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Show Political Correctness: Enacting change through respect ︱Page 7 ︱VOLUME 87 ︱ ISSUE 54 ︱ FRIDAY ︱ JANUARY 20, 2017 Source: Lawrence Jackson / Wikimedia Commons Athletes’ opinions about Trump mixed Source: Wikimeida Commons Source: Wikimeida Commons By HARRISON EPSTEIN Assistant Sports Editor Source: Pete Souza /Wikimeida Commons With a new president in the Oval Office, professional athletes and teams will continue to visit the White House despite rumors of protests. While these events are ceremonious and have significant press attention, there is also the fact that these athletes are all individuals with their own political beliefs. All throughout the campaign season, there were athletes and coaches speaking out in favor of both candidates. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was one of the big- gest supporters in the world of sports for Hillary Clinton, while in the days leading up to the election, now-President Trump touted the endorsements of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and their head coach, Bill Belichick. Sporting News and other publications spoke to Spencer Hawes because of his connection to politics. Hawes is an historically average NBA center who became the focus of these stories for being one of the most well-known and vocal Republicans in the NBA. Hawes is one of many athletes across a wide variety of sports who was vocal about his conservative beliefs. It has been shown in the months since the election and in years prior that baseball players tend to lean conservative, basketball players lean liberal and football players are split right near the middle. Then there is the reality of teams visiting the White House and for players to make their voices heard. During President Obama’s two terms in office, there were several athletes who did not appear at the White House for political and other Top left: Steph Curry with President Barack Obama at the White House. Middle: Michael Phelps with President George W. Bush. Top right: Obama receives a jersey from Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, center, and Derek Fisher. Bottom right: Obama welcomes the NCAA champion University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball teams. reasons, according to the New York Daily News. The most well-known was Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, a proud Tea Party member, who opted not to attend the celebration after his team won the Stanley Cup in 2011. There was also Matt Birk, center for the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens in 2013, who chose to snub the president over his support of Planned Parenthood. Brady was another football player who declined to make the trip for a “family commitment,” which was widely accepted at the time. Please see ATHLETES, 7 WSU remembers the dream, honors King By JULIANA PALACIO News Reporter Weber State University celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. day with a breakfast on Jan. 16 at the Marshall White Center with a panel of speakers selected based on some of the work each has accomplished in the community, as well as a freedom walk to the Ogden City Amphitheater. “Martin Luther King day, to me, is a day where we can take a step back and reflect on the progress that our country has made and really recognize the beauty that is in everybody’s differences,” said Danielle Collier, chair of special service events at WSU. “It’s a good day to teach the youth of today about the importance of inclusivity, respect and values. ... It is not just a day off work. It is a day to remember Martin Luther King, what he stood for and what his values were: love, respect and equality.” Please see MLK, 4 The Signpost Archives A recent adjustment in theater classes has one student feeling wronged. Course replacement sparks upset By KARA LARSEN A&E Reporter Source: Wikimeida Commons Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963. Weber State University commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 16. Larry Blanscett, 74-yearold playwright and Ogden resident, was taken aback when the theatre arts class he hoped to audit, Directing II, was replaced with a three-student creative directing project. According to Tracy Callahan, who has taught the course every two years for the last several years, she has selected three female students based upon their directing emphases and their exemplary performances in preliminary classes to participate in the course. The three students will spend the semester workshopping half-hour pieces of theatre, based on current social problems, that will be showcased in the spring. “I’m trying to teach them to create theatre — not just read scripts,” Callahan said. “It’s a celebration of students’ unique ideas and voices.” Blanscett, however, was disappointed at the missed opportunity to learn from the course and felt that the selective project would leave other students out — especially those who were counting on taking the course this semester to satisfy possible degree requirements. Please see LETTER, 3 IN THE SIGNPOST CALENDAR............... 2 A & E........................ 3 SPANISH. . ................... 5 SPORTS...................... 8 |