Despite numerous cancellations in some groups, some Athletic Bands will nonetheless press on with performances.

New CDC data shows that people avoided STD testing during the pandemic – People aged 15-24 years make up half of all STD cases If you think the quarantines that kept people from dating and sex mean you’re less likely to catch an STD, think again. The pandemic may have caused a dip in sexually […]

After a successful week against BYU and USC, the University of Utah baseball team (25-17-1, 10-11 Pac-12) was able to take a home stretch. Fortunately, the week started with a strong win against Dixie State. Unfortunately, their next opponent was No. 2 Oregon State.

Utah started the week off with a commanding win against Dixie State. Every Utah player got a hit, with six players recording multiple hits. Four Utes: Kai Roberts, Landon Frei, Davis Cop and Gabe Singer recorded three hits. It was Singer’s first three-hit game as a Ute, going a perfect 3-3.

Roberts led the way for Utah, with two runs scored and a career-high five RBIs. Carter Booth found home four times during the game, his career-high as a Ute as well as tying the team’s single-game record this season.

Dixie State may have gotten the first point of the game, but it was all Utah from there. Dixie’s run in the second inning was their only run of the game, and Utah took a dominant 12-1 win.

Utah had a couple days of rest due to a cancelled game with Utah Valley University. This rest proved to be beneficial to the Utes as their next game was against No. 2 Oregon State.

The Beavers have been on fire this season, and Utah was looking to cool them down. The game started out slowly, with the first score coming in the sixth inning. Both teams were fantastic at both pitching and fielding, contributing to the low score.

Oregon State opened scoring with a fly out to center field by Garret Forrester which got Justin Boyd home for the Beavers. But Utah didn’t fight this hard to lose, and quickly matched the pace in the seventh.

Frei doubled down left field to score Roberts and tie the game. Jayden Kiernan soon followed with a single to left center that sent Frei home to take the lead. Utah was held to just three hits in the game but managed to make the most out of them as they won 2-1.

The next game was a very different story, and a quick reality check for the Utes. Despite coming out with a win in the first game, they could not rely on the Beavers to play the same game.

Utah got the scoring started in the first inning but wasn’t able to reach home again. Oregon State didn’t score until the third but continued to prove why they are the second-best team in the nation.

Oregon State seemingly scored at will, never allowing the Utes a chance to come back. The game ended in a tragic 1-9 loss for Utah.

Utah’s hopes to end the series on a good note in the last game were quickly diminished by Oregon State’s two runs in the top of the first. They soon added another to put the Utes down three runs.

Chase Anderson reached home in the bottom of the eighth to lighten Utah’s hopes of a comeback. Utah was able to stop the Beavers in the top of the ninth, leaving it up to the Utes.

Matt Richardson reached second and Cop reached third with just one out. Utah was on the edge of mounting a comeback against the second-best team in the nation. But the Utes were unable to capitalize as they fell 1-3 to the Beavers.

Looking at next week, Utah will have some time to recover before their next game. The Utes will travel to Phoenix to face Arizona State on May 6, 7 and 8 in another Pac-12 series.

s.overton@dailyutahchronicle.com

@SeanOverton3

The post Utah Baseball Battles Toughest Opponent of the Season, Oregon State appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

“How High,” released in 2001, falls into the genre of “stoner comedies” — movies in which the protagonists’ problems stem from their love of cannabis.

Ahead of finals, we thought it would be funny to review this movie, as it features weed and college as its main plot elements. We had no idea what we were getting into here.

In “How High,” a talented cannabis cultivator, Silas P. Silas, played by Method Man, sells his friend some weed that is so powerful, he falls asleep with the blunt in his mouth and combusts. In a tribute to his late friend, Silas mixes his ashes with the soil of a new strain and smokes it before his college entrance exam, the THC (Test for Higher Credentials).

As it turns out, smoking human remains causes that person’s ghost to appear to the smoker, so the ghost of his friend, who in the afterlife has conferred with “the old dude who made up this test,” helps him get all of the answers right, and he’s able to get into Harvard University — at least, a version of Harvard where it’s always sunny out and looks a lot like University of California, Los Angeles.

This movie shares several elements with “Legally Blonde,” released in the same year. Both involve characters who don’t match the hoity-toity Ivy League aesthetic of Harvard, and both feature exterior scenes on the Harvard campus that were actually shot on the UCLA campus.

A crucial plot difference: While Elle Woods adapts to Harvard Law and uses her knowledge of cosmetology and fashion to win her first criminal case, the protagonists of “How High” instead exhaust everyone else in the movie with their hijinks. I’m not trying to suggest that “How High” ripped off or even necessarily borrowed from “Legally Blonde” — it’s more of a take on “Animal House” — but seriously, what the hell was the cultural fascination with Harvard in 2001?

I want to be clear: “How High” is a pretty bad movie. Most of the jokes aren’t actually funny or have aged terribly, with an emphasis on the objectification of women and an Asian-stereotype character. It shares the main structural issue of a lot of bad comedy movies in that it’s not so much a film as it is a bunch of hit-or-miss sketches cobbled together into a 90-minute package.

“Holy shit, I thought. ‘How High’ is about institutional racism.”

Still, it’s so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the ridiculously immature scenes they came up with for this thing.

For instance, the stuck-up dean who they butt heads with is called Dean Cain. This joke somehow never gets old. There’s a scene where they attend a Black history class taught by a white professor, who obnoxiously encourages them to walk out of the lecture hall in protest. “Lynch me,” he says. The professor, by the way, is played by Spalding Gray in one of his final film roles before he died by suicide. 

So the movie isn’t terribly interested in its own plot, but it makes an attempt at a third act: Their haunted bud is stolen from them, so they seek out other human remains to smoke in order to confer with more dead geniuses.

They rob the grave of John Quincy Adams — whose corpse is mostly intact despite being dead and buried for over 150 years — bring it back to their apartment, slice it up and smoke his fingers and toes. They don’t mash up the remains and mix them with weed — they just smoke his digits as if they were joints, and then the scene ends. Adams does not appear, and they don’t acknowledge that this didn’t work. They just move on. It’s honestly one of the most fucked up and disgusting things I’ve seen in any movie, yet I am grinning ear-to-ear as I type these words.

Just at the moment when I was most sure it was a totally pointless movie, during the grand finale when they get everybody, including the vice president of the United States, high at some kind of fancy Harvard event, Method Man’s character says, “Amazing what a couple brothers from the P.J. can do with just a little bit of opportunity!”

Holy shit, I thought. “How High” is about institutional racism.

“How High” essentially argues that systemic prejudice prevents truly talented people from getting the opportunities they deserve, and if everyone just chilled out and blazed one, academia could be more inclusive and merit-based.

When we hold dear the ideas of dead white men, we misinterpret their true meaning, and we miss out on the unconventional brilliance that lies inside of everybody. Exhume the corpse of Adams, and smoke his fingers. Hold nothing sacred.

Smoke this: Fuck Bush.

Reach Hayden Hawley at cannabis@collegian.com or on Twitter @hateonhawley.

As housing prices increase along the Front Range, staff and faculty at Colorado State University are finding it harder to live near campus.

In a study done by the Common Sense Institute, trends in housing prices are only going up. The average mortgage for a starter home has increased by $1,142 per month — that’s a 69% increase since 2015 alone. Furthermore, the average monthly rent has increased $317 across the state.

Brett Anderson, special assistant to the chancellor for the CSU System, explained one of his current responsibilities is to address this housing affordability issue through projects like Employee Housing Programs.

“The Employee Housing (Programs are) an exciting opportunity for both CSU and our Northern Colorado community,” Robyn Fergus, vice president for Human Resources, wrote in an email to The Collegian.

Anderson described a survey that was sent to CSU employees, the results of which stated for many employees, housing is a challenge whether they rent or hope to buy a home close to campus.

“Our mission is to support CSU employees by facilitating access to housing through the design, delivery and management of housing assistance programs,” Fergus wrote.

Fergus also explained retention and recruitment of CSU employees is an important driver of this program. She highlighted that they hope to create housing stability and increase employee wellbeing.

“I hope our employees see we are absolutely committed to this for the long haul”- Brett Anderson, special assistant to the chancellor for the CSU System

Currently, the Employee Housing Programs are in development, with a few projects a little further along, Anderson said. A goal they have right now is to begin the construction process on employee apartments off Timberline Road in August, which should be ready for rent in fall 2023.

Fergus explained these Timberline units would have one to three bedroom options, allowing employees to support their families and become closer members of the community.

When it comes to purchasing homes, Anderson said they also hope to partner with Canvas Credit Union to create the chance to waive private mortgage insurance. He also hopes to partner with realtors with the goal of reducing their commission on sales as well as working with other community partners and grants for a matching fund.

Fergus explained the University’s new Courageous Strategic Transformation initiative has a strong focus on removing barriers and creating attainable housing options. They have goals focused on people and culture, innovation and impact.

These goals focus on providing long-term housing for employees with the hope of supporting CSU’s sustainability goals through encouraging housing options near campus and addressing these problems through philanthropy, innovation and community partnership, Fergus wrote.

These are just some examples of what CSU is doing to help lessen the burden of housing issues. Anderson explained they are hoping to continue the conversation with staff and faculty to ensure they are developing programs that will be helpful. They continue working with various councils and faculty to ensure they are developing their programs the best way they can through feedback.

Anderson emphasized the solutions will not happen overnight, and he asked for patience while they work on developing this comprehensive program.

“I hope our employees see we are absolutely committed to this for the long haul,” Anderson said. “Be interactive with us; give us your thoughts; give us your feedback to direct us to ensure that we are helping in the ways necessary.”

Reach Isabel Brown at news@collegian.com or on Twitter @isabelbrown02.

COVID-19 is still around, so should RSF testing

On April 22, 2022, you reported on UC Berkeley’s decision to close the RSF testing facility in the article titled “UC Berkeley to close RSF testing facility, sunset COVID-19 measures”. This is timely considering COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted across the country despite the recent tick in active cases.

As an undergraduate student studying public health at UC Berkeley, I do not support the closure of the only testing facility located on campus. COVID-19 is still circulating, and the university needs to acknowledge the threat of a potential new variant.

Rather than closing the site, the university should move toward reducing the hours of operation and maintaining the RSF testing site. The RSF is a quick and easy way for students to get tested in between classes. It is a shame that students will have a harder time accessing COVID tests in the future months to come. This premature decision to close the RSF testing site is a great disservice to the UC Berkeley community and the greater community’s overall health.

Daniel Vasquez is a senior at UC Berkeley.
Contact the opinion desk at opinion@dailycal.org or follow us on Twitter @dailycalopinion.

The Daily Californian

UH is the first university in Texas to partner with The Volcker Alliance. | Christopher Charleston/The Cougar

The Hobby School of Public Affairs recently received a $100,000 grant from The Volcker Alliance to establish the Next Generation Leadership Academy, a program aimed at developing leadership skills for undergraduates interested in careers focusing on public service and social impact.

The Next Generation Leadership Academy, or NextGen Academy for short, is initial intent is on recruiting ten highly qualified students to participate in its inaugural class set to launch in this fall. The school does hope to grow the program into something larger in the near future, according to the Hobby School program director Chelsea O’hara.

“We also plan to increase the size of the cohort in the upcoming years,” O’hara said. “The Hobby School has an excellent track record of leveraging funding from campus partners, community partners and advisory board members to ensure our students receive their program stipends and robust program support.”

Students who are accepted into the NextGen academy can expect more than classroom training, O’hara said. The program will also provide access to The Volcker Alliance’s new online interactive platform “Nextgen Connect,” which provides students with the ability to network with other student leaders across the country.

In addition, the academy’s curriculum is also placing an emphasis on real-world experience by requiring students complete a minimum of two separate internships in either the public, private or non-profit sectors.

“The Next Generation Leadership Academy’s emphasis on cross-sector collaboration and leadership development by requiring students to complete a minimum of two internships in two different sectors is a unique addition to the existing student experience programs at the University of Houston,” O’hara said.

O’hara added that the academy is also offering a monetary incentive to students who successfully complete the program.

“Students who complete the Next Generation Leadership Academy are awarded a $1,500 stipend to recognize their participation in the program,” O’hara said. “To receive the stipend, NextGen Academy students must complete the Hobby School’s Public Leadership minor and complete a minimum of two approved internships.”

In launching its NextGen Academy, UH will be the first university in Texas to join the existing roster of 12 universities already partnered with The Volcker Alliance as part of the organization’s greater initiative, dubbed the Next Generation Service Corps.

The decision to select UH as the first university in Texas to partner with The Volcker Alliance was an easy one, said Brett Hunt, director of The Volcker Alliance’s Next Generation Service Initiatives in a statement to the University.

“One of our goals is to diversify paths for undergraduates into public service and both the Hobby School and UH are already doing that, this is just an expansion of the existing innovative work going on,” Hunt said. “UH was also a perfect place for us to have our first program in Texas with the Houston metro area being one of the most dynamic and diverse places in the entire country.”

Students interested in applying to the academy should possess an excitement for cross-collaboration, a belief in their ability to enact change and a passion for public service, O’hara said. She added that the application deadline for applicants interested in being a part of the class set to begin in fall 2022 is June 1.

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“UH welcomes Next Generation Leadership Academy” was originally posted on The Cougar

On Thursday, April 21, George Takei was the 2022 keynote speaker for the University of Utah’s My U Signature Experience Project (MUSE).

Takei is a human rights activist for the LGBTQIA+ community and Japanese Americans. His role in the original Star Trek helped trail-blaze the way for Asian representation in the media.

MUSE holds various events on campus throughout the year. Since 2013, the annual keynote speaker event has brought many notable figures to the U, such as current President Joe Biden in 2018 for the theme of purpose and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor in 2015 to speak on justice.

At the 2022 event, MUSE Director Mark Matheson lauded Takei’s achievements and resilience. Then, environmental justice leader and student Julianne Liu introduced Takei.

“As we all work towards a more just future, it is imperative that we follow Mr. Takei’s example of telling our stories and building and repairing the bridges throughout our community, as he has done throughout his entire life,” Liu said. 

Takei’s speech theme was rebuilding. He focused on his experiences growing up in internment camps during World War II. His graphic novel “They Called Us Enemy” highlights his family’s struggles with patriotism and Japanese identity in the camps.

The president of the Asian American Student Association asked him how he avoided anger in his fight for equality.

“The fight for equality is a local fight,” Takei said. “This question turns to my parents’ experience. If they stayed angry and jaded, then nothing will be done.”

As a part of the event, MUSE provided attendees with the opportunity to pick up a copy of Takei’s book to be signed by Takei at the post-event book signing. 

Takei’s talk was a story of resilience. He recalled words his father told him: “We’re going for a long vacation in the country.”

His family was held in two different internment camps, first at Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center in Arkansas, then to Tule Lake in California.

Takei spoke on the inconsistencies that came with the loyalty questionnaire that was presented to all Japanese Americans in the camps, saying “my parents were categorized as disloyal.”

He described the labor at the camps, the constant and intimidating military presence, the shouts of the rebellious young men as they ran to work off the frustrations they felt with their situation. Takei spoke about the way rumors about the atomic bomb tortured his mother for weeks, until she found peace. 

Takei shared his experiences as a young adult, including how he came to be involved with acting and activism and how his father’s architectural dreams for him did not stick. Takei recalled meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how it inspired him.

“And so I became a political activist,” Takei said.

Takei ended the keynote speech with an analysis of the current state of activism in the United States. A state dinner in 2015 deeply moved him. He compared relations between the United States and Japan in his lifetime.

“In the middle of the table sat the president of the United States and the prime minister of Japan, and I thought, only seven decades before, Japan [and] the United States were mortal enemies,” he said. “And here are the two leaders sitting side by side. The American President Barack Obama — the first African American president of the United States — and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo. To his left sat the First Lady of America, Michelle Obama, and to the left of President Obama, sat the First Lady of Japan. And to her left, sat me.”

Takei offered a final thought.

“It was a living, dynamic democracy that I saw there,” he said. “And I thought: America is changing and it is headed in the right direction. America will be okay.”

a.stuart@dailyutahchronicle.com

@allisonchrony

The post George Takei Gives 2022 MUSE Keynote Speech on Rebuilding appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Season finale! Today on East to West we cover $106 million to be invested in housing crisis, President Brown interview, gubernatorial candidates discuss climate change, and more. Click here to stream this episode of “East to West” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or the streaming platform of your choice. FEATURING: Nellie Maloney WRITTEN BY: Nellie Maloney, Veronica Tompson, Jit Ping Lee EDITED BY: Jit Ping Lee BASED ON DFP PIECES BY: Ruihan Yang, Jesus Marrero Suarez, Bella Ramirez MUSIC: Acid Trumpet by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3340-acid-trumpet License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Backbay Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3408-backbay-lounge License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod […]

USC agreed to settle claims of alleged sexual misconduct for 80 patients — primarily LGBTQ+ men — of Dr. Dennis Kelly, a former doctor of men’s sexual health who practiced at Engemann Student Health Center since 1997, after a three-year litigation battle behind closed doors. In a joint statement to the Daily Trojan Friday, the University and plaintiffs’ lawyers announced that “all parties have mutually agreed that the details of the settlement will remain confidential,” and that “the parties hope that this amicable resolution will bring closure to the plaintiffs.” 

Former patients have accused Kelly of asking inappropriate and uncomfortable questions during examinations, subjecting them to needlessly invasive procedures and failing to provide “standard medical covering, drapery or robe for privacy” as reported previously by the Daily Trojan. These questions typically came after patients disclosed sexual relations with other men.

The plaintiffs acknowledged filing claims of negligence directly with the University, but no further resulting action was taken. 

Of the 80 plaintiffs in the suit, 76 identify as LGBTQ+. Kelly identifies as gay and claims his motives were solely professional. 

USC and Kelly deny all wrongdoing. Kelly was fired by the University in 2018 when six former students publicly filed complaints against Kelly for sexual battery and harassment. Kelly surrendered his license to practice in 2020. 

The settlement comes on the heels of last year’s highly publicized Dr. George Tyndall settlement, which concluded in a payout of $852 million for victims. Tyndall, charged with 35 accounts of misconduct, faces upward of 64 years in prison.

“USC’s highest commitment is to the safety and health of all members of the Trojan community,” the University wrote in a statement to the Daily Trojan Friday. “Settling the cases provides closure for all involved and avoids several more years of litigation.” 

Since Kelly’s firing, USC revised many of its medical policies, including reworked “sensitive exam policy, protocol and training,” required participation in “updates about LGBTQ+ health needs” and new easily accessible methods for filing misconduct. 

This article will be updated with comments from the plaintiffs’ attorneys.

The post USC settles sexual misconduct lawsuit behind closed doors appeared first on Daily Trojan.