Category Archives: Organizations

Sugarhouse slam poets: breaking stereotypes and dropping mics

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Story and gallery by SAMANTHA SHAW

Watchtower Cafe sits tucked between a tattoo shop and an art supply store on State Street in Salt Lake City. On the second Thursday of every month, slam poets from all over the city gather to share their art at Sugar Slam.

Slam poetry in its official form has been around since the 1980s and individuals craft poems for the purpose of being performed. Dorothy McGinnis, 19, defined slam poetry as “poetry, but for the masses.” She also described the art as removing poetry from the academic space.

McGinnis was first introduced to the idea of slam poetry by a junior high school English teacher in Salt Lake City who showed her YouTube videos of performances. At age 13, she began going to open mic nights.

In high school, her theater teacher was a nationally acclaimed poet and encouraged her to go to slams and expand her horizons. It was then that she performed her first slam poem and she’s been slamming ever since. McGinnis now serves her community as president of the Wasatch Wordsmiths, the nonprofit organization that holds the monthly Sugar Slam.

In October, McGinnis returned from representing the Sugarhouse neighborhood at the 2017 Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS) in Washington, where she performed her favorite poem, “Pompeii (In Which I am Mt. Vesuvius).”

In comparing the national slam poetry scene to the one in Salt Lake City, McGinnis said, “We’re very very white.” Although the diversity of the community is something poets love about slam poetry, the demographics of Utah are not in their favor. However, McGinnis went to the IWPS Nationals on an all-woman team, which is rare on a national scale and a first-time occurrence in Utah.

While much of the Utah slam poetry scene is white, one will still see plenty of diversity at the monthly slams. Every gender, sexual orientation, age and socioeconomic class can be found ordering a classic latte or a Watchtower Café special like the Butterbeer. Competing poets and onlookers alike all squeeze around heavy wooden tables, surrounded by blackboards with doodles of video game and anime characters such as Princess Peach, the Avatar and Kirby.

Another prominent local poet is Bryce Wilson, 21, a student at Salt Lake Community College. He came in second place in the Sugar Slam that was held Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. He started slamming after a breakup when a friend advised him to write down all the things he hated about the relationship. Wilson performed that list at his first poetry slam in Salt Lake City and took first place.

A typical slam starts with an open mic, where anyone can get up and perform anything. “There’s always one open mic that’s really good and you wonder why they aren’t competing,” Wilson said. Every slam has a host, who introduces the poets and keeps the audience engaged.

After the open mic, the host selects five people from the audience to judge the slam. The host attempts to choose judges have never attended a slam before, and they cannot know any of the competing poets.

Before the official slam begins, the audience calls for the “sacrificial poet.” Wilson’s favorite part of a slam, the sacrifice performs a poem for the newly appointed judges so that the competitors can, in Wilson’s words, “gauge the five random weirdos who are going to be giving these ambiguous points.”

After the sacrifice, the first round of the slam begins. Wilson said most poets will kick off the competition with a funny poem in round one and move on to a darker, more introspective piece in round two. In round three, anything goes! Some poets are eliminated after each round, based on the subjective scores. After the scores are announced, the host reminds everyone to “applaud the performer, not the score.” The final round’s scores determine first, second and third place. The only prizes are “bragging rights and experience,” Wilson said.

Both McGinnis and Wilson credit slam poetry with giving them more confidence, a better sense of self and connections within the community that will last a lifetime. They encourage anyone who is interested to get involved, whether that be as an audience member or as a poet.

Two regular events are held in the Salt Lake City area. The Sugar Slam takes place on the second Thursday of every month at Watchtower Café at 1588 State St. while the Salt City Slam is held at Even Stevens on 400 East and 200 South every last Monday. The Wasatch Wordsmiths keep the community updated on events and featured poets via their Facebook page.

Interior of Watchtower Cafe.
Watchtower Cafe on State Street, just before the Nov. 9, 2017, Sugar Slam.
Notice board inside Even Stevens restaurant.
Interior of Even Stevens.
Display of comics inside Watchtower Cafe.
Dorothy McGinnis, 19, in the University of Utah Student Union.
Even Stevens promises fresh ingredients.
Street art outside Even Stevens.
Even Stevens on 400 East in Salt Lake City.
Watchtower Cafe back entrance.

The New Colossus: a glimpse on the values of Lady Liberty

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Story and slideshow by REEM IKRAM

Photos courtesy of Somali Community Self-Management Agency

Integral, passionate and admirable: these can be the three words used to describe Abdirizak Ibrahim. Ibrahim is the founder of the Somali Community Self-Management Agency. The agency is a refugee help center located on 1361 S. State St. Established in 2005, the small organization continues making constant efforts in helping with refugees and those who are in need of assistance and support.

The focus of the service organization is to provide a smooth transition to refugees who are creating a life within the Salt Lake Valley. It offers monthly food drives, labor opportunities and classes on how to be self-sufficient.

“It was very important to me, to have an environment where you could feel safe in,” Ibrahim said. He pointed to his wall of certificates displaying his involvement within his community. “I was a refugee too, when I came into the United States, and after I was able to get on my own two feet, I wanted to help others who used to be in my position as well,” he said, while giving a tour of his department.

SCSMA helps over 100 refugees each month. And as it starts to grow, Ibrahim has begun to reach out to other nonprofits, churches, and organizations to discuss whether they are willing to share their resources with the Somali refugees.

According to PBS, there are 60,000 refugees living in Utah, all of whom are learning how to manage a lifestyle here within the state. But following Trump’s executive order 13769, most have begun to fear their prospects.

Refugees are under major stress due to the current political climate. With no routes to follow, most are wary of what will happen after resettling within the U.S.

“With this new political climate, everything is extremely polarized but that’s been happening for a long time. And specifically, in my expertise, in respect to immigration, there is a lot more fear and a lot more uncertainty within the refugee communities,” said Daniel Black, who has immigration law experience doing consular processing, asylum, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, U Visas, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status and other immigration cases. Black said he is very passionate about helping people and ensuring they receive the best representation possible, which is why he works at a firm that offers multiple resources for those in need, such as legal assistance and English classes.

“It’s very important to give people who are a part of your community a helping hand, that’s how you can ensure you have a functioning society,” Black said.

The United States is one of the few countries that is allowing refugees to come in for safety. But with more rules and rather strict regulations, it has become a hassle for refugees to feel secure and feel comfortable enough to live properly within the States. But with the increase of centers and agencies that help refugees, this hassle is slowly diminishing.

“It’s important to help and be involved because all refugees contribute to our society, whether it be by culture or perspective,” Christina Andino said. Andino is an intern for the Somali Community Self-Management Agency through the University of Utah Neighborhood Partners. “Refugees are just like us, they live life day by day. They’re a part of our communities. That’s why I enjoy spending my time with them,” she said.

Ibrahim, Black and Andino aren’t the only ones out there helping refugees cope with living within the state. There are approximately 21 other programming partners that also try to help out. Each partner offers various resources for the refugees. They successfully have managed to help an average number of 1,901 participants per month, all according to the Utah Refugee Services Office.

“Refugees are people who, rather than give up or give in, have chosen to take the higher and harder road and are grateful for the generosity of strangers who reached out with a willing and helping hand,” said Pamela Atkinson in a report to Gov. Gary J. Herbert..

Atkinson has been an advisor to the last three governors in Utah and has been a tireless advocate for the homeless and the refugees. She actively volunteers and personally engages within the community and is always trying to make a positive difference for those surrounding her.

Making a positive difference in the world is how we can rest assure that good things are still happening in this life.

To quote Emma Lazarus and the promise of the United States (as engraved on the Statue of Liberty);

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

For more than twenty decades, this has been the largely prolonged promise to those who come from near and far into the United States. And to have communities, agencies and organizations gather together to help those in need is a great tribute to that promise.

To be a part of keeping the United States’ promise alive while also helping with refugees, try to reach out to your local workforce department and resettlement agencies. They are always seeking out opportunities for aid either through volunteer work or generous donations.

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Opioid addiction in Utah: Can the battle be won?

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Story and slideshow by RYKER JACKSON

Bradley Hieb had been using drugs since high school. After becoming addicted to opioids, his marriage fell  apart and his children were taken from him twice. The first time was for a month, the second time for seven months. His addiction to opioids escalated. The third time he was found using opioids, his children were taken from him and nearly put up for adoption. That was when he went to detoxification.

Don C. was nearly sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Don, a young, successful businessman from the Bay Area, had been involved in illegal practices to satisfy his desires for opioids. This landed him in jail a few times, where he would continually ask for opioids, his drug of choice, even from behind bars. This addiction became so all-consuming  that he thought about jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge on more than one occasion. He was given one more chance by a parole officer.

It is no longer a secret that the nation is facing an epidemic: opioid addiction. Utah is among the states hardest hit. The opioid crisis cost the United States $504 billion in 2015.  On Oct. 26, 2017, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national public health emergency: “Ending the epidemic will require mobilization of government, local communities, and private organizations. It will require the resolve of our entire country.”

Utah has the seventh highest drug poisoning death rate in the nation, according  to the Utah Department of Health. Utah is also home to a wide array of treatment centers. Cory Markisich, executive director of Wasatch Recovery Treatment Center in Cottonwood Heights, said Utah has some of the best addiction treatment facilities in the country. So, what is the best treatment? What works? Markisich said that group therapy is the best solution.

Group therapy capitalizes on peer support from others who are facing similar trials all while being guided by a professional counselor. The support felt by those who are going through the same situations and struggles is the largest benefit of the program. “The problem is usually something else. They are trying to cover something up,” Markisich said. Group therapy helps counselors and patients both to understand what that personal trial is, and how it can be solved without the use of opioids.

Markisich, who studied finance and social work at the University of Utah, has been with Wasatch Recovery for five years. He is aware of some of the unique struggles faced in the Beehive state.

“In Utah, we have a weird dynamic where we have strong LDS culture and there’s a lot of guilt and a lot of shame, more so than you get in other areas,” Markisich said. “Most of the people that I’m treating, they’re not coming in for alcohol and cocaine. What’s happened is they were given a prescription, and it’s not against the Word of Wisdom to take their prescription, but they are completely abusing that prescription,” he said. The Word of Wisdom  is the health code of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which prohibits illegal and harmful substances.

“They’re great people, what’s happened is they’ve just spiraled out of control,” he said. Markisich said that often the substances are abused to treat depression or anxiety. Patients may be taking opioids for their back, only to soon realize that it helps treat their depression. This leads to dependency and addiction.

Markisich and his colleagues do not tell their patients that using drugs is bad. What he tries to do, and what it is massively more successful, is getting to the root of their addiction, whether that be depression, anxiety, or something else entirely.

He said that sometimes people have a hard time understanding recovery. Often, he needs to tell his patient’s husband, wife, or parents that recovery is not like taking a car in to get repaired. Solving an addiction is not like getting an oil change. It requires time and consistent effort to avoid relapse.

Markisich said the addictions affect people mentally and emotionally. They suppress painful memories for people, and provide temporary respite from daily stresses. It is in the resolution of those painful memories and daily stresses that the addiction is more fully overcome, and not only in the physical time one refrains from the substance abuse.

Treatment begins with detoxification, then often moves into a full-time residential program at a recovery center. Such was the case with Hieb. He was in Odyssey House’s residential program for 23 months. Then the patients can move down to part-time treatment, which is usually five hours a day for five days a week. This leads to the patients becoming more independent and attending  meetings such as group therapy sessions. This allows for their environment to slowly get larger until they can handle daily life again.

Hieb said it is critical for patients to detox completely from opiates in a structured environment as quickly as possible. Hieb said recovery is a process, and is most effective when patients move from multiple services to fewer over time, like he did.

Markisich agrees, saying there is no cookie-cutter solution to the problem for every patient.

Hieb’s life has changed a great deal since his initial detox. “If I didn’t burn my last bridge, I don’t know if I would have ever made it,” he said. He was able to retain custody of his children and is now the program director at New Roads Behavioral Health in Cottonwood Heights. “The reason I am a director is because of my passion for the therapeutic community.”

Don C., who asked to remain anonymous because not all of his family knows about his past, has had a similarly remarkable recovery. He came to Wasatch Recovery as a client in November 2016. He now works in detoxification and said he gets to see people at their worst. He said he knows how to help them because he has been in the same situation himself.

Wasatch Recovery’s motto is fitting for anyone seeking treatment options: Instill hope, teach resilience, and achieve recovery.

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Three Salt Lake City fashion creatives discuss the impact of social media marketing

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Story and photos by BRITT BROOKS

A swipe, a like, a comment, a follow.

To get a look at marketing in the 21st century, go no further than your smartphone. Today you can look at any online platform and find a person, product, or brand that sparks your interest. But the businesses that perhaps utilize social media the most are those in the fashion industry.

Whether it’s celebrity-sponsored posts, live streams of runway shows, or notifications for product drops, fashion can be an immersive experience now more than ever. The elite fashion gods such as Gucci, Versace, Chanel and Balenciaga all have millions of followers on social media. But what about the startups?

Three up-and-comers in Salt Lake City’s fashion industry gave insight to their experiences with social media. The impact can be positive or negative depending on how active users are with the content presented to them.

Sydni Zaugg sat in a window seat at Salt Lake Coffee Break, her platinum blond bob stood out against head to toe black clothing and silver jewelry. Zaugg, 19, is a college student who attended the International Fashion Academy (IFA) in Paris in 2017. The program spanned three weeks and allowed her to attend Paris’ spring Fashion Week in early March.

Zaugg said she wouldn’t have even known about the opportunity had it not been for Instagram. After following IFA professor and trend specialist Agus Catteno on Instagram, Zaugg realized her wish to be educated about fashion in France was a possibility.

Zaugg direct messaged (DM’d) Catteno and asked questions about her job at IFA and  the opportunities for classes. Without her connection to Catteno, Zaugg wouldn’t have had a welcoming person to show her the ropes, and probably wouldn’t have gone to Paris for classes in the first place.

Parisian fashion influenced Zaugg’s personal style. And it serves as her template for advising others as she pursues a career as a stylist and photographer in Utah.

Social media give Zaugg a platform to share her availability for styling sessions and examples of her work such as dark, moody and romantic photoshoots with friends and models. But as with everything, it isn’t perfect. Zaugg mentioned the downside of pursuing likes and comments: a loss of creativity.

Avant garde clothing still graces the runways, but Zaugg has noticed brands moving toward more streamlined, minimalistic styles. This can be attributed to regular trend cycles. But Zaugg sees it as a reflection of the heavy use of social media marketing. Current fashion can be more about who you are, not what you wear. Big entertainment names like Kardashian and Hadid can be more influential than the brands themselves.

The integrity of the fashion industry can quickly fall victim to the whims of celebrities and influencers. Copycats are bad for any creative-based industry. To combat this ever-present sameness, Zaugg has a perfect mantra: “Clothes should give you confidence to express yourself how you want to, not how everyone else dresses.”

Someone curating new and wearable pieces for women is Madison Martellaro. A 21-year-old senior at the University of Utah, Martellaro has already started a company. In April 2017, she began working on her online clothing store, Fleur Fashion Boutique. She can be seen wearing multiple pieces from her boutique’s line including jeans, bomber jackets and everyday T shirts.

Martellaro came into the fashion industry alone, with virtually no connections. After months of research and hard work, she was able to start her business and advertise through social media to grow a following before the boutique launched on Nov. 9. She credits her online following of nearly 1,000 people to creating brand awareness before items were even available for purchase.

To get a good idea of what her customers actually want, Martellaro used polling features on social media. Polls and comments influenced the way the boutique website looks and functions. For example, followers wanted to know the models’ sizes and dimensions as well as see the clothing from multiple angles. These are two details about Fleur Fashion Boutique that came directly from future customers’ wish lists.

During her first photoshoot, Martellaro held a livestream. The feature on Instagram enabled her to connect even more with her future consumers. “I want to show people really what goes behind a business,” she said. In a world where new competition crops up every day, a behind-the-scenes connection with followers is priceless.

Martellaro takes a lot of pride in curating pieces that women of all sizes can wear and personalize. One of her biggest goals is to sell clothes that can be worn day to night, and look glamorous no matter the occasion.

Packaging is an important part of her brand’s final presentation and delivery. For a cohesive image, all clothing and accessories come wrapped in tissue paper with the greeting “Hello Beautiful” in bold font on the outside. Fleur Fashion Boutique encourages its recipients to take selfies with their deliveries, creating a wider community of people that talk about the products.

“That was the biggest thing for me,” Martellaro said, “making sure women felt empowered and special.”

Keeping a cohesive and unique image is one of the top priorities for Davis Hong. A polished and composed 24-year-old, Hong graduated from Salt Lake Community College with a design degree. Sitting in a wrap-around black coat of his own design, Hong said he likes to wear his own creations.

Recently rebranded under its new name, BYSHAO has been in the works for over two years, and is set to launch in 2018. Hong has made huge strides toward creating his ideal company and style.

Sustainable, ethically sourced materials are of utmost importance for BYSHAO. Only natural fiber fabrics like cotton and linen blends are used in the designs. To avoid creating more waste on our planet, Hong prefers working plant-to-piece with certified organic materials, and avoids polyester. Natural textiles and humane working conditions are the core of his passion for sustainable clothing, and it’s something he’s sticking to.

The pieces of BYSHAO are best described in Hong’s own words as minimalistic, gender-neutral and timeless. Specializing in overcoats and tops, BYSHAO is both modern and classic with structured silhouettes and neutral colors.

Participating at the 2017 Art Meets Fashion show in Salt Lake City, Hong’s brand was one of the five main shows. Events like this help secure a following that he hopes will subscribe to BYSHAO’s e-newsletter. Emails are more of a personal connection with consumers, directly informing them about lookbooks and future sale dates. A great way to foster a connection that leads to loyal customers is to start on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

As Hong’s demographic isn’t necessarily in Salt Lake City, he finds it important to get to know his followers through social media. He mentioned his use of geo tags, event announcements, stories and live videos to view people from the other side of the planet. “You can basically be right there and see the people there as well,” Hong said.

Networking locally and internationally has furthered Hong’s knowledge and increased the presence of his brand. Social media form connections that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. He’s found photographers, models and hair and makeup professionals to work on photo shoots and runway shows.

The internet is a fantastic way for startup businesses to get their name into the hands of others. “Social media is very much an open portfolio,” Hong said. The ability to view others’ work passively before making real-life connections is something new to the world. This can acutely affect professional creatives, as a lot of their work can be judged from a 5-inch screen.

Without social media tools, Hong would have had a much harder time making local and international connections in the fashion industry. It’s unlikely that Martellaro would be the owner of a business she built from scratch at such a young age. And Zaugg never would have known about the opportunity to study fashion in Paris, or launch her career as a stylist.

Connecting with customers, mentors and possible collaborators — no matter where they are in the world — is perhaps one of the greatest online inventions of all.

Zaugg at Salt Lake Coffee Break.
Zaugg’s boots with snakeskin details.
Zaugg at Salt Lake Coffee Break.
Zaugg’s jewelry details.
Martellaro wearing a top and jacket from her boutique’s line.
Martellaro’s watch and details.
Martellaro in a shirt, jacket and jeans from her boutique’s line.
Hong in a jacket of his own design at Sugar House Coffee.
Hong at Sugar House Coffee.
Hong in a jacket of his own design with details.

Student finds pride in his work and life

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   by Jessica Morgan

Drew McGee was sitting in class early yesterday morning listening to a lecture on how to write a paragraph. He was a good student, he always had been, so he tried to pay attention and take good notes. However, it was rather obvious that McGee’s mind was somewhere else.

McGee’s thoughts were still lingering on his previous day spent at work. Many people would find this to be troubling, but to him it was a good thing. McGee loves his job: “It is a lot of work, and takes a lot of time, but it’s worth it and I love my job,” said McGee. He works at the Utah Pride Center.

The Utah Pride Center is a community-based, non-profit organization in Salt Lake City that provides support, education, outreach and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals.

“Life is often hard on children who don’t fit neatly into the category of ‘boy’ or ‘girl’, especially when it comes to making friends. But thanks to a group at the Utah Pride Center, this aspect of growing up gender variant may be a little less difficult,” said Rose Ellen, a member of the LGBTQ community.

The growth and acceptance of the LGBTQ community in Utah is largely attributed to the Utah Pride Center and its efforts.

According to CityData.com “Utah, where President Bush received more than 70% of the vote in 2004, has moved from 38th in 1990 to 14th in the most recent rankings” of the nation’s ‘gayest’ states.

In addition, “Salt Lake City recently approved a benefits program for lesbian and gay couples; identifying openly as gay is no longer considered an honor code violation at Brigham Young University; and perhaps most striking, the state now has three openly gay state legislators. That’s one more than the US Congress,” reported Northern Lights.

McGee was born and raised in Salt Lake City, where the acceptance of the LGBTQ community has long been an issue. Throughout his growing years he wished to find an outlet or support group and would often dream of a day that he would no longer feel like an outsider. When he stumbled upon the Utah Pride Center back in 2009, he felt as if he had finally found what he was looking for all those years.

In the past years that McGee has worked for the UPC he has found much pride and satisfaction in seeing the growing acceptance of LGBTQ individuals and their community within Salt Lake City, and knowing that he has been a part of it, whether large or small.

Gay/Lesbian Interaction in Utah

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By Colton Stanger

Utah plays host to one of the largest and most active gay communities in the nation.  Utah also is known for its political and religious conservatism.

To get an idea on how these two groups interact, one needs to look no further than the people themselves.

Take Spenced Trembe, a business student and singer at the University of Utah.  Trembe is 22 years old and has been openly gay for five years.

“Think of how hard it was to come to grips with your sexuality.  Now imagine how hard that would be if everyone told you it was wrong,” Trembe said when talking about coming of age as a gay man.  “It’s like a right of passage for us.”

Some people, like Lesean “Earsnot” Combs, a shoe storeowner from New York City who moved to Salt Lake in 2006, thinks Utah fits in its own unique niche.

“It’s weird man, people don’t get hateful or hyper-accepting, they just pretend like they don’t notice,” Combs said.

But what about the Mormon influence?  Stories and rumors fill national tabloids on the cruelty and hostile attitude of the church.

“Actually Mormon’s aren’t so bad, I’ve heard the horror stories but most the missionaries I’ve met are, at the very least, conscientious,” Trembe said.

Daniel Page, a member of the Mormon priesthood and soon to be missionary didn’t even have an opinion on the subject of the homosexual population.  Page has been a Mormon all his life, and a member of the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) program for the past three years.

“In my experience sexual orientation has little to do with someone’s ability to do their job,” Page said, adding, “despite any beliefs on the subject, they are ALL still people.”

“Not every Lesbian is what you see on T.V.  Some of us are normal girls looking for other normal girls,” said Lara Buress, a student at Weber State University.

Lara is 23-years-old and is one of the most decorated philanthropists in the state, operating two charities for senior citizens and contributing as a leader of the Neighbor Works Association.  Lara has been openly lesbian for the past eight years.

“You never know when someone is going to say something or do something.  Especially since almost everyone is nice and treats you like everyone else.  I think that’s what makes discrimination worse when it does happen, because it doesn’t happen all the time,” Buress said.

“Any ‘issues’ [someone] has with us is put to private pretty quick.  You really think you the first person to throw an insult our way?  To us, defending ourselves is a way of life,” Combs said.

“Utah isn’t bad,” Trembe said.  “There are places for us and we just make our way.  It actually feels like a friendly environment.”

According to the people that live in it Utah, though not perfect, is an accepting place for any sexual orientation.  And as the community grows, the line between them blurs.  For some individuals, it already has.

W.C. 502

University program works to educate students on the importance of nutrition

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By: Meisha Christensen

SALT LAKE CITY – Nutrition for many college students is a low priority especially during finals week according to the Union Programming Council (UPC).

In an effort to combat this, the UPC is providing students with a healthy breakfast on Wednesday, April 24 in the Union at the event Food for Finals.

The UPC is a program with seven student directors that work with the A. Ray Olpin Union to create a friendly home away from home environment for students.  Together these two boards plan activities and events geared toward helping students feel comfortable in The Union throughout their time at the U of U.

One board within the UPC is the Community Service board which has taken on the task of educating students about healthy nutrition in college.

When the To-Do lists get too long healthy eating can get pushed aside, and breakfast is often the first meal to take a hit.

Skipping breakfast has a negative effect on the body for multiple reasons.  One reason being that when breakfast is skipped the body goes into starvation mode and metabolism slows.  Another reason is that without fuel the brain has a more difficult time functioning and focusing.

The UPC provides Food for Finals at the end of every semester.  Heather McElroy is the UPC Director over Food for Finals and has enjoyed providing a free breakfast for students during finals week.

“Finding time for breakfast in the morning can often be a hassle, and we hope this event can take away that burden,” said McElroy.

Chartwells, a food supplier for schools, prepares the food for the event.  There are also items donated from Coke and Einstein Brothers.  The menu for this year’s event includes eggs, bacon, bagels, breakfast potatoes juice and coffee.  UPC anticipates feeding approximately 450 students this semester at Food for Finals.

In the past, the response to Food for Finals has been phenomenal; students eat it up, literally.

“It is such a neat idea because everyone is living at school during that week anyway so eating breakfast at school is convenient.  Also it makes you feel like the school does cares about you,” said Marie Davies a senior studying elementary education.

Alyx Williams is a member of the UPC Service Committee and is one of the directors working to help with student education on nutrition.  Students are busy and in the midst of everything the average university student is involved in, Williams noted that nutrition often gets pushed aside.

“A lot of students get used to eating poorly because it’s cheap and easy to make.  What students don’t realize is that eating Top Roman everyday is eventually going to have a really big toll on their body. I think it’s important for students to realize that it matters what they take into their body,” said Williams.

There may be many students who want to be healthy but feel that healthy eating habits require money and time.  Often the lack of appropriate knowledge on healthy meals that are available and how to prepare them is what keeps students from better nutrition.

This year the UPC started an innovations board on their website titled, Feed U Corner. Recipes are provided for meals that are simple to make as well as frugal friendly. Each week this board offers a different healthy meal option for students. Williams is the creator of this program and hopes to help students understand that healthy options are available.

“We’re trying to change the perception that it’s impossible to eat healthy unless you’re rich and have a lot of time on your hands,” said Williams.

Feed U Corner also literally feeds students for free once a month by showcasing recipes featured on the innovations board. This was the inaugural year of Feed U Corner and Williams felt that it was a good start but they still have many students to feed and educate.

To learn more about the UPC’s effort to increase awareness of nutrition on the U of U campus visit their website at http://www.upc.utah.edu/communityservice.

Human Dignity Rally Urges Utahans to Be Politically Active

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On February 29, in the looming granite rotunda of the Utah State Capitol Building, a crowd of about 100 people gathered brimming with a determined energy. News reporters were present, email sign-up sheets were passed around the rally and a range of signs were hoisted in the air, stating things like “Str8 but not narrow,” “Human dignity is for all of us,” and “I am not a second class citizen.” The rally was a ‘human dignity rally’ organized by the newly birthed group Human Dignity Utah, founded by Weston Clark, Bob Henline, Megan Risbon and Alan Anderson.

Clark, a teacher and former chair of the Utah Democratic Party, said the purpose of their group is to finally bring equal rights to all Utahans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“We have to be quick, we have to be proactive, and we have to let them know they can’t walk all over us,” Clark said to the gathered crowd.

Two recent bills regarding state-wide non-discrimination policies have both been tabled, one aimed at statewide nondiscrimination regarding housing and jobs, and the other aimed at promoting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) sensitivity training for the State Legislature.

According to recent surveys, 73 percent of Utahans support this legislation, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) and the Catholic Diocese of Utah have both come out in favor of the legislation. Companies like Adobe, EBay and 1-800-Contacts have also said they support equality and non-discrimination in Utah.

These measures are being taken to the Utah Legislature amid national debate on the issues of same-sex marriage and LGBT equality. In recent news, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington have all legalized same-sex marriage, which brings the total up to 17 states that have legalized same-sex marriage or unions granting similar rights to marriage.

“We’re always hitting the same wall,” Matthew Lyon, who attended the rally, said, referring to opponents of the anti-discrimination measures. Fourteen municipalities across the state have adopted similar measures, including cities like Salt Lake City, Taylorsville and Logan. “I’m optimistic that we will break down that wall, and I want to be here when it happens.”

Speakers at the rally included Jim Dabakis, current chair of the Democratic Party, Former State Representative Jackie Biskupski, Charles Lynn Frost as his theatrical character Sister Dottie S. Dixon, Kathy Godwin, president of SLC PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Isaac Higham, a young graduate student at Utah State University.

“I have heard too many times people my age say ‘it’s not my issue’ or ‘I’ll let someone else get involved’. No- we all need to be active,” Higham said amid cheers.

In 2012 Utah elections, only 10 percent of registered voters in the 18-24 year old range actually went to the polls and cast their vote, one of the lowest turn-outs nationwide. Higham cited this fact in urging the crowd to be politically charged. The speakers all carried similar messages of political activism, determination and hope for change.

“Barriers are not as formidable as they seem,” Rep. Biskupski said in reference to opponents in the legislature to non-discrimination policies.

Rap Biskupski also detailed delegate training. Delegates are the backbone of the democratic process in Utah: they attend caucuses and officially vote for our elected officials. Delegate meetings will occur on March 13th for the Democratic Party and March 22nd for the Republican Party.  More information on where those trainings will take place can be found at http://www.utahdemocrats.org and http://www.utgop.org respectively.

ASUU Elections Lead to Election of the “Passionate” Open Party

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Every spring semester students at the University of Utah run campaigns, vote and decide on the new administration for the Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU)., the student government of the U of U. Throughout the year ASUU hosts free concerts, food, movies, dances, parties and more for students. The events are all free to students because student fees and tuition costs pay for all of the events, including stipends for key members of ASUU.

This semester, Geneva Thompson was elected as ASUU President through the Open Party, one of the student-run campaigns. The elections typically take place over the course of a few weeks, and no one is able to campaign before the allotted time. Or they will be disqualified. Students vote via their Campus Informational System (CIS) pages, and majority rules.

ASUU is divided into several areas, including Presenter’s Office, which puts on the majority of events for ASUU throughout the year, the Student Legislature, which consist of the student Senate and student Assembly, and the Executive Cabinet. In all, there are roughly 200 students involved in student government each year, which does not include the number of volunteers and student clubs and organizations. All members of the Student Legislature are elected each spring by the students of the colleges they represent and serve for a term of one year.

Hilary Roberg was selected as the ASUU Director of Campus Relations, which is a part of the Executive Cabinet for the 2012-2013 school year, and her various duties include presenting as needed for different groups who are curious about ASUU, participate with Homecoming, inform student groups about elections, student group trainings and running the Student Choice Awards. Roberg’s “main goal is to strengthen the connection between ASUU and its student groups.”

Roberg first got involved in ASUU as an Assembly Representative for the college of Science in 2010-2011. From there she got to know many of the inner-workings of ASUU and make some meaningful connections with student groups.

The elections did not run as smoothly as they could have this year, and the Fresh Party, the Open Party’s main competitors, was disqualified from running. They were charged with campaigning through the Greater Good Alliance as a front for the Fresh Party before the campaigns had officially started. The Fresh Party was thought to be the party of the greek system. When asked by the Chronicle about the disqualification, Geneva Thompson, ASUU President-elect, said, “I think we missed out on a lot of the fraternities that just didn’t feel that energy.,” referring to the elections after the Fresh party was disqualified.

Roberg continued to praise the Open party for their diversity, drive and passion when it comes to ASUU. “The only thing I can really say is to watch this administration. They are all exceptionally suited for their positions and have very ambitious plans.”

Environmentalists celebrate the legacy of the late Edward Abbey

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By. R. Ammon Ayres

SALT LAKE CITY- The author of popular radical environmental novels was remembered thanks to the generous donations Calif. attorney Eric Hvolboll.

Last Sunday afternoon in the University of Utah’s Marriot Library, former appraiser for the popular television program “Antiques Roadshow” and book collector Ken Sanders hosted a presentation for the late author Edward Abbey. This celebration preceded the opening of an exhibit of a historical collection of Abbey’s autographed books, contracts, movie posters, essays and just about everything with Abbey’s name on it. The many supporters that showed, both old and young, came to remember the author and sustain his environmental ideals.

“Ed Abbey still lives… Abbey is selling books better than ever now that he’s dead,” said Sanders. Sanders said Abbey’s books are an important part of history, the radical words in his novels drive his ongoing growing fandom towards going green and advocating the environment to preserve the earth and its beauty.

“I believe Ed Abbey’s environmental ideals are relevant more than ever today,” said a friend of Sanders and attendant John Dalton.

“The Wilderness needs no defense, only defenders,” said Sanders quoting Abbey. Sanders quoted Abbey’s humorous yet serious view on the environment, allowing the late Abbey to speak for himself and resonate his beliefs.

Abbey believed in enjoying his problems, but also said, “I enjoy my enemies problems too,” said Sanders quoting Abbey. Sanders used this occasion of celebration to remember Abbey and create awareness of the danger the environment is facing.

Sanders proclaimed the recently sentenced Tim DeChristopher as an environmental hero. DeChristopher was found guilty when tried in federal court for bidding on public land that he couldn’t pay for, to protect it from the oil companies.

Dalton had a different point of view on whether DeChristopher was a hero not. “Whether Tim is a hero or not, is debatable. Being a lawyer, I believe there are better ways to protect the environment, especially through the legal system,” said Dalton.

“What he had to say in both his fiction, and essays resonate… people still see his beliefs as relevant, which is key,” said Associate Dean of Special Collections Greg Thompson when asked why Abbey was an important figure to be remembered.

Thompson was hopeful that the ultimate outcome of the presentation would “help the public understand the importance of research libraries, and collecting pieces to further environmental movements and bring attention to Ed’s books.”

Hvolboll’s donation to the University of Utah was well received by those who came to the program. Thompson believed that Abbey’s collection would bring many who have yet to read one of Abbey’s classic novels to an understanding of why the environment is such an important asset, and why extraordinary measures must be taken to preserve the earth. The actions to take care of the environment must be drastic to make the world a better place for tomorrow, according to Sanders.

“I have yet to read any of Ed’s books, but I’m excited to see what all the hype is about,” said attendant Rosa, (who wishes to have her full name withheld).

“I’m most interested in discovering how Ed Abbey writes his books,” said Rosa.

Abbey’s legacy and confidence about the environment has made an incredible effect with his ecological devout followers, and Abbey continues to find new fans, which share the same ideals. The Edward Abbey collection will be on display all month.

Organic Farming Promoted by SPEAK

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by RYAN LITTLEFIELD

A red plaid shirt, worn khaki pants and a straw hat all accompanied with dark, sun-tainted skin describe a typical appearance for David Bell, an ordinary local farmer.

Bell is the owner of the organic-certified farm Bell Organics in Draper, Utah.  Although managing an organic-certified farm is difficult, organic food tastes better, is more nutritious and is available locally through Community Supported Agricultures (CSAs) according to Bell in a speech he gave for Love Your Body Week at the University of Utah last Tuesday.

Love Your Body Week at the University of Utah is promoted by SPEAK (Students Promoting Eating disorder Awareness Knowledge).  SPEAK strives to celebrate bodies, be aware of both positive and negative attitudes and focus on healthy relationships with food.

Several members of SPEAK attended Bell’s speech on organic food, including health promotions majors Megan Madsen and Allison Stewart.  The speech on organic farming drew Madsen, Stewart and other members of SPEAK because of their interest in organic gardening and how organic food affects the body.

“I’m proud to be certified organic,” said Bell as he related his certification to a gold star.  In reality, it takes over 2 percent of Bell’s revenue to maintain his organic certification.  Utilizing crop rotation to manage pests and prevent depletion of nutrients in the soil is necessary.  Crop rotation helps to steer clear of fungicides, pesticides and chemicals that facilitate maintaining organic-certification. Managing the crops, schedules and rotations can be tricky when gardening year after year.

“Worms are diabolical,” said Bell when relating his adventures in farming.  Worms are commonly used in vermaculture as they are “a very concentrated form of compost,” according to Bell.  He would love to incorporate vermaculture into his organic gardening, but realistically it is too expensive.  Despite how hard it is to sustain an organic farm, Bell is happy to be organic.

When it comes to organic foods, “We plan 35 different vegetables alone,” said Bell, including orange, white, red and even purple carrots. Fruit, however, Bell prefers to leave to the orchardists.

“Local fruit has 75 percent less pesticides than commercial fruit,” and that eating organically truly is healthier, said Bell.

According to studies done by both the University of Washington and the University of California-Davis in 2003, eating organic food is healthier, containing more antioxidants and fewer pesticides.

“Fresh-picked, everything tastes a lot better,” said Bell.  Bell is passionate, even sentimental about his vegetables, especially the juicy tomatoes.

“You put something like that on a plate and people think you’re ingenious,” Bell said.

Bell’s tomatoes are harvested and given out to members of his CSA up until the end of December.  Reasons to get involved with a CSA, Bell said, include going on a food adventure, expanding your palette and becoming a better chef.

It is necessary for consumers to discover their needs, explains Bell.  Most consumers look for poison-free and sustainability in foods, which is not always simply organic.  Bell recommends consumers to check out http://www.utahfarmscsa.com if they are interested in an organic CSA like Bell Organics, or go to http://www.localharvest.org for more information concerning other CSAs in the Salt Lake area.

University Hosts Olympic Memorial Exhibition

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By Colton Stanger

The J. Willard Marriot Library at the University of Utah will host a free Olympic Experience Exhibition during the month of February, commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the Olympic games held in Salt Lake City.

The collection is located on the fourth floor of the library and is a multi-media exhibit.  The collection includes thousands of documents, hours of video, books and magazines centered on the games and tens of thousands of photos.  The records are organized from the early attempts to secure the games to the games themselves.

The Special Collections Department has asked members of the community to donate any pictures or memorabilia they might have.

“We’d love to see more donations from the public,” said Roy Webb, multimedia archivist at the library.

The exhibition is focused at the university, which hosted the opening and closing ceremonies and housed the athletes in what are now the student dorms.  This makes the university the ideal center of the Exhibitions.

Other events in the city include month long exhibitions at the Alf Engen Ski museum and a photographic display at the Kimball Art Center, both located in Park City.  There is also a one-day display at the Gateway Center Grand Hall on February 18.

Utah police team with FBI to battle against gang membership

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Story and slideshow by MARISSA HUNTSMAN

Salt Lake Valley is home to more than a top university; gang membership is at a peak within the valley with more than 50 active gangs, according to Salt Lake City Police.

According to the Salt Lake City Police website, 13 city police departments have teamed up with the FBI to form two task forces that are charged with formulating a plan to combat this growing problem.

Many residents of the Salt Lake City Valley remain unaware of the far-reaching effects of the gangs within the mountain ranges. However, many of these gangs are not from here.

Instead Salt Lake City is dubbed a “Secondary Gang City”  by the Metro Gang Unit, due to the national nature of the gang as stated by the Safe Street Violent Crime Initiative issued by the FBI. The major gangs with influential ties with California include the Sureños and Norteños.

One approach that police are doing is the creation of unified task forces that combine the representatives from local and state agencies along with the FBI. This is a new organization to hit the state of Utah but is not for the rest of the nation. Due to incredible results in other areas of the nation, the unique gang plague that afflicts this state could benefit from a long-term, proactive task force.

Just as with any aspect of the Salt Lake Valley, there is a great diversity of the membership of the gangs. According to the Metro Gang Unit website, not all of the gangs are organized by race or ethnicity. So the task forces also watch for groups such as the motorcycle gangs the Barons and Sundowners.

The Safe Streets Gang Task Force “involves the combined efforts of local and federal resources,” said Task Force Commander Richard Brede in an interview.

With recent efforts resulting in arrests and seizure of heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine, the Safe Street Gang Task Force is making headway in the fight against the drug trade within the state.

An important aspect of the task force is the ability of Brede’s 17 officers to go anywhere in the Valley to investigate gang crime. This mirrors the ability of the gang members in Utah who travel from one area to another.

This is a recent change that is allowing residents to witness that the police are working against the gang crime in their neighborhoods.

The effectiveness of this task force is evident in the application of avoiding duplication during an investigation. Time is not wasted explaining the circumstances to police officer after police officer. The process has been streamlined, providing for a seamless application to solve drug crimes, according to the FBI website.

Another advantage of FBI involvement is the experience that the FBI brings to the situation due to its nature of investigating organized crime. According to Brede, street gangs have steadily been increasing their ability to remain under the radar.

Another common trend being observed regarding membership in Salt Lake Valley gang organizations is the recruitment of members young enough to be attending high school. With gang members walking the hallways of schools, the availability of drugs to teens has never been greater.

“The most common drugs I catch students with are marijuana and cocaine,” said Officer Lyman Smith, the resource officer at  West High School in Salt Lake City. Students are often caught in their cars, school restrooms, or behind churches.

Smith states that catching students using or dealing involves a constant officer presence around the school. Constant hall monitoring during classes by the school’s security team assists with keeping the drugs out of the school.

On the other hand, Resource Officer Thurston, who works at Lone Peak High School in Alpine, states that the majority of tips regarding drug deals and students using comes from fellow students.

Students involved in illegal activity brag to their peers about their newest purchase. Word travels through the grapevine and it eventually surfaces on Thurston’s radar.

These types of anonymous tips have assisted Thurston and the American Fork Police with recent arrests of students meeting in the wooded area behind Lone Peak High School.

The difference between these two schools is evident due to the culture of each school. West High School is known as a school that has many members of multiple gangs walking its hallways. The students at this school are aware of this and do not bring unwanted attention to themselves.

On the other side, the culture of the Alpine school is one in which gangs is not a familiarity and thus the culture allows for students to report crimes they see or hear about in class.

Once these students have been caught by the officers, they are cited and both schools suspend students for a period of time based on the number of occurrences per student.

Much of the information regarding teen gang and/or drug involvement stems from the information learned through the resource officer at local high schools. “These officers are the front men on the battlefield,” Brede said. “They provide necessary information that cannot be gained through other means.”

After the citation has been issued, the Metro Gang Unit steps in to provide support for the teen. The unit’s current movement against gangs is the Salt Lake City Gang Project, which police forces are using to decrease the presence of gangs especially within the school system. However, the task force runs into difficulties when convincing a teen to return to high school rather than make hundreds in one night selling drugs, said detective Nate Clark in an interview with the Deseret News.

This unit features a three-pronged approach when dealing with gangs: prevention, education and suppression, said Detective Thomas Loevlie of the MGU. The last five years have featured the unit focusing on prevention and education. The main direction of education is focused toward young children beginning in fourth grade through programs such as D.A.R.E.

Education is also directed toward the parents of these children. “The media and general public blame bad parenting for the rise in gang activity,” Loevlie said. The unit educates parents to get involved with their children. An involved parent is another layer of protection for the child.

The approach is very different from that of past police forces. It features building a rapport with the teen. Spending more time interviewing the teen offenders and understanding why they have turned to gangs and/or drug involvement.

“Teens have perfected the methods they use to hide gang involvement from adults but this combination of agencies brings new methods to stop and identify gang members,” Loevlie said. “Allowing us to step in and educate the teen.”

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K-UTE Coming out and Faces Opposition

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Story by Sean Gustafson

Five local bands, one comedian, and two entire tables of radio merchandise appeared for one night this past Friday for the first ever Holiday Bash, a benefit concert for Operation Chimney Drop.

K-UTE Student Radio and Salt Lake Head Start teamed up to raise money and presents for needy children in the local area sponsored the concert.

The concert was originally meant to be at the Heritage Center located at the University of Utah campus, but it was relocated to the Officer’s Club on Fort Douglas Boulevard due to frustrating circumstances brought on by the Heritage Center.

Anna Anderson, the station manager at K-UTE Student radio said that the station had booked the concert two months ago with the Heritage Center but hours before the concert the Heritage Center decided to not allow the event to go on.

Anderson continued by saying that the station wanted to use the Heritage Center out of convenience for the people planning on attending. The Heritage Center would also be a centralized location for people around campus.

As of now it is unclear on the reason for the Heritage Center’s sudden change of mind on the benefit concert.

After the concert was booked at the Officer’s Club, a massive wave of emails, social media messages, and texts went out to inform people of the change of location.

Despite the chaos of changing venues, people stilled showed up to hear the bands play and donate gifts for the children from Operation Chimney Drop. According to an email describing the official results from Holiday Bash, there was 146 dollars raised in “cash donations.” Despite the loss of “foot traffic” because of the confusion there were over 70 people who attended the event.

The K-UTE has been no stranger to seeing difficulties after the 2007 controversy over a sex hotline being aired. In addition to the controversy, a series of vandalism broke out as well. This caused the entire station to be taken off the air.

Even with the station’s return the following year, K-UTE faces problems like rebuilding trust and regaining listenership in addition to possible budget cost.

To counter these difficulties, K-UTE has produced many PowerPoint advertisements that can be seen on the plasma screens found on campus at the A. Ray Olpin Union building and other buildings around campus.

K-UTE has also begun sponsoring free concerts for University Utah students, the first being the 2011 fall break. This was done with the hope of raising awareness of the station and the changes the station has made since its return.

Students were asked about their thoughts on the station and if there were any additional changes they, as listeners, would like to see. A majority of the students who were asked knew that the station existed but not much beyond that.

David McCall, a junior studying entertainment and game design said he it would be great to know “what’s going on [at the] school today.”

In addition to McCall’s statement, Valerie Martin and Rebecca Edwards, seniors studying biology said they would like to hear about opportunities on campus and school gossip.

For further information on K-UTE or their events, check out their homepage http://www.kuteradio.org/

Occupy Wall Street Gains Momentum

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Story By: Katie Andrus

Occupy Wall Street Gains Momentum

            “We are the 99 percent!”

This saying has gained a lot of traction over the past two months as the Occupy Wall Street movements have been expanding out of New York’s financial district in Manhattan and into local cities and neighborhoods across the United States.

Salt Lake City has its own Occupy movement that stands strong with the thousands of other demonstrators across the United States. Even after conflicts with police, eviction from headquarters and treacherous weather the movement is still gathering ground and more followers are joining as each day progresses.

According to http://occupywallstreet.org the Occupy movement has gained substantial ground for a variety of reasons. One of these reasons being that many people are becoming ever more unsettled with the growing amount of wealth that CEOs and large corporations, also known as the top 1 percent of earners, are acquiring. At the same time families across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet.

“For me one of the major issues is  (the) growing income inequality in the United States. While the top 1 percent of earners have seen their share of wealth and real income skyrocket over the last 30 years, real wages for the middle class have stagnated, “ said Charles Benard, an avid follower and participant of the Occupy Salt Lake movement.

Frank Wood, a man who grew up in U.S. during the ‘50s and ‘60s, talks about a time in which the U.S. was a model to the rest of the world.  This model “was a meld of our own social programs and capitalism,” suggested Wood.

It is the failure of this American model that calls for people such as Wood to defend the country. “I just can’t go to the grave thinking I haven’t done everything possible to leave this country the way my folks left it to me.”

When looking at the official Occupy Wall Street webpage one can see that Occupy Wall Street is a “people powered” movement that is aimed at “fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations.”

“The top combined 1 percent of wealth holders in the United States has more wealth than the bottom 90 percent. This consolidation of wealth at the top is what is responsible for dropping wages, unemployment and many problems we see in our economy including the ongoing disappearance of the middle class,” said   Jesse Fruthwithe an Occupy Wall Street supporter, who helped organize Occupy SLC.

As the movements have expanded over hundreds of cities, many protesters have been faced with conflict and frustration. Such issues have caused Americans to wonder if this movement will continue until change is made.

Abbie Minkler, a participant in the Occupy movement stated, “We are here until the end.  The American people have had enough. It’s time to take our country back!  It is not just the people in New York who are sick and tired of the 1 percent who are filthy rich and are getting richer off of the poor and middle class here in America and around the world.”

Bell Ringers Brave Cold For Donations

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Story By: Kade Sybrowsky

Armed with nothing but a tiny bell and a red tin kettle. Salvation Army bell ringers are out in full force again this holiday season. Receiving spare change donations anywhere from grocery stores to malls.

Bell ringers got their start in the United States with Captain Joseph McFee back in 1891. Mcfee wanted to raise money to feed the poor in San Francisco. He put out a red kettle and a sign that said, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” McFee raised enough money to feed the poor that Christmas and the holiday tradition was born.

Drew Jones, Janet Harris and Malcom Wells are bell ringers that will be out ringing this holiday season. Braving the wintery and cold conditions to receive valuable donations for the Salvation Army.

Jones, 43, originally from California, bell rings in front of the Harmons grocery store on thirteenth east near thirty-third south. This will be his third holiday season of bell ringing in Utah.

“I do it because I enjoy being around people,” Jones Said. “I just wanted to help out in some way…it’s not a lot but still its something.”

For the most part Jones enjoys his job. He doesn’t like to be out in the cold but believes that the cause is worth his body being frozen for hours on end.

“Its freaking cold…(but) seeing the best in people even though its just spare change can mean a lot to other people,” said Jones.

One of those people was Janet Harris, in her fourth year as a bell ringer. She currently bell rings in front of a Wal-Mart store in Murray. She has received first hand the benefits of what these donations can do for someone and that is why she bell rings.

“The salvation army helped me out so I just wanted to help them out,” Harris said. “Everyone likes to give back especially this time of year so it’s nice.”

Harris does not plan on being a bell ringer for life but has enjoyed her time doing it. She like Jones is not particularly fond of the cold because her hands get so cold but doesn’t mind to sacrifice for the cause

After ten years of bell ringing Wells, 53, likes to think he is use to the cold by now. He currently bell rings in front of the Smiths Marketplace in Millcreek.

“I have done it for about ten years and every year I say I am not going to do it the next, but I always end up back here,” Wells said.

Wells, unlike the other bell ringers, gets paid for his duties of bell ringing. Although most bell ringers are volunteers there are some that get paid right around minimum wage.

“I got nothing else to do. I thought I might as well make a little more Christmas money for my family,” said wells.

Whether getting paid or just volunteering, Wells, Harris and Jones are all in aggreeance that seeing the holiday spirit and the good in people makes the job worth doing.

“I love seeing the spirit of the season in everyone,” said wells

The Salvation Army is hoping to capture this spirit during the holiday season by receiving donations.  To donate simply put spare change in the red kettle donate where bell ringers are located or visit http://www.salvationarmyutah.org/ to fill the online red kettle or to volunteer time.

Being a Firefighter is Not an Easy Job

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By: Laurie Carlson

“If you are a person who says you are going to do something you do it. Being a firefighter definitely takes some devotion to the job. One of the biggest parts of the job is having integrity,” said Chris Wood B-shift fire captain of South Salt Lake station 43.

 
A firefighter is someone who is dedicated and perseveres when things are at their toughest point.

 
“To be a good firefighter you need to be able to work as a team, know your job well and know your teammates jobs’ well. You need to be eager to learn and continue to move forward with education throughout your career. “

 
“We put others before ourselves but keep our own safety first. It falls on the captain to send us home safe,” said Israel Estares, a firefighter who works on Wood’s crew.
The day-to-day job of a firefighter is never the same.

 
“We train, we shop, we cook, workout, as well as give tours and do inspections.  We eat and – hopefully – sleep.  We get called to everything.  We could be called to a cat in a tree, to sick people, to fires.  That’s the fun of the job when the siren goes off it could be anything,” said Jared Christensen, a firefighter who works on Wood’s crew.

 
They could be back in five minutes or they might not ever come back.

 
“You could go pick up a drunk man off the street and 10 minutes later you could be holding a dead baby.  You could be so far into a fire you can’t even see your hands.  In a 24 hour period I have run from 1 to 47 calls.  You just never know,” said Jared Christensen.

 
Wood has been a firefighter for 15 years and has been fire captain for 8 years.

 
“The first time I talked to him I knew that he was very knowledgeable about his career and what he does as a captain,” said Jennifer Christensen Granite Technical Institute (GTI) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) teacher who works with Wood.

 
Wood not only works at the fire station as captain but he also helps students at the GTI gain more insight from a firefighter point of view.

 
Jennifer Christensen said, “Chris has helped with my EMT classes in setting up their ride alongs and working with them so they know what is expected. Chris stands out as a captain because he works well with everyone and cares about the people he works with.”

 

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Estares went on to say, “Our captain is just like anyone, he has strengths and weaknesses just like you and I. The strengths I see in Captain Wood are his ability to communicate with anyone in any situation professionally. “

 
Wood also has good common sense. He leads by example and would never ask anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself.

 
Jared Christensen said, “Chris is one who always has our back and our best interest in mind.”

 
“Chris is one who I know takes care of the people that he works with. I know that if anything were to happen to any of them that they would be okay and Chris would do everything in his power to make sure that they were safe,” said Jennifer Christensen.

 
One of the jobs of a fire captain is to make sure they have training with their crew. Wood schedules trainings for his crew on every shift they have.

 
“We train so that we make safe, smart, stressful decisions while performing a high risk job,” said Estares.

 
Some of the things they do every day to make sure they and everyone around them are safe are always checking the trucks and the gear.

 
One situation that happened to the crew where they could have died was when they were in a house doing a search for people.

 
“It got to the point where it was super smoky so much so you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face,” said Jared Christensen.

 
They were searching and Jared Christensen was the second guy on the hose line. The guy in front was holding the nozzle and the third guy was pushing hose to them.

 
“We were going down the hallway and right as I leaned forward to sound the floor with an ax, me and the guy in front fell through the floor where the whole basement was on fire,“ said Jared Christensen

 
They then started screaming to the third guy on the hose line who luckily was a big dude so he was able to pull them up back through the hole in the floor.  By that point the two of them were completely disoriented and followed the hose line out.

 
“We didn’t even know we were outside yet when we were actually on the driveway,” said Jared Christensen

 
“Wood has a very close relationship with his crew members and has a very strong devotion to his career choice.  He has backed them up and supported them on thousands of calls,” said Jennifer Christensen.

Mormonism and the Gay Community

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“Utah is a very LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) biased community,” said Alex Muzio, an dance major at the University of Utah. “I know there are a lot of areas where openly gay men and woman don’t even feel comfortable being themselves in fear of abuse. It seems as if in Utah the topic of homosexuality isn’t talked about openly as if it were a secret.”
Muzio was born and raised in California but he decided to come to Utah for college. Muzio is openly gay and came out to his parents when he was in high school. Muzio is from a very liberal state and now attends college in very conservative state. The Utah culture is strongly dominated by the Mormon Church. Muzio, having not been raised in Utah or in the LDS religion, has experienced and observed through his friends how being gay can affect being comfortable in who he is as a person in Utah.
According to M. Russell Ballard, an authority of the Mormon Church, the religion is firm on its position on condemning homosexuality as a sinful behavior. One of the principles of the LDS church is the law of chastity. It permits sexual relations only between a husband and wife who are legally married. Furthermore, the church believes that marriage between a man and God ordains a woman and that children are entitled to be raised by a mother and a father who honor their marital vows with complete fidelity.
Mormons believe marriage is not primarily a contract between individuals to ratify their affections and provide for mutual obligations, but are an important part of rearing children. They teach that same-sex marriage undermines the purpose of marriage. The Mormon Church issued the document “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in 1995.  This official statement confirmed, “The sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”
Increasingly, the church has had to deal with the issue of gay Mormons more and more as people identifying themselves as gay or lesbian.  Frequently, a gay or lesbian who has been raised a Mormon will disassociate themselves from the church because of doctrines, but a gay Mormon community is growing.  There are also many gay Mormons who wish to overcome their same-sex attraction.

In 2010, at the 180 semi-annual General Conference, president of church organization Boyd K. Packer, which is nationally broadcasted, gave a sermon to the saints of the LDS church. In his remarks, Packer said some would argue that gays “were pre-set and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural. Not so! Why would our Heavenly Father do that to anyone?.” Activists and allies of the gay community have called Packer’s statement to be hurtful and ostracize gay church members and can lead some to consider or attempt suicide.
“Religion, I feel, is an major part of youth suicide. Especially in Utah. Kids grow up with a strong sense of belonging to the LDS church. When they start to realize that they are not the perfect child, they turn to their religion for comfort and guidance,” said Kaden Kruse, a Speakers Bureau Coordinator at University of Utah – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center.
Kruse, a former Latter-day Saint member and now openly gay; he has a person, didn’t have such hard time with his parents and church leaders when he came out as  he really felt about the same-sex. Kruse continued to talk about when gay and lesbian youth start to realize that they are not the perfect child they turn to their religion for comfort and guidance. They can begin to feel like they are immoral and wrong. Furthermore, it has an effect on our dating life. The conservative nature of Utah, due primarily to the fact the it’s mostly LDS, makes it hard for non-traditional couples to date.
While the Mormon religion is the majority in Utah, there will always be difference between these two groups. The gay community has harbored resentments towards the LDS Church because the church has donated to Proportion 8, “I cannot speak on behalf of the entire LGBT community but I feel that I feel that the LDS church plays puppet master with social issues such as marriage equality,” said Max Garrett , an student at the University of Utah; the Utah gay community has chosen to separate themselves from the religious culture.
“For my friends who were raised Mormon, there have been good stories and bad. Their families have embraced some. In those cases there parents have chosen selectivity in their beliefs altering their view of homosexuals,” said Muzio.

City Creek Center Marks the Beginning of a New Salt Lake City

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Story by: Spencer Peters

The long anticipated wait for the opening of City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City is finally in the home stretch. The wait is down to a mere three months until the March grand opening, which will mark a new phase for Salt Lake City economy and its development as a major metropolitan area.
Announced in October of 2006 by the Church of Latter-Day Saints, City Creek Center, will offer over 800,000 square feet of shopping, restaurants and office space over 23-acres in downtown Salt Lake.
In addition, there is an underground parking garage offering 56-hundred parking stalls which has already been open to the public and the residents in the four residential towers which were a focal point of this massive project.
Chase Carpenter, City Creek condominium owner, said, “Having seen this project evolve over the past five years, it’s exciting to see it come together in its final stages.”
To help live up to expectations, Taubman Centers Inc. announced, via press release on Sept.  13, 2011, the first 20 retailers moving into the 800,000 square foot structure – all of whom are new to the market. Along with anchor stores Macy’s and Nordstrom, the shopping center will be opening nationally recognized names, such as Coach, Brooks Brothers and Tiffany & Co.
There are also a slew of unique features on the project, including a fully retractable glass roof, a sky bridge over Main Street and a re-creation of City Creek, the snow-fed stream that once flowed through the city.
Current Nordstrom employee, Ashlin Gunn, said, “They really are pulling out all of the stops to make this new location special…there is a lot of excitement in the air for the potential this new store will bring.”
One interesting fact that stands out significantly about City Creek it’s the only major shopping mall to open in the United States next year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Being able to build through a recession, high unemployment rates, and a diminishing housing market can seem like a daunting task, but not for the LDS Church.
No loans were taken out, nor was any public money sought. The $1.5 billion budget for the development was generated through church-affiliated businesses and years of putting reserves aside, which allowed them to build through a recession, according to Dale Bills, spokesman for City Creek Reserve Inc.
Assistant Dean at the David Eccles School of Business, Brad Vierig, said, “It’s simply amazing what they were able to put together during the recession…City Creek is going to have an extremely positive effect on the Salt Lake City and Utah economy.”
Hundreds of jobs have already been created for construction workers and developers with another 2,000 on the way once the project is completely finished., according to Linda Wardell, retail general manager for the project.  City Creek is estimated to contribute $1 million a day for the local economy.
City Creek Center is only the first piece of the puzzle for the future of Salt Lake City living and the visions of its metropolitan future. The LDS Church and the Salt Lake government have created their “Downtown Rising Project.”
Downtown Rising is a concept that was introduced in 2006 as a way to build off of the success of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the idea of turning Salt Lake into a “global community.”
In addition to City Creek Center, developers have drawn up plans for various other community buildings, including a Global Exchange Place, Performing Arts Center, Public Market and a Metropolitan Sports and Fitness Center. All of these projects are highly dependent if City Creek lives up to its vaunted hype.
March 22, 2012 will mark the official and highly anticipated grand opening of the new City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Approximately 80 stores and restaurants will be opening their doors to the public. It will mark the dawn of a new economic era for all of Utah.  (660)

Recycle Rice-Eccles: Hoping for a waste-free future

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Story and slideshow by LAUREN BERG

The members of Recycle Rice-Eccles have taken big steps toward helping the University of Utah continue to go green. With one person’s dedication, the organization has gone from almost non-existent to a big part of the U’s athletic events in less than a year’s time.

Recycle Rice-Eccles started in 2010 as a petition. It sought to encourage the crew’s responsibility for cleaning the university stadium to recycle the leftover cups and cans, but the petition failed. “It was never going to succeed and I wanted a program that covered every potential area to recycle at the games,” Seth Crossley said.

Crossley is one of Recycle Rice-Eccles’ associate directors of sustainability. He is also the person whose dedication changed the organization into what it is today, and described the organization in the beginning as “loosely defined and unsuccessful.”

“Volunteers would be the best way to bring awareness to recycling,” Crossley said. “I knew we were always going to need volunteers and that we needed to work with the university instead of changing their contracts.”

The volunteers, who Crossley said numbered only about five to 10 in the beginning, would ask the fans for their plastic cups and cans to recycle. Since it didn’t seem like fans were being proactive about recycling the volunteers made it an effort to do so.

“It’s a challenge educating people about how and what to recycle,” said Allison Boyer, another associate director of sustainability and Recycle Rice-Eccles’ volunteer coordinator.

Boyer and Crossley both noticed that the number of  volunteers would decline during the course of the football games. About 10 people would help at the beginning of the games, but by the end, when it came time to clean and recycle trash, there would only be about three volunteers.

It wasn’t until the 2010 Utah vs. TCU football game, when the volunteers saw an ESPN College GameDay booth, that they realized what their organization could really be about.

According to an article published at ESPN MediaZone, the booth was there to promote going green and to create “an eco-friendly student gathering.” The article also explained that the students will spread the word about what their groups do on campus while helping ESPN collect recyclables.

The fans at the Utah vs. TCU game, along with Crossley’s volunteers, responded positively to the ESPN College GameDay Goes Green booth and the recycle initiative. They “were really excited about it,” he said. “It was really cool.”

Crossley and his crew became inspired to do something more for Recycle Rice-Eccles, and that’s exactly what they did.

He then decided to drop every single one of his 2011 summer classes in order to concentrate solely on the organization and how it could grow. He started out by making a PowerPoint slide show, and would go from department to department at the university to try to gain their support.

Crossley asked some departments for financial support. The staff in each department was willing to contribute as much as possible, but it wasn’t enough support to get Crossley where he needed to be. He was eventually told to go to ASUU, the Associated Students of the University of Utah.

He got the majority of his financial support to start funding the Recycle Rice-Eccles “make over” from ASUU, college departments and the Office of Sustainability.

One of his main goals was to get people more involved and proactive about recycling, so getting a spot to set up a recycling booth in the tailgating lot at football games was a big priority.

Crossley then had to go through a series of many approval processes.

He knew he would need the support of the top people in the departments in order to give the organization a new look and to get it up and running.

Crossley said that Gordon Wilson, vice president for Administrative Services, wanted to help support the changes that were being made at Recycle Rice-Eccles.

Because Wilson is in charge of plant operations, stadium services, stadium security and more, his support would also mean the support of everyone under him. He was also a big financial supporter as well, Crossley said.

He then needed the approval of the Crimson Club and CBS Sports Properties to set up a booth at the tailgating lot and to use logos at the booth, since the club owns the rights to market on athletic properties and sells all those rights to CBS Sports Properties. He also needed approval from the Athletic Department to set up a booth on school and athletic grounds.

After everything was approved, Crossley was then able to promote the sponsors for Recycle Rice-Eccles, including the MUSS, the campus bookstore and the Crimson Club.

Crossley decided to make bright green “Green Police” shirts for his volunteers to wear that display some of the sponsors’ logos on it.

Once the football season started Crossley continued to get companies and groups to sponsor the organization and get more volunteers to help. His main goal was to “make it fun for people,” he said, so he got fans and his volunteers involved by doing things like handing out or setting up drawings for field passes, and by doing “giveaways.”

In such a short amount of time Recycle Rice-Eccles now has its own mascot, the “Green Men,” that is seen running around at football games, a Facebook page, and sponsorships by businesses like Ford and Coca-Cola.

After only the first five games in 2011, Crossley said Recycle Rice-Eccles saved 17,000 pounds of recycled materials from being thrown away with the help of over 330 volunteers.

“It was surprising to see how many people were in favor of the organization, and how many people said it was long overdue,” said Chris Pavel, a junior at the University of Utah and Recycle Rice-Eccles volunteer.

Still continuing to try to grow, Crossley explains there will be more things to come for Recycle Rice-Eccles in the future, such as improving the “The Green Minute” at football games, getting the “Green Men” more involved, and just doing more to get fans and volunteers excited about recycling.

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Miracle workers: the selfless service of the Make-A-Wish Foundation

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Story and slideshow by TOM CROWELL

A sign of hope for the weary.

If you could have one wish, what would it be? The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the modern-day genie for countless children between the ages of 2½ and 18 who have a life-threatening illness affirmed by their physicians. Whether the wish is simple or complex, this organization is ready and waiting to make wishes come true.

The Make-A-Wish Utah chapter consists of eight full-time and three part-time employees who supervise and direct efforts of nearly 300 volunteers around the state. These miracle workers make every effort they can to provide a little bit of happiness in the sometimes bleak and worrisome life situations of those seeking to have their wishes granted.

Krachel Greenwood, communications manager for the chapter since 2007, is tasked with promoting the mission of the organization, which is: “We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” Greenwood oversees the chapter’s website, Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube channel, blog and Flickr account. These resources allow stories of wish recipients to be shared outside the organization and let people see its impact in the community.

Jenny Heffner is the chapter’s wish coordinator and her primary responsibilities are to plan all the travel for wish recipients and make arrangements for celebrities such as snowboarder Shaun White and Utah Jazz players to meet the child who has wished to see them. Heffner also supervises the efforts of 150 volunteers. During her time with the organization, she has completed approximately 135 wishes and is currently working on 54.

Heffner has seen conventional wishes, and requests for the unique as well. Her most unique so far has been for a 3-year-old girl named Olivia. Olivia’s wish was to ride a purple horse on a pink beach. In a follow-up email interview, Heffner said Olivia has changed her wish to a family vacation in Maui and a visit to a beach in Hawaii with pink sand.

Another challenging request came from Luke, 12, who wished to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard and participate in rescue swimming exercises. In order to make this wish become a reality, numerous hurdles had to be overcome. The first obstacle was physician authorization. Then came military security clearances and another letter from Luke’s physician listing his physical capabilities. Heffner also worked closely with the Make-A-Wish chapters in Alabama and Georgia to coordinate living arrangements for Luke and his family during their stay.

Heffner said 78 percent of wishes involve travel. The non-travel wishes are handled by Frank Nilson, director of program services. Nilson takes all referrals for wishes and specifically coordinates the efforts for children wishing to visit Pres. Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also makes arrangements for children wishing to visit Uintah County and participate in a dinosaur dig. Nilson said his favorite part of working at Make-A-Wish is its uniqueness.“We’re not like other nonprofits that provide one service to each of their clients. We let the kids decide what is meaningful,” he said.

Hugh Taylor has been volunteering at Make-A-Wish for the last 20 years. A former electronics repairman for Smith’s supermarkets, Taylor has helped grant around 120 wishes. The first wish he granted was for a 10-year-old boy suffering from cancer who wanted a fishing boat.  In addition, members of the Utah Bass Fishing Club took the boy out on the water in his new boat to catch some fish.

Another wish Taylor remembers well was a young girl with leukemia who wished to meet actress Candace Cameron from the TV show “Full House,” and a young man with cystic fibrosis who wanted to be an actor and a model. Even though these wishes took place a number of years ago, Taylor said, “Some wishes you just don’t forget.”

Carri Fergusson started volunteering for Make-A-Wish in 1998 and has helped grant 38 wishes. Two of those wishes are especially memorable for her.

The first wish was for a teenage boy with a rare form of cancer who wanted to meet Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band. The other was for an 8-year-old girl with an inoperable brain tumor who wanted to be a horse veterinarian for a day. The wishes come in all forms, but Fergusson said that her favorite part of being a wish granter is that “there is a rewarding feeling associated with donating your time and helping others.”

The notion that this organization only assists those with terminal illnesses has been a difficult one to overcome, but there are many adults out there who can say they were granted a wish thanks to the selfless service of miracle workers.

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Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake Arts Council team up to bring artwork to TRAX stations

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Story and slideshow by LISA HENDRY

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The platform is dotted with people. Some wear backpacks, some carry briefcases; other people clutch coffee cups, or push over a bike. The brakes sound on the track. A button is pushed, the doors open.

The automated voice fills the air, “You are on the Red Line train to Daybreak.” The brakes lift, people settle into their seats and TRAX is on its way.

Stop after stop, people come and go. The next station is reached. The doors open onto the TRAX station. More can be found there than just the dull grind of commuters. A flash of color, a crop of shaped metal, a reflection of glass. There is art.

Amid the scattered travelers, signs, schedules and benches that line each TRAX station, there are shapes and designs, colors and murals — art that Utah’s students, children, artists and government have all contributed to bring life to the urban landscape.

To bring about these pieces of art, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) partnered with the Salt Lake City Arts Council in a project called Art in Transit.

“It is really designed to enhance the character of our transit system,” said Jerry Carpenter, a UTA spokesman, in a phone interview. UTA works with local art commissions of different cities to select artists.

Roni Thomas, project manager at the Salt Lake City Arts Council, has worked with UTA for the Art in Transit program. She is currently involved in the most recent project of developing the North Temple line, which will feature its art pieces in fall 2012.

“When this line is done, we would have worked with the UTA at 20 stations,” Thomas said in a phone interview.

Thomas said the Arts Council is involved in the artist selection process from start to finish. The council presents a call to artists to commission their artwork, based on requests for qualifications and requests for proposal. The Salt Lake design board, made up of  Council members and members of UTA, makes a recommendation to the mayor and CEO of UTA to approve the artwork after it has been proposed.

Each project is commissioned $90,000, an amount split by UTA and the city. After completion, the artwork is owned and maintained by the UTA. Some stations are open to national artists, while others are left exclusively for Utah artists.

“We are supporting local artists,” Thomas said. “When visitors come in town and see ‘oh that’s done locally,’ it is something the community can look at and take pride in.”

The Trolley TRAX station, located at 625 E. 400 South, was one of these stations. It was a project not only done by local artists, but also by children of Salt Lake City. Bad Dog Arts, located in downtown Salt Lake City, undertook the art project and allowed children to create the artwork.

“We’re all about art,” said Victoria Lyons, co-founder and co-director of Bad Dog Arts. The Bad Dog Arts program is a nonprofit organization that works with children ages 5 to 18 and allows them to create art as a positive outlet. The station provided an ideal landscape for the Bad Dog Arts project.

“The imagery is different reflection and action of community from kids’ perspectives.” Lyons said in a phone interview.

The station contains several different elements. Mosaic tiles line the station, both on benches in bright, colorful patterns and outlining the station ramps. Some drawings are engraved into granite pavers. Art and poetry is displayed under the canopies; that artwork resulted from a Bad Dog Arts writing program.

“Art can be life changing,” Lyons said. “It makes a huge difference in kids’ lives and can sometimes be one of the ways to reach kids to communicate and allow them to contribute to the community in a positive way.”

Just like this beneficial project, each piece of art is about speaking to the particular area.

“It’s a way that we enhance the riding experience and give them (the riders) something to look at that is typically reflective of the community,” UTA spokesman Carpenter said.

According to Thomas, it is up to the artists to speak to the area by researching the location, community and history of the area.

For example, the “Flame Figure” by Michael Stutz, located at Rice Eccles Stadium, is representative of the line that was installed just as the 2002 Winter Olympics came to Salt Lake City. The artwork there ties together the theme of the Olympics, blending the human form with the energy of fire.

All future UTA art projects will continue to say something about the rich history of the location and appeal to the area.

Each individual project has goals the Salt Lake City Arts Council wants to accomplish. For example, all six of the stations along the new North Temple line will emphasize the feeling of moving from the downtown area to the more open area surrounding the airport. “We want to create a sense of arrival in the city,” Thomas said.

Other artwork still in progress can be seen at the Midvale Bingham station, which will feature art titled “Utah Bit and Mine.” Carpenter said it is an interactive artwork that uses a great amount of creativity and shows just how neat art can be. The art is designed to highlight and reflect Utah’s deep mining history.

As the TRAX lines expand, the new art that is being proposed will take a different approach in representing the city of Provo. It will be using bright, whimsical figures to give the city that bright, offbeat and dynamic feel. Instead of representing Provo’s history, the art will demonstrate that Provo is a modern, developing city.

“The thing that is interesting about art is what is appealing to some people others might not like. So you want to find something that is part of the community,” Thomas said.

That is exactly what these pieces of art do. In supporting local artists and giving shape to Utah’s history and background, the art at the TRAX stations enriches the experience of those riding public transportation. It is something that the commuters can take pride in, and feel a part of.

“It helps make a more viable and bright community,” Thomas said, “and that’s what public art does.”

The experiences of a Scientologist

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Story by MIRAZ RASOUL

Jeffrey Aylor was only 13 years old when he made the decision to join Scientology.

That decision changed his life forever.

Aylor was born and raised in a Scientology family in Los Angeles, Calif. Aylor was approached by Scientology’s Sea Organization when he was a pre-teen and joined shortly after. “They asked me if I was interested in helping people, and I was just a kid, it seemed like a good idea to me at the time,” Aylor said.

After joining, Aylor was introduced to the required training known as “Estates Project Force.” “The training and process of becoming entangled in Scientology is very organized and strict,” Aylor said. The Estates Project Force is a boot camp where new members learn how to perform manual labor work, march and salute.

“There is a lot of importance placed on physical work when in training because they believe it teaches a person to be stronger and more in control of their environment,” Aylor said.

The training definitely changed Aylor. “It was as if I could no longer go on without working long hours and doing what I was told every second of every day; I don’t know if it was fear or a desire to be accepted among my peers,” Aylor said.

After all the training, Aylor was assigned to be a receptionist at the American Saint Hill Organization for spiritual training. “I was paid $50 every week for working about 15 hours almost every day,” Aylor said.

Even when Aylor was not working or training, he was sharing his space with about 20 other boys and men. “Life surrounded around work and being committed to your faith, there was no time to really reflect and picture another future for yourself,” Aylor said.

A while passed and Aylor was awarded a “higher ranking” in the community. Aylor was no longer a receptionist, but a PTS watchmen. A PTS watchmen monitors certain Sea Organization members who wish to leave the order. “I was honored to be chosen to fulfill such a major role, but I later came to realize that my job was not ethically right,” Aylor said.

In the Sea Organization, there is no concrete rule that bans members from leaving anytime they desire, but there is a process that must be completed before being released.

The “route out” process usually puts a lot of pressure on members wanting to leave. “The church doesn’t really believe that a member may want to leave because they are unhappy, it’s usually assumed that the reason members want to leave is because they have done something wrong that is motivating them to get out,” Aylor said.

The route out process is taken very seriously and must be completed. So to make sure members who are in the process don’t leave before completion, they are placed under PTS watch.

The PTS watch job entails shadowing members who are in the route out process. Aylor describes this shadowing as a serious matter that can go to extremes at times.

“I was ordered to spend all night sleeping on the floor against the door of a member who was on watch many times. I had to know and feel when they opened the door and if they wanted to use the restroom in the middle of the night, I would stand outside the door for them to finish,” Aylor said.

Amongst all the madness, Aylor was still performing his duties as a good member with no intention of leaving anytime soon.

After six years of service for the Sea Organization, Aylor finally realized how unfair the organization can be to its members. Circumstances changed in 2004 when Aylor became very ill. Aylor has had asthma and other health issues since he was a child.

Aylor kept his health under control while in the Sea Organization, but when he became sick, there was no help in sight for him.

“It was just some serious chest pains in the beginning but it got worse and before I knew it after a few months, I could no longer work and get out of bed,” Aylor said.

All members in the Sea Organization are promised medical care, but no matter how sick Aylor became, he did not receive any medical attention. “For months, I was bedridden and had to keep asking for someone to take me to the doctor, but it never happened,” Aylor said.

Most Scientologists in the church view illnesses as something a person has created in their mind; in other words, they believe individuals bring illnesses upon themselves. Due to this notion, Aylor was sent to ethics counseling and when that didn’t help cure him, he was advised to start over with his Estates Project Force training to get better.

“I had no options left. I had no strength and ability to work because I was bedridden and needed a doctor,” Aylor said.

One night, Aylor was thinking when he made his final decision to leave and never go back. He decided to call his mother to tell her to pick him up and he left without any intention of ever returning.

Aylor managed to easily flee without any trouble whatsoever due to his PTS watch training. “I knew what to do and how to not get caught, the training I was taught to keep members from leaving later helped me get out,” Aylor said.

Now, Aylor is an assistant manager at a bank and lives a very normal lifestyle but there is no denying that Aylor is a little more different than everyone else due to his experiences. Aylor’s manager, Alan Denner describes Aylor as a very hardworking person. “He is definitely much better than most individuals at taking commands and always doing what he is told,” said Denner.

Aylor’s other co-workers describe him as a quiet man who at times can be socially awkward. Brenda Gourley, a teller at the bank says he is not easy to get to know. “It is very obvious to see that Jeff has a lot of walls and boundaries, it’s hard to become close to him personally at the beginning,” Gourley said.

Aylor realizes that his experiences have made him a unique individual that many may not understand. “I look around and see that I am different because I take certain things more seriously than others and find that I have a tendency to be anti-social at times,” Aylor said.

Aylor doesn’t regret his seven years of life with Scientology, but he regrets not being able to experience his youth. “If I could I would go back to tell myself to not make the decision to join because life is too short and every experience at every age should be cherished,” Aylor said.

After-school program works with refugee community in Salt Lake City

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Story and slideshow by JAVAN RIVERA

Watch the children as they wait to get into the Dream Center. Video courtesy of Susanna Metzger.

It’s a perfect picture of ordered chaos. Children run, screaming with joy and enthralled with the sheer delight of playtime. With the simple act of holding up their hands and the waving of two colored flags — one red, one yellow — two volunteers bring the disorder to a more reasonable level. The children begin to line up, still chatting with one another, but preparing for the evening’s activities. So begins another Monday night at The Utah Dream Center.

The Utah Dream Center is a nonprofit organization located on the west side of Salt Lake City that focuses the majority of its efforts on helping the refugee community that exists there.

Salt Lake City is one of only a handful of major cities across the United States that regularly takes in refugees. The west side of Salt Lake City and the neighborhoods surrounding the Dream Center in particular, have become saturated with people from countries spanning the globe.

The goal of the Dream Center is to help reach out to the community that resides in what the director of the center, Alfred Murillo, likes to call, “the west side strip.”

This section of Salt Lake City encompasses the neighborhoods of Glendale and Poplar Grove. These neighborhoods are filled with children that come from dozens of countries, and it’s these children that the Dream Center program known as The Open Door works with on a weekly basis.

The Open Door is an after-school program under the direction of Susanna Metzger that works in tandem with the Utah Dream Center to try to create a relationship with the community and provide a place where the children can go to learn and have fun. The partnership is now thriving, with children thronging to the dream center every Monday night.

“The relational aspect is the key thing,” said Jeff Friel, one of the regular volunteers at The Open Door.

Friel said he believes the ability to get to know the children on a weekly basis is very important to the core of the program. Whether that’s something as simple as figuring out which children don’t speak English well, or just seeing the children’s knowledge base grow as they come back week after week, he feels that it’s those connections that make the program work.

“We can focus on knowing where they’re at (academically),” Friel said, “and we can actually grow and seeing how we can actually be a part of their lives.”

The Open Door, which is open Mondays from 6- 8 p.m., began four years ago under the leadership of Bonnie Strickland Beck. Strickland was the director of outreach at a local Salt Lake City church known as K2 The Church, and first made contact with Murillo in 2007.

According to Murillo, Strickland had heard about the various programs and events Dream Center did in the community, and she was interested in creating a program that could work with the children in the direct vicinity of the organization.

Due to the high number of programs coordinated at the Dream Center, he suggested that Strickland and her team work with the idea, and that the Dream Center would help where it could.

Murillo sees his job as being there to help bring programs like The Open Door to life, but not necessarily to micromanage them.

“The idea of the Dream Center is to empower those who have a dream,” Murillo said, “and to fulfill what they want to do.”

Metzger, who now heads The Open Door, was there as a volunteer early on. She said how much the program has grown since it first began. With weekly attendance fluctuating between 30-50 kids, the program has seen a dramatic uptake in children participating.
The Open Door currently operates on a simple schedule based around tutoring, activities for the children, free time and a meal provided by the volunteer staff.

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Throughout the school year, volunteers from the program start every Monday evening near 5 p.m. by setting up the various tables, chairs, and crafts and tutoring supplies needed for the program. They then begin heading out into the neighborhood to gather the children and walk them back to the Dream Center where they can begin check-in.

“We try to bring them in small groups for check-in to help maintain order,” Metzger said.
The children waiting to sign in at the front table are allowed to play outside in the parking lot of the Dream Center.

Once check-in is complete, all the children gather in the main area of the Dream Center and are usually taught a short lesson through the use of either a basic story, or a skit performed by the volunteers.

Friel said the Christian volunteers respect the diverse ethical and religious backgrounds of the refugee children. Because the majority of the volunteers come from various Christian churches or organizations around the Salt Lake Valley, they try to show consideration for the children’s backgrounds by only bringing in Christian-themed lessons during the time of year when they are relevant.

“We do Christ-based lessons around Christmas and Easter,” Friel said. “The rest of the time we stick to really basic principles; stuff like respect, honesty and honoring each other.”

After the object lesson, the children are divided into groups based on age and are sent to different sections of the building.

“There are three groups,” Metzger explained. “Red and yellow are the younger children, and green is the older group.”

The younger children in the red and yellow groups split off into two activities. While one group works on reading or getting help with their homework, the other group does arts and crafts or plays simple games.

The green group, which focuses on children ages 11-16, works on its own during this time. The Open Door has recently partnered with the Pregnancy Resource Center of Salt Lake City to work with the “high risk” children that occupy the neighborhoods surrounding the Dream Center.

Terri Kerr, one of the volunteers who is part of the partnership with the Pregnancy Resource Center, said the curriculum for the green group is separate from that of the rest of the children. It’s designed to help those involved to think positively about their future, and also focuses on the proper way to interact with people and how to form healthy relationships.

Currently, The Open Door only has around 20 volunteers, something that Metzger would like to see change in the future. With as much as the program is able to achieve, it is still limited by the fact that the children in the program outnumber the volunteers by a ratio of almost two to one.

With more volunteers, and more time to invest, Metzger said her dream would be to see the program expand to the point that it can become a part of the children’s everyday lives, especially with the older children.

“We see a lot of the older kids come and go,” Metzger said. “I would love to see that part of the program grow in particular.”

The Dream Center is empty at the end of the night. The shouts of excited children no longer fill the building. Instead, one hears the voices of the volunteers as they gather to debrief for the evening. They discuss the events of the night, finish cleaning up and prepare to do it all over again.

Utah football fans prove their loyalty

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Story and slideshow by MATT ELLIS

On the foreign battlefield of the Pacific-12 conference, the University of Utah Utes football team was beaten down early. Many Utah fans expected big things out of their team going into the season, but a combination of injuries and dismal offensive play led to a rough start.

In the weeks leading up to the season opener, Utah was viewed by many as a dark horse contender to win their division and play in the Pac-12 Championship game. A perennial powerhouse, the University of Southern California, was on probation and ineligible for postseason play, and the Utes had the good fortune of avoiding recent stalwarts Stanford University and the University of Oregon on the regular season schedule.

The biggest question among analysts throughout the state was the health of starting quarterback Jordan Wynn. After having offseason surgery on his throwing shoulder, questions proliferated as to how effective he would be. Coaches limited his reps during the preseason and it was widely acknowledged that his arm strength seemed to have diminished.

But on opening night, the only thing that mattered was that the Utes were back on the football field. Rice-Eccles stadium was packed with more than 45,000 fans ready to cheer their team to victory against a division 2 opponent in Montana State University.

The Utes won that first game, but it was less than impressive. In front of 45,311 fans, according to ESPN.com, Utah scored only three points in the second half, and the 27-10 victory was too close for comfort against a physically inferior opponent.

Jump forward a few weeks and the team lost three of the next four games with the lone bright spot coming in a 54-10 drubbing of rival Brigham Young University. The last time the Utah football team had a stretch like that was the beginning of the 2007 season when the Utes stumbled to a 1-3 start. The highest attendance at Rice-Eccles stadium that season was 43,788, according to ESPN.com, whereas the stadium has not seen less than 45,000 at any game this season.

The Utes needed five tries to record their first win in the Pac-12 conference. But let the record show that Ute fans have continued to support their team in spite of hard times.

The early-season rough stretch included Utah’s first two home Pac-12 games. The first, against the University of Washington, turned out to be an embarrassing 17 point defeat during which Jordan Wynn was lost for the season due to another shoulder injury. One week later, though, another packed house of 45,089 turned out for the game against Arizona State University. The Utes fell again, this time by 21 points.

“I admit, I left a few of those games early,” said Shawn Ryan, a Utah alumnus. “They got pretty ugly.”

This is the first time in this city that crowds of such a large size have seen their team struggle so mightily in an environment where they are normally so successful — 22-2 in the last four seasons. This season they were 3-3 at home.

Going into the blackout game on Oct. 29, 2011, Utah was set to play an underachieving Oregon State team after three straight blowout Pac-12 losses. The season was on the verge of being a bust, yet 45,017 people still showed up dressed in their black Utah gear. Coincidentally, that number exactly matches the listed maximum capacity for Rice-Eccles Stadium, according to the University of Utah athletics website.

Clearly, interest in the football team is as high now as it ever has been. In spite of the many struggles this season, near-record crowds fill the stadium for every home game, buying up all the Utah hats, stickers, shirts and water bottles that they can find.

“Being a part of the Pac-12 really helped increase sales and exposure for the University,” said Mike Cherry, who works in the marketing department for the University of Utah bookstore.

According to Cherry, virtually anything with the Pac-12 logo is flying off the shelves of the bookstore.

Around campus, there are more stickers on cars and more U logos on bikes, sweatshirts and backpacks than any time in recent memory. Utah fans, specifically students, seem to be finding a renewed sense of pride in their school, as well as in their new conference.

Assistant Athletics Director Manny Hendrix, who works closely with the Crimson Club at the U, says that Utah alumni have been engaged by the new challenges the team faces, and that donations have been up.

“Our alumni base has been really excited and overjoyed to see the team compete with these bigger schools,” Hendrix said in a phone interview.

Unfortunately, a lot of the increased interest comes from seeing how Utah will measure up against more talented teams, which has been a double-edged sword.

But even after three straight Pac-12 losses by 17 points or more and the loss of the starting quarterback, Ute fans continued to show their support. Even those who didn’t make it to the stadium stayed behind their team.

Tyson, a night manager at a downtown sports bar called Lumpy’s, said that people who went in there to watch the games “kept their faith,” even through the tough times.

Though this season has seen some good wins, some fans are already looking forward to next season. Shawn Ryan thinks that next year’s success “depends on the quarterback.” Though he isn’t sure that Jordan Wynn is the best option going forward, he thinks that Utah can find success in its second season in the Pac-12. “I think they could do well next year, maybe 9-3,” Shawn said.

Another fan, Lexi Stevens, has enjoyed the games in spite of the multiple letdowns. She was a cheerleader in high school, but is just starting to really get into football, and says she will “definitely” be going to more games next year.

Asked what to expect for the future, she smiled and said, “They’ll have more time to improve, they gotta do better, right?”

Only time will tell if that is the case.

“I’m sure there are games our coaches would like to have back, but you’re watching football at the highest level,” Hendrix said, when asked about his thoughts on the season. “The talent level doesn’t get any better, you have to respect that.”

Because attendance has been so high this year, there have been rumors among those close to the program that Rice-Eccles Stadium will be renovated to accommodate more fans. Either way, you can be sure that the place will be packed to the brim and the Utah fight song will be heard from several blocks away.

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