Gallery • 12 Photos

Luke Larsen

The University of Utah versus Baylor University football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024. (Photo by Luke Larsen | The Daily Utah Chronicle)

The post Photo Series: Utes Triumph in a Successful Bear Hunt first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

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A reflective walk. (Sasha Ryu / Daily Trojan)

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Hammock Hill Hangout. (Joy Wang / Daily Trojan)

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A lit Zumberge Hall of Science. (Sasha Ryu / Daily Trojan)

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Windows of Birnkrant Residential College. (Joy Wang / Daily Trojan)

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Between two lamps. (Sasha Ryu / Daily Trojan)

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A quick nap. (Sasha Ryu / Daily Trojan)

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Doheny Days. (Joy Wang / Daily Trojan)

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Music on a hill. (Sasha Ryu / Daily Trojan)

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Under the Arches. (Joy Wang / Daily Trojan)

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Arches of DMC. (Joy Wang / Daily Trojan)

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The post The Weekly Frame II: Symmetry appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Malaya Jones didn’t mince any words following Colorado State volleyball’s 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21) win over Central Arkansas Saturday afternoon.

“I told you we was going to win,” Jones said to begin her post-game press conference. “I told you.”

She’s not lying. During CSU’s 0-4 loss streak to start the season, Jones consistently posited that the level the Rams have been playing at is far higher than what their record displays, especially in their loss Friday night to No. 12 Oregon.

“(Central Arkansas and Grand Canyon) are not at the level of Oregon,” Jones said after Friday’s match. “I think if we play like (we did tonight), we stomp the whole weekend.”

Stomp they did. With the exception of the second set, CSU found itself firmly in the drivers seat the whole match, playing at a level of consistency it hasn’t fully been able to display all season.

After starting a season 0-4 for the first time in program history, a nice dominant win seems to be exactly what the squad needed.

“When you look down at the box score and you’ve got five hitters hitting pretty well, that’s a good sign things are going to go pretty well,” coach Emily Kohan said.

The green and gold had five players hit at least .250 or better throughout the match — with four of them hitting over .350.

One of those standout players was Maria Brun, a freshman from Barcelona, Spain.

Brun had never played a single point of collegiate volleyball prior to Saturday’s match. She didn’t even know before the match started she would be seeing time on the court.

“In the first set I was just on the bench, then (Kohan) told me ‘Come on, go onto the court,’” Brun said. “She didn’t tell me before the match; it was a spontaneous decision.”

For someone who didn’t know she would be playing until it was her time to go in, Brun certainly made a statement as to why she deserves more playing time.

The outside hitter came into the match in the first set and immediately went on a 7-0 service run. That run ended up as the determining factor in CSU’s first set victory, as it brought the Rams from being down 17-19 to being up 24-19.

“I’m sure she’s been eagerly awaiting her turn,” Kohan said. “She had a little injury this summer and she’s trying to work her way into understanding how fast our system is compared to how she played in Europe. … She’s been waiting for this moment to get to go into the game and say ‘I’m ready’ and she did a great job seizing her opportunity.”

Once again, CSU’s offensive production cannot be discussed without mentioning Jones. The opposite hitter had 26 kills, double the total of UCA’s Laci Bohannan, who had the second most kills with 13.

Jones hit .415 off of 53 attacks while also tallying six digs and one block assist.

“It’s funny because in the back row, she’s just as good as she is in the front row,” Kohan said. “Sometimes when hitters click into the back row you get a sigh of relief of ‘Oh, thank god they’re not in the front row anymore’ but she just keeps coming at you — you just don’t get a break from her. It’s been fun to watch her develop in all of her facets of the game.”

Reach Will Engle at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @willengle44.

The frustration was mounting for No. 12 Oregon. Between a first-set loss and seemingly every review going Colorado State’s way, the Ducks appeared to be headed toward their second loss in three matches.

That frustration immediately turned into grit when the Ducks’ middle blocker Colby Neal had a monstrous block in the back half of the second set. Oregon took the set and never looked back.

The Ducks (2-1) started their season with a loss against No. 4 Pittsburgh at home last weekend. They followed it up with a sweep versus Long Beach State, something they looked to build on in Fort Collins, Colorado.

But the Rams (0-3) had all the confidence in the first set. They began the match with two straight points, including a service ace by Delaney McIntosh. 

Oregon responded with a 3-0 scoring run, but Colorado State had an answer for everything the Ducks sent its way. A critical challenge also flipped the score to 19-13 in the Rams favor en route to their 25-20 first-set victory.

Set two was much closer with Oregon starting on the front foot. The front row kept the Ducks in the match but the two sides still traded the first nine points. 

Colorado State took its first lead at 5-4 off an attack error by Sophie Gregoire to seize back some of the momentum.

Then came the block by Neal to take control of the set 19-17.

Neal tallied three blocks to go along with her four kills. Mimi Colyer finished the match with a team-high of 19 kills, while Gregoire and Noemie Glover each contributed 11 kills.

Set three was just as back and forth as the second one. A series of kills by the Ducks forced a pair of Rams timeouts but the latter wasn’t able to rally back.

It took Oregon a few minutes to settle into the fourth. After early attack errors, the Ducks got into a groove that they rode to finish the match.

Colorado State stayed in the game until the very last rally. It came within one with Oregon leading 24-23. Ultimately, Glover had the final kill to seal the Ducks’ victory in four sets.

Malaya Jones led the Rams with 20 kills and 11 digs. Oregon finished with the higher hitting percentage of the two squads, while Colorado State also had 15 service errors to the Ducks’ 12.

Oregon continues its journey in the Ram Volleyball Classic in Fort Collins. It’s set to face Grand Canyon University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday before finishing the trip against Central Arkansas on Sunday.

The University of Utah draws its own unique crowd of skiers, music enthusiasts and artists. Students come from coast to coast to explore what Utah has to offer them. If you fall into the category of art-seekers, here’s a guide to kick off your exploration of the city’s arts. 

19, Fake ID and a Nose Ring

It is not an uncommon experience to have a Utahn tell you, “I was listening to The Backseat Lovers when they were just playing in garages.” Well, before The Backseat Lovers were the phenomenon that they are now, they were playing at our very own Kilby Court.

Kilby Court has been around for about 25 years, supporting various up-and-coming artists. Some big names that Kilby has hosted include Phoebe Bridgers, TV Girl, Doja Cat and Current Joys. With weekly shows, Kilby Court is a unique and iconic hangout spot for the U’s students.

Although not a distinct venue, backyard band parties are also always a good time. Salt Lake City is a hotspot for small bands. Specifically in neighborhoods surrounding the university, it’s not uncommon to hear a band party on a weekend night.

Utah Museum of Fine Arts

On our very own campus, you’ll find the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Its exhibits range from paintings to photography to ceramic pieces. The museum presents a unique opportunity for university students to access astounding artwork. Admission for students is free with the display of your U card. 

Salt Lake Loves Books

One department that Salt Lake City does not lack in is a supply of unique, independent bookstores. A personal favorite of mine is the King’s English Bookshop on 1511 S 1500 E.

I highly recommend visiting the Central Book Exchange and then heading next door to Sugar House Coffee for a study session.

Some honorable mentions that are worthwhile are Lovebound Library, Under the Umbrella Bookstore and Weller Book Works.

Performing Arts

Although Salt Lake has many options for performing arts shows, I prefer to not spend much money on tickets and instead make use of campus resources. 

An inexpensive way to watch the performing arts is by attending our very own student shows and productions. The next upcoming performance, “The Heart of Robin Hood,” is being put on by the Department of Theatre at the Meldrum Theatre.

The School of Dance is also hosting a show, “cross roads,” at the Marriott Center for Dance.

Secondhand and Vintage Businesses

A few favorites of mine when it comes to thrifting or vintage finds include Vantage, The Village Vintage Interiors, the Goodwill bins or Pib’s Exchange.

Another great option that comes right to you on campus is the Off the Rack market. Each month the market hosts a slew of vendors, mainly focused on fashion and accessories. During the warm months, they can be found in front of the library and during the winter they relocate to the student union.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to SLC Arts for New Students first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

On Aug. 28, hypnotist Chris Jones came to PSU to put on a comedy show at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts. Jones has been coming to PSU for years, and always makes it a good time.

Students were chosen to come on stage if a balloon landed on them at the end of a song. Out of the chosen students, many got hypnotized with a few being leaning support for those who were.

Students in the audience were as well hypnotized, as Jones asked them to relax and do a certain motion with their arms. After some students fell into the sleep, he had fun skits to play along with while telling crazy stories from previous shows at other schools.

Hypnotist Chris Jones  laughs speaks to the audience during his show on Aug 28 at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts at Pittsburg State University. Jones put on a comedy show with his hypnotism skills and helped students perform skits. (Photo by Megan Brownell)

Sukie Hernandez, a Senior studying Sports Management, speaks to the audience while hypnotized after Chris Jones asked her to speak to the audience. Jones put on a comedy show with his hypnotism skills and helped students perform skits. (Photo by Megan Brownell)

The title of Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth album, “Short n’ Sweet,” describes the record, the artist and the long lasting ache of short but sweet romantic relationships.

The album was released on Aug. 23 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Sept. 7. 

Carpenter joined a plethora of other female artists releasing music this year, such as Charli XCX, Billie Eilish and Beyoncé. More and more artists are blending different genres to create a personalized sound. This album joins this pop renaissance. 

Carpenter opens the album with, “Oh, I leave quite an impression/ Five feet to be exact.” She lives up to her word throughout the entire record.

On the first track, “Taste,” Carpenter is calling out her ex for getting back with an old flame. Under the surface, Carpenter is pointing out her own pettiness and how she reacted to the situation.

In an interview on The Zane Lowe Show, Carpenter said she intertwined a lot of self-accountability on “Short n’ Sweet.” 

When talking about “Taste” specifically, Carpenter said, “It says a lot about my own character in moments, and mistakes I openly allow myself to make.” Knowing this makes the earworm track all the more enjoyable and admirable.

Listening to “Short n’ Sweet” feels as if you a’re with unfiltered friends during cocktail hour, especially in her songs “Coincidence,” “Bed Chem,” “Slim Pickins” and “Juno.” Throughout the album, Carpenter embraces the humor we saw on “Nonsense” in 2022.

“Coincidence” trades in synth-pop for a guitar-led country sound, a genre she mixes well with pop and R&B on this album. Nevertheless, she is still as honest as ever on “Taste.” 

“Bed Chem,” a song about the desire at the beginning of a new relationship, is unapologetically sensual. It is filled with playful innuendos and a playful beat.

Carpenter took me by surprise with how open she is with her sexuality. 

Sabrina sings, “Said you’re not in my timezone, but you wanna be/ Where art thou? Why not uponeth me?” 

I felt “Slim Pickins” to be one of her funniest tracks on the album. This song cleverly highlights the common disappointments of dating men in a lighthearted and catchy manner.

“This boy doesn’t know the difference between there, their and they are/ Yet he’s naked in my room,” Carpenter sings. 

The sound is reminiscent of Dolly Parton with expressive soprano and plucky guitar, and it pairs perfectly with the fun lyrics.

“Juno,” my favorite on the record, alludes to the 2007 movie “Juno.” It is equal parts whimsical and informal. 

Carpenter’s lyrical humor and bluntness is what makes her album shine. The way she talks about sex is refreshing and incredibly real, which hopefully encourages more open conversations. 

Carpenter grounds “Short n’ Sweet” with more emotionally vulnerable tracks, such as “Sharpest Tool”, “Dumb & Poetic” and “Lie To Girls.”

While “Sharpest Tool” is still humorous and intelligent, it is heavy with disappointment and anger. 

“Dumb & Poetic” is a stripped-back track with vocals that carry a strong feeling of hurt through every bar. In the lyrics, Carpenter is profoundly honest. She illustrates a person who misunderstands art and is emotionally manipulative. 

“You’re so empathetic/ you’d make a great wife/ And I promise the mushrooms aren’t changing your life,” Carpenter sings.

The details within “Dumb & Poetic” makes the track her most vulnerable song on the album. 

“Lie To Girls” points out typical behavior and gender roles within a heteronormative relationship that feel viciously true. 

“It’s lucky for you I’m just like/ My mother (And my sisters)/ All my (All my friends)/ The girl outside the strip club getting her tarot cards read,” Carpenter sings. 

Carpenter implies it is common for women to be blindsided by hope in a relationship, and men can easily take advantage of that.

“Good Graces” and “Don’t Smile” embody R&B and alt-pop. Lyrically, they are a bit repetitive, but the sound of each brings an enjoyable and chill vibe to the record. 

Carpenter has created a sound mixing country, pop, 80’s synth and R&B, distinctive to her and her persona, ultimately leading to one of the most contagious pop albums of the year.

“Board of Regents you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!” students, faculty, community members and staff chanted. Among a crowd of roughly 50 protestors, signage included three flags, a bullhorn, various sound equipment and smaller posters, distinguishing this protest as the first conducted under a newly reinforced University of Minnesota protest policy that set limits on attendance without a permit, poster size and sound equipment.

On Aug. 5, around 50 protestors marched along the train tracks from McNamara Alumni Center to Morrill Hall to protest the institutional neutrality resolution adopted by the Board of Regents on Aug. 27 special Board meeting.

At the meeting, the University adopted a resolution of “neutrality” for the University endowment fund that would leave investments to be made on “solely financial criteria.”

Protest leaders are saying the UMN Divestment Coalition leaders are aware of the new guidelines but are seeking to initiate more protests regardless of whether guidelines can be followed.

The protest began at 6 p.m., with the die-in starting around 6:45, lasting about 15 minutes before the protest’s conclusion at 7. The march was mostly led by members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Notably among the students, staff, community members and faculty attending the march and die-in was Sima Shakhsari, an associate professor in the Department of Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies at the University. 

The first speaker of the night, Shakhsari, criticized the University’s refusal to divest from Israeli-backed financial investments and condemned University President Cunningham’s email Thursday, which expressed personal neutrality in commentary on global issues sent out two hours before the protest began.

Shakhsari is not new to publicly commenting on political issues, nor to receiving backlash for speaking out about their beliefs.

Shakhsari was previously denied a position as the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University after answering a question about Gaza as a part of a public panel. They removed online access to their contact information amidst hate mail and death threats.

Although President Cunningham and the University sent out statements attesting to the consolidation and reinforcing of protest guidelines as necessary for the safety of University community members, Shakhsari said Muslim and Palestinian students, staff and faculty members already feel unsafe on campus.

According to Shakhsari, this feeling is not a result of the protests or the violence their families are being subjected to in Gaza, but because of the University’s inaction.

“The President talks about safety, but I say safety for whom, right?” Shakhsari said. “If she says that (her) job is the safety of students and faculty, I don’t feel safe. I was subjected to death threats. What did this University do then? Our students don’t feel safe. What is the University doing about that?”

According to Celia Nimz, a University SDS chapter alum and current member of their national organizational team, the University’s attempts to moderate protests through reconsolidated restrictions are not only a scare tactic, but a sign that protestor voices are being heard by the broader University community. 

“​​Admin has always tried to ignore us,” Nimz said. “Now we’re at a point where they can no longer ignore us so they have to try to silence us, and they’re trying to silence us with these anti- protest acts.” 

​​When asked if SDS planned to adhere to the University’s protest guidelines during future demonstrations, Nimz replied, “Absolutely not.”

Sasmit Rahman, one of the students arrested last semester for setting up pro-Palestine encampments near Northrop, said it would be impossible to follow all of the guidelines. They said the existing University policies on protests were never enforced until calls for divestment from Israel.

“The most ridiculous thing is that any protests over a hundred people need to be applied for in advance,” Rahman said. “This is just a show of force to intimidate student protestors and squash our voice.”

For Piper Fraase, a first-year student at the University, protests such as Thursday’s march by the UMN Divest coalition are a welcome means of gaining exposure to important global issues.

Fraase was on the lawn when the UMN Divest coalition marched by and said that although protestors are often just passing through without causing significant disruption to the day-to-day lives of the University community, sometimes disruption is necessary.

“With conflict comes uncomfortableness,” Fraase said. “And that discomfort comes with change. It could be positive change, it could be negative, but there has to be something that is changed in the world.” 

Houston senior quarterback Donovan Smith throws the ball after being pressured by UNLV in the pocket during the second half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Houston. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

Call it first-game jitters, questionable play calling or a team still finding its rhythm–whatever the reason, the first game is now in the books.

As week two of college football arrives, the Cougars are looking to put last week’s blowout loss in the rearview as they hit the road to face No. 15 Oklahoma.

Despite a less-than-ideal outcome in their season opener, there’s no doubt that Houston’s locker room is brimming with anticipation ahead of their biggest test during the Big 12 era thus far.

With something to prove to the sports world, Saturday’s matchup in Norman, Oklahoma will draw plenty of attention.

Cougars aim to avoid a 0-2 start on the season

Houston is face-to-face with a crucial early-season showdown as they face a dominant Oklahoma squad, directly after a disappointing 27-7 loss in the season opener.

Houston is determined to avoid falling 0-2 this weekend, a position they have not found themselves in since the 2012 season, which ended with a 5-7 record.

Houston has something to prove

This game is an opportunity for Houston to carve an identity in the Big 12. Following an offseason full of changes, such as welcoming 63 new players and new head coach Willie Fritz, a losing record is the last thing on Houston’s Bingo card.

With the 2024-25 season being their second year in the Big 12, Houston wants to prove they belong amongst college football’s elite.

Putting seven points on the board simply won’t cut it in big-time games, as the Cougars aim to show they are real competitors, not just a team forever finding its footing.

How will the Cougars fare in Oklahoma’s harsh road environment?

The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium seats 80,126 fans, making it the largest venue the Cougars have competed in during their Big 12 run. Houston will have to adjust accordingly.

They have two options: block out the crowd noise and focus on the game, or embrace the challenge and use the hostile atmosphere as motivation to steal a win on the road. Both approaches require mental toughness and discipline.

Pair the rowdy crowd with an unforgiving defense, which forced six turnovers against Temple in week one, proves a challenge that would give even the most formidable teams a run for their money.

What should fans expect?

Cougar fans should expect an energetic, hard-fought game from the Cougars. Fritz won his last 10 road matchups with Tulane, and the Cougars are seven of their last nine road openers.

Big-time moments are nothing new for Houston’s leader and with the first game out of the way, execution and consistency will now be the points of emphasis to clean up any mistakes from last week’s disastrous meeting.

The Cougars’ only touchdown last week came from junior wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV, making him a likely target again in this matchup.

Senior quarterback Donovan Smith had two turnovers and has to show his worth in week two. With the help of a few coaching adjustments, Houston’s air attack could very well be a scary sight for opponents.

However, fans should not be surprised if Houston leans heavily on the ground game to get going and minimize the risk of costly turnovers in such a brutal environment where every mistake will be even more costly.

The Sooners’ defense forced and recovered four fumbles last week so ball security will prove critical.

Houston must be purposeful and calculated in every play while avoiding overthinking and playing with hesitation.

The Sooners will be a test, but this is exactly the kind of pressure Houston wants to embrace if they plan to solidify their name at the top of the Big 12.

A win against Oklahoma, who currently sits atop the SEC, wouldn’t just save the Cougars from an 0-2 rut, it would boost morale, change the narrative around the team and set the tone for a new era in Houston.

UH kicks off on Sept. 7 at 6:45 p.m.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Week two preview: Cougars face No.15 Oklahoma, attempting to avoid 0-2 start” was originally posted on The Cougar

David Kushner shattered the world on the morning of Aug. 30 with eleven words: “My 17 song full debut album “The Dichotomy” is officially out.” From his first viral sensation “Miserable Man” to the release of his new album, the 23-year-old American singer-songwriter has become an emerging influence on the music industry. 

The album explores the conceptualization of lust and unrequited connection through visceral metaphor. Kushner also places emphasis on his faith in all of his music and dedicates this album’s entirety to his relationship with God and how it has influenced his life and career. 

Love and Sin

The opening track on the album, “No High,” depicts deep obsession by equating the feeling of love to the feeling of a drug, while “Skin and Bones” defines deep infatuation and lust in a more literal sense. “You and Me” depicts a virulent relationship and how it negatively affects all parties involved while “Love Is Going To Kill Us” and “Buried at Sea” consider the dark side of a toxic relationship and how it can eventually erupt into something unrecoverable. These tracks all expand on the dichotomy between love and sin which is the most prominent contrariety on the album. 

Hozier, another prominent alternative artist in the industry has the tendency to dramatize infatuation through exaggerated prose which is exemplified in his song “Work Song” in the lines “When my time comes around/ Lay me gently in the cold, dark earth/ No grave can hold my body down/ I’ll crawl home to her.”

Kushner shares this same style in the track “Sweet Oblivion” in its chorus: “I’m kneeling at your altar/ I’m down here on my knees/ Take me to your sweet oblivion.” Kushner further explores the theme of “right person, wrong time” in “Universe,” which draws on the idea in which two people that cannot find each other in this lifetime, might find each other in another one.

Kushner’s most popular single, “Daylight,” which maintains over 1 million streams on Spotify, now holds the anchor spot on the album.

“With my song ‘Daylight,’ I aim to convey the paradoxical desire for something that is simultaneously harmful to oneself, using elements of light and darkness,” Kushner said in an interview with Paper Magazine. “The lyrics, ‘Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time you and I drink the poison from the same vine’ encapsulate this concept.”

Faith and Humanity

In his album announcement on Instagram Kushner wrote, “I hope you find the hope of God within this album,” alluding to the references to Christianity and religious motifs that appear throughout each of the tracks. “Dead Man,” a track that was teased in early 2022 as a juxtaposition to “Miserable Man,” explores a more jubilant take on the idea of overcoming a battle with temptation.

“Poison,” “Heaven Sees” and “Saving Your Soul” all encapsulate the dichotomy between heaven and hell. They each make allusions to the grandeur of heaven’s reach coupled with the overwhelming sensation that hell is constantly pulling at humanity. “Flesh x Blood” depicts a similar ideology although it uses God and Satan as personifications of this contrast. 

“Darkerside” and “California Nights” both seem to navigate Kushner’s own experience in the chasm between light and darkness. This contradiction serves as a vessel for the “good and evil” motif both within Kushner himself and within society. This idea is explored further in both “Hero” and “Humankind” as Kushner explains, in lyricize metaphor, the villainization of both himself and the world as a whole.  

As “The Dichotomy” hits the charts as the first of many albums from Kushner, he leaves his fanbase with a beacon of hope for the future in writing: “I’m so excited to keep creating music that helps you explain how you feel when words cannot.”

j.thornblad@dailyutahchronicle.com

@thornrosejayy

The post David Kushner’s ‘The Dichotomy’ Explores The Paradox of Hope first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.