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Facebook Whistleblower Talks Mental Health and Teens in SLCC's Speaker Series

In 2021,  Frances Haugen  hit a breaking point in her job as a lead product manager on Facebook’s Civic Misinformation team. Haugen, an engineer and a data scientist, went public with what she had learned while working at Facebook (a.k.a. Meta, Inc.).   She blew the whistle loud, telling her story in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times Daily Podcast , on 60 minutes , and before Congress. She provided testimony and proof—with tens of thousands of internal documents—that showed Facebook knew its algorithms were contributing to the spread of ethnic violence and hatred as well as deepening harm to the self-esteem of its youngest users, especially girls.   On Thursday, November 7, Haugen will be in Salt Lake City to speak about what she knew then and what parents and users of social media should know now.     She is the keynote speaker at Salt Lake Community College’s Community Conversation event, which is part of the College’s Speaker Series. This event is free and open to the publ
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SLCC Students Win Prestigious Prize for Documentary Diverted

What is it like to win an Emmy? SLCC student Valene Peratrovich has an idea. She is a co-producer of the film "Diverted," which recently won a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) award, considered an equivalent to an Emmy for film students. Along with Valene, seven other SLCC students, co-producer McCaulee Blackburn and crew members Kolby Butts, Chris Kirkham, Cristian Martinez, Tristin McCarthy, Preston Buttars, and Chris McAllister—were thrilled to learn that their film took first place, beating competitors from schools like BYU. The film highlights the collective approach of Indigenous people to land stewardship and addressing environmental issues. This approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of all natural things. For Valene, honoring the Lake and advocating for its spirit were her primary motivations for working on the project. She hopes the film will help to gather enough support to have the Lake officially recognized as an entity with rights, a

History Will Lose, We Will all Lose, If the Story of How We Found Ourselves Here Doesn’t Come Out

  A Conversation with Facebook Whistleblower Frances Haugen, who is the keynote at SLCC’s Speaker Series on Nov. 7.   Frances Haugen hit a breaking point where she could no longer abide the “madness.” In 2021, she left her job as a lead product manager on Facebook’s Civic Misinformation team, disillusioned by the company’s practices. Then Haugen, as product manager and a data scientist, went public with what she had learned while working at Facebook.    She blew the whistle loud, telling her story in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times Daily Podcast , on 60 minutes , and before Congress. Haugen provided testimony and proof—with tens of thousands of pages of internal documents—that showed Facebook knew its algorithms were contributing to political polarization, ethnic violence, and societal hatred. These same algorithms damaged self-esteem and confidence in young users, particularly girls.   Facebook, now known as “Meta”, following its concerted attempt to rebrand and avoid acco

I am Alexia And This Is How I Bruin

Alexia Cabanillas Esquer is a business student redefining what it means to pursue higher education while juggling the responsibilities of a full-time job and building a new life in a new place. Alexia's journey from Tijuana, Mexico, to Utah is a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering dedication.  Alexia's academic journey began during her high school years in Mexico at a dual high school, which allowed her to obtain her high school diploma from two different countries, Mexico and the US. After graduation, Alexia embarked on a quest to pursue her college degree in the United States. She chose SLCC due to its vibrant and welcoming community, where students genuinely enjoyed their time.  The transition from high school to college was challenging as she did not have a community in SLCC and Utah to rely on. Her first two semesters were particularly daunting as she tried to integrate into a new environment and school. Despite the challenges, Alexia remained optimistic

Senator Encourages SLCC Students to Share Their Voice and Stories with Legislators

  On Monday, Salt Lake Community College students gained a better understanding of some of the key issues among Utah legislators when Senator Luz Escamilla visited their Public Service POLS 2700 class. Senator Escamilla’s knowledge and passion came through as she spoke about topics ranging from education and the environment to water and the state’s growing and changing population. Herself a “budget wonk”, she explained the size and some of the complexities of the legislative budget, saying: “If you can understand the budget, it will help you understand policy.”   Addressing childcare was a top priority for the senator. “This is not just a woman’s issue, or a family’s issue, but an economic issue. It will affect everyone, one way or another, if we don’t start addressing the lack of access to quality childcare in Utah,” said Escamilla, who is a mother, a business owner, and holds the Utah Senate Minority Leader position. Escamilla also recalled a disheartening and hurtful memory that mo