lawsuits and a push for change, nothing ever changes.
We don’t see the consequences that should be mandatory concerning misconduct and toxicity. Provost Lacourse was said to be “put on leave,” and women’s basketball coach J.D. Gustin was given a two-week suspension. There are no consequences for these men.
Email Interim President Courtney White sent about Provost Lacourse Sept. 25, 2024. Nowhere in this email does it give any hint as to what he is accused of or why he is on leave.
Right now, Utah Tech does not have a good appearance. When Googling our university, lawsuits and allegations against current faculty and staff arise.
Googling “utah tech university” on Nov. 13, 2024.
This is not only embarrassing to say this is where we go to school but also concerning for our future careers.
The entire point of changing Utah Tech’s name was to assist in the hiring process after graduation. However, with lawsuits like this, our school looks like a joke.
Future employers will not take us seriously if all our school is known for is lawsuits against the administration. It doesn’t establish a credible education for us as students.
With Title IX matters not being taken seriously by administrators, how can students expect their situations to be handled and protected? How can students trust who is making decisions about what is labeled as “important” to report and what is not, or the fact that allegations aren’t even taken seriously and are made a mockery of?
Williams has since released his apology, while those being sued have declined to comment to Sun News. The same public relations statement that every other news organization has is what we were given.
It’s ironic that the people who give out public statements are the people who are also being sued right now. It doesn’t make sense that the people being sued are also the people issuing the public statement.
Repeated pattern
Even after stepping down as president in January, Williams received payment from Utah Tech until he obtained his position at Missouri State University. Where are his consequences for condoning toxicity at our university? He gets money from Utah Tech and a new job like nothing ever happened.
Under Williams’ presidency, Gustin was also sued yet faced only a two-week suspension and still works in his position.
In 2018, two professors were fired and found not guilty, and they said they were not given fairness in their terminations before being found not guilty.
In 2016, a professor was terminated and found not guilty on his accounts, in which he sued for wrongful termination and received a settlement.
Sainsbury, Broadbent and Rasband have also since released their thoughts, and it’s ridiculous and disgusting they are still facing retaliation.
The pattern here is undeniable. Administration is sued. The same people get practically no consequences and continue their work at Utah Tech.
The change we want to see
It’s unfortunate that when lawsuits come out against Utah Tech, we have to hear about it from The Salt Lake Tribune when students are simply told Provost Lacourse was put on leave, or President Williams was stepping down when that’s not the truth. There is zero accountability from these administrators.
We now see that this lawsuit contributes to what’s keeping our university from hiring a permanent president, which is what we need.
We need someone who hasn’t previously been associated with Utah Tech. A clean house is what needs to happen. No one mentioned in this lawsuit should be considered for our next president because we need someone who can speak up when something is wrong, be transparent and take accountability.
We’d rather have the time taken to find candidates outside of Utah Tech than have a president associated with these allegations, who knew about them but chose to remain silent or anyone who has knowingly mishandled Title IX cases.
We surely don’t feel comfortable with anyone on this list of individuals being sued to be our next president. In fact, those named who purposefully created hostile environments, made fun of Title IX and made racial comments should be fired.
There’s no reason why a new president, found outside the Utah Tech community, can’t turn the page and create an entirely new work environment here. We want to see a future free of racism, retaliation and toxicity.
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.
The microphone was open to all, waiting on stage for singers, musicians and comedians to take their turn in the spotlight. The performers looked out on a dimly lit room covered in lanterns of all shapes and sizes, with people spread out on couches clapping along to music or laughing at jokes.
This event, hosted Nov. 13, is Mic Drop. Mic Drop is new to the Utah Tech University campus, taking inspiration from an annual Open Mic Night at Utah State University, and they lit the area with lanterns like a past event at Utah Tech called the Festival of Lamps.
“It allows students to sign up and have their voices be heard. They’re able to come up and they’re able to sing, they’re able to do their own comedy,” Asher Anderson, a senior marketing major from Mesa, Arizona, and director of live events for Utah Tech Student Association, said.
There are several events that involve live performances, but they are more limited than this event. Coffee and Comedy was hosted recently, but they hired professionally and Live and Local allows student bands to perform, but spots are limited. This event has more spots and opportunities for students to perform where they otherwise couldn’t.
There were 14 people who performed at the event ranging from comedians to musical performances. Each was more different than the last. The event started with an almost full audience, but the crowd slowly got smaller as the performances went on until there were about 20 people left.
“I just really love open mic events, and I just love singing,” Sydney McClellan, a sophomore graphic design major from Salt Lake City, said. “And so, when an event like this comes around, I always try to work up the courage to come to this.”
McClellan was one of the performers for the event. She played the piano and sang “Stay” by Rihanna, “Jealous” by Labrinth and one of her own songs.
There were also members of the community present both on and off stage. One person who performed is an 85-year-old institute teacher, Ava Fry. She teaches a class called “How to Become a Clean Stand-up Comedian,” and said she performed her stand-up act at the request of her students.
The set-up of the event was comfortable with couches set up down the center of the Gardner Ballroom and lamps contributing to dim lighting. There was also popcorn and lemonade served, so people could snack while they watched the performers.
“I thought it was very well set up,” Sarah Witt, a junior media studies major from Heber City, said. “They had a very distinct vibe in here and it made it really, really fun. Honestly, it was probably one of my new favorite events.”
The audience was very supportive of the performers on stage, especially when they struggled with the words or tune. They would cheer louder to support those nervous performers, and the performers were able to get through their songs easier than if the crowd had stayed silent.
“I think that supporting local and small arts like this is especially important for college students because so many kids are moving out here without an outlet to do that,” David Garrett, manager at Mary’s Cheesecakes in St. George, said. Garrett heard about the event through social media and has enjoyed coming to activities that involve live music.
Anderson said this event might continue next year, depending on student response, to allow even more students the opportunity to showcase their talents and potentially become a new Utah Tech tradition.
Compared to men, there are very few women in leadership positions, which is why several organizations came together to host a leadership conference called “Unmute Yourself: The Urgency of Women’s Leadership” Nov. 8. Another event called “Pack + Party” was held on Nov. 7 that focused on making period kits for students in need.
Organizations that helped organize these two events are:
Nina Barnes, Utah Women Run representative for southern Utah, helped start this conference eight years ago. She has served on city, university and state councils prior to her current position.
Barnes said: “I just realized there were not a lot of women there with me [in leadership positions]. We needed to elevate the voices of women, families and children and have them heard as we make decisions for leadership in southern Utah. They were missing.”
Barnes said this event is meant to bring women in leadership positions together to talk to other women about their stories, barriers they found in getting to where they are right now, and how they overcame them and the possibility of change.
Amber Williams, a director of finance for real estate and attendee of the event, said, “It’s good motivation and a reminder of what we’re working toward and just to stay motivated and inspired to go on and make connections with other women who are doing work in the community.”
Women of all ages and careers were present at the conference to hear the messages that these successful women presented. They talked during the breaks, making connections with other women to learn about leadership.
This conference featured several women in leadership positions as speakers such as:
Tami Pyfer, chief of staff and vice president of external affairs for UNITE, a national organization that works to bridge culture and politics, and is co-creator of the Dignity Index, an eight-point scale used to measure the level of dignity and contempt in language used during disagreements.
Becky Edwards, a previous member of the House of Representatives from 2008-2019 and founder of The Governing Group, a group that works to help Republican candidates run for office in Utah.
Melinda Pfundstein, the executive director of community and workforce development at Southern Utah University.
Ali Mulhall, who is a 19-year-old golf champion with 371 national tournament titles.
Shirlee Draper, chief operating officer of Cherish Families, a non-profit organization that serves people from polygamous backgrounds by providing support services for trauma and helping them gain their independence.
Several other women talked, including a keynote speaker, Congresswoman Celeste Maloy, who represents Utah’s second district and serves on the House of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and House Committee of Small Business. Maloy discussed a lesson on leadership she learned early on from her mom.
“If I ever didn’t get my homework done on time, or got into a scrape, or was fighting with my friends, whatever, my mom would not bail me out. She’s not a helicopter mom,” Maloy said. “My mom would say, ‘Well, you’re smart, figure it out.’ And it drove me crazy, but I think it’s the reason I’m standing here today.”
This message taught her to solve problems and set her up for success in leadership positions.
“I think sometimes we act like women have to do something special and feminine to be leaders. We are all special and feminine just by being women. All we have to do to be leaders is believe that we’re smart, and we can figure it out and apply the skills we’ve all been learning our whole lives,” Maloy said.
The room was packed full, and people were attentive to the speakers, several taking notes. Many asked questions during the panel section with Maloy and Pyfer. The talks and questions had an overall message of women supporting women.
While not many college students were in attendance, it was an important message for them as well.
“Our young people on campus particularly need to see the potential within themselves and that they belong in those spaces and in the rooms where decisions are made and budgets are decided and rules or laws are made,” Barnes said.
The overall message of the conference was to support each other in leadership and that women need more representation in these roles.
Maloy said: “There are two kinds of successful women. There’s the queen bee type who gets to a position and then burns the bridge behind them because they want to look like they’re special and they’re the only ones who could have ever done what they did. And then there are the type who go and pave the bridge behind them and invite other people to come along and try to make it easier and easier for someone else to get where they are.”
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.
Social media is flooded with people talking about ways to be healthy. People are very concerned with what health means and how to achieve it. However, it can be hard to make sure your health needs are met if you do not know what is available to you.
To combat this issue of students being unaware of resources around them, the Booth Wellness Center hosted a wellness and resource fair Oct. 29.
At this event, several booths advertised resources students could access during their time on campus and in St. George. This event has been hosted for almost 10 years on campus.
Jamy Dahle, director of counseling and health promotion services at Booth Wellness Center, said: “The purpose of the wellness and resource fair is to really help our campus community, students specifically, be aware of campus wellness resources that are available to them, and then also community wellness resources that are available to them because it might not be offered on our campus.”
This event has evolved from strictly mental and physical health providers to overall wellness. In previous years, there have been resources for financial and recreational wellness in the event, as well as medical resources.
“I believe that we have different parts of ourselves, and we have to really focus on each of those parts,” Kimberly Maximo, a sophomore psychology major from Tampa, Florida, said. “If we focus just on our physical being and not focus on our mental health, then it’s not going to work. So, we have to remember that we have multiple parts of ourselves and make sure that we’re taking care of each of those parts of our identity.”
This year various resources were present both on and off campus. Some resources present on and off campus were:
Student Resource Center: There are a variety of resources offered through this center. They help students with nutritional needs, childcare, first generation students and have a free legal clinic to provide guidance for a variety of legal matters.
Utah Tech Student Association: This organization helps students’ social wellness. They arrange campus events that encourage students to meet new people and discover new activities.
Various booths from the College of Health Sciences: Several departments within this college had booths explaining health in a hands-on way.
Dove Center: This center helps people who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence. There are counseling and shelter resources available. They also work to educate the community on sexual violence.
Sunrock Yoga: The purpose of this organization is to allow people to connect with their bodies and achieve physical and mental wellness through yoga.
Rising Sun Therapy: This organization provides therapeutic services to teens 13-17 years old and women. There are specialists in many areas such as infertility, ADHD, grief, self-esteem and depression.
Addict to Athlete: There are support groups for addiction, trauma, mental illness and loss provided through this program. Each session is followed by physical exercise.
Trula Counseling: This service is meant to provide counseling to students specifically. Trula counselors help students find licensed professionals that can help with their academic needs and health.
Some booths had activities for students, such as Fusion, which brought bracelet making, and the Healthy Trailblazer Coalition brought sand zen gardens. Free hotdogs and chips were also offered.
“The benefit of all this is that it helps students that aren’t familiar with these resources in our area that they’re here and don’t have to wait until they get home next to access this resource. We have these resources available for you in our community,” Dahle said.
Activities like this help students’ social wellness as well. A sense of belonging is important to a student’s overall wellness and academic success. These activities allow students to meet new people and create connections.
“It can help you find a group. If you find your own group then you have your own place [at school],” Chris Uyleman, a freshman computer science major from Orem, said.
Wellness is the first step to a successful college life. It can be difficult to focus on school if one’s basic needs aren’t met.
Dahle said: “If we are taking care of our wellness, then it’s the residual effect. If I’m doing well nutritionally, with sleep… Then, I’m more likely to do well in school and make my school a success.”
As college students, we are no strangers to wild rumors or even the most over-the-top tea that gets circulated during those late-night study sessions or hanging out with friends. But on Tuesday, there was a conspiracy theory night hosted by Birds Aren’t Real, Psych Club and the Trailgazers.
During the night, students gathered for pizza, conspiracy theories and laughs. The event was packed with humor, campus slander and a sprinkling of ancient aliens and money laundering.
Here are some of the highlights from the night.
Provost Lacourse: “he’s innocent”
As the night progressed from one joke into another, club members presented a theory that Provost Michael Lacourse was innocent, but of what? We may never know since this theory was presented as a joke after learning that he was put on leave until January 2025.
Even the conspiracy theorists thought there was more going on behind the scenes. While the room howled at his innocence, it did highlight how people’s imagination and unanswered questions can fuel this kind of conspiracy.
Kellie Marin, assistant communications professor, said, “We are constantly trying to make sense of the world around us, so sometimes we can’t explain something that happened to us; conspiracy theories may be a useful explanation.”
Some of the conspiracies involved King Charles having porphyria, which is a rare disorder that can cause sensitivity to light, pain, reddening of the skin and mental health problems, even though this reporter couldn’t find any evidence that suggested he has this condition, the presenters did find that King Charles does own a house in Transylvania, Romania.
The Blue House is one of many real estate properties that the king owns, and is rumored to vacation there from time to time. With these “facts” as evidence, the room concluded that King Charles is a vampire.
Mount Rushmore’s hidden vault
As the night drew on, the audience was told the tale of the secret vault behind Mount Rushmore, specifically behind Former President Abraham Lincoln’s head.
In this secret room are supposedly blueprints to the hall of records, which will tell future civilizations about why Mount Rushmore was built and the secrets to mankind. The presenters also speculated why the room was purposely left unfinished so that the government could hide their secret documents and hidden technology.
Stephanie (Luan) Martinez, a senior health communications major from St. George, said: “If you think about it, why would they build four heads and not put a secret room behind it? The government always hides things in plain sight. I bet there is more going on than we will ever know.”
Ancient aliens: creators of civilizations and mankind
It wouldn’t have been a conspiracy night without someone bringing up aliens. The theory presented was aliens were the ones to throw the asteroid from space, which took out the dinosaurs to make room for humankind.
But not just any humans, these humans had their DNA mutated with alien DNA. The evidence for this claim? It was ancient glyphs that showcased spaceships and the Nazca lines that were essentially landing strips for alien space crafts.
They even claimed that biblical humans like Adam and Eve were alien hybrids that were visiting our world to ensure the rise of our civilization. To these people, we have been surrounded by alien overlords all this time.
Why we love conspiracy theories
It’s easy to laugh at these outlandish claims, but there is a deeper psychological reason why people are drawn to them.
Lisa Scott, assistant professor of psychology, said: “I think people choose to believe conspiracy theories because the harsh reality is that the world is extremely random and chaotic. Conspiracy theories create in-groups and out-groups, and humans feel comforted when we have a group to belong to.”
Conspiracy theories often create a sense of community that may share similar ideologies, and that creates this kind of human connection that fosters feelings of comfort and community. At their core, conspiracy theories are born out of fear of the unknown, the government and of the economy. As fun as they sound, they can also be unhelpful.
“They create a narrative that helps us make sense of things we fear, but they don’t really address the real causes of certain problems in our world,” Scott said.
In a world where conspiracy theories exist, sometimes one has to laugh, much like the attendees Conspiracy Night did. Whether it’s ancient aliens, secret underground rooms under national landmarks or connections between celebrities and global events, conspiracy theories will continue to keep us laughing and entertained.
Utah Tech University students have been making waves on the big screen and on the field in both the entertainment and sports industries.
The motto “active learning. active life.” has been used by Utah Tech to promote hands-on learning to better prepare students for the career field after graduation. Several Utah Tech students are already gaining experience in the sports and entertainment industry through working on TV programs, films and working with various National Football League franchises.
Chandler Jones, from Sandy, is in his second year of the master’s program in athletic training. After playing sports his whole life, he turned his attention to becoming an athletic trainer off the field.
“In the Spring of 2020, Covid hit, and for me, football became a thing of the past as I chose to focus on school,” Jones said. “I began working for the football team for a year, and I met one of the master’s of athletic training students at the time, who I became friends with, and helped me reconnect with my want to become an athletic trainer.”
Jones landed an internship with the Jacksonville Jaguars this past summer. During his time with the Jaguars, he was able to learn firsthand how trainers at the highest level work and how he can become a better trainer himself.
“They all did an amazing job at working together and knowing when to hand things off and who the best person to hand them off to was,” Jones said. ”My view on interprofessional collaboration was already very positive, but I had never seen such synchrony and effectiveness when working with a large team like that.”
Another student who’s gotten the chance to work with the NFL is Bausten Rasmussen, a second-year master’s program in athletic training from Roosevelt. Rasmussen worked with the Miami Dolphins during their summer training camp and felt more prepared for the internship due to her learning experience at Utah Tech.
“Our program at Utah Tech has given me the opportunity to work hands-on while learning, and this has allowed me to feel confident that I am going to be the best athletic trainer I can be,” Rasmussen said.
During her time with the Dolphins, Rasmussen learned the importance of being a team player while also being able to step up and be a leader, especially in the high-stakes world of the NFL.
Working with the Dolphins allowed Rasmussen to realize her aspirations as an athletic trainer, even as a female in a male-dominated industry.
“I know as a woman I am going to have to work harder and hold myself to a higher standard than most to get the respect that I deserve in such a male-dominated field,” Rasmussen said. ”Times have changed, but they haven’t completely. My experience with the NFL showed me that I am doing the right thing; I have big ambitions, and I am capable of reaching them.”
In addition to sports, Utah Tech students are making splashes in the entertainment industry. Ben Vasion, a senior film major from Cathlamet, Washington, has loved movies since he was a kid, but he has learned to appreciate the artistic element of them as he has gotten older.
“As I got into high school, I started to enjoy and appreciate movies in a different way,” Vasion said. “I started to enjoy them from the artistic perspective. It’s such an all-encompassing art form, and to have the ability to work with different artists from every art form became very appealing to me.”
Vasion has been working on the set of the TV show “The Promised Land” as the assistant location manager. As the assistant locations manager, he has worked with helping gather permits, along with solving other logistical problems that could arise while filming.
Vasion has also worked on two feature films, “Horizon: An American Saga Chapter – 2”and “Wardriver“ as the locations production assistant. He has also worked on several short films.
Having the opportunity to work on various creative projects has helped Vasion gain valuable experience as he works toward his goal of becoming a film director.
“This experience will definitely help me negotiate my pay on future movies and TV shows,” Vasion said. ”To me, that’s relevant because my ultimate goal is to write and direct feature films for a living, but producers/studios won’t want to fund a film you’re not willing to help fund yourself.“
These Utah Tech students are finding success in a variety of industries and are leveraging the skills they learned at Utah Tech into success outside of the classroom.
