Life: year in review
Student thanks taxpayers for keeping her alive
By Kelly Cannon, Life Editor
The only reason Kiera Sloan Scholz is alive and well today is due to the social programs that taxpayers help fund. She was the first of six children who were born to an uneducated single mother who was also a prostitute and a meth addict. Unable to support her children on her own, Scholz’s family relied on social programs such as Medicaid, Women, Infants, Children (WIC), Food Stamps, food banks and free breakfast and lunches at public schools. In Nov. 2011, Scholz wrote a thank you letter on her blog that was addressed as “Dear American Taxpayers.” Scholz’s letter of gratitude received national attention when it was republished in the Tampa Bay Times opinion’s section. Read the full article here.
T-shirts make a loud statement
By Andrea Whatcott, Editor-in-Chief
The Clothesline Project displayed shirts made by survivors of violent acts, encouraging them to tell their stories. Sponsored by the Equity in Education Center, Turning Point and Women’s Success Center, the display brought in more than 1200 people this year.
Chris Westergard, a volunteer at The Clothesline Project, said she wishes fewer shirts were made in hopes that less abuse, rape and trauma occur.
“I wish overall we didn’t have to have a Clothesline Project,” Westergard said. “I wish the problem didn’t exist.” People are encouraged to write as much or as little as they feel necessary on the shirts to share their thoughts. One shirt read, “I will never ‘get over it,’ however I do ‘get through it.’ ” Read the full article here.
Kappa Sigma, UVU’s first official fraternity
By Kelly Cannon, Life Editor
For the small group of exemplary men, the day meant the culmination of over a year’s worth of planning, patience and determination.
“Over the summer a bunch of guys either left or graduated so we had to rebuild our numbers during fall rush before we could officially initiate,” said former president Rhett Dalley.
The colony took the time to pledge more.
With the help of representatives from the fraternity’s international leadership, the chapter initiated 25 brothers on Nov. 19.
Later that evening, the brothers held a banquet to celebrate the chapter’s installation.
“Now is the time to figure out what mark we will leave here at UVU,” said President Chris Woods. Read the full article here.
Students’ ‘Lazy Jedi’ short goes viral
By Deven Leigh Ellis, Asst. Life Editor
Freshman Mike Brown, a digital media major, has wanted to make movies with his business partners since he was 12 years old. The trio teamed with local comedian Dave Ackerman to create their ‘Lazy Jedi’ short, which went viral with over one million YouTube views in just two weeks with postings on major news outlets’ websites. “It’s crazy how things fall in to place,” Brown said. The trio’s upcoming tribute to the popular video game, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim,” is set to feature the vocal talents of all 180 members of BYU’s Men’s Chorus, the largest collegiate male choir in the U.S. Read the full article here.
Miss Africa Utah pageant selects 2012 queen
By Deven Leigh Ellis, Asst. Life Editor
The second annual event, held on Sat., Feb. 25, and founded by UVU senior Gloria Kajo, sought to “educate people of the widespread cultural variety that exist with the African continent.” The contestants showcased traditional dress and performed a short dance from their native countries, in addition to fielding interview questions and advocating individual platforms. The evening was not without its snafus, however. When the first dance team failed to make an on-time appearance, the two resourceful hosts staged an impromptu dance-off, shaking their derrières to the delight of mostly-female audience members. After two hours, Liberia was crowned Miss Africa Utah 2012. Read the full article here.
Miss UVU crowned Miss Utah 2011
By Kelly Cannon, Life Editor
Danica Olsen, a junior Communications major from Tooele, Utah and current Miss UVU, was crowned Miss Utah at the 75th Annual Miss Utah Scholarship Pageant. She will serve as an ambassador for the Children’s Miracle Network, the official service platform of the Miss America Pageant, and also compete in the Miss America Pageant, held in Las Vegas, NV in January of 2012. After the first night of preliminary competition, Olsen felt confident about her performance.
“I’m ready to go forward with more charisma and strength.” Olsen showed off her school pride during the “Show Me Your Shoes” event. “I was really proud to wear UVU on those boots,” she said. Read the full article here.
Bass fishing team takes Havasu
By Kelly Cannon, Life Editor
In only their second tournament as an official team, the UVU Bass Fishing Team won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Western Conference event on Lake Havasu. The Bass Fishing Team, which became an official club on campus at the beginning of 2012, took six competitor totals in three teams of two anglers each. The win was huge for the fledgling team.
“We won $5,000, which allows us to fish all of the events next year,” said Clint Martinez, the club’s advisor. The top five winners of the regional event will then go on to the national championship in April 2013. Read the full article here.
Woodbury Art Museum exposes hidden voices
By Jeff Jacobsen, Life Writer
The Woodbury Art Museum, in an effort to equalize the balance of representation between male and female artists, has transformed their gallery into an all-woman-artist feature, with “Hidden Voices: Women in Printmaking.”
Director Melissa Hempel chose printmaking as the medium for this group of artists because she thought maybe working with the hand tools involved with this type of artwork, carving metal sheets by hand, is not something these women have likely had the opportunity to do. “In printmaking every mark shows.
I must stop my multitasking and concentrate on one cut at a time. It is a physically difficult process, yet the final result … is invigorating,” said Carrie Espinoza. Read the full article here.
A ‘Village’ for deaf community
By Briauna Leigh Mason, Life Writer
Mary McLerran, a senior majoring in Deaf Studies Education, noticed the need for more interaction and involvement between students in the American Sign Language program. The solution came to McLerran to find a way to have student housing specifically designed for students in the ASL program. “I see this as a serious opportunity for students who really want the daily interaction,” McLerran said. “The Academic Village will help us to develop informal contacts with one another.” UVU’s Deaf Studies program is one of the top three in the nation and has hosted The Deaf Studies Conference every two years. Read the full article here.