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Ellie Cook Blog
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When writing this story I primarily focused on a topic that was close to home. As someone who suffers from a chronic illness that causes extreme pain, It has interested me in what medical marijuana can do for me. I always … Continue reading
Legalizing Medical Cannabis in Utah: Does the LDS Church Get to Decide
By Ellie Cook
SALT LAKE CITY- The subject of religion influencing politics is a major discussion in Utah particularly concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ( LDS) influence in legislation regarding legalizing medical cannabis. The LDS (Mormon) church, last year, made a statement regarding legalizing medical marijuana saying “We urge a cautious approach to legislatures”. Some Utah voters question if religious views should even be involved on the floor, and if the church should be allowed such influence (verbally); especially when it comes to the well-being of the citizens of the state.
According to the most recent census numbers, sixty percent of Utah citizens are Mormon as are 80 percent of Utah legislators. Medical marijuana (MM) supporters are concerned that LDS legislators are making their decisions based on personal religious views. While the LDS church has made their views regarding the use of cannabis very clear, 75% of Utah voters; still favor medical cannabis and are pushing to have the vote to legalize it on the 2018 ballot. Some argue that the Utah house should be pushing legalization more because the Utah public is expressing interest, and it should be the public choice rather than the senates with possible influence from the church.
“I strongly dispute the narrative regarding poll numbers,” Rep. Brad Daw (R) said when asked about public opinion regarding legalizing medical cannabis. He discussed how under polls he conducted [not scientific] the question asked was “what level of cannabis legalization do you support” and more people, many of those who are LDS, are in favor of carefully supervised legalization rather than a full allowance of medical cannabis,. This past February, the house passed Daw’s bill (197) that requires the state to grow medical marijuana, and allow chronically ill patients to “try it. They also completely legalized cannabinoid with 10% THC for over the counter sales. “This can benefit the people who need it, and for those who need higher THC, the bill will allow research patients under careful supervision to be allowed access”
When asked if the Church had influenced decisions made by legislatures, Daw responded by saying “Removing religious opinions from politics would be hard to do…. the people on the board are elected by Utahan’s and their belief is their belief” stating that politicians would not be elected into office if the public had an issue with their decisions and personal beliefs. While the church is not opposed to limited and monitored medical use, they do make statements that the church would prefer that there be no use of cannabis; thus possibly affecting the opinion of those in Utah Senate. Daw explained, that we don’t want to “stifle the voice of public opinion” and the LDS church has the right to freedom of speech and to represent voters just as any other organization or citizen.
Voter Ann Cook, a non-Mormon who has lived in the state for more than 45 years, sees the idea of religion and its influence on the state differently. “The LDS church really does have control, if they just came out in favor of this, the bills would pass,” she said regarding the issue. Cook is in favor of citizens of Utah voting on this rather than the legislature, believing that the church’s opinion would primarily be removed if done in this manner. “ I myself suffer from chronic arthritic pain and had to retire because of it. I’m limited in what I can do and I deserve the right to legally try out cannabis to alleviate my pain.” Cook also added that she could make the effort to get products in states which have legalized them, but she does not feel comfortable obtaining such until they are legalized here in Utah.
“We regard cannabis medicine as a medical, scientific, and sociological matter,” According to TRUCE (Together For Responsible Use and Cannabis Education) reps said in regard to the influence the church has had on Utah’s position on legalization. “Our LDS TRUCE members are generally of the opinion that medical cannabis use is not a doctrinal issue, and LDS patients in medically legal states are considered members in full good standing… as are members anywhere taking prescribed opioid medications.” TRUCE has been pushing for the decision to be put on the 2018 ballot, rather than putting it the hands of the legislature. This is in belief that voters will support full access to medical marijuana, and will keep religious affiliations away from the decision. TRUCE advocates that the church does not need to be “speaking with representatives” as it grants too much power of the state to the church. They are not advocating for recreational use, and that they simply wish that patients with chronic illnesses have the option to use cannabis to assist with their treatments.
The issue regarding church and state in Utah is easily a debatable subject. While some believe the LDS church has too much influence or control over Utah politics, others see the affiliation only as freedom of speech. With terminally ill patients begging to allow for the public to vote on the subject the legislature is moving slowly towards the idea, and many are concerned if the LDS church’s views regarding cannabis, could be conflicting with progression towards legalizing it for medical purposes.
Ellie Cook
ABOUT ME: Ellie Cook is a 20-year-old undergrad studying Communications and Psychology at the University of Utah. She also is a writer for the humanitarian fashion magazine “Trend Prive”. She is also an animal and genocide prevention activist, as well as someone who frequently volunteers with children and animals. Ellie enjoys spending her leisure time participating in community theater and works as a model/actress for NIYA management. Ellie aspires to one day put her love of writing to work by publishing pieces aimed for teen audiences in regards to mental health, in hopes of reaching out and contributing to the well being of troubled teens.
Utah teen suicide on the rise
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Story and photos by Tanner Kirk SALT LAKE CITY – On Feb. 6, 2018 Sean Carne, a 19-year-old from Bountiful, Utah took his own life. According to friends, Sean was the “life of the party”, friendly, outgoing, loved by all, … Continue reading
Tanner Kirk
MY STORY: Utah teen suicide on the rise
Love yourself.
- Be the bright spot in someone’s life.
Reflection Blog: Response to my story
Tanner Kirk is a University of Utah student currently studying Strategic Communications, a budding entrepreneur who constantly seeks ways to challenge the status quo. He has various experience in sales, marketing, and photography, and enjoys interacting with people from all walks of life.
Tanner is the ultimate outdoorsman and can often be found on the motocross racetrack, winding down a mountain trail on his bike, or climbing a summit. He believes that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, and, in the words of Conan O’Brien, “If you work really hard, and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”
Paula Garcia
MY STORY: The cruelty-free cosmetics market is booming 
ABOUT ME:
I am a journalism student at University of Utah and a cat mom. I am passionate about feminism, social justice, music, makeup, animals, and blogging. I run a blog called Ask Nicely (https://asknicelyblog.wordpress.com) in which I cover music and lifestyle news. I am of Ecuadorean and Spanish descent.
Instagram: daydreamdoom
Local entrepreneurs discuss new wedding business in Salt Lake City
Story and gallery by JOE WOOLLEY
Simon Morris, 36, a local entrepreneur who was born in Salt Lake City, has always dreamt of one day owning his own business. When his fiancée, Sarah Beale, 34, pitched the idea of starting a business together late one night he jumped at the opportunity.
“All dreams are possible if you work hard and believe they can happen,” he said.
Morris grew up in a military household and was expected to follow his brothers into the Army. Morris had other interests such as fashion but felt so much pressure from his father to join the military, so he kept his passion to himself.
After a childhood full of expectation, Morris joined the Army at the age 18 and was due for deployment September 2001. However, his world changed as it did for so many when the World Trade Center in New York was hit by hijacked planes.
“The experiences from the Army will follow me in every aspect of life, but it was time for a change,” Morris said.
His priorities had changed and he no longer wanted to be a part of the Army. “I know to some people it may be foolish, but I didn’t sign up to be fighting terrorists. I wanted to follow my dreams and be involved in fashion,” Morris said.
In 2001 Morris went to New York and attended Fashion Institute of Technology to study fashion. He was finally content with his job and never looked back. After graduating in 2005, he went straight into the fashion world and began designing wedding dresses for Roma weddings.
During his period in college he met Beale during one of his art classes. He claimed that it was “love at first sight,” and the two of them hit it off straight away. He admitted that he’s not sure where he would be without the help of his companion.
In 2012 Beale owned a Toni and Guy hairdressers in Nottingham, United Kingdom. She loved the responsibility of owning a business. However, unforeseen circumstances forced her to leave and move onto a new chapter. “I loved satisfying people and giving them makeovers is one of the most rewarding jobs out there,” Beale said.
After learning the couple shared the same ambition of owning a business, Beale thought it would be a great idea for them to follow their dreams. She said, “I didn’t really know what business he wanted, but I gathered we could integrate our skills and create something amazing.”
After many discussions the couple decided to create a company which focuses on wedding days. They both agreed that they could incorporate their skills and give the special day something extra.
Morris committed to the wedding dress designs along with the choice of venue, while Beale would take the responsibility of hair and makeup. He said, “It was really a dream come true for me, when Sarah first pitched the idea to me I was very concerned, however, after going over the risks I decided it would be a good idea for us to give it a try.”
The business is yet to officially be launched as Beale is still in the works of getting her medical aesthetician certificate, but once that is completed they can offer their services to the public. While they cannot officially start their business, they are currently in negotiations on where to set up the main office.
“The whole process has been a blur, it only seems like yesterday since I pitched the idea to Simon,” Beale said. Even though they can’t make the company public yet they have been offering people a free makeover session to experience some of the work that they will be offering.
Lindsay Bollschweiler, one of the people who experienced this free makeover session, said, “This is one of the most amazing makeovers I have ever had. My wedding is sometime next year so I will certainly be using the services of Simon and Sarah to help with the big day.”
Another person who experienced this free makeover was Maddison Kemp, who could not speak highly enough of the professional approach Beale took. “The things that this woman can do with a makeup brush is amazing. Not only did I love the makeup, but I enjoyed the company from both Sarah and Simon. They were so welcoming.”
The pressures of starting a business had been much different than what Morris expected, but he reassures himself daily that all of the hardship will be worth it in the future. “I never thought that this process would be easy, but every single day comes with a new challenge,” Morris said.
Going from the Army then to fashion was a major change for Morris, but he said the challenges created from this project have been much more difficult for him.
The wedding dress designs seem like a breeze to Morris who learnt his trade during his time at school. He took several designated classes to learn how to design wedding dresses and holds the ability to create a dress for personal specifications. However, the venue choice did seem to unnerve him a little. “I often know what people like, but weddings are such a particular case, so I have to be extremely careful when judging a person’s character,” he said.
Beale said that she has never seen Morris this stressed about life. But, she continues to remind him of the end product. “I have been doing makeup and hair for a long time, so I am very much in my element, whereas Simon is not so much in his comfort zone so it’s difficult for him,” she said.
Morris added, “We just want to make people happy. I understand how important their wedding day is and I want to make it my duty to give them the best day of their lives. If I can put a smile on just one person’s face a day then I’ve achieved something.”
Sarah Beale, joint owner of the new wedding business. Photo courtesy of Beale.
Simon Morris, a joint owner of the wedding business and designer of the wedding dresses. Photo courtesy of Beale.
Headshot of Bollschweiler makeover
Headshot of Bollschweiler after makeover.
Front view of Korean wedding dress designed by Morris.
rear view of Korean wedding dress designed by Morris.
Business owners discuss their journeys and advice for U students with start-ups
Story and gallery by ANDREA BECERRA
By making a business out of a personal interest, working will never feel like a drag. Many people have had at least one great business idea, but have never gone through with it due to fear of failure.
The majority of business-owners will admit that they have failed many times, but learning from mistakes allows a business to thrive. What do business owners have to say to people who want to start their own business?
Amber Barron, a junior at the University of Utah, is a part of a business called SHERO. SHERO first began when Barron, her classmates, and professor, saw that there was a real need for biodegradable products because there is a great amount of waste associated with feminine care. They quickly began to create a start-up business.
Barron said SHERO makes affordable biodegradable feminine hygiene products. The business name stands for Sustainable Hygiene Engineering Research and Operations, but it was initially named due to the combination of female-hero. The founders of SHERO are Jeff Bates, Alicia Dibble, Ashlea Patterson and Barron. Since then, several others have joined the team.
The average woman disposes of 6,000 pounds of feminine hygiene products over the course of her lifetime into landfills, so this is an issue they are resolving. Barron said SHERO is trying to target two groups. The first group is women who have access to feminine hygiene products but are wanting to be more sustainably minded. The second group is women who don’t have access to affordable products. SHERO will provide the pads at a discounted price.
SHERO is currently working on research and development of materials, specifically fine-tuning the super-absorbent polymer, a key component to their unique pads. Once they complete the fine-tuning, Barron said they will be sending it out for manufacturing.
The U students who are running SHERO participate in Lassonde’s mentoring program. The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is a nationally ranked hub for student entrepreneurship and innovation at the U. The mentoring program allows students to use the space, materials and 3D printers.
The students who run SHERO participated in the “Get Seeded Monthly Milestone Funding Program” — a program that is sponsored by Zions Bank. This is a pitch event to help aspiring student entrepreneurs by receiving a grant to get a business idea off the ground. SHERO received $3,000 from this program, which Barron said helped tremendously.
Another competition that the U students participated in was called, “Bench to Bedside.” SHERO was awarded funding from that as well.
Barron always imagined that starting a business would be difficult. “There are a lot of hoops to jump through, but there is a really strong program at Lassonde,” Barron said. Her advice to University of Utah students who are wanting to start their own business is to make use of the amazing resources that are offered at Lassonde, like attending their events and activities.
Barron suggests to students that if there is a professor who has a lot of experience in the field one is interested in, feel free to pick their brain. Professors can oftentimes connect you to people who may be helpful.
Connections are very useful when you have a business. Richard Becker, a Utah business owner, shared how important networking is. “I sign up to attend as many business events in my field of interest, as I can,” Becker said. He owns the company, Rota Farms, with a long-standing tradition of growing and producing fruits with biodynamic systems that he designed and developed. Rota Farms not only controls its own fields but also third parties worldwide.
Since Becker’s interest is based on agriculture and exportation, he attends many events hosted by Utah World Trade Center.
“University of Utah students have many resources at their fingertips, that they should be using. Especially students who are starting their own business,” Becker said. He also recommends students do as much research as possible, as well as work in the field of interest first in order to learn what one should and shouldn’t do.
Bibi Paredes co-owns Rota Farms with her husband, Richard Becker. She has advice for students as well. “Working every day with your spouse or friend not only requires a lot of patience but also the ability to separate your work and personal life as much as possible,” Paredes said.
She mentions that owning a business has great ups and downs, which can cause stress at times. “It is crucial to save as much money as possible, even when the business is doing really well. Most times businesses have seasons of high profit, and others when money gets tight, so one must have funds for emergencies,” Paredes said.
Overall, Becker and Paredes say that having your own business is very rewarding, and they wouldn’t trade the experience they have had for anything. “Never let fear get in the way of pursuing your dreams and passions,” Becker said.
Bibi Paredes in her home.
Amber Barron at Lassonde Studios.
Close-up view of SHERO’s pad. Image courtesy of Amber Barron.
An in-depth view of SHERO’s biodegradable pad layers. Image courtesy of Amber Barron.
Richard Becker in his home.
Packaged pomegranate arils by Rota Farms.
Joe Woolley
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
My story about an exciting new company in Salt Lake City really caught my attention when I saw an advertisement on Instagram. I didn’t know the person who uploaded the advertisement, however, I had a friend who shared it on to my Explore page. After witnessing this advertisement, I knew that this was something that I wanted to share with more people.
I was able to locate my sources through the advertisement. It documented the number of the owners and allowed me to reach out and make contact with them. I was also lucky enough to get some personal accounts from people who have had makeovers by the two owners.
The founders were the best sources for my story. Their insight into what it really takes to create a new business which nobody had ever tried before is something that no one else could have offered. I really hope that everybody can witness from my story how they overcame certain challenges.
Thankfully, I did not encounter any problems that affected my story or the way it was told.
I made sense of all the information I gained by constantly going back over my writing and absorbing all the information. I was making constant little changes to my writing until I saw a pattern which really made the story flow.
I would say the biggest challenge I encountered during this story was the writing process. It took a lot of time and stress to figure out how I wanted to portray the company, however, after learning how I wanted to write the story it became much more efficient and free-flowing.
I couldn’t have added more detail to the story without it becoming too much for the reader.
I surprised myself with how well I was able to adapt when an interview wasn’t going according to plan. In my first interview I came across some trouble when I wasn’t getting the information I wanted out of my source, but instead of settling for what he gave me I asked a few more questions which gave me some much-needed answers.
ABOUT ME:
I am a 20-year-old junior studying Journalism at the University of Utah. I have enjoyed my time here at the U, but I am excited to pursue my dreams in sports broadcasting. I am a proud member of the Utah men’s tennis team and I love giving back to the university community. I also plan on joining the U athletics council next year.
Sports has always been a massive part of my life and being able to incorporate that with my Journalism major is a dream come true for me. I would be thrilled to use my knowledge of sports and inform people about it through the form of broadcasting. I have an internship at the BBC next summer and I plan to take full advantage of the experience I gain to further knowledge on reporting.
When I am not in class you will find me on a tennis court, at a dog park, or sitting at home watching sports. I am currently writing an article about my time as a University student-athlete and plan to publish it when I graduate.
Three dessert shops in the Salt Lake Valley you need to try
Story and slideshow by ELIZABETH NYGAARD
Dessert is the best meal of the day.
If you’re looking for a delicious dessert for date night, family night or a birthday party, there are many Salt Lake City restaurants and bakeries where you can get your dessert fix. The list of desserts ranges from edible cookie dough, to out of the box ice cream, and gourmet desserts.
Edible cookie dough would have sounded weird a few years ago but Dough Co. a local Utah-based company, is doing dessert right, with eggless cookie dough options.
Dough Co. has a location in the Sugarhouse neighborhood at 2121 S. McClelland St. They are open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Dough Co. is opening a second location in South Jordan later this year.
Dough Co. offers a variety of edible cookie dough options, including milk n’ cookies, which is a scoop of edible cookie dough and ice cream and A shake with your choice of dough flavor blended with ice cream.
The Sander Family and Myles Sander, a student at Westminster, studying neuroscience were at Dough Co. to celebrate family night.
“We’ve been coming here for awhile now, my little brother loves cookie dough so whenever he picks dessert we come here.” he said.
Myles and his family shared the p’zookie, a warm skillet of melted cookie dough with ice cream on top.
Dough Co. has edible cookie dough in many different flavors ranging from: Chocolate Chip, Loaded Brownie, PB Explosion, Cake Batter, S’mores, Red Velvet, Oreo Thin Mint, Mexican Hot Chocolate and Salted Caramel Pretzel.
The March 2018 flavor of the month is Cookies & Cream.
Dough Co. gives out samples of dough for guests that are unsure of what to get.
If edible cookie dough isn’t your thing and you’re more of an ice cream person head to Trolley Square to try Normal ice cream.
Normal ice cream is a food truck located at 600 S. 700 East inside Trolley Square for the winter season. The shop is open Wednesday through Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday 1-7 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.
Normal is a local food truck and it is women owned and operated.
Gabby Snow, a student at the University of Utah and her boyfriend, Weston Don Merkey, love Normal ice cream.
“We went to Normal for ice cream for date night tonight. We love it here!” Snow said. “I got the Tutti Frutti (earl grey and pomegranate twist, fruity pebbles, passion fruit caramel, and toshi cherry) and Weston got a cone of the London Fog (Earl Grey soft serve, dark chocolate dip, lavender ganache, and cotton candy).”
Snow tells her friends, “The flavors are all diverse so if you’re looking for out of the box ice cream come here!”
Normal ice cream changes its ice cream flavors, but they are always diverse and exciting.
Normal serves composed cones, which are six specially created cones, and on Sundays Normal offers a doughnut ice cream sandwich. Other ice cream sandwiches include dulce de leche filled banana ice cream served between shortbread cookies and dipped in dark chocolate.
The base ice cream flavors right now are Earl Grey, Vanilla Bean, Pomegranate, and Nutella.
If you’re looking for an all-around dessert shop, Last Course is the place for you.
Last Course has two locations: at 115 South Regent St. in Salt Lake City and at 185 E. 12300 South in Draper. Both shops are open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Mayra Repetto, a student at the U studying biology, raves about Last Course.
“My friends surprised me with a trip to Last Course for my birthday! I’ve always loved Last Course and the desserts here,” she said.
Last Course has gourmet desserts and ice cream, such as Strawberry Nachos, 24 Karat Cake, and Glamping S’mores.
“My favorite is probably the Upside Down Caramel Apple Pie, it’s so dreamy,” Mayra Repetto said.
The Upside Down Caramel Apple Pie is a cinnamon roll filled with layers of warm apples covered with salted caramel sauce and a streusel topping.
Last Course isn’t limited to just desserts. It also features gourmet ice cream scoops.
Everyday flavors include Tahitian Vanilla, Breakfast Cereal, Smoked Maple Bacon, and Olive Oil.
The breakfast cereal ice cream is cream infused with Trix Cereal, with chunks of Lucky Charms throughout.
The workers at Last Course offer an unlimited amount of tastes for guests.
Last Course is a Utah company that uses local ingredients to make its desserts.
The dessert shops around the Salt Lake Valley are not limited to these three. There are many options. These three shops cover all dessert favorites and happen to be many people’s top-three places to go.
Just as Mayra Repetto believes: “Dessert is spent better with friends and family!”
Andrea Becerra
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
I originally developed my story ideas by beginning to think about how important it would be to let the readers know about small businesses in Utah. The reason why I wanted to focus on that was because I wanted a way to encourage University of Utah students to start their business and capture the unique experiences of several business owners.
I located one of my sources through one of my fellow classmates. A student heard my story idea and provided me the contact information for another University of Utah student who has started her own business. As for my other two sources, I was able to get in touch with them due to one of my good friends.
I found the best sources for my story because each one had a unique story to tell and each had unique advice for U students. Luckily, I did not encounter any obstacles, ethical issues or moral dilemmas. All sources were very open to answering questions and sharing their stories.
I decided my focus would be to highlight experiences of business owners. How I made sense of all the information I gathered was to revise my interview notes and highlight the most fitting information that fit my focus.
The writing process taught me a lot about my craft. I learned that I took useful notes while interviewing my sources and that recording the interview allowed me to not miss out on any important details.
What surprised me in the interviewing process was that all of my sources were happy to share their struggles, successes and what they would do differently if they could do it over again.
The overall lesson I learned from my interviews was to not let fear get in the way of what one wants to accomplish, and that being a student at the U comes with a lot of great benefits to help you every step of the way in starting a business.
ABOUT ME:
I always had a hard time figuring out exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I have always been interested in just about everything, which made it hard to narrow down what I wanted to do as a career. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a veterinarian, due to my love for animals. I changed my mind on that career as soon as I realized that I would be seeing many animals sick and injured.
I was raised having a business mindset. I grew up observing my dad run his business and teaching me many lessons. When I was around 7 years old, I began coming up with new ways to make some money. One of the ways I made money was that I asked my parents to buy me a bulk package of handmade greeting cards, and I went around my neighborhood and sold them individually. I quickly realized that I was not afraid to talk to anyone and that I wanted to have my own business someday.
When I was deciding what I exactly wanted to go to school for, it was a pretty easy choice. I am now a junior at the University of Utah and will be finishing in Spring 2019 with a BA in strategic communication. I am enjoying this major because it is setting up a great foundation for my MBA I plan to work hard for.
I am glad I have a great family that not only supports me but encourages me. I am thankful my dad taught me from a young age to be business-driven. He pushes me to be the best that I can be.
I enjoy a lot of activities in my free time. I love spending time outdoors, whether it is jogging at a park, walking my dogs, or hiking with friends. I really enjoy traveling to new places as often as I can, with my friends and family as well.
Girls on the Run: empowering girls from start to finish
Story and gallery by ERIN MARIE SLEATER
Girls on the Run Utah holds a simple yet powerful vision: creating a world where “every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.”
Girls on the Run International was founded in 1996 in Charlotte, North Carolina, before reaching Utah 11 years ago. “We started with two teams reaching about 30 girls,” Heidi Moreton, executive director of the Utah chapter, said. “Now, we have around 150 teams, 1,900 girls and 10,000 community members across Utah.”
The organization started with a group of volunteers and a few board members. Now there are five paid employees, 17 board members and hundreds of volunteers.
Moreton explains Girls on the Run is most easily defined as a nonprofit after-school youth development program. During the 12-week program, GOTR seeks to inspire girls to be healthy and confident through experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. The program aims to explore challenges participants face or will face in the future, as well as develop skills to navigate upcoming life experiences. Initially, the program gives girls a better understanding of individual identity, followed by emphasizing the importance of teamwork, then exploring how to positively connect with the community.
Moreton stresses that along with important life lessons, physical exercise is woven seamlessly into the program to implement healthy habits and an appreciation of fitness into the girls’ lives. The program leads to a 5-kilometer race giving the girls a framework for setting and achieving goals. GOTR also assists with educational expenses. With 55 percent of participants falling below the poverty line, the foundation will provide $160,000 in scholarships this year.
It’s easy to tell how passionate Moreton is about this organization. She beams as she explains what her position means: “As executive director, I am the leader of the organization. I always try to put the mission of the program first in all that I do. It is my goal to make sure I am delivering the highest quality program.”
Looking forward, Moreton explains she would like to increase GOTR Utah’s success by offering additional programming and events to support health and wellness.
“This year we are launching our summer programming, Camp GOTR, which will include the best of Girls on the Run programming combined with all the fun of summer camp. We also are offering our first ever women’s wellness event this year, called Actually I Can. The event will include life coaching activities that dive into how your thoughts drive your actions, body mapping, finding your soul line, meditation, yoga, a hike, and time well-spent with like-minded women.”
Pinpointing Moreton’s proudest moment at GOTR proved to be a challenge, as it became clear she has many to choose from. She settles on a moment from the 2016 5-kilometer race event at Liberty Park: “The last girl to cross the finish line had a disease which made it difficult for her to run. I was so proud to offer a program where this girl could really shine. Her mom and everyone who witnessed her finishing the race were in tears … her determination was so inspirational.”
It’s easy to see why GOTR Utah has grown so fast as Moreton explains the program more thoroughly. Through the program girls find the confidence, empowerment and the courage to be themselves. Lessons are designed to build girls’ self-worth and help them feel greater confidence in who they are. Activities help girls recognize their personal strengths and teach them how to stand up for themselves and others. Girls learn to recognize their star power and understand how to activate it. They learn to make healthy choices that stay with them for a lifetime.
Not only does the program benefit the participants, but the volunteers as well. Marissa Ulibarri, 20, started as a running buddy for the program but loved GOTR so much she became a junior coach, then a head coach while finishing her senior year of high school in Salt Lake City.
“The girls I worked with motivated me to be a better person,” Ulibarri says in a Skype interview. “Each time we met no matter how long of a day they had at school, they constantly gave it their all. Their positivity radiated and made my day so much better.”
Ulibarri says she also gained important leadership skills, as she was able to teach important lessons every day to the girls. “I was their mentor but they were my motivation to be an overall better person again. I wanted to be the best person that they could look up to.”
Ulibarri said she watches the girls gain self-confidence, communication skills, leadership and problem-solving skills, as well as gaining knowledge of stress, friendships, and intimate relationships, alcohol and drug abuse.
Moreton and Ulibarri both insist there’s no other organization that directly compares to GOTR. Ulibarri says, “The program benefits young girls to grow into mature young women who will be confident in themselves and their abilities, and gives a strong foundation to be powerful and influential women in our world.”
Participants had the opportunity to reflect on how running makes them feel before the race began.
Two participants show off their running numbers: #IAMA10.
Participants pose with their coach for a quick photo before the race.
A fun warmup is always held before the race begins.
Rain or shine: Moreton poses with fellow board member Shelley Snow at the annual race.
Participants hug after completing the race.
Participants striking a pose at one of the many photo ops at the event.
Participants crossing the finish line with a smile.
The 5-kilometer race starts off with a bang.
A father-daughter duo celebrate as they come close to crossing the finish line.
Best Friends Animal Society hopes to ‘Save Them All’ through NKUT initiatives
Story and gallery by KEATON SHIRK
The well-known scenery of Utah red rock complements the vast, open landscape that is home to 1,600 rescue animals in Kanab, Utah. Tucked away between national parks, these animals are living the good life.
The Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization providing a safe shelter for rescued animals brought in from around the world. Its strict policy as a no-kill animal organization aims to bring to the public’s attention solutions to help reduce the number of sheltered animals.
At the Best Friends Animal Society’s sanctuary, high-spirited and irresistibly lovable dogs greet you with wet kisses and the eagerness to tell their rescue story. They long for the right companion to come along with the willingness to lend an ear (maybe even a gentle belly rub too), while they grab your heart and prove why their life is valuable.
Pigs, bunnies, and parrots live at the sanctuary too and leave people impacted in unfamiliar yet awe-inspiring ways.
The Best Friends Animal Society was founded in the 1980s by a passionate group of individuals determined to save the lives of animals.
Despite the lack of public support and funding, Best Friends built the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary in Kanab in 1984. The sanctuary encompasses 3,700 acres of land.
“We had no visible means of support. We were hung out to dry. We were all in it together,” said Francis Battista, co-founder of Best Friends, on the website.
Euthanasia is the chosen method for population control in most animal shelters. In the 1980s, Best Friends Animal Society reported, “17 million animals were being killed each year in U.S Shelters.” Particularly, cats and dogs suffer from the highest kill rates among all sheltered animals.
Best Friends has initiated a campaign to make Utah a no-kill state. The initiative is called No-Kill Utah and it is hope to be reached by 2019.
The NKUT initiative began after the originators of Best Friends found themselves disturbed by the staggering statistic of cats and dogs killed yearly.
Best Friends has been working closely with animal shelters around Utah in an effort to break the rising trend of overpopulation in animal shelters. Overpopulation causes shelters to defer to euthanasia to reduce financial costs of caring for animals and maximizing space.
Right now Best Friends has partnered with 58 animal shelters in Utah. This number is growing as the campaign reaches new audiences.
All animals at Best Friends are given second chances, the kind of second chances that quite literally change their lives.
The slogan, “Save Them All,” is an anthem for employees and volunteers. It also serves as a compelling reminder, that killing homeless animals is an unnecessary solution to an issue that can be changed.
The sanctuary welcomes animals that have been neglected, treated unjustly or suffered life threatening physical conditions. The founders hoped, “to give homeless animals the chance to live a fulfilling life.”
Their hopes still reign true today. Every year, data is collected and shows more animals successfully leaving shelters alive to live in homes with welcoming hearts.
Because of the impact Best Friends had on the community of Utah animals, expansion is taking place in other cities in the United States. Best Friends adoption facilities are open in Atlanta, New York and two in Los Angeles.
Joan Filla, from Wisconsin, has been coming to Best Friends for nine years. She visits only three times each year.
She has witnessed the physical growth at Best Friend’s sanctuary. Filla said in an interview that there are more buildings available to care for animals.
Not only has Best Friends grown physically, Filla also said that awareness for sheltered animals is extending farther than Utah boundaries. She found the best way for her to advocate about the mission of Best Friends is to simply wear her volunteer T-shirt.
Filla said people consistently approach her and ask what Best Friends Animal Society is. She uses this interaction as a way to promote and advocate for the organization and the no-kill initiatives currently in effect.
Best Friends has initiated a campaign to make Utah a no-kill state. The initiative is called No-Kill Utah and it is hoped to be achieved by 2019.
This would mean all animals in the state of Utah are guaranteed their life, regardless if physical space in animal shelters is not available. If space is unavailable, animals are transported to partnering NKUT shelters that can accommodate them.
Best Friends encourages the type of community involvement, like that of Filla, to help spread the word about NKUT.
To successfully achieve NKUT by 2019, Utah must have a “combined save rate of 90 percent” in all animal shelters.
In other words, 90 percent of animals that enter shelters must leave alive. The remaining 10 percent takes into consideration natural deaths and terminal illnesses of animals.
Deb Parker, a previous volunteer who now works full time at Best Friends, moved from upstate New York to join the community and support the work of Best Friend’s sanctuary.
In an interview, Parker said, “In fiscal year 2017, we had an 87 percent save rate in the entire state of Utah, had close to 2,000 adoptions and did over 37,000 spays and neuters in the state alone.”
Parker added, “Yes, we are on track for both No-Kill Utah 2019 and No Kill 2025. Spread the word, the more people helping to achieve this, the better.” Best Friends plans to make all U.S. cities no-kill by 2025.
The NKUT initiative began after the originators of Best Friends found themselves disturbed by the staggering statistic of cats and dogs killed yearly.
In 2000, “nearly 38,000 healthy and adoptable animals were being killed in Utah every year,” reported Best Friends in an online news release.
That’s when NKUT was initiated. It was an aggressive attempt to reduce the rising yearly deaths among sheltered cats and dogs.
As of 2017, the number is down to roughly 2,400. Nearly half a million dogs and cats have been saved from 2000 to 2017.
Best Friend’s aspirations have been manifested by its work within Utah. Resources are available so Utah communities have the ability to promote NKUT and make the campaign a success by 2019.
Best Friends offers legislative empowerment to those who wish to take action through lobbying elected officials. Reaching out to elected officials is an efficient way to take action on pertinent bills regarding Best Friends and animal welfare.
Advocacy enables people to speak directly with lawmakers and become a voice for animals that have no representation. You can sign up online to join the legislative action network, receive emails, and connect with other Utahns.
Fighting breed-discrimination is another initiative of Best Friends that educates the public about breeds that are viewed as aggressive. Unfortunately, the media has given negative attention to pit bull terriers and other alike breeds because of their reputation in illegal dogfighting and aggressive behavior.
Eliminating breed-discrimination practices reduces the amount of dogs entering shelters that would be brought in from public enforcement and animal control groups.
BSL, which stands for breed-specific legislation, is a body of laws that aims to regulate breeds or dogs who resemble certain breeds, that are potentially dangerous. On Best Friend’s website, it said, “breed discriminatory legislation force many people to give up their beloved pets.” After such force, dogs are put into animal shelters and not adopted.
Best Friends refers to BSL as a “misconception” and usually enacted “to ease fears over public safety, but these laws are ineffective and very costly.”
In Utah, House Bill 97, signed by Gov. Gary Herbert, “protects pet owner property rights and allows responsible citizens to own any breed of dog they choose.” House Bill 97 was effective Jan. 1, 2015.
Events are held annually in Utah to offer community members the chance to get involved and show support for NKUT. Strut Your Mutt, NKUT Super Adoption, and training workshops and classes are happenings that occur throughout the year.
Best Friends provides spaying and neutering as another resource to reach NKUT. All animals admitted to shelters have the procedure. This procedure is routinely done and requires minimal downtime for pets. Low cost and potentially free spays or neuters are offered to community members’ pets too, courtesy of Best Friends.
Best Friends reports, spaying and neutering, “is one of the greatest gifts you can provide your pet, your family and your community” because it reduces the number of animals that initially enter shelters.
NKUT reported services will be provided “where they are needed most so that fewer animals go into shelters, and increase adoptions so that more animals are placed into new homes.”
NKUT strives to ensure that all sheltered animals are given the gift of life. Communities in Utah are being called to action.
Now is the time to spread the word and “Save Them All.”
The entrance to Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab.
A dog in its run at Kanab waiting for lunch.
A dog eating out of a special bowl to slow down her eating.
A dog lying down receiving a belly rub in Kanab.
A dog barking at volunteers and visitors at the Sugar House location.
A dog waiting to get walked by volunteers at Best Friends Animal Society in the Sugar House neighborhood .
An adoptable cat relaxes in its cage at the Sugar House location.
Two single moms open medical spa in Salt Lake City
Story and gallery by ASHLEIGH ZAELIT
Devynne Toote wakes up in the morning and takes her 3-year-old daughter Grei to her mother’s house. She grabs her morning coffee, and gets ready for work. When Devynne gets off around 7 p.m. she picks up her daughter to go home and make dinner together. She gives Grei a bath, they read a bedtime story, and then it’s time for bed.
Toote referred to her life as “work and mom.”
Yet Toote, who is a single mom, doesn’t mind this exhausting schedule because she is turning her dreams of owning a medical spa into a reality. She owns Bye Bye Med Spa with friend Kaeci Durfey, who is also a single mother.
Toote met Durfey seven years ago at the Mandalyn Academy, the beauty school they both attended. They became best friends and moved in together.
“We had always wanted to open up a med spa, it was our dream,” Toote said.
After school Toote started doing eyelash extensions. She later started training where she taught students the ins and outs of lash extensions, and even started her own lash company.
Toote was 20 years old when she got pregnant with Grei, and has been working to show her daughter that she can do anything.
“I just want to be a great example for my daughter,” Toote said. “Being a single mom and working full time is not easy but it’s fulfilling at the end of the day when you start accomplishing things. We don’t have time to waste. It’s hard to do alone but both my parents have helped me along the way. What makes the biggest difference is having a support system.”
She said it can be very difficult to balance the need to work to earn a living with the desire to spend time with her daughter.
Toote said it can be daunting to be a single parent and entrepreneur. But she advised other women, “Don’t let the fear of it all stop you. As long as you’re working hard and remember who it’s for, it will all be worth it.”
Kaeci Durfey is a medical esthetician. A medical esthetician specializes in advanced skin care treatments to develop and maintain healthy, beautiful skin.
Durfey provides the service of microneedling. This is a treatment that improves the look of scars, fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, and minimizes pores.
She starts the microneedling treatment by cleansing the face. Then she uses a device that stimulates the production of collagen, uses different kinds of light therapy, and removes impurities. Next she applies a topical numbing cream on the face followed by going over the face with a microneedling tool.
Both Durfey and Toote loved their jobs, but they wanted to expand. Opening Bye Bye Med Spa was the first step in their 20-year plan.
Bye Bye Med Spa is located at 4698 S. Highland Drive in Millcreek. Services include Injections like Botox, microdermabrasion to lighten and tighten the skin, eyelash extensions, microblading, waxing, airbrush spray tanning, and even weight loss programs. The spa also gives clients a great selection of everyday skin care as well as supplements.
Toote and Durfey would love to help others accomplish their goals and are leasing out rooms to anyone, even those who aren’t estheticians. Rent starts at $650 a month and includes social media marketing, business financial services, and web design.
Kendall Robbs is a 21-year-old single mom who rents out a room at Bye Bye Med Spa. She provides facial waxing and eyebrow tinting, and she specializes in microblading.
Microblading is a type of permanent makeup applied to your eyebrow. Robbs uses a special blade to tattoo individual hair strokes giving a fuller, natural looking brow.
Kendall moved from Salt Lake City to Orem two years ago for an internship where she learned microblading. She decided to move to Bye Bye Med Spa because the location would better accommodate her clients.
“The location is great, and everyone offers something different vs. other places where everybody just does one thing. Since there are individual rooms each client gets a more comfortable experience,” Robbs said.
Robbs related with Toote and Durfey, saying, “They are young single moms trying to build a career and I just really connected with them being a single mom as well. We just get each other.”
Toote and Durfey have a lot of plans for Bye Bye Med Spa, including offering cool sculpting. Cool sculpting is a device that dissolves fat cells in the area of choice.
They just recently got a laser to provide skin-resurfacing, laser hair removal, and tattoo removal for their clients. Kybella was also recently added, which is an injection that completely paralyzes fat. They would like to partner with a plastic surgeon in the future.
Bye Bye Med Spa is planning a grand opening this upcoming summer but anyone is currently welcome to set up an appointment for a skin care treatment, eyelash extensions, microblading, or spray tanning session.
The confidence of their customers is their top priority. All women and men are welcome, regardless of their color, shape, or size.
Kendall Robbs’ room where she does eyebrow shaping, waxing and microblading.
Bye Bye Med Spa displays supplements and skin care products that are offered to clients.
Rooms may be rented for a day, photo shoots, tattooing or other uses.
Owners of Bye Bye Med Spa: Devynne Toote, and Kaeci Durfey. Photo courtesy of Devynne Toote.
Enjoy a snack while you wait in this upscale foyer.
The chic hallway gives Bye Bye Med Spa a unique look.
Relax as you get your eyelash extensions by Devynne Toote.
The University of Utah brings benefits to local students through Piano Outreach Program
Story and gallery by KATYA WAGSTAFF
When school ends, many kids race out as fast as they can. But others stay to play music written hundreds of years ago. While they wait, some are doing cartwheels or chatting with other students about book fair and recess. Some eat a snack or run around the room. All are waiting for piano lessons.
Faculty, graduate and undergraduate students studying piano at the University of Utah School of Music extend group piano lessons to five local elementary schools through the Piano Outreach Program. Three of the schools are Title I, which means that a large percentage of students come from low-income families. Students at these schools participate in the Piano Outreach Program for free.
According to the program’s website, “The program not only helps them learn a life-long skill, but also seeks to improve their performance in core academic subjects, like math and reading, and to prevent behavior and truancy problems.”
The program’s website further states that the program benefits School of Music piano majors by providing teaching opportunities and the chance to “learn valuable life lessons through service, preparing them for future careers.”
Mio Cowden, coordinator of the Piano Outreach Program, has a short break between private piano lesson instruction. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance and music history. She teaches at Salt Lake Community College, University of Utah Preparatory Division, and the Piano Outreach Program.
Her piano studio is a small, insulated room holding two sleek, black baby grand pianos side by side. In the corner is a small desk covered with music files. She relaxes on a piano bench with her back leaning against the wall.
Cowden’s role as coordinator entails training graduate student assistants, organizing fundraising and donations, scheduling assignments, observing each school once a month to check students’ progress, contacting principals and answering parents’ questions. “Basically I do a lot of stuff,” she said, laughing.
The program currently teaches approximately 200 students in five schools. These piano lessons expose elementary-aged students to the “joy of music,” Cowden said.
“There are so many kids, not just at Title I schools, who have never had the opportunity to learn piano,” she said.
“When a child walks into my classroom, the circumstances under which they live don’t really matter. That’s what I love about music, it is universal to anyone, no matter their situation. If anything, these children in tough circumstances are more grateful for an opportunity to do something new.”
– Claire Thueson, graduate instructor at Washington Elementary
When students begin piano lessons “they find another talent that they didn’t know they had and they get so excited,” she said.
Cowden explained that not only kids, but their parents also get excited. For example, a father told Cowden about his daughter, a third-grader from Afghanistan who attended one of the Piano Outreach Program elementary schools. Her older brother participated in the piano classes. She wanted to participate, too. However, in her family’s culture and religion, girls don’t learn to play instruments.
This girl still wanted to learn and asked her dad, “Why did you come to America?”
He responded, “To give you more opportunities.”
“Then give me the opportunity to learn the piano!” she cried.
“Let me think about it,” her dad replied.
The next day he decided his daughter was right and gave her permission to attend piano classes after school.
She was very dedicated, Cowden said, and learned Mozart’s “Turkish March” in just one year.
Cowden turns to the piano and plays the first few seconds of the fast-paced piece. This piece is generally for intermediate, not beginner students.
The young girl played this piece at the final concert, held at the School of Music’s Thompson Chamber Hall. Her parents and siblings attended the performance and were thrilled. Her dad realized that girls should also learn what they want to.
Shortly after, her dad called Cowden and relayed their story. He added that after the concert, he bought his daughter a keyboard as a present.
“I’m glad I got her a keyboard,” he says, “but I almost regret it because she’s unstoppable. She practices from morning to night!”
Her brother dropped out of the program, but she never misses a class.
“I’m not trying to change anyone’s culture,” Cowden adds, “because it’s really up to them. But it’s very exciting to see a girl take this opportunity and find a new talent.”
Claire Thueson is a doctoral student who also is currently a graduate instructor at Washington Elementary, a local Title I school.
She spends about 12 hours every week preparing for and teaching 24 students at the elementary school.
“I have students of all ages and backgrounds that come to piano class, anywhere from first-graders to sixth-graders,” Thueson said via email.
The kids are split into groups: one plays musical games or worksheets with an undergraduate assistant, while the other group practices on the keyboards for their recital. Thueson rotates the groups, “giving assistance and offering encouragement and correction when needed.”
Similar to Cowden, Thueson believes some of the strengths of the program are that it is “able to offer exposure to music to a large number of children that otherwise may not get the opportunity.”
Some of the challenges she faces include making sure each child is getting “personalized education and attention,” despite their various ages and abilities.
Although she teaches at a Title I school with a high percentage of students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, Thueson said, “I honestly don’t notice a huge amount of difference. When a child walks into my classroom, the circumstances under which they live don’t really matter. That’s what I love about music, it is universal to anyone, no matter their situation. If anything, these children in tough circumstances are more grateful for an opportunity to do something new.”
Another graduate instructor, Cheney Doane, teaches at Uintah Elementary. This school does not have Title I status, so the class is fee-based, though group class tuition is cheaper than private piano lessons.
His classes also include a range of students from first to fourth grade. Although it’s a challenge to keep them engaged despite different levels, Doane also considers the age range a benefit.
“It’s an asset to have this group of students together because they can learn from each other.”
Not all of these kids will continue studying music, but that’s OK, Doane said. If they want to continue, the Piano Outreach Program provides a “stable foundation” in music. If they don’t, it’s still a “positive, brain-healthy way to spend time after school.”
Doane wants his students to have fun and look forward to this class.
“I want their association with music to be positive, not filled with dread,” he said.
Doane’s most rewarding moments are at the end of lessons when parents come to pick up their children. A student will run up and say, “Mom or Dad, come listen to this piece that I can play!”
The Piano Outreach Program takes a lot of commitment and time. “There are days when you walk in thinking, ‘I don’t want to do this today,’” Doane said, “and you walk out thinking, ‘Man, I’m really glad I had Outreach today.’”
A U graduate student teaches students a music principle. Photo from U Piano Outreach website.
A student volunteer practices on a Steinway and Sons piano (well-renowned company).
Students practice piano in their biweekly lesson. Photo from U Piano Outreach website
Students perform in a concert at Thompson Chamber Hall, on the University of Utah campus. Photo by Mio Cowden
A sleek, black baby grand piano.
Washington Elementary is one of the Title I schools participating in the Piano Outreach Program.
Uintah Elementary is another school participating in the Piano Outreach Program.
A student volunteer practices a piece from memory.
There are 88 keys on a piano.
Katya Wagstaff
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
I love the performing arts and community outreach. The benefits of being involved in the performing arts (including developing confidence, talent and creativity) shouldn’t be restricted only to individuals in higher socioeconomic classes with lots of discretionary income. Everyone should have opportunities, especially children.
My roommate is a piano performance major and during our freshman year, she was a volunteer in the Piano Outreach Program. I didn’t know a lot about it, but it sounded interesting. Fast forward to last semester when I was heavily involved in researching how to overcome socioeconomic boundaries in extracurricular arts programs. One night I was in a rut with my research, so I talked through it with this same roommate. She reminded me of the Piano Outreach Program.
It ended up not fitting in my research project that semester, but I was determined to learn more about it.
At the beginning of this semester, Professor Mangun asked each of us to think about a topic to explore for our enterprise story. I immediately thought about the Piano Outreach Program. I finally get to learn more about it!
One of my sources, Mio Cowden, the coordinator of the Piano Outreach Program, has been a tremendous help. She is very passionate about the program and its effect on students. Although she is very busy with administrative and teaching duties, she took time to answer all my emails and meet in person to chat. She has also been the key to finding other sources willing to share their experiences and insights as teachers in the program.
Another benefit of meeting Mio was getting to practice my Japanese again! She was born in Japan and I lived there for a while, but don’t get many chances to speak anymore. Part of the interview was Japanese (especially when she got excited) and the rest in English. Though all of the quotes in the story are her words, not a translation.
While thinking about a focus for this story, I was interested in how the Piano Outreach Program helps refugees and other lower socioeconomic class students. However, when talking to my sources, I heard a unified message: Who cares about their background? Music unites students because during this time, labels fall away and they are just children learning music.
ABOUT ME:
Musical theater holds my heart.
I grew up singing, dancing, acting and keeping my sights set on Broadway. Along the way, I loved thinking and writing about shows. At the University of Utah, I started as a musical theater major, then made my way to the Department of Communication because I love strategizing and writing. I now major in communication with an emphasis in strategic communication and a minor in theater.
In a world where the arts can make a significant impact but get rampantly cut from budgets, I want to persuade decision-makers to understand the importance of arts and make opportunities available to everyone, particularly young students, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Someday I dream of being a marketing/communications director for a fine arts organization, preferably a theater company!
Morgan Stewart
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
With the society that we live in it is becoming more and more common to compare ourselves to others. Media in all forms are extremely present in society even for young children. My entire life I have struggled with self-image and low self-esteem as many others have too. But what is different now than when I was a child is the easy access to social media, a platform designed specifically to show other people what you want them to see about your life.
Recently while scrolling through Instagram I came across a profile of someone who was discussing the harmful effects of social media. The profile described the connection between social media and comparison, depression and even increased suicide rates. This was terrifying to me. I know that when I get on social media it is easy to feel all of those effects and emotions but I have been able to turn it off and forget about it. However, others are not.
Originally this is the story I wanted to tell. The damaging effects of social media and how it is affecting us as adults and our youth. How easy these platforms make it for us to compare our lives, beauty and worth to others. This was until I learned of the Kite sisters. Lindsay and Lexie Kite are graduates of the University of Utah and creators of the nonprofit Beauty Redefined.
These women are some of the most knowledgeable women I have learned about. And they have created a message that should be shared with all young girls and adults around the world. The women portray everything that it means to be strong, healthy and beautiful from the inside out. Instead of discussing the damage that can come from social media these women discuss the importance of positive body image and how we can learn to deal with the harmful ideologies portrayed in the media. The identical twins travel the world teaching women how to redefine what beauty means and that our looks do not define us.
This is now the story that I want to share. The story of these two incredible sisters who have an even more incredible message to share with the world about the importance of body image positivity.
ABOUT ME:
I am currently a strategic communication major at the University of Utah and will be graduating in the spring of 2019. Currently I run my own business as a hair stylist, which allows me to show my creativity while forming relationships with each client who sits in my chair. But what I love most about my job is the ability it gives me to make others feel confident about themselves.
Keaton Shirk
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
Contemplation leaves my mind a little confused given too much time. I felt I had so many topics to write about that choosing just one felt impossible. OK, maybe not impossible, but certainly difficult.
Actually, I didn’t even come up with the idea to write about Best Friends Animal Society. Any guess as to who did? Well, just like a lot of other decisions in my life, my parents suggested the topic.
Every initial idea I had seemed great, but I couldn’t find enough information to highlight that would make a story interesting. It was one of those necessary breakups with my ideas that ended in a, “It’s not you, it’s me.” Luckily there weren’t too many hearts broken.
It wasn’t the people or businesses involved in my potential stories, but it was me. I couldn’t seem to create ideas that deserved at least 850 words. My professor, Kimberley Mangun, told the class our first ideas were probably not going to be what we ended up writing about. I didn’t think much of this. I thought my ideas were great.
What I thought then is different than what I think now. I feel more humble about my approach to writing, like story ideas that present themselves in subtle ways are the ones that are worth further exploration.
After the mention of Best Friends from my mother, my first thought was, “Wow! I can go on a trip to Kanab and spend all day with dogs!” That didn’t seem like a bad idea at all.
I admit the idea of visiting 1,700 animals was persuasive, but all throughout my life I have volunteered with animal organizations and grown up in a family that raised what we called “muts” from the pound; otherwise known as rescue dogs from animal shelters. The topic was one I related to and felt compassion for.
To clarify, I wasn’t the “mut” nor was I from the pound, but ask a family member and they might say vice versa.
I began my story as any millennial might do. I went straight to social media. I made a post on Facebook in the Best Friends volunteer Facebook group.
My post gained a lot of interest. Employees and volunteers reached out to offer any help they could with my story.
I was shocked. I was pleased. And I was ready to start writing.
I direct messaged the individuals on Facebook who I was interested in interviewing. We exchanged our schedules and then coordinated a time to meet while I was volunteering at the Best Friend’s sanctuary.
I was inspired by everyone I talked to. I learned a lot of interesting facts as well. One woman I met began volunteering at Best Friends after she watched a TV show called “Dogtown,” which was filmed at the sanctuary in Kanab. She’s also from Wisconsin and has been volunteering for eight years now. She flies to Kanab three times a year.
I managed to interview her on one out of three times she will be in Kanab this year. You could say it wasn’t mere luck, but destiny.
I knew No-Kill Utah was a significant movement, but I was unaware of the resources available for community members to become involved.
NKUT was my focus for a couple reasons. One being that Best Friends hopes to reach no-kill status by 2019, so proximity of time worked out great for me. Another reason being the work of Best Friends, made possible by employees and volunteers, in my opinion deserved recognition.
During my researching process, I was completely overwhelmed by the information available to me. I couldn’t find a starting point. There was so much to be written about and after my first rough draft I felt I had brain dumped a lot of information into a Word document that wasn’t cohesive.
It look a lot of editing before I was pleased with my work. Most importantly, I wanted Best Friends to be pleased by my work.
I had a rewarding experience writing about Best Friends. Writing profiles as I did showed me that journalism can be symbiotic for both the writer and the subject.
It’s personal experiences like this that make all efforts seem beneficial to my success as a professional and individual.
ABOUT ME:
Keaton Shirk grew up in Dallas, Texas, until moving away to attend Santa Barbara Community College in Santa Barbara, California, after she graduated high school. While taking in the sunshine and sea breeze, she took courses to complete her associate degree and decide what career she found herself most passionate about.
In her free time, she volunteered at the Santa Barbara Food Bank, where she gleaned fruits from community members’ trees. The gleaned fruit was then distributed to fellow community members who relied on the support of the food bank. It was an uplifting experience for her. Many of the people she volunteered with are still great friends to her now.
After completing her general academic requirements in Santa Barbara, Keaton transferred to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Before officially transferring, she did not go to school for one semester. She did this so she could spend time exploring Utah.
Everywhere Keaton travels she seeks out businesses and nonprofit organizations that are helping local communities. She enjoys supporting those that strive to support others on a daily basis. This passion led her to eventually becoming a board member for the Sugar House Farmer’s Market. She assisted with social media and website management.
Once university classes started, Keaton began exploring the resources offered at the U. She found the opportunity to take an internship position in Barcelona, Spain. The internship taught Keaton valuable skills that are only acquired in real-life experience. Keaton wrote for the company’s blog and enjoyed building a portfolio with creative content inspired by her life in Spain. Due to the exposure Keaton received working at a touristic company, she found an interest in the travel industry.
Since Keaton has returned to Utah, she values the knowledge she gained from her internship and is therefore exploring other internship opportunities in Utah and abroad. Currently, Keaton is majoring in communication with an emphasis in journalism and minoring in parks, recreation and tourism with an emphasis in sustainable tourism. Keaton hopes to graduate the U by 2020 and find a career that combines her appreciation for communication and tourism.
For the love of books
Story and gallery by KATHERINE ROGERS
The tinkle of a bell, the smell of paper, the sight of colorful covers on the shelves, a friendly face greeting you from behind a counter. Nothing is quite like the feeling of an independent bookstore.
The local bookstore is a unique place. Each of the following bookstores brings something different to the community. All of them create a place for lovers of literature of all kinds to find their people.
The King’s English Bookshop, located at 1511 S. 1500 East, opened in 1977 by Betsy Burton. For the last 41 years it has been a favorite of many Salt Lake City locals.
General Manager Anne Holman explained what has kept the store around all this time. It is the community. The store provides a safe place where readers can connect and discover new literature.
Customers of all ages and backgrounds frequent the King’s English. In fact, Holman said there is no typical patron. “I don’t think readers are ‘average,’” she said.
The King’s English provides more than just books. The store holds all sorts of events. Once a week there is a story time in the children’s section. There were launch parties when the “Harry Potter” series was being released. The tickets for that event went very quickly.
Holman also talked about the authors who have been invited to the store, such as Stephen King and Diana Gabaldon, author of the “Outlander” series. Sometimes these writers have in-store book signings or give talks off-site. The goal of these events is to bring literature to the community.
Holman does worry about online book dealers like Amazon. Not only do these dealers take money away from the community, but they don’t provide the same experience as the bookstore.
One of the best parts of a local bookstore is when you can sense the seller’s passion for what he/she does. This feeling is obvious when you walk into Dark Soldier Comics, found at 8521 S. State St.
Sinai Valero, inspired by her love of comics, opened Dark Soldier Comics with her family in 2014.
At the time Valero was still a junior at Bingham High School. She had fallen in love with comics a few years before, after discovering the “Spawn” series.
After deciding to open the store, Valero wanted to make sure she knew what she was doing. So, she spent a long time doing research on the business. She even trained for three days at a comic bookstore in Las Vegas.
As a result, Dark Soldier is still open while other comic bookstores in the Salt Lake Valley have been closing. Valero credits this to staying on top of the comic trends.
The store sells everything from DC Comics to anime merchandise. At Dark Soldier you can buy single issue comics or a tradeback, a compilation of single issues, if you fall behind on your single issues. Plus, you get a chance to talk comics with Valero, someone who knows and cares a lot about them.
Dark Soldier Comics often has booths at conventions. Anime Banzai is one of Valero’s favorite events. Her booth is among the few that focus on comics, so hers stands out in the crowd.
The internet provides a problem for local comic bookstores. Downloadable comics take away the need to purchase the latest issue at the store. However, those downloads aren’t as friendly as Dark Soldier.
If you’re looking for something more unique, you should check out Ken Sanders Rare Books 268 S. 200 East.
The owner, Ken Sanders, has had many roles before he became an antiquity literary dealer in 1997. These roles have included a “cowboy printer,” a comic book geek, and a radical environmentalist. Each of these roles helped create the matchless atmosphere of the store.
Like King’s English there is no average customer at Ken Sanders Rare Books. Instead the customers come in all shapes, sizes and ages. From the serious literary collector, to young children, who get to pick a free kids’ book, they all enjoy getting lost in the store’s maze of shelves.
Many bookstores have a specific genre that sells better than others. In Ken Sanders’ store the thing that sells best is whatever he and his sellers are most passionate about.
And they are passionate about their books. Sanders often says that he loves “books like Scrooge McDuck loves money.” He has even sold some of his favorite books just by reading an excerpt to a customer.
Ken Sanders Rare Books hosts all sorts of events. It has had readings from authors like Edward Abbey, author of “Desert Solitaire” and “The Monkey Wrench Gang,” and Charles Bowden, author of “Down by the River: Drugs, Money, Murder and Family.” The store even puts on concerts for indie musicians.
Sanders loves these events. He says they feel like a success, not if they make a lot of money, but when they are well attended and well liked. They are successful when they start discussions.
Like other bookstores, Sanders’ biggest concern right now is online book shopping. But one of the best parts of a bookstore, Sanders says, is that you learn about amazing books you never would have heard of anywhere else — books like “Leavings,” a collection of poems by Wendell Berry.
Despite the threat of online shopping, bookshops are likely here to stay. Each of the booksellers pointed out that online shopping does not provide the same feeling independent bookstores do. As Ken Sanders said, “Finding something you didn’t know you were looking for, that’s the serendipity of the bookshop.”
Anne Holman, manager of The King’s English Bookshop.
The mystery section of The King’s English Bookshop.
Sinai Valero, owner of Dark Soldier.
Inside Dark Soldier Comics.
Ken Sanders, owner of Ken Sanders Rare Books.
A reading corner in Ken Sanders Rare Books.
Katherine Rogers
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
I have always been a reader. Even before I could read I would beg my parents to read everything to me. Naturally, when I learned that I would need to write a story my thoughts leapt to books.
My thoughts also went to my friend Sinai Valero. I’ve known Valero since elementary school. In that time, I have managed to interview her for almost every project like this that I have had.
Since Valero owns a comic bookstore and is my favorite interviewee of past projects, I started to formulate a plan to write a feature on local bookstores.
Finding resources for my story was much easier than I expected.
Getting hold of Valero was no problem, seeing as we have been friends for so long. I got in contact with Anne Holman and Ken Sanders through family. My uncle has worked with both of them. He was kind enough to put me in touch with them.
These people were perfect for my story. Since each of them run a local bookstore, they know a lot about the industry.
Making sense of my information wasn’t hard. Each of my interviewees talked a lot about the communities surrounding his/her store and the threat of online shopping. So, when I sat down to go through my notes the focus was obvious.
The actual writing was harder. The most difficult part of writing was getting started. There were many times when I sat down in front of my laptop, opened a Word document, and then immediately shut down my laptop. But eventually I told myself that I needed to get something done. So, I wrote an outline. Seeing my story laid out made it feel much more doable. Suddenly, the writing came easily.
What surprised me about this whole experience is how much I enjoyed interviewing. As I mentioned, I have already done a few interviews, but it was only with friends. The idea of interviewing strangers was daunting. But I loved it. I’m excited to see where this newfound love of interviewing will take me.
ABOUT ME:
I am a communications major at the University of Utah. My intention is to graduate in the spring of 2020 with an emphasis in journalism. I grew up around the news, spending my childhood as a “backseat listener” of NPR. I’ve always been fascinated by world events and politics. As a result, I have grown to love hearing and telling others’ stories.
Journalism wasn’t my first choice for a career. Along with an interest in news and politics, I also have a fascination with plants and animals. My plan was to go into biology. However, I quickly discovered this was not what I needed to be doing. After some introspection, I realized that writing is more suited to my talents.
I look forward to getting further into the journalism field and to learning more about what is going on in my world.
Elizabeth Nygaard
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
When thinking of what to write about for my story, I had many ideas in my mind. I thought about writing on service dogs, cheap airline flights and local coffee shops.
One idea stuck out though, dessert.
I am in love with dessert; it is my favorite meal of the day. Ever since I could eat sweets, I was a dessert girl!
I knew I wanted my story to be fun — there is nothing about a dessert that’s not fun! I didn’t want to write about anything serious or of a hot topic because that’s just not me.
I wrote my story on three local dessert shops in Salt Lake City. I wanted to focus on different styles of dessert. Ranging from edible cookie dough, incredible ice cream, and gourmet desserts I hit all the dessert bases.
It was hard to pick only three dessert shops; I had people giving me recommendations left and right.
I thought it was so interesting how relatable dessert is and how no one talks about it. It is always an afterthought. Maybe that’s why dessert comes after dinners. If you want me to be honest though, dessert comes before dinner for me.
To begin my story I had to hit up the dessert spots and get the best desserts
To no one’s surprise my boyfriend was ecstatic to get out and try all the desserts in Salt Lake. My original plan was to go to one shop every weekend, but we ended up going every night. It was just too much fun trying different sweets!
The first shop we went to was Dough Co. For a Tuesday night this place was insanely busy. We got delicious cookie dough recommended by the employees and talked to this awesome family who was out for family night.
This family gave me another excuse to go out for dessert! Family time!
On Wednesday night we went to Last Course in Salt Lake City. Last Course is the reason I wanted to write about dessert. This place takes dessert to the next level.
Last Course offers ice cream and gourmet treats. The workers push newcomers to taste test all the ice cream options.
We ended up with two desserts and two ice cream scoops. For two people this was more than enough dessert. We chose the Glaming S’mores and the Upside Down Caramel Apple Pie based on a recommendation of the employees.
For our last and final dessert stop we hit up Normal Ice Cream. This is a food truck but is in Trolley Square for the winter.
It features a good deal of diverse ice cream options. After reading through the menu we ended up getting the signature White Out and London Fog ice cream cones.
These aren’t like normal ice cream cones. The only word I can think of to explain these cones is: beautiful.
Going through this experience of having dessert every night for a week was amazing. I would recommend anyone to do it. I loved all the different options available in Salt Lake City.
Dessert should be everyone’s favorite meal of the day. Dessert makes everyone happy and everyone deserves to be happy!
ABOUT ME:
Growing up I never knew what I wanted to do. My friends wanted to be firefighters, veterinarians and doctors. I still had no idea what I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to. My whole life I’ve been surrounded by marketing. My dad’s been working with the same company since I was born. I’ve been surrounded by catch phrases and commercials.
Throughout high school I was interesting in psychology and how people work. Going into college psychology was going to be my specialty, and I was excited. Like many other college students I took my first biology class and figured out science wasn’t my thing. To be successful in psychology, it is recommended to head for a pre-med route. I knew I couldn’t do that since science and math just aren’t my thing. My second idea was to head to business school and go into marketing. When I talked to advisors they recommended strategic communication, because this would let me be creative but still work for a marketing company. I am currently a sophomore and starting my major. I am so happy to be starting what I want to do.
On top of studying and working I’ve been training service dogs for military veterans. This has to be the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my lifetime. Working with veterans and seeing first hand how my efforts can change someone’s life is amazing.
Eric Jerome
MY STORY:
MY BLOG:
As a member of the climbing team, the idea to highlight the team and its success seemed very appealing. I chose a variety of sources, the first, Danny Popowski, was an easy choice as he had started the team himself a few years ago. His perspective seemed invaluable to the story, and his comments really communicated to the reader how successful the team has been.
For my other sources, Monica Barnes and Sam Enright, I wanted to highlight that the team is made up of both seasoned climbers as well as newer, less experienced climbers. Barnes, having only recently begun climbing, provided us with a fresh and genuine perspective. Enright was able to provide readers the perspective of a very accomplished, goal-oriented climber.
During the course of writing this story I was pleased to not be met with many obstacles. My interviews went smoothly and my sources were very helpful. I gathered quite a bit of information from my interviews, but I wanted to keep my focus on the experience level of the climbers, how the team has helped them, and how they are preparing for nationals.
The actual act of writing this story was pretty easy for me. I simply decided on what kind of lead I wanted, what tone I wanted to set, and how I wanted to portray my sources. I really enjoyed this story and I hope the audience is captivated by my narrative and intrigued by the climbing team and storytelling.
ABOUT ME:
Eric Jerome is a student at the University of Utah studying strategic communication. Born in Finksburg, Maryland, Eric only recently moved to Utah to pursue his love of rock climbing. Aside from climbing, Eric also enjoys making art and eating copious amounts of food.
University of Utah fraternity partners with Rape Recovery Center
Story and slideshow by MADDY HOWARD
Don’t walk to your car alone. Don’t go on a run without pepper spray. Don’t make eye contact too long. Don’t dress like you’re asking for it.
All of these are “rules” young people have been told in hope of avoiding sexual assault.
Sexual assault is an epidemic that has affected campuses nationwide. Universities such as Stanford, Brown and Baylor all have an extensive history of sexual assault on campus. Many people do not believe universities are doing enough to keep students safe.
Well, what if someone told you a fraternity was speaking out against sexual assault?
At the University of Utah, Beta Theta Pi is dedicated to making a change. Beta is a fraternity which brands itself as men of principle.
These men excel in academics with an overall average GPA of 3.4. Additionally, they have the highest GPA out of any organization, club, or team at the University of Utah, according to the office of the Dean of Students. “These men hold themselves to the highest standard possible which makes them one of the most respected fraternities on campus,” said Josie Karren, a U student and Delta Gamma member.
Beta is partnered with the Rape Recovery Center in hopes of changing sexual assault not only at the U, but across the nation.
The Rape Recovery Center is a nonprofit organization in Salt Lake City. Services include support, testing and providing hope for victims from every walk of life. RRC helps people understand they are not alone, and understand that their attack does not define them.
Beta has been working with RRC for almost five years. Stereotypes tell the world fraternity men are part of the problem and are nothing but partiers. In 2014, the U’s chapter of Beta Theta Pi was featured on the Dr. Phil show. Phil McGraw’s wife, Robin McGraw, was in awe of what these men are trying to accomplish.
Philanthropy Week is full of fundraising for the RRC and happens every fall and spring. For Beta members, it’s a time to raise money for victims. Taking place from Feb. 26-March 3, spring 2018 Philanthropy Week was a huge success, according to Noah Carr. He is the current vice president of internal programming. His duties include planning events throughout the week. Many of these events take place at the recently renovated $2.3 million chapter house.
Beta planned fun events that brought all of Greek row, and even some non-Greeks out to support. From designing hoodies to creating pop sockets as a unique way to raise money, Carr was dedicated to finding ways to raise money.
“Handling the Philanthropy Week for Beta was an unbelievable and humbling experience. Working so close with the RRC and proactively doing things for the community is what makes all the work worth it. We raised $14,000 for this great organization in less than six days and it’s an awesome feeling to know you’re making a difference,” Carr said.
In addition to raising funds for RRC, many of the fraternity members spend time volunteering. Many of these men help however they can at the RRC in their free time.
Volunteering requires 40 hours of extensive training. Many Betas are hotline counselors. This means they act as an over-the-phone counselor to victims. These volunteers have saved lives by talking to victims.
“I started picking up shifts every week. I like the idea that I am there if someone needs me,” Ravi Sharma said in a recent recruitment video. Sharma has been a member of Beta for two years and is passionate about the partnership with the RRC.
On campus, Beta started organizing sexual assault forums once every semester. These are open discussions about sexual assault that are open to anybody. The forums are designed to be a relaxed environment to talk about intense subjects.
Members of Beta Theta Pi believe men need to do more to stand up against sexual violence. During an interview, there was a clear theme. They want victims to know they are not alone. These men want to speak out on an issue that has been swept under the rug for far too long.
Anthony Panuzio, 20, the current president of Beta, said the partnership with RRC is a main reason why he even chose Beta in the first place.
“I am honored to represent a group of men that are dedicated to change. Sexual violence is something many people just don’t want to talk about. Talking about it is the only way we are going to make a difference. It makes me proud that Beta’s aren’t afraid to be the ones who speak out,” Panuzio said.
In America, someone is sexually assaulted every 98 seconds. One in three women and one in five men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, according to RAINN.
It is time for serious change.
Everyone knows someone who has been affected by sexual assault. In a recent video Beta Theta Pi released, John Moffitt, vice president of recruitment for Beta at the U, says, “The slogan we came up with is: to the brave survivors of sexual assault we believe you.”
Maddy Howard
MY STORY:
MY BLOG: 
Finding a topic for my enterprise story was exciting for me. I knew I wanted to choose a topic that would bring positivity to a world that sometimes seems dark. Beta Theta Pi’s relationship with the Rape Recovery Center was a story I felt needed to be told. The Beta members show that there are still many great people in the world wanting change. I located sources through some of my fellow Greek community members. I wanted to make sure I focused on how driven these men are. Therefore, I chose to interview sources who were putting the most effort into these events. They were the best sources for me because they were able to tell me their vision and motivation for why they work so hard with the RRC.
During my interviews, I never ran into any moral dilemmas because sexual assault is something everybody can relate to. This helped me choose my focus. I chose to focus strictly on Beta’s relationship with the RRC and the fundraising efforts. Writing this story was extremely humbling. I have watched young adults take a lot of backlash lately. Society believes all young people are careless and selfish. Writing about men my age who are out there making a huge difference is so amazing. I am so glad that I chose to highlight the men of Beta. I truly believe these men have started a movement that can change campuses across the country. It was a privilege to get to know the members of Beta Theta Pi. They pride themselves on being “men of principle” and it shows.
ABOUT ME:
I am a 21-year-old junior at the University of Utah. After debating between marketing and communication, I decided to major in strategic communication. I have always been very outgoing and personable. I love expressing myself in anyway I can.
Some of my hobbies include tennis, golf and traveling. I am passionate about seeing new places and experiencing different cultures. My favorite place I have been so far is Costa Rica. I am constantly striving to explore opportunities and to grow as an individual.
Writing has always been something I have been interested in. It allows me to say how I am feeling in a creative way. I love being able to write about issues that are often misunderstood. In the future, I hope to find a career that allows me to be creative while also letting me meet new people.
U NewsWriting 