...to Hogle Zoo investigating zebra deaths.

This story about the death of the Utah Hogle Zoo's two Zebras, Taji and Monty, was really sad to me. Not only does it upset me that Taji's death was sudden and mysterious, and his partner's following death is also upsetting.

It led me to ask a lot of questions though, which was positive. First of all, there was report of nosebleeds and "possibly blunt force trauma" to their faces, according to the Deseret News. These are certainly alarming symptoms or conditions, and it makes one ask who or what could have caused that.

The second question brought to mind, although addressed in a roundabout way toward the end of the article with success stories of prolonged life at the Hogle Zoo, concerns the living conditions of the animals. The enclosures at the zoo are mostly concrete (at least from what I remember of a few years back), a spawning place for germs, and they are also outdoor. The zebras, while wild animals regardless of captivity, are not horses with natural protective qualities against cold.

Hopefully, whatever did happen, whether natural or not, will be found out. While I may not generally be an animal rights advocate, I care for animals and their treatment. This story caught my attention because of the possibility of mistreatment and abuse, and it makes me sad to hear that these zebras died in a fitful and painful way.

...to McKay name removed from Utah Valley University events center

The recent removal of David O. McKay's name on Utah Valley University's event center, as cited in this article, leaves the building face sad and without the familiar identity. While the initial reaction to the spots of the weathered letter marks may be a mixture of bittersweet feelings and discomfort with the change, the replacement of them over on the education building seems a sweet and overdue acknowledgement of McKay's true passion, that of educating and "the application of learning," said UVU School of Education Dean Briant Farnsworth in an interview with Deseret News. As with making the transition of Utah Valley State College (or UVSC) to UVU, this change of name and identity will certainly take the community some time to with which to become familiar.
As for the education building and its new namesake, the change seems to be sweet. With the first masters in education class graduating this year, it marks a rather significant accomplishment of the school, that of obtaining accreditation for a masters program and as a university. This time of growth and transition is an exciting time to be in Utah Valley, and the removal of the old name and eventual renaming of the events center will further the progress the people in the valley are seeing.

...to Finding Stability

I read this article in the Desert News, which was about the celebration of the Utah Foster Care Foundation’s tenth anniversary, and I was touched by the impact one couple can have on a kid's life, and even more impressive is the opportunity they have to continue taking children in, blessing many more.

I have thought about fostering a child in the future, and I have seen the challenges and joys of friends who have taken in small children, but this got me thinking about teen foster children and their situation. I was surprised to hear (although looking at it, it seems painfully obvious now) that many teens aren't in foster care because they have misbehaved or have special needs; rather, they were in the same situation as younger kids, being abused or neglected by their parents. The predominance of this negative stigma has probably kept far too many children from having a chance at a healthy and happy life that a kind foster family could help them have. The Ballesteros boys, who were highlighted in the article, were certainly among the more successful stories, and the bond with their foster parents was sweet. Their achievements, although private and personal, were being celebrated throughout the city, and I think it gave hope where it's needed.

...to Josh Wolf

It's hard for me not to see this story objectively. I feel that by keeping his sources private, Josh protected the integrity of his journalism. He never intended the story to be an expose, or proof of crime, which is what it ultimately became to the SFPD.

However, to deny that he is, in fact, withholding evidence would be foolish and wrong, however romanticized a view one may have of the duty of journalists.

This situation is very unusual though, in that had he forfeited the footage, he could have subjected the innocent in the video to inconvenient and invasive questioning. While the police force has every right, even a responsibility to the city it protects, to make sure that consequences are given to those who break the law, the consequence for Josh Wolf seemed far more dramatic and lengthy than necessary.