Salt Lake City’s namesake faces an existential threat. The expansive, briny lake already reached its historic low earlier this summer, on July 26. Most years, the Great Salt Lake doesn’t reach its annual low until October, meaning further depletion is inevitable.

Despite the Great Salt Lake’s unique and resilient ecosystem, the mounting pressures of water scarcity, drought and climate change pose a danger to all the species that live there. For the Great Salt Lake to survive, we must halt our excessive water usage to give our ecosystem a chance to recover, but that will require all of us.

The Bear River Development Project

The Bear River Development Project stands as the most imminent threat to the health of the Great Salt Lake. To learn more about the project, and the effects it would have on the Great Salt Lake, I sat down with Nick Halberg, a research and policy analyst at Utah Rivers Council.

The project would build new dams on “the largest service water tributary to the Great Salt Lake,” Halberg said. The proposed plan would divert 25-30% of the river’s water for residential and commercial use in Utah. For an ecosystem already facing extreme water levels, diverting a quarter of its main water source would only exacerbate the situation.

“It will already take some pretty serious action to save the lake,” Halbert said. But if the Bear River Development Project goes through, “it will be the nail in the coffin.”

We cannot afford to further reduce lake levels, but the Bear River Development Project had been proposed in response to the increased water demands of a growing population in Utah. Either Utahns continue using water at the same rate and destroy the Great Salt Lake, or we engage in personal and political actions that reduce our projected water demands.

Opportunities for Water Conservation

As a result, water districts can “make their water rates super cheap” because it’s such an insignificant portion of their revenue. This entire system leaves Utah cities with some of the cheapest water rates in the American Southwest.

When water isn’t appropriately valued, people naturally use more of it. Despite repeated attempts to reconcile the true value of water in the Utah State Legislature, a bill to restructure this property tax system has never passed.

Utah uses 72% of its water for agriculture, far more than the 33% used by the U.S. as a whole. While one’s initial instinct may be to blame farmers for our water shortage, farming is far less of a problem than the outdated irrigation technology found on many Utah farms.

Even right here in the Salt Lake Valley, farmers utilize crude, inefficient systems “where water just flows through a dirt canal.” These sometimes centuries-old water infrastructure systems remain prevalent throughout Utah’s agricultural industry. Yet, farmers often don’t have the financial resources to spend millions of dollars improving these technologies to conserve water.

The technology to drastically reduce our water usage in Utah’s agricultural industry already exists, it’s only the political will and funding that stand in the way. Halberg said that roughly “280 million dollars” of the $1.4 billion Utah received from the American Rescue Plan Act will go towards “water-specific projects.” The Utah State Legislature will determine the exact apportionment of those funds in the 2022 legislative session.

Why We Must Act

Unless we act, more and more of the water destined for the Great Salt Lake will be diverted for human consumption. The wetlands that will be destroyed by water diversion currently serve as critical habitat for 8 million migratory birds. These birds, made up of over 230 different species, rely on the ecosystem every year. Without it, they have nowhere to stop and feed on mosquitoes during their migration.

However, the lack of water would be a disaster for humans as well. We can expect worse air pollution in a city that already consistently reports some of the worst air quality days in the world. When winds blow through the dried lake bed, it will add PM-10 containing arsenic to our air, leading to a whole host of health consequences.

With Utah’s growing population and droughts amplified by climate change, constraints on our limited water supply will only continue to grow. While many of the runaway effects of climate change cannot be completely undone, we still can save the unique, beautiful ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake.

The survival of the ecosystem which our species has relied upon for so long requires humanity to employ its most successful evolutionary ability: adaptation. We must adapt our cities, agriculture and lifestyles to ones that demand far less water. Doing so is the only way for humans to successfully exist in American Southwest ecosystems.

w.shadley@dailyutahchronicle.com

@shadleywill

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Good written and oral communication skills are listed as desired qualifications for nearly every job that someone may apply for no matter what field they enter. 

At the George-Anne Inkwell, between the interviews staff writers conduct and the articles they write, all our writers can put experiences and a portfolio of work behind the claim that they have “good written and oral communication skills.” 

Not to mention a whole slew of other skills such as working in a fast-paced environment, researching stories and adapting to different situations. 

Additionally, you can receive scholarship money, depending on how many hours a week you work, to go to events hosted by the theatre department, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Student Activities, Greek Life, and more. 

Yes, you have to report on those events, interview people at them, take pictures, and then, write about them later. But otherwise, if you come to work for the Inkwell, you could get paid to have a life outside of the classroom, or the library, and gain marketable skills while you’re at it.

If you are a writer or a photographer looking to build a professional portfolio, we want to give you every opportunity to get your work printed, something you can physically carry with you into any job interview you want.

We are a supportive team, and we want to encourage you to push yourself and strive to make great content, palatable to a wide audience, from your peers to your professors to university administrators. 

If any of this sounds interesting to you, please fill out this interest form, or visit the Inkwell of www.thegeorgeanne.com for more information!

Dumpling Kitchen begins serving Berkeley’s ‘juiciest dumplings’ to residents

David McAllister/Staff

The San Francisco-based restaurant Dumpling Kitchen opened a second location in Berkeley’s Southside neighborhood. Berkeley City Councilmember Rigel Robinson celebrated the opening, noting that every restaurant opening in Berkeley should be appreciated after the difficulty of the past year.

Dumpling Kitchen, a San Francisco-based Chinese restaurant available for dine-in, takeout and delivery, has opened up a new location in Berkeley’s Southside neighborhood.

Berkeley City Councilmember Rigel Robinson said in a tweet that the restaurant’s opening “may be the best thing to happen” to Berkeley since the city was chartered in 1895.

“I’ve been to Dumpling Kitchen in San Francisco three times, and it’s well worth the trip, but my life has forever been changed now that these fluffy little orbs are here on Telegraph,” Robinson said.

He noted that even though he is not vegetarian, Dumpling Kitchen serves “fun veggie options” for those who are looking for a restaurant that accounts for their dietary restrictions. The vegetarian options listed on its menu include variations of pot stickers, steamed shumai and fried rice.

Robinson’s personal favorite dish is the Shanghai-style pan-fried pork buns, which he said he highly recommends.

“More than anything, after the last year that has been so difficult for our small businesses, every new restaurant opening in Berkeley is a cause for celebration, and I hope everyone checks out these wonderful dumplings,” Robinson said.

Angie Chen, legislative aide to Robinson, said the Dumpling Kitchen in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood is her “favorite Chinese place” in the Bay Area with its selection of Shanghai cuisine.

Like Robinson, she highlighted its pan-fried pork buns, which she described as similar to “thicker, crispier soup dumplings.”

“It’s hard to find Shanghai-style food in Berkeley,” Chen said. “A lot of the Chinese-style food is from other regions of China, so I’m really excited for a solid dumpling place in Berkeley.”

The chain was established in 2010, according to Frank Tan, the general manager of the Dumpling Kitchen in San Francisco.

Although its initial owners, father-and-daughter duo Paul and Rebecca Yu, planned to close the restaurant in 2019, Paul Yu’s friend and business partner decided to take over the business because of its popularity with the families who lived in the area, Tan explained.

“One of main Reason that we decide open a new location in Berkeley is because we have noticed that we got a lot of UC Berkeley Student loves our food in our San Francisco location,” Tan said in an email. “For the convenience of students here, we decide to open up a new location in Berkeley.”

Tan noted the variety of dishes served by Dumpling Kitchen, such as its house-made steamed pork soup dumplings and Shanghai-style chow mein.

Berkeley residents can get a taste of the “juiciest dumplings,” as put by Robinson, now that Dumpling Kitchen is offering reservations and catering, according to its Yelp page.

“For the future of Dumpling Kitchen, We will continue server our best Dumplings and Chinese food for our lovely families and students in the Bay Area,” Tan said in the email.

Contact Zachary Khouri at zkhouri@dailycal.org, and follow him on Twitter at @zachakhouri.

The Daily Californian

Several BU students, clubs and organizations share Instagram post and Change.org petition

On Aug. 5, 2021 — eight months after former President Ruth Watkins announced her intended resignation from her position — the Utah System of Higher Education announced the University of Utah’s next president: Taylor R. Randall.

Randall has served as the dean of the David Eccles School of Business for 12 years, working to expand experiential learning and gaining the school various accolades. Before this, he taught as an accounting professor for 11 years.

The USHE, members of the presidential search committee and members of the public convened on the fourth floor of Rice-Eccles Stadium, awaiting the announcement of the next president. 

Before the announcement was made, different members of USHE acknowledged the work done by both Watkins and interim President Michael Good.

“President Watkins led the University to new heights over the last three years,” said Harris Simmons, chair of USHE and co-chair of the presidential search committee.

On July 21, 2021 three finalists were forwarded to the presidential search committee for consideration. 

Since then, each candidate has presented a public forum where they gave short remarks about their plans for the U if appointed and responded to questions from those in attendance.

Randall said at the forefront of his leadership will be innovation, creativity and a focus on the student experience — themes he thinks will resonate with stakeholders. 

Feedback from the community was crucial to not only the public forums but also the search in general.

Christian Gardner, Trustee chair and search committee co-chair, said he was impressed with the level of participation from the public.

“I want you to know every letter, text, email, everything was read and evaluated,” Gardner said.

Minutes after Randall was announced to be the next president, UnsafeU, an organization which raises awareness about campus safety issues, posted their opposition to his appointment.

In the post, they said they are disappointed in the Board of Higher Education for holding the public hearings during a break period of the student body with less than 24 hours to submit feedback. 

“This was not a deliberative or democratic process and the most vulnerable voices in the selection of new leadership was not centered,” the Aug. 5 Instagram post from UnsafeU read. 

While UnsafeU is concerned about Randall’s commitment to inclusivity, he said he will continue the work done by Watkins in bolstering completion rates and increasing inclusivity. He said the U will be remembered for its humanity and who is brought in, not those who are left behind.

“I promise and I commit to you that as we strive to be a premier institution in this land, we will also be the most inclusive,” he said. 

According to Randall, he is confident the U can become a premier institution under his leadership. 

“I have big aspirations for this university,” he said. “I have an abiding faith in the students, the faculty and the staff that I have seen through my entire career give endless hours of service when they did not need to.”

UnsafeU said in order for the U to become more transparent and accountable, an external hire is needed.   

“Taylor Randall will just continue to cover up for the U’s lack of federal compliance and he has no vision for accountability and transparency measures (nor increasing campus resources),” the post read. 

Additionally, UnsafeU criticized his Aug. 4 public forum, saying he did not adequately address campus safety issues.

They also commented on his time as dean of the business school, saying he failed to address complaints of racist and sexist behaviors by faculty members in his college. 

UnsafeU plans to file a complaint with the Department of Education in the coming months.

Randall assumes the position on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021.

“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough,” Randall said. “I’m scared. Let’s hope we’ve got a big enough dream.”

k.silverstein@dailyutahchronicle.com

@chronykayleigh

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The NBA draft has come and gone. Some people say you can’t grade a draft for at least four years, but where’s the fun in that? Bailey Bassett has you covered with his takes on what teams improved with great draft classes and who missed out and drafted poorly. Detroit Pistons Draft Picks: Cade Cunningham […]

Coming to college with so many changes to prepare for, classes seem to get pushed to the side. Upcoming students are focusing more on dorm room decorations and parties; assuming that college classes are basically the same as high school. Wrong. While there seem to be similarities, there also are even more differences.So here is a guideline of what to expect taking college courses. 

Syllabus

In high school: A paper with class objectives and necessary materials for the class that your parents usually sign and then you forget about it by week two. 

In college: The bible of all students including all dates for assignments and test, office hours, and attendance policy. You will reference this paper the whole semester. 

Due Dates 

In high school: Teachers reminded you when assignments were due, two weeks, a week, or the day before. 

In College: Nope (maybe if you are lucky they MIGHT). You’re responsible to read your syllabus and keep up with everything. 

Late Work

In high school: Most teachers usually would accept it, maybe have a certain policy. Had an absent policy for assignments and if missed a test– no problem! They will let you take it when you get back, maybe even give you an extra day. 

In college:There are no exceptions. If it’s due at 11:59 and you try to turn it in at 12:01, it’s a zero. Missed class, it’s on you. Missed a test, some professors would let you make it up, most won’t. 

Class Time 

In high school: You probably had six to eight classes a day spending around 35 hours a week in school. 

In college: You make your schedule and can have anywhere from one class to five classes a day. Spending only 12 to 18 hours a week in class. 

Studying 

In high school: You received study guides and studied the night before the test. Maybe you were the type of the student who could get away without studying and still do fantastic

In college: You need to study about two to four hours a week for every class that you have. There are no study guides and review games. You are responsible for figuring out what would be on the test. Can’t rely on your knowledge from not studying anymore; doesn’t always guarantee an A aymore. 

Grades 

In high school: You had a grading system that was updated regularly with your results. Homework was graded and played an important factor in your overall grade. 

In college: Some professors will keep you up to date with your grades, but most will not. In your syllabus, you should be able to calculate your own grade by your test results and other assignments. Test are the biggest factor in determining your overall grade. Homework is a small portion 

Attendance

In high school: Teachers would take attendance regularly. Show up late to class, you were asked for an excuse, and leaving class early was not tolerated. 

In college: Professors don’t care if you are in class, some will still take attendance. Some professors have an attendance policy that can result in an F in class if not followed. You can show up late and leave early and not be questioned. 

Classmates

In high school: You knew mostly everyone in your class, knew them probably years passed. Class size is around 20-30 people. You share answers and socialize together. 

In college: You won’t know everyone, the first day would be a room full of strangers. Ranging anywhere from 20-300 classmates. There is minimal talking and everyone is there to take notes and leave. It’s up to you to break the ice with the classmates around you. 

Respect

In high school: Let’s face it; there were teachers that did not receive respect from students and inappropriate behavior was thought as funny and entertaining. Students would receive a disciplinary act of some kind.  

In college: Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated, it is not common for inappropriate behavior to occur but when it does it’s not tolerated. It can result in to withdrawal from class. Professors receive the utmost respect. 

Don’t ask the professor if you can use the restroom, just walk out on your own.

Don’t asked the professor when a paper is due; it’s on your syllabus. 

Don’t call them Mr, Ms, or Mrs. It’s Professor and Dr. 

Don’t go to them before class to talk about your struggles in class; go to their office hours 

Don’t expect them to “know” you. They are there to lecture, not to make friends. 

Don’t sleep in class 

Do ask INTELLIGENT questions in class

Do get a study buddy. Talk to the students around you, similar to high school classmates

Do take notes.

Do meet with your professors during office hours 

Do engage in lecture and take notes  

The faster you learn and adjust to the changes of education in college–the faster you’ll adjust to the pace of college life bettering the chances for academic success. 

UH football head coach Dana Holgorsen on the field pregame before his team battled against Tulane in the 2020 season opener. | Courtesy of UH athletics

Houston football head coach Dana Holgorsen fielded questions from the media late Wednesday morning during the American Athletic Conference’s virtual 2021 football media day.

With the Cougars going 7-13 in their first two seasons under Holgorsen, UH fans have begun to grow restless wondering if and when the football program would carry its own weight and exhibit the on-field success that many of the University’s other athletic programs have recently shown.

Holgorsen was asked what the football team needed to do in 2021 to turn the program around.

“Pretty much win games,”  Holgorsen said. “We’ll put that at the top of the list.”

While Holgorsen’s answer stated the obvious, he knows winning, which has eluded the Cougars in many ways, shapes and forms over the past two years, is the only thing that will get the program back into the national conversation regarding the country’s top football programs.

With a few exceptions, UH’s losses over the last two seasons have not been a result of being outmatched in every facet of the game by its opponents. Rather, the inability to play a full 60 minutes of football has plagued the Cougars.

The box scores from almost any of the Cougars’ losses under Holgorsen make it clear that the team failed to play up to their fullest capabilities and compete from the opening kickoff all the way through the game’s final whistle.

But year three in the Holgorsen era is the year that both the head coach and his team are confident that the Cougars’ fortunes will change because of the experience, depth and hunger to win that the roster is loaded with.

Tune and year three

Everything starts with junior quarterback Clayton Tune. The junior has started 17 games for the Cougars over the past three seasons.

Speaking from previous experience, Holgorsen said he has seen the biggest jump in improvement from his quarterbacks during their third year and he expects Tune will follow in that pattern.

“(Tune) has got a lot of reps logged in practice and games now so that should pay off,” Holgorsen said. “I’m not doing a very good job coaching if he’s not better year three.”

While Tune has shown flashes of brilliance as the leader of the UH offense, particularly using his legs to create something out of nothing, consistency has been the 6-foot-3-inch quarterback’s biggest issue.

A big reason for Tune’s inconsistencies is because of the UH offensive line, which seems to shuffle out a new combination of five people every week since Tune’s been at the helm of the offense.

The good news for UH is that the 2021 roster features an offensive line that is deep and healthy, according to Holgorsen.

Holgorsen believes the ability or lack thereof to maintain stability upfront and protect their quarterback throughout the 2021 season will play the biggest factor in how Tune performs during his junior season.

“We have to be better in front of (Tune) for him to be better,” Holgorsen said. “We’ve had, I think 20 offensive line combinations in 20 games. We finally got to a point where we got depth and got experience.”

Depth at defensive line

Despite losing a game-changing type player in Payton Turner, who went 28th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft to the Saints, both Holgorsen and defensive line coach Brian Early believe the Cougars’ defensive line will be better than it was in 2020.

UH’s defensive line features a mix of seasoned veterans as well as up-and-coming youngsters to give the team the depth it did not previously have.

Both junior Derek Parish and senior David Anenih had plenty of snaps at defensive end and provide veteran leadership.

Junior defensive lineman Logan Hall had a breakout spring and is “coming into his own”. Iowa State transfer Latrell Bankston turned some heads at nose guard towards the end of spring, according to Holgorsen.

The defensive line’s depth will allow UH to rotate players in and out throughout the course of the game, keeping players fresh which Holgorsen believes will result in an increase of production from the unit as a whole.

“Now we got a lot of depth on the D-line and we got guys that are competing for playing time,” Holgorsen said. “We like to rotate those guys a good bit so when you rotate them the next group’s got to be able to go in and play as well.”

New vibes in the locker room

With a roster full of players who have been in the program since Holgorsen arrived in 2019, the team has a new itch to win and live up to the standards they set for themselves.

Holgorsen said he can feel a new sense of urgency to win from his team who is tired of coming up on the short end of the stick week after week.

This has created a new type of feeling around the UH football program that is more determined than ever to turn the corner and become relevant again.

“I think everybody is just sick of the stuff we’ve been through and sick of not winning as many games as we know we can and as we should,” Tune said. “There’s a different vibe in the locker room, a different vibe about all the players, coaches and everyone involved in the program.”

Senior cornerback and return specialist Marcus Jones sees the same kind of new energy around the program that Tune talked about and believes it will translate into sustained success on the field.

Jones emphasized how the Cougars are focused on one thing and one thing only in 2021: winning.

“This year is all about, like coach Holgorsen said, earning wins with my brothers,” Jones said. “We worked hard this offseason with competing with each other, getting closer as a team so we’re all about winning.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Keeping it simple: Dana Holgorsen goal is to “win games” in 2021” was originally posted on The Cougar

City recommends Berkeley Hills residents prepare for evacuation

Joshua Jordan/File

As California’s wildfire season continues to worsen, the city of Berkeley and Berkeley Fire Department urged Berkeley Hills residents to prepare for evacuation.

City officials noted that residents should also be aware of their evacuation and key fire weather terms, as well as signing up for emergency notifications, according to a city press release. Hot and dry “Extreme Fire Weather” conditions pose a higher risk the city fire zones 2 and 3, which are close to regional parklands.

“With each wildfire, we learn more about how our response must adapt,” the press release reads. “One key lesson is that all of us, not just emergency responders, must act based on weather conditions rather than waiting for a fire to ignite.”

“Extreme Fire Weather” conditions are characterized by high sustained winds and extremely low humidity, and they were present during some of the state’s most destructive wildfires in history in 2020. During these conditions, the city increases the number of active patrols in the hills, according to the press release.

Residents can find their evacuation zone using the online Zonehaven tool, which will also provide real-time updates during a fire.

City officials additionally urged residents to keep their phones available and avoid activities that could cause a spark during red flag warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

“The decision of ‘when to leave’ is personal to each household,” the press release reads. “Understand that the longer you wait, you will need to be ready to leave on foot. If that poses a problem for anyone in your home, it’s safest to stay outside of the hills in these ‘Extreme Fire Weather’ conditions.”

Aditya Katewa is the executive news editor. Contact him at akatewa@dailycal.org, and follow him on Twitter at @adkatewa1.

The Daily Californian

Sponsored by Alcon The transition to adult life can be both exciting and terrifying all at the same time. On one hand, it’s a time to celebrate freedom and limitless possibilities. On the other hand, being in the “real world” comes with tough choices and loads of responsibility. But don’t worry. Whether you have already […]