Seles Sanchez/The Cougar

Clairo delivered a mesmerizing show at White Oak Music Hall on Saturday night. Her performance featured tracks from her latest album, “Charm”, alongside beloved older hits, leaving a magical impression on the audience. 

The show opened with “Nomad”, the first track from “Charm”, followed by “Second Nature” and “Thank You.”, both tracks off of this latest album. 

Clairo infused the entire performance with a soothing ‘70s vibe, entering the stage with her band in a playful skit of lounging and chatting. Her warm and relaxed presence created an intimate atmosphere, and she charmed the audience by interacting with fans, even accepting a small Buc-ee’s plush as she connected with her Texas crowd over their shared love for the popular travel center. 

During “Pier 4”, a track from her latest album, fans showcased their love through a creative fan project, holding up different colored hearts with their phone flashlights, adding to the concert’s ambiance.

Seles Sanchez/The Cougar

She truly energized the audience with her iconic song “Bags” from her album “Immunity”, noting that her audience deserves the song that was widely anticipated. 

For her second to last song, she transitioned to her latest TikTok hit, “Sexy to Someone” from “Charm”, introducing it by interacting with the crowd, encouraging them to cheer if they found her band attractive. 

She concluded the night with her top-streamed song, “Juna”, also from her latest album, as the audience sang along and enjoyed the well known and well loved track. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Clairo ‘charms’ the crowd in Houston” was originally posted on The Cougar

Tech volleyball took on two ranked ACC opponents this weekend, beginning with a thrilling five-set comeback against Notre Dame in South Bend. The Jackets, ranked No. 19, improved to 9-3 on the season and 1-2 in ACC play with a hard-fought win over the Fighting Irish. However, the momentum failed to carry over in  Tech’s matchup against No. 4 Louisville. They fell to the Cardinals in a straight-set loss that marked their first road defeat of 2024.

In South Bend, IN, the match began with a competitive first set marked by extended scoring runs from both teams. Notre Dame seized the early momentum, establishing a 4-1 lead. However, Tech quickly responded with a 5-1 run of its own, taking a brief lead at 6-5. Yet, the Irish regrouped and executed a 5-0 scoring spree, putting the Jackets in an 8-11 hole. Tech managed to tie the match at 17-17, but an awkward landing by senior setter Luanna Emiliano caused a brief delay as she left the court momentarily. Notre Dame capitalized on the opportunity and pulled ahead to claim the first set, 22-18.

Neither team established momentum in the  second set  until Tech strung together a 4-0 run due to a critical kill and block from senior middle blocker DeAndra Pierce. The Jackets maintained their lead with a collective nine kills from senior outside hitters Bianca Bertolino and Tamara Otene. Their defense, bolstered by six digs apiece from Emiliano and junior libero Sofia Velez, limited Notre Dame to a poor hitting percentage of .122 and allowed Tech to take the set, 25-21.

In the third set, Notre Dame took  a seven-point lead at 18-11 that made it difficult for Tech to rally back. Despite good effort from the Jackets to close the gap to 20-17, the Irish managed to take the set 25-20. Facing the chance of a loss, Tech rallied impressively in the fourth set, overcoming an early 3-0 deficit to seize control with a balanced offensive attack, outhitting Notre Dame .346 to .074. Sophomore right side Larissa Mendes and Otene each contributed four kills, leading the Jackets to a dominant 25-17 victory and forcing a decisive fifth and final set.

The tense final set saw Notre Dame take an early 2-0 lead before Tech surged ahead with a 4-0 run. The Irish responded by taking a 12-9 lead, but the Jackets won g six of the final seven points to clinch the match. Contributions came from multiple players, including key kills from Bertolino, Mendes, and Otene, while Emiliano delivered a crucial ace to cap off the comeback victory.

Coming off a resilient win against Notre Dame, the Jackets faced a formidable challenge days later against No. 4 Louisville. Unfortunately, Tech looked flat against their ACC rivals and fell in ,straight sets: 20-25, 16-25, 25-27. 

The first set against the Cardinals was tight —  neither team led by more than one point through the opening exchanges. However, Louisville turned in a standout run on both offense and defense with a  critical 9-1 scoring run that gave the Cardinals a 19-11 advantage. The Jackets battled back, narrowing the deficit to 22-19, but a crucial replay review denied Tech a potential touch point and sealed a five-point victory for Louisville.

The second set saw Tech quickly fall behind as the Cardinals took an early lead and rode that to a set victory, 25-16. Tech showed some resilience In the third set  with a strong service game that included aces from Emiliano and Otene,. They maintained a 22-17 lead late in the set, only to see the Cardinals stage a dramatic comeback, scoring six consecutive points to take the set 27-25 and seal the match.

Despite the loss to Louisville, standout performances from the weekend highlighted the potential within the Tech squad. Mendes excelled, leading the team with her first career double-double against Notre Dame, amassing 16 kills and 11 digs, while Bertolino also recorded her 30th career double-double. Velez’s consistent defensive efforts, with 30 digs over the weekend, underscored her pivotal role in the Jackets’ backcourt.

The Jackets will return to O’Keefe for another exciting, sold-out weekend of ACC action. They will first face Virginia Tech on Friday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., before wrapping up the weekend with a Sunday afternoon showdown against Virginia on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. Following that, Tech will stay at home for a midweek battle against Clemson on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.

The post Tech volleyball flummoxes Fighting Irish, crushed by Cardinals appeared first on Technique.

After a 45-37 defeat against Coastal Carolina, the ODU Monarchs are concluding a three-game road series and are set to play against the Georgia State Panthers this weekend. Georgia State, which recently lost to Georgia Southern with a score of 38-21, gives ODU the chance to improve its record by winning against a team from the Sun Belt Conference.

The recent game against the Chanticleers showcased the emergence of Freshman Quarterback Colton Joseph, who filled in for the injured Grant Wilson. Joseph’s performance was notable, throwing for 262 yards, and completing 22 of 40 passes, including three touchdown passes and one interception. Additionally, he displayed his prowess in advancing the ball downfield through the air and contributed 68 yards and a rushing touchdown in the run game. This display of skill and composure signifies Joseph’s growth as a QB, having already participated in two previous games this season.

Although the previous game ended in a loss for the Monarchs, it unveiled the potential of their future quarterback in Joseph. Furthermore, the team may have discovered another key player in Freshman Running Back, Devin Roche. With an increased 12 touch attempts, Roche gained 86 yards and secured the first touchdown of his collegiate career. These two promising players could significantly impact Old Dominion’s future, particularly against a Georgia State defense that concedes an average of 31.5 points per game.

While these emerging talents may shape the future of ODU’s offense, the team’s defensive prowess has been pivotal this season, particularly the Monarchs’ Linebacker corps. The collective group has amassed 116 tackles, with Sophomores Koa Naotala, Mario Thompson, and Jahleel Culbreath making significant contributions. Their ability to control the middle of the field and disrupt Georgia State’s Junior QB Christian Veilleux will be instrumental in the upcoming game.

Georgia State’s offensive strategy has predominantly revolved around passing the ball, often targeting Junior Wide receiver Ted Hurst. Despite being limited to 2 receptions and 26 yards in the previous game against Georgia Southern, Hurst’s impact on the team’s offense this season remains substantial. Conversely, the team’s defensive struggles, allowing an average of 421.2 yards per game and 17 total touchdowns over four games, have necessitated their offense to compensate and strive for scoring opportunities.

Notably, Georgia State’s victories this season have been narrow, while their losses have been by double digits. The team is expected to adopt a strategic approach, relying on their defense to contain the Monarchs’ offense, which previously secured 37 points and 462 total yards.

Key Players to Watch:

Old Dominion: 

The Monarch receiving core has seen multiple receivers step in and break off huge plays for the offense throughout the season. However, for this game against the Panthers, fans should watch out for Senior wideout Isiah Paige, who is coming off his second-best performance of the season, hauling in 8 receptions for 81 yards with a 55-yard touchdown. Paige leads the team in receptions and receiving yards for the Monarchs and could continue to see frequent targets in this upcoming matchup.

On the other side of the ball, the Monarchs’ defense has struggled to sack the quarterback this season, with sophomore linebacker Mario Thompson, who has two sacks, leading the way. While the Monarchs haven’t gotten the quarterback on the ground, Thompson’s ability to put pressure on the opposition’s offense and being second in total tackles (41) will be a major presence for the Monarch defense in their game against the Panthers. 

Georgia State:

For the Panthers to succeed against the Monarchs revolves around their Junior Quarterback, Christian Veilleux, standing at 6 foot 5. His towering stature allows him to stand in the pocket and deliver strikes down the field. Through 4 games, he has 1,073 passing yards, a 60% completion percentage, with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. The Panthers will rely on their quarterback to move the ball and lead their offense to a win.

On the defensive side, the Panther’s Senior Linebacker Kevin Swint leads the team in sacks with four. His ability to sack the quarterback so far will be tremendous against the Monarchs, who have allowed 20 sacks so far this season and have suffered to protect any Quarterback who lines up under center. 

Game Time Coverage

The game is scheduled to take place at Center Park Stadium, GA, and television coverage on ESPN+ will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Since 2000, Utah has seen a 291% increase in STDs, the second-highest rate in the country. Utah is one of only three states with an opt-in requirement for sex education in schools. If opted into, sex education is abstinence-based and not required to cover forms of birth control or STD prevention.

Utah’s K-12 education sets a precedent of fostering stigma, shame and secrecy around sex. Upon reaching the college level, Utah students must actively work to combat and unlearn this.  

Our campus offers a variety of valuable sexual health resources. They are free, discreet, reliable and under-utilized. We must all do our part in talking openly, honestly and without judgment about sex. Destigmatizing sexual health and utilizing our resources is essential for the safety of our entire community.  

Attitudes About Sex 

Utah is reputed to be notoriously sexually conservative. This is seen in the actions of our legislators, like Rep. Jeff Stenquist, who has repeatedly proposed bills aiming to ban discussions of sexuality in schools. It is also seen in various groups storming the Utah Board of Education to protest teachers’ ability to answer questions about sex in class.

The religious influence here is impossible to ignore. Around 42% of Utahns today identify as Mormon — historically, that number was much higher. Just four years ago, it was 60.68%.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “Sexual relations are to be limited to marriage between a man and a woman” and “the law of chastity is an eternal law.”

To be clear, any religion’s view on sex is its own. It is not an outsider’s place to critique. The issue here is not the LDS church’s stance on sex but the culture it has resulted in, even among secular Utahns.  

Particularly pernicious is the impact these attitudes have on the queer community. The LDS church said, “Sexual relations … between people of the same sex violate one of our Father in Heaven’s most important laws and get in the way of our eternal progress.” These attitudes inform the policy ruling Utah sex education is not required to discuss sexual orientation whatsoever. This omits critical safety information for LGBTQ+ students, which is especially dangerous as HIV rates are rising.

When sex is not talked about and education is not provided, society incurs serious harm.  

The U’s Resources  

Our university is a bastion of student sexual health resources — you just have to take the time to look.  

Most people are unaware that the most common STI symptom is no symptoms at all. Therefore, regular testing and the use of barrier methods are crucial. The Center for Campus Wellness hosts free HIV and STI testing clinics three times a semester for students.

“At the clinics, we also offer some counseling, especially sexual health counseling with peer health educators,” Sabeth Jackson, associate director of prevention education at the Center, said.

Students have an opportunity to talk about anything related to sexual health that they want to know more about.

“Some people have questions about birth control methods. Some people have questions about STI prevention or treatment. Some people have questions about pleasure or communication,” Jackson said. “Those are all things we can talk to them about when they come in for testing.”

The free STI testing clinics are a fantastic resource staffed by knowledgeable, open-minded professionals.

They are also under-attended. Jackson said, “We had our first clinic of the semester last week, and we had 25 students … our biggest clinic we had last year had like 60 students. We would certainly like to expand and be able to see more people.”

To make this possible, the Center is focused on improving its campus presence and spreading the word over social media. Students should be part of this effort. Tell your friends to go get tested.

Another key resource offered by the Center for Campus Wellness is the pleasure pack delivery service. The pleasure packs are free and offer a variety of condoms, optional dental dams and water-based lube. They are delivered throughout campus in discreet pickup locations.

Jackson said the pleasure packs are a key part of “making the healthier choice the easier choice.”  

In addition to the Center for Campus Wellness, the Student Health Center offers a variety of sexual health resources. They too have HIV/STI testing and counseling, alongside various means of reproductive healthcare, like pap smears and HPV vaccinations. They offer counseling for contraceptives, which is vital to understanding which methods work for you. 

What is most important here is having open, empowered conversations on this topic. Letting the vestiges of abstinence-only sex education or societal stigma stop us from talking freely does us all a disservice. 

“A lot of the challenges that college-age students face are around talking about what they do and don’t want, having and respecting boundaries.” Jackson said. “If you know what you want, you’re more likely to be able to advocate for that … if you’ve never thought about it, if you just think you’ll do whatever other people are doing, you can get yourself into really harmful situations.” 

We need to talk about sex. For safety, for happiness and for our community’s wellbeing. U students have a variety of resources at their disposal to practice safe sex. We should be utilizing them.  

In shame and stigma, we are all worse off.  

s.reagan@dailyutahchronicle.com

@samreaganslc 

The post Opinion: Destigmatize Sexual Health first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.