Author: Kate McMaster

GPS Office provides connection amid ‘awakening and questioning’ times

Like many, Westminster College’s Office for Global Peace and Spirituality has had to shift its operations to mostly virtual platforms this year. The Forum spoke with Jan Saeed, the director of spiritual life, to discuss the role the office is playing in students’ wellbeing amid a pandemic.   “[COVID-19] has changed everyone’s life in a way of really having that time for reflection ...

Defund and divest: Panelists explore alternatives to policing in SLC

Westminster College panelists posed an alternative to traditional policing during a panel Westminster’s Student Diversity and Inclusion Center hosted Wednesday — arguing it’s needed in the state of Utah.  “It’s completely widely accepted that we need to figure out an alternative to policing in Salt Lake City,” said Carly Holderman, a social justice activist and one of the three panelist...

How 1 COVID-19 positive student thrived in on-campus isolation

Riley Hayes, a junior majoring in communication and outdoor education and leadership tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 20. After testing positive with no symptoms, Hayes stayed in the isolation dorms in Carleson Hall for 10 days.  After she was released on Aug. 30., The Forum spoke with Hayes about her feelings on her time in isolation.   “It feels a lot like a Rapunzel situation...

Students offer advice for on-campus quarantine, isolation after testing positive for COVID-19

Before moving into Westminster College dorms, all residential students were required to test negative for the coronavirus. For those who were positive, the college designated Carleson Hall as an isolation dorm. As of Sept. 4, Westminster reports eight positive COVID-19 cases among students and two among employees. Riley Hayes, a junior double majoring in communication and outdoor education and lea...