Oral History Program Katrina Gray Frances Kelsey Spring 2007 i Oral History Program Weber State University Stewart Library Ogden, Utah Katrina Gray Interviewed by Frances Kelsey Spring 2007 Copyright © 2015 by Weber State University, Stewart Library ii Mission Statement The Oral History Program of the Stewart Library was created to preserve the institutional history of Weber State University and the Davis, Ogden and Weber County communities. By conducting carefully researched, recorded, and transcribed interviews, the Oral History Program creates archival oral histories intended for the widest possible use. Interviews are conducted with the goal of eliciting from each participant a full and accurate account of events. The interviews are transcribed, edited for accuracy and clarity, and reviewed by the interviewees (as available), who are encouraged to augment or correct their spoken words. The reviewed and corrected transcripts are indexed, printed, and bound with photographs and illustrative materials as available. Archival copies are placed in University Archives. The Stewart Library also houses the original recording so researchers can gain a sense of the interviewee's voice and intonations. Project Description The Weber State College/University Student Projects have been created by students working with several different professors on the Weber State campus. The topics are varied and based on the student's interest or task for a specific assignment. These oral history assignments were created to help Weber State students learn the value and importance of recording public history and to benefit the expansion of the Weber State oral history collections. ____________________________________ Oral history is a method of collecting historical information through recorded interviews between a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events and a well-informed interviewer, with the goal of preserving substantive additions to the historical record. Because it is primary material, oral history is not intended to present the final, verified, or complete narrative of events. It is a spoken account. It reflects personal opinion offered by the interviewee in response to questioning, and as such it is partisan, deeply involved, and irreplaceable. ____________________________________ Rights Management All literary rights in the manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved to the Stewart Library of Weber State University. No part of the manuscript may be published without the written permission of the University Librarian. Requests for permission to publish should be addressed to the Administration Office, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408. The request should include identification of the specific item and identification of the user. It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Gray, Katrina, an oral history by Frances Kelsey, 2007, WSU Stewart Library Oral History Program, University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, UT. iii Abstract: The following is an oral history interview with Katrina Gray. The interview was conducted in the Spring of 2007 by Frances Kelsey. KG: I am a double major in history and English. FK: Why did you choose to major in those? KG: Because I like history and English. I was really good at them in high school, and my dad’s a big history buff and he really got me excited about it when I was younger. I really like the history program here at Weber State. FK: What do you like about the history program? KG: I really like the professors, I think that they are very willing to talk with you and work with you if you have problems. They’re always willing to meet with you if you on a one on one basis if you need to talk to them, and they’re very open and answer questions. They really seem like they want you to succeed, and it’s not just a job to them it seems, for a lot of them. FK: Do you have a favorite history professor? KG: Dr. Francis. FK: Why Dr. Francis? KG: Because he’s really interesting. He makes history come alive for me. So, I’ve been in a lot of his classes. He’s very difficult and he challenges me, which I like after I’m done with it, not when I’m doing it, but I’ve learned so much in his class and I’m very grateful for that. 1 FK: Well, what about English? Do you have a favorite professor there? KG: Um, I really like Dr. Rogers, he is a lot of fun in class. He delights all the students, he understands where we’re coming from, he’s always very concerned about how we understand things, he’s always willing to clarify things in class, and it’s always interesting. It’s never dull. I took Victorian Lit and it was just fascinating to me, and I think it I had taken it from another teacher it would have been a little less exciting, so he’s very good at that. FK: So class participation is important to you? KG: Yes, I like to be able to participate in class and feel like I can ask questions, interact with the teacher, because that’s the way I learn. So if I can’t talk and I can’t ask questions, I just feel like I’m skeptic in my learning. So I like professors that encourage that. FK: So do you prefer a smaller class size or a larger class size? KG: I prefer a smaller class size. I feel like you get more one on one attention with the professor, and I think that you also make friends with some of the students, and I think you can learn from other students as well as the professor. So I think that’s very good as far as small class sizes. And I think Weber State’s really good for that. I’ve never had a class with more than thirty kids, and that’s fair, especially in history. FK: So you’re not the kind of person to just go straight to class and then go home? You actually take part in the college life. 2 KG: Well I am married, so I will say as far as, I will stay after to make sure I understand things, meet with the professor and things like that, so it’s not just school for me, it’s something that I really want to learn. FK: Does your husband go to school? KG: He’s graduated. FK: Did he graduate from Weber? KG: He did, he graduated in criminal justice. FK: And did he like it? KG: He loved it, and Weber actually has one of the best criminal justice programs, and he thought it was wonderful. He just really liked it. FK: So what’s your favorite part about Weber State? KG: I like the small class sizes, like I said before, and I really, I think my favorite part is the attitude of the professors, because I used to go to Utah State University, and it was so big, I never knew any of my professors personally. I never felt like I could approach them, but it’s very different here, and I think that’s my favorite part about it. I feel like somebody actually cares about my education and what’s to make sure that I’m learning what I need to be learning. FK: So do you feel Weber is better than Utah State? KG: In my realm of experience, for me, yes. I don’t know if it compares on other levels but, as far as class sizes and experienced professors, I would say yes. 3 FK: So what year are you? KG: I am a senior. FK: So you’re about to graduate? KG: I graduate in December, which is next semester. FK: So what do you think the hardest part of your education has been? KG: Here? That’s a good question. Well, for me, I think the one problem I have with Weber State is the library. I think it could be a lot more extensive, especially with being a history major and doing research, I have to go to BYU to get information, I have to go to University of Utah to get information. They do an interlibrary loan, but a lot of times you can’t get it through Weber, especially what’s on microfilm or something like that, so I really wish we had a better, or more resources as far as the library is concerned. I think that’s been the hardest part for me. FK: Do you feel our campus library has a good relationship with other libraries and they’ve made it, at least partially, easy for you to— KG: Yeah, when I go to Weber State library, they do whatever they can to get a book for me through interlibrary loan, and they’re always willing to help me. So, even though we don’t have resources here, they always treat people best to try and find everything, and so I have gotten quite a few materials through interlibrary loan, through them, through that system, so sometimes I didn’t have to go to other universities. FK: What is your area of expertise in history? KG: European history. 4 FK: Why did you choose European history? KG: Because of, I actually was interested in American history, but I really liked certain professors that taught European history, and so I just kept taking classes from them, and it just turned out that that ended up being my emphasis because they just made it fascinating to me. So I actually changed my emphasis from American history to European history because of how interesting the professors made it for me, and I’m really happy that they did. FK: What about English? KG: English, I actually started as a minor, it was just to compliment the history originally, and then, because it was only three more classes really, because it was only three more classes to get a major, I decided just to major in it. So, I just really love reading, I love English, it wasn’t anything that really inspired me to do a major, I only had the emphasis to compliment the history major. FK: Do you feel that the departments are readily available, they have department heads and secretaries and that sort of thing to help you along the way, towards graduation? KG: I think so. At first I didn’t know how to get ahold of those kinds of people, as far as advisement and things like that, so I had to ask around. Once I figured out that they were available and how to get in touch with them, they were willing to help me with anything I needed. So I’ve utilized it many times, and sometimes I feel like I’m bothering people, but they assure me that I’m not. So they’re usually great. I haven’t met anybody that hasn’t been helpful. FK: Where do you see the campus going in ten years? 5 KG: I think that, I really hope that they get more Master’s and maybe some PhD programs in more of the social sciences, because I think that would be helpful around here. That’s what I would like to see. Mostly that, I would like more programs as far as graduate studies go. FK: What don’t you like about the social science building? KG: It’s like a bat cave. Well first, everything looks like it’s from the ‘70s. I go to visit other universities and it’s like, wow, this is such a nice building, I wish I could learn here, because I really think I need an environment that I learn in. But it’s fine, it’s very, it’s just confusing, I remember my very first day here, and I was just lost as I’ll get out, and now I’ve been here three years, I finally get it. It was just, the numbering system’s bad, the hallways are crazy, it’s just a very kind of convoluted building, so it’d be nice to have something a little nicer and a little not so confusing. FK: Do you think that Weber State is growing? KG: Oh yes. There’s construction all the time. So I think that’s obvious, like they’re redoing the Union Building, which I think will be very good, because it’s really hard at Weber State to actually get together with students. I think it’s, as far as—you asked me before about the difference between Utah State and Weber—I think Utah State is much more, as far as social life, better that way. So, it’s just very hard for students to get together and do things, well probably because it’s a commuter’s school, but I think if there’s a more attractive Union Building where people can meet, that entices them to come, then I think it’ll be helpful that way. FK: Do you feel that we have as decent amount of student activities? 6 KG: I think so. I think it’s just a matter of publicizing those activities, and then the people come. I think that’s the biggest problem, because I’m in Phi Alpha Zeta, which is the history honors society, and it’s just hard to get people to actually be interested enough to come, or to get the publicity out because often, I talk to people afterwards, and say why didn’t you come to this activity? They’re like well I didn’t hear about it. So, sometimes flyers aren’t enough. If we had a better—I don’t know how we would do that—but some way to better publicize things, I think more people would come. FK: What would be a piece of advice that you would want to give to someone who may be considering coming to Weber State? KG: I think, unlike what I did, I think I would go and talk to your departments early on to figure out exactly what you need to do and make a game plan early on. I mean I came and just started taking classes without any really idea of what my, of how it was going to be mapped out and I think that kind of hurt me in the long run. I ended up taking classes I didn’t really need. So I think if I was a new student, I would go to my department head, even if I didn’t know my major, I would at least go to the advisor center, you know in the student services building, and talk to somebody to help figure out classes, and things like that. FK: How do you feel about the general education programs? KG: You know, I’ve heard a lot of people complain about it, but I actually really like it, because they make you take things that make you a better, well-rounded individual. Like I’m not a science person, and I had to take astronomy and it was fascinating, I loved it, and I think it’s a good way for people to, even if they’ve decided on a major, 7 sometimes they’ll start out education, requirements can help open their eyes to something they might be better suited for. So I think the way the university has set up is really good to ensure that the person has fun with their education and is also a very well-rounded in their education. So I think it’s really good. FK: Recently the math department has been considering substituting a philosophy class for one of the lower level 1010 classes. So instead of having to take, I believe its Math 1010, you’d be able to take a philosophy class. What’s your opinion on that? KG: Um, honestly, I think Math 1010 is pretty essential. I know that sound really—because I don’t like math, but, I don’t know, I think that’s really—maybe if it was a higher level math it might be okay, but I don’t think they should substitute that low level of a math with a philosophy class. I think everybody should—if you’re going to have a Bachelor’s degree, you need to know those kinds of things, so to be intelligent. If it were me, I don’t know what kind of philosophy class it is, so it just depends—if it were me, I’d say no, I think they should require the math. FK: So when you got here you didn’t know what you wanted to major in. KG: I had kind of an idea, I knew I liked history. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to minor in, I was pretty sure I wanted to major in history. But that was after—when I was at Utah State, I was a music major, and so I took a break from school and when I came back I decided, no, I didn’t really want to put my career into music, I really loved history a lot more that way. So that’s what I decided. FK: What do you think helped you make that decision? 8 KG: Well I had made that decision before, but I think what encouraged me to keep that decision was the professors and were the classes, and even though we don’t have the variety of classes that a lot of other universities use as far as history goes, I think the classes that we do have are very interesting and very informative. So I think that helped keep me on track as, I really do want to do this, instead of changing my major back, or something like that. FK: So you feel they should have more of a variety of classes available. KG: Well, especially if you plan on specializing. Like if I wanted to do English European History, there are only three classes that emphasize in that. So it would be more, I don’t think that’s as bad as maybe some of the Asian classes. I think there’s only one you can take, and I think if we had more of a variety, but again that goes with funding and more teachers, so it’s hard to say. But I think that would be beneficial, but I think they do well with what they have, I’ll say that. FK: What was your initial opinion of Weber State when you first got here and how has it changed now? KG: Honestly, I moved to Ogden because I got engaged and I did not want to go to Weber State. I was like, it’s a small school, it’s a confusing college, it’s a commuter school, it’s not as big, and it’s not as cool. It doesn’t have the prestige in the name like that, you know, like Utah State, or University of Utah. But after I started coming, I loved it so much more. I just felt so much more involved in my classes, I made friends easier because the classes were smaller, which made me more comfortable with the whole setting, and I’m really glad now. I think, with my personality, I think it’s been very 9 beneficial to me. I don’t get lost in the crowd, I really feel like I have professors that want—like if I want to go to grad school, I have professors that know me well enough to give me a letter of recommendation. So my opinion has just changed dramatically since I first began. When I first began, it was a forced thing, and now I would choose it over those other schools. FK: And you said you’re a member of Phi Alpha Beta? KG: Yes. FK: The History Honors Society? How do you feel clubs are at Weber State? Do you think they’re sufficient, could we have more? KG: I don’t know. I think that, the things is with clubs, if somebody feels the need, if they want a certain club, they’ll make it, and I think that’s one thing that’s beneficial about Weber is that you have that freedom. I don’t know, I really don’t know. I think it’s pretty good the way it is. FK: What about the student government? Do you feel that, as a student at Weber State, you have the opportunity to speak with the board and that sort of thing, and be able to voice your opinion should a problem occur? Do you feel like you’re accepted as a voice at the college? KG: Well, I haven’t had any problems that I’d have to discuss with anybody, so I don’t know how that would go. As far as student government, it’s interesting because you only hear about it during voting, and then I never hear about anything else the whole year. You know, I’ve never seen an invitation to come listen to a legislature, so I really wish, I actually wish we were more involved that way, or at least it was more publicized so we 10 could discuss, so there was a form where you could discuss with the president any issues that we had, or at least a way to get that to the student government, they could talk to them, you know. I wish that was a little bit more involved, or at least publicized. FK: Have you ever spoken with the student body president, Peter Allan. KG: No, I have not. FK: Okay, um, so you feel that, in general, it should be more inclusive of the student body? KG: I would say so, yeah. FK: What do you plan on doing with your major? KG: I would like to go on and get my PhD, go a little bit later, but right now I’m just going to go ahead and get my Master’s in English and then see what I want to do from there. So, because Weber State has a Master’s program in English, if they had a Master’s program in history I would do that, but they don’t, so I’m not going to do that. FK: So you think we should have more Master’s programs? KG: Yes. I wish they did. FK: Do you want to teach? KG: Um, that’s debatable for me right now. I think the teacher education program is really good here, I’ve spoken to a lot of people that are in it, both in the elementary education program and the secondary education and they love it, so I think it’s very beneficial. So if I were to do that, I would still come to Weber State to do that. Again, it’s something that interests me, I’m not sure if I want to do it at this time. 11 FK: How do you feel about remodeling here on campus? We just built the new Lampros Hall last year, they’re redoing the Union building, they redid the gym, do you fell that, you know, your needs are being supplied for? KG: Um, in my experience, it’s hard with all the construction I think. I think once the construction’s done, it will be easier, but trying to go to the gym last semester was difficult. I wasn’t sure where to go, there’s all the construction around there, and then the pool was closed forever, and it was just hard with all the construction, so from my experience, it’s been a little difficult, but I think once all the construction’s done, it’ll be great. But the construction’s the only problem right now for me. FK: So there’s always been a constant rumor of issues about parking on campus. What’s your opinion about that? KG: I think they should build a parking garage closer to the university or something like that. I’m a Dee Events Center parker, so I have to get up really early and drive to the Dee Events Center, and then Park there, and then wait for the bus, and then have the bus take me. It’s just a long process that could just be—often times I have to go to the paid parking because there’s just no time, but if you do have a W spot, which I have had before, you have to go at the right time, or go early enough to get a spot because there’s not enough spots for the students. So you just never know if you’re going to get a spot, or how it’s going to work. I wish it was more efficient, as far as that. Especially with it being a commuter school, you’d think they’d have better parking. So I wish they had a parking garage at this university. FK: Do you think the shuttle bus service is decent? 12 KG: Oh I think it’s great. As far as what they do. I mean, they’re very timely, most of the time. It just takes a while to get around the university, which is why it takes so long. But everybody, all of the driver’s, are always pleasant and helpful, and they wait for you when you’re running to catch the bus. I’ve never had a problem. FK: There’s been debate about building a Gondola, from union station on 25th Street, up from Weber State, and then up to the ski resorts. How do you think that’ll affect Weber State? KG: I wish that they would approve it. I think it would be so great. I think we would get a lot more out-of-state students, because of the attraction to the slopes and the ski resorts and things like that. I think that would build funding, I think that’s a way we could get more teachers and better buildings. I think in the long run it would be a positive influence, not only to Weber, but to Ogden. I really wish they would approve it, so if they did do it, I think it would be very beneficial to Weber. FK: What else would you like to see happen with—between the general Ogden community and Weber State? KG: I live in Ogden so… FK: Do you think we have a good relationship with the community? KG: I think so, I really like, I don’t utilize the bus, but I think that’s very handy for the students who can’t afford it, or maybe don’t have a car. So as it is a commuter’s school, I think it’s a good example of how the community and the school are working together. I think it’s helped for those who do need it. I think, I don’t know, I think we have a pretty good relationship with the community. I haven’t seen anything negative, so. 13 FK: Do you feel the community is supportive of Weber State? KG: Well I think so, because I think Weber State brings a lot of Revenue into the community. Anybody can go, so it’s almost like utilizing a community college, there’s always that option to educate employees, I think it’s just a very good thing to have. I think that’s why Ogden likes it. FK: What about Weber State sports? Do you go to any? KG: No. I think it’s because of my work schedule and that I’m married. I think if I was single, and I know a lot of single people that go often, it would be a little different, but I—Go Wildcats—I support them, you know, I always check to see if they won. I don’t always go. FK: How about performing arts? KG: I do go to that more often, not all the time. But my husband and I have been to the plays up here and really enjoy it. It’s just, especially because it’s so cheap for students to go. I love how they always have the free performance for students and anyone can go. So we try to get to those. I think it’s good. FK: So do you think we have pretty good programs for a different I guess extra-curricular, performing arts, sports. KG: I think they try. I think every university probably don’t have the money to do those things, but I think Weber State does try to accommodate everybody, it’s not like they don’t want to. I don’t have a lot of experience because I’m just pretty much in the history 14 department, but I know if I wanted to be in the choir, if I wanted to do those things, it’s very open to me. I think they do a good job for the funding they have. FK: What about Weber State publications. There’s the Signpost, which is Weber State newspaper, there’s the Weber State Magazine, which comes out annually, there’s the Metaphor, for the English department. How do you feel about those? KG: Well I love the Signpost. Utah State does not have anything like that, so that’s really cool. At least as far as I remember, I don’t, it’s been a while, but I love how informative it is. It’s the one place, if I want to know what’s going on, I can go to, and it’s available everywhere I go. Whenever I’m feeling that I need a Signpost, there’s a place where I can get a Signpost. So as far as if you really want to know something, it’s going to be in there, and it will also tell you about current events and reactions of students, which is interesting to keep in touch that way. I’ve never seen the magazine, so I don’t know about that. But the Metaphor, I think it’s great. It’s actually one of the longest running undergrad university publications. I think it will continue on going, so I think it’s really amazing that we’ve been able to keep it going that long, and that it is so popular, and that it’s a way for undergraduate students to get published before they even get their Bachelor’s degree, and it really can help with careers, and resumes, and things like that, so I think it’s fantastic. But I have never had anything published in there, but I think if I wanted to I could, so. FK: If students did want to get something published, it would be-- KG: Well, it is a competitive process. You have to be good at what you’re writing, which I think, you know, to keep the standards of a publication that needs to be there. But I 15 think that they do have enough room for people who do have those qualifications to be able to publish their things, their different writing and such and such. FK: What’s your either favorite or most impactive memory from Weber State? KG: That’s a good question, you know, last, I think it was three semesters ago, this is funny because it’s not in a class, class is often open if it needs to be, but I think they have a display up in the Union building, before all the construction, about the {Inaudible 24:08} And I had never heard of that before, and it’s funny because I am a history major, I had no idea. So I think that the things that they try, it was very memorable for me, I really appreciate people that try to put up displays like that and things like that that students can learn outside of their normal education, educational realm. I also love, I don’t think of a lot of instance, but I love how a lot of the professors challenge me, and challenge what I normally would assume things are, so that I actually have to think about things, so I think it helps me expand, but yeah. FK: So, would you say that you’re enjoying a different discussion that are held and the lectures and seminars? KG: Oh yeah, I think they’re really good. I think they’ve had some really interesting people come and so, it helps my education. FK: If there was one thing you could leave as a legacy from you at Weber State, what would you like it to be? KG: Like a legacy from me? 16 FK: If you were to be remembered here at Weber State, by the current student body, what would you like to be remembered as? KG: Um, I would like to be remembered, I suppose, as a dedicated student, because I am. I have 3.9 by the way, that’s really good. I would like to think that I have helped other people with their education too, because I’ve helped people in study groups and things like that, and I think all of us here at the university can add a certain insight, so hopefully I remembered as somebody who’s insightful and a good student. I guess that’s what I’d like to be remembered as. 17