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Journalism is Interesting, Important, True, and In Motion

-Matthew D. LaPlante assistant professor of journalism at Utah State University

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Bo Lamb's Articles

Local officials react to Supreme Court ruling and Kim Davis

By Boden Lamb

Sept 26, 2015

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled state bans on same sex marriage were unconstitutional. Utah’s ban was lifted in 2014. The Utah decision set a precedent that swept the nation, eventually leading to the nationwide June decision. Today, same-sex couples can be legally married in all 50 states.

 

The decision has come with controversy. Religious leaders, politicians and citizens have weighed in. All with varying opinions on the issue.

 

According to Jim Anderson, a LDS bishop in Logan, life in Utah is likely to change and keep changing. “The gay rights movement is going to keep pushing,” Anderson said. “Bishops might quit performing marriages altogether. The movement puts a lot of pressure on the church even though there is no legal requirement for us to marry them.”

 

Anderson, who also works for a company that builds shuttle boosters for space craft, said his co-workers often voice their own opinions about the subject. “It’s definitely a hot topic at work,” he said. “Usually the conversation deteriorates and becomes derogatory. There is no need for that really. Gay or straight we are all the same.”

 

Bishop Anderson was surprised the hot button issue of same-sex marriage had not spilled over into his own congregation. “I thought I would get a lot of people coming to me and asking about it. Nobody has come forward,” Anderson said. “Younger generations are more accepting of these types of social issues. I was expecting to have to explain the church’s position to members of the ward,” he said.

 

Anderson said he respects the law of the land even though he may not necessarily agree with it. He also said had he been in the same position of Kim Davis, the Kentucky law clerk who was jailed after defying a federal court order to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, he would have done things differently. “I wouldn’t have quit, its legal, you were hired for a reason. I would have signed my name. I understand where she was coming from though,” Anderson said.

 

Anderson said he was sympathetic towards gay members of the LDS church “I think that for those who struggle with same-sex attraction they might be negatively affected by the ruling,” he said. “I know a few. They are members of the church. They are gay but they don’t practice. This might make things more difficult for them.

 

Anderson’s thoughts on the issue vary greatly from his co-workers. “We just need to be respectful,” he said “We can be good people and still stick with our convictions.”

 

Judge Edwin Peterson of the 8th District Court of Utah is one man who has definitely stuck by his convictions. “Regardless of how I feel about the Supreme Court’s ruling, whether it be their reading of the constitution or just my own feelings for or against it, I have a moral, ethical duty to uphold the constitution,” Peterson said.

 

Peterson said not much had changed for his office after the same-sex marriage ruling. “There is a different analysis as far as divorced couples,” he said. “We had a child welfare divorce that was interesting but gender doesn’t make much of a difference.”  

 

As for Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, Peterson said he could not give a legal opinion on the subject because the issue is still awaiting litigation. Peterson did say his office avoided any such problem because they designated someone who was willing to issue same sex marriage licenses in the office. He said there are several people qualified to do the job Kim Davis was tasked with.

Jim Matheson speaks at Utah State

By Boden Lamb

Oct 1, 2015

On Sept. 24, former Democratic congressman Jim Matheson visited the Utah State University campus to speak to students and faculty.

 

Matheson, who represented Utah’s second district in the United States Congress for 12 years and Utah’s fourth district for two years, spoke about election reform, redistricting and other topics as well.

 

The institute of Government and Politics in conjunction with the Merrill Scholars programorganized the Pizza and Politics event at the Merrill-Cazier library as well as a luncheon with the former congressman.

 

Jade Burt, a Republican and USU Merrill Scholar, said he was impressed with the event despite disagreeing with Matheson on many issues.

 

“I was excited to get to meet Matheson,” Burt said. “He’s quite an anomaly in this state. For years he had always been that pesky democrat that somehow managed to survive election after election.”

 

As part of the Merrill Scholar program Burt was able to talk to Matheson one on one.

 

 Burt said he was interested to hear Matheson’s explanation on how he was able to win as a Democrat in Utah. He said that Matheson, during his first election cycle, knocked on every door in south Salt Lake and Draper to introduce himself. “You have to make voters feel like they know you even if it’s on some superficial level or else they are going to just vote for the party they usually do,” Burt said.

 

He also said the most interesting part about having lunch with Matheson was getting to judge where his political leanings actually were. “I determined that he was more liberal than I had previously imagined,” he said, “but that he was committed to working with anyone who would work with him to improve legislation.”

 

Matheson’s main speech topics at the luncheon was the need for independent redistricting to avoid political parties consolidating their power, how the influx of corporate and third-party money into politics is harming the institution of congress and how a jungle primary system is needed where members of all political parties appear on the same ballot. Burt, who would someday like to be involved in local government, said he agrees with the jungle primary idea but disagrees with independent redistricting and feels that there should be few if any restrictions on political speech.

 

Matheson closed with an ardent discussion about the need for a new generation of leaders in the Democratic Party. Most obviously manifested by the fact that the democrat’s three leading presidential candidates will be over 70 years old by Election Day 2016.

 

Blake Harms, a politically independent sophomore, attended the Pizza and Politics event.

 

Harms, who has never attended any of the Institute of Government and Politics events before said  he was so impressed with Matheson he is planning on attending all of the upcoming events.

 

“It was interesting to hear Matheson’s views as a previously elected official,” Harms said. “He wants election reform even though he benefitted from the old system.”

 

Harms said he was expecting Matheson to speak about his time in Congress but was not disappointed that he focused on what should be done going forward.

 

“Too often speakers just list their accomplishments. This wasn’t the case with Matheson,” Harms said.   

Little Bear Bottoms popularity grows thanks to newest attraction

By Boden Lamb

Oct 10, 2015

 

 

The Little Bear Bottoms corn maze in Wellsville is starting its 11th year of operation. Those who have been to Little Bear Bottoms before will recognize the iconic attractions such as the spooky barn ride, corn maze and straw fort. What visitors may be pleasantly surprised by is Little Bear Bottoms' newest and most popular attraction the Haunted River Trail.

 

Sharma Clark owns and manages Little Bear Bottoms with her husband Jed. According to Clark, the Haunted River Trail has really come into its own,

 

“A few years back we bought some land next to the Little Bear River,” Clark said. “It was the perfect location for a haunted trail. The land has spooky trees and old farming equipment. All these things make it naturally creepy. We have worked on it the last couple of years and finally have it up to par.”

 

Clark said judging by the turnout so far this season, the Haunted River Trail has surpassed the corn maze in popularity which is completely alright with Clark.

 

“We tried for a long time to make the corn maze scary,” she said. “It ends up some creepy guy just follows you as you try to find your way out, which is kind of awkward. The river trail does the job much better.”

 

Clark was not willing to give away all of her secrets about the trail but she did say they have added a pirate ship which floats on the river, motion detectors along the trail that will release scary surprises, and a lot of zombies.

 

“Walking Dead fans will like it,” she said.

 

According to Clark, a big part of the appeal of Little Bear Bottoms can be summed up by its slogan, :we’re not high tech we’re redneck".

 

“Despite all of our additions we try to stick to the basics that people like,” she said. “Chainsaws are big here.”

 

Little Bear Bottoms, according to Clark, has something for all ages and is an especially good date idea for college students.

 

“It is really interactive,” she said. “You bond when you’re scared. The girls like to hang on to the guys and more often than you would think the guys turn out to be the freaked out ones.”

 

Darren Mecham is a student at Utah State University who visited Little Bear Bottoms last year.

 

“I took my girlfriend," Mecham said. “We had a great time. Sometimes it was sort of relaxing and other times I about pissed my pants.”

 

Despite being a thrill seeker, Mecham did not go on the Haunted River Trail.

 

“I didn’t even know it was there last year,” he said “I don’t think it was very popular.”

 

Mecham said he really enjoyed the barn ride which has been a part of Little Bear Bottoms since its beginning “The driver tells you ghost stories as you ride in his hay wagon,” he said. 

 

Mecham said he was not planning on going to Little Bear Bottoms this year until he heard about the Haunted River Trail.

 

“I heard some of my friends talking about how fun it was,” he said. "They said it was better than the barn ride and better than the corn maze. I also received a coupon in the mail so I thought might as well.”

Bernie Sanders apparent favorite at presidential debate watch party

By Boden Lamb

Senator Bernie Sanders’s Tuesday performance at the democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas, produced almost continuous applause from students during the debate watch party at Utah State University. Over 100 students, many donning their Bernie Sanders for president gear, gathered into Old Main to hear Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Lincoln Chaffe and Jim Webb debate for the first time.

 

During the debate Sanders advocated for expanding social security, gun control, raising the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour, free tuition for undergraduate college students and stopping U.S. military operations in Syria. All topics received applause from many of the students in attendance.

 

Although Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist, received most of the applause throughout the night, any candidate who mentioned the danger of climate change was applauded as well.

 

Kristi Patterson, who describes herself as politically centrist, attended the debate watch party. Before the event she said out of the democratic candidates she liked Sanders the best.

 

“I like that Bernie [Sanders] has no big ties to corporations,” she said. “He is more his own man where Clinton has had her fingers in too many places.”

 

After the debate Patterson said she thought that Clinton had won the debate due to her experience, familiarity of the issues and ability to convey self-confidence. However, Patterson also said that Sanders was the better candidate in terms of trustworthiness.

 

Patterson said that she recognized that there was an overabundance of outspoken Sanders supporters at the event but that she should not be numbered among them.

 

“If I had to vote today it would be for Sanders,” she said. “I debated in high school. I can see both sides of the issues because I debated them both. I just haven’t decided where I stand yet.”

 

Patterson, said watching the debates helps her to better understand the positions of both parties.

 

 “I think it is great that the university holds these events,” she said. “I don’t have cable at home. Watching the debates at school helps me to be informed. Also it is fun too. It’s my form of reality TV.”

 

The watch party also attracted students who were not as intrigued with politics but just curious. Jalen Tollefson, who had never watched a complete debate, said he decided to attend the event because it is important to try to understand new things and that free pizza should not go to waste.

 

“I never got into politics before but I wish I had,” he said. “I have always loved pizza though.”

 

 Tollefson said it was a better learning experience watching the broadcast at the university than at home because he was forced to pay attention and he was able to converse with other people around him about the issues.

 

Tollefson, who is an independent, said it was strange seeing such a concentration of Democrats in such a red state.

 

“Democrats, but especially Bernie Sanders, seem to have a greater amount of supporters here at USU,” he said. “I don’t stand by him [Sanders] on most of his positions on poverty or on foreign policy but I can see how people can rally behind him. He is an influential speaker.”

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Economic conditions, schedule merger and new programs boost USU Uintah Basin enrollment

By Boden Lamb

 

In early 2014 the price of oil by the barrel peaked at $106. Later that year the price of oil dropped below $50 a barrel, causing over 1,000 people to lose their jobs in north eastern Utah’s oil-reliant Uintah Basin according to The Utah Department of Workforce Services.

 

Although this crash in oil prices has hurt the local economy it has been good for enrollment at the Utah State University campuses in Vernal and Roosevelt.

 

According to David Law, the director of students at USU Uintah Basin, concurrent enrollment is up 64 percent since fall of 2014 and is up 14 percent among tuition paying students.

 

According to Derrick Tollefson, these enrollment statistics are more than they hoped for but the upward trend is not surprising.

 

"This seems to be the way it goes," Tollefson said. "When the oil field is down and people are out of work they often look to school to occupy their time and better themselves. Our job at Utah State is to help those people get back on their feet."

 

Tollefson said this school year Uintah High School and USU have merged their schedules so students do not have to miss part of their high school class to attend a college course. He said this merge has contributed to the increase in concurrent enrollment but does not doubt the effect the economy has had.

 

“We usually do see an increase in concurrent enrollment when the economy drops off,” he said. “High school students are often motivated by hard times as well.”

 

According to Tollefson the university has created new programs aimed at increasing interest in schooling during this trying economic period. The first is called the stackable degree program. The stackable program makes credits earned at the Uintah Basin Applied Technology College useable toward a USU degree.

 

“There is a terrific blending between the two institutions,” he said. “There is more incentive for students to continue their education and gain skills that are actually useable in the Uintah Basin.”

USU Uintah Basin has also launched programs aimed at bringing higher education to populations that have not had the opportunity readily available.

 

“The university provides many courses directly to the Ute Indian reservation so they don’t have to commute,” Tollefson said, “We work very closely with the tribe and try to make it as easy as possible.”

 

Principle Julie Wilde of Uintah High School said she noticed her high school students have an increased interest in talking college courses at USU because of the stackable dual enrollment programs.

 

“Uintah and USU have a great relationship,” she said.

 

Wilde said she was excited about the USU stackable degree program because it also promotes the Career and Technical Education Pathway program that Uintah High School offers.

 

According to Wilde high school students can tailor their high school schedule using the pathway program to give them a head start.

 

“Students can leave high school certified in one of our pathways,” she said. “By then they already have hours they can transfer to USU to get started on an associate degree. It was a great idea.”

 

Tollefson said high school students need to be proactive in taking advantage of the opportunities USU offers.

 

“Having technical experience or a four year degree can be the difference between being laid off and keeping your job,” Tollefson said.

Utah State Uintah Basin helps married couples.

 

Utah State University professor David Law and his Family Consumer and Human Development students will be teaching Uintah Basin couples techniques to try and reignite romantic love and strengthen relationships just in time for Valentine's Day. 

 

Law, and his students, are putting on a six week marital enrichment workshop for couples. The workshop uses research done by many esteemed doctors and is tailored to the needs of the community.

 

"By using many different books and methods we are able to see what people like and what people actually use," Law said. "We keep what works and limit what doesn't.

 

Besides helping local couples, the workshop doubles as the final project before graduation for USU Uintah Basin FCHD students.

 

The Utah State FCHD program also participates in a radio show every Thursday morning on AM 920 KVEL which is somewhat similar to the format of the workshop. 

 

According to Vernal resident and married mother of two Kylie Sorenson, the weekly radio show has inspired her to be a better wife. Sorenson follows along with Willard Harley's book, "His Needs, Her Needs" and listens as Dr. Law discusses each chapter on the air.

 

"The radio program has helped noticeably," Sorenson said. "I think it has even convinced my husband to sign-up for the workshop."

 

Uintah Basin couples, like the Sorensons, can sign up for the six week workshop starting in January.

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