The Utah Statesman, March 13, 2023

USUSA President Abe Rodriguez

Utah State University, Logan, Utah

Get to know your new USUSA president Abe Rodriguez

By Kate Stewart NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Abe Roriguez was elected as the 2023-2024 student body president for the Utah State University Student Association on March 24.

Rodriguez received a total of 1,712 votes, which accounted for 63.9% of all votes.

Prior to this election, Rodriguez served as USUSA executive vice president during the 2022-2023 school year.

Rodriguez explained the idea of running for president felt more comfortable to him this fall as he gained more experience in the VP position.

“After my time as vice president, I kind of wanted to get a feel for it and experience it and then from there, decide if I wanted to step up and run for president,” Rodriguez said.

Additionally, he said his time serving on student committees such as the A-Team, the Hurd, and the USU Business Council helped prepare him for the role.

According to Rodriguez, serving on these committees helped him learn about the university and discover the joy of helping others.

“It wasn’t until I started getting more involved and wanting to serve I started feeling more and more happy,” Rodriguez said.

Being involved in various aspects of campus life also exposed Rodriguez to resources that are available to all students.

“My priorities are just more or more grounded and focused on student basic needs that impact all of us,” Rodriguez said.

Some of the needs Rodriguez mentioned include facility

enhancements, student fees and bridging relationships between student government and administration at USU.

Part of the reason Rodriguez wants to serve in this capacity and give back to students is because of the support and love he has felt at USU.

“I can promise students that you know, I’m going to give it my all,” Rodriguez said. “I’m really passionate about this, because there have been a lot of people that have been very impactful in my life here at Utah State.”

In a text exchange with the Statesman, current USUSA president, Clara Alder, said Rodriguez is lucky to work with some of the best people.

“I deeply admire the administration and the leaders of this university. I will miss working with these great people. They care immensely about student needs and Abe will be our voice. He carries a big legacy of leadership. I look forward to the work he will do. Student body president is not an easy job, but it shapes you as a leader,” Alder said.

Rodriguez said as VP, he realized there was only so much he could get done in one year, so he is looking forward to this year as president to further his contributions to USU.

His campaign platform includes five action items he plans on implementing as USUSA president.

These action items are to streamline student involvement in campus safety; to further financial aid training for students; to strengthen supportive measures for multicultural organizations, veterans, and the disability resource center; to enhance incentives for FSL organizations to affiliate with USU and university administration; and to advocate for statewide students to have equitable access to opportunities like the university honors

program.

“I just want to give back, because there’s been so much that’s been given to me, and I just want to make sure that I pay back in full for others to also have the opportunity to have a fully enriching experience here,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez is a first-generation college student from Logan. He is studying marketing and public relations. He attended Ridgeline High School but never did student government while there.

“I didn’t think it was for me. I was like, ‘There’s no way, I don’t see myself doing that,’ which is funny because now I’m very passionate about student government,” he said.

Rodriguez said he feels like everything in life happens for a reason, and he is grateful he’s had the opportunity to serve in the positions he has.

“I’m grateful for the love and support that I’ve been able to receive from all my friends and from my peers, and especially from my family,” Rodriguez said.

Kate is a junior studying journalism and marketing. Kate is from the Portland, Oregon area and loves all things family, friends and the outdoors.

PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham

USUSA president-elect Abe Rodriguez celebrates after hearing the election results.

PHOTO BY Paige Johnson

Abe Rodriguez speaks at the Statesman debate in the Hub on Feb. 22.

USU seniors prep for graduation

By Carter Ottley NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Utah State University will host its 136th commencement on May 4 and 5.

The ceremony will be for students who graduated or anticipate graduating in summer 2022, fall 2022, or spring 2023. Students graduating in summer 2023 can walk early with permission from their college or campus for statewide students.

The academic procession and commencement ceremony will be in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum from 9-11 a.m.

With graduation approaching, USU seniors are feeling a wide variety of emotions as they prepare to graduate and take their next steps.

Daria Malovich, a senior studying religious studies with a minor in Middle Eastern studies, is “stoked” about graduation.

“I’m most excited about the world of opportunity that is now open to me,” she said. “It is wild to think that I’m finally at this point that I’ve dreamed about for my whole life.”

There are only two things Malovich still wants to do before graduation — become best friends with the men’s basketball team — or at least Coach Odom — and kiss during True Aggie Night (DM her on Instagram @daria.malovich.)

“It is crazy to think of all of the things that I’ve accomplished and been a part of here at USU, between academics, athletics, student involvement and events, friends, bad dates,”

she said. “I still can’t quite believe I’ve actually made it this far.”

Carly Blake, a senior studying human biology, is excited to figure out what her next step is.

“I’m feeling very ready and excited to commemorate such an important chapter of my life,” she said. “I’m also excited to hopefully be moving down to Salt Lake.”

Blake feels satisfied with everything she was able to do in college, but she would like to kayak at First Dam before graduating.

Mason Mcquivey, a senior studying computational mathematics, is looking forward to starting the next chapter of his life.

“I am most excited to move to Salt Lake, start my career and pursue a master degree in data science,” he said.

The USU Campus Store will have a Logan Graduation Fair on March 14 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The fair is a chance for graduating students to go to the store and pursue graduation regalia, such as caps, gowns and tassels. Graduation supplies will also be available for purchase online following the fair.

To walk during the commencement ceremony, graduating students must have a cap, gown and tassel.

There will also be a specific graduation ceremony for each college.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Caine College of the Arts, College of Science, S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, and College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences will have their

ceremonies on May 4. There will also be a ceremony for students earning a bachelor of integrated studies or associate of general studies on this day.

The ceremonies for Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, College of Engineering, and Emma Eccles College of Education and Human Services will be held on May 5. The business school and CEHS will have separate ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Graduation at statewide campuses will happen near the end of April.

Additional information can be found on the commencement webpage, usu.edu/commencement, and questions can be directed to commencement@usu.edu.

Carter Ottley is a junior studying journalism and political science. When Carter isn’t writing for the Statesman, he enjoys Chilis, reading and Imagine Dragons.

— carter.ottley@usu.edu

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY Bailey Rigby

Utah’s soda addiction

stronger getting only

By Alivia Hadfield

Utah is known for many things, including great snow, Zion National Park and Lake Powell. Utah’s dirty soda craze is the newest addition to this list.

“Today, we took 150 to 200 orders probably in an hour,” said Grace Walker, an employee at Whips, a local soda shop. “A lot of moms come through the drive-thru, and they’re regulars. We see them at least once a day. Some even come through twice a day with their kids.”

According to Salt Lake Magazine, one soda shop in Utah, Sodalicious, claimed they sell enough soda in a year to fill an Olympic swimming pool.

So, what started this dirty soda trend that seems to have Utahns obsessed?

“I would trace the craze to when the first Swig was opened. I think that’s when it really started,” Walker said. “It was one of the first shops to open, and now more stores are branching off of it and trying to make it their own.”

Sarah Murphy, former Whips employee and avid Diet Coke fan, agreed Swig was the shop that started it all.

“If I go from Cache County all the way to Utah County, you will find a Swig in almost every city. Same with Sodalicious — those are kind of the ones that started at all,” Murphy said.

Murphy thought the lack of people who drink coffee in Utah played a part in the soda trend.

“So many people don’t drink coffee, and they’ve turned to soda as a substitute,” she said.

Murphy said when she worked at Whips, there was always a line of customers waiting at 8 a.m. to get their fix for the day.

Walker thought the number of teenagers and young adults also played a part in why soda is a huge hit.

“I think because there are so many kids and teenagers here in Utah, it’s just kind of a social thing. Our lobby always has kids coming in

during lunch or after school just to get pretzels, cookies and drinks and just hang out with each other,” Walker said.

Utahns’ obsession with dirty soda blew up on TikTok last year.

Currently, the hashtag #utahsoda has 144.7 million views. Most views are from people outside the state, curious as to why Utahns would add more sugar to an already sugary treat. Others are ready to jump on board.

In a video by @erinqueen2, she shows her followers how to make a “Utah dirty soda.” In her video, she said, “The people of Utah, they got me.”

The video currently has 4.5 million views and counting. She now has a series of making Utah dirty “sodies.”

On Swig’s official TikTok, they have a video of cars lined up at one of their locations in Texas. The caption reads, “You thought dirty soda was just a Utah thing?”

There are thousands of videos and different hashtags of people in and out of Utah talking about and trying dirty soda.

Walker said it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

“It’s just something that customers get to look forward to,” she said. “It’s coming to the drive-thru and getting their perfect milk soda drink with a cute sticker on their cup.”

PHOTOS BY Bailey Rigby

Whips’ “Pink Paradise” drink sits on the counter at its Logan location.

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

Alivia Hadfield is a first-year student and loves being an Aggie. Alivia’s passions include songwriting, reading and competing in pageants.

Column: An Aggie in Colombia A semester in Medellín — a city of change

The question I keep asking myself is how did this city change so much in such a short period of time?

A partial explanation came from Julio. He explained a government initiative to build “Library Parks” in some of the poorest and most dangerous parts of town.

“This library taught kids they don’t have to pick up a gun and participate in violence to be part of society,” Julio said.

Another crucial factor was the train and metrocable systems. “The train was built during the most violent time in our city’s history,” Julio said. “The train is always clean; no one leaves trash or scratches the seats because of what it represents to us as Colombians. That train represents the transformation of our city.”

I finished my tour with Julio at a large open courtyard. It was evening but strangely empty. No street vendors or pedestrians were going about their business. At one end of the courtyard sits two metal statues. One was complete; the other had been torn apart.

By Tanner Thomsen NEWS STAFF REPORTER

“My earliest memory as a 5-year-old was a massive explosion breaking the windows in our home,” my tour guide, Julio, stated solemnly.

The cause of this explosion was a bomb meant as a message of warning between two cartels. My tour guide, now an adult, was a hapless bystander in the middle of a city at war.

As our tour continued, he gestured towards a large plaza in the center of the city. “Every time the bus took me by this square growing up, I closed the window and crouched down in my seat. There was always crime in this square.”

I heard his stories but I felt a disconnect between his memories of violence and what I was witnessing. That same square that Julio had been so afraid of is now a tourist attraction containing concrete pillars that light up at night.

A nearby building, once illegally occupied by gangs and used as a base to commit crime, is the headquarters of the secretary of education. A bustling metro cuts right through the center of town, providing affordable transportation to distant communities.

This resurrected city is Medellín, Colombia, located in the Antioquia department high in the Andes mountains. The entire duration of the tour, I felt as comfortable and safe as I would in any major city in the U.S.

The opportunity to work as an intern in this city has enabled me to witness a city of change striving towards a better future.

On another tour, I visited Comuna 13, once so dangerous that two decades ago, the Colombian government sent tanks and military helicopters to attack the guerrilla forces occupying the area.

My guide in Comuna 13 preferred to remain anony-

mous but remembers the engagement lasting 12 hours. Her family was in a nearby neighborhood.

As we walked up the steep hill to the Comuna, she stated, “There was always gunfire in these areas; it was very dangerous.”

I braced myself for what I’d find. I expected this community on the mountainside to be a desolate place afraid of a difficult past. Instead, I found happy faces, many belonging to small business owners blasting music in the streets and selling their goods.

The most striking aspect of Comuna 13 was the escalator on a mountainside as steep as those in Utah. This escalator runs between favela style housing of metal roofs and brick walls. Residents can now move around the community with ease.

The locality is beautiful. Every wall is painted with vibrant colors. My tour guide started to explain one of the paintings that contained the three founders of the village.

A man standing above the wall called out to us. As he waved, my tour guide realized he was one of the founders depicted in the painting. She introduced us, and we were given a warm welcome.

The paintings all told stories. A depiction of an elephant caught my attention. She explained, “The elephant expresses emotion similar to humans — that’s why it was chosen. It also has a good memory. One of the tusks is broken to show the hardship this community has been through.”

Connecting many of these mountain communities to the train system is a metrocable, a gondola-style ski lift stretching up the mountainside. This accessibility has changed the lives of many Colombians. School was too far for many such communities. Even the bus fare was too expensive. With the metrocables, students can live at home and commute to universities more centrally located within the city.

Behind the statues was a large replica of a newspaper with an ominous heading. “There was a huge festival years ago, right here in this courtyard. A bomb was placed in that statue, killing many innocent people,” Julio explained.

I believe the empty courtyard is a good example of the Colombian resolve. The old statue is in place to remember, while the new signifies the city’s rebirth.

I talked to an Uber driver when I first got to Colombia who asked me, “What did people think when you said you were going to Colombia?” I explained most were worried I was going to a dangerous and violent place.

The follow up question was insightful: “But what would you say now?” I told him Medellín was safe and full of friendly people. He nodded his head approvingly. I believe many Colombians feel a similar desire to be known worldwide as hospitable and friendly.

Great changes have occurred, but there is still work to be done. The tour I took of Comuna 13 is part of an organization known as Casa Kolacho that helps children in the area. They offer hip-hop lessons and teach kids to create art similar to the paintings that light up their community.

Everywhere I’ve gone in Medellín, friendly faces have greeted me. The city is hopeful and the progress made is tangible.

In 2016, the city was given the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize. The prize is awarded to the city that has achieved the greatest technological and sustainable urban solutions.

Colombians have proven a society can learn from their past and make the future better for their children. My experience here has taught me that happiness is a choice, not a result based on a set of circumstances.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Tanner Thomsen stands next to an escalator in Medellín.

Portable concert venue supports local artists

By Savannah Burnard

The Little Jamm is a portable concert venue that provides an intimate space for local artists to share their music.

Nathan Ahlstrom, a sophomore at Utah State University and owner of the venue, said he founded The Little Jamm because he wanted to create a space for smaller bands to experience performing for audiences. Ahlstrom grew up doing contemporary dance. After tearing his ACL and not being able to dance for a period of time, he said he needed to find a different creative outlet.

“I turned to music and that became my creative outlet and almost my therapy. From there, I played the guitar and started writing music,” Ahlstrom said.

After throwing mini concerts at his home and realizing how much he enjoyed it, he decided to create a concert setup.

“I created The Little Jamm for artists and the audience to come together and experience the language of music with each other in an intimate and small space,” Ahlstrom said.

When it comes to picking artists to perform, Ahlstrom said he has performers contact him, and he also reaches out to artists who he thinks would be a good fit.

“I kind of find those artists and put together musicians that would sound similar,” Ahlstrom said.

He said although The Little Jamm caters to all musical genres, they tend to target indie and folk musicians.

USU sophomore Parker Norton performed with his band, Wednesday, at the first concert The Little Jamm hosted, which was Feb. 10 in the community room at Oakridge Student Community.

Norton said he thinks The Little Jamm is unique from other concert venues because of the environment.

“It’s kind of like a more intimate setting. You can see everybody, and everyone can see you. It’s not a place where you’re on this massive stage and you can’t really

see people’s faces out in the crowd. You can see what’s going on, on the other side, which is cool,” Norton said.

Chi Lewis, a friend of Ahlstrom’s, said he thinks The Little Jamm is unique because anyone can come and people have the opportunity to meet new friends.

“I think a lot of other venues tend to be expensive, and all the performers are usually hand-picked and you don’t get a whole lot of variety with them. You have to focus on the music, and it’s pretty closed off,” Lewis said. “Here, you can go and listen to music, but you can still talk to the people around you, and it’s kind of like you’re hanging out with everybody.”

Ahlstrom said he is open to finding different locations for the setup, but said it could be difficult because of money and the atmosphere he wants to maintain.

“The hardest thing is finding places that have lighting and good sound, and finding a place that’s not crazy expensive but that has that cozy feeling,” Ahlstrom said. “Lighting can create a good ambiance, but also the space itself. You can’t do a concert in certain buildings and have it be cozy because of, you know, the tile or really big windows.”

As for the future of The Little Jamm, Ahlstrom said he would like to work with the university and possibly perform in the ballroom in the TSC.

“That’s far in the future, but we got to dream big,” he said.

Although exact dates have not been determined yet, Ahlstrom said The Little Jamm plans to hold more concerts and continue creating a space for performers and audiences to come together.

Savannah Burnard is a junior studying journalism. In her free time, Savannah loves to travel, try new foods and meet new people.

— savannah.burnard@usu.edu

PHOTOS BY Elise Gottling

Left: Utah State University junior Jonah Fiegleson performs a song at The Little Jamm concert on Feb. 24. Right: Audience members record video at The Little Jamm performance on Feb. 24.

Review: Pinocchio Teatrale

By Harrison Larson LIFESTYLES STAFF REPORTER

“Pinocchio Teatrale” is the latest production put on by the Department of Theatre Arts at Utah State University. The musical takes on the classic story of Pinocchio with a darker tone, creating a distinctly different atmosphere than other iterations of the tale do.

Written by Nicole B. Adkins, the story follows Pinocchio through his transformation into a real boy, all set to a score by Ashby Blakely. It’s geared towards younger audiences, but it doesn’t hold back on the depth of storytelling, making it an enjoyable experience for any viewer.

Adkins wanted Pinocchio to be a driving factor behind why things happened in her version of the classic tale. In other versions, Pinocchio was more of a passenger in his own story.

“Everything happened to Pinocchio, and Pinocchio was more of a victim and responsive to what was thrown at him. He was kind of thrown about with the winds of fate, and I thought in the original stories, he has so much more agency,” Adkins said. “The highs and lows are a result of his choices and behaviors, and I wanted to track that journey, and I was really interested in what that looked like.”

Stefan Espinosa, the show’s director, wanted to deepen the message beyond just the simple idea of listening to specific people and instead, focus more on choosing who we listen to in life.

“A lesser playwright would have made the message, ‘Listen to these specific adults, and you’ll be fine.’ But that’s not the message of the play; the play is more about being careful about who you choose to connect yourself to,” Espinosa said. “‘Pinocchio’ is more about a chosen family. Really, he chooses who his family is.”

Espinosa said the show focuses on relationships and strings of attachment.

“There’s this question of ‘Who holds the strings?’ in this play, and I think ultimately, the answer is you get to choose who holds the strings: who you hold strings for, who holds strings for you, how we connect ourselves to each other, who you tie yourself to, those bonds of love,” Espinosa said. “In that love, there is accountability, and if you want to have real, quality relationships, it’s not a one-way street. You have to give and take; you can’t just take and run.”

Espinosa said the show, which takes place in Tuscany, has a magical circus theme that lends itself to a darker atmosphere.

“In this version, it is a circus theme. It’s kind of this dark circus with magic in this world, and I really credit our design team with finding a way to bring that world to life. It is a deceptively simple set, but it has a lot of character, with a lot of space for the actors to do all sorts of circus tricks,” Espinosa said.

According to Espinosa, the “low-tech magic” of the show allows the actors to shine.

“What we do is rooted in old theatrical styles, like shadow play and puppetry and showing off the skills of the actors, which is supported by the design. I think

it really highlights the magic humans can create in a space and transform it,” Espinosa said.

Atkins said the show is for younger audiences, but she wanted it to be able to stand as a piece of theater regardless of its intended audience.

“We assume that maybe children don’t know as much or have as many questions — that they’re not as present, as aware. And sometimes we sell them short,”

Atkins said. “So for me, the most important thing is that this is a show that they feel connected to, that it is a show made for them.”

Espinosa said the play is made specifically to communicate with the audience in a way that feels genuine.

“We don’t talk down to our audience. We are not the adults who are allowing young people into this theater and giving them the watered-down version of real theater, some version that we think they could possibly understand,” Espinosa said. “It speaks to all audiences. There’s a perspective that Nikki and Ashby allow for young people to connect to it specifically, but it’s for everybody.”

Ray Harrison is the programming director for Aggie Radio. She is in charge of training all the DJs that are on the radio as well as helping with the broadcasts for the football and basketball game. If you want to be a DJ on Aggie Radio then join Ray’s committee.

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Ollie Chieppa as Pinocchio, Timo Rasmussen as Geppetto and Nicole Frederick as the Azure Fairy in Utah State University’s production of “Pinocchio Teatrale.”

Give often Eat well Drink wine

By Maya Mackinnon LIFESTYLES EDITOR

Iarrived at an oddly familiar house. Overgrown native plants and a Planned Parenthood yard sign assured me I was at the right place.

As instructed, I made my way through the greenhouse to the backyard, where I was greeted by Utah Public Radio playing on the speaker and a well-lived-in garden.

Geno Schupp caught my attention; his tie-dye shirt and distinct gray beard have not changed in the 15 years I have known of him.

Janis Boettinger joined us, and we gathered three chairs.

Few things are more peaceful than a warm September evening in Logan, Utah and a good conversation.

Janis and Geno have called Logan home for 30 years. More than 20 years of that time has been spent being involved in and supporting the community through numerous nonprofit organizations. Although their dedication to the community has not dwindled, they lack the time to support all the commitments they want to.

Geno and Janis have made good food and good wine the motif of their charitable work.

“We could just write a check, which we do,” Geno said. But one thing they like to do — and have increasingly done over time — is incentivize other people to give as well.

“We decided that food is one of the best ways to do that,” he said. “Along the way, wine came into it as well. It became a more and more important part of that culture of a good meal with family. Family around a table with good food and wine and good conversation. We can — it turns out — sell that to other people.”

“It wasn’t like we were raised this way.”

Janis grew up in northern New Jersey. Her mother, a “tomboy,” never cooked, making Janis’ father the curator of her childhood culinary experience. She started to cook full time in her university dorm room when the meal plan was unsatisfactory. In graduate school, she spent her time with friends who also liked to cook good food and buy fresh produce from farmers markets.

“You have to be able to cook to eat the way you want to,” Janis said.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and her doctorate in soil science from the University of California Davis. Immediately after finishing her Ph.D. in 1992, she accepted a job at Utah State University. Janis studies and teaches soil science, has been the vice provost in the provost’s office since 2011 and is the interim director of the Office of Global Engagement.

“I have never felt more at home any place than here in Cache Valley and Utah,” Janis said. “Partly because I am so drawn to interesting landscapes. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Seeing the mountains every day means so much to me.”

Geno was raised in Florida — and in his mother’s kitchen. Starting with fruit pies, cooking has always been a significant part of his life.

“I always like to eat,” Geno said.

He grew up raising livestock, growing gardens and taking part in agricultural clubs.

“I have always appreciated the importance of good, fresh, local ingredients. It has been a natural part of my life,” Geno said.

He wasn’t immediately drawn to academia, but he always knew he wanted to learn how the natural world worked. Geno eventually attended college and started his

@Jacobnielson12

Ryan Odom on why Steven Ashworth shaved his mustache: “He didn’t want to be Stacheworth. He wants to be Splashworth.”

career as a tropical ecologist. After he did postdoctoral research in Spain, he became fascinated with its semi-arid shrublands and woodlands.

The semi-arid climate of Utah was attractive to Geno. He was hired in the department of range science at USU and found work he felt would make a bigger impact.

“I could still ask the questions I was always interested in, but apply them to species of concern or systems of concern,” Geno said. “For 30 years, it has worked out beautifully. I am 70, and I’m not retiring. Maybe someday, but they are paying me to do what I love to do.”

While Janis and Geno could trace the importance of good food to their childhoods, their strong desire for investing in and helping their community was something they came to independently.

“It wasn’t like we were raised this way,” Geno said. “It is something we chose because we care about people in our community, and we have the ability to help.”

They met 28 years ago through mutual friends, and as Geno said, “The rest is history.”

The Intermountain Wine Advisor Geno and Janis’ first community endeavor was the creation of their free, irregular electronic newsletter, The Intermountain Wine Advisor. Currently in its 18th year of publication, the newsletter has more than 400 subscribers.

Inspired by their graduate students’ inquiries about affordable wine, Geno and Janis originally curated the newsletter to highlight deals on wine in Utah. It has expanded to a theme of “life in the Beehive State,” including food news — only local businesses, that is — restaurant and food truck reviews and of course, all things wine.

In the introduction to the first volume of the Advisor, the couple wrote that “the theme of our ranting and raving” would be diversity.

“We really get tired of people saying they only drink merlot. Or cabernet sauvignon. Or chardonnay. Or they don’t like pink wines. Or floral wines. Or fruity wines. Or whatever,” the intro read.

Janis and Geno wrote that they “are sickened by the homogenization of wines around the world.”

“There are so many kinds of wonderful wines out there,” they wrote.

They cater to what they want to promote, such as fundraising events, nonprofit organizations and places they want people to support.

Logan has seen a lot of growth in local cuisine, with significant support from the community Janis and Geno have helped formulate.

“Coming here, there was really no place to go except for the Grapevine, 30 years ago,” Geno said.

The Grapevine was a local restaurant, started by Bill Oblock, who later opened Crumb Brothers Bakery.

According to Geno, it was not somewhere most people

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could afford to go to a few times a week. And so, lacking alternatives, he said, a culture developed of people getting together with a nice meal and drinks at someone’s house.

“That feeling of friends and family around a table with good food and wine is absolutely not specific to here,” Shupp said. “It became a more important part of our culture with our friends because we couldn’t say — now you can — ‘Let’s meet down at the bar and have a few beers and burgers and catch up.’”

“Spain is in my soul.”

Geno’s postdoctoral research in Spain began in 1988. Since that time, the couple have spent two sabbaticals in Spain. Not only was Geno’s love for semi-arid climates realized, but the food, wine and culture captivated both him and Janis.

“Spain is in my soul,” Geno said.

They embarked on a Spanish cooking journey when trying to recreate meals they enjoyed in Spain. They would eat and cook and refine until they perfected a recipe.

Spanish cookbooks became a staple.

“Being in Logan, we realized very quickly, if we wanted a good meal, we would have to make it ourselves,” Geno said. “That is when we really started diving into becoming more experienced cooks and exploring a broader range of options and types of cuisines. That passion and ability fed into when we wanted to contribute — what can we contribute?”

Wine tasting and Spanish tapas came to mind first.

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood stickers and LGBTQ+ ally signs decorated the nameplate on Nancy Sassano’s office door in the education building on USU’s Logan campus. Without a face to the name, I did not realize I would so instantly recognize the woman who welcomed me in. Decade-old memories resurfaced of selling home grown chicken eggs at the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market — she had been a regular customer.

Sassano, a proposal development specialist at USU and Planned Parenthood board member, has known Janis and

Geno since she moved to Logan 25 years ago.

The Logan Planned Parenthood clinic has a solid base of support in Cache Valley, Sassano said, and the annual Chocolate Festival fundraiser is that support personified.

“We love the community, and we want to give back,” Janis said. “Even when I didn’t have a lot of money, I did what I could. Early on, we were making desserts to donate to the chocolate festival.”

Janis and Geno’s involvement has evolved to donating signature meals for the auction. Their donation of a meal is the donation of a night out. Donors who meet or exceed the minimum amount receive an invitation to a night at Janis and Geno’s house, complete with wine tasting and eating homemade Spanish tapas.

The Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade affects organizations like Planned Parenthood. Sassano, Geno and Janis said their support for Planned Parenthood may have to increase due to the change.

“We have been periodically picketed and called baby killers at the chocolate festival, going back at least 20 years,” Geno said.

But Geno said the attacks “only make us more committed to fight.”

“It is going to take money for court challenges. It is going to take money for educational campaigns. And it is going to take money for political campaigns,” Geno said. “And we are going to raise that money. At least ramp up our efforts to do our part. But it will take all of us.”

“Giving back is good. If you like a place, we think it is important to be invested in it.”

Although wine tasting and Spanish tapas stayed signature to Planned Parenthood, they began to donate different international meals and wine for other nonprofits. CAPSA, Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection, Stokes Nature Center, the Cache Humane Society, Valley Dance Ensemble, the Cache Bar and the Fry Street Quartet have been recipients of meal donations from Janis and Geno.

Read the rest of this story at usustatesman.com.

could have been an email” can be neutralized with “this meeting is catered”

PHOTO BY Sam Warner

From left to right: Janis Boettinger and Geno Schupp.

Maya Mackinnon is a senior studying print journalism and art. When she is not managing the Lifestyles team, she is enjoying the outdoors and traveling.

Space to grow Outd oor Product Design & Development in new building

By Maya Mackinnon LIFESTYLES EDITOR

Utah State University’s Outdoor Product Design & Development program has moved into the Janet Quinney Lawson building, officially claiming a designated space on the Logan campus.

Prior to the program’s move in December, OPDD workspace was primarily in the Industrial Science building, and faculty were spread across campus.

The JQL building became vacant when Information Technology services moved into a brand new building. USU’s Space Committee decided OPDD has seen fast growth and demonstrated significant need for the building.

OPDD classes will be held in the building beginning fall 2023. Chase Anderson, the program coordinator, said it is unique for a program to have all faculty under the same roof as student study areas. Organization of the new space is still in progress, but all faculty are moved into the offices and students already use it as a hub.

There are open study areas, a design and material library for inspiration, a future classroom, space to showcase projects, a future textile lab and space for student lab technicians to work. OPDD worked with USU Facilities and the Inclusion Center to convert the bathrooms to all-gender restrooms, which Anderson said was a priority for the program to be more inclusive.

There are still OPDD labs in the Industrial Science building and the Veterinary Science & Biology building. However, all of the program spaces are now on the same street.

Jakob Meighen, a senior in the program, said before the new building, there wasn’t a community within the program. “Not having a space that everyone can come to was definitely a bit frustrating and didn’t nourish the community aspect,” Meighen said. “Now having this, I have met way more people than I have in my past three years here, which has been really awesome. It is a great space to work in too, and having all the professors right here has been awesome.”

Julie Lamarra, an assistant professor of practice, said students have already put together study groups that meet in the building, even on days without class.

“It feels really organic, and it feels really natural, it feels unforced,” Lamarra said. “The students are just here and building that community organically, as your professors are working through the day. It has been really, really refreshing to see, and inspiring.”

Anderson said the faculty also see each other and talk more, which improves teaching and the program in general.

“We have had a lot of students who are hungry to be around other students and learn what they are doing,” Anderson said. “Before, it felt very much that it was you and your cohort of students. There was very little crossover between the classes. Now, students are bumping into each other; they are having those study groups. You are getting juniors interacting with freshmen, which creates opportunities for mentorship. It is exciting.”

Lamarra said the professors have an open door policy, which has created a collaborative space for faculty and students.

“We not only have an open door policy for our students, but really for anybody that’s curious about the program,” Lamarra said. “We love talking about it. We invite everyone to come and check it out and to see what we have going on here — ask questions and be curious.”

PHOTOS BY Sam Warner

Top: Two USU students discuss their designs in a Janet Quinney Lawson classroom on Feb. 22. Bottom: A person reads a magazine in a lounge area at the Janet Quinney Lawson building on Feb. 22.

Maya Mackinnon is a senior studying print journalism and art. When she is not managing the Lifestyles team, she is enjoying the outdoors and traveling.

By Claire Ott STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Claire Ott is a third-year student studying journalism with an environmental studies minor. Claire enjoys the outdoors, photography and music. She hopes to see the world someday and do lots of cool things.

— A02339922@usu.edu

USU Softball primed for conference slate

By Jake Ellis and Emma Becerra SPORTS EDITOR AND STAFF REPORTER

Utah State Softball relied on the long ball and two workhorse pitchers to finish fourth in the Mountain West Conference in 2022 with a record of 13-11. This year, the Aggies will have to overcome the loss of five integral athletes and train their rising stars to have a shot at making the conference tournament come May.

USU has a lot to prove after being predicted to finish last by the conference’s nine coaches. That skepticism has some merit, considering the Aggies’ losses of shortstop Lexi Orozco, USU’s all-time leader in RBIs and home runs, and pitcher Kapri Toone, who led the team with a 2.89 ERA. Both transferred out of the program during the offseason.

“Predictions don’t mean anything,” head coach Steve Johnson said. “I didn’t think we’d be last, but when you lose a pitcher who had as many innings and wins as Kapri did, and you lose some of the bigger names that we had, I mean, yeah, it’s not unexpected, but they don’t mean anything. It’s a matter of where you finish at the end of the year instead of somebody predicting it.”

Despite the personnel change, Utah State has two promising first-year players already making an impact. In the first week of the season, pitcher and outfielder Hailey McLean was honored as the Mountain West Pitcher and Freshman of the Week after tabbing a single-game, program-record 20 strikeouts in her collegiate debut against CSU Bakersfield.

“Hailey has so much heart when she’s on the field,” senior catcher and infielder Gabriella Jimenez said. “Just being behind that, it pumps me up, and I know like, she’s in it and we’re all going to be behind her. And she just brings us this personality that I feel like we needed.”

Two weeks later, outfielder Jaden Colunga won Mountain West Player and Freshman of the Week honors when she hit .667, a home run and six RBIs against Montana and South Dakota.

“She comes in and she does her work every single day, and she wants to make the team better,” Jimenez said of Colunga.

Johnson said both players’ potential is “sky high.”

“Both of them are learning how to go through games and live life as a Division I athlete,” Johnson said. “As long as they continue to learn and grow from every opportunity, they are going to have a great season.”

Even with some veteran losses, Jimenez, Utah State’s home-run leader last season, elected to use her extra eligibility from the coronavirus for a fifth collegiate season. “I decided to come back because I felt like I wasn’t done here at Utah State, and I wanted to give back to those that were coming in and just continue for one more year with this team,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez earned First-Team All-Mountain West and started in all games last year for the Aggies. She currently holds the program’s single-season home run record with 15 in 2022. So far this season, she’s appeared in almost all games and hit her first bomb against Montana.

The infield seems to be one of Utah State’s biggest question marks, as Johnson has tried a few different looks

during the first few tournaments.

“The first 20 games before we get into conference play, it’s all about learning for who’s going to be our regular, everyday starters,” Johnson said.

USU is looking for underclassmen to take a leap.

Johnson said he’s already seen infielder Claudia Medina making strides and being a vocal leader.

Infielder Claire Raley is another sophomore who has found success in the early season. Through the first three tourneys, Raley batted .364 with a .947 OPS in 33 at bats. She also hit her first career home run against Montana.

The Aggies return a lot of experience in the outfield with seniors Tyler Thornton and Mazie Macfarlane, though Macfarlane has yet to play this season. Johnson called them “vocal leaders,” along with catcher and infielder Makenzie Macfarlane, Mazie’s twin, and pitcher Jessica Stewart.

The Aggies’ starting rotation is headlined by sophomore Mia Reynolds. In her first collegiate season last year, Reynolds threw 129.1 innings and tallied three complete games, including two shutouts. She also led the Aggies in strikeouts with 94, but her ERA hovered above five due to tough outings against North Dakota State, Dixie State and UC Davis.

Reynolds has already shown improvement from her 2022 campaign, recording a 2.73 ERA in 33.1 innings through the first three tournaments this season.

“She’s super consistent, super level-headed,” said Alyssa Millemon, a senior pitcher. “I think she brings a ton to the pitching staff.”

McLean and fellow first-year Tess Bumiller rounded out the starting rotation through the first few weeks of the season.

Laing and Millemon.

Millemon transferred from Salt Lake Community College last season and has taken a “step up” after dealing with the pressure of transitioning from JUCO to D-I.

“I think last year, it was a bit of a slap in the face coming from JUCO and just experiencing a lot of nerves,” Millemon said. “I think I just kind of wanted to step up and just get over the nerves myself, and just go out there and throw like I know how and not apply extra pressure.”

She started in two games and appeared in 13 last year. Through the first three tournaments of the season, Millemon posted a 0.64 ERA in 11 innings of work.

USU plays the first game in the Beehive State this year at Utah Valley on March 14, and then they start the 22game long Mountain West slate. To make the conference tournament and get a chance at an NCAA Tournament bid, the Aggies will need to be in the top six of the Mountain West. That can be a lot of pressure on a young team, but Millemon said if they keep things going, she likes their chances.

“I just like to compete and win,” Millemon said. “I think if we go out there and compete, get our bats going, keep the defense, keep pitching where it’s at right now, I think we’ll do really well.”

Jimenez added that she thinks the conference will be “really competitive.”

“It’s always competitive every year, but I feel like we have a good chance of being in that tournament at the end of the year for sure,” Jimenez said.

The Aggies are set to host their home-opening and conference-opening series on March 17 against New Mexico at LaRee & LeGrand Johnson field, weather permitting.

In the bullpen, the Aggies return Jessica Stewart, Nya

PHOTO BY Paige Johnson

Mazie Macfarlane runs through the arms of her teammates during Utah State’s game against Weber State in 2022.

Brianna Brooks’ breakout season

By Emma Becerra

Utah State Gymnastics was upended at the end of last year when the previous head coach left for Clemson and eight of USU’s former athletes followed her. This year, the squad has a new coaching staff, and they have brought on six new athletes. The struggles the team has faced early on this year can be expected with a new coach and new athletes; however, Brianna Brooks has been an energetic and positive student leader during this tough season.

Brooks is a junior from Las Vegas and has competed in all events for the Aggies this season. With so much change in the last year for the gymnastics squad, Brooks has been a consistent and reliable performer.

“She’s the kind of athlete that every coach dreams to have,” head coach Kristin White said. “She comes to practice with a smile on her face every single day and a hard-working attitude. She’s really developed into a phenomenal leader for our program.”

When White had time to talk to Brooks individually after she was hired, she said she could feel her energy right away. The positive attitude Brooks exudes every day has helped her be successful during her events, but it has also been a tremendous example for her teammates, according to White.

Before this year, Brooks was a star for the Aggies on the vault, bars and beam. This season, she has been a constant competitor in all events, where she has repeatedly put up big numbers for the Aggies. She has won three all-around titles so far this season and multiple Rockstar of the Meet awards at home competitions.

Brooks has made consistent improvements as the season has progressed, with some of her best meets coming at the end of January and in February. On vault, she currently has a season-high of 9.850, which she recorded at Boise State, tying for fourth in that competition. On bars, she has a season-high of 9.875, which she recorded at Boise State and against BYU. And on beam, Brooks tied her personal best with a 9.900 at BYU. For her first season competing on floor, she had a career-high 9.800 at Boise State. With all of her scores she’s achieved this season so far, she has set a new personal record overall score of 39.200.

Going into the season, Brooks knew she wanted to compete on floor. It was a spot she thought she could fill to help her team, and she also knew doing four events would be an opportunity for her to provide more leadership.

White was hesitant to let her compete in the event, as it’s not something Brooks has done during her time at USU so far.

But Brooks began to focus on the details of the floor event and started putting in extra work in the weight room.

According to White, Brooks is performing the best gymnastics this far into her college career, and it can be credited to her work and focus.

This Week in Aggie Athletics

Softball

March 14: @ Utah Valley

5 p.m., Orem, Utah

March 17: vs. New Mexico

4 p.m., LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field

March 18: vs. New Mexico

12 p.m., LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field

March 19: vs. New Mexico

12 p.m., LaRee & LeGrand Johnson Field

“I knew that going into this year, I was going to be able to compete in four events for the first time,” Brooks said. “There was a lot of efficiency in training and getting strong, specifically my legs. It was a lot about putting in the work, but also being efficient so I wasn't wearing my body down.”

Brooks’ example has motivated and inspired her team, even when they’ve faced adversity. The gymnastics team has not been lucky this season in terms of injuries, and several new athletes have had to step into different events to fill the spots of their injured teammates.

Senior Sofi Sullivan has been an integral part of the Aggies' success so far this season, but she did miss a meet and a couple of weeks of training due to a concussion. For any athlete, not being able to compete due to an injury is frustrating, but Sullivan said Brooks was there when she needed her.

“She’s really supportive with injuries, and the concussion was completely out of my control, so that was a little frustrating for me, but coming back into practice, she was one of the girls that would always help me start getting back into stuff,” Sullivan said. “She just is someone that I can always talk to, whether it’s a problem inside or outside the gym."

Read the rest of this story at usustatesman.com.

Emma Becerra is a journalism major from California. Her hobbies include swimming, hanging out with friends and boating. She is on the Utah State soccer team.

— emma.becerra@usu.edu

Tennis

Women’s

March 17: vs. Montana State

11 a.m., Sports Academy & Racquet Club

Gymnastics

March 18: Mountain Rim Gymnastic Conference Championships

6 p.m., Cedar City

PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham

Brianna Brooks starts her beam routine in the splits.

Baker: Tips if you’re thinking about studying abroad

Last summer I fulfilled my dream of going on a study abroad program. Over the course of a month in Italy and England, I earned 6 credits, all while having an amazing time. I can truly say that I learned more than I could have ever imagined, both academically and by having new experiences in foreign countries.

I was able to see incredible sites and entertainment: I saw the Vatican, toured Doge’s Palace, and watched professional plays. Not only this, but since I was taking classes in architecture and theater, I was able to truly understand what I was seeing. But that doesn't even begin to describe my experience: I ate amazing food, had interesting conversations with foreigners, explored palaces, and so much more!

If you have ever imagined yourself studying abroad, I would encourage you to look into it, even if it seems like an unachievable goal. The USU Global Engagement website not only shows long-term programs, but also has information on programs in the summer and during winter and spring breaks. For those concerned about money, many programs are based on USU tuition and fees and the USU Global Engagement website also has a scholarship resource page to help fund your trip. You may find that studying abroad is more practical than you would have previously thought. I personally never thought I would be able to attend school overseas until I received the Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is a U.S. Department of State grant program where Pell Grant-eligible students can be awarded up to $5,000 (or $8,000 if studying a critical need language) for their study abroad or internship program.

Congratulations to those who are planning to study abroad or who are in the process of preparing for a study abroad program! I've prepared four tips for you before you travel to a new country.

Tip 1: Get Your Passport ASAP

Applying for a passport around the time you apply for your program is an important task to complete. It appears so simple, but it is easy to overlook while preparing for your program. When traveling between countries, you will need it, and you may be required to submit a photo of it after booking your flight. Your passport will arrive within 6 to 9 weeks. However, there may be processing delays, and processing can take up to 4 months.

Tip 2: Get a Credit Card with No International Fees

I was very confused about how I was going to access my money before I left for overseas. At first, I considered trading currency with my bank or using my debit card abroad. However, I discovered that trading currency with banks often comes with a hefty fee, and some cards (including mine at the time) will charge a foreign transaction fee: a fee incurred when using your card abroad.

I would recommend using a credit card that

does not charge an international fee. Make sure you get one that is widely accepted in your chosen country; Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. To be eligible for many of these credit cards, you must first establish credit. If you intend to use cash, find out if you can use ATMs while abroad so you can withdraw smaller amounts at a time. Having multiple methods of accessing funds is helpful in the event that your card is lost or frozen. Remember to notify your bank or credit card company of your plans so that your card is not frozen.

Tip 3: Get a SIM Card

One of the biggest mistakes that I made while preparing to go abroad, is that I did not get a SIM card for calls and data. SIM cards allow you to make calls, text, and use data outside of the U.S. While I did buy international roaming data from my phone company, it turned out that my phone company does not work well abroad. I ended up being unable to access data outside of the U.S. Investigate whether your phone company offers roaming data that works well in other countries. If not, you can purchase an international SIM card or a local SIM card online or upon arrival at your destination. Local SIM cards are less expensive than international cards, but they only work in one country. If you intend to buy a new SIM card, make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave.

Tip 4: Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

For people with dietary restrictions, traveling abroad can be difficult to say the least. As someone with Celiac disease (a severe gluten intolerance), I was very afraid that I would constantly be sick. If you are going to a country where few people speak English or they do not understand your restrictions, you may want to consider printing off a card explaining what you cannot eat in their language. You can find and print off many of these cards online.

When you go to a restaurant, show your server the translated dietary card. I didn't use my card much in Italy because the Italians are very familiar with Celiac disease and knew what I could and couldn't eat. However, if your dietary restriction is uncommon in your country, a card may be useful.

One of the most useful things I did was mark restaurants on a map where I could eat. If I knew our group was going to a specific area before we left, I would look up all the restaurants in that area and either mark them on a physical map or 'favorite' them on Google Maps. When everyone started getting hungry, I could pull out my map and see where the nearest safe place to eat was. In the end, I did end up eating something I shouldn't have, so be prepared in case you get sick.

Overall, studying abroad required a lot of planning, but it was well worth it. If you have any questions about studying abroad or applying for the Gilman Scholarship, please contact me at hmbaker7777@gmail.com.

Heather Baker is a senior at Utah State University majoring in public health. She enjoys running, hunting, and playing the guitar in her free time.

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