July 28, 2020 - Utah Statesman - Utah State University by The Utah Statesman

Week of July 28, 2020 www.usustatesman.com (435) 797-1742 TSC Room 118 Free single copy NEWS | Missing million

LIFESTYLES | BLM in South Asia

SPORTS | Homecoming for Tai Wesley

Nearly $1 million of COVID-19 grants have not been accepted by students, according to the university.

The president of the International Student Council shares her thoughts on race from her background in South Asia.

Wesley, an Aggie basketball legend, ends his international career and enters the next chapter of his life.

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New podcast focuses on USU football gains another women in Utah’s history Utah transfer in Henry-Cole By William Bultez LIFESTYLES COPY EDITOR

“This is Her Place” is a new

podcast

from

Utah

State

University’s Patrick Mason

blending the stories of con-

temporary and historic Utah women.

“There’s a real hunger right

now to diversify the voices and experiences of those who are

represented in our narra-

tives about history and current events,” Mason said in a

PHOTO BY Kiffer Creveling | The Daily Utah Chronicle Devonta’e Henry-Cole comes to Logan as Utah State’s most experienced running back after four seasons with the University of Utah.

press release. “Women have

always played a huge role in Utah, but their voices often

aren’t heard or known, and people don’t know where to go to get those stories. I really

want everyone to know that Utah is ‘her place’ too.”

Early on in 2020, Mason,

who serves as the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mor-

mon History and Culture as

well as a professor at USU,

approached Naomi Watkins, a women’s advocate and educator, about the idea of creating a podcast about the his-

tory of Utah women. Watkins

countered with an idea to include the stories of contemporary women as well.

“Women are doing really

cool things now,” said Watkins, who, along with USU professor Tom Williams, hosts the show.

PHOTO COURTESY OF This is Her Place Podcast The new podcast is produced by USU’s Patrick Mason.

Watkins wanted to make

sure their listeners would un-

derstand the work women in

Utah are doing now as well as work in the past. But due to impacting events such as the

coronavirus and the death of

George Floyd, the episodes

became more relevant than their team bargained for.

The first two episodes, which were written before these

events and cover topics such as law enforcement and public health, had to be rewritten.

“I foresee us, yes, being cog-

nizant of what’s happening in our contemporary conversations,” Watkins said of the

podcast’s future. “In many ways, these are stories -- for

man experience.”

Their narrative-based pod-

cast quickly joined national and global conversations on these

important

conversa-

tions, while also sharing the experiences of Utah women.

“It is important to know

the stories of all people,”

said Jann Haworth, a British-American

artist,

Utah

resident and interviewee for the podcast. “This year being a focus point for women, the

spotlight turned in that direction.”

Haworth referred to 2020

being the 150th anniversary

of women’s suffrage in Utah

and the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the

better or worse -- of the hu-

see “Podcast” PAGE 5

By Dalton Renshaw SPORTS CONTENT MANAGER

In quite an unusual turn of events, former

University of Utah running back Devonta’e

Henry-Cole has withdrawn his letter of intent from in-state rival BYU and instead will play for Utah State this coming season.

As first reported by Jake Hatch of “The Zone

Sports Network,” and later confirmed by Chris Kamrani of “The Athletic,” Henry-Cole will

make his way to Logan as a graduate trans-

fer and figures to immediately compete with

Doak Walker Award nominee Jaylen Warren for the starting spot. At this time, USU has yet

to confirm Henry-Cole’s addition to the program.

Utah State football head coach Gary Ander-

son has made adding former Utes to the ros-

ter a routine since his arrival in Logan, after spending 2018 as Utah associate head coach. Henry-Cole is the second former Ute to transfer up to Cache Valley in the past week, joining quarterback Jason Shelley who was Hen-

Andersen brought in three former Utes — defensive end Nick Heninger, tight end Caleb

Repp and wide receiver Siaosi Mariner — who played for the Aggies in 2019.

The Florida native will have the opportunity

to share a backfield with Warren, who rushed for 569 yards and five touchdowns last sea-

son, but couldn’t stay healthy, especially for the second half of the season. Utah State was

lacking depth at the running back position, with Warren the only player on the roster with

more than 100 career carries. The player with the second-most carries, Enoch Nawahine

(16), is currently serving a two-year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leaving a massive gap in experience in the Aggie backfield.

Henry-Cole had his best statistical season as

a sophomore in 2018, rushing for 279 yards on 55 attempts and scoring two touchdowns. Last season, he appeared in nine games and recorded 188 yards on 34 carries and another two touchdowns.

ry-Cole’s teammate for three seasons at Utah.

—sports@usustatesman.com @dren_sports16

New system of higher education announced Former USU VP David Woolstenhulme becomes new commissioner coming together is now we have both techni-

pacity needs in rural Utah as a goal. Woolsten-

he said. “Now we’re meeting the needs of in-

“Utah State University, where it’s the land

State University and the University of Utah,”

they do a really good job of doing that,” he

do it right and make sure they had input from

education as well as the degree granting insti-

vet it and make sure it was going to best fill

gards to education.

“Each institution will be providing whatever

it is in their expertise,” he said. “For instance,

nical Colleges to create one education system for Utah.

Earlier in the summer, the senate also con-

firmed Gov. Gary Herbert’s appointments to

the new Higher Education Governance Board. David Woolstenhulme, who became Com-

missioner of Higher Education on July 1, elaborated on what the merger will mean for college students.

“One of the critical things of the two systems

Woolstenhulme added that there was little

making sure all workforce needs are being Woolstenhulme said the merger will deter-

cation merged with the Utah System of Tech-

legislature chose,” he said. opposition to the merger.

mine who should be providing what in re-

On July 1, the Utah System of Higher Edu-

tions. This was the option the commission and

grant institution, has the responsibility of

met.”

By Karcin Harris NEWS SENIOR WRITER

hulme said that duty falls on USU.

gave the state planning commission three op-

dustry. Before, with two systems, it worked fairly well, but with one board we’re really

PHOTO COURTESY OF USHE Longtime Aggie David Woolstenhulme was recently appointed as the USHE commissioner.

The press release also listed addressing ca-

cal education and two PhD programs at Utah

we wouldn’t want USU to be providing the

programs that Bridgerland Tech is providing

providing education throughout the state and said. “So they’ve asked us to look at technical tutions to make sure students across the state have access to these programs.”

Online class options are being used to deliver

technical education to smaller communities in Utah, he said.

As far as efficiency, Woolstenhulme said com-

and vice versa. So it’s really going to help us

bining the systems has already proven to be

ed.”

between the 16 colleges and universities in

align the programs to where they’re best suit-

In a press release from the Utah System

of Higher Education, “meeting the rapidly

“The legislature wanted to take their time to

stakeholders,” he said. “They really wanted to the needs of Utah for the future.”

The Utah Board of Higher Education is com-

posed of 18 members and includes two college students. Woolstenhulme said the student names are submitted to the governor, who makes all of the board appointments.

The two current student members are Can-

more cost effective due to sharing resources

dyce Damron from Utah Valley University and

Utah.

lege.

“For financial aid, as far as the Pell Grant

Glen Rivera from Bridgerland Technical ColWoolstenhulme said the data and results of

changing needs of a growing workforce” was

and government aid, it won’t affect students,”

the merger will be available to the public.

merged system.

to create more scholarship opportunities

board is going to put together a strategic plan

responsible and reasonable rate for students

All of that information will be available to the

listed as one of the advantages of this new, Woolstenhulme said the board asked them-

selves how Utah education can meet the needs of future industry.

“The answer is providing our students with

Woolstenhulme said. “Hopefully we’ll be able

when money is saved and keep tuition at a in the future.”

Woolstenhulme said the discussion of merg-

what they need. That was to have one sys-

ing the two systems has been in the works for

dustry and filled the needs of students and

“The legislature hired an outside consultant

tem,” he said. “It was better aligned with inindustry partners.”

a couple of years.

who looked at education across the state and

“We always release our data,” he said. “Our

which will identify our state attainment goals. public as we move along.”

—karcinrose@gmail.com @harriskarcin

PAGE 2

WEEK OF JULY 28, 2020

NEWS

Nearly $1 million of COVID-19 grants unclaimed by students us one year to make the money available to

students,” Wagner said. “We are going to do our best to spread the money out.”

Wagner added that they are hoping to have

funds available for students attending USU in the spring 2021 semester, as well.

“We recognize that COVID-19 is an ongoing,

evolving situation,” he said. “We want to help students meet any continuing challenges.”

The $300 grant students are currently eligi-

ble to receive is meant to help with “technology barriers.”

“In the spring, we offered more money

($500-$800) from the CARES Act, because so many students were inconvenienced by

the disruption of the semester,” Wheeler said. “Students had to pay for plane tickets home

or experienced a job loss. Now, because most

courses will have some sort of online format in the fall, we want to make sure students have access to technology.”

According to Wheeler, many USU students

do not have access to high speed internet or

may need help buying a laptop or online class materials. The hope is that the $300 will relieve some stress for incoming students.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Pepi Stojanovski/Unsplash By Taylor Cripe NEWS CONTENT MANAGER

made the grants, around $5 million, available

ing students to go back and see if they have

and disbursed to 6,318 students, according to

check to make sure you didn’t forget to click

funds available to them,” Wheeler said. “Just accept, for example.”

application.

igible knows they are eligible,” USU public

from the federal government, USU received

are not eligible for CARES Act funds. How-

students who currently qualify have been no-

that, approximately $8.7 million, must be

grant application for students who fall into

What happens to the money offered to stu-

“We are happy to disperse these funds to stu-

to students. Only $4.1 million were accepted

Almost $1 million in grants from the Coro-

navirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act offered to students at Utah State University were never accepted by eligible students.

On Wednesday, the university made its sec-

ond disbursement from the federal CARES

Act totaling almost $2 million. Students were notified by email July 6 if they were eligible

to receive a $300 technology grant from this distribution.

The first round of disbursements were sent

out during the week of May 11. The university

The funds are on a first come, first served ba-

sis, she added. Students who did not receive

a recent press release from the university.

“We want to make sure everyone who is el-

an email may also apply through a separate Undocumented and international students

As part of the COVID-19 relief program

$17,428,745 in the spring of 2020. Half of

ever, the university has provided a separate

made available to students.

that category.

determine eligibility.”

dents but not accepted by students? Accord-

dents,” Wagner said. “We know students are

in order to receive funds from the CARES Act.

university has up to one year to spend the

continue their education.”

information officer Emilie Wheeler said. “Our tified, but we understand many have not filled

out a FAFSA and would need to in order to Students must fill out the 2020-2021 FAFSA

“Because we had quite a bit of money left

over from the last disbursement, we are ask-

struggling and we want all our students to

ing to USU Vice President Robert Wagner, the $8.7 million.

—taylorcripe@gmail.com

“The guidelines from the CARES Act allows

@cripe_taylor

Trump administration rescinds rule on foreign students By Collin Binkley AP EDUCATION WRITER

BOSTON (AP) — Facing eight fed-

eral lawsuits and opposition from

hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required

international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools

held classes entirely online because of the pandemic.

The decision was announced at the

start of a hearing in a federal law-

suit in Boston brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said feder-

al immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”

A lawyer representing the Depart-

ment of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said only that the judge’s characterization was correct.

The announcement brings relief

to thousands of foreign students who had been at risk of being de-

ported from the country, along with hundreds of universities that were

scrambling to reassess their plans for the fall in light of the policy.

Under the policy, international

students in the U.S. would have

been forbidden from taking all their courses online this fall. New visas would not have been issued to stu-

dents at schools planning to provide

all classes online, which includes Harvard. Students already in the

U.S. would have faced deportation if they didn’t transfer schools or leave the country voluntarily.

Immigration officials issued the

policy last week, reversing earli-

er guidance from March 13 telling colleges that limits around online education

would

suspended

during the pandemic. University

leaders believed the rule was part

of President Donald Trump’s effort to pressure the nation’s schools and colleges to reopen this fall even as new virus cases rise.

The policy drew sharp backlash

from higher education institutions, with more than 200 signing court briefs supporting the challenge by Harvard and MIT. Colleges said the

policy would put students’ safety

at risk and hurt schools financially.

Many schools rely on tuition from international students, and some

stood to lose millions of dollars in revenue if the rule had taken hold.

Harvard and MIT were the first to

contest the policy, but at least seven

PHOTO BY AP Photo/Steven Senne FILE - In this July 16, 2019, file photo people walk past an entrance to Widener Library, behind, on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. Even with a fresh victory on behalf of international students, U.S. universities fear they’re losing a broader fight over the nation’s reputation as a place that embraces and fosters the world’s best scholars.

other federal suits had been filed by

rective telling schools that existing

along that any guidance prompt-

rule.

suspended “for the duration of the

to change. They said the rule was

universities and states opposing the

Harvard and MIT argued that im-

migration officials violated proce-

limits on online education would be emergency.”

The suit noted that Trump’s nation-

dural rules by issuing the guidance

al emergency declaration has not

allowing the public to respond.

are spiking in some regions.

without justification and without They also argued that the policy contradicted ICE’s March 13 di-

been rescinded and that virus cases Immigration

officials,

however,

argued that they told colleges all

ed by the pandemic was subject

consistent with existing law barring

international students from taking classes entirely online. Federal officials said they were providing leniency by allowing students to keep

their visas even if they study online from abroad.

WEEK OF JULY 28, 2020

PAGE 3

LIFESTYLES

Student perspectives: Blackness, colonization and South Asia

@yourunclesayshi Just paid $250 to have somebody poke my gums with a sharp instrument for an hour AMA

@debatedebutante Hi I’m Sam, and this is my emotional support movie trope, 2 people pretending to date but they accidentally fall in love

@maggiemattinson if any of you selfish IDIOTS give covid to my professors i’m gonna END IT ALL i swear and my experience of how

and TV commercial-time ag-

ed. Because of colonization,

creams such as Fair & Lovely,

being black or dark is treatGRAPHIC BY Niyota Chowdhury-Magana Chowdhury-Magana, as President of the International Student Council (ISC) at USU, released a video collection of art and statements from the USU community and beyond expressing their solidarity to Black Lives Matter. These are some of the submissions. By Niyonta Chowdhury-Magana LIFESTYLES CONTRIBUTOR

I am Niyonta. I am cis-pre-

senting, I am physically and mentally able, and I used to

represent the privileged major-

ity in my home country before I moved to the United States

at age 20. So I have cis and able-bodied privilege, some

mental health privilege, some

socioeconomic privilege, and

childhood self-perception priv-

permutations of my privileges

not have the privileges keeping

I am also a Muslim woman,

to have a very specific and

and mobilized, and, most im-

ilege.

a Bangladeshi expatriate, have mental health struggles, and

don’t have family support. So I don’t have male privilege,

religion or culture privilege, citizenship

privilege,

white

privilege, family privilege, or typical mental health privilege.

The interaction and weighted

and disadvantages allow me

niche relationship with myself and my current society. While I have experienced racial and

xenophobic trauma in this country from people across multiple races, I am still safe, I am still fulfilled and I still have

resources. I cannot pretend to be able to imagine what my life would have been if I did

me alive and thriving, elevated portantly, acting as my safety net and defense against my disadvantages. I cannot pre-

tend to imagine surviving any personal or social disadvan-

tage or trauma as a Black child or adult.

As a Bangali and a Brown

body, I want to give context

to my specific positionality

Blackness and darkness are

dehumanized and demonized around the world, including in Bangladesh where I am from

— so much so that we grow up

learning dark is synonymous

gressively promote whitening a skin-lightening cream manufactured by British-Dutch com-

pany Unilever and managed by their subsidiary Indian company Hindustan Unilever.

These products, popular me-

with ugly and light-skinned is

dia and our socio-cultural ecol-

South Asian and Bangladeshi

modern and technologized co-

synonymous with beautiful. media relentlessly casts light-

skinned actors as protagonists and in all lead roles— even

though light skin does not rep-

resent the majority— and casts dark-skinned actors as antago-

nists. Bangladeshi store aisles

ogies in Bangladesh act as a lonial ploy delivering and pro-

moting messages that we will be neither socially, romantical-

ly or professionally successful if we do not take measures to whiten our skin. This is

see “Blackness” PAGE 5

‘The Umbrella Academy’: The great and quirky the phrase “I heard a rumor”

By Sydney Dahle STUDENT LIFE STAFF WRITER

After

Netflix

became a movie actress and settled down with her daugh-

announced

ter while Number Four, Klaus,

season two of “The Umbrel-

busied himself with rehabili-

la Academy” will be released

tation due to the large num-

on July 31, I decided maybe I

ber of drugs he funneled into

would see what all the hype

his body to stop his power of

was about the show in the

seeing the dead.

first place. Immediately, I was

Number Five, who we later

hooked.

find out went missing at age

The show, based on a comic

ten, is never given a name.

book series from 2007 writ-

He has the power to jump

ten by Gerard Way, that’s

through time and space and

right, of My Chemical Ro-

that ends up getting himself

mance fame, follows a group

in trouble. Number Six, Ben,

of seven “extraordinary” chil-

dies at a young age and is not

dren purchased and raised

present at the funeral, but

by a billionaire coined The

does show up throughout the

Monocle. The children were

show as Klaus is able to see

all born on the same day, at

and speak with him no mat-

the same time, with super-

ter how high he is. Lastly is

powers. The Monocle created

Number Seven, Vanya, who

the Umbrella Academy with

spends her whole life think-

the hope of teaching the children how to save the world

through teamwork and their own supernatural abilities.

The Netflix series does de-

viate from the original com-

ic story, naturally, as most book-to-movie

adaptations

do. It starts with the group of seven reuniting after the

PHOTO COURTESY OF Netflix Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy” centers around a group of seven siblings with superpowers led by their adopted billionare father, “The Monocle.” Season two streams on July 31st.

ing she is “ordinary” and dedicates her whole life to playing violin to make herself feel

sudden death of their adopt-

growing up; rather than chil-

utilized his super strength

thing (normally knives) with

like she is special.

group is estranged and not

viewed them as “subjects”

samples and other informa-

day and help the local police

show due to how quirky and

Allison, who could control

happening in the show

ed father and it is obvious the eager to see each other. We

soon learn that the children did not have the best lives

dren, their billionaire father and named them after the order he received them in.

Number One, or Luther,

on the moon to send back

tion to his father. Number Two, or Diego, continued to

use his power to throw any-

precise trajectory to save the

Off the bat, I loved this

department. Number Three,

“normal” the weird things

the minds of anyone with

see “Academy” PAGE 5

PAGE 4

WEEK OF JULY 28, 2020

SPORTS

Welcome home, Tai Wesley Utah State’s international star calls it an end to professional basketball career By Jacob Nielson SPORTS STAFF WRITER

While it’s hard to walk away from something

you love, Tai Wesley’s retirement has given

him the opportunity to reflect on an outstand-

ing career, the people who helped guide him

through it and what he learned along the way. A legend in Logan and on the campus of

Utah State University, Wesley has retired from professional basketball after playing nine years internationally. According to Wesley, the current COVID-19 pandemic and his responsibility to take care of his wife and three chil-

dren were a couple of the factors that led him to the decision to end his professional career.

“I felt like right now is a good time for me

to put my family first, put our well being first,

and just put some roots in, dig down and call a place home and hang up the old basketball shoes,” Wesley said.

Growing up, Wesley acknowledged his older

brother Mikeli as someone who helped him develop an ambition to excel at basketball.

“I wanted to follow in his footsteps,” Wesley

said. “He was the Mountain West player of the

year and then he played overseas for five or six years. I wanted to be just like him and emulated everything he did.”

Follow in his brother’s footsteps he did,

starting when Tai helped lead Provo High School to a state title in 2004, just like his

brother had done in 1997. After high school, Tai served a mission with the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter Day Saints in Mexico before coming up to Logan and helping lead the

Aggies to arguably their most successful run

in program history. In total, Utah State won

111 games, 4 WAC Championships, earning 3 NCAA tournament appearances along the

way. And for his efforts, Wesley was named the 2010-11 WAC player of the year.

“That time was unreal, it just felt like we

were living in a dream really,” he said. “We

would never lose. I lost one game at home in four years of my whole career. I think my record was like 68-1 in the spectrum.”

Wesley credits Former head coach Stew Mor-

rill for helping him have such an illustrious college career.

“Coach Morrill was phenomenal for me.

He got me in line, straightened me up, and helped me really focus my energy on basketball,” he said.

His resume overseas speaks volumes; a two-

time Australian NBL champion — winning the

championships in the 2014-15 season with the New Zealand Breakers and the 2017-18

season with Melbourne United while earning all-league 2nd team. Wesley also won back-to-

PHOTO BY STERLING BOIN

Tai Wesley celebrates Utah State’s fourth WAC Championship in the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum in 2011.

back finals and finals MVPs in the New Zea-

spots,” Wesley said. “Last year I was an import

that people don’t understand when you go

But one of Wesley’s proudest professional

of. To be brought not because I had a pass-

that your character speaks volumes, how you

land NBL in 2015 and 2016.

moments did not come until his final season.

The Australian NBL — one of the most highly

respected leagues in the world — has a rule

and that was something that I was very proud port, but I was brought in because I was good enough to be an import in that league.”

After all his years of playing basketball, Wes-

that permits only three “import” or interna-

ley said that the greatest life-lesson he learned

thanks to a rule nicknamed the “Oceana rule,”

things that don’t matter for what you actually

tional players on each team every season. But Wesley was able to achieve local status in the

NBL due to being a Guam citizen, where he

lived from ages five-eleven, and for whom he was able to represent in the FIBA Asia cup.

This exception meant he did not count as an

import player, giving him greater job security in the league and more opportunities. But

because of this, and despite his impressive re-

from the game was sacrifice. “Sacrificing the

overseas and play professional basketball is interact with teammates. If you get a bad rap over there that follows into your next job,”

Wesley explained. “You want to make them

feel like you’re integrating yourself with them and their culture.”

His former Melbourne United teammate Josh

want.” As he transitions into a new phase of

Boone had this to say about Tai in a post on

sticks to this sacrifice, hard-working mentality,

“Most times in this business, guys that you

life, having a “normal job,” he trusts that if he

Instagram:

he will be fine.

play with become acquaintances, but not nec-

which is work hard, outwork the next guy, you

than that to me.”

“If you just do what you learn in basketball,

will be successful in anything you do,” he said. The 34-year old Wesley displayed longevity

essarily friends. This guy though is way more He’s proud of the accolades he’s received,

but when it’s said and done that’s not what

sume, he faced criticism from players around

and consistency throughout his career, which

“People would say ‘oh you’re only in this

particularly by developing a three point shot.

great, celebrating with teammates- but I’m

percentage from 18% to 33% over his career,

is the relationship,” he said. “I had some of the

the league.

league because you have a passport’ and ‘you’re local,’” Wesley said.

However in 2019, leading up to what would

be his final season, the NBL changed the rule,

and his Guam citizenship no longer gave him local status. Although he was now considered an import, he was still signed by ANBL club Melbourne Phoenix.

“I always wanted to be considered an import,

to be good enough to be one of the import

he credits to his continual desire to improve, Wesley managed to improve his three point with a high of 39% in 2017-18. But his bread and butter was always his interior play. The

six-foot-seven power forward’s post-play be-

came highly regarded in the ANBL, with some

“You know raising trophies was always

sure those memories will fade, and what’s left best friends in the world overseas that live in Australia and New Zealand and Holland and Puerto Rico and so those are what last.”

In the summer of 2011, Wesley signed a deal

calling him “The Grown Man” thanks to his

with Dutch team Den Bosch, kicking off the

defender down.

of the earth to play ball, with stops in the

strength in the paint and ability to break his “When you get to a high level of basketball

you have to be

able to do a little bit of everything,” Wesley

said. “Through-

out my career, I

added different

Netherlands, France, Puerto Rico — and the majority of his career, New Zealand and Australia. In the great Pacific is where he played

in the Australian National Basketball League

fall to spring and the New Zealand National Basketball League from Spring until the end of summer.

“To experience all of the different cultures,

the food, to meet and make relationships

to my game.

said. “To have my wife by me for eight of the

Never stay the

same. Contin-

ue to evolve as

I progress in my career.”

Another un-

derrated aspect that

helped

Wesley prolong

his career was his ability to

cultivate meaningful

rela-

tionships with PHOTO COURTESY of FIBA

journey that would take him to all corners

tools and dif-

ferent weapons

Wesley celebrates with a teammate during Guam’s 2019 pre-qualifiers for the 2021 FIBA Asia cup.

will stick with him.

teammates. “One

thing

throughout the world, it’s such a fun life,” he

nine years, and our children for the last four years, it’s been so cool.”

Trying to raise a family while playing all

over the world had its challenges. “It’s not

easy,” Wesley said. He recalled the experience of when his son was born in New Zealand.

“We had our son at 7 pm and they sent us

home at 11 pm.”

But despite questionable health care and un-

familiar situations, Wesley cherished the lifestyle.

—jacobnielson12@yahoo.com @jacobnielson12

WEEK OF JULY 28, 2020

PAGE 5 hibited for “Black Indians” with signs stating “Indians and dogs

“Blackness” FROM PAGE 3

not allowed.” Colorism was thus immiscibly incorporated into the

post-Mughal empire subscription of Caucasian-Arabic-Islamic

caste system and has since then perpetuated all realms of Indian

premacy, post-liberation war subscription of fascist light-skinned

are multiple reports of Dalits being brutalized and murdered by

finds its roots back to India, which both Bangladesh and Pakistan

also experiencing gendered and sexual violence. This is genocid-

imperialism, post-colonial subscription of white and British su-

and South Asian life. Every single year, including this year, there

West Pakistani elitism, and postmodern Brown self-hatred which

upper-caste rural villagers in India, with Dalit women and girls

used to be a part of about 70 years ago.

al Brahmin-supremacism and genocidal colorism, casteism and

The caste system in India is the epitome of discrimination based

on privilege, socioeconomic class and color. Although it is cur-

classism.

These are all examples of within-race colorism. None of this be-

rently illegalized, is still very much active systemically, institution-

gins to imagine consequences for an outside-race. Even so, South

means “pure or unmixed (stock or breed).” The caste system in

had to Black expatriates, migrants and Black representation in

classes with Brahmins at the top of the hierarchy and Shudras at

ties and local businesses overtly deny service to Black foreigners.

outcastes and termed “Untouchables.” While it has idealistic and

ical safety.

nificantly influenced first by the Mughal Empire and then struc-

400 years of slavery, colonization, white supremacist trade and

Pre-colonial records show little or no mention of caste as a system

for Black people. I will never understand the pain and trauma

colonizers, who were active as late as 1948. According to Sanjoy

has yet to heal from hundreds of years of systemic racism against

Studies at Temple University, in his 2019 BBC article “How the

that— still today — maintain racial hierarchies continuing to op-

ally and socially. Caste according to the Oxford English Dictionary

Asia has slurs for Black people from the minimal exposure it has

Hinduism, the majority religion of India, divides people into four

American and British media. Today, some Bangladeshi communi-

the bottom. Dalits and tribal people are further dehumanized as

Western affiliation is perhaps the only protective factor in phys-

conceptual origins in ancient Vedic texts, the caste system was sig-

A world conditioned to function as anti-Black after more than

tured and politicized to its current state by the British Empire.

capitalism, and racialized war and genocide is not a safe world

of government; the caste system as we know it is the result of the

Black people face every day. That is not an easy world. This world

Chakravorty, professor of Geography, Urban Studies and Global

Black bodies as well as successfully dismantle power structures

British shaped India’s caste system,” the colonizers reconstructed

press Black lives.

easily governable common law. One of many examples of sys-

personal liberation is tied up with my Black sisters, brothers and

nizers is that they elevated light-skinned and upper-caste Indians

State University, stand by our Black community. Black and Brown

dark-skinned Indians and Dalits.

seen, but looked up to, and not only respected, but honored.

Indian social identities to create a single-tiered society with an

“Podcast” FROM PAGE 1

temic colorism and casteism operationalized by the British colo-

to allies and provided them systemic advantages over black and

bodies deserve to not only be heard, but listened to, not only be

Neha Mishra states in his 2015 article “India and Colorism: The

“There are so many really

United States. According to

cool stories we could fea-

was inspired by these import-

trying to find the best ones.”

naming 2019-2020 the “Year

goal as a team is to increase

“Women are most certainly

adults and women. As an ed-

just have to work twice as

hopes the podcast finds its

worth said. “The contribu-

to a younger audience.

is lacking.”

is Her Place” now features

is helping “sing the song of

being released soon. It is

Watkins said although their

podcasts including at thisish-

Mason, “This is Her Place”

ture,” Watkins said. “It’s just

ant anniversaries and by USU

For now, Watkins said their

of the Woman.”

their

a part of history. They might

ucator herself, she said she

hard to be appreciated,” Ha-

way into the classroom and

tions are there — the credit

Debuting on June 24, “This

Haworth added the podcast

audience

past

three episodes, with a fourth available on all platforms for

first season will only contain

erplace.org/episodes.

one or two more episodes,

they plan on releasing future

—william.bultez@aggiemail.

finding material for future

@willistheginger

seasons. She is excited about

usu.edu

/UtahStatesman

—niyonta.nch@gmail.com

Finer Nuances” in the Washington University Global Studies Law

isc.usu.edu

Review journal that colonizers named their Fort St. George set-

tlement “White Town” and their Indian Settlement “Black Town”. Further, entry to restaurants and educational institutions was pro-

“Academy” FROM PAGE 3 seemed to the characters. For example, we

with the fear that she might one day end the world. Have you connected the dots yet?

Although the storyline of this show is pre-

are introduced to Pogo in the first episode,

sented as a mystery, it isn’t hard to guess

them and provide love to combat their father’s

moments that make the show feel like Rian

experiment of the Monocle and is dedicated

“Pushing Daisies.” Despite this, the show is

the children’s robot mother. Yes, you heard

Ellen Page and Mary J. Blige provide the show

up with a monkey butler and a robot mother.

really the more unknown actors and actresses

the children’s monkey butler who helped raise

what’s going to happen. There are cliche

estrangement. Pogo simply states he was an

Johnson’s “Knives Out” meets Bryan Fuller’s

to serving him. And that’s it. Next is Grace,

overall very enjoyable. Well known actresses

that right. Seven kids with superpowers grew

with “big names” to get you attached, but it is

Weird initially, but normal for the students of

that steal the show.

the Umbrella Academy.

Aidan Ghalleger, who plays Number Five,

Most of the show focuses around Number

is my favorite part of this whole show and is

when he disappeared at age 10, he had ac-

a 58-year-old man trapped in a 12-year-old’s

apocalypse had occurred and he was the only

deceased character who is fed up with Klaus,

eight days before the alleged apocalypse, and

cises his frustrations very well. Robert Sher-

Unfortunately, there are people who aren’t

playing a tired drug addict who wants noth-

two agents, Hazel and Cha-Cha, are sent to

who, slowly over the 10 episodes, comes to

storyline, we get to see Luther, Diego and Al-

And the dialogue is incredible. You will

Five’s return, as the audience discovers that

extremely talented for a 16-year-old playing

tually time traveled to the future where the

body. Ben’s actor, Justin H. Min, is playing a

human left alive. He returns to present time,

the only person who can see him and exer-

tries to undo the events to save humanity.

een, who plays Klaus, does a fantastic job of

happy. Number Five is messing with time and

ing more than to be normal and stop the pain

“eliminate the threat.” In addition to this main

terms with his powers.

lison investigating their father’s death, Klaus

laugh, cry and ask yourself what the hell is

Cha-Cha, the time assassins, coming to terms

it. I would highly recommend this show! Give

we learn Vanya does have superpowers and

—sydney.dahle@aggiemail.usu.edu

dealing with his drug problem, and Hazel and

happening because blink and you might miss

with the immorality of their jobs. Additionally,

it a watch and prepare for season two!

her father suppressed them with medication

just

the unsung.”

As an immigrant woman of color in this country, my social and

non-binary family. I, and other Bengali and South Asians at Utah

episodes.

@dillydahle

(your brain) 2 It’s science. Read more, get smart. usustatesman.com UtahStatesman web print

smart

PAGE 6

WEEK OF JULY 28, 2020

OPINION

Guest Column: Trhas Tafere An African immigrant’s experiences learning what it means to be Black in America. ment of people who look like

he was telling the women in

were driving. My Ethiopian

as much. In the 1937 essay

What made me especially an-

to people who look strange,

have been tailed for fifteen

Richard Wright talks about

my son inside a public school.

gry was the silence and ignorance of how racially insensitive this was by the school

and those in attendance. This might be because most people in my son’s school have

never experienced racial pro-

filing, systemic racism, mass incarceration, or any other offense, just because of the color of their skin. People who

have not had that flag flown

to terrorize them, can simply pretend it is just about South-

ern pride. But it is terrifying to a Black person, because

you don’t know the intent be-

hind it, only the history of the Confederacy that wanted to

continue to enslave and decy of racism, even when my

By Trhas Tafere GUEST COLUMNIST

ancestors (who were never

Editor’s note: Thus column was pared down for the print edition. To read the full article, go to the Utah

In light of the civil unrest

that is going on in this coun-

try, I want to focus on the

unique experience of many African immigrants, like myself, who had no prior un-

derstanding of the history of

racism and the seriousness of the issue in this nation. Many

African immigrants have had to face some kind of discrimi-

nation to realize the complex

nature of race relations in the United States, and to identify themselves as “Black.” African immigrants, like myself,

go through a series of identi-

ty crises as we make the shift from being “proudly African” to a stage where the only way

to navigate the system is by

embracing “blackness” from the American point of view

and accepting all of the neg-

ative consequences that come

with it. This strategy requires extremely

cautious

while also trying to prove the

negative

er experienced them.

As a Black person, I expe-

rience

racially

insensitive

encounters every single day.

Statesman’s website.

being

enslaved nor colonized) nev-

stereotypes

wrong. There is a constant struggle-- not to avoid being judged by the way we look,

because we can’t escape from being judged any way -- but to prove that such miscon-

ceptions are wrong, and it is exhausting.

Race is a purely social con-

struction, meaning that there

is nothing biological or genet-

ic to the social categories that have been created. We know

this because the categories

and what they mean change over time, and they are different in different places. Being

Black in America, regardless

of where you are from, means all of the stress ascribed to race, all of the stereotypes,

stigma, and experiences that are related to

what it is to be seen as Black

by others, including the lega

From being asked at a gro-

cery store recently if I am using an EBT card, simply because I look like people who

presumably rely on government welfare, to a coworker

who once asked me to hook him up with drugs, for no

other reason than an assump-

tion he clearly had about Black people. A woman told

my son once that he should be very grateful that he is

in “the greatest country on earth not in a village in Africa,” and that now he could be

anything he wants to be. This

seems to be a positive, empowering remark, but I know

in my heart that it is not going to be easy for my Black

son who also struggles with ADHD. One day I will have to

sit down with him and deal with the painful and uncomfortable talk about what people who look like him experi-

ence, and guide him in how to navigate a system that is

not really designed to treat him equally. But he is learning on his own, as well.

In 2017, my son worked on a

history fair project focused on

historically significant Americans. My son chose Jessie Owens and was very proud to

represent the first Black man in the Olympics, who because of extreme racism had to fight

against immeasurable odds despite being a highly skilled

athlete. At this history fair,

I saw the unresponsive and undisturbed reaction of the

many parents, grandparents, and teachers when a grandfa-

ther of a student was literally parading around in front of

my son holding the Confeder-

ate flag. I was disgusted and offended by the man’s action of proudly holding a symbol

that celebrates the enslave-

humanize Black people.

A few weeks ago, I could

not believe my eyes when

my coworker (a very devoted LDS man who has served

a mission) started wearing a

Confederate flag bandana as a mask to work every single

day. I was disgusted, but I did not speak up. I thought some-

one will stand up against this racially insensitive symbol at a time of social unrest like

this and report this disturbing and offensive symbol to HR.

I also tried to remind myself

of the fact that my ancestors were never enslaved, not even colonized. But my new “Black” identity keeps telling

me that it doesn’t matter, this is a symbol of oppression that stood for the enslavement

the meeting not to be so nice

who maybe have dreadlocks, etc. and then says, “don’t be

afraid of being called rac-

ist to protect yourself from strangers.” Intentionally or unintentionally, this officer

was using a Black person’s

profile as a symbol of threat to teach these women about

safety. I wonder what kinds of perceptions these women

will have about dreadlocks

far away and it didn’t take

him one minute to report it. I started asking myself why

it somehow had to be another minority, who might have

experienced some sort of

discrimination, to notice, un-

derstand, and stand against

racial insensitivity? I think

this resonates with what Tim Wise, in “White Like Me,” has said white privilege is. It involves a lack of understanding of the complicated struc-

tural and systemic racism that Blacks experience daily.

That privilege kind of covers many people’s eyes.

Last year my mother in-law

invited me to her church for a women’s training session where a high-profile, respected Logan city police officer

was teaching parents about internet safety. I loved most

of his message, but I found the officer’s approach very insensitive,inconsiderate,

and completely “color blind” to the fact that I am Black

and the words he was using were disturbingly racist to

me. For instance, at one point

their license plate is out, just

so they can check out their car. (You can’t legally pull someone over unless there

is something wrong). When they would get home and

check the light there would be nothing wrong with it.” She

goes

ing how this session will impact the way they see my own

husband, his siblings and my children. What bothered me

so much was that this respected officer might be the

law enforcement agent whom my children, who perfectly

fit into the very profile and symbol of what he labeled

as “strange,” may encounter. Will they not be seen as ‘normal’ and nonthreatening? I

felt certain that just like this (implicitly-biased) police officer, others will definitely view

my children as a threat and their actions will not matter

at all. And what bothers me most was that these loving, caring

and

compassionate

white mothers did not even

bother to question his ap-

proach, let alone to confront his racially insensitive description.

I asked my mother-in-law

es of raising six (adopted)

experience

recall,

were pulled from their car,

neighbors and I keep wonder-

Ethiopian children after she

ican, saw the symbol from

over to say that the light over

the meeting were mostly my

coworker who had been on

an openly gay Mexican Amer-

before they finally pull them

“One

black men. The women in

to write about her experienc-

vacation, and happens to be

minutes by police officers

who are mostly worn by

of people who look like me

and it was painful. Finally, a

family members many times

was

for

driving too slow, and they

searched and frisked, put in the back of the police car to wait while the officers called

in the drug sniffing dogs to

check out their car for possible drugs. Of course the po-

lice car’s lights were going

while they waited for backup to bring the drug dogs, so everyone passing by would look

to see what was going on. No drugs were found, and no

ticket was issued, but what

a devastating dehumanizing experience. I do believe people of color are often profiled

because of the color of their

they faced on a daily basis. As she remembers at the chil-

dren’s school, “Some students would ask them if they could touch their hair. Many students would ask them if they

grew up in a jungle in Africa, or if they had ever seen a TV

before. They grew up in Addis

Ababa, the capitol city of Ethi-

opia, which is a modern city. These comments were inno-

cent, but hurtful at the same time,” she points out. “As my

children learned to drive and got their drivers licenses,” she writes, “they began to have