For those deciding whether to apply to Westminster College or not, read about the opportunities you can receive as a student with a Westminster College education. Calen Smith took part in various opportunities to strengthen his skill set all while attending school.

What are you most excited about this winter season? Students discuss skiing, faulty cars, and snowboarding with dogs in this vox pop.

Ski and snowboard season is here. As students begin to head to the mountain, The Forum asks members of the student body where they are getting a ski pass and the reason behind their choice.

First-year international student Obaid Barakzai has been all over world, speaks seven different languages and is involved with several clubs on campus. The Forum had a chance to sit down with Obaid and hear his story.

Julie Balk is an alumnus of Westminster College’s undergraduate nursing program who, after receiving her master’s and doctorate from the University of Utah, came back to teach at Westminster.

Balk, now teaching masters and undergraduate of nursing, said she loves the small community and being more than just faculty member. She said that she enjoys being a mentor and even learning from her students.

Winter is coming and bringing what Utah is known for: the greatest snow on earth. Westminster College students and resident avalanche expert Greg Gagne talk skiing, stoke, and safety in the backcountry.

Westminster students reflect on the midterm elections, sharing whether they voted and what they would say to others who didn't.

Westminster College students comment on the heavily debated confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States on Oct. 6 following a controversial Senate hearing. During the hearing, Justice Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

Organic garden coordinator Madeleine Humel talks about her love of gardening, fun meals to make with fresh produce, and how gardening can help the world. Check out Westminster’s organic garden on Monday afternoons to partake in the bounty!

Filmed, photographed and edited by Molly Gray

Westminster College students talk about what they think about the smoke and if they think it impacts their health. Wildfire smoke can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation to more serious disorders according to the EPA. It can cause coughing, phlegm, wheezing and difficulty breathing. This is due to particulate matter in the smoke. Carbon monoxide can also enter the bloodstream through the lungs. This makes it unhealthy to breathe in wildfire smoke.

TRANSCRIPT

00:00:00 Forum Intro

00:00:03 What do you think of the fire smoke in Utah this year?

00:00:08 Izzie Herzog: Um, it’s been the first time when I’ve gone outside on like a day when there weren’t regular clouds, and the sun was so covered in smoke, that it looked red and it was like not visible, like I could look at the sun and it was fine. So it’s definitely the worst that I’ve ever seen in my life.

00:00:26 Omar Valencia-Garcia: It’s annoying. Annoying cause I like to have my windows open and my balcony open cause I do live on the Draw. And like the smell isn’t like super bad but when its there all the time it can get a little bit overwhelming, and just really annoying. It also makes it a little bit harder to breathe sometimes. So ya.

00:00:48 Ben Stover: Um, I’ve definitely been in worse. I was right next to a forest fire, uh not too long ago. It’s still an honest pain in the ass. It’s not fun at all. It really makes it kind of less enjoyable to be outside.

00:01:12 Do you think the fire impacts your health?

00:01:15 Izzie Herzog: Well ya, I mean everything that we breathe in the air goes into our lungs and that impacts us permanently. Like I know one of my mom’s coworkers, they grew up in Salt Lake, just got some other surgery done and he woke up and they thought he had lung cancer in his lungs but it was just cists from just the air pollution of living in Salt Lake for 10 years. So I know that what we breathe in really affects our health long term.

00:01:40 Omar Valencia-Garcia: I would assume that it does. But I’m not sure.

00:01:43 Ben Stover: Um ya definitely. I have asthma and so even, I know it’s pretty negligible in Salt Lake but on the days that it is bad I can definitely feel it. I have to stay cooped up in my room or else an asthma attack.

00:01:56 Credits