Driest summer on record in Logan
By Avery Truman STATESMAN EDITOR
The Utah Climate Center at Utah State University maintains around 140 separate weather monitors around the state, from Logan to St. George. Using these stations, researchers measure trends and shifts in weather patterns throughout Utah, including the extremely dry summer Logan recently experienced — one of the driest on record.
Utah has been experiencing an increasing drought for years, but the lack of precipitation in Logan last winter made for an extra parched summer.
Climate data analyst and Ph.D. student Casey Olson said the weather records from the Utah State weather station date back to 1893.
“We’re really reliant on our snowpack for water resources across the Wasatch Front,” Olson said in an interview with The Utah Statesman.
According to Olson, last winter, Logan experienced less precipitation than usual until the end of the season, which could be partially responsible for the current dry conditions.
“You can see it reflected up in the mountains — just the drying of vegetation happening sooner,” Olson said.
While Utahns may be used to low humidity and brown lawns during summer months, this dry spell could negatively impact the local agriculture many people rely on.
“They’re having trouble feeding livestock, especially with grazing,” Olson said. “The landscape is so dry, there’s just not a lot of vegetation to feed their livestock.”
According to Olson, some areas of the state are reaching the lowest levels of soil moisture, leading to a “dire situation.” He said Logan’s rainy monsoon event during the week of Aug. 25 helped, but it was “too little too late.”
Wei Zhang, assistant professor of climate science at USU, said despite the extremely dry conditions, Logan did not reach a record-breaking level of heat. However, it was warmer than what is historically considered normal.
“When we look at the historical data, we look from the beginning of June to the end of July — we look at the precipitation,” Zhang said in an interview with the Statesman. “The past summer was the driest. It was pretty astonishing to us that we have seen the record dry summer in Logan.”
According to Zhang, two of the top drivers responsible for dry summer conditions are precipitation deficit and hot temperatures.
“In the past summer, the vast majority of Utah, if not 100%, was under drought conditions,” Zhang said.
Utah is one of the driest states in the U.S., and according to an article from The Salt Lake Tribune, residents use the most water of any southwestern state.
Zhang said he is working with students to understand the ongoing drought condition, develop forecasting for precipitation and predict what will happen in the next few months.
“Based on the weather forecasting, or the season prediction made by NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration], it seems that we would have a hot and dry than normal condition in the coming winter,” Zhang said. “I
believe that the drought condition will propagate for some time and may even get worse.”
To help the situation, Zhang recommended limiting the amount of water used for irrigating grass. Most grass species planted in Logan are not native to the local desert area and require more water than is naturally provided by the climate.
Aside from irrigation uses, Olson said the lack of water in Utah is partially due to occurrences in the global systems at play.
“There is a component of overall climate change that is increasing our temperatures, which increases that evaporative demand,” Olson said. “There’s more of the moisture being taken out of the soil into the atmosphere — being moved elsewhere.”
According to Olson, northern Utah experiences five-toseven-year cycles of wet and dry conditions, and Logan is currently exiting a wet cycle.
“We’re going to start seeing more strain in our water resources,” Olson said. “It’s hard to know exactly how that will play out in terms of policy, but that could mean water restrictions at some point.”
While this may seem shocking, Olson said there are many organizations aiming to help.
“The Institute for Land, Water, and Air are really focused on working with policy makers — so bridging the gap between the science and the policy,” Olson said. “On an individual level, water conservation always is the first thing to recommend.”
Watering plants during times when the sun will evaporate less water, like during the evening, can help conserve it. Zhang said students can influence their peers in class, family and friends to help the small choice to conserve water to grow until it turns into something bigger.
Avery Truman is a senior pursuing environmental studies and geography. When she’s not obsessing over science fiction, she enjoys managing the chaos of the newsroom.
— avery.j.truman@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Avery Truman
The Highline Trail in Logan is yellow after a dry summer near a well-watered golf course on Aug. 24.
Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building officially opens
By Malory Rau STATESMAN EDITOR
Surrounded by various donors, former and current student body representatives, family, students and more, Carolyn and Kem Gardner, alongside David H. Huntsman and Karen Huntsman, cut a big blue ribbon to celebrate the opening of the newest addition to the Utah State University Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, the Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building.
Before the ribbon-cutting on Aug. 29, there were speakers Interim President Alan L. Smith and Dean Douglas D. Anderson and two musical performances: “America the Beautiful” and “Bless this House.” These were sung by the USU Chamber Singers.
Anderson thanked the many organizations that dedicated time to the $32 million building, including donors and construction workers.
“We could not have selected a better team to guide us through the many complexities of construction,” Anderson said. He also publicly thanked the legislators from the state senate who made a $10 million donation to the building fund. One of his final thank-you’s was to one of the creative minds behind the building.
“We also want to recognize the stunning artwork of Abigale Palmer,” Anderson said. “She is a talented artist from Utah whose pieces were designed specifically with great intentionality, speaking directly to the purpose of the building and capturing the heart and soul of our students who dare mighty things at Utah State. Thank you so much.”
The building currently stands at 45,000 square feet with three floors. It is also LEED Silver green building certified. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a globally-used green building rating system. It holds three event spaces, one kitchen and a dining area. It houses multiple collaborative workrooms for student use.
J.J. Watts, USUSA business senator, was in attendance alongside USUSA President Brandon Sorensen.
“It’s more of an experiential learning space, meaning there’s going to be no classrooms in there. It’s going to house five different centers,” Watts said. The five centers include the Analytics Solutions Center, Huntsman Hive/
Freshman Academy — formerly known as the Women in Business Association, or WIBA — along with the Huntsman Scholar Program, the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center and the Center for Entrepreneurship.
Ten students across each of the centers shared testimonials on how their organization has impacted them. They spoke about various trips out of the country, networking opportunities and personal growth.
After the student testimonials, the Huntsman family spoke.
“It seems like yesterday that my husband and I sat in the kitchen with a pad of yellow paper thinking, ‘I want to be able to offer a fabulous business world experience for the people in southern Idaho, northern Utah. What better place can there be than Utah State?’” said Karen Huntsman regarding her late husband Jon M. Huntsman.
The program concluded with more remarks from the Gardner family, followed by Watts and Sorensen leading attendees in a rendition of “The Scotsman.” Former USUSA President Abe Rodriguez was also in attendance, as he was a part of the
early conversations for the building.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees and students were invited to an open house of the new building, where they enjoyed Aggie Ice Cream and live music.
Malory Rau is a senior pursuing journalism. When not obsessing over her next ear piercing, you can often find her being the cause of the chaos in the newsroom. — m.rau@usu.edu
Printed weekly during the school year.
PHOTO BY Malory Rau
The Huntsman family joins Carolyn and Kem Gardner at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building on Aug 29.
University responds to community concerns over Charlie Kirk event
STATESMAN STAFF REPORT
On Sept. 3, University Affairs sent out a statement on Utah State Today concerning the recent announcement of Charlie Kirk’s speaking event on campus.
The statement said Utah State University officials received many messages from the community voicing concerns for the Turning Point USA event to be held on Sept. 30.
The statement is in response to these messages and a change.org petition titled “Prevent Charlie Kirk from Speaking at Utah State University” requesting the decision allowing Kirk to visit be reconsidered under grounds that his platform does not align with USU’s ideology of inclusivity and diversity. The petition organizers said they fear the visit could create a divisive environment where not all students feel safe.
The university message highlighted a commitment to free speech, saying under USU policy, students can invite a variety of speakers with different ideas, viewpoints and ideologies. The statement quoted the following policy:
“[W]hen individuals are invited to speak or present on campus, the university respects the speaker’s right to engage in protected speech and encourages
a respectful presentation environment free from undue disruption or interference.”
The statement said USU does not endorse any group’s views but students are allowed to express their opinions freely. It stated the university’s role is to provide a neutral platform for discussion.
For students concerned about controversial speakers coming to campus, the statement recommended ignoring the event, inviting another speaker or attending the event to better understand counterarguments.
The petition description said allowing Kirk to speak at USU “undercuts the aim of nurturing constructive discourse rooted in mutual respect and understanding.”
The statement directed questions to Amanda DeRito, associate VP of strategic communications from University Marketing and Communications.
August 21
USUPD officers presented a Connections class at Old Main with K-9 Officer Sage. There were 30 students in attendance.
August 24
USUPD officers responded to the incident address on a suspicious incident call. The complainant reported a box underneath a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers observed the box in question. The box, found to be empty, was likely blown by the wind from the nearby dumpster and was removed from under the vehicle and disposed of in a nearby dumpster.
August 29
Officers responded to a medical call at the Utah State University Quad on report of a subject with a dislocated knee. The individual was assessed by medical professionals and transported to a hospital for further treatment.
August 30
USU Police and medical were called to Maverik Stadium on a medical issue where an individual had twisted their ankle on a set of stairs. Emergency medical responders assessed the injury, and the injured party declined any type of transport and left the facility by private vehicle.
August 31
A stray kitten was found by an individual who called USUPD inquiring about organizations that would care for the animal. The responding officer provided information on animal services.
Charlie Kirk
NEHMA launches Dock Sessions Concert Series
By Hazel Harris-Staples STATESMAN EDITOR
Folk music drifted through the air and students gathered, armed with chips, salsa and cookies, on a warm evening at the loading dock in between the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art and the new Wanlass Center for Arts Education & Research. This was the setting of the first ever NEHMA Dock Sessions Concert series.
The band Hatchback, composed of two current students and one USU alum, took the stage on Sept. 3. Chiara Sorensen, coordinator of visitor and events services at NEHMA, organized the new outdoor concerts with the aim to get students feeling more comfortable and excited about the museum.
“Just really wanting the museum to be a place where college students feel comfortable — feel like there’s something for them, something exciting, like live music,” Sorensen said.
Sorensen and her team could also be seen throughout the night of the first concert refilling the complimentary chips and salsa and restocking the variety of beverages provided for concertgoers.
The Dock Sessions are set to highlight local bands with ties to the campus community that feel like peers to students, Sorensen explained.
Sorensen said as she was looking for a band to perform at the first ever session, the student interns at NEHMA recommended Hatchback.
Hatchback is a Logan-based folk band that makes music band member Alex McCain described as “mountain music for the city boy.” Named by a previous bandmate because each member drove a hatchback car, the band encourages people to come away from their shows with their own feelings about what they hear.
“It’s really, really neat to see just how people’s brain chemistry can interpret music differently, and so that’s why I think it is hard to describe our music, because I feel like we write music for the majority, and because of that, it’s up to interpretation,” Jack Brady, recent USU alum and band member, said in an interview with The Utah Statesman.
McCain, the band’s banjo player and a USU senior studying information systems, remarked on how he feels about playing a community-based show like the Dock Sessions.
“The fun part about the community shows is how the community is there, you know? It’s one thing to go play at a venue when its dark and the lights are bright and you can’t really see who you’re playing for, but at the community venue, it’s really neat to see my professors show up and my coworkers that didn’t necessarily realize I was playing recognize that we were doing that. It felt a lot more connected to the people around me and a lot more personable than any other show ever has,” McCain said. “I’ve really seen over the course of my college career how this sort of thing really brings people together.”
Students, community members and anyone who would like to listen to live music are invited to upcoming NEHMA Dock Sessions. The next sessions of the semester will be held on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. Sorensen aims for the events to start back up when it warms up in the spring semester and hopes this event becomes something
“We kind of envision that this becomes an ongoing, kind of a household event where people get excited for it every month,” she said.
Upcoming events will be posted on NEHMA’s Instagram account at @nehma_usuart and on the Utah State University Events Calendar, located at usu. edu/calendar.
Hazel Harris-Staples is a junior studying photography, art history and entrepreneurship. In her free time, she likes hanging out with her husband, practicing her yodeling and finding a sweet treat. — hazel.harris@usu.edu
bigger.
PHOTOS BY Dane Johnson
Spectators and fans stand at the front of a crowd gathered to see Hatchback perform on Sept. 3.
Hatchback band member Nathan Ahlstrom sings and plays guitar on Sept. 3.
The band Hatchback performs at the first NEHMA Dock Session of the school year on Sept. 3 as a crowd claps and cheers along to their songs.
Walipini Impact builds greenhouse in Uganda
By Sam Isaacson STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER
This summer, Walipini Impact, a benefit corporation based out of Logan, had the opportunity to build a greenhouse in Kampala, Uganda for the Grace Place Ministry. This build marks their first official build outside of the United States and their second greenhouse ever built. Walipini got into contact with the ministry through Kids Read Foundation director David Muyanja, who used to work for Grace Place before coming to the U.S.
After getting connected with Grace Place, Walipini set its plans in motion: designing the greenhouse, creating a materials list and getting funding for the build.
Sam Kelley, chief marketing officer for Walipini, said they ran into an unexpected situation with the materials when they arrived at the build site.
“When we showed up at Grace Place, we were hoping that the materials would be there, and they weren’t,” Kelley said. “So, we went on a little adventure to find all of the materials, and because of that, we actually got to be more hands-on and more particular about what we were picking.”
Jessie Miller, president of Walipini, said they also had to adjust their plan for how they would build the greenhouse after picking up the materials.
“The materials were very different from what we were expecting,” Miller said. “The bamboo was a different type of bamboo than we’d ever worked with, and the stone was
softer. It wasn’t quite what we were looking for, so we just relied on the local knowledge because the people who are at Grace Place have a lot of building experience. We didn’t fully have a great idea of what this would look like when it was done, and neither did they, but in the end, it was just — it came to be and was really magical in that way.”
Once Walipini gathered all its materials, it was finally ready to start building the greenhouse. Miller said they decided to use a shade house design that sits above ground instead of the underground walipini design they used in Logan.
“For us in Utah, we have to build a walipini so that we can have access to food year-round and grow year-round because of the climate,” Miller said. “In Uganda, the climate’s more forgiving, so you only need to make small changes to the growing environment.”
According to Miller, despite all the unexpected challenges the group faced, they were able to successfully build the greenhouse and provide the community with a sustainable food source for years to come.
“I think that was one of the great moments in Uganda — was we knew what we were building there would be appreciated and used for a long time,” Miller said. “We’re starting to get these updates about the food they’re growing and how happy they are to just have access to that, and it makes us really excited.”
Walipini’s next planned build outside of the U.S. will be in Guatemala, and Kelley said they will use what they learned from the Uganda build to make it even better.
“We’re definitely going to be more aware of the materials that we’re using,” Kelley said. “We weren’t educated well enough to know what their building material would have been best, so we will definitely be educating ourselves on what to use there and what would work best.”
Miller also said they are currently in the works of getting a walipini built on USU Logan campus for students dealing with food insecurity.
“We’re looking at the sites where we’re going to have it. We’re getting architectural drawings together,” Miller said. “We’re finding supporters across campus, and here soon, we’ll probably be trying to see how many professors, deans and if maybe even the president will be able to support this.”
If students want to stay updated on what Walipini is doing, they can visit its website walipniimpact.com, and if they want to donate to the upcoming Guatemala build, they can visit its GoFundMe.
Samantha
is senior studying journalism with a double minor in art and psychology. She is passionate about human rights, animal rights and climate change.
Isaacson
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY Walipini Impact
Children in Kampala, Uganda water and harvest plants in the walipini constructed by Walipini Impact.
PHOTO BY Hazel Harris-Staples
The front door of Walipini Impact’s greenhouse in Logan, as seen in March 17.
Art-Beat returns to Center Street
By Dylan Moore STATESMAN REPORTER
Downtown Logan transformed into an art festival for its second-annual Center Street ArtBeat. The event supports the community of Cache Valley by allowing local artists and musicians to display their talent and by supporting a local nonprofit every year.
“We had this idea to bring together the community and art in the same place and have a hub where people can just come and be themselves,” said Kayla DeRito, one of the organizers of the event.
The event, held on Aug. 30, featured vendors from local businesses and artists, as well as a variety of local bands, including The Last Wild Buffalo. The event ran from 12–10 p.m. There were two stages for different bands to play at the same time and a ramp built the day of for a skateboarding competition.
As a show of support for the bands and vendors in attendance, the Art-Beat’s Instagram posted short descriptions about each of the bands, food vendors and artisan vendors, which helped shed light on those small businesses. A diverse range of patrons, from families to college students, attended the event.
Each year, the festival supports a different nonprofit organization. Last year, they supported a group called Recovery Cafe, which aims to support people recovering from addiction. This year, the Cache Valley for Hope Cancer Foundation was the main focus, a non-profit that emotionally and financially assists local residents in battling cancer.
“Cache Valley for Hope is truly an unsung hero of the valley, and we could not be happier to help them through Center Street Art-Beat,” DeRito said. Alley on Center, an organization that hosts creative events for the community, put on the event. Caylee
Funk, co-founder of the Alley, felt especially passionate about supporting the Hope Foundation this year because she has a personal connection to the organization. Funk is a cancer survivor herself and was helped by the foundation.
“They literally, just months ago, were helping me financially, emotionally and all the things,” Funk said. Only five months ago, Funk was in chemotherapy and said this was a way she could give back to the foundation that helped her.
This year, there were a number of vendors who pledged a part of their proceeds to the foundation. Mike Bodrero of Bodrero Framing and Design said they held an art competition earlier that day. The competition started at 7:30 a.m., so the artists had about three hours to complete their paintings. Each of the paintings were on display and for sale. All of the artists pledged at least a portion of the proceeds to the Hope Foundation, with some choosing to donate all. Mike said in the future, he wants to get more students involved and have a whole student category for the competition.
When asked what her plans are for the future of the event, Funk said, “I don’t know. We just really love the vibe of what we’ve got going on and really just want to do it again next year.”
The TeaSC is this season’s hot new bombshell. Join Hazel, Ella and Marissa as they spill YOUR tea! Every Tuesday at 6 p.m., tune in to hear our listeners’s anonymous submissions. If you want to hear us react to your drama, follow the QR code below.
Submit your stories, tea and drama HERE!
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
Nobody’s Son Sabrina Carpenter
The Night The Light’s Went Out in Georgia
back!
Reba McEntire get him
Olivia Rodrigo
Red Flags
Mimi Webb
PHOTO BY Claire Ott
The Center Street sign hangs over the music stage, constructed in the middle of the street, as seen at Center Street Art-Beat on Aug. 30.
Meet the bands who played
By Hazel Harris-Staples STATESMAN EDITOR
USU’s Weeks of Welcome ended with a bang. The Big Agg Show, an annual outdoor concert featuring four bands from the Utah music scene, was surrounded by the HURD members camping on the Quad in preparation for the first home football game of the season. Organized by Aggie Radio 92.3 FM, the show highlighted unique sounds from Ivy Avenue, Drusky, Over Under and Wilbere. Here is an inside look at these four bands.
Ivy Avenue
Ivy Avenue is an alt/indie rock band from Salt Lake City. Kassidy McKean, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, spoke to the band’s founding, discussing how each member joined.
“The funny thing is none of these members are original band members except for me,” McKean said. “We found Meg, and then we found Gibby, and then we found Trevor.”
“She collected us like treasures,” said Trevor Blair, the band’s bass player.
McKean said the band community played a part in the founding story of Ivy Avenue.
The Big Agg Show was the band’s first performance on a college campus together, and the members said their campus performance felt different from others at local venues.
We’re connected to event management people, stage management people. We’re connected to journalism. You see a lot of departments and a lot of fields in work. There’s a lot more going on at a college campus.”
Gibby Holiday, lead guitarist, added his own feelings about playing at Utah State.
“Here feels a lot more sentimental and important, and we’re getting taken care of,” Holiday said.
McKean said the band’s inspiration is rooted in having differences in their personal music taste and the way they learn music.
“We all have very different — not different music tastes
“Every single song we’ve made since it’s been us has sounded very different,” Blair said. “It’s very distinct — you can remember it, and I really like that because when everything sounds the same, you kind of just get bored of it.”
Drusky
Drusky, a band named after a combination of the words drunk and husky with an Instagram bio that reads “SLC angst,” discussed the way their band formed and how each of the four band members in attendance came together. The story begins with a previous band that drummer Scott Knutson, guitarist Casey Ball and bass player Eli Pratt were all a part of.
“Us three were part of a different band, rocking out in Provo, and we were aware of Mia killing it as a solo kind of singer, songwriter, musician. Our band kind of exploded in a bad way. It imploded, and it was not a fun implosion. And then shortly thereafter, Mia was like, ‘Hey, I’m looking to start a band. Who wants in?’” Knutson said. Mia Hicken, Drusky’s singer and rhythm guitar player, said a tour experience they had in the Pacific Northwest contrasted with the experiences they have in the Utah music scene.
“There’s no shortage of bands to choose from in Utah that are really good, versus when we were trying to find bands to play with going through other places, it was a little more slim pickings,” Hicken said. “Here, there’s so
Davis Mcbride and Max Moon, Wilbere band members, perform on Aug.
PHOTOS BY Claire Ott
Ivy Avenue opens the Big Agg Show hosted by Aggie Radio on the Quad, as seen on Aug. 29.
played the Big Agg Show
most of the music for the band and brings it to them.
“I’ll kind of write maybe the bones of the song, like general song structure. I’ll come up with lyrics. Usually those just happen, kind of singing nonsense, until something makes sense,” Hicken said.
Knutson added his own thoughts about how the rest of the band members contributed to the songwriting process.
“It’s very democratic,” Knutson said. “If any one of us wants to try anything, we always give it a whirl, and we all trust each other’s musical prowess and judgment, so it’s pretty fun.”
Over Under
Over Under consits of Max Moffat, guitarist and vocalist, and two sets of brothers: the Gwynns and the McNallys. Moffat, the only band member without a brother in membership, discussed the band’s beginning.
“It was right after Tay and I graduated high school, and we started playing music together. We had been in a high school band together, and then right after we graduated, it just so happened that Tay’s little brother Jaden was a really, really cool, good drummer, and so we started playing with him,” Moffat said. “Just recently, earlier this year, we picked up the McNally’s for a Kilby Block Party and have been playing a lot together, and it’s been super fun.”
Taylor added to the founding story with a memory.
crying the day she got it because of how annoying it was. She was like, ‘Actually, we can’t do this,’” Jaden said. Taylor and Moffat detailed their songwriting process, discussing how they work together as a band to create the music that they want to be making.
ly come with some sort of structure and, like, some lyrics or something. And then, everyone else writes their own parts, and it turns into something completely different, so it’s super collaborative. Everyone has a say in it and has a part in it.”
Wilbere
Wilbere started with members Davis McBride, lead singer, and bassist Ethan Powell as a band called “Raining, Pouring.” McBride wrote songs he wanted to record but lacked a band with the skills to assist him.
According to McBride, playing at the show felt nostalgic since he came to the show when he was a student at USU. McBride said he was excited to return and play at USU after forming a band.
Ethan Powell said he enjoys playing at shows like the Big Agg Show because of the feelings and energy that come with it.
“You definitely feel more energetic on stage,” Powell said. “Davis always comes with really good ideas. You never really know what he’s going to bring you, so it’s always a surprise.”
McBride said he writes around 90% of the songs and when he’s ready to finish the song, he brings it to the band to complete and flush out the last 10%.
“I think that there’s no process,” McBride said. “As soon as I find a process, then that process, as soon as I realize it, is dead. I have to continually find ways to
Max Moffat, Over Under vocal and guitarist, smiles in between songs on Aug.
Backflips and friendship: Inside Utah State’s student-run gymnastics club
By Carson Frost Statesman Senior Reporter
Utah State University’s Club Gymnastics team gathers several nights a week to train, splitting time between the HPER building on campus and Altius Gymnastics, a local facility in Logan. The practices are structured but relaxed. Without a formal coach, students rely on one another to spot skills, offer feedback and cheer when someone lands a routine.
The team was founded in 2012 as a men’s program before expanding to include women a few years later. Since then, it has grown into a coed club that welcomes members of all backgrounds and ability levels.
Unlike the university’s NCAA gymnastics team, which competes in the Mountain West Conference, the club is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs, or NAIGC, a nationwide organization that emphasizes accessibility and inclusion.
Through the NAIGC, gymnasts can compete in traditional men’s and women’s events as well as in develop-
mental or open divisions. That flexibility allows members to choose how much they want to participate.
“It’s super fun, super chill, super low key,” said co-president Nicky Meyers. “You can be as into it as you want to be and put as much effort into the practices as you would like to.”
That approach has attracted students with a wide range of experiences. Some competed in gymnastics throughout high school while others are trying the sport for the first time. Team member Haley Kemeny always wanted to join gymnastics but couldn’t afford the cost of lessons as a child.
“It was really expensive,” Kemeny said. “But here, it’s such a cheap option. It’s the perfect way to finally do it.”
Grant Joslyn, in charge of the club’s marketing and social media, said he had done flips on a trampoline in middle school and joined his high school cheer team, but it wasn’t until being challenged by former club presidents he joined USU’s club.
“I got challenged to a handstand competition,” he said. “That’s what brought me in, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Competitions are among the most memorable experiences for members. The team regularly travels to meets in Boulder, Colorado and sends representatives to NAIGC Nationals each spring. Last year’s nationals were held in Philadelphia, and this year, the event will take place in Alabama.
Meyers hadn’t planned on competing until midway through the season but decided to enter men’s developmental, placing third overall.
“I showed up for the spring semester, and I was like, ‘Why not put me in men’s developmental?’” Meyers said. “I got third all-around, and I was like, ‘Dang, I didn’t even think I was competing this year,’ but that was a lot of fun.”
For Grace Madsen, the club’s treasurer, nationals marked her first competition.
“It was just so fun to have the whole team there and experience that together,” Madsen said.
At practices, attendance is flexible, and gymnasts choose which events to work on. Lydia Peck, who serves as co-president with Meyers, said optionality is part of the draw.
“For me, the freedom is a big aspect of it,” Peck said. “We’re not tied to a specific warmup. If I want to do floor the entire practice, I get to.”
Members described the team as supportive and encouraging. Beginners often receive as much attention as advanced gymnasts, and small achievements are celebrated.
“Everyone is excited when you learn a new skill, even if it’s really basic,” Kemeny said.
The club also provides leadership opportunities. Officers handle fundraising, coordinate travel to meets, manage safety and logistics and complete university paperwork. Meyers said the role has pushed him to develop new skills.
“I didn’t have any organizational skills before I became co-president,” Meyers said. “I had to sit down and really learn how to plan and organize.”
For some, the impact goes beyond gymnastics. Joslyn said the club has allowed him to continue pursuing a sport he loves while building friendships.
“It’s cool to be part of a team and also just hang out with everyone,” Joslyn said. “You can learn a lot, but it’s still low pressure and fun.”
This fall, the team plans to host a back handspring and back tuck clinic for students interested in learning new skills. In the spring, they will stage an intrasquad meet in Logan before traveling again to Boulder and then to nationals.
For current members, the invitation is simple.
“You’ll have an adventure,” Meyers said. “You’ll make friends, learn some skills and have a good time. Even if you only come once, it’s worth it.”
Joslyn highlighted the mix of competition and lightheartedness.
“It’s a great way to see what it feels like to be on a team without any of the pressure. You get to travel, compete a little and just have fun,” Joslyn said.
and taking road trips.
Carson Frost is a transfer student from Denver studying journalism. He loves writing, making music, hitting the gym
PHOTOS BY Elise Gottling Haley Kemeny practices on the balance beam during a USU Club Gymnastics meeting on Sept. 2.
PHOTO BY Elise Gottling
Emma Koehler hangs from the bars during a USU Club Gymnastics practice on Sept. 2.
Aggie All-American breaks Utah State steeplechase records in historic season
By Carson Frost Statesman Senior Reporter
Shelby Jensen has emerged as one of Utah State’s most accomplished track athletes, turning a promising freshman year into a record-breaking sophomore season that established her as one of the nation’s top steeplechasers.
In June at the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon, Jensen ran 9:36.61 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final, breaking her own school record and earning First-Team All-American honors. Her finish was the highest national placement ever for a Utah State woman in the event and marked the first time since 2018 that an Aggie female reached the NCAA final in the steeplechase.
Now entering her junior year, Jensen’s progression from a 10:10 freshman season to sub-9:40 times in just two years has been the result of consistent effort and adapting to a new environment.
“The freshman year is really hard, and you’re dealing with a lot of changes,” Jensen said. “You know, moving from a different support group — going from being surrounded by your family and your friends to meeting your teammates who come from all different backgrounds. Being a sophomore helped a lot. I already knew what to expect when I came to practice.”
Jensen’s work ethic has been a defining feature of her rise. Utah State Track & Field/Cross Country director Artie Gulden said her improvement was more mental than physical.
“She was a different runner last outdoor season just from a confidence perspective,” Gulden said. “Every race I saw her run, she was super confident. She followed the race plan — put herself in position to win — and that confidence just kept growing with every success.”
Jensen’s natural talent for the steeplechase was apparent from the start. Gulden noted her everyday dedication to technique and training allowed her to make significant gains in a short period. She never competed in the event before coming to Utah State, but her coaches immediately saw potential.
“Sometimes kids just naturally can do it,” Gulden said. “She was just so smooth and natural going over the water jumps right from day one. In fact, after her first race in the steeple, she was already number two all-time in USU history.”
Jensen said she was instantly drawn to the challenges of the event.
“The hurdles don’t fall down — you do,” she said. “First time I went over the water jump, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue. I loved it immediately.” Her improvement has been methodical with a focus on both physical and mental preparation. Working with coaches Mark Crandall and Sarah Nardoni, Jensen learned to stay relaxed over the barriers, maintain
consistent pacing and approach the water jumps with confidence rather than hesitation.
“If I think too much, I mess up,” Jensen said. “This year, we focused on staying smooth and efficient, building confidence over the hurdles and water jumps. By June, it wasn’t the hurdles I worried about — it was about staying in it mentally.”
“I’m pretty bashful about it, but they won’t let anyone forget I’m an All-American. It makes me want to be better — knowing I’m representing them,” Jensen said. Jensen has also benefited from her experience as a multi-sport athlete. Growing up, she played basketball in addition to running, playing the power forward position with her 5-foot-10-inch frame. Even now, she occasionally heads to the ARC to shoot hoops.
“Basketball has been a really good outlet,” she said. “It’s not quite as cardiovascular as running. It takes different levels of leadership and different levels of patience, and so I think it’s helped me learn how to deal with and accept a lot of different people.”
Her analytical approach extends beyond athletics and into her studies. A data analytics major, Jensen applies the same methodology to her training that she uses in the classroom, giving her an extra edge in competition.
“In data analytics, you’re always looking at the information you’ve been given to solve a problem,” she said. “From freshman to sophomore year, I noticed I wasn’t sleeping enough or fueling properly. I assessed the data and made adjustments, and that helped me perform better.”
Looking ahead, Jensen’s goals continue to expand. As she focuses on cross country in the fall, where she serves as team captain, Jensen is already aiming to break the NCAA steeplechase record, set in June by Alabama’s Doris Lemngole at 8:58.15.
“I really believe I can dip below that nine-minute barrier,” Jensen said. “It takes belief on my part first and then obviously all the training after.”
Gulden cautioned Jensen’s continual progress will take time.
“It’s great that she’s thinking that way, but our focus is on the process and taking it one race at a time,” Gulden said. “She’s already in a pretty special place in terms of the steeplechase, so being able to continue to improve would just continue to put her in rarer and rarer air.”
Beyond college competition, Jensen is targeting the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene — the same place where she shattered her own record in June.
Jensen’s upbringing played a key role in shaping her discipline and independence. She is one of 15 siblings and grew up learning responsibility from a young age. Her older sister Abby was also a steeplechaser at Utah State and currently ranks fourth all-time in the outdoor 3,000-meter with a time of 10:14.07.
“Abby has been my biggest supporter along with my parents,” Jensen said. “When I broke the school record, she texted me immediately to say how proud she was.”
Her three younger brothers are equally devoted fans.
“It’s definitely something we’re keeping in our sights, but we’re going to take it one step at a time,” Jensen said. “I’ve raced there before, and it would be amazing to have a chance to represent the United States. I think it would be a shame to waste an opportunity like that, so I’m going to try my very hardest to get there.”
As Jensen prepares for another season of cross country and track, her focus remains on training, topping her own times and helping her teammates. With two more years of eligibility, she will continue building on her success on the track while balancing academics and leadership responsibilities.
— carson.frost@usu.edu
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY Utah State Athletics
Shelby Jensen poses for a picture on June 14 after a seventh-place finish in the 2025 NCAA national championships for the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
From campus to community: The power of your vote
Voting isn’t just a civic duty. It’s the engine that powers stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities. When people vote, they help shape decisions that affect everyday life, from schools and public safety to health policies and housing. Higher voter turnout means elected officials are more likely to pay attention to community needs, invest in underserved areas, and uphold democratic accountability.
Studies show a disparity in participation: although more than 80% of college students were registered in 2020, only approximately 66% actually voted, according to USU Statesman. USU’s emphasis on voter information helps bridge this gap.
Utah State University (USU), as a Title IV–eligible institution, provides students with essential information to support informed civic engagement and voter participation, in compliance with federal regulations.
Voter Registration Resources
• For Utah residents (including USU students): Complete the Utah Voter Registration Form to officially register to vote in Utah.
• For students from other U.S. states or territories: Visit Vote.gov to locate the appropriate registration form and learn deadlines specific to your state.
• For service members, families, overseas citizens, and students abroad: The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) at fvap.gov offers tools for voter registration and absentee ballot requests while abroad.
Key Utah Voting Deadlines – 2025
• Municipal Primary (August 12): Register by August 1 (mail/online); same-day provisional on Election Day. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on August 12.
• Municipal General (November 4): Register by October 24; same-day provisional option remains. Mailed ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• New Voting Rules: Voters must now opt in to receive mail ballots, and mail returns must include the last four digits of a state or SSN-issued ID. Future reforms will require re-opt-in every eight years and in-person ID to vote by 2029.
Christina Ayres, director of federal aid — christina.ayres@usu.edu
Amazing Animals
www.sudokuoftheday.com.
By Dane Johnson