Neemias Queta
Opinion: In defense of free speech and press
On Sept. 10, political figure Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University. Our peers at UVU witnessed the event occur on their campus. The Utah Statesman Editorial Board stands by UVU students and supports The UVU Review during this time. We as the editorial board conclude free speech is a necessity. It fosters debate and growth. It holds governments accountable. Without it, democracy fails. Violent action directly threatens the First Amendment of every American citizen. When people, whether they be political figures, activists, students or anyone in between, aren’t able to express their opinions and be-
liefs, it creates a climate of fear and political polarization. As members and supporters of the press, we know freedom of the press and freedom of speech are integral to a functioning society. Regardless of political belief, recent behavior encouraging the silence of controversial voices is unacceptable. In a society without freedom of expression, all suffer. The board encourages students, staff and faculty of Utah State University to stand by the UVU community and the broader community of higher education in Utah. This attack on freedom of speech is a tragedy, but for it to have happened on a university campus is dev-
astating for the future-focused minds who witnessed the event and will live in its aftermath.
Opposing political views, no matter how strong, are never an excuse for blind violence. Anger, no matter how justified, has no place causing harm in academic institutions. We’re all fighting for the same minimum: freedom of speech coexisting alongside the inherent value of human lives.
— The Editorial Board
editor@usustatesman.com
Senator Watts welcomes students to business week
i, everyone! My name is J.J. Watts, and I’m the current Jon M. Huntsman School of Business senator for USUSA. I’m from Draper, and I’m studying finance with a minor in entrepreneurship. Utah State has always been special to me. My dad grew up in Logan, and my mom attended USU and was involved in the Student Alumni Association. I spent much of my childhood visiting my grandparents, which made Logan feel like a second home and inspired me to follow in my family’s footsteps. If you see me studying or working, there’s a good chance I’ve got the Grateful Dead playing in the background.
Business wasn’t always my plan. Growing up, I loved programming — building games, apps and websites — and I thought technology would be my career path. That changed toward the end of 2023 while I was finishing my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of my companions — another missionary I lived and worked with — came from a family of accountants and introduced me to the world of business. That experience shifted my perspective and opened my eyes to the creativity and impact possible in business.
Since then, I’ve been grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in the Huntsman School. My classes have challenged me, connected me with lifelong friends and helped me develop both analytical and creative skills. Outside of academics, I’ve always loved making music and creating movies. I also enjoy entrepreneurship and have started ventures such as a home painting business, along with small business consulting. Looking ahead, I hope to pursue ventures that provide for my future family and most importantly, give back to the community. Long-term, I hope to live in Logan or a similar community, staying close to the place that has shaped me. I strive to follow the example of Jon M. Huntsman, who said, “For me, the true measure of success is
not how much wealth you acquire but how much of it you give back … I’m just a temporary trustee of these funds … If I die broke, it is humanity who will have benefited.”
This year, I have the privilege of serving as the business senator. In this role, I represent the students of the business school and work to be a supportive friend and trusted advocate — someone who listens and stands with them. I also work closely with the Business Council, which represents the voices of Huntsman students, connects them with opportunities and encourages involvement. The council supports both my goals as senator and the dean’s and Huntsman School’s leadership goals. Together, we strengthen the student experience through events like the Welcome Back Donut Event, Business Week, club leadership meetings and the End of Year Celebration while also supporting clubs and leadership across the school.
Right now, my council and I are welcoming you to Business Week, which runs from Sept. 15–19. It’s open to all majors, with events like the Welcome to (Wall Street) Huntsman kickoff and Huntsman Clothes Exchange clothing drive on Monday, a club scavenger hunt in the new Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building
on Tuesday, Hot Wheels racing on Wednesday and the Big Apple Bash with the Series Committee on Thursday. Students can also take part in professional development activities, including connecting with faculty and alumni, attending workshops on LinkedIn and resumes and getting professional headshots. We’ll also host the MET Gala – Vintage Edition on Friday and a student concert in the amphitheater on Tuesday evening.
Our council is starting monthly leadership meetings with Huntsman club leaders, giving presidents and officers a chance to coordinate upcoming events, learn from one another and collaborate more effectively. The goal is to strengthen clubs, provide support and enhance the overall Huntsman student experience.
Looking ahead, I’ll continue working to help students with scholarships and improve communication about events. We’ll keep hosting scholarship stations where students can learn how to apply for funding and create strong applications.
To make myself accessible to students, I hold regular office hours in the new Business Council space on the fourth floor of Huntsman Hall, Room 442, Monday–Thursday from 1:30–3 p.m. On Fridays, I’m available in the TSC Senator’s Office, Room 327, from 1–5 p.m.
Most of all, I want students to know I’m here for them. Whether you have ideas or concerns, want to get involved or just want to talk entrepreneurship — or even the Grateful Dead — please stop by, send me a message or say ‘Hi’ around campus. I’m excited to serve you this year and look forward to working together to make both the Huntsman and overall student experience the best it can be.
—huntsmansenator@ususa.edu
newspaper for Utah State University since 1902. Reporting online 24/7.
weekly during the school year.
September 15, 2025
J.J. Watts
Certified Sage: K-9 officer inspires, earns new awards, certifications across Utah
By Sam Isaacson STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
Community engagement and crisis response K-9 Officer Sage has been hard at work getting her next two American Kennel Club certifications, as well as two new therapy certifications. She previously received her first AKC certification, the AKC Canine Good Citizen, in November 2024.
Sage’s handler Officer Shane Nebeker said the two traveled in May to get her AKC Community Canine and Advanced Canine Good Citizen certifications.
“We went to Columbus, Ohio to work with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office,” Nebeker said. “They have very robust therapy canine, law enforcement and police therapy canine programs out there.”
Nebeker said she got to do one of her final evaluations for her AKC certifications at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, one of the largest zoos in the country.
“She had to navigate not only people and food but other animals, and she had to behave appropriately,” Nebeker said.
Sage received her therapy certifications through First Response K9 and First Responder Therapy Dogs. Nebeker said to receive the certifications she had to do scenario training with different departments.
“We spent time working with the fire departments. They have a dive team, so we worked with search and rescue operations,” Nebeker said. “They also have a mounted unit, so we worked around horses, and we actually spent some time in the coroner’s office as well doing some de-escalation therapy work. They had gotten a rush of hard calls, so all the dogs got to go in and spend some time with the techs.”
Nebeker said he decided to get Sage certified to increase her credibility in Cache Valley.
“Sage’s position is new to the area, especially in Utah. It was important to me to getcertifications that were verifiable and that they were through organizations that arerecognized,” Nebeker said. “I can get online and get some of her basic certifications, but I wanted to have her evaluated and make sure she had the appropriate documentation for her training.”
Alan Robertson, administrative sergeant for USU Police, said he thinks Sage getting these certifications will help set a standard.
“She’s kind of spearheading her position in this area,” Robertson said. “She helps bridge some gaps for us and does a lot, so it helps us legitimize her a bit more and validates her and her mission. It also sets a standard for other agencies who are maybe looking into doing the same thing with a similar dog or program.”
On top of receiving these certifications, Sage has also received the inaugural Sage Community Enhancement Award for all of the community service and engagement she has done. Nebeker said they will be giving out this award named after her to officers within the Police Department of Public Safety at USU.
“This is an award that will be given to officers who show the ability and initiative to go out and do community service and community engagement work,” Nebeker said. “It’s neat that she’ll have a legacy, and officers can strive to do some of the things she’s doing and that we’re doing as a partnership. It’s actually quite touching to me to see how she is being recognized for all the work she does up here.”
Sage has been on the Logan campus for about two years and celebrated her second birthday on Sept. 4. Nebeker said he has enjoyed watching her grow up and grow into her role.
“I’ve had a lot of comments from people who have watched her grow up about how they’ve seen her improve and change how she does things,” Nebeker said. “She’s become very confident and very aware of emotion. It’s been really interesting to watch her, especially over the last couple weeks where we’ve had the incident with the Tremonton officers, kind of key into emotion and even dial down her normal self to really pay attention to the people she’s interacting with.”
Robertson said as time moves forward, they plan on having Sage engaging even more with the community on campus and in Cache Valley.
“We’re fortunate enough to have officers to dedicate to a community engagement
unit here on campus, and Sage is a big part of that,” Robertson said. “We’re planning on expanding her involvement through campus outreach, mental health initiatives, campus events and other entities. We want to make her as accessible as possible for students and staff. She’s here for everyone, and she represents our department’s commitment to what we’re trying to do with care and establishing trust and a partnership with the university’s community.”
Sam Isaacson is a 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
PHOTO BY Sam Isaacson
Community engagement offciers Shane Nebeker and K-9 Sage pose for a photo by the TSC fountain on Sept. 2
Logan Pride celebration reveals unknown plans for university-owned Encircle home
By Jayke Martin STATESMAN REPORTER
When walking near the corner of 500 N. and 700 E., passersby may notice the Encircle home, an LGBTQ+ resource and advocacy center owned by Utah State University. What was once intended as a safe space is now a vacant house on the edge of campus.
Meanwhile, Cache Valley’s LGBTQ+ community continues to find ways to gather and celebrate, most recently through the Logan Pride Festival.
Logan Pride held its annual festival on Sept. 6 on Center Street, celebrating LGBTQ+ pride and diversity in Cache Valley. With performances, vendors and activities throughout the day, the festival aimed to create a fun and safe environment for all.
That sense of connection is part of what the Encircle home was once expected to bring to Cache Valley.
Located near the bottom of Old Main Hill, the home was built on land leased from USU and was designed to resemble the family home of late poet and Utah State University alum May Swenson.
At the time, Encircle said the home would provide therapy, community programs and a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in Cache Valley.
Today, most students walking past the property don’t know what it was meant to be.
Instead, passersby notice the weathered state of the home. The windows and doors are boarded, construction materials remain on the lot and weeds creep up around the foundation.
Encircle, a Utah-based nonprofit, was founded in 2016 by Stephenie Larsen after hearing about the alarming number of suicides among LGBTQ+ youth in her community.
The group has opened homes in Provo, Salt Lake City, Heber City and St. George. Larsen announced plans in 2021 to expand to eight other cities, including Logan, after receiving support and funding from donors and corporations.
“I was surrounded by pure love and happiness, especially from all of the volunteers I was able to work with,” said Quinn Gerber, a USU graduate who volunteered with Encircle. “I haven’t heard anything from Encircle Logan in a while, unfortunately.”
Despite breaking ground in Logan four years ago, the Cache Valley location never opened its doors, even as another home opened in Ogden on Sept. 6.
Since then, little information has been shared publicly. Encircle has not explained why construction stopped or what it plans to do with the property.
“I know that a lot of what happened was we got a lot of grant funding for houses, and they started expanding rather quickly, and then COVID hit, and then the price of new builds got way expensive,” said Devin Gold, a former Encircle therapist. “And so, we had a lot of issues financially with making that expansion plan work, and then they’ve just been scaling back a lot since then.”
While Encircle has faced setbacks, Logan Pride Festival continues to draw crowds and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
“Even just out and about in Logan, I always feel like queer people are around, and I always feel very supported, especially compared to other places in Utah where I come from,” said Anna Tuite, a Utah State student attending the festival. “It’s just so much fun here, and I feel like everyone is really supportive.”
Dozens of booths offered various prizes, resources and more, from community programs to creative
projects, alongside live performances that added to the celebratory atmosphere.
Kenzo Tillitt, who ran a booth for USU Arts Access, a program that offers art opportunities for students, especially those with disabilities, said the festival was fun to attend.
“This just makes me happy to see in the center of Logan,” he said. “It’s a joyful time.”
Jayke Martin is a junior studying journalism with a minor in theater. She loves reading and meeting new people.
— jayke.martin@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Hadley Sintay
The Encircle home located near 500 N. and 700 E., as seen on Sept. 2.
PHOTO BY Claire Ott
Drag queen Anya Bacon reads a children’s story to people attending Logan Pride Festival.
PHOTO BY Claire Ott
Logan Pride Festival takes place on Center Street on Saturday, September 6.
Pi Kappa Alpha, ‘Pike,’ celebrates 100 years at USU
By Essence Barnes STATESMAN REPORTER
This semester, the Gamma Epsilon chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity celebrates 100 years at Utah State University. Since their establishment on campus in 1925, Pike has committed to a century of supporting their members in living by their motto of “scholars, leaders, athletes, and gentlemen.”
“Our mission is to be upstanders on campus,” said the current chapter president Gavin Bly in an interview with The Utah Statesman. “We can make you a scholar, we can make you a leader, we can make you an athlete, but we can’t make you a gentleman, and that is kind of how we weed out guys that want to join our chapter.”
According to Bly, the GE chapter was the first nationally-recognized fraternity established on campus, existing previously as a small local fraternity called Pi Zeta Pi.
“Pi Zeta Pi was here from 1905 to 1925,” Bly said. “The David B. Haight Center was actually our first fraternity house on campus.”
David B. Haight, who would go on to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was one of the founding members of Pike’s GE chapter as well as one of its first initiates. Other notable USU Pikes include the inventor of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese Nolan Bushnell and NBA coach Dick Motta.
“We’ve had that house across from Morty’s since about 1960,” Bly said. “When they purchased this house, it was a pretty big deal on campus.”
According to Herbert Van Switzer, last year’s Pike president, the current house was built from the ground up by then-active members and alumni.
“In the ‘60s, we also won a [Robert Adger] Smythe Award for our national fraternity, and that is like winning the Super Bowl for us,” Switzer said.
The chapter house was remodeled as a part of this year’s centennial celebration, which earned GE the Pike Improvement Project of the Year award.
Along with a tour of the newly remodeled house, Pike hosted a weekend of events from Aug. 29–31 including a golf tournament, tailgate and reception dinner for current members and alumni. The celebration also included a special initiation of a professor and alumni F. Ross Peterson.
“We even got to have the CEO and the international president for the fraternity out here for it,” Switzer said. “I helped organize it a little bit, but the main organizers of the event were Jeremy Selley, Chris Silva and Greg Stevens.”
According to Bly, roughly 200 members were in attendance over the weekend, including Switzer.
“The funniest realization that I had while talking to these alumni was ‘Oh my god, they were the exact same back 30, 40 years ago that I am now,’” Switzer said. “They all still kind of live with that bond of ‘I’m your brother, and if you need help, I’m in a position to help,’ and that part feels really cool.”
During the centennial weekend, members came together to celebrate their history and the importance of their philanthropic accomplishments.
“Wherever we can donate we usually like to, and we try to come up with the best ways to make money for our charities,” Bly said. “We want to make those charity events foundational so that they can happen for even more years to come and so we can raise a good amount of money for even more years to come.”
Bly and Switzer said one of their proudest chapter achievements occurred last year when they were able to raise $12,000 for the Firefighter Support Foundation.
To make 100 years even more special, Bly said Pike is working toward a goal of an average 3.6 GPA.
“We pride ourselves on trying to be competitive every single day, not only with each other but with ourselves,” Bly said. “Any event that we do on campus, we’re going to have it with the spirit of doing it for the 100th year.”
Aside from their accomplishments, Pike members also focus on the support and the familial-like bond they are
able to create with their brothers across generations.
“It’s like a football team, where you have a network of people that are going to be by your side, and they’re going to be your family, and they’re going to help you be better as well as make sure you’re doing okay,” Bly said. “I think mental health is really important, and having that type of family unit when you go off to college is also a very important aspect too.”
Switzer said he initially joined Pike in search of the feeling of being a part of something and later decided to stay involved as an alum for the same reason.
“Theres’s something fun about still being able to be involved and still being able to help with something that gave me all of my friends — pretty much like my second family,” Switzer said. “It’s such a great connection to have for the rest of your life, all because you joined the same fraternity.”
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Best Buddies club on building friendship
By Katie Smith STATESMAN REPORTER
The USUSA Best Buddies club works with the Logan community and students with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities, or IDD. The club was established about five years ago, and according to the club’s president Savannah Brown, it has started picking up speed in the past three years.
“A place for people of all abilities to be able to get together and bond and create friendships,” Brown said. “A place to come and feel like they belong.”
The club pairs members with IDD and members without it. The club’s communications director Sydney Foster said this is intended to create “friendships and create connections between the IDD community and Utah State.”
Foster explained the club’s activities usually consist of crafts, game nights, cookie decorating and more.
“We’ll play games, usually, we’ll have treats, we’ll listen to music, watch videos, anything like that,” Brown said.
A place for people of all abilities to be able to get together bond and create friendships.
— Savannah Brown
According to Foster, the events are relaxed and invite a calming experience for participants.
Foster said by holding these activities, they hope to “destigmatize stereotypes surrounding the IDD community.”
In order to become a “Buddy” to a club member with IDD, Foster instructs to sign up with the club. According to Foster, even if someone is not a member, they are still welcome to attend any activities.
“It’s always more fun when we have more people just kind of mixed in,” Foster said.
Both Brown and Foster explained different ways they have seen impacts from the club.
“I personally have made friendships myself,” Brown said. “I’ve been able to, like, invite him to some of the basketball and football games.”
Foster had a similar experience.
“I still keep in contact with my buddies from past years,” Foster said. “It’s been really cool [to] see the impact actually happen in my life.” Foster said this experience is common with other members of the club.
Best Buddies will have its first event of the year on Sept. 17. The club holds an event like this each month, usually
on the first Wednesday. These events are open to everyone, even those not in the club.
Best Buddies is not just a club at Utah State. According to the organization’s official website, Best Buddies is an international nonprofit organization. They have chapters in all 50 states, working toward their mission of “establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support.”
Foster said many of the other universities in Utah also participate in the Best Buddies program. Throughout the
year, the different university chapters get together for group events.
According to Foster, most of the time, involvement with the national chapter is done by the USU chapter’s leadership through trainings and events.
Every April, Foster says they usually host a talent show and welcome friends and family to attend to wrap up the year.
Those interested in signing up with Best Buddies or learning about the activities can visit the club’s Instagram at @ bestbuddiesususa.
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.
— a02438604@usu.edu
Members of the Best Buddies club pose for a photo at the Halloween activity on Oct. 2.
Best Buddies Keith Harring Logo
COSAS Harvest Rescue program saves produce
By Brook Wood STATESMAN REPORTER
From the first week of July to the last week in October, the Christensen Office of Service & Sustainability Utah State University Harvest Rescue program saves produce that would be otherwise wasted and redistributes it throughout the community to those who need it. Over 1,000 pounds of food were saved just in July.
The Harvest Rescue program began in 2018 as a fruit preservation project between a professor and intern. Since 2021, sustainable food intern Emma Watts and Student Nutrition Access Center co-director Sarah Moore have been leading the efforts.
“Property owners register their trees and or gardens with us, and we will gather volunteers to come harvest the produce,” Harvest Rescue lead Abigail Doxey wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “We do our best to collect most if not all of the produce at each property.”
Higher-quality produce is distributed between SNAC and the Cache Food Pantry, as well as a variety of porch
pantries that are supported by Utah Families Feeding Families.
USU Extension uses lesser-quality produce to make fruit leathers, applesauce and other products. Produce not suitable for consumption is used for compost for the Utah Conservation Corps, Student Organic Farm and similar organizations located around campus.
“Harvest Rescue’s main priority and focus is USU students,” Doxey wrote. “So we make an effort to send most of our harvested produce to SNAC. This benefits all the staff and students who use SNAC. It is an amazing experience to deliver food like juicy pears or fresh onions and see the happy faces in SNAC who end up taking some home.”
According to Luke Lehnhof, Harvest Rescue program assistant lead, the program creates healthier food options for students as a large portion of the produce is donated to SNAC.
Lehnhof said fresh produce can be a difficult to obtain at times for students, making the program a great way to provide for those with less food security.
“Not only is USU Harvest Rescue making an amazing difference for those in need, it creates an amazing culture of service,” Doxey wrote. “Many of our volunteers have been recipients of the donated produce and have sacrificed their time to give back.”
The program helps serve the community while providing experience and networking for affiliated volunteers. Volunteers are also able to take home some produce from the gleaning sessions.
“The Harvest Rescue program also provides an amazing opportunity to give back to their community and connect with community members,” Lehnhof wrote in an email to the Statesman.
Those interested in the Harvest Rescue program can get involved by visiting its website usu.edu/service-sustainability/get-involved/cache-gleaning. The website provides a link to register one’s garden or fruit tree, as well as a link to sign up to volunteer for a gleaning session. Additionally, questions can be submitted to its email usuharvestrescue@usu.edu.
“You can also follow us on Instagram @usu_cosas, and you can go to givepulse.com to see our event postings,” Lehnhof wrote.
Doxey emphasized looking into other volunteer programs across campus that promote community and sustainability.
“If food isn’t where your passion is, True Blue Reuse & Repair, Aggies Building Community, Community Rakes & Shovels, and Aggie Blue Bikes are amazing programs as well,” Doxey wrote.
The COSAS website usu.edu/service-sustainability/ contains information about its various programs.
“It is important that students are aware of the Harvest Rescue program so that they can be better connected with the community that they are living in,” Lehnhof wrote. “They are more conscious of the efforts being made and ways they can get involved.”
Brook Wood is working towards receiving a bachelor’s degree in literature. When they aren’t writing or reading, they enjoy playing the violin in the USU Symphony Orchestra and the occasional sweet treat.
— b.wood@usu.edu
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY Abigail Doxey Volunteers hold produce gleaned from community members trees and gardens in front of a Center for Community Engagement van.
Volunteers pick fruit at a summer gleaning session.
One year of After Hours Open Mic
By Brook Wood STATESMAN REPORTER
Grounds for Coffee, the coffee shop on 27 N. Main St., celebrated its one-year anniversary of “After Hours Open Mic Sundays” on Sept. 1, marking one year of striving for its mission of creating a safe space for artistic expression for the community.
Atlas Higgins jumpstarted the weekly event, bringing the open mic idea to Grounds and hosting it each Sunday.
“It’s just a weekly, free space for people to say whatever’s on their mind, sing their hearts out, do a little comedy or something,” Higgins said. “It’s just another space for people to just be creative and be social and hang out.” Higgins gained inspiration from an open mic in Salt Lake City and wanted to host one locally after the event became uncomfortable to attend.
“I just wanted a weekly, free place for people that they could just come and share whatever they wanted,” Higgins said. “That was a year ago, and Grounds for Coffee was the only one that was interested.”
After speaking with Sadie Smith, the owner of the Logan location, it was decided the coffee shop would be used as the space to host the open mic.
Hannah Potter, a barista at Grounds, was working when Higgins came in to pitch the idea to the owner. Potter and Higgins collaborated to put together the open mic. Potter’s musical capabilities and access to a keyboard, along with her connections in the local musician community, played a big role in the creation of the event, according to Higgins.
“It has been such a fun thing to have at the coffee shop,” Potter said. “I have always been super into community and especially anything to do with music, and I’ve wanted to do something with it.”
People have played the guitar and keyboard, sang, recited poetry and practiced stand-up comedy, according to Higgins.
“Every single week, I always get so blown away by people’s talent,” Higgins said.
According to both Higgins and Potter, after controversy affected the musical space at WhySound, the open mic at Grounds was able to create another expressive, safe space for the community.
“People appreciated it a lot, and people felt safe to keep coming,” Higgins said. “It just makes me feel very, very good that the community has a space to communicate their wants and needs a little bit. It’s still just a creative space, but it’s a bit deeper than that.”
The passing of one year signifies and celebrates the efforts to make the open mic the gathering place for musicians and community members.
“I think that open mic, especially in the recent months, has gotten way more important because now there’s not a place for people to share their art, and there’s not a place for people to gather weekly or bi-weekly or whatever and hear live music,” Potter said.
Higgins encourages people to attend the open mic and experience the fun and confidence boost the event provides.
“Anyone who has art to share should know,” Potter said.
“If you have art, if you have music, if you have poetry, jokes, stories, anything and you want to share, you should know about our open mic.”
People are free and welcome to perform whatever they’d like, as long as they are respectful and thoughtful of others.
“It’s getting people out of their comfort zones and helping people grow,” Potter said.
The open mic is from 6–8 p.m. every Sunday. More information can be found on the shop’s Instagram at @ groundsforcoffeelogan.
“If you’re bored on a Sunday night, it’s something to do if you just want to watch,” Higgins said. “It’s good music, it’s good poetry, and if you just want to hear something in the background, you can just sit in the back and work on your homework. It’s just something nice to listen to. There’s zero pressure ever to perform or anything.”
— b.wood@usu.edu
Claire Ott brings energy to Aggie Radio
92.3FM, hosting “Everything but the Kitchen Sink” on Mondays at 5 p.m., a variety show that mixes all kinds of music and conversation, as well as “House Party” on Fridays at 6 p.m. for dance vibes and party inspiration!
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
From John Deere to future careers
By Mia Nielsen STATESMAN REPORTER
Over the last two years, members of the Utah State University Ag Tech Club have scavenged for parts, painted, torn down and rebuilt a 1952 John Deere Model A. Proud of their project, they’re also pulled to the shop by a determination to fill the gaps they see in their university curriculum.
“We don’t sit in a classroom and talk,” said Maysen Poulsen, president of the club. “For about 10 minutes at the beginning of club, we lay out what our goals are for the day, and then we just get out there and we work — get our hands dirty, get stuff done, clean it up.”
Poulsen said he wants members of the club to take ownership of their work and recognize that “this is their project” — something he thinks students don’t get enough of in the classroom.
Many of the club’s agriculture students expressed a desire for more in-depth hands-on learning in the classroom, but for now, they’re determined to learn as much as they can in the club.
Social media representative Kaysen Johnson grew up on a farm where he had experience with simple maintenance.
“Coming to school is letting me dive deeper into engines and transmissions and more of that stuff that I probably won’t be able to see out on the farm without a shop,” Johnson said.
Parker Levanger, former club president, is also determined to take advantage of his time at the university. Levanger explained that being an agriculture student today can be discouraging, but his time in the club has made his education worth it, giving him confidence and practical skills he can apply to his future career.
“You can only learn so much before you have to go out and do it,” Levanger said. “We’re making decisions of our own on these projects. We’re learning how to manage the budgets, decide what parts to buy, which projects we should take on and the ones we shouldn’t, so it’s everything from the actual mechanic skills to project management.”
Levanger said he believes agriculture schools should focus on teaching their students to be adaptable.
“Agriculture is changing very fast,” he said. “The farmers that make it are the ones that can adapt to the changing environment, so I think that’s a big thing — keeping up with what’s new and what’s going to be coming, and we also need to be tech savvy.”
The lessons members learn in the club range from the big picture to the practical.
“I think the perfect way to learn any skill is to come and do it,” Poulsen said. “Even if you’re not going to be working on tractors the rest of your life, it’s the same. You want to learn how to change oil so you can change your car’s own oil? Come here. I’ll show you how an engine works and then show you how to change the oil on it. Or if you want to learn how to change tires or repaint things — these are skills that can save you money in the long run.
These are skills that you can teach to your kids down the road. Maybe I’m biased, but I think the value is endless.”
Whether returning to the family farm or going to law school, hands-on work gives club members skills they’ll use after graduation, according to Mitchell Redd, club vice president. Redd said his time in the club has given him confidence solving problems.
“Google is great, but Google is not sitting with you walking through the problem,” he said.
Members of the club tackle a variety of unfamiliar issues every time they step into the shop.
“You have no idea what’s going on because you were born in the 2000s, not in 1907, right?” Redd said while pointing to a vintage McCormick H-4 tractor. “Ag Tech Club has helped me to look at a problem like that and say, ‘I think if we take a few minutes, we can figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.’”
The club fixes tractors for clients in the area, charging a small fee for parts and labor. The club also receives donations that allow them to fund new projects and trips to farm shows across the United States. Over the last two years, members of the club visited the World Ag Expo in California and the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The club is currently working on four tractors: a 1953 Farmall Super C, a Ford 8N, a McCormick H-4 and a Case SC.
According to Poulsen, the club helps students make connections in the agricultural industry, setting them up for future internships and careers.
“I’m here to help them learn as much as I can and then help them meet the people who can teach them more,” Poulsen said on his role as president of the club. Many of the club members have worked together for years.
“I love what I’ve learned, but mostly, I love the people,” Poulsen said. “When I came to Utah State, I had no friends — didn’t know anybody. I came to the Ag Tech Club on the recommendation of one of the recruiters, and these are the best friends I’ve ever made.”
The club will showcase their projects during QANR Week in the Tractor Parade on Sept. 26.
Ag Tech Club meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Agricultural Systems Technology and Education Building, located off 1400 N. in Logan.
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.
— a02352669@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Elise Gottling
Ag Tech Club leadership members Kaysen Johnson, left, Maysen Poulsen, Mitchell Redd and James Schulthess pose for a photo in front of their tractor project.
Hot dogs and friendship: First-ever BBQuad
By Dylan Moore STATESMAN REPORTER
Utah State University Weeks of Welcome got a new event this year in the first annual BBQuad. On Sept. 3, BBQuad aimed to bring students together with food, games and opportunities to get involved. The event filled the Quad with music, lawn games and hundreds of students waiting in a line that wrapped around a quarter of the perimeter. Organizers said the outdoor gathering was meant to offer a fresh take on traditional welcome week activities, replacing past traditions of indoor comedy or magic shows with something more casual and social.
“I kind of was just thinking we should do something outside,” said Josie Packer, USUSA Student Events executive director, who organized the event. “We should maybe try to switch things up a bit and try something new because I think comedians and magicians are so much fun — I just think they are better during the winter.”
Students showed up in large numbers for free food, including 2,000 hot dogs catered from Sam’s Club, and Spikeball. The Student Alumni Association collaborated on the event by providing lemonade and additional lawn games.
“It’s such a chill, low-key event,” Packer said. “You could definitely show up by yourself and make friends. That’s also something that I appreciate in an event. You could hop in a game of Spikeball, or you could just get in line and talk to the people around you.”
Alongside the food and games, several student organizations set up booths offering information on how to get involved in campus life. Tables featured representatives from the Student Events Office, senators with their councils, Fraternity and Sorority Life and the SAA.
Brigham Hill, marketing director for the HURD, said he sees events like BBQuad as an important way to reach freshmen beyond social media.
“Yeah, I think it is definitely a good way to get freshmen involved, just like Day on the Quad or Festival on the Quad,” Hill said. “We are outside, and we are something other than social media. We are using advertising at games, so I think it is a great normal way to interact with people and get them to be a little bit more aware of what the HURD does.”
For many first-year students, the opening weeks of college are critical for building friendships and finding a sense of belonging. Packer said that perspective shaped her planning.
“At least when I was a freshman, I was really excited and really wanting to get involved, and I was kind of confused
about how,” Packer said. “I think the first two weeks of school are so important for freshmen to learn how they can meet people, learn how they can get involved, because it makes the college experience so much better.”
According to Packer, the casual, open environment of the event made it easier for new students to strike up conversations, join games or simply enjoy a hot dog without feeling out of place.
The event also highlighted how student fees are used to support experiences that directly benefit students. Packer emphasized her commitment to making those funds matter.
“I am very passionate about using student fees in a way that benefits students the most,” she said. “And so, I feel like having this BBQuad event is a good way to directly give back to students using their student fees.”
Both Packer and Hill noted the event was about more than food and games. It was about creating an atmosphere where students, especially those just starting college, could find community.
“So far, it seems sweet,” Hill said. “A lot of people out enjoying time — like the families and just a lot of students playing games, eating some food, some good music.”
Whether BBQuad becomes a new tradition remains to be seen. Packer, who will graduate this year, said she hopes the event’s success will inspire future student leaders to continue it.
According to Packer and Hill, the event was a hit among students — a relaxed, welcoming celebration that gave first-year students a chance to step onto the Quad, grab a hot dog and maybe walk away with a new friend.
Dylan 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
PHOTOS BY Jack Burton
Attendees of the BBQuad event wait in a line wrapping around the Quad for free hot dogs on Sept. 3.
Attendees grab free hot dogs on the Quad on Sept. 3.
Column: Benson Boone doppelganger at USU
By Hazel Harris-Staples STATESMAN EDITOR
You may have heard a tune that goes a little something like: “Moonbeam ice cream, taking off your blue jeans, dancing at the movies….” If you’re anything like me, you may have heard this Benson Boone song one — or two or three — too many times. Nonetheless, I heard the sounds of this song again coming from the Quad as they announced the winner of the Utah State University Benson Boone Lookalike Contest.
The contest was organized by two individuals who met only 30 minutes prior. Sophomore Chelsea Peterson and first-year student Clara Lassley met on Yik Yak, where the idea for a lookalike contest originated.
“So, we’re both on some of the same social media platforms, and then I heard some people on social media being like, ‘Hey, a Benson Boone contest at USU would go crazy.’ Then someone else was like, ‘Oh, let’s plan an actual date’ and came up with Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. on the Quad just really randomly,” Peterson said. “I was like, ‘You know what, let’s actually do it.’ So, I recruited Clara, I recruited another person and we made flyers. We printed them out,— put them all over campus — and the rest is history.”
I too can see how, with the uptick in facial hair culture at USU, a Benson Boone lookalike contest would succeed on campus. I kind of think the campus store would do numbers in sales of sparkly blue jumpsuits and white, tight-fitting tank tops.
Peterson and Lassley also pointed out none of the competitors for the competition signed up beforehand. They
simply showed up and threw their name in the hat for the chance to be USU’s own Benson James Boone.
“We didn’t make any, like, Google Forms,” Peterson said. “It started off as a joke at first, and it was a little bit spontaneous. It was like, ‘You know what? Let’s actually do this because I think that would be fun.’”
Peterson also said they would enjoy hosting another lookalike competition for students on campus.
Contenders for the ultimate lookalike prize stood in a line and as they were called forward, presented their best Benson Boone impersonation. One contestant gave a twerk, another dropped into a front split, but notably, none were required to sing to win the competition.
I personally think at least one rendition of a song from Boone’s discography should’ve been required, but the competition was entertaining to watch, nonetheless.
Sam Taylor, a first-year student studying physics, was crowned the winner of the contest, after which he immediately attempted a front flip and began to sing “Mystical, Magical.”
“When I saw the flyers for this, I just knew I had to join. Friends, colleagues, family — they all told me, ‘Sam, look, there’s this Benson Boone Lookalike Contest.’ You have to go. And I figured, you know, it wouldn’t hurt,” Taylor said.
Taylor also told me being crowned Boone doppelganger meant more because the competition fell on his birthday. He continued by listing a few people he felt helped him towards this accomplishment.
“I’d like to shout out my hairstylist Brian. I’d like to shout out the person that gave me this belt. Really just all
around, it’s been a good day,” Taylor said. “Great birthday, and I’m proud to be Benson Boone.”
This whole event reminded me of when Benson Boone performed two hours away from my hometown in southern Utah. People were coming out of the woodworks to go see this show. I remember my friend’s mom saying how excited she was to go to the concert and being surprised that a forty-year-old woman knew ball. Every 14–16-year-old girl that I knew — okay, at least most of them — posted a photo of their meet-and-greet with Boone on their Instagram stories — they were ecstatic about meeting the mustachioed backflipper live in person. I really hope Sam Taylor can do that for someone on USU’s campus one day too.
Hazel Harris-Staples is a junior studying photography, art history and entrepreneurship. When she’s not attending lookalike contests, she can be found at the Swig drive-thru with a Texas Tab in hand or thinking about how funny she is.
— hazel.harris@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Hazel Harris-Staples Sam Taylor flexes for the camera after winning the Benson Boone Lookalike Contest on Sept. 5.
PHOTO BY Hazel Harris-Staples
Clara Lassley, an organizer of the Benson Boone Lookalike Contest, addresses the crowd to crown the winner on Sept. 5.
Benson Boone holding a small tub of “Benny’s Moonbeam Ice Cream” in a car selfie from his Instagram account.
Utah State basketball hosts first ever ‘Night with the Pros’
By Mark Greenwod Statesman Editor
Utah State Men’s Basketball hosted its first-ever “Night with the Pros” on Sept. 10 in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The fundraising event was headlined by former Aggies and now professional players Neemias Queta and Sam Merrill, as well as Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
In addition to the NBA pros, 18 Utah State Athletics Hall of Famers were in attendance, 20 additional former USU athletes, five former USU basketball coaches and two former USU basketball players whose numbers are retired. A full list of players and coaches in attendance can be found at usustatesman.com.
The event started in the afternoon with a private donor meet-and-greet at the Logan Country Club, followed by a banquet dinner and auction in the Spectrum. The evening was then opened to the public with a program that honored the former coaches and players in attendance, emceed by the voices of the Aggies, Al Lewis and Scott Garrard.
A new tradition was also started by the men’s basketball program as they honored Aggie alumnus Jim Laub as the inaugural sixth man of the year.
After the Aggie alumni were honored, Merrill, Queta, Mazzulla, Michael McCullough — former Aggie and current chief marketing officer of the Miami Heat — and USU Men’s Basketball head coach Jerrod Calhoun took the stage for a live interview with Garrard.
The interview questions for Merrill and Queta centered around their time in Logan as players and their time since in the NBA.
“I mean, it’s such a huge part of who I am: third-generation Aggie ... my dad being a huge Utah State guy,
my parents meeting here. I have so much family up here — like, this is the only place I ever wanted to play,” Merrill said. “It’s hard to — it’s hard to describe. Every time — I don’t come back to Logan as much as I probably should — but every time I come out of that canyon, it feels like I’m coming home.”
Queta echoed Merrill’s sentiments.
“This was a great, great experience for me, coming out here to Utah State. It was my first time in the United States. I was welcomed with open arms,” Queta said. “It was a great opportunity for me to come out here and just get adjusted ... It was a great opportunity for me to play basketball.”
Mazzulla, a long-time friend of Calhoun’s, spoke on their relationship and his position as a leader in the NBA.
“[Calhoun] coached me at West Virginia when I was playing, and then his first head coaching job was me, coach Paul, coach Manning ... worked for him for three years, and he was the best man in my wedding, and we’ve just been able to make each other better on and off the court,” Mazzulla said. “What they’ve done here tonight, building relationships, bringing people together — it’s kind of what they taught me how to do in the game ... They just teach you how to move it forward and leave it better than you found it. So, really grateful to be here and grateful for the relationship that we have.”
Calhoun, in addition to similar comments on his relationship with Mazzulla, spoke to the current state of college athletics with NIL deals and revenue sharing.
“We have spent a ton of time over the last 10 months raising money. It’s something I’ve always done ... We’ve had so many former players step up — so many busi-
ness people step up,” Calhoun said. “We have a lot of great business people in this state, in this community, and we just ask for your help. But I also think when we do some things structurally here on campus, we need everybody to step up ... We can moan, we can groan, whatever we want to do about it, but I think we have to embrace it and conquer it.”
Calhoun also shared the men’s basketball team has tripled their NIL in the first season with his staff at the helm. The event, which was primarily a fundraising event, sold 32 tables at $5,000 each and auctioned off over $40,000 of merchandise with an additional silent auction throughout, as well as additional donations given throughout the night.
“Utah State’s a team. Everybody in here is a part of our team,” Calhoun said. “Our goal tonight was to raise about $250,000, and we’re very, very close to that. And we’re going to keep going.”
The event concluded with lighting the A on Old Main blue, intending to signify a win for Utah State athletics.
Mark is a finance student in his third year covering sports with The Statesman. Mark is an avid LA Dodgers fan and loves to play golf, tennis and snow ski.
— mark.greenwood@usu.edu @md_greenwood on X
BY
PHOTO
Claire Ott
Spotted availability of cow-print branding
By Mark Greenwod Statesman Editor
Utah State University was established in 1888 as the Agricultural College of Utah. It wasn’t for nearly 70 years that the name was changed in 1957.
Through the years, the university has frequently paid homage to its agricultural roots, with no bigger example than the nickname “Aggies” for the school’s students and alumni.
On April 1, 2024, Utah State Football announced a new cow-print helmet design on their X page as another homage to its agricultural roots. Much to the dismay of the Aggie fanbase, this was merely an April Fools’ joke. However, the widespread positive feedback on the idea prompted further discussion. On Aug. 31, 2024, after a previous announcement from the university, the football team took the field for the season-opener donning spotted cow-print helmets.
While the cow-print helmets, and cow-print Aggie merchandise in general, seem to be popular among the fans, the same never-ending love isn’t held by everyone around the university.
“When the first ag thing was announced and the HURD decided that they wanted to incorporate that into a t-shirt, we did run into some problems,” said Ben Burdette, athletics & campus recreation executive director, in an interview with The Utah Statesman. “This year, we didn’t think cow print was going to be a thing because the athletics department hadn’t announced the cow-print helmet … so we didn’t necessarily try anything cow print this year.”
While the HURD wasn’t able to produce shirts or merchandise with cow-print branding either year, the problem was not exclusively due to the cow print itself.
“The main problem was you can’t have a logo on top of another design already and area of isolation,” Burdette said. “So those were the two biggest problems we ran into last year.”
The process for the HURD, or any other club or organization, submitting design approval requests can be a lengthy one. After a design is created, the process starts with a submission through an online portal that will then send it to an involvement adviser for approval. If approved at that point, it will get sent to University Marketing & Communications for final approval.
“[UMAC] has a list of rules and regulations to make sure that all clubs and organizations are representing Utah State the way that it wants to be represented,” Burdette said. “If they think that the design does not follow any of the rules or any of the regulations, they’ll deny the request and send it back to us with feedback.”
Once that feedback is received, UMAC designers will work with clubs or organizations to ensure the proposed designs align with the university brand standards.
The Statesman requested a live interview with the UMAC office but was provided with written answers to questions in an email.
“At Utah State, our visual brand is a significant part of the university’s overall identity. While we are open to suggestions for new brand components, not all proposals effectively represent the university or align with our brand strategy,” Heidi Adams, trademark licensing director, wrote in an email to the Statesman. “Adding a new component is a thoughtful process that brings together input from many different stakeholders from across the university.”
In addition to the approval process for new brand components, cow-print branding and merchandise are only made available at specific times in conjunction with agricultural-themed events.
“The Aggie cow print has been a part of our visual brand for two years. This brand pattern is specifically used to represent Utah State’s rich agricultural heritage,” Adams wrote. “It will only be available in retail when released in conjunction with an event celebrating that tradition.”
While the agricultural-themed events may be limited throughout the year, Burdette and his team are not opposed to future HURD merchandise with cow-print branding.
“It’s always an idea that we have for any of our agthemed sporting events. I personally love the cow print, and I think it’s fun to play into the agriculture aspect of the university,” Burdette said. “I am definitely on board with anything my team comes up with. As far as cow print, it’s just a matter of, ‘Can we do it in a way where it will get approved?’”
— mark.greenwood@usu.edu @md_greenwood on X
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
The USU Campus Store displays cow-print t-shirts at the front of the store on Aug. 28.
PHOTO BY Dane Johnson
A cow-print USU Football helmet is seen on the sidelines of Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium as the Aggies host the UTEP Miners on Aug. 30.
Pole vaulter Logan Hammer clears new heights
By Carson Frost Statesman Senior Reporter
Utah State pole vaulter Logan Hammer doesn’t talk much about records or rankings. He prefers to keep things simple.
“Whenever I go out to compete, I just go to compete and have fun,” Hammer said. “I don’t focus on what the other people are jumping. If I think about it too much, it ends up not going the greatest. So, I just go out there and aim to have fun.”
He might not think about records, but Hammer’s dedication and natural feel for the sport have put him at the top of USU’s record books time and time again.
Last spring, he cleared 18 feet, 8.25 inches, or 5.70 meters, at the Pacific Coast Invitational in California, the best mark in school history and one of the top jumps in the country. He won the Mountain West Conference championship weeks later with a meet-record clearance of 5.65 meters and advanced to the NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he finished tied for No. 13 and earned Second-Team All-American honors.
Hammer said the moment he remembers most wasn’t the school record but an earlier clearance he had on his second attempt at the NCAA indoor championships.
“When pole vault’s done right, it feels easy,” he said. “Everything just felt fluid, and that state of flow is what I try to get every time.”
At the NCAA outdoors, when he cleared 5.70, Hammer said the same thing happened.
“I did not expect to clear that. I came over the bar, fell onto the mat, looked up and thought, ‘No way,’” he said. “But again, it just felt easy, and everything came together at the right time.”
Hammer’s path to this mindset and level of performance began long before arriving in Logan.
While competing for Columbia High School in Nampa, Idaho, Hammer trained at the Dragila Vault Co., an elite pole vault club led by Olympic champion Stacy Dragila. Working with a world-class coach gave him early exposure to advanced technique and the mental approach needed to succeed.
“I wouldn’t be here at Utah State if it wasn’t for that club,” he said.
That experience helped him progress from barely over 15 feet to earning a scholarship at USU and laid the foundation for the focus he now carries into every competition.
The Aggies’ longtime multi-events and jumps coach Erik Rasmussen has watched Hammer’s progression unfold over several years. He first met Hammer at a high school clinic when the young athlete was just getting started in the sport.
“Even then, you could tell he had what it takes,” Rasmussen said. “Things clicked quickly for him, and he just absorbed everything.”
Hammer’s rise at the collegiate level wasn’t immediate. After returning from a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hammer had to rebuild his strength and technique. Rasmussen said the
two started with half approaches just to get the rhythm back.
“We had to scale him back to a half approach to work through things,” Rasmussen said. “This last year, the goal was to get back to what we consider a full approach, where he’s finally getting to full speed and being consistent and confident with that.”
Hammer credits his improvement to speed and conditioning, spending much of the offseason running on the track without touching a pole.
“Running is the most important part of pole vault,” he said. “We’re sprinters with a pole. The faster you are, the higher you can go.”
Both Hammer and Rasmussen stress the same lesson when it comes to competition: There are no big meets. While Rasmussen admits Hammer’s competitiveness elevates at big meets like the Mountain West and NCAA championships — where many of his best marks have come — he maintains Hammer’s preparation remains consistent.
“In pole vault, you’re the only one on the runway,” Rasmussen said. “You’re not racing someone next to you. If Logan runs down the runway and does his job, he’ll perform well.”
Hammer echoed that view.
“If you think about it too much as a big meet, you overwhelm yourself and let the moment overcome you,” he said. “Instead, I try to make every meet the same.”
Off the runway, Hammer is already preparing for life after track. Married and set to graduate this spring, he plans to apply to veterinary school while continuing to train and compete as long as possible.
“My first priority is taking care of my wife and my academics,” he said. “But I still want to compete — maybe not at the same volume of meets but enough to keep pushing myself.”
Rasmussen said that balance has helped Hammer’s athletic career as much as his vaulting technique.
“Because he’s dialed in with school and life, he doesn’t have to carry that stress into practice,” Rasmussen said. “He’s mature enough to enjoy this while it lasts but also prepare for the future.”
For now, Hammer is focused on staying sharp through the indoor and outdoor seasons and qualifying again for nationals. He isn’t worried about setting bigger goals than that.
“I just try to have fun and compete well,” he said. “If the bar keeps going higher, great. If not, that’s okay too.”
Carson 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.
— carson.frost@usu.edu @carsonfrostutah on X
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY USU Athletics
Logan Hammer, left, stands with USU jumps coach Erik Rasmussen after securing a spot in the 2025 NCAA national championships.
Logan Hammer attempts a jump at a competition in spring 2025.
How USU’s Dance Company creates community
By Rory McNeill Statesman Reporter
The Utah State University Dance Company has been a big part of USU for nearly two decades, and as a new school year begins, they are preparing for another year filled with club events.
The company is a student-run dance club part of the College of Arts & Sciences. Those who frequent events around campus, as well as Aggie sporting events, are probably more than familiar with the energetic performances the company puts on.
“We perform at basketball games, hockey games, soccer games, USU events, as well as community events,” said Ryley Cottrell, a third-year club member.
When asked about which of these events she is most excited for, presidency member Aubrey Pentz shared her feelings.
“I’d say I’m always most excited to perform at the basketball games,” Pentz said. “There’s always such a big crowd and so many people cheering that it ends up being such a fun thing to do.”
Along with all of the sporting events and USU activities at whwich the company performs, its biggest event is the annual concert where members are able to create and perform their own pieces.
“All of our pieces for the concert are actually student-choreographed, which gives all of us a really great opportunity to grow in the art form,” Cottrell said. This encouragement for members to grow in their dancing abilities is one of the central goals the company has for its members. Along with this, the company strives to make itself an inviting place for those around campus to meet and express themselves.
For many of the members, dance has been a central part of their lives for years, and the company allows them to continue following their passion.
“We really are very community-focused,” Pentz said. “We don’t compete against anyone. It’s really just to have girls out here doing what they love to do. We try to create a chill environment where you can come and dance with your friends.”
They are just a fun opportunity to make new friends and do what you love.
— Aubrey Pentz
According to Cottrell, all of the members of the club can attest to how the community created by the company has significantly improved their experience at USU.
“The friendships and bonds that the team makes every year is probably my favorite part of the dance company,” Cottrell said. “When I came to college, I didn’t have very many friends on campus, so the dance company is how I made all of my friends. I’ve danced for such a long time that it brought a sense of familiarity. I had moved away from home with nobody that I really knew, but dance was
that one constant that really helped me with the transition.”
According to Pentz, the company welcomes everyone to come participate in the activities and engage in the community regardless of experience.
“We encourage everyone to come out to our clinics, boys and girls, whether you have danced in the past or never have danced,” Pentz said. “They are just a fun opportunity to make new friends and do what you love.”
The company also encourages everyone who is interested to follow its Instagram at @usudanceco to see when clinics are planned and to reach out with any questions regarding any of the activities going on throughout the year.
Rory is an engineering student in his first year with the Statesman. He enjoys covering football and volleyball and playing pickup basketball. — a02381307@usu.edu
PHOTOS BY Hadley Sintay
*Editor’s note: Letter to the Editor and Guest Column submission instructions are available at usustatesman.com.
USU can’t catch a break, is leadership the answer?
Dear Editor,
USU can’t catch a break. There’s the Title IX investigation, lawsuits by former employees, the recent “transgender roommate issue,” and then, come to find out, our most recent President spent as much on a golf cart as I make in a year to support my family of five. Then there’s the time the President before made the “but he’s Mormon” comment. And even before she was President, her predecessor raised $0.5 *billion* dollars in a capital gains campaign while increasing tuition and fees by more than ever before. This is not a comprehensive list.
My point isn’t to gripe about USU. I’m happy for the (long) time I’ve spent here and with the education I’ve received. But with all the ways USU makes bad headlines, it just begs the question: why can’t USU catch a break?
I don’t think certain challenges at USU are unique. Unfortunately, it seems that we live in an increasingly risky political environment. We see this everywhere, including in the case of a restaurant being forced to change their logo back for being “too woke.” Universities are finding themselves in a lot of hot water nowadays. But it seems to me that USU has problems other universities don’t, and that many of these problems stem back to before the world got hyper-polarized.
How can USU keep from making bad headlines? I’m certainly not an expert in public policy, communications, or really anything except machine learning. But I think a lot of our problems could be addressed through proactive leadership. I’m not criticizing our current leadership. I think our current leadership has inherited a set of circumstances largely out of their control, and I think things have been navigated about as best as they could be. But for our next president, I think we need to think critically about what proactive leadership can do for us.
With the challenging recent roommate situation, should we have folded to the “changing political climate” and state officials, should we have pointed to the fact that this issue was addressed 10 years ago, or should we have done something else? Then-leadership seemed completely blind-sided by this issue, but a proactive leader could and should have seen this coming and prepared accordingly. Honestly, I don’t think it’s so much about which decisions get made as much as it is about being a proactive, inspirational, confident, diplomatic, intelligent, and personable leader
We don’t need a manager to put out our fires. We don’t need a reactive and unprepared leader always on the defense. We don’t even need someone who tries to “support everyone.” We need proactive leadership: someone with a plan before others fully realize what the catastrophe is. I believe this is possible (perhaps with the help of a team of supporting analysts), and that this would help relieve USU’s publicity woes. But we need someone with the courage and vision. I hope the Presidential search committee members and the future Presidential candidates think about this.
Make the most of your potential with training, tools, and mentorship. Develop your skill set while pushing your abilities to the next level.
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Claire Ott is a journalism major and environmental studies minor. She enjoys doing just about anything outside from biking to hiking to climbing to fishing to snowboarding, etc. She loves working as a photographer for the Statesman and all the places it sends her. — a02339922@usu.edu
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