Junior outside hitter Abbie Jackson and the UH volleyball team won its seventh straight match on Friday, sweeping Memphis. | Esther Umoh/The Cougar

Houston volleyball swept Memphis in three consecutive sets at the Larry O. Finch Center in Memphis, Tennessee, on Friday night for its 24th win of the season.

The Cougars and Tigers went back-and-forth in set one.

Back-to-back kills by sophomore setter Annie Cooke and senior middle blocker Isabel Theut pushed the Cougars ahead in the middle of set one 12-11.

From this point, UH held on to its lead all the way to the end of the set, securing a 25-21 first set victory. 

The beginning of the second set featured more of the same back-and-forth action between the Cougars and the Tigers. Tied at 9-9, UH went on a 3-0 scoring run then delivered another blow to Memphis a few points later with a 5-0 scoring run that put the Cougars up 19-13. 

The Tigers made a late push that the Cougars were able to hold off to win the second set 25-22.

UH created a distant lead at the beginning of set three 7-4. The Tigers tied the set a couple of times before Houston jumped ahead to 15-10 lead by going on a 5-0 scoring run.

The Cougars rode their momentum, ended the match in three sets with a 25-20 victory in the third and final set of the night.

This win marked UH’s fourth consecutive match sweeping its opponent as well as extended the Cougars season-high win streak to seven.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“UH volleyball sweeps Memphis for seventh straight win” was originally posted on The Cougar

After about an hour and a half of trying to find a parking spot, my wife and I, along with a thousand other folks, arrived at the second and final night of Illuminate: Utah’s Light Art and Creative Tech Festival. Festivals of any type have been pretty few and far between over the past couple years and, as we approached the home of the event, the Gateway, it was evident that everyone gathered had been itching for a night out.

The festival spanned about three quarters of the lower level of the Gateway mall. From the Olympic Fountain to HallPass, people were shoulder to shoulder craning their necks trying to catch a glimpse of the bright light action.

Bright but Sparse

While the sheer amount of people made it difficult to look around, what was more difficult was the scarcity of things to interact with. We knocked out every site in the festival in less than an hour.

There were absolutely some highlights, namely a bike-powered neon mushroom walkway. Clear mushroom-looking contraptions lit up with blues and pinks as they slowly rose and fell around us — a magical moment that was all too brief. Only four mushrooms made up the walk and we were quickly ushered through.

Two small stages were placed on either end of the event. We witnessed a grungy local rock band called Sunfish, an awkward group of K-Pop-style dancers and an EDM experience from the one and only toasterpastries. In all, the night was unexpected and interesting.

A Different Perspective

As I cut through my own obvious cynicism, the neon lights of Illuminate shift into a different hue. For myself, the night may have been overcrowded and underwhelming, but the brightest fluorescents I saw were from the smiles of the patrons around me.

Children ran freely from large pink and yellow praying mantis puppets. The puppeteers giggled with wide eyes as they tickled the noses of passersby with the neon appendages. A couple stood on stilts, ten feet tall, towering above the swarm of bright eyes waiting to get their picture taken. Mustached men in steampunk goggles and top hats linked arms with their identically mustached counterparts as they strolled down the pavement of the Gateway.

Illuminating Local Talent

The event was also a brilliant success for local businesses and artists. Dreamscapes, one of my favorite art establishments in Salt Lake City, was deservedly sold out for the night. Food trucks cooked up corndogs and donuts for lines of hungry individuals. Over 20 local artists were able to gain exposure over the two-day event. Those involved should be proud of their hard work and their ability to light up Salt Lake for the weekend.

For me, Illuminate represented the potential Salt Lake and the Gateway have to put on one heck of a show. My hope is that this event only grows to include more local art installations, bands and food. There is so much talent here in our little chunk of earth, it deserves to be celebrated.

luke.jackson@dailyutahchronicle.com

@__lukejackson

The post Downtown Event ‘Illuminate’ Shines a Neon Spotlight on Local Artists appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Nearly half of 5- to 11-year-olds in Berkeley have received their first vaccine dose

The Focal Project/Creative Commons

Photo by The Focal Project under CC BY 2.0.

About 49% of Berkeley children ages 5 to 11 years old have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the city of Berkeley announced Thursday.

The Pfizer vaccines were authorized for emergency use for children by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 29.

According to the city’s website, the Pfizer vaccines given to children are roughly one-third the size of those given to adults and 91% effective at preventing COVID-19. Children’s vaccine appointments can be booked through their primary care providers, Berkeley pharmacies or MyTurn, a vaccine portal run by the California Department of Public Health.

Sebastian Cahill is the university news editor. Contact him at scahill@dailycal.org, and follow him on Twitter at @SebastianCahil1.

The Daily Californian

The University of Utah football team, ranked No. 23, is preparing for their biggest game of the season against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday. Oregon is ranked at No. 3 in the nation, and is in line to make the College Football Playoff if they win out. Utah has a chance to play spoiler for Oregon, clinch the Pac-12 South and get one step closer to a Rose Bowl berth. This is a huge, meaningful game for both teams, and is likely a preview of the Pac-12 Championship game.

Scouting Utah

The Utes are coming off a victory over Arizona on the road. The score was 38-29, which is maybe a little too close for comfort against a one-win Wildcats team. Still, the Utes got the job done, and sometimes that’s all you can ask for in a long college football season. 

They stay at one loss in Pac-12 play, one game ahead of Arizona State. The magic number is one with two games to play, meaning that the only scenario where Utah is not playing for the Pac-12 Title in Las Vegas on Dec. 3 is if they lose both of their remaining games, and ASU wins out. 

The Sun Devils will visit Oregon State on Saturday before heading home to face Arizona to close out their season. Utah has Colorado at home next week.

The Utes have been playing high-quality football since two early non-conference losses. The only defeat since then was a shootout at Oregon State on Oct. 23. 

Utah is favored by three in this game, which says a lot about the direction they have been trending as the season has gone along. 

Scouting Oregon

Oregon only has one loss, coming way back on Oct. 2 when they were stunned by Stanford in overtime, 31-24. They’ve had a few close calls since then, but have maintained their position as one of the top teams in the country. 

Their signature win was over Ohio State on Sept. 11, 35-28. That win catapulted them into the top echelon of college football, and the fact that they’ve only lost one game since has kept them there by default.

What’s at Stake

This game has huge implications for end-of-season scenarios around the country. Oregon is in line for a College Football Playoff berth, sitting at No. 3 in the latest poll. If they don’t lose the rest of the way, they’re in. One loss, however, likely takes them out of the conversation. 

Oregon has clinched the Pac-12 North. They will face Utah, Oregon State and likely Utah again in the Pac-12 Championship game. They’re playing for a shot at the national title.

Utah is hoping for a chance at the Rose Bowl. Whoever wins the Pac-12 Championship will be the representative in Pasadena; however, if the Ducks are in the playoff, they will not be eligible.  So, the Utes effectively need to beat the Ducks twice within two weeks in order to get to the Rose Bowl. 

A win for Utah here but a loss in Las Vegas takes Oregon out of the playoff but hands them the Pac-12 title, sending the Ducks to the Rose Bowl and Utah to a lesser bowl game. 

Two losses for Utah could mean that the Ducks will go to the playoff and Utah would be at five total losses on the season. That creates an interesting scenario for the Rose Bowl: would they rather take a five-loss Utah team, or pivot to another team, one that didn’t play for the Pac-12 Championship? Three-loss Arizona State becomes an option, or maybe they buck tradition and reach outside of the Pac-12, given the lack of quality options. It’s a scenario the Utes would like to avoid.

Of course, if Utah does beat Oregon twice and handles business against Colorado, that makes the Rose Bowl all but guaranteed. 

Final Thoughts

The Ducks are a team with a lot of experience, they’re well coached and perennially contend for the Pac-12. Utah has been improving their play consistently throughout the season, and are ready to finally break through and stake their claim for the Pac-12 Championship.

It will be a tough task for both teams on Saturday, and the two have been on a collision course all season. Whatever happens over the last few weeks of the season, it’s sure to be exciting. There’s still plenty to play for.

Oregon @ Utah will kick off at 5:30 p.m. MST from Rice-Eccles Stadium and will air on ABC.

e.pearce@dailyutahchronicle.com

@e_pearce_

@splashcitynba

The post Utah Football to Face Oregon with Huge Implications Nationwide appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Marcus Jones picked off Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan twice on Friday night, marking his fourth straight game with an interception. | Steven Paultanis/The Cougar

Clayton Tune stood on the sideline huddled with the offense when he looked at tight end Christian Trahan and opened his mouth.

Marcus Jones had just come down with a leaping, one-handed interception of Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan and Tune was still in awe of the play he had just witnessed.

“I looked at Christian Trahan and I go ‘That was like a Madden animation. It just looked like it was straight out of the video game,’” Tune said to reporters after the game.

Whether he is 100-yard kick return, picking off the opposing quarterback or catching touchdowns as a receiver, every time Jones steps on the field he seems to make his teammates’ jaws drop.

While those within the UH program have a first-hand appreciation for what Jones does on a weekly basis, his teammates believe the 5-foot-8-inch Enterprise, Alabama native deserves national recognition.

“Put (Jones) up for Heisman man,” said senior linebacker Deontay Anderson. “He makes a play every week that everybody just stops and says ‘Wow.’”

A resume unlike any other

It’s hard to argue against Anderson’s case for Jones to be in the Heisman Trophy race. Jones is doing what no one else in the country is doing.

Although Jones is listed as a cornerback, it makes more sense to classify him as a utility man because he plays so many different positions at an extremely high level.

Jones has two kickoff return touchdowns, two punt return touchdowns, 109 receiving yards and a touchdown along with five interceptions, all of which have come since Oct. 30.

There is no other player in college football who can boast anything close to the resume Jones has in every single facet of the game.

Jones’ teammates have started calling him Mr. Versatile. 

His head coach, Dana Holgorsen, has never coached a player quite like Jones.

“He’s the most versatile player in college football,” Holgorsen said. “You can’t deny that.”

Just look at all three phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams, and Jones checks all the boxes.

Offensive weapon? Check.

In his limited time playing receiver this season, Jones has eclipsed the 50-yard mark twice as well as found paydirt in the Cougars win over Navy earlier in the year.

In fact, if Jones was only playing receiver Holgorsen thinks he’d be the Cougars’ number one guy.

“He’d probably be our best receiver,” Holgorsen said. “He’s shown he can do that.”

Shutdown cornerback and ballhawk? Check.

In all of Holgorsen’s years coaching football, he has never seen a cornerback as talented as Jones, who has five interceptions in the Cougars’ last four games.

“Defensively, he’s the best cover guy that I’ve been around (and) I’ve had corners get drafted high,” Holgorsen said. “He’s just special how he can feel the receivers and make plays with his hands on the ball.”

Return specialist? Check

Anytime Jones gets a chance to return a kickoff or punt, the opposing team has made a mistake.

Jones is that incredible in the return game that giving UH a good field position may be smarter than allowing him any opportunity to touch the ball on special teams.

Just ask SMU’s Sonny Dykes if he wishes the Mustangs didn’t give Jones a chance to return a kickoff with only seconds remaining in regulation.

“He’s the best returner in the country,” Holgorsen said after Jones took a kick 100 yards to the house in the last seconds of UH’s upset victory over SMU on Oct. 30. “I think he’s getting to a point where he’s the best returner ever. There (have) been some good ones but the things that he does are unbelievable. And for him to do it in both punt and kick, it’s unbelievable.”

Best player in football?

While players like Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, and Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III certainly have strong cases to hoist the Heisman Trophy in December, only Jones can claim he has impacted the game in every way possible.

Whether it’s at receiver, cornerback or in the return game, Jones executes his role to perfection every week.

“He deserves the Heisman Trophy because he makes plays and shows up consistently,” said junior defensive lineman Derek Parish. “He deserves to be on the poll.”

While Vegas does not currently give Jones strong odds of winning the Heisman or even being a finalist, UH’s No. 8 has certainly made a strong case with the season that he has put together that he should not be easily overlooked as someone who could be college football’s best player.

Holgorsen certainly believes Jones is the best player in the country. He doesn’t see how it is possible to talk about the Heisman without including someone who has been a star on offense, defense and special teams in one season.

“How is (Jones) not one of the best players in college football?” Holgorsen said. “Is the Heisman trophy not (given) to the best player in college football?”

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Marcus Jones Heisman push growing within UH program” was originally posted on The Cougar

Senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has history with USC. Thompson-Robinson had started two games against the Trojans in his career before Saturday, throwing for over 350 yards and 4 touchdowns in each game. His record in those games? 0-2.

Now, in his final season at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson had one more chance to make his mark on the crosstown rivalry game and he didn’t disappoint. The Trojans had no answer for him or the rest of the UCLA offense. USC lost 62-33, its first loss to the Bruins since 2018 and the most points the team has ever given up to UCLA.

“Those last two years stuck with us a little bit,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys. ”

The lopsided scoreline wasn’t the only embarrassment on the day for USC. After Thompson-Robinson ran in a second-quarter touchdown to put UCLA ahead 28-10, his momentum carried him toward the stands, where a young USC fan got him to sign a UCLA hat. He was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the shame of an opposing player dishing out autographs in the middle of the game was enough to deflate the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“It was definitely spur of the moment,” Thompson-Robinson said. “When you see a kid handing you a hat and a pen, [it’s] second nature to grab it. I was glad to make that kid’s day.”

Thompson-Robinson redeemed himself over the course of the game after throwing an interception on UCLA’s first two offensive drives. He found his rhythm and started hitting his receivers downfield in the second quarter. He finished the game 16 of 22 for 349 yards with 6 total touchdowns, 4 passing and 2 rushing.  

“We talked to him about not flinching,” Head Coach Chip Kelly said. “He’s a special player, and I’ve said it since the beginning. He’s as tough as they come, both mentally and physically, and that was on display today.” 

USC didn’t go down without a fight. After a UCLA missed field goal, freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart found sophomore wide receiver Gary Bryant Jr. on two-straight deep passes, the second of which went 44 yards and a touchdown in the middle of the third quarter. A failed 2-point conversion kept the Bruins up 35-26, but there was life in the Trojans. 

That was, unti redshirt junior wide receiver Kazmeir Allen swiftly took the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Allen was untouchable on the day, dicing open both the USC secondary and special teams unit. He tallied 215 all-purpose yards and 3 total touchdowns. 

“It hits you a little bit,” said Dart about the kickoff return. “But we had a big play two plays later, so [we] didn’t really feel it as much. I just wish we would’ve capitalized on that drive, and who knows what would’ve happened.”

Dart’s first USC start had some electric plays but wasn’t enough to keep the Trojans in the game. He finished 27 of 47 for 325 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. 

“This was a game we had highlighted on our schedule,” Dart said. “It didn’t go the way we wanted, but it is what happened, and we gotta move on … I wasn’t able to do enough to come out with the win.”

USC showed some fight in the face of adversity, but a myriad of blown coverages, penalties and wasted opportunities defined the team’s sixth regular season and fifth conference loss. The Trojans gave up 609 total yards of offense, the most they’ve allowed this season. 

“They capitalized on a lot of the mistakes we made today, and we didn’t capitalize on the mistakes they made,” interim Head Coach Donte Williams said. “Every time the momentum swung in our way, they did things to, all of the sudden, swing it back [their way]. You can’t win a football game giving up 600 yards on offense, I don’t care who you play.” 

The hectic nature of the rivalry game defined the first quarter both on the field and the sidelines. Kelly got an unsportsmanlike conduct call, and UCLA also picked up a sideline interference penalty. USC picked up the slack by committing penalties for the remainder of the game, as the Trojans dished out 79 yards on 8 total penalties.

The fans at the Coliseum shattered the season attendance record, with 68,152 filling the seats. By the end of the game, it was the traveling UCLA fans and band making most of the noise. 

“We’re just not playing together,” redshirt senior center Brett Neilon said. “It just seems tough to get all three phases playing together at the same time … Maybe it’s just the culture that’s been established here, but it just seems like the same old story this year.”

USC must win both of its last two games to qualify for a bowl game. The Trojans will stay at home to face No. 14 BYU in their next game Saturday Nov. 27.

The post USC embarrassed in high-scoring defeat to UCLA appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Increased virtual engagement has allowed more students to see college campuses without actually having to travel there. Emory University has said new online tours and information sessions have led to an increase in low-income and first-generation applicants to the school. 

At the University, 13% of the applicants for the fall 2021 class were first generation students. This is an increase from 8% of applicants in fall 2020 and 11% in fall 2019, according to Dean of Admission and Associate Vice Provost John Latting. 

“The numbers have been extraordinary,” Latting said. “We used to do a fall fly-in program for low-income first-generation college students and we tried to bring in 90 to 100 students. Now, that same program is able to reach 10,000 students.”

Emory Admissions Building. (The Emory Wheel/Matthew Friedman)

Throughout the pandemic, students have been able to utilize virtual tours to safely get a feel for what schools look like.

“[Virtual tours] were the only way I could remotely feel I was on campus when I was really just a nervous junior locked in my room trying to make a decision about my future,” Delaney Fischer (25C) said. “I tried my best to get on campus without actually getting on campus.”

Additionally, Fischer noted that the tour was “well done and interactive” and was the ultimate factor in her decision to apply early to Emory.

In addition to virtual tours, the College’s Office of Admission has many resources available online for virtual engagement, including live Q&A sessions with admissions staff and additional videos of the campus. Prospective students can also chat with a current student about their experiences at Emory. 

Latting said that this feature “has really taken off” as a popular option for students wanting to connect virtually with the campus. 

“We’re doing a lot of programming to make sure people don’t have to leave their home or their hometown to learn about Emory,” Latting said. 

In addition to providing resources for students, Emory has been able to connect with more high school guidance counselors and parents that otherwise may not have had this opportunity.

In fall 2021, the University offered Q&As, student panels, Oxford College information sessions and a cultural overnight recruitment experience virtual series for incoming applicants. 

“Both [virtual tours and Emory’s Day In The Life videos] were great resources to learn more about Emory’s campus and what life is like at Emory,” QuestBridge student Rafael Piloto (24C) said. 

Latting said that these information sessions aren’t “just about Emory.”

“We want to talk to students about just going to college or traveling from home to college,” Latting said. 

Additionally, themed virtual sessions about the Black experience at Emory, gender identities and affinity groups have enabled Emory’s Office of Admission to share the Emory experience across the world. 

Although the COVID-19 pandemic played a huge role in increasing the prevalence of virtual tours available on college websites, people have expressed concerns that the end of the pandemic will mean the end of virtual tours. However, Latting has asserted that this will most definitely not be the case for Emory. 

“It has really opened up a lot of doors,” Latting said. “The pandemic has had a lot of challenges with it. This is a result that I would say is pretty great.”  

The post Virtual tours offer more access to low-income, first-generation applicants appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

The Associated Students of Colorado State University convened for their 12th session of the semester Nov. 17. ASCSU ratified a new associate justice and elections manager and voted on five pieces of legislation.

An affiliate marketing business can be an excellent choice, especially since this industry has significant potential when it comes to profit generation, future growth, and overall entrepreneurial success.

Aside from that, affiliate marketing also generally poses only a moderate amount of risk, so you can enjoy a steadier pace for your company’s growth. 

However, before starting one, you’ll also need to consider what kind of business structure you want since doing so will help better establish your company. 

Generally, an LLC is an ideal structure for most small businesses that want a certain level of liability protection for their company.

Yet, is it the proper structure for your affiliate marketing business? Read on to find out.

The Right Business Structure for Your Affiliate Marketing Business: What Are Your Options?

Unlike other types of businesses, an affiliate marketing one tends to offer just a moderate amount of risk, so you’re more likely to enjoy a more stable income generation. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to safeguard your assets against potential losses.

In this case, the correct business structure can help protect your business from potential losses and liabilities, especially if it’s an LLC. Still, before you decide, it’s best to understand what your options are in terms of business structures.

Generally, the most popular choices for affiliate marketing companies are either a sole proprietorship or an LLC. Let’s discuss them further below.

• Sole Proprietorship

Selecting this business structure is often the better choice if you only have a limited number of assets or the chances of facing financial or civil liabilities are low.

Of course, you also have to file a DBA or “Doing Business As” when you’re doing business with this structure since this protects customers from fraudulent companies operating under a fake name. However, this doesn’t prevent other companies from eventually using your chosen name.

The great thing about a sole proprietorship is that you can enjoy a higher degree of flexibility with this structure. Aside from that, you can always change it later on as your business grows and expands further to accommodate the additional needs.

• Limited Liability Company (LLC)

On the other hand, if you have more personal assets that you’d like to protect, going for an LLC is the better choice. The process and requirements involved are often more complex than sole proprietorships, but it’s still relatively simple compared to other business structures.

The advantage to using an LLC as your affiliate marketing business’s structure is that it offers you a certain amount of protection against liabilities. 

This is because it separates your business assets from your personal ones, so you don’t have to experience financial challenges in case your business fails. Moreover, with an LLC, you get to enjoy the advantages of sole proprietorships, as well as the benefits of corporations. Also, it does not cost a lot to start and manage an LLC in most of the states in the USA.

Starting an LLC for Your Affiliate Marketing Business: What to Consider

If you decide to go for an LLC for your affiliate marketing business’s structure, you should know that there are a few things you need to consider. Here are the top three factors:

1.Risk and Liabilities

Again, an affiliate marketing business also has its fair share of risks, so it’s better if your chosen business structure offers a measure of protection against potential losses. 

For example, clients can actually file lawsuits against an affiliate marketing business, mainly if there were injuries, defamatory claims, and property damage. So, if you have many personal assets you want to keep safe, going for an LLC is the better choice.

Of course, aside from lawsuits, an LLC structure can also protect you from financial ruin if ever your company defaults on its debts because it separates your personal assets from the company’s.

2. Business Credibility

Since you’ll need repeat purchases to earn from your affiliate marketing business, you need to ensure that you have a certain degree of credibility. After all, if your clients don’t trust you, it can be challenging to convince them to avail themselves of your services.

In this case, forming an LLC for your affiliate marketing business can give it that boost in credibility since being a registered company can provide potential clients reassurance that they’re dealing with a legitimate business.

3. Profits and Taxation

If your affiliate marketing business is already earning a modest but steady profit, an LLC can work best since this business structure offers lucrative tax benefits to business owners. In this case, if your business has an LLC structure, you can enjoy what’s called “pass-through taxation.”

With this, you can enjoy liability protection like corporations without being double-taxed, as well as a more flexible company structure like with sole proprietorships. Aside from that, you can also choose to have your LLC taxed as an S-Corporations for additional benefits.

Overall, the question of whether an LLC is the most suitable structure for your affiliate marketing business or not will ultimately depend on you. Of course, it would be best to keep in mind that an LLC structure can offer more benefits for your business, especially if you have many assets to protect. Aside from that, this business structure also offers various tax benefits that will allow you to enjoy a higher amount of profits. It’s also an excellent way to boost your company’s credibility, which is a crucial factor in your industry.

With that said, hopefully, this article has shed more light on whether you should opt for an LLC for your affiliate marketing business or not.

The post LLC for Your Affiliate Marketing Business: Should You Start One? appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

Podcast editor Abbey Martichenko and podcast staff member Claire Fogarty recap last week’s biggest stories. In this episode, we discuss the long awaited renaming of The Center for International and Public Affairs, a petition that urges for greater financial compensation for RAs, music recommendations and Starbucks seasonal drink recommendations! Listen through to also get the rundown on some notable A&E, sports and opinion pieces. Be sure to check back next week! Music by Tim Taj via Pixabay.

The post Week 13 recap: USC renames Center for International and Public Affairs appeared first on Daily Trojan.