Author: Cole Schreiber
Westminster aims to reduce financial barriers to outdoor recreation
Outdoor sports and recreation are often known for being expensive—a stigma Westminster College's Outdoor Program is working to break. The Outdoor Program offers activities ranging from climbing in Moab to backpacking through the Uinta mountains. The trips are typically all-inclusive and affordable for college students, according to those involved with the program. “It has been a goal of ...
Utah only pretends to like the outdoors
Utah has a love-hate relationship with the outdoors and the outdoor industry. Government dollars go to organizations like Ski Utah, which promote tourism in the state. Yet simultaneously, Gov. Gary Herbert and Rep. Jason Chaffetz also spend tax dollars drafting bills to regain state control of such areas so they can ruin the same land they spend money to promote, as if they have no shame. Ear...
Water distribution issues across the state impact recreationalists and the environment
Experts say water distribution issues across Utah—the second-driest state in the country— can have negative impacts on wildlife populations, the environment and recreationalists.Much of Utah's water isn't accessible to the large community of outdoor enthusiasts who are attracted to the state. Around 40 percent of Utah's fishable water is currently on private land, according to Megan Crehan, a law ...
Underrated Great Salt Lake is crucial for its residents
Though the Great Salt Lake may have a reputation for its bad smell and desolate nature, experts say the lake is crucial for wildlife and the surrounding population—it's actually teeming with life."The lake can be stinky," said Jaimi Butler, the coordinator for Westminster College's Great Salt Lake Institute. "But there is no doubt that there is a lot of life in the Great Salt Lake."During the summ...
Aviation students face pressure after graduation
After Westminster College senior Charlie Vogel graduates this spring with a degree in flight operations and aviation, he will face pressure that few college graduates experience.Vogel is in the cadet program with United Airlines training to be a commercial pilot. Currently, he's a flight instructor, flying a small plane that travels at 100 mph with one other student in the aircraft. When he makes ...
Fake news and false reporting
There’s a difference between fake news and false reporting.I had the privilege of covering Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s town-hall meeting on Feb. 9. National reporters covered the meeting, and videos of the protests at Brighton High School flooded the internet.Covering something of this scale was intimidating.After the meeting, I began to write, taking my time to make sure I got the story right. Tha...
One of the greenest colleges in the country, Westminster still has room to improve
The Princeton Review ranked Westminster College as one of the greenest colleges in the nation in its 2016 edition. However, based off the college's eco-container program and STARS survey, some at Westminster think the college has taken steps backward instead of forward. Westminster was once known for having a mandatory eco-container program at the Shaw Student Center. But after losing t...
After injuries, Westminster’s climbing wall plans to improve its facilities
Staff at the climbing wall located in Westminster College's Health, Wellness and Athletic Center, known as Bishop’s Wall, look to improve facilities after some students have been injured. Bishop’s Wall is always improving, said Josh Schmidt, a senior biology major and the wall's staff supervisor. The newest area of improvement at Bishop’s Wall is its bouldering pads. The college is look...
Chaffetz draws huge crowds at town hall meeting
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz held a packed and chaotic town-hall meeting in Cottonwood Heights on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. Hundreds were unable to get in, and many of those who did met Chaffetz with shouting and booing.Because of the number of online RSVP’s, the meeting was moved from Cottonwood Heights to Brighton High School. Despite the change in venue, the line wrapped around the building an hour be...
Student veterans face culture shock at Westminster
After returning from military service, many veterans at Westminster College are facing new challenges—struggling with culture shock and finding their identities as civilians and as students.At 24-years-old, first-year student Shay Harris is six years older than most of her peers at Westminster College. Like many other non-traditional students at Westminster, she is a veteran.Harris graduated high ...