Aggie BluePrint Magazine Vol. XII Issue 1 (January 2020)

AGGIE

BLUEPRINT

Year of the Woman The 150th anniversary of women’s suffrage in Utah VOLUME 7 ISSUE I

JANUARY 2020

Table of Contents 4 Year of the Woman | 6 Interview with the President | 8 USU Campus Kitchen Photo Essay

10 Memes: A Cultural Inventory | 12 Modern Dating | 16 Medicaid in Utah

CONTRIBUTORS

Libbie Anderson Tommy Chau Hunter Crowton Wayson Foy

Larissa Hale Joseph Jensen Cait Keith William Lambert

Sydney Money Vanessa Richards Keegan Waller

Dear Reader: Much of our content for this issue of Aggie BluePrint is tied to Utah State’s Year of the Woman. The idea of this year is to celebrate the many historic events that have led to a more inclusive and equitable society, the principal event being the ratification of the 19th amendment on Aug. 18, 1920, which guaranteed the right of suffrage for women in the United States. Furthermore, the Year of Woman celebrates the ongoing accomplishments of women and the virtues of loyalty, purity, and wisdom.

Throughout this issue, these virtues are symbolized by the colors purple, white, and gold. These colors were used in the American suffragette movement. An issue of The Suffragist, a suffrage publication, described the symbolism of the colors in 1913: “Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause.

White, the emblem of purity, symbolizes the quality of our purpose; and gold, the color of light and life, is as the torch that guides our purpose, pure and unswerving.”

We hope that this issue will inspire you to reflect on how to apply these virtues to improve your life and the lives of those around you.

Read thoughtfully. Think deeply. Leave your print.

Anne Schill Dillan Passmore

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ADVISER

Anne Schill Dillan Passmore

Anne Schill Vanessa Richards

Cathy Ferrand Bullock

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ANNE SCHILL

Printed by Publication Design and Production, Utah State University Published with support from the Department of Journalism and Communication

Year of the Woman: The Women of Firsts

by Libbie Anderson

U

tah State University has joined the nation in declaring 2020 the “Year of the Woman” in celebration of three important anniversaries for women’s voting rights: The 150th anniversary of suffrage for Utah women, the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States, and the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. The Year of the Woman committee, including co-chairs Joyce Kinkead and Sydney Peterson (pictured above), are excited about the unique opportunity to 4

showcase past and present Utah State women. Since 1890, Utah State has had men and women enrolled, striving to honor its land grant mission of encouraging everyone to seek higher degrees.

A timeline on USU’s Year of the Woman page outlines the groundbreaking accomplishments of Utah women from 1850 through the upcoming events of 2020.

The first story introduces Vendla Bernston, a woman who in 1890 illustrated the inclusive values of land grant universities by becoming the first student to enroll at

Utah State University.

“The land grant mission that Utah State is founded on is that sons and daughters have a right to the same quality of education as you can find in eastern liberal arts colleges,” Kinkead said. The Year of the Woman embraces the land grant’s promise and aspires to change how schools acknowledge female faculty, staff, and students and encourage campuses to embrace female leadership. Women have always been a key component of Utah State’s success, which is why celebrating the achieve-

<< CO-CHAIRS JOYCE KINKEAD AND SYDNEY PETERSON PHOTOGRAPH BY VANESSA RICHARDS

“The purpose is to uncover stories of women who have done amazing things...” ments of women is so appropriate for USU campuses.

Utah was ahead of its time when it gave women the right to vote in 1870. The federal government took away Utah Women’s suffrage in 1887 with the Edmunds–Tucker Act, but it was restored in 1920 with the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

However, as time has gone on, many believe that Utah’s progression of female representation has declined. In 2019, a study by WalletHub ranked Utah the worst state in the nation for women’s equality. The study scored states on multiple indexes including workplace environment, education and health, and political empowerment.

Peterson said it is important to credit the work and success of current USU women that would otherwise go unrecognized. “I’ve been here for 40 years and I’ve seen a lot of amazing women, but we never hear about them. I just think it’s fun to have an opportunity to go out of our way to recognize them.”

Both Peterson and Kinkead are female trailblazers in their own right. Peterson served as the first female secretary on the board of trustees and the first female chief of staff for Utah State.

Kinkead was the first associate dean in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, the first acting dean, and the first female vice president of research.

Another woman making her mark is Noelle Cockett. Cockett is the first female president of Utah State. She was the first female dean of the College of Agriculture and the first female vice president for Extension. She was also a director of the Utah Agriculture Experiment Station and executive vice president and provost at USU. Cockett said that her administrative style is influenced by the fact that she’s a woman and the generation she grew up in. She strives to have an approachable presence and loves to have lots of people give her input if they can add value to different issues. “It’s so important to get different voices into the conversation because when you limit opinions to a singular culture or gender, that’s the perspective you’re going to carry and it may not work for everyone,” Cockett said. “The better we can expand voices, the better we can serve all people.”

President Cockett and the Year of the Woman committee Story continued on pg 18

In recognition of USU’s Year of the Woman, Aggie BluePrint asked students and faculty the following question: “Why do you think it’s important to celebrate the success of Utah women?”

Here are some of their answers.

Matthew Humpherys, a junior studying public relations, said: “Women deserve it because they have been oppressed for years. I didn’t know how ignorant I was to women’s inequality until recently and, while it’s great to celebrate how far we’ve come, I definitely don’t want to lose our vision for a more equal future.”

Kamryn James, an accounting major, acknowledged the importance of recognizing the rights and successes of every individual, including women.

“It’s important for all people to realize that they are important contributors to society and the things they do are significant and matter.”

Whitney Johnson, co-president of the Women in Politics Club, believes it’s a great way to engage more students in the conversation. “We need to make sure we’re elevating female voices across college campuses and encouraging women to have a seat at the table where decisions are being made.”

Laura Gamboa, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, noted, “It’s important because it also works to include other groups that are fairly unrepresented.” As she pointed out, the Year of the Woman is for everybody.

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Title here

Interview with the President

by Vanessa Richards

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n 2016, Noelle Cockett was appointed Utah State University’s 16th president. Aggie Blueprint interviewed her on Oct 8, 2019, to review her tenure as president and the current state of the university.

Aggie BluePrint: You began your presidency at Utah State three years ago and in those years the university has seen incredible growth. As you mentioned in your State of the University address, there are more students graduating, advancements in our research department, and growing diversity on campus—just to name a few.

Looking back on the last three years, what accomplishment are you most proud of ?

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Noelle Cockett: I think something that I’m most proud of is that students believe that I am accessible to them. I love our students; I love talking with them, learning about them, making sure that their education here at Utah State is what they hoped it to be. So I think my accomplishment that I’m most proud of is that students feel comfortable telling me their story, making sure that we know their needs, their wants, their desires, and then helping them achieve that.

In a 2016 Aggie Blueprint interview when you were first president, you listed some of your goals for Utah State. Among these were advancement, fund-

raising, and sexual assault prevention. How has USU achieved these goals?

We have done quite a significant improvement in how we are handling and preventing sexual assault on campus. We have invested several new positions in education, training, and response for those who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, and discrimination. And I think the education and prevention programs that we’ve rolled out are helping. We had a strong consent campaign, bystander [training]. We’re working to make sure everyone realizes the resources we have and then listening to people on how we can do even better with campus safety.

<< PRESIDENT COCKETT CHEERS AT A USU MEN’S BASKETBALL GAME PHOTOGRAPH BY VANESSA RICHARDS

Where do you see Utah State in five years?

I hope that Utah State University continues to deliver a really strong educational experience for our students. I think it’s very, very important that we provide students with experiences not only in the classroom but outside the classroom. That could be study abroad, internships, capstones, etc. I hope that every student who would like to get engaged in that way has the opportunity to do it.

What is the biggest challenge facing USU right now?

The biggest challenge we’re having at Utah State University right now is that students in Utah—potential college students in Utah—are not as aware of the great quality education that Utah State provides and therefore are maybe hesitant in relocating and moving to one of our campuses.

So instead of, for instance, relocating here in Cache Valley, students might be staying in their home community and going to their local college and university. So as president, I’m very, very proud of Utah State University and what we do with our students, so I would love to see every student who’s going to college in Utah join the Aggies.

What initiatives are we taking to entice students to come to Utah State?

I think one of the really important things is for a university to give value for the price. We do all we can to keep the tuition as low as possible while still providing the kind of educational experience that students would like to have.

For instance, in Journalism and Communications, what is it we

can do to give students the opportunity to set up interviews, do videos, write news articles for their Aggie BluePrint, etc. All these things are so valuable for a student as they leave college and start down their career path. But it’s a balance, then, between what educational opportunities both in the classroom and outside the classroom we can provide and the cost of tuition and fees. I’m trying constantly to balance that. I also hope to provide more scholarships for people not just only for merit-based but also needs-based.

Those who come in and have financial difficulties getting into college, but also students who find themselves in financial difficulty while they’re here at college. I’m really working on bringing more financial resources to the students.

You’ve declared 2020 to be the Year of the Woman at USU. What do you hope the university will accomplish in this goal?

My desire to create this as Year of the Woman was twofold. One was to celebrate the various anniversaries about bringing voting rights to women, to diverse marginalized people, etc., because I think voting is one of the ways that all the people of the United States have influence.

The second is that we have women that have accomplished really great things through Utah State University. The education they’ve received has really carried them forward in their life. I think we have a lot of unsung stories that people will enjoy hearing about. It will resonate with them, it will remind them of their own stories, and through this, I hope that we can really celebrate women’s accomplishments.

How has the women’s suffrage movement inspired you, as a woman in a powerful leadership position?

So the women’s suffrage movement —I hadn’t really been thinking of it.

One day I was driving in my car and there was something on Utah Public Radio about the upcoming anniversaries and I actually got a little upset to think that because I was a woman, I was not included in the vote. It actually was quite shocking to me that something that I’ve taken for granted would be held away from me because I was a woman.

So as a president, I think that carries through in a lot of other areas. I think women should have equal opportunities for education, for outside classroom experiences, internships, capstones, undergraduate research, interviewing people on camera, etc., and I want to make sure that those opportunities are there.

Story continued on pg 19

PHOTO BY ANNE SCHILL

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USU Campus Kitchen Reducing Food Waste and Providing for Students in Need

BY TOMMY CHAU

C

ampus Kitchen, a student-run organization at Utah State University, aims to reduce food waste and provide meals to students in need. The Utah State program launched in Fall 2018 as the 66th chapter of the national Campus Kitchen program. Campus Kitchen’s staff receives donations from local restaurants, farms, and food pantries to prepare free to-go meals for USU students. After making the food, volunteers box and label it. The boxes are placed in the Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) for students to pick up the next day. On average, Campus Kitchen makes 200 meals a week.

Dawson Croxall, president of USU Campus Kitchen, said he hopes that the PAGE 18 PAGE 19 CLOCKWISE CLOCKWISE program will continue to grow and further reduce food insecurity and food waste at Students getting food at Dawson Croxall the SNAC food pantry boxing food Utah State. “Other Campus Kitchen programs across the country have been around for years and have become well developed. We are still very new and figuring out our A volunteer stirring pasta Kara Bradford, Jarom to make sure it is ready Hale, and Jenna Sacks preplace at Utah State, but we have lots of people cheering us on.” to serve paring a meal for boxing According to Croxall, the biggest challenges Campus Kitchen faces are a small vol- Amria Farnsworth cutting A volunteer labeling the and separating purple boxed food before they are unteer pool, lack of storage space, and money. “It’s hard to coordinate times that work cabbage for salad delivered to SNAC for everyone to volunteer when we are all so busy.”

Amira Farnsworth and James Wirth scoops dried The program currently has around 12 volunteers. Volunteers are usually students Jenna Sacks mixing vege- oatmeal into the brown boxes table salad in Dietetics or Nutrition—majors that require service hours in food-related programs.

Dawson Croxall giving James Wirth reading a volunteers knives to Croxall said, “I would like to think having more volunteers would increase the chances recipe to make lentil soup cut carrots of school administration giving us more space and funding.”

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Memes: A Cultural Inventory T

by William Lambert

he 2016 presidential election was overrun with memes. Donald Trump posted memes made by supporters to his Twitter account.

Hillary Clinton posted short, humorous videos to her Snapchat. The Washington Post, in February 2016, said the primaries were “the most-memed election in U.S. history.”

Memes have become an important form of marketing for political campaigns. Rob Shepardson, who helped found a marketing agency that worked on the Obama campaigns, said in an interview with Digiday: “In politics, you want to define yourself, your opponent, and what’s at stake. If you look at memes through that lens, it’s just another way to help candidates do that.”

The term “meme” predates the internet by some twenty-odd years, and yet it’s hard to imagine a meme without the Internet. The concept of memes was introduced by geneticist Richard Dawkins in 1976 as a sort of cultural gene. Dawkins posited that some aspects of culture were similar to DNA and that, as these aspects were passed along generations, they could change and mutate as members of a culture saw fit. In many ways, that concept has been maintained, and memes today are digitized culture, mixing entertainment, politics, humor, and just about everything else.

Memes comprise a large part of what folklorists, including 10

Utah State assistant folklore professor Lynne McNeill, call a “cultural inventory,” a collection of sayings and references which can help people connect.

“In our daily communication with people, we can say things like ‘may the Force be with you’ and people know what that means, even if they haven’t seen ‘Star Wars’,” McNeill said: ”That’s our cultural inventory and we can use that to make commentary, to communicate on things with each other. The larger one’s inventory, just like the larger one’s vocabulary, the more opportunities they have to communicate successfully.”

This explains why memes can be such powerful marketing for political candidates. A good meme will increase the ability of a candidate’s supporters to spread their platform.

Some memes grow to be recognized by many internet users, while other memes are relevant to small niches and mean little to most people. Examples of the latter include memes made by gamers, sports fans, and members of political parties for others in their subcultures.

Memes are “everyday people organizing their experiences in a way that is valuable,” McNeill said.

Through memes, frustrations can be aired in a way that doesn’t come off as simple whining. When one is caught in the crossfire of exams and dating, as so many students are, memes can provide the light-heartedness needed to prevent burnout. As freshman Trevor Allen said, “When I look at memes, it reminds me of how absurd life is and to not take things so seriously.”

Kellan Huber runs the aggiememery page on Instagram.

With over 3,800 followers, it is one of the largest meme pages at USU. Kellan posts memes centered around issues students face at USU: parking,

True Aggie Night lines, early-rising roommates, accidental Code Blue alerts, and BYU’s continued existence.

Kellan said, “Humor is a good way to point out issues at USU.” He demonstrates this with his memes about True Aggie Night as an example. In one, he pokes fun at himself for waiting to go to True Aggie and then being surprised at a long line. For the punchline, there’s an image from the Pokemon anime of Pikachu wearing a surprised look.

Lit_memes_ and_greentexts is an Instagram page dedicated to literature and philosophy memes. Lit_meme_ and_greentexts’s administrator has asked that she remain anonymous. The administrator also hopes to influence her followers for the better, saying she “hopes my

page makes people laugh or compels people to read more often.” Her campaign appears to have borne some fruit, she said, “I’ve gotten a lot of DMs from people who have started looking into philosophy and the classics because of [the page] and it’s very wholesome.”

As Kellan makes memes he tries to avoid upsetting groups on campus. “I try not to bash in any of my humor,” he said, “I don’t want to badmouth peo-

related to literature so long as it isn’t too offensive.” Still, she acknowledges that “somehow arguments still happen in the comments section.” Kellan echoes this sentiment, saying, “Because we have a very high LDS population here, I sometimes do memes that usually only LDS people would get. …

Some people can get upset and then they’re like, ‘There’s people who aren’t LDS at this school.

Why do you have to post memes for them?’”

While memes apply to groups, they aren’t products of groupthink. In the end, it comes down to a page’s followers to accept or reject a meme.

Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of meme culture is that it seems controlled exclusively by internet users. McNeill refers to the transformation of memes from cultural genes to viral and iterative digital content as a “grassroots naming.”

The Lit_memes_and_greentexts administrator’s method for choosing what to post reflects this grassroots concept. “I don’t deliberately think of what to post,” she said. “Usually I just find something funny and then share it.”

Perhaps, in an age of constant self-presentation, the chance to just enjoy whatever we enjoy is the most substantial offering memes present. Memes allow us to communicate a part of ourselves.

“When I look at memes it reminds me of how absurd life is and to not take things so seriously.” ple or cause fights. … It’s all in good fun.”

Lit_memes_and_greentexts has a similar goal. The administrator said she “posts anything

<< KELLAN HUBER RUNS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT @AGGIEMEMERY PHOTOGRAPH BY ANNE SCHILL

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Modern Dating

by Larissa Hale

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ollege is a time when students figure out who they are, what they want to do with their lives, and who they want to surround themselves with—friends, roommates, and even romantic partners. Many hope to find that special someone but, unfortunately, that involves work. Enter dating. Most people cringe at the thought because almost everyone has had awkward dating experiences. Although these experiences can haunt one’s dreams, individuals should realize that lessons can be learned from every date.

To gain insight into what makes a date “good” and what can turn a date into a train wreck, Aggie BluePrint asked students about their best and worst dates. Some of these stories were the typical “barely speaking during the date” or “on their phone the whole time” or “didn’t have anything in common,” but others were a bit more extreme. However, all offer lessons that students can apply. Included below are some of the more extreme dating stories. Names were changed out of respect for the students’ privacy.

T H E R E WAS A N OT H E R M A N Tristan and his date, Casey, went bowling and got ice cream. Everything was going great until Casey got a call from her boyfriend. She answered it as though nothing was wrong and told her boyfriend that she was out with Tristan. The boyfriend asked to speak with Tristan and, after Casey hesitantly handed over her phone, started yelling.

Tristan chose not to let this ruin his time with Casey. He hung up on the boyfriend and the date continued. At the end of the date, Casey suggested that they go out again, even though she wasn’t planning to break up with her boyfriend. Although they had a good time, Tristan made it clear that date number two would not happen.

The experience helped Tristan realize that he was dating to marry and didn’t want to waste time with someone who wasn’t serious. Like Tristan, it’s important for people to know what they are looking for as they date.

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TH E BATH RO OM INC IDENT It was Valentine’s Day 2017 and Kate was going on her first date with Brady.

She was already nervous because Brady was two years older and very attractive. To make matters worse, she discovered that his parents would be joining them for dinner. The date was slightly awkward and time was dragging by. Kate excused herself to use the restroom and Brady stood up with her. She assumed he just needed to use the restroom, too, so she didn’t think much about him going with her.

Once in the bathroom, Kate made a frantic call to her best friend, like most girls do, and talked to her friend about how awkward the date was. Then she freshened up and headed out the door.

To her surprise, Brady was up against the door waiting for her to come out.

Kate acted like this didn’t faze her and let him escort her back to the table, where his parents were waiting with looks of approval. Kate never went on a date with Brady again, but she did learn valuable lessons from this experience: Don’t talk loudly when ranting to a friend about an awkward date, and don’t let a bad date scare one away from dating because there’s a person out there who won’t be creepy and wait outside the bathroom.

HIKING TO A DEAD END In an attempt to impress Sarah, a girl he had been pursuing for some time, Caleb planned a hiking date in the mountains. He was so excited that he forgot to do his research.

They drove four hours to the hiking trail and when they got there, it was closed. Sarah was understanding and only teased him a little bit, but Caleb was pretty upset about the whole situation. Although the date didn’t go as expected, they were able to go with the flow and ended up having a great time together. Dates rarely go perfectly, but if both people are easygoing and have a good attitude, it will make the date more fun and everyone a lot happier.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANNE SCHILL

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ost dates aren’t this bad.

Every person interviewed also had a story about an amazing date they went on.

These stories ranged from dates at concerts or Disneyland to simply going snowboarding.

Most students explained that their best date wasn’t because of the activity, but because of the person they were with. By being open minded about the date, having a sense of humor, and maintaining a good attitude, the date will most likely be a success. Whether somebody

is dating just to have fun or to search for their future spouse, these qualities will ensure that, at the very least, they will have a good time and learn more about themselves and what they are looking for.

‘It’s not you— It’s your technique.’

Tips from dating and relationship coach, Alisa Snell

by Hunter Crowton

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hen it comes to dating, most people stumble and trip.

Most people want to be better. Everyone has questions, and it seems no one was born a dating expert. To help answer some of these questions, Aggie BluePrint talked to dating and relationship coach Alisa Snell.

Alisa is a certified marriage counselor with years of experience in the field. In 2012, she shifted her professional focus to dating. She now dedicates her life to helping singles improve their dating ability, all while raising her own family.

“It’s not you—it’s your technique” is her motto and a reassuring thought for most singles. When it comes to dating, there’s nothing wrong with who most people are; the problem is how they approach dating.

Aggie BluePrint emailed Snell questions from Utah State students and formatted her responses into paragraphs.

How do you avoid making the first date awkward?

THE GOAL IS to make the other person feel great on the first date.

You’re not going to have a bad date when your goal is to make the other person feel great. To do this you need to prepare. Plan fun, lighthearted conversation. Divert from the typical conversation starters, and prepare some unique questions. Make it feel less like digging or an interview.

Avoid talking about exes or politics.

If your partner starts getting negative (e.g., starts ranting about exes), acknowledge their frustration and help them divert toward having fun.

Shorter dates are always a good way to go if you don’t know them very well on the first date.

A side note: If they’re not that into you, they might only try to ask questions and not share much about themselves.

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How much confidence is too much confidence?

IT’S ALL ABOUT me = too arrogant. Confidence makes me look great without making any other people look bad. Arrogance is all about ME. You’ll be selfish, try to prove your worth, and talk a lot about yourself.

Confidence is knowing your worth. You’re not trying to prove anything. You’ll be yourself and self-assured.

As you date, put people in one of these three categories: A-listers, B-listers, and neither.

A-listers are people you are very interested in and B-listers are people you like. Date both. Focus more on just having fun with the B-listers.

B-listers can become A-listers. Some people take time to get to know but they’re really worth it. Go on up to six dates with a B-lister before dropping them. Don’t follow-up with people who make it to neither.

What are cheap, fun dates? What are good first date ideas that will allow you to get to know them?

THE FIRST THING to consider is there are passive and active dates.

Watching a movie is a passive date versus playing volleyball, an active date. Make sure you know what you want to do and act accordingly. Once again, prepare.

The problem with dating is that we see it as a chore. Something extra. Choose things you’d want to do anyway. Then just make it so you’re getting to know people as you do them. Create a seasonal (i.e., summer, fall, winter, spring) bucket list of things you want to do.

Side-by-side activities are less pressure than face-to-face. Keep it fun. If the other person shows interest, they’ll enjoy talking about feelings and ideas. Talk about things and activities rather than people and problems.

How can I make my significant other feel special?

THERE ARE FIVE love languages: words of praise, acts of service, reassuring touch, time spent together, and receiving gifts. We all feel loved differently. Figure out how they feel loved and act accordingly. You should wait until the third or fourth date, then talk about love languages with your partner. Internet tests aren’t very reliable. Simply ask your partner about it. Try questions like “If you saw someone you love in pain, how would you try to help them feel better?” Remember, we often give love the way we’d want to receive it.

Dating isn’t always easy, but sometimes people make it harder than it needs to be. If you’d like to learn more, Snell has a host of resources for you.

She’s written numerous books on things like how to recognize red flags, good signs to look for, and general dating techniques.

Give it a look at her website, Lasting Love Academy.

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Healthy Relationships and Where to Find Them

by Sydney Money

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n important part of any relationship is ensuring that one’s partner is equal and that both parties are not subject to any form of abuse. In any relationship, an individual should be able to expect emotional support, feel emotionally and physically safe, be respected, heard, and acknowledged. All in all, both parties in a relationship should be treated with civility and kindness.

It is okay to have standards for relationships. However, too often individuals approach relationships with unrealistic expectations. More often than not, such relationships do not work out as well as expected and can be harmful to both parties.

To help individuals build and recognize relationships, Aggie BluePrint asked staff at the Wellness Center for tips and were referred to the center’s website. It listed the following tips: respect your partner’s rights, be prepared to “fight fair,” maintain the relationship, express wants and needs, respect changes, and accept differences.

Respect Your Partner’s Rights A partner is an individual with his/her own emotions, opinions, etc. These may be different than one’s own, but it is unrealistic to ask that they be the same.

Express Wants and Needs An unhealthy expectation is to expect one’s partner to implicitly know what the other wants. The main stumbling block in many relationships is communication. It is important to communicate with one’s partner what is wanted or needed.

Be Prepared to “Fight Fair” Conflict is not all bad.

Ignoring or avoiding it can do more harm than good to the relationship. Healthy couples fight, but they “fight fair” - accepting responsibility for their part in a problem, admitting when they are wrong, and seeking compromise.

Respect Changes People are dynamic in all aspects of life. The same goes for relationships.

Things change over time, but these changes are not impossible to work through and appreciate.

Maintain the Relationship No relationship comes without work. There will be times that require less effort than others, but it is unrealistic to expect a relationship to be without problems or struggles. There is no cruise control in relationships as the individuals are constantly changing and growing.

Accept Differences It is important to try to accept differences in one’s partner. It can be difficult to accept that there are things about a partner that may not change over time, no matter how much we want them to.

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Medicaid in Utah

The Past, Present, and Future of a Divisive Issue

by Keegan Waller

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he number of students and young people in the United States without access to health care has gone down over the past few years, but college students are uninsured at a higher rate than any demographic in America. The future of Medicaid, a health care option for college students in many states, continues to be in doubt in Utah after a roadblock was put in the way of Medicaid expansion.

After voters passed Proposition 3 in 2018—which expanded Medicaid under the parameters defined in the Affordable Care Act—the Utah legislature passed Senate Bill 96 and asked the federal government for a waiver that would allow the state to receive federal funding for a reduction in coverage. The original limits laid out in the ballot initiative were $17,236 for an individual and $35,535 for a family of four. S.B. 96 would reduce these limits to $12,490 and $25,750, respectively. State governments provide half the funding for Medicaid and the federal government provides the other half. If these waivers were approved they would have reduced the financial obligations of the state.

The federal government has denied Utah state government’s waivers. As a result, many college students and others who would have been covered by the original plan are left uninsured.

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There is some question whether any waiver will be approved as long as the Affordable Care Act is being fought in federal court.

Utah is one of 11 states that allows its legislature to amend or repeal ballot initiatives without time restrictions, meaning the legislature can immediately replace any ballot initiatives. State Senator Lyle Hillyard, a lifelong resident of Logan and state senator for Utah’s 25th senate district, sees this as a positive. Hillyard said: “People can come forward and

aid to people who don’t need it.

He is also concerned that access to free health care may cause a rise in frivolous medical spending, such as surgeries or medical procedures that someone might not have opted for if not covered by insurance. He talked about a close friend who got a hip replacement surgery. In Hillyard’s view, she might have thought twice about having the surgery had it not been paid for by insurance.

Hillyard viewed S.B. 96 as a good compromise, albeit one that needed more work to balance budgetary concerns with voters’ desire for affordable health care. He is hopeful that a waiver for federal funding will be approved.

However, according to Carrie Butler, policy director for the community advocacy organization Action Utah, S.B. 96 may not be the answer if budget issues are the main concern. Butler said she takes issue with the extra $2.5 million per month the state is spending on a smaller expansion since they are not automatically eligible to receive the federal funding provided by the Affordable Care Act. This $2.5 million would have been received had Proposition 3 been implemented by the legislature. A full Medicaid expansion, she said, would save the state additional money on top of any federal funding received. “We know

“He is also concerned that access to free health care may cause a rise in frivolous medical spending.” ask questions. I would love to have it go through the scrutiny of public hearing, debate, amendments and that process.”

Hillyard admitted that he is more focused on other issues, especially education and budget issues, than he is on health care. He was opposed to Proposition 3 from the beginning due to his concerns about the financial costs of expanded public health care access. Hillyard said that the health care system should be organized in a way so people who really need help and don’t have a support system have access to these programs. Hillyard is concerned about expanding Medic-

that there are significant cost savings when we get more people access to health care.”

These cost savings come from a reduction in emergency room visits and from early access to health care to prevent minor ailments from becoming more serious or even life-threatening. Butler also said Medicaid expansion could also increase total economic productivity. Butler said, “Most of the states that have expanded Medicaid have seen increased revenues because of increased jobs because of increased patients having access to Medicaid.”

Butler was fighting for Medicaid Expansion before Proposition 3. She is optimistic that these waivers will be denied and the full expansion will go through sometime next year. Medicaid expansion is a passion project for Butler, whose brother died of cancer at age 21.

“When he was diagnosed,” she said, “he had no health insurance, he was a student at UVU making eight bucks an hour, which was too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough to pay for his own insurance.”

According to a 2018 study

by Lookout Mountain Group, a non-partisan research organization specializing in college health care, college students are more likely to be uninsured than any other demographic, with 1.7 million students lacking health coverage. In states without Medicaid expansion, 11% of students are uninsured, as compared to 6% in states with a full Medicaid expansion.

Senator Hillyard is not sure, how-

ever, if college students are good candidates for Medicaid. “I would hope that they have coverage through their parents until they’re 26.” If students do not have coverage through their parents, Senator Hillyard encourages them to make healthy lifestyle choices, such as jogging, not smoking, and not riding motorcycles without a helmet. Hillyard also said students may have to make sacrifices if they want health insurance.

Furthermore, Hillard and many opponents to Medicare expansion argue that families, churches, and charitable organizations can cover expenses for medical emergencies for lower-income individuals.

According to a 2019 WalletHub study, Utah is ranked eighth in the

Even so, his family was saddled with over a million dollars in medical bills after his death. Butler said that the type of cancer he had was 99% treatable with early detection, but without access to health care, her brother could not afford to go to the doctor and was not diagnosed until cancer had spread.

Despite the charitable nature of Utah many, like Hillyard do not view health care expansion as a feasible option. Certainly, disagreements arise from ideological differences and budgetary concerns, but health care, as Butler said, “is a really complex issue and we have a layperson legislature.” The legislature includes lawyers, real estate agents, and even a trapeze artist. Hillyard himself admitted that health care is not an area of expertise for him. Butler said: “Nobody is a health care policy expert, and it’s a complex issue to dig into. And because they’re part time, I think there is some ideology in play. Fiscally, it just makes sense to do the full expansion; it’s just a hard pill for some to swallow.”

All this leaves uninsured college students in limbo, but there are other options aside from Medicaid.

Students without insurance can go to healthcare.gov to find out what health care choices are available, although enrollment in a new plan is limited to the open enrollment period unless there are special circumstances. Utah State University also offers an insurance plan for students.

More information can be found on the university’s website under student health services.

“College students are more likely to be uninsured than any other demographic, with 1.7 million students lacking health coverage.” nation for charitable contributions and second for overall charitable activities—including service and philanthropic contributions.

Butler thinks expanding access to health care for lower-class people could fall under the blanket of charity, and it is true that Utah doctors often perform procedures for little or no cost for low-income people. Butler’s brother was not charged a dime for his first surgery after his diagnosis and received financial support from his church congregation for rent and other bills after he lost his job while he was going through treatment.

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Continued from pg 5 anticipate that the celebration will embolden women to be more outspoken while encouraging schools and businesses to better appreciate their input. The purpose is to “uncover stories of women who have done amazing things and getting them out in the open,” Kinkead said.

Utah State’s Year of the Woman is a celebration of women who have worked tirelessly to succeed since Utah State’s beginnings 130 years ago. In 1890, Sarah Walker Eddie gave a speech at the dedication ceremony for the Utah Agriculture College. Men’s names were listed in the program. Eddie’s wasn’t, but she persisted. In her speech, Eddie spoke about a woman’s right to lead: “Let the sister enter with her brother in higher education and let her walk by his side or … go ahead.” Her statement calls on women to pursue success and their universities and peers to help them achieve it.

In conjunction with Eddie’s call to action and celebrating the Year of the Woman, the committee is planning parties, educational stations, and speakers. They are also interested in what students would like to do to celebrate, and they encourage people to reach out to them with their ideas.

To learn more about Year of the Woman, visit http://www.usu.edu/year-of-thewoman/ or scan the QR code below.

Women’s Rights in Utah: A Brief History 1870 First Woman vote by Seraph Young in Utah |

1887 Edmunds–Tucker Act repeals woman suffrage in Utah |

1890 Utah Agricultural College (UAC) enrolls 33 women in inaugural classes |

1896 Utah earns statehood |

1896 Utah elects the first woman state senator, Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon |

1908 Anna Nibley is elected vice president of the UAC student body |

1916 The first “Woman’s Advisor,” Hazel Love Dunford, is hired at UAC |

1917 “Night of Terror”—33 suffragists are brutally beaten outside the White House for protesting |

1919 The Utah State Legislature votes to ratify the 19th Amendment |

1920 United States 19th Amendment is ratified |

1921 Mignon Barker Richmond is the first African American woman to graduate from a Utah college |

1921 Ethelyn Oliver Greaves is the first woman to receive a master’s degree at UAC |

1929 UAC becomes the Utah State Agricultural College (USAC) |

The 1930s Women join the USAC corps of cadets for the first time since 1893 |

1957 USAC becomes Utah State University |

1957 Native Americans are given suffrage in Utah |

1965 The Voting Rights Act is signed into law |

1967 Adonna Watkins Drake graduates from the USU College of Engineering as the first woman to do so |

1986 Michelle Henrie is elected first woman USU student body president

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Information from http://www.usu.edu/year-of-the-woman/timeline.cfm

<< PHOTOGRAPH BY VANESSA RICHARDS

people to be more comfortable in the presence of others that are a little bit different.

Continued from pg 7 In your state of the University Address, you introduced the Inclusive Excellence Symposium, a program with a goal of reaching out to people of all races. One of its concepts is having those hard conversations and being more inclusive. What is it about those conversations that are so hard to have and how can we make it easier and more efficient?

I think that we all might be uncomfortable hurting the feelings of another person or offending them, and so we may be hesitant to even ask a question or make a comment because we aren’t sure how that will be perceived. I think it’s just getting out of our own space and our own comfort zone and interacting and visiting with people of different cultures, different races, different backgrounds. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a couple of former USU football players.

One, Jontrell Rocquemore, was a safety for the USU football team for several years. In the conversation, he said that when he would walk into a classroom he was always real-

ly uncomfortable because everyone stared at him. And I said, “Well don’t you think it’s because they’re like, ‘Oh wow, there’s Jontrell’?”

And he said no, that’s not how he felt; he just felt like everybody was staring at him. So again, being able to have those conversations and saying, “So, Jontrell, how would you have liked people to [approach you]” and he said, “Well, gosh, I wanted somebody to say ‘hi’!” And instead, people were very, very silent around him and he felt isolated. So here’s someone who many, many of us know his name, we know what he did on the football team, we know what he was doing in his degree program, and yet he walked around feeling isolated from the rest of us. So I think what I’m hoping during the symposium is people can actually ask someone of a different culture or different race what are those things that you would prefer we not say, or are comfortable with us saying or asking or just having those conversations. I think the symposium will just bring people together and through that, allowing

What advice do you have for Aggies?

Well, the diversity, inclusion, and respect priorities are some of the ones that I really want everyone to know about. I just think that we’ll all be better if we get the input, the conversation, the opinions, the thoughts of people who are not necessarily just like us. And through that, we can have a better education, a better campus, a better Aggie family by including all who want to be part of us.

I just want everyone to feel comfortable here at Utah State University.

Is there anything else you want to add?

So I came here in 1990—I started as a faculty member in the Animal, Dairy, Veterinary Sciences—and Cache Valley had about half the number of people. It was very homogeneous; almost everyone was white and almost everyone was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And sometimes in those days, I would actually see op-eds in the newspaper that if there was a request for maybe a little bit different focus on Friday nights or maybe a restaurant that wanted to serve beer, the op-eds would actually say, “If you don’t like it, leave.” And I always thought, “Gosh, really? You just want to be all that homogeneous look and feel?” I believe today we actually welcome that diversity, that in fact, people find others of different cultures, different backgrounds fascinating, interesting, fun to be with, good to talk to. So I’ve actually seen an evolution of Cache Valley and Utah State and they’re welcoming people of this [variation] of themselves and that feels really, really good.

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