Consumerist culture is rampant, fueled by social media giants like TikTok Shop and Facebook Marketplace. These e-commerce companies have eliminated barriers between browsing and buying, causing consumers to purchase with a simple tap, often without a second thought. As users mindlessly scroll through their feeds, a relentless stream of ads and influencer endorsements bombard them.  This constant exposure creates an illusion of necessity, compelling users to believe they need advertised products. The strategic placement of these ads and endorsements within the entertainment content ..read more

  “Gaga Chromatica Ball” is a two-hour concert film of The Chromatica Ball Tour performance at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Divided into four acts and a finale, Lady Gaga performs 22 of her biggest hits with very little rest, dancing through the silence between songs to keep the performance continuous. A collection of songs from various points in her discography, this concert is a celebration of Gaga’s music career. It’s Bold, It’s Strong, It’s Camp The show is filled with bold visuals. A video of bold silhouette shapes set to sharp piano chords captures the audience’s attention at the ..read more

  On Jan. 31, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed H.B. 257 into law, affecting transgender individuals’ access to public spaces. The law prohibits transgender individuals from using bathrooms, dressing rooms and locker rooms that do not correspond to their sex assigned at birth. Nationwide Controversy  Utah is now one of 11 states to sign such a bill into law. However, a new federal regulation set to take effect in August states that Title IX protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This federal regulation, released by the Department of Education in ..read more

  Recent U.S. K-12 math and reading score deterioration, college enrollment declines and educational disparities are concerning. It is more important than ever that we encourage education for all Americans. These failures coupled with state governments’ disinvestment in education are disappointing. The sour truth is that our current system does not value education enough. The government must play its part in invigorating U.S. education. They must also combat the inequality, debt and other harms that are exacerbated by their disinvestment in education. State Disinvestment From 1980 to ..read more

  The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the billionaire Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, can shield themselves from future lawsuits in exchange for $6 billion to local and state governments as well as victims harmed by the opioid crisis. The heart of Harrington v. Purdue Pharma is whether a bankruptcy court can give the Sacklers a nonconsensual third-party release. A nonconsensual third-party release protects an outside party from liability without having to declare bankruptcy and without the affected parties agreeing to their release. Avoidance Through Bankruptcy Adam Leviti ..read more

  One of the things that the United States likes to gloat about is its alleged status as an oasis of freedom for its citizens. The idea is that the U.S. is the only nation in the world that offers a staggering amount of rights. However, these have come under much contestation in the last couple of years due to their perceived lack of. As social media has become more accessible and unregulated, American politicians are experiencing the dangers of a more conscious and informed majority. This new fear has led to actions contradicting what these politicians allegedly fight to uphold. Corrupt ..read more

  On the northern shores of Oahu lay the ruins of Hawaii’s detention center for boys. Opened in 1903, the Waialeʻe Industrial School for Boys incarcerated children for petty theft and truancy. There, boys learned the “habits of industry.” Older kids were bound to employers and worked in plantations and trade shops. Sometimes, they were leased out to families for domestic duties. Runaways were chained in dark cellars, and disobedient boys were beaten and lashed as punishment. Maile Arvin, an associate professor of history and gender studies at the University of Utah, is working on a projec ..read more

  “For the love of reading.”  This is the motto behind the locally known bookstore and curiosity shop Marissa’s Books & Gifts which is located in Millcreek, Utah.  The wondrous store was conceptualized when a woman named Cindy Dumas took her granddaughter, Marissa, to a bookstore. There she watched as the magic of reading lit up Marissa’s eyes and a love of books poured out of every part of her soul. The Soul of the Store This out-of-body experience gave Dumas the idea to curate a bookstore. There, adults and children alike could rediscover their love of reading in a warm an ..read more

  Gittins Gallery is displaying “Reclaiming Eden” and “Woven Worlds,” the work of Master of Fine Arts students Sydney Porter Williams and Jes Booth. Both artists have created exhibits that inspire discussion and admiration — a collection of the lessons they’ve learned. “The more you look, the more you will be rewarded” — Sydney Porter Williams “Reclaiming Eden” is inspired by Williams’ upbringing in a controlling evangelical Christian church. Struggling with perfectionism in order to reach the promise of a dream, the promise of Eden, Williams finds herself pursuing it in external things ..read more

  Over the last few weeks, universities nationwide have borne witness to student-run protests in support of a free Palestine.   The University of Utah is no exception to this, with students hosting their own protests on campus earlier this month. These protests have been subject to criticism in all forms. Opponents claim that these protests are violent, unnecessary and, most interestingly, anti-American.   This claim has formed in response to recent events at the University of North Carolina. During a recent protest for Palestinian solidarity, members of a local frater ..read more