Exiting editor in chief Donna Keeya. | Anh Le/The Cougar

After serving as the editor in chief for the past two years, it’s hard to believe this is my last print edition leading The Cougar. I joined The Cougar the summer before my freshman year and have loved working in a variety of positions throughout the past four years.

It’s been an honor to lead this publication for two years and I am extremely grateful for all our staff’s hard work that is the soul of our organization. As a 100 percent student-run publication, none of this would be possible without our editorial board, staff writers, photographers and graphic designers. I feel so lucky to have had the privilege of working with such talented individuals. 

Our team has been able to increase digital viewership as well as preserving the tradition of print. Creating the physical paper has been one of my favorite parts of the role, and I’ve especially enjoyed adding more character to the product through the additions of horoscopes and our advice column. 

When I initially wrote my letter as I transitioned into the editor in chief position, I identified my two goals as keeping the UH community informed about relevant campus news as well as creating a safe learning environment for students to start their careers in journalism. These are still values that I find incredibly important, and I have the utmost confidence in John Lomax, the incoming editor in chief, as he continues the legacy of The Cougar.

I can’t imagine what college would be like without The Cougar, and I will cherish the experience for many years to come. I’ve met some of my closest friends at this paper, and I can’t wait to see their careers flourish in the industry. Thanks y’all for reading. It’s been real.

– Donna Keeya, outgoing editor in chief

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Incoming editor in chief John Lomax. | Anh Le/The Cougar

It’s difficult to describe the emotions I’m feeling right now. On the one hand, I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve as The Cougar’s leader over the next year. On the other, I have suddenly become acutely aware of the size 10 and a half New Balances on my feet.

Put simply, the shoes I’m stepping into are enormous. The departing members of this year’s editorial board have steered the organization through some of the most challenging times in recent history, particularly for journalists. 

Reporters across the country are struggling to uphold their commitment to the public amid division, disaster and increasing disdain toward the profession. Yet here, in a city not known for its journalists, at a school that cares more about teaching students how to spin the truth than tell it, The Cougar’s staff has endured. 

 Their legacy serves as a testament to the timeless nature of journalism. The truth, ultimately, endures. 

I cannot promise to be everything my predecessors were, but I can promise to do everything in my ability to ensure this organization pursues the truth, no matter how well hidden it may be. While the University may struggle to keep campus lit, The Cougar will happily assist by shining a light on any dark corners it finds. 

I look forward to serving the student body over the next year, and I look forward to the bright futures that I’m sure are in store for those we are saying farewell to. You will be dearly missed.

— John Lomax, incoming editor in chief

—
“Letter from the Editor: The Cougar enters a new era with incoming editor in chief” was originally posted on The Cougar

When Muskan Walia walked into a women’s restroom at the University of Utah in early 2020, she noticed some period products sitting in a small basket on the counter. She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if she needed hygiene products, they were there for her.

But those products in restrooms were few and far between, so Walia, now a third-year student studying philosophy and math, decided to take matters into her own hands to get menstrual products in bathrooms around campus, hoping to give others the security of having them when needed.

Twenty-three percent of students struggle to afford essential hygiene products, according to an ASUU Instagram post. “Knowing these products are available is one less worry for a U student in need,” the post reads.

The products and supplies are funded through a student initiative with money from an ASUU surplus, Walia said in an email interview. A pilot program was introduced in early 2022 for a couple of months to see the interest and if stocking supplies was feasible — and it was.

The official program began in July 2022, right in time for the start of the semester. The budget that was put forth consisted of $25,000, which was used to buy products needed for the 2022-23 school year.

As an ASUU senator, Walia drafted an official bill in early 2022, which was then presented to the ASUU president at the time, Jess Wojciechowski. According to the ASUU website, the cost of providing the products is “minuscule” compared to the benefit and, overall, is significantly less than the cost of toilet paper.

Something that had to be considered was the staff who would be stocking the bathrooms from day to day.

“I think we get into a sort of rhythm of just making decisions,” Walia said. “And it’s like, ‘How do those decisions impact people on the ground that are actually going to be executing it?’ It was so cool to go and talk to the like custodial staff that will be stocking every day. I could buy all the products in the world, but I can’t stock them every day.”

Since then, the menstrual product initiative has been implemented in 1,300 restrooms around campus, which includes academic and athletic spaces. The products are found in women’s, men’s and gender-neutral restrooms. A big part of this initiative was aspiring to create more of a sense of inclusivity and recognition for trans and intersex members of the U.

“It was just like a silent like, you know, ‘We see you and we know you’re on our campus and we’re gonna just care for you in the slightest ways that we can and not make it a big deal,’ because it doesn’t have to be a big deal,” Walia said.

A couple of different products can be found in the small bins that are located in each bathroom. The acrylic containers are either hung on the wall or placed on the counter near the sinks. Products that can be found include cardboard tubed tampons, panty liners, Band-Aids and Maxi-Liners. On each of these bins is a sign stating, “These hygiene products were paid for by students through a campus initiative. Please use only what you need.”

A road bump that came with implementing the initiative, Walia said, was getting products outside of the “normal” places menstrual products can be found. She said there have been times products have been thrown, unused, in the trash in the men’s restrooms.

In the end, the team making the initiative happen chose to go a positive response route by trying to educate those who were pushing back.

According to Walia, the Menstrual Products Program is historic in the state of Utah.

“We are the first public university to have menstrual products in every single men’s, women’s and gender-neutral bathrooms in Utah,” Walia said.

Sharlene Baltazar is a second-year student at the U studying pre-nursing, and she said she has used the products when in a pinch.

“I think it’s a great idea especially since I used it in a time of emergency,” Baltazar said. “It was interesting how makeshift it is, but I mean, it works — which is all I needed.”

Going forward, Walia is looking to incorporate these products in student dormitories as well as academic research buildings. Anticipated maintenance costs going forward will amount to around $15,000 per year.

a.stuart@dailyutahchronicle.com

@AllisonChrony

University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Dean John Coleman announced his resignation from his position Wednesday morning after working at the University for nearly a decade. 

Coleman will leave the University to serve as the vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign starting July 19. 

“It has been my privilege and honor to serve as dean of this wonderful college at this exceptional University,” Coleman said in an email to CLA undergraduate and graduate students. “I can assure you that the interim dean and the next dean will continue to focus on issues of concern to you to make your experience in the college positive, rewarding, and filled with growth. 

Coleman’s resignation is the most recent in a string of administrative departures from the University. 

Earlier this month, President Joan Gabel announced she is leaving the institution to serve as the chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. Board of Regents Chair Ken Powell resigned from his leadership position on the board on Monday. In February, former vice president for University Relations Matt Kramer announced his resignation. 

University Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel Croson will appoint an interim dean soon and the University will subsequently initiate a search for a new dean, according to Coleman’s email. 

Coleman’s position at Illinois is still pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

In an active state with active students, it is no surprise that Health and Exercise Science is one of the top 10 most popular majors for the latest incoming classes at Colorado State University.

In line with that popularity, the Health and Exercise Science Club aims to foster that passion and help students in the major or minor network with each other and in some cases, alumni.

Club leaders such as President Isabelle Snyder and Financial Officer Brendan Mikolajczyk have put in substantial effort to connect with current members and meet their needs.

“There’s a lot of pressure, especially in our field, to kind of know what you want to go do,” Mikolajczyk said. “I think having some specific alumni who are in the same position share that it’s okay to not know exactly where you want to go right away and that for most HES majors, it’s a marathon to their ultimate career. … That’s pretty important for a lot of us to know.”

“The relationships not only that I’ve formed, but the relationships I’m seeing the current students form with each other is really cool.” –Brendan Mikolajczyk, HES Club financial officer

Beyond determining future career paths and getting comfortable with the major, the club provides social connections as well. Consisting of mostly first-year and sophomore members since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the younger CSU students reach out to the club for social connections.

“When we were operating during COVID it was hard to really do things and get together, we kind of lost some of our older members,” Snyder said. “So in our recent recruitment, we’ve had a lot of those (first-years) and sophomores looking to build relationships and just have more HES experiences.”

Those connections stand the test of time, bringing back alumni as well. On April 17 the club hosted alumnus Daniel Ward who graduated in 2003. Ward is the owner of Inward Fitness, a business focused on personal training, corporate wellness and sports performance at two Denver locations.

Ward reached out to the club to speak, looking to give back since the program gave him so much in his time at CSU.

“He wanted to pay it forward and give the knowledge he has from his experience in the field to the club,” Snyder said.

While the networking aspect of the club does connect students with alumni and gives them a real idea of what the careers they think they want actually looks like, networking can’t be everything.

“The relationships not only that I’ve formed, but the relationships I’m seeing the current students form with each other is really cool,” Mikolajczyk said. “Especially since where we were a couple of years ago with COVID not allowing us to even have a club really.”

Both preparing to graduate, Mikolajczyk and Snyder have attributed their next steps to their participation in the club along with education and personal capability.

“I have an internship over the summer down at the (University of Denver); I feel really ready, I’m excited,” Mikolajczyk said. “I’m actually going to have a leadership role at that internship. I think being in this club (and) being an advisor in this club was really impactful for that.”

Between the social and career connections as well as opportunities to connect with faculty and staff, the HES club helps HES students find meaningful connections with their peers and the broader world.

Reach Ivy Secrest at life@collegian.com or on Twitter @IvySecrest.

5/19/23: An open letter to Anthony Guterres UN Secretary-General from Project NatureConnect’s founder, Michael J. Cohen Ed.D, Ph.D., gives everybody a critical green switch remedy and training article that Guterres has for years requested and deserves. Guterres says, “Humanity is waging a ‘suicidal war’ on Nature. We are facing new heights of global heating, new […]

On Monday, the Basic Needs Collective celebrated its first birthday with an outdoor party. The day was warm and included all the aspects of a traditional birthday party, such as balloons, cake and music. There were also many tables around the event advertising resources that students in need can use. University of Utah mascot Swoop made an appearance at the festivities and posed for photos with students. 

The Basic Needs Collective was founded just a year ago, in order to connect students with different resource centers on campus at the U, in order to fulfill their basic needs. Entities that are part of the collective include food assistance, legal help, academic help, childcare services, finances, COVID-19, transportation, and health and dental services. 

The event was put on in order to gain more traction, celebrate the one-year mark, and to show students that this resource is available to them. 

The event began with a statement by Dr. Mitzi Montoya, senior vice president for student affairs, who talked about how issues like food insecurity impacts students.

“A survey of students showed that nearly 40% of our students did not have enough food for the day on at least one occasion,” she said. “That’s really difficult if you think about how hard it would be to continue your studies and to care for yourself if that is your personal situation.” She added that the overall goal of the Basic Needs Collective is to support students’ well-being and success, whatever that means to the student. 

Vice President for Student Relations Lori McDonald was in attendance, and said, “The Basic Needs Collective is one of those really unique situations where all these different resources have come together to create this service. The collective is a one-stop shop and students then can get referrals to other areas of assistance.”

Debbie Adebunmi, a U graduate student from Nigeria studying healthcare administration, said the Basic Needs Collective helped her when she was in a vulnerable state after immigrating.

She praised the BNC for how they have helped her transition to the U. “They’ve always been there for me, and I don’t think that they can literally understand how they have been a blessing to myself, to my kids, and to my family as a whole but also to my mental health,” she said. “I’ve been to be able to stabilize myself. I’m going to go through a full-time graduate course, and take care of three children and just be really balanced.”

Sarah Elizabeth Garza-Levitt is the associate director of the Basic Needs Collective and gave a speech about what the anniversary means to her, after her experiences as a student.

“As a struggling college student for many years, taking 23 years to earn my first college degree — I have a deep understanding of basic needs insecurity and how it can impact a student’s success.” She continued, saying, “It’s from that place that we come together and share our stories, but also come from a strength-based perspective knowing that we can uphold and uplift each other and really support one another as we pursue our degrees and our educational dreams.”

As part of the birthday event, the collective asked for donations as “birthday presents.”  

The Basic Needs Collective is located in the basement of the Union. There is currently a thrift store pop-up where students can pick out donated clothing free of charge.

a.stuart@dailyutahchronicle.com

@allisonchrony

Read about my experience at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and what to expect if you too will be seeing her live!

What to Know

It has been about four months since I scored two tickets to Swift’s Eras Tour back in December. 

I have loved Swift ever since I was in fifth grade when she first released her album “Red.” She has been an inspiration in all forms of my writing, creativity and music. She was even the reason why I bought my first red lipstick and guitar as a kid. The anticipation was killing me and I couldn’t wait any longer to see Swift after my patient years of waiting.

I got to see Swift live in Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant stadium along with 65,000 other fans. It is important to note that merch sells out quickly. A specific blue sweatshirt that had become a fan favorite on TikTok and Twitter was selling out quickly. My sister and I stood in line for about five hours waiting to buy merchandise and were actually lucky enough to have the blue sweatshirt restocked just as we made it to the front of the line.

I would recommend bringing a lot of snacks and water if you are willing to wait for merchandise. You can also buy merchandise inside the venue when it opens if you don’t want to wait outside, although lines are still long. I also recommend wearing comfy shoes or bringing backup shoes because you will be dancing and standing for a few hours as Swift did not take one break during the night. 

A Bejeweling Night

As my sister and I made it to our seats, we couldn’t help but adore everyone’s outfits of glitter, cowboy boots and heart shaped sunglasses. The lights began to dim and a mysterious timer appeared on the stage’s screens. The crowd started cheering and we all stood up waiting for the timer to end. A clock appeared and struck midnight, which got the crowd riled up as her dancers came out with beautiful orange and pink parachutes to a montage of Swift singing the titles of all her albums. At this point, my ears were ringing from everyone’s screams, especially my sister’s.

The dancers then revealed Swift underneath the parachutes as she opened up the concert with her song “Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince” from her “Lover” album. She was wearing a bedazzled pink bodysuit and boots that made her seem like a real-life barbie doll. I couldn’t help but join the crowd screaming and dancing to the songs all night.

What makes this tour quite different from Swift’s previous concerts is the fact that she performed for over three hours with forty-four songs from all her albums. No matter what your favorite album is, you got to experience a combination with all her albums showcased in one night. Some of my favorites throughout the night were “The Archer” from “Lover,” “willow” from “evermore,” “Don’t Blame Me” from “Reputation,” “All Too Well” from “Red” and “betty” from “folklore.”

Swift also performs two special songs each night, which she doesn’t repeat at other shows. On our night, she performed “Our Song” and “Snow on the Beach,” which had the crowd screaming and singing the lyrics back to her.

Not only is Swift talented in her storytelling through her songs, but in her performances as well. With the amazing costume changes, vocals and personal interactions from Swift you experience a night that is quite unforgettable. It was definitely a dream come true!

e.delgado@dailyutahchronicle.com

@elizadelgad0

Artificial intelligence has always been a trending topic in both the tech world and in popular culture. The concept of machines learning to think, perform, and speak like a human–or better–is awe-inspiring and controversial.

Recently, AI has been dominating the market. AI assistants like Amazon Alexa have exploded in popularity, along with AI “friends” such as Replika. Advancements in AI have spread throughout the video game industry. Now, AI is creeping past technological boundaries and into the arts; an infiltration into the world of human creativity that is, for many, a step too far.

The rapid advancement of AI technology in the 21st century has inspired a range of emotional responses, from overwhelmingly optimistic to apocalyptically fearful. Whatever their opinion, no one can deny that AI art has improved by leaps and bounds. 

The relationship between visual art and artificial intelligence isn’t new. Using AI to generate images has been a long-time goal for developers involved with improving AI. A milestone in this quest was reached when an AI-generated art piece titled Edmond de Belamy was auctioned off for a jaw-dropping total of $435,000. 

What exactly happened over the past year that inspired such a powerful backlash from social media artists and supporters of the arts? 

The answer lies in one word: Accessibility. Until 2022, these types of programs were usually private. Anyone who had access to code could run prompts themselves. However, the average person wasn’t technologically savvy enough to do so. 

Fast forward to 2022 and the internet exploded with controversy thanks to Dall-E Mini, an AI art generation website. Social media and news outlets showcased how people could input bizarre prompts to produce truly strange images straight out of a fever dream. Emerging alongside DALL-E Mini were two other AI image software that were outstanding for their efficiency: Midjourney and Stable Diffusion. 

So why the controversy? The biggest outrage yet was sparked when an AI-generated art piece won first place in Colorado State Fair’s fine arts competition in September of 2022. Understandably, artists were not happy. In their eyes, it seemed ridiculously unfair that an image that only required the simple input of a specific prompt could win the competition. 

When brushstrokes are traded for keystrokes, is it still art? Does the so-called artist truly deserve the medal? Should the medal be awarded to the people who developed the technology? Should AI-generated images even be allowed in a competition in the first place? Conversations surged throughout the social media sphere with adamant supporters on both sides.

The argument in favor of AI-generated art highlights the possible positives of technological advancement. The ability to access a custom-made painting without having to pay a commission is an attractive idea for many users. AI can produce multiple complex images in a short amount of time, whereas a human artist will take more time to produce a singular image. The harsh reality is that the average person doesn’t always want to shell out at least $20 for a single commission piece unless that person is a staunch supporter of the humanity behind the arts.

One of the main arguments against AI art is that AI art generators collect images and data from artists’ work and reproduce similar pieces without any proper credit. Several AI art generators have sprung up on the internet that imitate different art styles, like “Berserk” creator Kentauro Miura’s or Picasso’s cubism art-style. Not even lesser-known artists are safe from having their work harvested by an AI art generator, as these generators often use artwork taken from social media. Essentially, it’s plagiarism. AI art generators are drawing attention and customers away from artists who are trying to gain a following or make a living.

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AI art is challenging conventional views of originality and creativity. Is art really “art” if it’s not from a human’s hands, blood, sweat, tears, and emotional trauma? Is it really a unique piece if the artificial intelligence is merely collecting hundreds of image samples to produce an image? 

It all circles back to the discussion about automation. Automation has long been a hot topic when it comes to blue collar jobs. Amazon Inc. has already started to increase automation within its fulfillment centers. One of the candidates for the 2020 election, Andrew Yang, was adamant about discussing the future for workers due to automation. Technology is seen as a threat to the jobs of manual workers, and now to artists as well. AI technology is now capable of producing song lyrics, code, pictures, and essays. Is AI going to exterminate honest labor done by human hands?

Maybe, maybe not. In the realm of art, one has to realize what makes art so special. One has to ask if it is truly possible to replicate human emotion, skill, and style. In terms of physical labor, can a machine truly integrate the experience and skill that a human expert has? At the end of the day, machines still fail and break. 

Regardless of the answers to these questions, there is still an underlying ethical issue that shouldn’t be disregarded. Artists have reasons to be upset about these new age advancements, while developers have their own reasons to want to further the progress of artificial intelligence. 

Not every technological advancement made during the history of humankind has been a positive one. The rise of new technology never goes without consequences.

Some portion of the people reading this piece may have heard of a chemical called toluene. For those of you who have not, I have a quick summary of what it is and what it can do. Also known as methylbenzene, it is a colorless liquid at room temperature and smells rather strongly. Toluene has a low flash point, which means it easily gives off vapors. This is where it starts to become practically important for most people.

Some of you may have heard of toluene as a drug of abuse. When people “huff,” it is toluene that gets them high. Toluene can be found in paints and paint thinners as well as cosmetics and adhesives. Since it’s readily available in common household products, it can easily be taken advantage of by all members of a household. It’s also the cheapest way to get high. When you pair these facts about toluene together, it should start to make sense that this drug has the youngest demographic of abusers, with many abusers starting at 10-12 years old.

What exactly does toluene do to people? After it is inhaled, it goes from the lungs to the heart to the circulatory system. From there, it crosses the blood-brain barrier and produces a constellation of effects that are most lazily described as “central nervous system dysfunction.” These include things like drowsiness, fatigue, headache, nausea, confusion, memory loss, etc. One way of thinking about it is it’s like getting drunk. Toluene is toxic to neurons, so it can kill your brain cells. To make it very simplistic, huffing paint can literally make you dumber.

Unfortunately, this pattern gets worse the longer you are exposed. Being exposed regularly for months or years can lead to difficulty thinking, eye and airway irritation and even organ dysfunction. It’s even more concerning for children, who might have developmental delays as a result of continued abuse, which as I mentioned before, is the biggest population of abusers.

Finally, some people that can be more vulnerable to toluene’s effects include smokers, people with asthma and people with heart conduction problems (arrhythmias). This piece is not meant to be a call to action; it is just meant to educate about a topic that can be a bit dry, but that college-educated people should know a thing or two about.

Dominik Dabrowski is an occupational and environmental medicine physician at HealthPartners and a graduate student at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. 

UH softball shortstop Brooke Lorenzo drove in three runs in three games against No. 20 Wichita State over the weekend. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar

UH softball salvaged its three-game road series with American Athletic Conference foe Wichita State, taking the series finale to win one of three against the 20th-ranked Shockers. 

Here is a closer look at each game:

Game 1

Wichita State came alive in the third inning, scoring five runs to take a commanding lead.

UH would cut the Wichita State lead down in the fourth inning, scoring two runs via a fly-out and RBI hit by sophomore shortstop Brooke Lorenzo. The Cougars tied the game in the fifth as sophomore catcher Emma Robertson hit a solo home run followed by graduate student catcher Kati Ray Brown driving in a run on a single and another run resulting from a wild pitch.

Wichita State retook the lead, 6-5, scoring a run in the bottom half of the inning.

The Cougars once again tied things in the sixth as senior outfielder Paige Hulsey scored off a Shockers error.

Neither team scored again until the tenth inning when UH pulled ahead on a Brown solo homer to left field.

UH’s lead was short-lived as Wichita State evened the score in the bottom half of the inning. The Shockers walked it off in the 11th inning, taking the series opener.

Game 2

Game two was another close one.

Wichita State got on the board quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning.

In the top of the second, a double from Lorenzo brought Hulsey home for UH’s first run of the game.

Wichita State scored another run in the bottom half of the inning to make the Shocker lead 3-1 early.

A three-run fourth inning highlighted by a two-run double from senior infielder Bree Cantu put the Cougars on top. But UH was once again unable to hold its lead, as Wichita State responded with two runs in the sixth inning en route to a 5-4 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Game 3

The Cougars’ fortunes finally turned around in Sunday’s series finale as graduate right-handed pitcher Kenna Wilkey through a shutout, powering UH to a 4-0 victory.

Cantu got the scoring started with a solo shot to right field in the third to put UH up 1-0.

The next run did not come until the sixth inning when a sophomore infielder Baylea Myers hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Hulsey.

In the seventh, UH added two insurance runs before Wilkey closed the door in the bottom half of the inning.

UH now sits at 19-21 overall and 6-3 in AAC play.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“UH softball takes one of three against No. 20 Wichita State” was originally posted on The Cougar