Community rallies against defunding of Cache County Library
By Mia Nielsen STATESMAN REPORTER
Members of the Cache Valley community are campaigning to “save the Cache County Library” after county executive George Daines proposed budget cuts that would eliminate funding for the library.
The county is home to a few city libraries, but Brynnan Sainsbury, director of the Cache County Library, said this space is the only one many county residents can use for free. Residents that live outside city limits must pay a fee to check out materials and use the services of city libraries they are not zoned for.
“You can only use the Logan Library if you live in the Logan City boundaries. There are a few other city libraries that are the same. We provide access for people that don’t have it through their own cities,” Sainsbury said.
The county library mainly sees patrons from cities like Providence, River Heights, Millville and Hyde Park that don’t have their own library, but Sainsbury said even Logan residents use their services.
“We still have over 500 people from Logan using this library,” Sainsbury said.
Logan residents often utilize the county library’s online resources, which Sainsbury said offer the same materials as a city library with shorter wait times.
Daines has called county library funding a “double tax,” noting many Cache Valley residents are already paying taxes that support their city library and are then taxed again to support the county one.
The proposed budgets cuts have sparked a debate over whether county residents should continue to fund a county library system that some see as redundant but others see as an essential resource.
“Clearly, they’re fulfilling different needs,” Sainsbury said.
She believes the county library is necessary to fill the gaps left by city libraries.
“In theory, if it was meeting all their needs, they wouldn’t come here, but we still have so many people that do because we fill a different need for them,” Sainsbury said. Sainsbury believes the consequences of defunding the library would be widespread.
“Some people have walked in and asked, ‘What happens to us? What do we do if there’s no library?’ And it’s like, ‘You don’t do anything. You don’t have the service anymore. You have to go pay somewhere to use another library that’s farther away,’” she said.
She worries the county’s most vulnerable residents will be most affected by these budget cuts.
“We serve a lot of families with little kids learning to read. Literacy rates are dropping, and having access to books is one of the best ways to increase those literacy rates,” Sainsbury said. “We also serve a lot of older people who are on fixed incomes who can’t afford books or library fees. It would hurt those vulnerable populations the most.”
Other Cache County residents are also concerned about what losing the library would mean for the community.
“Personally, I think it’ll really screw over a lot of people who are looking to get jobs, who are looking to do homework. Several of my students from when I used to
work at a middle school don’t have internet at home,” said Brianna Enright, a senior at Utah State University. Enright believes the libraries provide vital community resources, and the county library is important because it serves people who may not have access to a city library.
“I think that libraries are important because they’re one of the few places in the world where you’re allowed to exist without the expectation of having to pay to be there, and specifically, a county library is for every resident within that county, not just a resident of a city,” Enright said. Enright lives in Trenton, which doesn’t have its own public library.
“If I wanted to go to a library, I have to go to the county one. The system of libraries in Cache County specifically is kind of a little screwed up,” Enright said. “Over in Box Elder, all of the city libraries are connected to the county library, so if you have a county membership, you can go to any of the libraries. Ideally, we would do that here, and we would be able to utilize all of our libraries to their fullest extent, but since we don’t have that yet, closing down the county library is awful.”
Sainsbury added that the value of libraries is not obvious to everyone. She said while many people may not use the county library themselves, the service could be essential for their neighbors. Enright also sees a disconnect between policymakers and library users and believes decision makers often don’t understand how essential library services are for those that don’t have an alternative.
“Having access to books on the shelf is important for kids. Having access to computers with an internet connection is important for kids, adults, teenagers, college students, everyone. Not everyone has those at home. A county library should be a refuge,” Enright said.
Sainsbury described the weeks since the proposal as emotional and scary. Library employees have worked hard to raise awareness, but ultimately, she said, the decision is up to county council representatives. She encouraged community members to reach out to their county council representatives and advocate for the library.
“I’m proud of the things that we have done, but it’s still sad,” Sainsbury said. “I keep hearing about how much people love the library, and that fills me, and that makes me feel really good, and I’m grateful that we have made an impact in people’s lives, but it almost makes it harder that if it goes away, I now know the impact that we have made.”
Mia Nielsen is a sophomore studying plant science and journalism. When she’s not writing, she enjoys live music, driving up Logan Canyon and daydreaming about moving to Spain.
— mia.nielsen@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Claire Ott
Cache County Library in Providence, as seen on Oct. 29.
Brad L. Mortensen named 18th university president
By Malory Rau STATESMAN EDITOR
The morning of Oct. 30, hundreds gathered in the TSC Big Blue Room for the announcement of Utah State University’s 18th president. After months of searching, the Utah Board of Higher Education announced Brad L. Mortensen, former president of Weber State University and USU alumnus, as the new university president.
“This is incredibly humbling and almost unbelievable to be here,” Mortensen said. “I can’t even say it’s fulfilling a dream because it’s beyond any dream for a first-generation college graduate to become the president at their alma mater. It’s truly just an unbelievable, unbelievable moment for me.”
Mortensen will start his new role on Nov. 10. The community will welcome the new president at an ice cream social on Nov. 7 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Juniper Lounge in the TSC. This is one of many anticipated welcome events for the new president.
“I’m excited. I’ve only heard great things about him from Weber and those who have worked with them. He’s going to be student-first, and he’s going to be a strong change that’s going to keep our momentum growing,” said current USUSA President Brandon Sorensen.
In the front row of the announcement was interim USU President Alan L. Smith, whose time in this role was dedicated to HB 265 compliance. USU was waiting for the new president to be named before moving forward with the compliance plan.
“I also want to express my sincere appreciation to Interim President Al Smith for his leadership and commitment during this time of transition. His steady presence has provided continuity and positioned USU well for what’s ahead,” Mortensen wrote in a formal message posted by Utah State Today.
“I think everyone can agree that if we kept him for the rest of his time as president, the university would be an incredible and happy place,” Sorensen said.
Mortensen’s candidacy, as well as all other candidates for the role, was kept under secrecy until the announcement on Thursday morning, which saw attendance from student leadership, involved faculty and staff, the family of Mortensen and others.
“Tried and true leadership. He has had an incredible career down at Weber State, and he knows the landscape of higher education. He knows how to work well with community partners, especially in Utah,” said Matt Richey, 2024-2025 USUSA president and search committee member. The board announced their time will now be dedicated to searching for Mortensen’s replacement at Weber State, which received the news of his departure at the aforementioned announcement.
Mortensen graduated from USU with his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1996.
“I am truly excited to connect with Aggie Nation through listening, learning and leading with transparency, integrity and love,” Mortensen said.
Malory Rau is a senior studying journalism with a minor in marketing. When not listening to Aggie Radio, she can be found searching for her next breaking news story.
— m.rau@usu.edu Student-run newspaper for Utah State University since 1902. Reporting online 24/7. Printed weekly during the school year.
PHOTOS BY Malory Rau
Newly-named future president of USU Brad L. Mortensen speaks at the preisdential annoucement on Oct. 30.
Newly named future president of USU Brad L. Mortensen speaks to current USUSA President Brandon Sorensen on Oct. 30.
Viral Trader Joe’s prank sparks community debate
By Bailey Daniels STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
Trader Joe’s, a grocery store chain known for its customer service and exclusive products, has many fans based in Logan. This is why residents were excited about the surprise they woke up to on Oct. 20. On 190 Main St., the abandoned storefront of the recently closed JOANN Fabric and Crafts hung a sign depicting Trader Joe’s font and the words “Coming soon!”
The Best of Logan, a Cache Valley-based business that highlights other local businesses around the valley, was quick to post on their Instagram account that morning. They included a photo of the Trader Joe’s sign, as well as a caption excitedly asking Trader Joe’s to confirm whether they were really coming to Logan.
The post amassed 3,587 likes, 219 comments, 32 reposts and 2,706 reshares. This is more than the account’s typical average, and the majority of the comments expressed excitement and claims that this was true. Currently, the closest Trader Joe’s to Logan is in Riverdale, about an hour away.
The post made it clear how eager Logan residents are to have a Trader Joe’s, despite the other grocery options in town. Before this, a “Bring Trader Joe’s to Logan” Facebook group was started on Sept. 19 by Tiffany Hatch. After being up for just over a month, it has accumulated 686 members.
“Trader Joe’s offers a lot of unique and affordable items that aren’t quite like anything you’d find at any of the stores near us,” Hatch wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “I’ve heard people describe shopping there as a ‘Treasure Hunt’ because of the new products and items they rotate throughout the changing seasons.”
Hatch was quick to inform the public on Oct. 20 that to fans’ dismay, the Trader Joe’s sign on the building was part of a viral prank. After reaching out to Logan’s economic development director Kirk Jensen and checking Logan was not on Trader Joe’s list of new store locations, many residents expressed their disappointment.
Jensen focuses on economic development programs for the city. He too found out about the sign on Oct.
20 and swiftly confirmed the rumors were false after making contact with the property’s owner. He gave this information to all interested parties, including the Facebook group and media outlets.
“My first reaction was, ‘Is this a computer-generated image or is this real?’ Later, once I verified it was an actual banner, my thoughts were: certainly someone shouldn’t be climbing on private property and hanging a sign,” Jensen wrote in an email to the Statesman.
Bailey Daniels is a senior studying technology systems. She loves Lana Del Rey, sweet treats and all things whimsical.
— bailey.daniels@usu.edu
October 17
USU Police responded to a report of a weapons offense near the LDS Institute on Darwin Avenue. Security footage showed a dark SUV parked in the roundabout as several individuals from both the vehicle and nearby LLC housing engaged in what appeared to be a toy gun fight. Bystanders were seen in the area, but no injuries were reported. The university housing office was notified and given descriptions of those involved.
October 22
Officers Roper, Nebeker and K-9 Sage, assisted the USU Nursing program with a “poverty simulation” exercise at the HPER. About 40 students in attendance.
October 23
Officers were dispatched to Jones Hall student housing on report of a possible structure fire. The building was evacuated, and all student residences were relocated to the exterior of the building. Residents used a fire extinguisher to put out a cooking fire. Logan City Fire deemed the building to be safe for reentry after resetting the alarm panel and clearing the scene.
PHOTO VIA BEST OF LOGAN INSTAGRAM
USUSA Executive Council drafts new belonging statement amidst HB261
By Dylan Moore STATESMAN REPORTER
USUSA is developing a new belonging statement after two previous versions were removed from the USUSA constitution following the passing of House Bill 261: Equal Opportunity Initiatives, which restricted diversity, equity and inclusion language in higher education.
The first inclusion statement was adopted in 2022 but taken down after HB261 was signed into law. The bill prohibits Utah’s public universities from using certain DEIrelated terminology or hosting programs that “promote differential treatment based on personal identity characteristics.”
In response, student leaders created what they called a belonging statement, a replacement of the inclusion statement. That version was also removed this summer after USU’s legal team advised the association certain language might violate the new law.
USUSA President Brandon Sorensen said the process of creating a new statement began in July with a small group of officers.
“There were a few words in there that didn’t necessarily comply,” Sorensen said. “Starting in July, I brought together a small team of officers that began the brainstorming process of creating the new statement.” Sorensen said the student body officers wanted the statement to affirm USUSA represents all students without crossing legal boundaries.
“To me, Utah State should be a place where every student feels like they belong,” Sorensen said. “Our sole purpose is for students, by students, completely studentrun, and I think it’s important to have a statement that makes students know that.”
The legislation passed by the Utah Legislature in January 2024 has made it difficult for student leaders to know what language is acceptable according to School of Graduate Studies Senator Jamie Parry. She said the restrictions are vague, leaving USU and other universities cautious.
“House Bill 261 is really poorly written legislation in the way where it is super broad and is kind of being left
up to the universities to decide what can and cannot be included,” Parry said. “Utah State is staying really far away from this so-called line because they’re not sure what an auditor would say violates it.”
Parry said the previous belonging statement was reviewed and approved by USU’s legal office before being removed.
“The words that it had a problem with were ‘includes’ and ‘inclusive,’” Parry said. “In the context, it said, ‘The Utah State Student Association includes every Utah State student,’ which felt more like a descriptive term than anything regarding DEI.”
The current goal, Parry said, is to collect feedback from students to guide the creation of a new version.
Science Senator Breanna Cahoon is helping lead the effort. She said the team wants to ensure this version reflects student perspectives and lasts longer than previous ones.
“The goal is to have something that represents students’ feelings about what it means to be part of USUSA,” Cahoon said. “We’ve seen a lot of changes, and I think having something that students can contribute to is important.”
Cahoon said the association plans to gather student input through a university-wide survey and public forums before writing the final statement.
“We have a really solid plan,” Cahoon said. “Through student emailing and college Instagrams, as well as a public forum, we’re hoping to collect lots of data. The more input we have, the more meaningful it is.”
Cahoon explained every iteration of the statement will continue to be reviewed by USU’s legal team to ensure compliance with state law.
“Even the phrase ‘belonging statement’ was run through legal,” Cahoon said.
Student Events Executive Director Josie Packer said the process has been challenging but hopes the end result will make every student feel represented. She said this version will be different because it will be written with input directly from students.
“We’re creating questions to send out to the student body so we can have good feedback on what they think we should include in this statement,” Packer said. “It’s more like it’s written for them and not just what we think.”
Parry hopes the final statement will serve as a message of unity rather than division.
“This is an opportunity to create something that students can tell each other — that they are accepted and that they are creating this space of belonging and community,” Parry said.
Moore is a junior majoring in political science and minoring in anticipatory intelligence and Russian. He always loves going on outdoor adventures and cooking.
— dylan.moore@usu.edu
Dylan
PHOTOS BY Dane Johnson
USUSA Executive Vice President Max Alder, left, Student Advocate Vice President Colin Hastings and President Brandon Sorensen attend a USUSA meeting in the TSC on Oct. 28.
Pumpkin Plunge returns to Utah State
By Essence Barnes STATESMAN REPORTER
This year, the Pumpkin Plunge returned to Utah State University with a splash. Students dressed in Halloween costumes ranging from Founding Fathers to cartoon characters filled the HPER diving pool room on Oct. 28 to compete for the top three best diving performances.
Participation in the event was free and open to all students. The only requirement was to go dressed in costume. Spectators were also welcome to come and cheer on the divers.
Macy Gustavus, coordinator of aquatics & safety at USU and the brains behind the event, said she was excited to see the competition be held on campus for the second year in a row.
“When students were polled last year and asked what campus rec events they wanted to see come back this next year, this was one of those events,” Gustavus said. “It’s cool to see this maybe become a tradition in real time.” Gustavus said she got the idea for the event just last year while watching Red Bull Flugtag and diving competitions, but she wanted to put a unique Halloween spin on it.
“Red Bull has so many fun events, and I thought that is such an easily translatable thing we can do here,” Gustavus said. “It’s taking something silly and festive and making it university-sanctioned.”
Competitors were critiqued by a panel of judges, including two members from the USU Swim and Dive Club and this year’s Miss USU Allie Berry. Community engagement and crisis response K-9 Officer Sage and her handler Officer Shane Nebeker also made a guest-judging appearance. According to Gustavus, this year, they wanted to simplify the judging rubric. Judges were looking for creativity in
costumes and diving performances, not perfect technique.
“This year, we also integrated walkout songs,” Gustavus said. “It will be a little less complicated on the scoring side but a little more fun on the ‘highlighting people who are jumping’ side.”
Judges rated each performance out of 20, each having up to 10 points to award to costumes and up to 10 to award to performances. The top three scorers received boo baskets as a prize.
This year’s first place winners were Cohen Nielson and William Gardener, dressed up as what they called the “Jazz Guys.” The duo wore oversized suits and declined using a walkout song, instead encouraging the audience to snap along with them as they toppled their way off the diving boards.
“It’s fun to see people come together and just laugh and have a good time,” Gustavus said. “It’s fun to watch students get to be people outside of the classroom or outside of work and do something that you wouldn’t really see anywhere else.”
Other competitors also highlighted the silly and carefree nature of the event, saying they encourage more students to attend next year.
“I even met a new friend today, and he was also dressed as a Founding Father,” said Robert Tolman, who competed as George Washington. “We didn’t plan it, but we decided to jump together, and it was a blast.”
Millie Hardy said participating in the plunge was fun and easy, especially when it came to putting a costume together.
“It’s just something I found in my closet and threw together,” Hardy said. “I saw a lot of good belly flops and over rotations, and it was very enjoyable to watch. This event was a 10 out of 10. I’d for sure come back.”
Gustavus said one of her favorite parts of this event is the way it can bring together a variety of students from a variety of different groups on campus.
“There was no one defining factor on why people showed up. It was people from all over,” Gustavus said. “I liked that it brings people together in a common space to do something fun.”
One of the main goals of the event, according to Gustavus, was to highlight campus recreation and HPER building resources.
“The HPER pools are a really great asset to the campus community, and I feel like a lot of people don’t know they exist,” Gustavus said.
Gustavus encourages students to take advantage of campus recreation resources and the community they can create because “school isn’t only about academics.”
“Campus rec as a whole and the professionals who work in this department are really dedicated to making sure that students have a good time while they’re in college,” Gustavus said. “If students want it, we will do it, and we just want to remind everyone that we are here.”
Essence Barnes is a third-year student majoring in journalism who enjoys reading, writing and storytelling.
— essence.barnes@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Alyssa Cook
‘Iron Maiden’ takes first at 2025 ASME Pumpkin Toss
By Katie Smith STATESMAN REPORTER
As an engineering tradition, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME, Pumpkin Toss once again showcased the efforts of the community’s engineers and aspiring engineers, only this year, the invitation to build and compete in the event was extended past Cache Valley to Utah State University’s neighbors from Utah Valley University and Brigham Young UniversityIdaho. Individuals from Sky View High School also participated in the toss.
Contestants were expected to build a machine called a trebuchet that releases the pumpkin into the air, shooting it hundreds of feet away.
“We recognize that sometimes students need an outlet for all their creativity and ideas,” said Jax Stookey, USU’s ASME president. “They can directly apply their knowledge and skills.”
Stookey said in an interview with The Utah Statesman that each trebuchet is judged by four different categories. These include accuracy, distance, engineering marvel and crowd favorite.
According to Stookey, 22 teams competed in this year’s event. Competitors included but were not limited to students. Stookey said the majority of the student participants were mechanical engineering majors with varying majors in the mix.
Axis Automated Ironworks, a steel company in Logan, has sponsored a team for the past few years. Their trebuchet, called “Iron Maiden,” took first in the accuracy category and took home a win for the second year in a row.
“We had a catastrophic failure, but we improvised. We made it work, and we came out with a win,” said McKay Meccariello, a member of the Iron Maiden team.
Despite unexpected difficulties with their trebuchet, Meccariello and his team were still able to defend their title.
“It’s all so much fun,” Meccariello said. “Cheering everybody on, hitting the targets — it’s exhilarating to watch those pumpkins fly up in the air.” Meccariello wasn’t the only one having fun at the pumpkin toss. Environmental engineering student at USU Katelin Budge and her team added their own spin to the event. The team’s trebuchet was “Harvester #20” and had a medieval theme. All participants on the team kept with the theme by cosplaying as their own character. “It’s super fun to work on something, especially as part of a team, and be able to see the direct results of your efforts,” Budge said.
On the other side of the caution tape that drew a border between the danger zone and the safe zone were the people who made the event possible and the crowds
cheering on the pumpkins getting launched into the sky. Stookey said seeing all the work that ASME put into the event come together was a rewarding experience.
“My favorite part of the Pumpkin Toss is getting together with ASME crew and just being able to see the fruits of our labor,” Stookey said. “We get to see our efforts paid off in this big event, and it’s really gratifying to know that we were part of this event.”
For some spectators, the best part of the event was seeing just how high some of these trebuchets could toss their pumpkin. Anna Davis, one of those spectators attending with two friends, said in the few minutes since they had arrived at the event, the height the pumpkins reached had been her favorite part.
Katie Smith is a sophomore still exploring her options at Utah State. She is a big country music fan and loves spending her time in Cache Valley’s beautiful natural landscapes.
Claire Ott is the host of “House Party:” a show for her, DJs and electronic music lovers to talk about and vibe to the music that inspires us to dance and party! Tune in Fridays at 6 p.m. on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
ARTWORK BY Kamrin McNeill
‘Brick by Brick’ showcases Lego builds of campus
By Rory McNeill STATESMAN REPORTER
Utah State University held its second annual “Brick by Brick” Lego building competition, bringing Aggies and members of the community together to celebrate their love for Lego. Students and friends alike showcased their building skills, entering their pieces into a competition to see who had the best build. Builders from across Utah congregated in the TSC with their pieces to be judged. Many of the creators had been planning their builds for months, spending weeks creating their works.
“I started a few months ago because I thought they might do this competition again. I began the design on a Lego design software a few months ago. I created the whole thing digitally first,” said Evan Anderson, a USU alumnus and winner of this year’s competition. “I started building it about two weeks ago. I’d say I probably spent at least 100 hours putting it all together.”
Anderson had only begun his Lego design journey during last year’s competition, where he made a model of Old Main. This year, he won the competition with model of USU Maverik Stadium. Some other pieces from this year included a miniature model of Huntsman Hall and the George S. Eccles Business Building, a model of the Block A and the Quad, Old Main and much more.
In addition to the pre-prepared designs, there was also a timed building competition for attendees of the event, where they were tasked with building a certain object in a set amount of time, and judges decided who made the best design.
The idea for a competition was derived from a former USU president’s love for Lego and an attempt to find some way to bring that love to USU’s campus.
“This idea first came about when I was hired to run the USU president’s social media. President [Elizabeth] Cantwell was the president at the time, and it was a pretty well-known fact that she loved Legos,” said Jared Gereau, social media specialist at USU. “I was trying to create content for her channel at the time and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be kind of cool if there was some kind of Lego event on campus that she could go to and
be a judge at?’ Everyone told me, ‘Why don’t you just make that an event?’”
Despite the competition being fairly new to campus, support from the Aggie community has helped the competition grow and invite more of the community to get involved with the university.
“Last year, we held the competition in the Eccles Conference Center. There were a lot of people who warranted a bigger space,” Gereau said. “We decided it would probably be better to move it over here to the TSC, and so far, it’s been great. This bigger space has allowed us to introduce more colleges into the event — kind of showcase what they’re doing on the sides.”
This showcase of the university is the real goal behind the event, finding creative ways to get people from the community onto campus and learn more about USU.
“Our main goal is primarily just to get USU into the public eye. We welcome any students to this event. They’re always going to be our primary goal to have come to our events, but the community around Logan, around Cache Valley, is important to us also. We love seeing future Aggies come up and learn more about Utah State culture,” Gereau said. “There’s a lot of cool builds up here in the showcase that teach what USU culture is. It makes a lot of fun opportunities to teach young, potential Aggies what it’s like up here and just a way to get everyone together.”
Rory McNeill is a sophomore from Rocklin, California studying mechanical engineering. He loves Aggie sports, skiing, golf and writing music.
— rory.mcneill@usu.edu
PHOTOS
The George S. Eccles Business Building made out of Lego bricks by Ben Paulsen, as seen at the USU Brick by Brick event Oct. 23.
Kendal Thompson: Manager to captain
By Emi Ludlow STATESMAN REPORTER
Senior Kendel Thompson began her volleyball career in elementary school, which continued on over 10 years later.
“I’ve always played. It’s just always been a part of my life,” Thompson said.
Her mother, Danika Hone, played in college, which inspired Thompson to continue her volleyball career to college.
“[Hone] was always someone I looked up to and wanted to be. She’s been my hero,” Thompson said.
Thompson had an unusual start to her athletic career at USU. She began the season late to play on the team.
“I was recruited late. When I talked to coach Rob, he had told me that they didn’t have any sports left, so they wanted me to come this spring,” Thompson said. “I could come here as a manager for the fall, and that was a really cool opportunity. All the girls took me in as their own.”
Even though Thompson wasn’t on the court, she still learned from the team.
“I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity they gave me to be able to come here,” Thompson said. “Even without a roster spot, it was cool to be on the sidelines and see what’s going on on the court.”
Head coach Rob Neilson recruited Thompson after she was invited to be a team manager for the fall semester.
“We heard great things about her, about her work ethic and her competitiveness and her athleticism,” Neilson said. “Her coaches talked about her work ethic and determination and her competitiveness, and those are all traits that you’re looking for.”
Through film of Thompson’s playing, Neilson was able to see her athleticism, but it was from her previous coaches that Neilson was able to see what kind of person Thompson is. This season, she has set a steady pace of improvement in the gym within the last year.
“She’s improved a lot of things. She developed one of the better serves in our gym,” Neilson said. “She appears really fast and she is really fast and athletic, but because she can
“It’s also important for her to be able to ask and say hard things to her teammates in the moment, and they understand that she trusts them and she loves them,” Neilson said. “She’s working hard for them, but it gives her a lot of credibility to say the tough things that need to be said.”
The mental stress while playing affects a player’s performance, with the pressure of the game and for the team. Thompson is often asked to perform well under that pressure as a team captain to keep the team together. When in the tough spots, motivation for Thompson comes from not only her outside influences — such as her husband, parents and teammates — but also the sport itself.
“Just knowing that I’m here and I love the sport,” Thompson said. “That this is something I’ve always wanted, and I’m now able to do the sport that I love and play with all my best friends.”
As a defensive specialist, Thompson is responsible for keeping the play in action and having a strong serve. She also works to better prepare herself for each game, focusing on what can help improve the team as a whole.
“She wants to get better in lots of different ways,” Neilson said. “So, she works hard in the weight room and works hard to prepare herself, watching film and scouting opponents.”
The past six months specifically has been where Thompson has improved most rapidly, according to Neilson. Presently, there is anticipation of winning the Mountain West tournament in Nevada.
see and anticipate so many things that are going on the court, it allows her to cover even more space.”
Thompson’s determination and grit have allowed her to take that mindset to the court during games where her teammates have recognized that.
“She’s developed a lot of mental toughness over her last year playing and being in a starting role where there’s just immense pressure all the time,” Neilson said. “She’s come a long way, and her belief and ability to fight through adversity.”
As a team captain, Thompson has worked to improve herself so she can be a centerpiece of the team on and off the court.
“She has the trust of her teammates. They voted her as a captain for us, and that’s usually your hardest-working players,” Neilson said. “The players that are setting the example, setting the tone for your culture.”
What Thompson values is her mental toughness that she has worked on off the court.
“Being able to be steady — it’s really hard not to get in your head,” Thompson said. “Being someone they know they can count on, and they can come to whenever they need is really big.”
She has gotten drinks, invited girls over to her house and had meaningful conversations with her teammates.
“It’s been really fun to watch her really develop relationships off the court,” Neilson said. “Just building relationships is a big deal for the camaraderie and how these guys are going to interact 20 years from now as they come back and celebrate championships.”
Neilson said it isn’t just good to build relationships for the future but for on the court as well.
For the future, Thompson is in her last year of her undergraduate degree with a chance of her coming back to play during a master’s.
“There’s a possibility that we might be able to get her back for one more year,” Neilson said. “So, we’re exploring some of those options.”
When it comes to the present, Neilson sees the steady improvement Thompson is making and how it affects the team as a whole.
“Right now, just kind of enjoying the process of getting better and pushing this team forward — watching her improve every day is really gratifying,” Neilson said.
With the volleyball season having less than 10 games left before the tournament, the team continues to work toward improvement, specifically with Thompson as one of the pillars of the team.
“Who knows what the future is going to hold?” Neilson said. “Just excited to see her keep growing and see what this season brings.”
Emi Ludlow is a first-year student majoring in English hoping to go into the journalism field. She has been involved in journalism for four years now, and her favorite part is telling people’s personal stories.
PHOTO BY Jack Burton Kendel Thompson, 4, stares across the court toward Utah players at the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 6.
PHOTO BY Hadley Sintay
Kendel Thompson, 4, cheers on her teammates after winning a point during a match against UNLV at the Wayne Estes Center on Oct. 25.
New-look women’s basketball ready to test fast-paced identity in season opener
By Carson Frost STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
Utah State Women’s Basketball won’t look anything like the team that finished last season near the bottom of the Mountain West standings.
After a full preseason and two exhibitions under second-year head coach Wesley Brooks, the Aggies enter their Nov. 7 opener against Utah with a deeper roster and clearer identity built around size, pace and guard play.
Brooks’ plan for his program has centered on one idea since he arrived: play fast and play free. Utah State showed glimpses of that in both exhibitions, shooting efficiently from three and pushing tempo throughout.
To bring his vision to life, Brooks spent the offseason rebuilding from the ground up. His staff recruited size, shooters and experience, including players who have competed in NCAA tournaments, international tournaments and Power Five programs.
“We’re better,” Brooks said. “You have to get talent, and you have to get experience. We’ve got both now, and that’s showing up.”
The backcourt will drive everything. Aaliyah Gayles, a former five-star recruit and transfer from USC, and Marina Asensio, a Spanish combo guard with highmajor experience, have quickly become the faces of Brooks’ system.
Gayles has emerged as the lead playmaker, using her speed to get to the rim and her vision to create for others. Asensio brings control and perimeter shooting. Both can initiate the offense or space the floor, a combination Brooks believes will make the Aggies difficult to defend.
“We’re both versatile,” Gayles said. “We can play the one, two or three. You can’t just guard one of us — you got to guard both of us.”
Asensio said their chemistry is still developing but improving every week.
“We’re learning about each other, but it’s not just about two people,” she said. “We’re a whole new team, and we’re learning every day.”
Brooks has surrounded that backcourt with a mix of returning contributors and key newcomers. Elise
Livingston and Macie Brown, both Ridgeline High School products, give the lineup more perimeter shooting and length.
Livingston shot confidently through preseason play after an offseason spent working on her release speed and strength. Brown, the daughter of USU Men’s Basketball alum Tony Brown, has impressed coaches with her composure and ability to score in traffic.
“Macie’s grown tremendously,” Brooks said. “She’s fearless, she can make threes, she can get to the rim. She’s going to leave an impact like her dad did on the men’s program.”
Up front, 6-foot-3-inch Rachel Wilson and 6-foot-2inch Sophie Sene have added the kind of size Utah State lacked a year ago, helping the Aggies rebound better and defend the interior. Brooks noted the team drew 23 free throws in its first exhibition, which he considers a product of improved physicality.
The Aggies’ offense has emphasized volume shooting and spacing. Brooks said he wants his team taking 65 shots per game and plenty of threes, prioritizing tempo over perfection.
“It’s not about percentage anymore,” he said. “If we can shoot 40% but take more, that’s even better.”
The most noticeable change from last year might come on the defensive end. After finishing at the bottom of the conference in opponent shooting
percentage, Utah State hired associate head coach Anna Kjaerholt to oversee the defense. The Aggies have shifted from a pack-line approach to an aggressive, pressure-denial scheme designed to force turnovers and limit open threes.
“Our defense is already a hundred times better than it was last year,” Livingston said. “We communicate more, and our rotations are getting better.”
Utah State’s international presence — eight players from outside the U.S. — has also given the group a different rhythm. Four of them hail from Spain, where the game emphasizes spacing, cutting and ball movement. That familiarity, Asensio said, has helped the group adjust quickly to Brooks’ system.
“We understand each other more and maybe faster,” she said. “In Spain, we all play the same system — more cutting, more movement. It’s helping us here.”
As the Aggies prepare to face Utah, a top 50 program in the nation, Brooks knows the challenge is steep. His team, picked No. 11 in the Mountain West preseason poll, will be tested immediately against one of the nation’s most efficient offensive units.
“We’ve got to defend the three and rebound with them,” Brooks said. “That’s the key.”
For Utah State, though, opening night isn’t just about the scoreboard. It’s about seeing whether the progress of the past seven months can translate under the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum lights and whether this rebuilt roster can run, shoot, defend and compete the way Brooks envisioned.
“We’ve got to keep building, but people are going to see a different Utah State team,” Brooks said. “We’ll be ready to play.”
The Aggies’ season opening game against the Utes will tip off Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Spectrum.
Carson Frost is a transfer student from Denver studying journalism. His family originally hails from Los Angeles, and he is a passionate fan of the Lakers, Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles. He loves writing, making music, hitting the gym and taking road trips.
PHOTOS BY Hadley Sintay Utah State Women’s Basketball head coach Wesley Brooks talks to the media on Oct. 27.
USU Skateboard Club hosts first ‘Costume Party at the Park’
By Malory Rau STATESMAN EDITOR
Skaters dropping in at Logan Skate Park recently may have found themselves skating side to side with pirates, subway surfers, emos and more.
Utah State University Skateboard Club hosted its first annual “Costume Party at the Park” event at the skate park on Oct. 29. The event was attended by USU students and Logan community members.
Attendees arrived in a variety of costumes, including a Batman and Joker duo, Patrick Bateman, a dinosaur, SpongeBob SquarePants, Gandalf the Grey and many others.
The event included a costume competition, skate competition, scavenger hunt, pizza and live music. The skateboarding competition had participants skating through the park, ending up ollie-ing off an uphill ramp at the entrance of the park and over a mannequin arm. The mannequin arm was moved backward every round to increase the difficulty of the ollie.
Connor Hales, former club president, cheered on each contestant as they attempted to ollie over the severed mannequin arm. The ultimate winner of the ollie competition was a skater dressed in a pirate costume, whom Hales nicknamed “The pirate.”
Competition participant and club President Leo Gilbert shared behind-the-scenes of the event itself.
“The main inspiration for me was — there’s a Thrasher Magazine event called the ‘Halloween Hellbomb,’ and it’s just a costume skate contest. It’s a little crazier than ours, but just having people at the skate park in costume seemed like a really fun idea, so we went with it,” Gilbert said.
There were over 60 attendees at the event at the park. Not all were skateboarders but instead spectators who watched from the sides with pizza provided from Logan City’s Lucky Slice Pizza location.
Skaters in costume try to jump over a plastic arm at the USU
Hales spoke to The Utah Statesman about the growth in attendance the club has seen in the past year.
“I think last year, the attendance was a lot of people we knew, like, from our social circles,” Hales said. “It’s been amazing this year, especially with the freshmen that have attended. We didn’t know most of the kids that are in attendance, and so knowing that there’s an influx of new skateboarders carrying on the torch each year has been really cool for us.”
The club recently launched a line of T-shirts in collaboration with Directive Boardshop. The shirts, designed by Gilbert, were given out as prizes at the event.
“It’s been really fun to have something to represent us that people can wear around and show they’re proud members of skate club,” Gilbert said.
The costume contest section of the event was held over the club’s Instagram stories, where viewers and attendees could go and vote for their favorite costume.
To close out the night, local band The Jugs, made up of club members, set up in the middle of the park and had crowd members gather in the bowl to listen to their set.
Hales spoke on his hopes for the future of the club after hosting the first-ever “Costume Party at the Park.”
“The sky is really the limit for our club, just starting up again last year and seeing where we’ve already gone in a year,” Hales said. “Our ultimate goal is to create a space on campus to skateboard, whether that’s indoor and we can use year-round, or to develop a skate park up on USU campus to, again, bring the community and the university together.”
Just having people at the skate park in costume seemed like a really fun idea, so we went with it.
— Leo Gilbert
PHOTOS BY Jack Burton
Skateboard Club’s first annual costume party at the Logan Skate Park on Oct. 29.
The Jugs perform on the edge of a bowl at the USU Skateboard Club’s first annual costume party at the Logan Skate Park on Oct. 29.
‘Frankenstein: A Living Comic Book’ shocks, delights audience in Logan
By Sam Isaacson STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
Frankenstein: A Living Comic Book” is a wonderful blend of old and new, not only giving the classic tale of “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley a modern twist but showing how technical advancements can bring together multiple forms of art from different times in history.
The modern-meets-classic style play has been on tour throughout the U.S. and performed at the Ellen Eccles Theatre in Logan on Oct. 23, where they entertained the audience with eye-catching visuals and captivating characters.
The see-through screen they used reflected comicbook style art frames the same way a projector would but also made it so we could see the actors behind it. The black and white frames themselves had minimal movement, effectively taking the place of most of the props, and objects on the screen only moved when used by the actors, furthering this idea that this comic book is “alive.”
This combined with the realistic sound effects helped me fully immerse into the story with all of my senses. The play was also unique because it only had three actors playing all of the main and side characters. They wore masks and threw on coats to make it seem like there were more than three actors and even had two puppets who represent characters as well. Not only was the play a fascinating sensory experience but it also engaged the minds of the audience as well. We followed the story of Mary, who is an aspiring artist following her dreams by attending college. Mary’s big dreams come to a screeching halt when one of her art pieces almost burns down the school. Feeling like a failure, she drops out of college and decides to go with her father to the Arctic. Her father, who is a worldrenowned scientist, hopes to end climate change, but after one of his plans goes wrong, their ship ends up stuck in the ice. With nowhere to go, Mary goes for a walk, discovering a frozen block of ice with something inside. After chipping away at the bottom of the ice block, she finds the journal of Victor Frankenstein. Through the journal, we learn about Victor Frankenstein, who is very similar to Mary. He goes to college to study medicine but becomes fascinated with the idea of bringing the dead back to life. Eventually, he is successful and creates the “creature” Frankenstein, but he is horrified with what he has created and leaves school to go home, abandoning his
work. The parallels here between Mary and Victor are incredibly well represented, with Victor on the train in a black and white frame writing to the woman he left behind at school and Mary in a colored frame texting her father. It shows how both went through hardship while chasing their dreams and instead of facing it, they ran away.
The next part of the play was particularly fascinating to me because after Victor abandons Frankenstein, he is left to wander the earth. We get to see a very human side of Frankenstein, showing us he is more than just a monster back from the dead. He seeks out
companionship but is treated poorly because he is different. We see him experience a range of emotions, with the most prevalent being loneliness. Like all humans, he wants companionship, especially after being abandoned by his creator.
To combat his loneliness, Frankenstein hunts down Victor, demanding he create him a companion. Victor refuses, wanting nothing to do with Frankenstein. He is still running from what he considers his biggest failure. In retaliation, Frankenstein kills Victor’s wife, wanting him to feel the same loneliness. Enraged, Victor chases after Frankenstein, following him all the way to the Arctic until he eventually dies from overworking his body. The last words in Victor’s journal are not written by him but by Frankenstein, who writes “I forgive you.” After finishing Victor’s journal, Mary realized she had to face her fears. Mary finds a way to help navigate the ship out of the ice safely and helps her dad and crew avoid a tragic ending. Overall, the play teaches us we can’t run from the “monsters” we create. Humans have created climate change, and if we continue to run and hide from our fears, we too will meet the same tragic end that befalls Victor Frankenstein in the play. At the end of the play, Mary left us with a powerful message when she said, “We have the opportunity to face our monsters before they face us,” emphasizing we need to do something before it is too late.
Sam Isaacson is senior studying journalism with a double minor in art and psychology. She is passionate about human rights, animal rights and climate change.
— sam.isaacson@usu.edu
ARTWORK VIA CACHEARTS.ORG
Baseball and Basketball
Hadley Sintay is in her first year studying journalism at USU. She loves singing, writing, boating, traveling and dogs.
www.sudokuoftheday.com.
Where Education and Culture Create Center for Comm
N at i v e a m e r i ca n h e r i tag e Day
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center
Join us in celebrating Native American Heritage Month with an afternoon of educational displays highlighting the beauty of Indigenous culture along with music, dance, storytelling, and a taste of chili and frybread.
miss native american usu
NOV. 20 2025 TH
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM TSC BALLROOM
Celebrate the strength, culture, and leadership of Native American women at USU. This annual cultural and scholarship event connects with the university’s traditional Pow Wow, where the pageant winner serves as Headwoman. Enjoy cultural presentations, support contestants and participate in celebration of heritage and leadership.
Pluralism in Practice Series
Wednesday, Nov. 12
| Noon – 1:00 PM | Aspen Room (Room 221), Taggart Student Center
Engage in dialogue exploring how multiple perspectives can exist around a single idea — one food item, one word and one behavior. Designed to spark conversation and connection through themed experiences, this event offers a space for discovery and shared understanding.
Photo by: Kyle Todichini