New Utah Law Puts a Stop to this Women’s Climbing Night
The event had been taking place since 2021. A Utah newspaper first reported about the end of the program
A popular Women’s Climbing Night at the Utah State University can no longer take place under Utah’s new state law called H.B. 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives. The new law targets diversity, equity and inclusion programs throughout the state of Utah.
The law, which you can read here, prohibits using government funds or facilities for a program that excludes people based on their race, gender, sexual orientation or other protected status. The Women’s Climbing Night closed the facility to anyone not taking the program. A Utah newspaper called The Salt Lake Tribune published a story called ‘Women once had their own climbing night. Now they don’t, due to the Utah Legislature‘ which includes interviews with several university students who took part in the weekly event.
Senior student Maddie Boyce said, “Truly, going to Women’s Climb Night gave me that confidence to get started. I don’t think I would have done it otherwise.” And Kate McDonald, who noted that 10 to 40 climbers would attend the Women’s Climbing Night, said, “You go on a random Thursday night, and usually there’s like 15 men to like three women. So it’s like every night is men’s night. Let us have one night.”
Spokesperson for the university, Amanda DeRito, told the Tribune, “The university has received feedback from those who embraced Women’s Climb Night and would share their concerns with the Utah System of Higher Education. We encourage students to continue to support each other, and create an environment where everyone feels welcome to participate and enjoy the sport together.” See the Women’s Climbing Night Instagram page below.
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
