If you’re looking for a feel-good musical about working past discrimination and learning to love yourself, Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin’s “The Prom” is the show for you. Pioneer Theatre Company’s last hoorah for the 2022-23 season is showing from May 12 to May 27 for seventeen high-energy performances, all featuring a fantastic cast, a talented orchestra and a soundtrack to be remembered. “The Prom” is the story of Emma Nolan, a 17-year-old girl living in a small town in Indiana. When she asks the school board if she can bring her girlfriend as her date to the prom, all hell breaks loose. Luckily, a band of four washed-up actors from New York City rush to her side in an attempt to support her, as well as boost their public image.

PTC’s Perfect Production Value

As per usual, the production value of “The Prom” is top-notch. The costumes, set design and choreography all work in harmony with the actors’ talent to bring Emma’s story to life. The stage is increasingly filled with costumes and set pieces of every color as the show progresses and ends with a wonderfully chaotic mess of glitter and streamers swirling about the actors’ feet. 

The show is fast-paced and switches from scene to scene quickly with very little wiggle room. However, the set design catered to these quick stage changes, and there was never a point where things were quiet for too long. The choreography was fun and attention-grabbing, jumping from classic Broadway dance breaks into an incredible display of step dancing and back into Fosse and his jazz hands.

Fantastic Casting (As Per Usual)

“The Prom” gained popularity after receiving a 2020 film adaptation. It’s fair to assume many audience members had the roles of the four main Broadway stars filled in their minds by the famed actors of the adaptation — Meryl Streep, James Corden, Andrew Rannells and Nicole Kidman. Those are some pretty big shoes to fill, but PTC’s main cast did a fantastic job doing just that. Anne Tolpegin as Dee Dee Allen gave me goosebumps when she belted out notes that were longer than I can even hold my breath. Josh Adamson as Trent Oliver had me laughing every time he was onstage. Wendy Waring’s Angie Dickinson was the epitome of “zazz” and Branch Woodman’s moving performance as Barry Glickman had me in tears.

The other two main characters, Emma (Celeste Rose) and Alyssa (Mia Cherise Hall), were also perfectly cast. Their onstage chemistry was undeniable and their voices were perfectly suited to the infamously difficult solos “Just Breathe” and “Alyssa Greene.” The two are only seen holding hands or hugging in the final scene, when they are finally allowed to kiss, and Rose and Hall do a great job of building up tension until the final wave of relief is allowed to wash over them and the audience.

A Move Towards Inclusivity

Although it may be a bit of a stereotype, there is no denying that musical theater tends to attract queer individuals and provides safe spaces for people to find themselves via acting. PTC has been doing a great job at pushing towards a more inclusive environment for actors and audience members alike through their productions over the last few years. In 2020, they tackled a show about gender identity, “The Anatomy of Love.” This year, it was “The Prom,” and it was recently announced that “The Rocky Horror Show” will be a part of the 2023-24 season. Shows like this open the theater up to be a place in which actors feel comfortable auditioning and performing, and draw in more of the younger audience that many theaters are currently trying to entice. As was stated by Principal Tom Hawkins (Bernard Dotson) in “The Prom,” musicals give us an escape from the struggles of a typical day-to-day life and allow us to come back into the world with a better mindset.

“The Prom” was an excellent close-out show for PTC’s 2022-2023 season. It reminded everyone that what is really important in life is loving and accepting one another for who they are, and that no matter who you love, you deserve a prom just like anyone else. 

audrey.hall@dailyutahchronicle.com

@audrey_h_chrony

On April 21, Young Americans for Freedom at Utah held an event that sparked protests from multiple campus organizations. University of Utah Campus Police removed protestors from the event a few minutes after they had started chanting, “Fascists go home!”

Deputy Chief Safety Officer Scott Carver said ultimately they had to escort students out because they were disrupting an event.

“We have no complaints about it,” he said.

According to Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán member and student Julio Irungaray, after being escorted out by police, Officer Sgt. Larimie Lancaster told students he was required to open a case because he had confiscated a megaphone from a student. 

Irungaray recounted that the group of students told Officer Lancaster, prior to being escorted out, that an attendee had yanked a student’s arm trying to take the megaphone. The officer said nothing could be done because he had not witnessed it.

The students added Officer Lancaster told them if they tried to pursue any charges against the assaulter, the university would press charges against them for disrupting the meeting. 

Irungaray said at that point, it felt like the police were harassing them. 

“To us, it just felt like intimidation by the police — almost like a threat — saying, ‘if you guys are going to do anything about being a victim of assault we’re going to press charges against you,’” he said.  

Lancaster, a former South Jordan police officer, was not recommended for rehire following several disciplinary actions from the police department. In 2014, Lancaster shot 26-year-old Ty Worthington and the courts ruled the fatal shooting justified. 

Juliet Reynolds, a graduate student, helped organize the rally. She said she worked with the Dean of Students and campus police to inform the school of the protest. 

“The majority of the police officers that were there, really allowed this to be a successful event, but because of one [officer] — that kind of undermines everything — all the good that was done,” she said. 

Reynolds said she witnessed the interaction between Lancaster and the student, and throughout the event, he was “interjecting himself into situations he shouldn’t have been in.” 

“I’ve never witnessed anything like that in my life,” she said. “I was just in shock that this officer was behaving like this in front of all of these students.” 

According to Irungaray, MECHA members noticed there was a difference in how white protesters were being treated versus how they were. 

“Another MECHA member made [a comment] saying that ‘other white people were doing the same militant disruption as we were and they were left alone,’” he said. “So they only kicked the people of color out of the room.”

Irungaray said they felt like their rights had been violated. 

“To us, it was kind of crazy that the police was kind of interacting with a large group of Latinos outside and harassing them, while a bunch of white supremacist fascists were allowed to hold an event inside the school,” he said. 

Lucy Atwood, chairwoman for YAF Utah said via email that it was only until the chanting crossed the point of disrupting the event, police asked students to either stay and listen to the event, or leave.

“The protestors who chose to stay continued to be disruptive throughout the event by intentionally playing phone alarms and going in and out of the space repeatedly letting the doors shut loudly,” she said.

Reynolds thinks incidents like this are why the U’s Department of Public Safety has a bad reputation.

“This person needs to be held accountable … this kind of behavior isn’t tolerated within the police force because they’re here to protect our students,” she said. “They’re not here for any other agenda like that, and this person totally fell short of that.” 

Irungaray said this highlights how he thinks the police is broken as an institution and as a system. 

“This isn’t really just one police officer being racist towards a bunch of kids … so we just felt like this shows how the police are kind of liars and they don’t really stand up for a lot of marginalized people,” he said.

v.hudson@dailyutahchronicle.com

@vanessamwrites

Santiago De La Fuente and Braxton Watkins led UH golf to an 11th place finish at the NCAA Auburn Regional. | The Cougar

UH golf finished its season by placing 11th in the NCAA Auburn Regional in Alabama, led by junior Santiago De La Fuente and senior Braxton Watkins who finishes tied for 36th place.

Round 1

On Monday, the Cougars found themselves in 10th place after the first round.

Watkins and fellow senior Austyn Reily led the team in the first round, recording one-over 73-stroke rounds with two birdies each. The pair ended the first day tied for 15th place.

The only other UH player that finished in the top 50 was sophomore Wolfgang Glawe, who finished day one with a 76.

Round 2

De La Fuente was the only Cougar to improve on their first-round score on day two, though UH as a team stayed put at 10th.

De La Fuente bounced back from a 79 on the first day and logged a three-over round of 75. Matching him was Reily, who fell to 29th.

Watkins again had Houston’s best round, holing four birdies to go two strokes over par on the day and remain in the top 20. Glawe also stayed in the top 50 with 77 strokes in round two.

Round 3

De La Fuente finished strong in the final round, logging the Cougars’ only subpar round in the tournament with an eagle-assisted 70. However, Houston dropped down to 11th as a team.

Glawe also had his best round of the tournament, knocking in four birdies for a score of 75.

Watkins and sophomore Jacob Borow both scored 77 to close out the tournament, as Watkins ended up tied with De La Fuente for the team lead.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“UH golf places 11th at NCAA Auburn Regional” was originally posted on The Cougar

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This past April, the Utah Transit Authority’s Frontrunner train celebrated its 15th birthday. The Frontrunner train runs from Ogden to Provo and provides bike storage and complimentary WiFi. Along with UTA’s Trax light rail and bus routes, it services the whole Salt Lake Valley, allowing a clean alternative for commuters.

Despite the many benefits, UTA services aren’t utilized to the fullest degree. This is largely due to common delays, which the UTA announces on its Twitter page. Additionally, Frontrunner doesn’t run on Sundays. These issues deter people from riding the transit systems, pushing potential riders back towards the convenience of cars. Public transportation has the potential to become an economical and environmentally beneficial alternative to cars, but only if we invest in it.

Current Public Transit

Public transportation in the Salt Lake area originally consisted of mule-powered street cars. However, due to inefficiency and cleanliness issues, people turned to electric streetcars, with the first opening in Salt Lake City in October 1889. After World War II, streetcars began to decrease in popularity as the county converted to buses. Streetcars later regained popularity in the 1970s when people realized that pollution from gasoline-powered engines was just as bad — if not worse — than that from mule manure. This led to the creation of the Trax light rail, a modern version of the old electric street cars.

Large amounts of investment make Salt Lake City’s transit possible. The initial cost of the Trax light rail was $312 million. Today, the UTA has been granted $300 million as an initial investment to fund their FrontRunner Forward Program, which would increase the reliability and efficiency of the train. This project would add double-track segments to increase overall travel time. This advancement, tied with UTA’s already extensive bus routes, will make Salt Lake City’s public transit even better. However, it still won’t have the extensive scope of transit cities like Toronto, Canada, which services nearly every street in the city.

Moving throughout the state, the St. George area in southern Utah has next to no public transit. There currently is one bus service in St. George, known as SunTran. This service only recently expanded into the rest of the St. George metropolitan area to include Ivins, Washington and Santa Clara. The slow addition makes little sense, as St. George and the rest of Washington County has been the fastest-growing metropolitan area between 2000 and 2005. In 2016, SunTran proposed two goals to improve the bus system. First, shortening bus intervals from 40 and 80 minutes to 30 and 60 minutes, and also to implement two-way travel. SunTran has accomplished neither of these goals in the seven years since. It’s hard to know why SunTran’s progress has moved so slowly, and despite the city government requesting public opinion on public transit, there aren’t any reports on what support looks like in the area.

Why it Doesn’t Have Support

America hasn’t been big on public transit since the 1930s. Some blame the General Motors streetcar conspiracy, an instance where General Motors was involved in monopolizing buses and alleged to be doing so to dismantle streetcar systems. More likely, it is due to the American government focusing its monetary and resource investments on highway systems. As automobiles gained popularity during the early 20th century, the government invested in long highway systems, which made long-distance travel and trade more efficient. With this shift, streetcar companies didn’t survive, and only subway systems that didn’t interfere with car traffic continued.

Even during public calls for more transit in the 1960s, cities made little progress as they had already become structured for car usage. Progress was still made, with later additions of commuter rails and light rails, but those were only given ample construction funds, and not enough resources to support operations. Now, many rail systems outside of massive metropolitan areas only run for short times during the day or have fallen into disrepair.

Why Support is Needed

In both the Salt Lake Valley and St. George areas, we can improve public transportation. While this would come with large investment costs, the benefits of improved public transit are worth it. Public transit has been shown to have economic benefits and reduce air pollution. Public transportation has also been shown to allow people the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity, which improves overall community health. These are just a few of the many benefits. The criticisms of public transit consist of things that greater investment in the system can improve, such as delays, unreliability and unsanitary stations. Ample funding for operations could easily solve each of these issues.

Our car-centric cities only make problems such as these worse. In the Salt Lake Valley, cars have played a massive role in poor air quality. When places don’t have significant public transit infrastructure, such as St. George. it creates a barrier between food and work opportunities for those that don’t have access to a vehicle. Additionally, more and more Americans are unable to afford cars, making the car-centric system unsustainable.

There are real benefits to increased use of public transportation. However, these benefits won’t have a widespread impact until the government and communities fully invest in them. St. George’s circumstance shows a lack of investment in public transit, along with minimal infrastructure that has seen slow improvement since implementation. Salt Lake also published information on how UTA ridership still hasn’t recovered since it dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public transportation is something we could all use, and that many want. However, our representatives in the Utah government have been slow to invest in improving the transit we have. In our car-centric urban areas, public transportation can be an equitable, environmentally friendly and economical solution, if the community and the government officials we elect invest in it.

a.dunn@dailyutahchronicle.com

@auriana_dunn

Sampson has gone 232-74 at UH, including a Final Four and Elite Eight appearance in 2021 and 2022. | Anh Le/The Cougar

UH head basketball coach Kelvin Sampson interviewed for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks’ head coaching job, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

However, Sampson reiterated his commitment to UH basketball before its first season in the Big 12 Conference.

According to reports from the Houston Chronicle, Sampson said via text: “Can’t wait to compete in the Big 12 next season. Go Coogs!”

Sampson has revitalized the Cougars’ basketball program since being hired in 2014, leading the team to five straight tournament appearances including a Final Four berth in 2021. In 2023, Sampson coached a UH team that reached the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll for the first time since 1983, winning 33 games on the way to a Sweet 16 appearance.

The Bucks fired championship-winning coach Mike Budenholzer after the team’s first-round loss to Miami earlier this month.

Sampson spent six seasons in the NBA as an assistant coach between 2008 and 2014, during which he spent three years each with the Bucks and Houston Rockets.

Sampson joins several names such as Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson and former Washington and Oklahoma City head coach Scott Brooks as part of the Bucks’ coaching search.

In 2018, Sampson was reportedly a candidate for the Orlando Magic’s head coaching vacancy but ultimately chose to stay at UH.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Kelvin Sampson interviews for Bucks job, ESPN reports” was originally posted on The Cougar

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents discussed updates on lower tuition pricing strategies for the 2024-25 school year, MPact 2025 efforts and the President’s Initiative for Student Mental Health (PRISMH) on Thursday and Friday’s monthly meetings. 

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) members protested against budget cuts at the Board meeting.

Regents review tuition pricing strategies

The Minnesota Senate sent a bill to Governor Tim Walz on May 10 which will provide free tuition across all public state colleges and universities to families that make $80,000 or less annually. 

The University offers several promise programs which provide need-based aid to students that make tuition affordable and education accessible, according to Provost Rachel Croson at the meeting. 

The University is focused on keeping student debt below the national average by at least $2,500, Croson said. 

Three pilot programs are being implemented on the Crookston, Duluth and Morris campuses to curb low enrollment rates by making tuition more affordable. 

“What we are proposing is a model that is dynamic, open and flexible,” Croson said. 

At the Crookston campus, administration aims to explore new tuition models for online degrees for the 2023-24 academic year which will provide flexibility to decouple tuition levels. 

Most online students are part-time, which leaves them limited opportunities for financial aid, Mary Holz-Clause, Crookston’s chancellor, said. 

“Only one-fifth of our online students qualify for federal and state scholarship assistance,” Holz-Clause said. 

Duluth will provide full in-state tuition to Midwest states that left the Midwest Exchange Student Program (MESP) beginning Fall 2023. MESP offers discounted tuition rates for students at colleges and universities across the Midwest.

Summer scholarships will be provided at the Morris campus to support enrollment, retention and promote participation in three-year degree options starting summer 2024. 

According to Morris’s chancellor, Janet Schrunk Erickson, 91% of first-year students who earn at least 30 credits or before the start of their second year will return, while only 46% of students who earn fewer than 30 credits in the same time span do. 

These pilots will be run for two to three years, then the success of these programs will be evaluated. They will be incorporated into the tuition component of the budget review process for fiscal year 2024 and 2025.

AFSCME protests ethnic and gender studies budget cuts

Staff and students represented by AFSCME protested on Thursday the $2 million budget cuts and the appointment of Jeff Ettinger as interim president.

They called for the pause of the Position for Excellence, Alignment and Knowledge (PEAK) initiative which will restructure staff positions in ways that will lower the quality of services and result in staff layoffs, according to Cherrene Horazuk, the President of AFSCME. 

According to Ken Hortsman, the vice president for human resources, PEAK aims to decentralize the administration process for human resources and operations, create equitable and inclusive career development opportunities and leverage resources for the greater good while delivering services in a timely, accurate and compliant manner. 

 “The administration has not provided any details about the PEAK’s implementation, which does not inspire much confidence from those who will be affected by it,” Horazuk said. 

Students, staff and faculty also demanded the University fully fund the College of Liberal Arts after $2 million were cut in funding ethnic and gender studies. 

Protesters criticized the Board for appointing Jeff Ettinger as the University’s interim president, expressing their concern for Ettinger’s lack of experience in academics and saying it could cause departments and programs to remain underfunded, while administrators continue receiving raises. 

The groups who organized the rally are calling on the University to cut administrative costs. Cal Mergendahl of the graduate labor union (GLU) said, “This isn’t a budget crisis, it’s a distribution crisis.” 

After the rally, students interrupted the Board meeting to voice their concerns about the University’s financial operations. 

One student said they don’t want to pay $14,000 at a school where they can’t even pay her teachers. They said it was morally corrupt to cut funding for already underfunded programs and to have service workers fight administration for liveable wages. 

Another student called out President Joan Gabel for sitting on her phone while they were speaking to the Board. 

The protest was removed from the livestream and replaced with the Board of Regents symbol. These students were threatened with arrest by a police officer in the building for disrupting the meeting. 

After the students left the boardroom, Co-Vice Chair Regent Douglas Huebsch continued the meeting discussing current docket items without addressing the protest. 

“I was pretty alarmed,” Regent Robyn Gulley said. “We should not be threatening to arrest them when they walk in to have a conversation with us.”

MPact 2025 updates on sustainability

Under MPact 2025, the University is collaborating with partners and researching new ways to create a sustainable future. MPact 2025 is a system-wide strategic plan to strengthen the University’s commitment to research, teaching and service.

Since 2008, emissions have decreased by 50%, from 600,000 metric tons to 300,000 metric tons, at the University, Shane Stennes, the chief sustainability officer, said. 

The University is integrating sustainability into learning experiences, research opportunities and addressing inequality in communities vulnerable to climate change and fostering critical partnerships. 

“We are the hub that connects the private sector … and civil society,” Stennes said.  

A next-generation systemwide Climate Action Plan has been established, identifying how the University can respond to the climate crisis with available resources, Stennes said. 

Dr. Heidi Roop, director of University climate adaptation partnership, said 80% of Minnesotans think higher education institutions are responsible for developing and researching solutions. 

The global temperature has warmed by two degrees Fahrenheit. Minnesota is warming at a rate of three degrees per year, Roop said. 

According to Roop, the number of days per year over 90 degrees have increased, the growing season has extended by two weeks and a 13% increase in heavy rainfall has caused severe disruptions and flood risks. 

Minnesota is transitioning from wet to dry extremes more quickly and more frequently, Roop said.

Roop said the fiscal risk of climate change is immense, reducing the United States’ GDP from three to 10% by the end of the century.

Climate risk management requires two things: prevention and preparation, Roop said. Investments and action in adaptations and mitigation will mitigate severe impacts of climate change, according to Roop. 

“Any further day in … action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future,” Roop said.  

PRISMH services and communications projects and proposals 

The regents also discussed PRISMH, a task force addressing and supporting student mental health and aims to create a community of care. 

The task force key areas of focus are prevention, research, services and treatment and communications. 

Through a partnership with Masonic Institute for the Developing Board, two studies were selected to research root causes and intervention for student mental health. Dr. Ip’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study focuses on the role of structural racism in adolescent mental health and Dr. Cullen’s Imagination Studio concentrates on reducing symptoms of depression in college students. 

PRISMH has launched training and strategic collaborations to transform the learning environment for student mental health, most notably through the Quality Initiative Proposal approved by the Higher Learning Commission. 

“The proposal,” Tabitha Greer-Reid, PRISMH’s co-chair said, “really helps to institutionalize the work of PRISMH in ways that will extend beyond our three-year sunset.”

The University provides many quick access, on-demand services to students, Maggie Towle, senior vice president for student affairs, said. 

Boynton provides psychiatric care and medication management alongside student counseling services. Embedded counseling in departments is being expanded each year, Towle said. 

PRISMH plans to expand communications by creating a centralized mental health portal that has all mental health and well-being resources available and accessible for students, Towle said. 

Additionally, PRISMH is looking to expand services and treatment through a system wide Tele-Mental Health network of therapists and psychiatric nurses and the launch of the Mental Health Advocates Initiative at the Morris campus. 

Next year, PRISMH will transition to the Office for Student Affairs, Towle said.

“Every conversation about student mental health seems to be buttressed by ‘What about faculty and staff mental health?’” Greer-Reid said. “That is, I think, a next chapter.”

Jose-Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

As Summer approaches, so does the unpredictable hurricane season. 

While hurricane season officially begins on June 1, Houstonians who have lived through devastating hurricanes such as Ike and Harvey know just how serious they can be and being prepared can be lifesaving, so here are things to know before the season is here. 

What does the hurricane forecast look like?

According to the hurricane forecast conducted by Colorado State University, an average season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, three of which being are major hurricanes.

The 2023 forecast expects an average to slightly below-average season with 13 named storms, six hurricanes, and only two being major hurricanes.

What to do before a storm 

Find out if you live in a flood zone. The answer is likely yes, since all of Houston is vulnerable to floods. If you live in a flood zone, cities and counties might issue an evacuation notice depending on the severity of a storm.

If you are evacuating, know your route ahead of time and make a plan. Make a plan for where you are going and how you will get there. For extra assurance, plan secondary routes. 

Fill your gas tank up before the storm comes, as it can be difficult to find gas in critical times and lines are endless. 

If you decide to stay home, know your risks.  Prepare your home for incoming damage.

• Secure any loose objects outside your home that may blow away. 
• Boarding windows is a simple and cheap way to minimize damage to your home.  
• Sandbags and even duct tape can help reduce leaks.
• Charge your devices and backup chargers before the power goes out. 

Make sure to have supplies 

Last week, the nation celebrated Hurricane Preparedness Week. This is a time for understanding the dangers of hurricanes while spreading awareness to be prepared for possible storms. 

The following are essentials families need, regardless of if they stay or leave:

• Water, one gallon per person per day. 
• Non-perishable foods
• Flashlights
• Batteries 
• First aid kit, medicine supply
• Cash 
• Emergency contacts written out
• Portable chargers 
• Fire extinguisher 
• Duct tape
• Gloves, rubber rain boots 

During storm 

Watch and listen to the news to receive constant updates, weather apps can provide much of the necessary information you will need. 

It’s best to take shelter during a storm. You should stay indoors and away from any windows, even if they’re boarded. Go to the safest place in your home, which is typically somewhere in the center of the house away from exterior rooms.  If you have two stories, go to the first floor. A closet, hallway or bathroom would be safest. 

After storm

Wait until you hear official news the hurricane has passed before going outside. 

Be careful exposing yourself to flood waters because they could have dangerous contaminants. 

Downed trees and powerlines are a risk too. 

Check on your neighbors. 

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Hurricane preparedness 101” was originally posted on The Cougar

Graduates of the Class of 2023 gathered at Alumni Park Friday morning to mark USC’s 140th Commencement Ceremony. 

The ceremony saw a record number of graduates, with the conferral of nearly 5,800 undergraduate degrees and 14,000 graduate and professional degrees, President Carol Folt said in her address. The Class of 2023 is a diverse cohort, she said, with 4,800 first-generation, 6,200 international and 771 veteran graduates.

The ceremony stage was set up in front of Doheny Memorial Library, with chairs for graduates and guests spread across the lawn of Alumni Park — a “beautiful” campus backdrop for the morning’s events, said Daniel Hanasab, a graduate who majored in business administration.

“Today’s weather really reminded all of us why it’s so special to be in Southern California,” Hanasab said.

Following the procession of students into the park to the Trojan Marching Band’s rendition of “Crown Imperial,” Kendall Robbins, a graduate of the Thornton School of Music who majored in popular music performance, sang the national anthem. 

Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life Varun Soni delivered the event’s invocation, during which he highlighted students’ hard work and the unity forged among the graduates. Soni acknowledged the expanding abilities of artificial intelligence and the fear that it may disrupt the craft and careers graduates have been preparing for.

“Let us remember the timeless wisdom of the great Persian Sufi poet Rumi, who wrote ‘The only reason there is counterfeit gold is because there is real gold to be copied,’” Soni said. “Likewise, the only reason there is artificial intelligence is because there is human intelligence to be copied.”

Soni said graduates must recognize the unique gifts they bring to the world and use their skills  to the service of humanity.

“We are here to commemorate the work that can only be done by human beings: the work of love and joy, the work of excellence and achievement, and the work of sacrifice and service,” Soni said.

During the President’s Welcome, Folt said the graduating class faced numerous obstacles during their education, particularly because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Folt’s tenure at USC began in 2019 — the same year many of the students in the Class of 2023 began their educational journeys at the University. Bailey Kermani, a graduate who majored in cognitive science, said it was meaningful to hear from Folt because of the roadblocks Folt and the students persevered through together. 

“Knowing that we all were in the same boat together, there was a sense of comfort,” Kermani said.

Kermani’s younger cousins attended her graduation, and were inspired, she said, to witness the excitement of higher education; one of them told Kermani she was “achieving [their] future dreams.” Kermani said the challenges her class overcame made clear the resilience that student’s possess.

“If you really, really want something, you’ll do everything in your power to get it,” Kermani said. “That’s why you’re at USC; you’re there for a reason.”

Folt implored graduates to keep service at the forefront of their future endeavors. She compared the current superbloom in California — a rare occurrence of an overwhelming number of flowers blooming during springtime — to the extraordinary circumstances in which the graduates successfully completed their education at USC. 

Folt also emphasized the value of slowing down, showing compassion and embracing gratitude toward one’s communities. 

“You know the warmth and the security of communities, especially those you’ve helped build, and you are going to return to them throughout your life,” Folt said. “But you’re also ready, absolutely, to go out on your own.”

Valedictorian Isha Sanghvi, a graduate who majored in neuroscience, said in her speech that USC was a place where she developed a strong, supportive community that encouraged her to be ambitious and take initiative, regardless of how daunting her goals may seem.

“I’ve come to find that college is all about falling in love with your friends,” Sanghvi said. “And, somewhere along the way, their confidence and support helps us fall in love with ourselves.”

Frances Arnold, Dolores Huerta and Kevin Feige were conferred honorary doctorate degrees. Arnold is a Nobel Prize winner who contributed to making manufacturing processes across industries more sustainable. Huerta is a civil rights leader who worked alongside César Chávez to co-found the United Farm Workers Union, and Feige, who delivered the event’s commencement address, is the president of Marvel Studios and a USC alum. 

During Feige’s commencement address, he emphasized the importance of resilience in the face of setbacks and encouraged graduates to embrace new opportunities, regardless of how daunting they may appear.

“Always start with ‘yes,’” Feige said, “even when someone asks you to do something you’re scared to do, something outside of your comfort zone.”

Feige, who has led the multi-billion dollar blockbuster film franchise at Marvel Studios since 2007, said he was initially not accepted to the School of Cinematic Arts. He was rejected a total of five times, in fact, before finally being accepted into the school.

Even when one is persistent, Feige said, envisioned goals sometimes fail to materialize. He said this makes it possible to discover the choice that is genuinely right and more fulfilling.

“Not getting your first choice might just be the greatest thing that can happen to you,” Feige said. “Because, you know what’s better than getting your first choice? Getting the right choice.”

In line with his work at Marvel, Feige noted what makes superheroes who they are. While their powers make them “super,” the flaws and moments of doubt are what makes them “heroes.”

“Whatever lies ahead, enjoy every step on your hero’s journey,” Feige said. “Lean into your flaws, make them your strengths, embrace failure, persevere.”

Ariella Simoni, a graduate who majored in biomedical engineering, said she appreciated the engaging and forward-looking nature of the commencement addresses, particularly with themes around technology and AI. 

“It’s important to bring up [AI] because it’s changing the world,” Simoni said. “It’s an important thing to recognize in academia.”

Hanasab, who will continue on to a graduate program at USC, said one of the most special elements of the ceremony was its display of the strength of the Trojan community. 

“[People were] spending time together, enjoying each other and being proud of one another,” Hanasab said. “I am so happy and proud of being able to be part of this community.”

At the end of the morning ceremony, School of Dramatic Arts graduate Armand Akbari led the performance of the alma mater, “All Hail.” Folt concluded by encouraging graduates to continue their service to the world and to nurture and protect the planet, sharing a Native American proverb.

“We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children,” Folt said. “Treat our planet well; your children, our children and their children’s children are counting on us.”

The post USC celebrates Class of 2023 at 140th Commencement appeared first on Daily Trojan.

On May 11 the 2023 Mountain West Softball Championship began. With Boise State University and San Diego State University receiving bye-weeks into the second round of the tournament, San José State University, Colorado State, University of Nevada, Reno and California State University, Fresno were all placed on the chopping block.

CSU and Nevada played each other in the first round of the tournament, with the Wolf Pack defeating the Rams 11-0. This loss followed an overall loss in a three-game series played against Nevada five days earlier.

“Despite the 11-0 score, Nevada and CSU were fairly evenly split offensively. All batters from both teams hit equally, with Nevada having four hits and CSU three.”

The shutout was only the third of the season for the Rams, but the tournament left no room for error, and the Rams were unable to recover following a devastating fifth inning. The first inning proved to be fairly uneventful from both teams, with the Wolf Pack scoring a single point off a ground ball.

Despite the 11-0 score, Nevada and CSU were fairly evenly split offensively. All batters from both teams hit equally, with Nevada having four hits and CSU three. It was evident, however, that the Rams were concerned about their ability to defeat the Wolf Pack.

Throughout the game, the Rams rotated through three different pitchers in an attempt to recover from a poor showing in the first and third innings but to no avail. The second inning began the dominance from the Wolf Pack with Nevada scoring three runs from Chelie Senini, Hailey Prahm and Bridgette Gilliano.

The Wolf Pack was able to hold off any CSU runs in the following three innings. CSU played through the bottom of the second inning with three consecutive outs, as well as the bottom of the third inning with two consecutive outs and only Ashley York making it past the home plate. The bottom of the fourth was just as uneventful for the Rams with Molly Gates making it to first but getting tagged out at second.

Nevada had a similarly uneventful third and fourth innings, with no successful runs in the third inning and three consecutive outs in the fourth inning as well. However, in the fifth and final inning, Nevada was able to bring the offense that was seen in the first inning back to the fifth.

The fifth inning brought sorrow for the Rams and joy for the Wolf Pack with Nevada shooting up from a 4-0 lead to 11-0. Two walks and a single led to the first of 7 points for Nevada in the fifth. After recovering from two pop-up outs from Nevada, Aaliyah Jenkins was able to score a home run with the bases loaded to secure the victory for Nevada.

The Rams were unable to recover in the bottom of the fifth, with three consecutive outs that ended the Rams’ short championship run. The blowout loss ended the season for CSU, and the Rams now look to next season, when they again hope to return to the Mountain West Championship.

Reach Emma Askren at easkren@collegian.com or on Twitter @emma_askren.