Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Week of November 6, 2023
Classrooms out of commission after a water leak in Huntsman
By Caitlin Keith NEWS MANAGER
Three classrooms in Huntsman Hall were put out of commission this week after maintenance workers found a water leak had spread from the fourth floor to the first.
Earlier renovations done in room 490 caused a leak to appear over the weekend and was discovered the morning of Oct. 29. The water went from Room 490, which is made up of offices, down through classrooms 380, 280 and 180.
The classes that take place in those rooms had to be temporarily relocated to other buildings. Affected students were informed by email of their class relocations.
John Chase, USU facilities director of operations and statewide campuses, said the plan is to have the affected classrooms back in use again on Monday, Nov. 6. The cause of the leak came from the building’s heating and cooling system. Huntsman Hall uses an in-floor hydronic system that pumps hot or cold water through the floor of the building to either heat or cool the building.
“With unique buildings come unique challenges,” Chase said.
Three months ago, some furnishings were being moved around the offices in Room 490. With that came the installation of an electrical floor box to provide power to desks and outlets.
While this floor box was being installed, a worker nicked a water line that was a part of the in-floor hydronic system. That first nick was then repaired, but another smaller nick in the line occurred that was not seen.
“That nick did not appear in the original test of the waterline before we put everything back,” Chase said. “Over the course of time with the pipes, everything moves a little bit and then there’s a little bit of abrasion with the water running through the lines as well. So, it abraded the line, the waterline enough to create a penetration therein lies the waterfall.”
The nick in the waterline that caused the issue was so small it could only be seen once water was coming out of it.
The leak was discovered late Sunday morning, and Chase said he believes the leak began early that day. The water flowed from the floor the fourth level, coming out of the ceiling of Room 380. When the water hit the floor on the third level, it spread out horizontally before spilling down to the lower floors through the sides of the classroom.
“There was more width to the water, it wasn’t focused,” Chase said. “Each time it hit the floor, it kind of dissipated out on the floor and go out to the next floor. But it was less water each time as well.”
Despite the amount of electrical wiring and different electronic devices within the classrooms and the building itself, Chase said the water didn’t hit anything electrical. The damage done was all water damage to the structure of the classrooms, and no electrical damage occurred.
Water was cleaned up from the floor of the rooms by the facilities maintenance team using vacuums and dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the space. The waterline the leaked stemmed from was repaired on Nov. 1.
With the goal to get the classrooms back into operation by this coming Monday, most repairs will be done throughout the week. Chase said there might have to be more work done over Christmas break when classes aren’t happening and students are gone.
Caitlin is a senior who has red hair. She also hosts a radio show called The Racket every Monday with her friend Ray on Aggie Radio.
— c.keith@usu.edu
Facitlities worker repairs the leak in an infloor waterline in Huntsman Hall Room 490 on Nov. 1.
Logan City Council candidates speak to USU students at town hall
By Sydney Lyman NEWS REPORTER
On Oct. 30, six candidates for Logan City Council perched on stools that lined the TSC Hub stage. The event, hosted by The Utah Statesman, was structured as a town hall. Three moderators asked the candidates about their policy ideas, student involvement in politics and why students should care about who serves on the council.
Mike Johnson, a 13-year resident of Logan and a Utah State University alumni, spoke about his ideas to involve students in local government through increased social media presence. Johnson emphasized meeting people where they are, either on social media or in their email inboxes, to better educate and communicate with residents.
“The city needs a better comprehensive digital communication plan. For decades in America, we relied on video and newspapers to get our news out.” Johnson said. “With the advent of the internet and social media, we haven’t figured out how to fill that gap quite yet.”
Katie Lee-Koven, another candidate and the chief curator at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, had ideas to bring on student interns in addition to tapping into social media potential.
“One of my interests is in improving communication across the board,” Lee-Koven said. “Doing the marketing and promotion on campus is something that will help us better get out the word on things that are important to students.”
Candidate Erin Bennett, a longtime Logan resident and mother, said the younger generation got her involved in government.
“I came in, I got interested in local politics because of my children because of you guys,” Bennett said.
In addition to proposed solutions to communication gaps between city government and students, candidates also addressed concerns about growth in Logan.
Candidate Joe Needham, a designer and goldsmith at Silk & Co., stated one of his main goals was addressing the housing issue through strategic zoning.
“We have not been keeping up the pace with the amount of apartments that are needed for student housing or residential housing and have not kept up with the pace of residential growth,” Needham said.
Fellow candidate Jeannie Simmonds shared these concerns. Simmonds, a 45-year resident of Cache Valley and member of the current council, wants to give residents an opportunity to invest in Logan through property while maintaining natural resources.
“I believe that we need to create opportunities for people to invest in Logan,” Simmonds said. “In addition to that, I think we need to be very careful with our resources our water resources, our electrical resources. We need to preserve our rivers; we need to preserve our wet-
lands so that they are there to sustain this value in the future.”
Candidate Mark Anderson, who has sat on the council for the last four years and serves on the Forest Advisory Board, is also prioritizing sustainability-oriented solutions.
“Sustainability is so critical for Logan,” Anderson said. “We’ve done a lot for Logan City to create a clean water environment. We have a state-of-the-art water treatment facility that’s turning out the cleanest water we could… then we’re taking the biosolids out and composting it and making that available for our citizens. We need to focus on better ways to create cleaner energy so that all our citizens can utilize it.”
All candidates agreed that they hope to make Logan City a better place for current and future residents.
Election Day is Nov. 21, and a voting center will be open on that day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cache County Event Center, located at 490 S. 500 W., in rooms 2 and 3. Mail-in ballots were sent out to registered voters beginning Oct. 31. These ballots can be returned by mail or in person at the Cache County Clerk’s Office.
Sydney is a junior studying political science, journalism and anticipatory intelligence. When she’s not chasing the latest scoop, you can find Sydney hiking, turning stress into delicious baked goods, and delivering puns so bad they’re good.
— sydney.lyman@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham
Logan City Council canidates pose for a photo before the Elections Town Hall on Oct. 30.
Annual safety walk identifies areas of concern
By Alivia Hadfield NEWS REPORTER
Every year, the Utah State University Student Association, or USUSA, teams up with Logan students to identify areas of concern on campus. The group of eight students is typically joined by a member of the campus police, USU’s risk manager, a representative from USU housing and a Logan City official.
Safety walks have taken place on the USU campus annually for five years. During this nighttime walk, students show areas of the USU campus that don’t feel safe.
This year, USUSA Logan Vice President Emily Smilanich, was responsible for this project. In years past, this project was run by the president.
“This year, we identified that we wanted to go through the side of east campus and east campus housing because that area hasn’t been super touched on before,” Smilanich said. “We kind of went in with a mapped area where we were going to hit, but we ended up just stopping a lot of other places that we also thought would be good to talk about.”
Safety concerns on campus include poorly lit sidewalks, potholes and crosswalks needing more signage.
“We had two students who live on campus in the dorms on the east side, and they were able to help us identify a lot of the walkways from the parking lots to the actual dorms themselves that were super dark and not super safe. A student identified that Darwin Avenue, which is on-campus housing, is also very dark and unsafe at night,” Smilanich said.
Reports of what is discussed at the safety walks in years past have not been published to the public, but Smilanich has plans to release the walk’s findings this year.
“I was hoping to work on for the future year, is creating a log of everything that has been identified and things that are work in progress or how much money is going towards that,” Smilanich said.
Over the years, concerns have been resolved from these walks. Major renovations include many safety locks and brand-new lighting poles.
Brody Parker, Logan City’s safety officer and risk man-
ager, also attended this walk and was surprised at how “proactive” students were on these problems.
“The students were wonderful. It was it’s nice to see that they were actually being proactive about it,” Parker said. “They were actually very open to talk about different things and understood areas where you can put lighting here, but then all of a sudden, you’re giving light pollution for all your neighbors around you. They were great to talk to, and they did a wonderful job. It’s great to see that they were being active.”
Logan City does a version of safety walks monthly within different divisions. Parker overlooks all of these walks.
“Every division or every department has their safety inspections around their work areas, like parks and recreation,” Parker said “Every time we have their monthly safety committee meeting. They have to turn in park sheets—that they went through and inspected the parks.”
Alivia is a sophomore at Utah State University and loves everything journalism. When she’s not reading or writing, Alivia enjoys food, family, and playing the guitar.
— alivia.hadfield@usu.edu
THE USUSA UPDATE
• The Academic Senate is putting on a statewide toy drive for families in need. Toys can be dropped off at TSC Room 327, and donations are accepted until Dec. 1
• Member of the council attended a leadership conference with students from BYU and UVU. 10/24 10/31
• The council discussed the coming USUSA elections next semester. They also discussed not having photos of the candidates on the ballot.
• The USUSA leadership will be meeting with people who are thinking about running for positions in the spring and the specific positions will be explained.
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
A students stands underneath a street lamp on campus on Oct. 1.
Spooky puppies help raise funds for local shelter
By Jacob Casper LIFESTYLES REPORTER
On Oct. 28, pups were dressed in Halloween costumes. They brought their human friends to the Spooky Pup-Fest, a fundraiser hosted on the Cache Valley Fairgrounds.
The event raised money for the Cache Humane Society, a nonprofit organization that runs a local no-kill shelter. It was hosted by students in the Dogs in Art class as a community service project in the Honors Program.
Ella Whitesides was the group leader who helped to oversee the planning of the event.
“In Dogs in Art, we are working with Dr. Gelfand, and she is an art history professor,” Whitesides said. “In her last probably about 10 years of study, has turned from simply medieval art to the representations of dogs, and into what is known as animal studies.”
Over the years, the fundraiser has been changing to focus on community engagement and auctions. This year, the event turned into the Spooky Pup-Fest.
Hazel Harris is a student in the Dogs in Art class. She helped her team organize people on the day of the event.
“This year we chose to do a Spooky Pup-fest, which is like a market/dog costume parade with activities for families,” Harris said.
This is the first time the fundraiser has taken this ap-
proach to raising the necessary funds for the Cache Humane Society.
“This year, because we didn’t have a concrete item that we were trying to raise money for, this was meant to just be a monetary goal — about $6,000 that we can put to boards, helping them with their adoption events,” Whitesides said.
There were several activities to participate in at the event. Dogs dressed in their Halloween costumes for the costume contest, and local vendors who specialize in dog-friendly products set up shop. There were activities for dogs and their human friends alike to enjoy.
Jacob Casper is majoring in English with an emphasis in creative writing. When he’s not working, he hangs out with his wife. Jacob is an avid hoodie, card and board game collector.
- a02357545@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Hailey Cullumber Libby Henrie and her dog Frankie dressed up in a Paris-Themed costume on Oct. 28..
Dia de los Muertos ofrenda on display Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art
By Ella Stott LIFESTYLES REPORTER
The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art has a Dia de los Muertos ofrenda, or offering table, in the lobby until Nov. 13.
Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that connects family members with their loved ones who are both alive and deceased. The holiday’s observance runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
Shaylee Briones, visitor experience and public engagement specialist at NEHMA, said Dia de los Muertos is a big celebration.
“There are elaborate dressings, the ofrenda that they do and big processions,” Briones said. “There’s lots of traditions that go along with the day.”
According to Briones, the ofrenda at NEHMA is a great way for students to be introduced to the holiday.
“We wanted to help people know that the museum supports the Mexican tradition,” Briones said. “We also want people to learn more about it.”
Chloe Camp, coordinator of exhibitions and collections at NEHMA, said this display has been put on for a few years.
“It’s become a tradition to do this here,” Camp said. “A lot of people really look forward to it.”
According to Camp, her department works with Spanish
linguistic professors each year to set up the display accurately and respectfully.
“They were able to give me some insight about things that are traditionally found on ofrendas,” Camp said. “I was able to go out and find those items.”
Ofrendas can include any item that symbolizes one’s religion, their loved ones or what they want to offer. The items can also represent the elements of fire, wind, earth and water.
“We went and bought different little knickknacks, treats, traditional candies, foods and symbols for the table,” Briones said.
According to the art museum index, the different kinds of displays symbolize different kinds of ofrendas. One of these is the marigold flowers.
“When you go to the entrance of the museum, there are little marigold flower stickers that will lead you to the table,” Briones said. “I think it is such an interactive way to include these symbolic elements that go along with the tradition.”
Another interactive element of the exhibit is the ofrenda wall, which allows the visitors to dedicate a portion of the ofrenda to someone.
“People can put the names of loved ones that have passed on on it,” Camp said. “A lot of people want to remember them.”
The majority of the exhibit is composed of visual elements that students can come and observe.
“We have a lot of photos hung up in the lobby of the museum of people dressed in costumes and with their faces painted for the day,” Briones said. “There’s a large board that describes what the holiday is like.”
According to Camp, the holiday is becoming more wellknown in American culture, specifically with its inclusion in media.
“I think movies and things like that are a great starting point for curiosity,” Camp said. “But I think it needs to be taken beyond that so we’re not just accepting what Hollywood portrays.”
Briones agreed learning about other cultures in a respectful way is crucial to being an understanding citizen.
“We have quite a large Hispanic population in Cache Valley,” Briones said. “To learn about traditions that are important to them and things that people might not be familiar with is very important.”
Briones said learning about the holiday can help everyone feel more attached to their loved ones, even if they don’t celebrate the tradition.
“It’s a holiday that celebrates connecting with family members and remembering those that have passed on,” Briones said. “It not only helps you understand different cultures, but helps you connect with your family.”
To learn more about the holiday and the ofrenda, visit the museum by Nov. 13, or visit their website, artmuseum.usu.edu.
“USU is culturally diverse, culturally aware and a safe place,” Camp said. “For people to be able to explore and express their identities — I think that’s perfect.”
Ella Stott is a first year student studying English and journalism because she hates money. When she’s not writing, she’s watching sitcoms, eating Greek yogurt and admiring Nebraska corn.
-ella.stott@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Wyatt Merchant
Dia de los Muertos ofrenda at the USU Nora Eccles Museum of Art.
Ignite Engineering funds student-led projects
By Lacey Cintron LIFESTYLES REPORTER
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a nationally recognized organization seeking to advance the field of engineering and connect students with experienced mentors. IEEE also focuses on student-led projects and hands-on work with engineering.
Mark Soulier, a second-year electrical engineering student, is both an officer in IEEE and Utah State University’s robotics club president. Soulier has been a part of IEEE for a year and a half, and his family’s involvement with the organization spans decades.
events, for students to come to and be able to get hands-on experience,” Soulier said. “They do a lot of workshops like learning to do the Raspberry Pi program, learning to solder and to 3D print — just all different types of applications students don’t really get to learn inside the classroom.”
Recently, USU’s chapter of IEEE launched a new program called Ignite Engineering. This program will offer not only mentoring, but funding for student-led projects.
“It’s a grant of up to $100 to support these small projects,” Soulier said. “There’s very few requirements so a lot of students can do it.”
25.
Soulier and Campbell thought up the Ignite Engineering initiative this past summer after attending IEEE workshops and finding students wanted to utilize the skills they were learning in class to bring their own ideas to fruition.
“We just got funding from the College of Engineering to support up to 40 students now for this semester,” Soulier said. “We’re testing it out with a few small groups of students at a freshman and sophomore level who will be able to have mentors here at IEEE.”
“My dad was actually in IEEE when he went to college like 25 years ago,” Soulier said. “I met another upperclassmen and I was like, ‘This actually seems like a really cool path to make a difference.’”
Blaine Campbell, a third-year student majoring in computer science, joined Soulier in IEEE and is now the treasurer.
“Mark was like, ‘Hey, you should join this.’ I was like, ok, because we’re in robotics and said, ‘Sure, why not?’” Campbell said.
IEEE encompasses all of the clubs and associations within the electrical engineering department. The members are typically involved in the other clubs as well. This setup allows a variety of students interested in engineering to work on their preferred projects and engineering specialties.
“IEEE oversees the USU Robotics club — which I help run as well — but also oversees the Tesla Coil club and all these different sub clubs,” Soulier said. “IEEE as a whole is the largest professional engineering organization actually in the world.”
Because of IEEE’s considerable size, its members are able to plan a variety of different events.
“It’s kind of just an opportunity for students to plan
Students hoping to receive the funding will fill out a survey estimating the projected cost, how they plan to accomplish the project and why they’re passionate about it.
“Every Wednesday, as part of our officers meeting, we go over all of the proposals submitted that week to kind of see what their idea was,” Soulier said. “If we think it’s something that they can do and we can support, we get them a mentor from the club to talk over milestones with them.”
Read the rest of this story at usustatesman.com.
Lacey Cintron is majoring in psychology. She loves learning about the human mind, sharing stories and naps.
- a02388032@usu.edu
Heyo! I’m Charlotte, a freshman majoring in landscape architecture. I love listening to all types of music, and I host a radio show every Tuesday from 4-5 where I share what I’ve been listening to lately and talk about the songs.
You’ve Got Me
The Greeting Committee
Seabird
Alessi Brothers
Footsteps in the Dark
The Isley Brothers
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
A representative from Hill Air Force Base talks about the opportunity to work in cyber security on Oct
Silver Springs
Fleetwood Mac
Upcoming vigil honors Vietnam War
By Malory Rau NEWS REPORTER
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, making Utah State University’s annual Veterans Day POW/MIA Vigil a highly significant event for students in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC.
The vigil is a 24-hour ceremony where members of the ROTC take hour-long shifts of silence to guard the flags. This year it will be held on Thursday, Nov. 9, due to Veterans Day taking place on a Saturday. The vigil will start at 5 p.m. on the Quad and go until 5 p.m. the following day.
The event is held to honor prisoners of war, as well as soldiers missing in action. Each hour of the vigil will be dedicated to members of those groups that fought specifically in the Vietnam War.
USU senior Capt. Wesley Mason is a flight commander with the ROTC, and he will be participating during one of the shifts for the vigil.
“It’s special every year because it’s really time for us to remember people who have fought and lost their lives for our country,” Mason said. “We’re doing this for real people.”
This year’s vigil is different from those in the past because each hour of the vigil will be dedicated to POWs or MIAs specifically from the Vietnam War. USU alumni are invited to come as well as all students. With the vigil taking place on the Quad, a place fre-
quented by passing students, professors and alumni, it can be witnessed by a majority of the Logan campus population.
“If a random student was just walking by, what I would want them to get out of it, is I would want them to be reminded that freedom isn’t free,” Mason said.
Evelyn Anderson, a senior studying mechanical engineering, is the ROTC cadet recruiting squadron commander. She shared why she joined the ROTC.
“I joined to continue on kind of like a legacy that was started by my grandfather. He himself went to the ROTC here on campus, and then he served in the Korean War, so I just kind of wanted to carry on that kind of legacy,” Anderson said. “I also just kind of wanted to find something that was bigger than myself.”
Anderson will be a part of the color guard detail that brings the flags out at 5 p.m. when the vigil starts, and she will also be taking part in a rifle shift later in the early morning.
Anderson said she thinks USU students should care about this event, “Because it’s something that many people put their lives towards.”
“This is a way that we can show our respect, in a very simple way, with just taking an hour out of our own time,” Anderson said.
For those not in the ROTC that want to share their gratitude for POW, MIA or any military service member, Anderson and Mason both noted that simply attending and taking a moment of silence is the best way to show gratitude at this vigil. Friday, Nov. 10 will be filled with other events for bystanders to attend while the vigil is occurring. This includes a 2-mile military cadence run starting at Aggie Boulevard at 7 a.m., along with a commemoration event at 11:30 a.m. in the TSC where President Cantwell will speak.
Malory Rau is a sophomore studying social media, public relations and marketing. When not skateboarding with friends she is usually thrifting, reading or seeing the latest movie.
— m.rau@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham
A painted rock outside of the ROTC building depicting a “POWMIA” drawing as seen on Nov. 2.
USU VRO honors, supports veterans
By Asher Schroader LIFESTYLES REPORTER
Holidays can be very significant in people’s lives. They can be times of celebration, rest, remembrance and tradition going back centuries. For those of higher prominence, such as Christmas or Independence Day, many put nearly everything aside and take the day to spend time with family and friends.
When thinking of a holiday between Halloween and Christmas, many people may venture to Thanksgiving. But just about halfway through the month, the U.S. celebrates another: Veterans Day.
Veterans Day honors those who have served in the U.S. armed forces, both retired and active duty. Held every Nov. 11, the date signifies the end of the first World War, which occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.
A bill signed by President Eisenhower in 1954 designated the date as a national holiday, and the U.S. has recognized the holiday every year since.
Cities and institutions across the nation celebrate with many different events, from parades to speeches.
The Cache Valley Veterans Association holds their annual Run to Remember, a 5K event held to honor service members who have died from suicide. USU will be holding the AFC & USU Symphony Orchestra: Veterans Day Memorial on Nov. 11, honoring veterans in the Chase Fine Arts Center, Daines Concert Hall.
Ryan Pancheri is one such individual. Since childhood, he admired the people of the armed forces, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the men and women before him. Before he began attending USU, Pancheri served as a technical sergeant for the U.S. Air Force. Upon his acceptance, he entered the Air Force Reserve Corps, leaving him more time for his academic career.
“I applied when I was active duty in 2020, stationed at Hill Air Force Base,” Pancheri said. “With a partial family, going to school full-time, working full-time and now doing Reserves, it’s all about time management. It’s all about time management and making sure you know what your priorities are.”
With his busy schedule, Pancheri acknowledged his gratitude for the Air Force and the benefits his time has given him, including better job prospects, a greater global understanding and financial support. It’s also allowed him time to pursue commission as an officer, furthering his role in the armed forces.
“The career progression has been the biggest thing that I’ve taken from the military so far,” Pancheri said. “I’m now using my GI Bill here at Utah State to do what I dream, which is to fly. Those are probably the biggest benefits that I’ve seen so far.”
Pancheri frequents the Veterans Resource Office, located on the second floor of the TSC. Aside from having a designated lounge and study space, the VRO holds Utah State’s certifying officials, the people responsible for ensuring service members, veterans and their families can access the benefits available to them.
Andy Allen, the director of the VRO, served in the U.S. Army for 26 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. Despite his own contributions, Allen sees the holiday as an
Ryan Pancheri poses with a picture of himself in uniform at the VRO on Oct 27.
opportunity to thank other veterans for their service.
“I’ve noticed that veterans are a humble kind of people, and it is the one day a year that I can say thank you for their character,” Allen said.
He encourages civilians to honor their service not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the year. According to Allen, the biggest way people can support a veteran is by getting to know one.
“Be a friend to a veteran,” Allen said. “They bring a lot to the table that others may not realize. They’ve seen and done incredible things, and then they turn around and
come to school. You’ll learn a lot about life.”
There’s a strong sense of community among veterans at the VRO. Students can be found socializing as they study or play Smash Bros. on the TV.
“You get a lot of camaraderie,” Pancheri said. “Overall, it’s been a good experience for me. It opens your eyes to the world and lets you experience different cultures and lifestyles. It’s changed me a lot, both professionally and personally.”
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
Cadet Grace Lowry and her journey in the Air Force ROTC
By Ashley Dorius LIFESTYLES REPORTER
Nov. 11 is a day when Americans celebrate the heroes of the military, specifically veterans. However, on Utah State University’s campus, new heroes are being trained every day, like Cadet Grace Lowry. According to the USU AFROTC website, the program “allows you to dive head first into the theory of leadership, allowing you to test and systematically develop your skills.”
Lowry has been part of the Air Force ROTC program on campus since the fall 2021, starting as an aerospace studies 100 cadet.
Lowry said this time is mostly about learning the possible roles in the Air Force, along with building strength and leadership skills.
“Your first year is mainly learning about the program and figuring out where you fit in,” Lowry said. “You’re required to take a physical training credit, you go to an academic class, and then on Thursdays, we have our leadership laboratory.”
Lowry said finding her spot in the program was not too difficult, as she knew what she wanted to do going into it. It helped that her recruiting officer had the same major of education, so she got to see firsthand what could be done in the force with that degree and correlating passions.
“She was in force support,” Lowry said. “That kind of aligned with my values, so I knew what I wanted to do going into it.”
According to Lowry, the automatic connection with a career path doesn’t happen for every cadet, but she assures that every cadet eventually finds their path.
“I’ve heard from many officers that sometimes the Air Force knows you better than you know yourself, and they’ll put you in the place that works best for you,” Lowry said.
Lowry said the second year continues earlier training, but it really hones leadership styles.
“Second year, you’ve kind of decided what you’re doing,” Lowry said. “You’re still taking those classes, but it’s preparing you more to be a leader. You’re also preparing for field training, which happens the next summer.”
Field training itself is a lot of work, and preparation ramped up for Lowry in the spring of her second year. She completed her field training this summer in Alabama and is now a distinguished graduate.
These first two years are known as general military courses. This allows people to “try out Air Force ROTC 100% commitment free for the first two years … before signing any contract or service commitment,” according to the USU AFROTC website.
The next two to three years are called professional officer courses; Lowry is in this stage, and she enjoys it.
“It’s where you are leading leaders,” Lowry said. “ROTC is a cadet-run program. Those cadets that were just training are now the instructors. You’re in more of a teacher
role, which is what I really like about it.”
This program can be intense, but Lowry loves it. She discussed how ROTC fits into her everyday life. There’s physical training in the mornings, classes in the afternoons, and homework and meetings at night. On top of this, her role as a flight commander requires her to help out the cadets in her flight to prepare for the subsequent phases of their training.
Ashley Dorius is a freshman studying English with a teaching emphasis. A Nebraska native, she loves exploring old bookstores, quoting New Girl, eating soft pretzels and being a Swiftie.
-ashley.dorius@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Zachary Guercio
Grace Lowry is pictured outside the TSC on Oct. 25.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Cadet Grace Lowry is shown in uniform.
Stephanie Butler: Service around the world
By Andie Allen NEWS REPORTER
Stephanie Butler has been all around the world. In the last 15 years, she has lived in Korea, Japan, Portugal, England, Florida, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Even though she’s lived in many countries, she has devoted her life to serving one: the United States of America.
When Butler was 21, she joined the U.S. Air Force. Since then, she has served with Military Police and in flightline security for 15 years.
“I was 21 when I joined, so that was a lot for me. I think it would be a lot for anybody,” Butler said. “They broke you down from a civilian to a military person.”
As of May 2023, Butler is a noncommissioned officer in charge, or NCOIC, for USU’s Air Force ROTC program.
Since being on campus, she has experienced culture shock.
“This is a new experience for me, being on a campus,” Butler said. “The last 15 years of my life, I’ve lived on bases.”
Butler is one of the first of her kind, as the Air Force has newly added NCOIC into their special duty assign-
ments. In the past, the only people that could have the job were personnels and admin, according to Butler.
“I’m kind of glad to be one of the first groups of people to actually have this job,” Butler said. “Enlisted members have the experience to give the future officers and Air Force that we need today.”
As an NCOIC, Butler is able to teach classes and work with the ROTC scholarship and stipend program. She is also an Air Force training instructor and teaches leadership courses.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, so I am super excited about being here,” Butler said.
According to Butler, her dream to be a part of the military began when she was much younger. As a 14-yearold, she watched the tragedy of 9/11 and knew she wanted to help serve her country.
Her uncle and brother were in the military, and they became role models in her life.
A trip to Virginia’s Arlington Cemetery to visit The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was another memorable moment for Butler.
“At that point right there, I was like, ‘You know what, I do want to serve my country,’” she said.
In an email to The Utah Statesman, DeAngela Butler, Stephanie’s younger sister, said Stephanie is always willing to help.
“I know that she puts herself in her job to the fullest extent to make sure everyone is taken care of,” DeAngela wrote. “My sister choosing the military was the absolute best decision for her.”
According to Stephanie, her deployments were tough. She worked three days in a row with one day off, and each shift was 12-14 hours. The emotional toll was just as significant as the physical one, she said.
“Even when you’re at a good deployment, I felt like you always had little things that take you away from your job,” Stephanie said. “Each one had a hurdle to it, but somehow I managed to work through it. I was a really resilient person.”
As Stephanie worked through each deployment, she learned a lot of life lessons, including to seek help and not let things fester.
“People are always there to talk to you. Always seek help for anything that’s going on,” she said.
Before joining the military, Stephanie said she was a shy kid, but her job has taught her to not be afraid to be a leader.
“Growing up closely together, she always was adventurous, but she was also very quiet,” DeAngela wrote. “The time she has served has brought out the best in her.”
When Stephanie was in Turkey, she said she learned to be genuine. During the pandemic, she was deployed in Saudi Arabia, and she learned the importance of “knowing your why.”
“I saw my country being torn apart, and it was hard for me to do my job,” Stephanie said. “The only thing I kept thinking about was everything everybody had done for me, I was going to keep doing for you. I am an American. I’m faithful to a proud heritage. The only thing that kept me going because I love my country.”
Andie Allen has spent the last four years studying English and journalism at USU since she is too short to be a Disney princess.
— andie.allen@usu.edu
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Photo of Stephanie Butler during her time in the Air Force.
PHOTO BY Ty Smith
Stephanie Butler stands in front of the ROTC emblem in the USU Military Science Building on Oct. 30.
Sarah Pope: Army medic, advocate for others
By Sydney Lyman NEWS REPORTER
Editor’s note: This article contains a brief mention of sexual assault. Those who have experienced sexual assault can access resources through SAVVI and through the Title IX office.
Sarah Pope wears many hats: graduate student, researcher, mother and leader.
She is also a veteran. Pope served in the Army Reserves as a medic for six years.
“I was going to be an Army nurse, then things didn’t go so well the first time I went to college, and so I dropped out. I knew that I still wanted to be in the military, I still wanted to do medical stuff. So I joined the Reserves as a medic, mostly because I didn’t know what else to do,” Pope said.
Pope’s military service gave her a lifelong friendship and lessons on what it means to be a leader.
“I really only stay in contact with one person that I served with, but she’s my best friend, and I see her pretty regularly. She was also a medic,” Pope said. Pope said her military service increased her capacity for leadership.
“The leadership experience was really helpful,” Pope said. “As a medic, sometimes you have to tell high-ranking people that they can’t do the thing they want to do because it’s not safe. I really appreciate the experience
that it gave me in terms of leadership and in terms of how to talk to people who are above you in a tactful but firm way.”
Pope now serves as the graduate studies senator and uses her leadership skills to help create change. She is passionate about issues such as graduate student pay, and has streamlined the Graduate Research and Creative Opportunity Grant. Pope says she is able to push for change without becoming jaded by reminding herself that she is playing the long game.
“Just like the military, there’s a lot of bureaucracy in academia, and it’s there for a reason, right? We want to make sure that we have policies in place that prevent corruption, but I think sometimes people are really resistant to change,” Pope said. “I just remind myself that it is never a short game. It’s always a long-term game. I have to make sure that I’m building a foundation for future senators and future graduate students.”
When asked about the difficulties of being in the military, Pope said the leadership experience was helpful, but being a woman in the military is extraordinarily difficult. Pope says that she has struggled to conceptualize her military experience due to the sexual assault she experienced during her service.
“Sexual assault is a pretty pervasive thing in the military, and I did not escape that statistic,” Pope said. “It has been difficult to conceptualize my service because there is this overhanging shadow of sexual assault. I think that’s the hardest part is trying not to become disgruntled with all of the people in the military, just because some of the people aren’t so great.”
Pope also has advice for other people, especially other women in the military: “Don’t let them silence you.”
“Women in the military are often so scared to speak up because sometimes the people who hurt you are your boss. Sometimes you go and try and get help, and you’re turned away because these are things that happen under the table behind closed doors,” Pope said. “I just really want to encourage women in the military not to stop seeking justice if they emotionally can. It can be a very long, drawn-out process.”
Pope referred The Utah Statesman to Nick, her ex-husband, to talk about her character. He described her as resilient and pointed out her strength in dealing with the trauma she endured during her service.
“She’s a person that’s just not going to give up because something’s difficult,” Nick said. “She is a very resilient, very determined person.”
Nick also said Sarah has a strong sense of justice.
“She believes that people are kind of owed something for what they do and who they are,” Nick said. “People should get what they deserve.”
Sarah is now a Ph.D. student studying cognitive psychology. Her passion for psychology is due in part to wanting to help people with PTSD. Her research has major implications for people with trauma who lack the ability to imagine images.
“One of the most common things in PTSD work or anxiety work is to help people reground themselves,” Pope says. “A common exercise, guided meditation, is to imagine yourself walking through a calm forest. Well,
about two to six percent of the population cannot visualize. They have a dark mind.”
Sarah said there are alternatives for those who cannot visualize with their mind’s eye, such as guided body meditation.
“When you think about PTSD, a lot of it is held in the body,” Pope said. “For people who can’t visualize, being able to do a guided body meditation like squeeze your hands and release, making it something that they can perceptually engage in rather than imagination, can be really helpful.”
Those who have experienced sexual assault can access resources through SAVVI and through the university’s Title XI office. They can also contact local law enforcement.
PHOTO BY Hailey Cullumber Sarah Pope poses for a headshot on Oct. 27.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Sarah Pope during her time serving in the army.
Looking beyond the roster
By Rylan Bean SPORTS REPORTER
Ibelieve that we will win!”
To visiting teams, the sound of this chant coming from the HURD signals the beginning of a long couple of hours in Logan, under constant pressure from the Aggie faithful.
Utah State has a rich history of athletics, including conference championships, national rankings and professional athletes. Of those, one of the richest traditions looks beyond the roster- it’s the overall involvement of the students.
The HURD is a nationally recognized student section and an opportunity for students to be a part of athletics without being a Division I athlete.
Tyler Creer is a junior from Spanish Fork studying recreation management with an emphasis in sports management. Creer is a self-proclaimed “Aggie super fan” and can be found on the front row of most home games.
“I get involved with the HURD, and I go and participate at the games, so I go front row. I’m camping out for games. We’re waiting out in the freezing cold to get into the Spectrum or Maverik Stadium, and when we go, we just become so engaged with the match that it feels like we help decide the outcomes,” Creer said.
Creer has been an Aggie his whole life and had been waiting since he was little to bring the energy and magic to USU Athletics.
“I just knew that when I came to Utah State, I wanted to be front row, I wanted to be going crazy, I wanted to help contribute to the Spectrum Magic to bring in the
energy and the enthusiasm at Maverik Stadium and even now in Club Estes with volleyball. It’s just something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Creer said. “Athletes and stuff, they start to remember you. They remember the real ones.”
The HURD is run and managed by a committee of students from the university and is headed by athletics and campus recreation executive director Tate Bennett.
Bennett is a senior from Tennessee studying tech systems.
“I just love the HURD. I like the people. I’ve met a lot of my good friends just from being in the student section,” Bennett said. “Come to the games, feel the environment and get familiar with the sports.”
Bennett got involved during his first year, becoming an official member of the HURD committee; he has stayed with the organization since.
“I came to USU and learned about the HURD being like a nationally recognized student section. I wanted to be a part of the leadership, so that’s why I got involved,” he said. “I went my freshman year to the Aggie Blue Leadership Conference and (they) selected me to join the HURD committee that year, and I have stuck with it for all four years of my college career now.”
Being a part of the student section is only one of the ways people can get involved in athletics. There are jobs, committees and internships students can be involved in as well. Some jobs include tutors, mentors, videographers and more.
Creer currently works for USU Athletics as a mentor for student-athletes.
“I work as an academic mentor. I meet with my student-athletes and we talk about their academic progress. We talk about upcoming assignments, tests and quizzes,” Creer said. “I just make sure that they are on the right path to get good grades to stay eligible within the NCAA guidelines and make sure that they’re doing well, that they’re feeling good and that they’re not having any kind of issues.”
There are also opportunities for people to join teams and build connections through club sports and intramurals. USU has 23 different club sports, ranging from esports, hockey, jump rope and many others.
There are also different intramural leagues and tournaments throughout the school year.
Kayla Irlbeck is the graduate assistant of competitive sports for campus recreation and works with the club and intramural sports programs. These programs are a way for people to be involved with athletics and teams without the commitment to an official university sport.
“Within Campus Recreation, we offer sports at different levels. Club sports is typically for students who want to perform at that higher level. A lot of them played at
that high level in high school and want to continue on with that play. They’re able to pay dues and be part of a team and they get to travel competitively. They get to try out and get to be part of that atmosphere that a lot of them crave and want to carry on. And you get to make that team connection and play at that level,” Irlbeck said.
For those who are looking to still be a part of a team but are looking for a different level of competition than club sports, intramurals is an option. Irlbeck spoke of the different advantages that come with intramural play.
“Intramurals is for competitive athletes, but it’s also for people who just want to be involved in sports, whether it’s their first time or they played it their whole lives. It’s still a good spot for them to come and make friends and hang out. It’s a pretty low commitment. It’s financially pretty affordable for most students. And it’s a great way to just get out and see campus in a different way,” Irlbeck said.
Whether you are playing on Merlin Olsen Field or Legacy Fields, there are many different ways for students at USU to be a part of athletics, regardless if you are an official student-athlete or not.
To get involved, visit usu.edu/involvement/hurd.
Rylan Bean is a sophomore studying business management. He loves to be a part of the HURD, play sports, hike, bike and spend time with friends and family.
— rylan.bean@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Claire Ott
The Hurd performs “The Scotsman” following a positive turn in the game against James Madison University on Sept. 23.
Flags, flutes, flugelhorn: The sights
By Madison Weber SPORTS EDITOR
The beating of drums, flags waving in the air and over a hundred students marching on the field, filled Maverik Stadium with the sounds of the Aggie Marching Band.
The marching band is an essential aspect of any college football game. Not only do they lead the stadium in Utah State University’s fight song and “The Scotsman” but they entertain throughout the game even under challenging circumstances.
Made up of three main sections- the winds, drumline and colorguard- the band works together to put on a show for Cache Valley each home football game.
Lane Weaver, the director of athletic bands, works as the only full-time employee with the band.
“We’re a little bit unique here at USU in that I’m the only full-time staff that we have with typically 180 students. Because I’m the only full-time staff, the students become our assistant coaches. That’s one of the great things actually, I think about how our program is put together is that the student buy-in is to such a level that they really have ownership over a lot of what we do. I can’t do it without great student leadership,” Weaver said.
Weaver was a student at USU and originally, a pre-med major. Once he got involved in the marching band, he decided to major in music and music education.
After obtaining a master’s degree at Notre Dame University, Weaver taught for five years and then received
a doctorate from Fort Hays State University. In each of his academic endeavors, he has remained involved in music and the university marching band.
“It’s just been kind of a part of what I do,” Weaver said. “2016 was when the position opened up [at USU] and I had a chance to basically come home. My wife and I are both Aggies, and our families are close by here in Idaho. After living away for about 18 years, it was nice to come home and be part of Utah State.”
Students interested in being in the marching band can audition or join the group, depending on the position. Once the list of students is decided, the band only has one week before school starts to prepare for an intense fall schedule.
Caleb Vineyard is a tuba section leader in his second year with the band. He said there is always room for improvement, but he’s happy with how far they’ve come.
“There is a lot of work that goes into it. We start the week before the semester begins, and it’s just a week long. It’s 11-hour days where we get to know each other really well,” Vineyard said.
Originally from Texas, Vineyard said it was required to play an instrument in school, and he decided to pick the biggest instrument offered. What he thought would be a casual part of school turned into much more. He has now played for 11 years and decided to take a performance major because he has enjoyed it so much.
“If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t be doing this. This is honestly just the best experience I’ve had in college,”
Vineyard said.
As section leader, Vineyard is responsible for leading the team throughout the year as well as making sure they are ready for weekly performances.
“A lot of my responsibilities happen at the beginning of the season where I have to teach all the freshmen who are coming in how to march and make sure they’re getting good sounds with other instruments,” Vineyard said.
“We have rehearsals on Tuesdays and Thursdays of nongame weeks, and then also on Fridays on game weeks.”
With only three to four-and-a-half hours of practice each week, the band has very limited rehearsal time.
“It’s a lot of discipline and focus because, in terms of rehearsal time, we have the least of any other band in the country. We have almost no time,” trombone player Gabriel Amante said. “We almost learn a new drill or new song each rehearsal because we’re putting a new show together for every football game. It’s super fastpaced, but it’s just extremely rewarding at the end.”
The reward often comes while standing under the lights, listening to tens of thousands of fans cheering the band on.
“It’s honestly a surreal experience because you don’t realize until later in the game. They actually show the number of attendees and you realize, ‘Wait, I just performed in front of that many people.’ It’s insane that we performed something in such a short amount of time as well,” Amante said. “In my high school, the marching band was there just for halftime, but here, it’s like not only are we respected, but we are like the life of it during halftime and pregame, which is just an amazing feeling.”
Ellyse Snow is one of two color guard captains. She is in her third year with the band and expressed the stress
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
The Aggie Marching Band chant before the game starts at Maverik Stadium on Oct. 7.
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
A student drum major leads the marching band at Maverik Stadium on Oct. 7.
and sounds of Aggie Marching Band
that comes with it which many people might not see.
“It’s been great. It’s stressful for sure. As the captains, we’re also the choreographers for all of our shows,” Snow said. “The fight song, Scotsman- all you see there is stuff that we’ve choreographed.”
Getting a routine performance ready requires collaboration plus trial and error from both captains.
“We kind of split up the work like, ‘You do this song. I’ll do this song,’ because we switch songs every halftime show. A lot of it has to be just like trial and error- like which move fits in these counts,” Snow said. “It needs to be doable for the color guard to learn and sometimes under a week.”
The extra responsibility wasn’t a part of Snow’s original plan. She started as a flute player in her high school marching band at the age of 14. In her senior year, she tried out winter color guard for three months before coming to USU.
“I was originally going to go join the piccolo section but then Dr. Weaver emailed me and was like, ‘Hey, our color guard numbers are low. Could you join?’ And I just worked my way up, and now I’m in charge,” Snow said.
Despite the stress of being a leader, Snow believes it’s all worth it to see a performance come to life.
“A lot of it is just the community. I love my girls. It can be tough being a peer leader sometimes, but I do really love leading these girls and seeing them work really hard and seeing them improve over time. It’s something that can’t be beat,” Snow said.
Student leadership is an integral part of the band, not just with section leaders but as directors as well. Hillary Callister is one of three drum majors. Originally a clarinet player, she now helps direct the entire band on the field.
“Every show, we rotate who’s in the center ladder, and then the other two of us- are just on the side. There isn’t like a head drum major, we all just kind of share in the responsibility,” Callister said.
It’s a responsibility Callister takes seriously. Even when she feels the urge to dance to the music, she maintains focus in order to direct each section. The advanced responsibility requires an extra audition for those wanting to try out.
“I believe in putting a little pressure on our students because the world says you’re going to have accountability and you’re going to have pressure in your life and why this is a great place and a really a pretty safe place for them to kind of go through that proving ground,” Weaver said.
Maddie Widman is a first-year student who plays trombone. With a quick start of just one week in the summer, she is getting used to the environment and flow of the band.
“I’ve been playing the trombone since sixth grade. I’ve always just loved music, and I love being involved as much as I can. Marching band was a great way to be involved with the school and keep doing music,” Widman said.
Joining a new team, especially in an entirely new environment, can be difficult. Widman commended the community the band creates for being welcoming and encouraging.
“It’s been amazing. Everybody here is really welcoming. Everybody’s always working, trying to work their hardest and their best to make sure that everything sounds good and looks good,” Widan said. “It is a lot more work than you think, but we’re all here for fun. We all have a common bond of music.”
As Weaver pointed out, most members are involved in many other bands as well. From concert bands to the symphony orchestra and small ensembles, band members dedicate a lot of time to the football field and the
recital halls. The short practice time for the marching band is intentional and comes from an effort to not have one band dominate over the others. They continuously work to improve each USU band.
Weaver commended the hard work of each member of the band. He said it requires a lot, even if it looks easy, for routines to turn out as good as they do.
“I love seeing these students rise to the occasion, and when they fall and skin their knees, and we all do, we fix some things and get back up and kind of go through the growth process,” Weaver said. “There’s some bumps and bruises that happen along the way but they’re really critical.”
Weaver’s satisfaction comes from seeing students succeed after overcoming the challenges.
“For me personally, the joy and the satisfaction that the students receive when they’ve achieved and the whole stadium is united over something that they’re a part of, that they’re kind of leaving their mark- for me, the most satisfaction comes from seeing the students’ reaction and seeing that their hard work is paying off,” Weaver said. Above all, the band is dedicated to creating memories for USU fans.
“It’s all about connecting those who are performing or entertaining with the audience, and Utah State is a great place where that happens,” Weaver said. “We’ve got a great atmosphere and for us to be kind of the spirit of the university, that is really rewarding.”
Madison Weber is a senior studying journalism and international studies. When she’s not writing or watching sports, she enjoys animals, good food and time with family.
PHOTO BY Zachary Guercio Color guard member waves the USU flag at halftime on Sept. 24.
PHOTO BY Zach Guercio
Flugelhorn musicians play during the halftime show in Maverik Stadium on Sept. 24.
From player to mentor: Ashley Cardozo returns to USU
By Henry Wright SPORTS REPORTER
Numerous athletes spend time at Utah State University, but few former athletes return to the coaching staff they once played under. Women’s soccer assistant coach Ashley Cardozo’s path from player to coach was not necessarily what she envisioned, but it’s one she’s grateful for.
“I have always been passionate about soccer, and I always want to have the game in my life,” Cardozo said. “I wanted to do the same for others that were done for me- just the relentless support, care, love and passion for the game that I experienced as a player. I want to be able to give that to our players.”
While making an official visit during her high school recruitment, Utah State felt like a natural fit for her to continue her career.
“I felt as though there was a really good culture of family and putting the team first, and that’s something that I value a lot,” Cardozo said. “Being from Salt Lake, I really appreciated the fact that it was far enough that I felt like it was going to be someplace new, but close enough that I had my family around for all the home games. The family orientation surrounding Utah State was the biggest driving factor in me becoming an Aggie.”
Cardozo was a standout midfielder for the Aggies from 2017 to 2021. She is one of the most decorated players in program history and was recently named by the Mountain West as one of the 25 best women’s soccer players in conference history.
In her career, she accumulated 32 assists, 121 shots on goal and 13 game-winning goals, all school records. She ranks third in career points (78) and sixth in goals (23). She was a five-year letter-winner who started in all 84 games of her collegiate career. She also received multiple end-of-season awards, including being named first-team all-Mountain West in 2017 and 2021 and second-team in 2018 and 2019.
Following the end of her playing career at USU, Car-
dozo fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing professional soccer by signing a contract with FC Nantes in France while also expanding her personal horizons.
“I was ecstatic because, all my life as a little girl growing up, my dream was to play professionally, so when the opportunity came, I was ready to go after it,” Cardozo said. “Being from Salt Lake and doing my undergrad here at Utah State, I felt like I needed to get out and explore and challenge myself in ways that I hadn’t before.”
After arriving in France, Cardozo quickly began to question if her career and life path were taking shape the way she wanted.
“My stint with FC Nantes and France unfortunately didn’t go how I anticipated it. I had some thoughts about whether it was really what I wanted to continue to pursue and if not, where do I go from here,” Cardozo said. “I was in training in San Diego for a little bit, and I just didn’t feel happy or whole or like this is exactly what I wanted.”
During this time of uncertainty, Cardozo was able to find support from current USU head coach Manny Martins.
“I actually reached out to Manny, and, you know, let him know that I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to go from here. When I spoke with him, he told me about some openings they had on the staff, and he was able to get me on the staff,” Cardozo said. “I’m super grateful to him for taking a chance on me to let me come back and also believing that I could be impactful as a coach at this program.”
Cardozo joined the staff as the director of operations in March before being promoted to assistant coach in July. While returning to USU, she also decided to pursue an MBA from the Huntsman School of Business.
Although Martins was not on the coaching staff for the majority of Cardozo’s career, she was able to spend her final year as a player under his direction.
“I remember the first time Manny came on campus, and I had the privilege of getting to chat with him a little bit during the hiring process. Really, from the jump, I admired his belief in the program,” Cardozo said. “Seeing someone of his caliber, with his level of experience at the collegiate level and working with the national teams, believe in Utah State was one of the most exciting times of my life.”
During Cardozo’s last season with Martins at the helm, she quickly was able to gain respect for him not only as a coach but also as a person.
“He was demanding and challenging, but also compassionate, kind and caring towards us,” Cardozo said. “I love the balance that he brought and his drive to win and compete. But along with that he paired with kindness, compassion and care for each and every one of us, and you can feel it.”
The characteristics Cardozo saw Martins exhibit when she was a player were a driving force in her decision to return to the coaching staff. She has continued to learn from him on the sidelines while hoping to make her own mark on the program.
“One of the most powerful things that I have been able to learn from him is just his process, but also outside of the sport, being passionate. And as a coach, you know,
working with him and having him be my colleague has been super awesome,” Cardozo said. “It’s truly, truly a privilege to be able to be a part of this. Michelle [Dalton] and Erin [Carrillo-Bautista], our other assistants, are incredible coaches, but also incredible people that I have the pleasure of getting to work with every day, getting to do something that we’re all passionate about.”
The team has had great success on the field during Cardozo’s first year with the program. The Aggies capped off a regular season with a 1-0 road win against Boise State to finish second in the Mountain West with a 9-2 conference record, while also handing BYU, who was ranked No. 1 in the country when they came to Logan, their only loss of the season. For Cardozo, seeing the program she played for and that Martins has built compete at such a high level has been priceless.
“We have a really, really great group of innovators, individuals who strive for excellence every day and invest mind, body and soul in this program,” Cardozo said.
“The biggest pieces for me, are just every day, getting to be around wonderful people who strive for excellence, who want to compete and are driven to win,” she said.
Cardozo said the passion and commitment of the team keeps her going.
“Being surrounded by love, passion and care for each other has been the greatest thing I could ever ask for as a coach. The love and commitment that we all have for each other and the program has been really special.”
Henry Wright is a junior studying political science, American studies and anticipatory intelligence. He loves to travel, watch sports and spend time outdoors.
— henry.wright@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Wyatt Merchant Assistant coach Ashley Cardoza talks with Whitney Lopez on the sideline during a game against Fresno State on Oct. 23.
STATESMAN FILE PHOTO
Ashley Cardozo kicks from the corner in a game against the University of Utah on
Jumping into fun: USU jump rope club welcomes all
By Jacob Hutchison SPORTS REPORTER
When it comes time to register for athletic clubs, students across campus look at their options.
While most are drawn towards more traditional sports like soccer and basketball, a small group of students gather to share a unique passion: jump rope. Since its founding in 2017, the organization has held practices, performances and competitions. They had an especially strong year in 2020, earning bronze at the collegiate cup in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Club opportunities like this are fairly unique to Utah State University, as the Aggies are one of only 22 schools across the nation to be recognized by the National Collegiate Jump Rope Association.
Coach Sydney Schmidt, a longtime jumper at USU, spearheads much of the program.
“We’re a club sport, really recreational. We’re a place for people to come and learn about the sport of jump rope because a lot of people don’t know that it’s a competitive, international sport. We do a lot of teaching and learning, collaborating with single rope, double Dutch, and other fun events,” Schmidt said.
Coaching students has been a big part of Schmidt’s time at Utah State.
“It’s a way to be creative, and it’s also a great way to exercise. It looks crazy good on resumes — it catches your eye because people don’t know about it. It also gives the opportunity to work in a group, teach other people, and also compete if they’re interested and do shows if they’re interested in putting themselves out there,” Schmidt said.
Some join the club new to the hobby. Others, like Schmidt, reminisce on childhood memories as they jump.
“I grew up jump roping, so I’ve been doing it my whole life, in Montana mostly. When I moved here, there was already a club started by a girl who jumps here that I used to compete against,” Schmidt said. “I just kind of came on and joined the club. When she left, I got more into the leadership.”
Senior Brandon Hammond joined in his first year at Utah State on a whim but has begun to take it more seriously.
“I found out during my freshman year at Rec Fest. They were doing an event, teaching double Dutch jump roping, and then me and my friend thought it was cool and joined,” Hammond said. “We do a lot of things: performances, competitions. We focus a lot on service with club sports and any opportunities that come up through other events and organizations that invite us to their things.”
Jump roping has let Hammond find a new way to express himself on campus. The club’s benefits have improved both his mental and physical health.
“I think it’s helped me. It’s given me a really good environment of great people to hang out with. It’s been a really good form of exercise, having a place to output a lot of stress and anxiety I have about school. And it’s a really good break from everything else I have in my life. It’s just fun,” Hammond said.
Sadie Sadler echoed these sentiments as the jump
rope club has helped her feel more comfortable in her first year as an Aggie.
“It gives me a break,” Sadler said. “It’s fun to meet new people and try something new even though it can be scary. But it’s honestly one of the best times to take a break and have some fun.”
While traveling is expensive, the club hopes to travel to Indianapolis this spring and return to competition.
“Most competitions are not here, so if we compete, it’s going to be further away. It’s been expensive to do that so we haven’t competed in a few years, but we hope to this coming spring in Indianapolis,” Schmidt said.
Students who are interested in joining can register at usu.edu/campusrec for just $10.
Jacob Hutchison is a first-year student studying history. He loves going on walks, playing video games and reading.
PHOTOS BY Wyatt Merchant
The USU jump rope club does a triangle rope drill during thier practice on Oct. 27.
Jump rope club members Maddie Miller, left, Sadie Sadler, Brandon Hammond, Sydney Schmidt and Liz Rasmuson pose for a photo during practice on Oct. 27.
U D E N T S at S K E L E S E N D
PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham