February 7, 2022- The Utah Statesman- Utah State University

Utah State University, Logan, Utah

Week of February 7, 2022

Page 2 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 202

The ultimate guide to being single on Valentine’s Day

By Ryker Eggenberger NEWS STAFF WRITER

you love. Try packing your place with friends, food and games for a less-lonely Valentine’s experience.

hether you celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, you’ll likely be surrounded by cheesy couples, red and pink roses, and lots of chocolate.

This holiday of love is all about being happy with and appreciating your significant other.

Or is it?

What about the people not in relationships who don’t have a significant other to buy roses or chocolates for?

Well, according to a Statesman survey, single students at USU tend to turn to distractions when it comes to Valentine’s Day activities.

Each of the 27 students selected three of the 10 options of things to do on Valentine’s Day as a single person.

Text random people in your phone and ask them to go out Only one student said this could cure their Valentine’s Day woes. However, some people find their special someone over the internet. So who knows, maybe your person is hiding somewhere in your contacts. At least one Aggie will be sending out some text messages this Valentine’s Day.

W

What is your go-to when Watch a movie by yourself Try not to think about it Host or attend a Valentine's party Text random people Photoshop yourself with celebrities Binge your favorite food

Learn Photoshop and edit yourself into pictures with attractive celebrities Every USU student has access to the Adobe Creative Cloud line of products, including Photoshop. Three students decided to make use of it. For single on Valentine's Day? those of us who aren’t enamored with a better half, consider using this Valentine’s Day 7.7% 12.8% to sharpen some of your editing skills while taking one baby step 10.3% closer to that elusive 11.5% relationship. Some call it creepy, some call it manifesting.

9.0%

Hangout with single friends Binge your favorite hobby Make fun of other couples

29.5%

Join an online dating service

They selected from the following responses: Watch a movie by yourself Ten students wanted to watch a movie by themselves if they’re alone on the day of love. And you can never go wrong with a good romantic comedy. Try “The Proposal” on Amazon Prime Video, “Love Guaranteed” on Netflix, or “Hitch” on Hulu. Or, if you’re in the mood for an animated rom-com, try “Shrek” on Hulu or “Wall-E” on Disney Plus. Pop some popcorn or grab a tub of ice cream and snuggle up on the couch with a blanket because if Shrek can find love, you can too.

Try not to think about it and live life like normal After all, school isn’t canceled, so why go out to dinner and waste precious money when you could be doing homework?

Host or attend a friend’s Valentine’s Day party Fewer than 10% chose this option. Even if you’re not making googly eyes at a special someone at a fancy dinner on Feb. 14, you can still be around the people

Binge chocolate, ice cream or your favorite food Luckily for 11% of our 11.5% survey students, Logan is rich with great chocolate and ice cream. The GRAPH BY Jacee Caldwell Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Aggie Chocolate Factory are both within walking distance from campus. For ice cream, head up to the Aggie Creamery or go to Charlie’s Supreme Ice Cream on Main Street.

Logan has no shortage of fantastic ice cream, so whether or not you have a romantic partner, go grab some and treat yourself.

Hangout with your friends who are also single By far the most popular option, 30% of students in our survey said this was the best idea. So, grab some friends and feel the communal love. Or just all be lonely together. There’s always next year.

Binge your favorite hobby (video games, reading, sports, etc.)

There’s no better cure for loneliness than spending some time on the pitch with “Harry Potter,” or getting victory royales in your favorite battle royale. Invite your friends to make it a party — maybe a “Mario Party” if that’s your thing. After all, you could invite the fewer than 10% of students who said they’d love to binge their favorite activities.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY Kate Smith

Make fun of couples you see in public Although it’s maybe not the nicest option, respectful mocking of love can help singles to feel better about not having someone. Six students who took our survey said this is their favorite pastime on Valentine’s Day. Consider parking in front of some fancy restaurants and sharpen your sarcasm if you’d like to try out this activity.

Join an online dating service Only two students chose this option. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a date online that could lead beyond the holiday. I mean, we all know that one couple who met on Mutual. Maybe you’ll be just as lucky.

Each student has different ideas on what love is and what activities are best for Valentine’s Day. One USU student, Jason Walker, swears by the phrase “single from the womb, single ‘til the tomb.”

Some students look at Valentine’s Day as a time to appreciate the people in our life who we love, whether or not it’s a significant other.

“It’s a great time to be like, ‘Yeah, I love and care for you,’” said Jess Ralphs, a recent USU graduate. “Maybe send someone a text to let them know. I think those are great things to do, just express love to other people, even if you’re not in a relationship.”

Whatever you do on Valentine’s Day, remember to spread the love with the people who mean the most to you.

Ryker Eggenberger is a transfer student at USU studying creative writing and french. Ryker loves to travel, play soccer, participate in PC gaming and eat ice cream.

— Ryker.Eggenberger@usu.edu

L O V E

since 1902

STUDENT MEDIA

Student-run newspaper for Utah State University since 1902.

Reporting online 24/7. Printed weekly during the school year.

FREE SINGLE COPY

THE BOARD

By Jared Adams NEWS STAFF WRITER

M

any people know the traditions, such as chocolate, flowers and handwritten notes to a Valentine, but few know how this holiday originated.

The story of Valentine’s Day starts with its patron saint — or rather saints. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes at least three different Saint Valentines.

Some stories of the holiday’s namesake tell of a Roman priest who would perform secret weddings without the knowledge of proper authority.

Another version of the patron saint was said to be imprisoned and cured his captor’s blind daughter. Before being tortured and decapitated, he sent her a love letter signed as her Valentine.

The third Saint Valentine was a bishop who also performed secret weddings — before being beheaded for it.

Both of the brutal deaths in these tales occurred on Feb. 14.

Sadly for any hopeless romantics looking for a good love story to celebrate this year, both of these stories hold very little value in the true origin of Valentine’s Day. “The two stories that everybody talks about, the bishop and the priest, they’re so similar that it makes me suspicious,” Bruce Forbes, a professor of religious studies at

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY Bailey Rigby

Morningside College in Iowa, told History.

The original versions of those tales also focus more heavily on the miracles and their gruesome deaths. Little can be related back to romance.

The first traces of romance being associated with Valentine’s Day comes from the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the Middle Ages.

In the late 14th century, Chaucer wrote a poem called, “Parliament of Fowls.” In this poem, there’s a line that reads, “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate.”

“It just drives me crazy that the Roman story keeps circulating and circulating,” Forbes also told History. “The bottom line for me is until Chaucer we have no evidence of people doing something special and romantic on Feb. 14.”

If no saints were brutally murdered in the name of love, then how did Valentine’s Day earn its spot on the calendar?

Some historians believe that it might be an offshoot of Lupercalia, a Pagen festival celebrated on Feb. 15.

Unlike Valentine’s Day, History describes the festivities as “a bloody, violent and sexually-charged celebration awash with animal sacrifice, random matchmaking and

coupling in the hopes of warding off evil spirits and infertility.”

As Christianity became popularized in Rome, the festival would become outlawed as it was deemed to clash with Christian ideology.

Valentine’s Day notes began circulating between the 15th and 18th centuries.

Another common symbol of the day of romance is the Roman god Cupid, a cherub whose arrow will cause whomever it hits to fall madly in love.

Cupid actually finds his roots as Eros, the god of love in Greek mythology. When Valentine’s Day became associated with romance, the god of love became the chunky baby we know today.

The tradition of hand-written notes slowly grew to include mediocre chocolate in heart-shaped boxes, teddy bears, fancy dinners and other gifts to express a deep, romantic connection.

The first mass production of Valentine’s Day lace-embossed cards, happened in 1847 in Massachusetts, while the heart-shaped boxes of chocolate were first produced by Cadbury in the 1860s.

Read the rest of this story at usustatesman.com.

Darcy Ritchie managing editor editor@usustatesman.com 435-797-1742 —————— Jacee Caldwell news manager news@usustatesman.com —————— Jacob Nielson sports manager sports@usustatesman.com —————— Emily White lifestyles manager life@usustatesman.com —————— William Bultez opinion manager opinion@usustatesman.com —————— Bailey Rigby photo manager photo@usustatesman.com ­­— ————— Jaden Walker design manager design@usustatesman.com —————— For advertising inquiries studentmedia@usu.edu —————— Student Media Office TSC 118 435.797.1775 Cover art by Jillian Poll

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The history behind the holiday of

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Tying the knot, one vendor at a time Logan Bridal Faire brings each piece of your wedding to you

By Jacee Caldwell NEWS CONTENT MANAGER

I

“I don’t know how people plan without something like this,” Falslev said. “They’ll come in and be like, ‘Oh my gosh I never thought of this. Who thought of having a bounce house?’ Or, ‘I didn’t even know this was a business.’”

Although most of the vendor booths had both visual aids that cater to the brides — such as VCI’s interactive dance floor and photo booth or Janelle’s Bridal dress model — and coupons — such as Babe Cave Salon’s $5 off card or Cold Stone Creamery’s discounted chocolate-covered

Outside of businesses assisting with the day-of planning, Feel Free Travel attended and Healthy Relationships Utah was there giving resources to courses and workshops that enhance communication skills, increase trust and develop a deeper relationship.

And though one could’ve correctly assumed not many grooms attend the event, they did have a tuxedo booth and free samples from Culinary Concepts Catering, and who doesn’t love food?

The organizers said they mostly see students and local brides because of the local vendors, but they have seen people travel from parts of Idaho.

The event is also strategically planned to be in January each year to give brides who are planning their special day during the peak wedding season in the summer enough time to make all of their reservations.

And from one bride to the next, they all had the same advice — plan ahead as far as possible.

“Don’t stress about it. Take your time and enjoy it,” Falslev said. “I feel like especially in our culture it happens so fast that the planning is set to the side, but that’s where the real fun is. It’s not just the wedding. Even if you’re not engaged, come and just get an idea. Even if it’s a year or two down the road — it comes by fast.”

Other than the event, the Bridal Faire organization also offers a wedding checklist, a budget tracker, planning tips, DIY ideas PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby and more on bridalfaire.org.

magine you’re on a beach in a tropical paradise with the sun setting. The sky is glowing with pastel pink, yellow, blue and purple. You can feel the moist warm sand in between your toes and the light breeze rippling through your hair feels heavenly against the sun-kissed heat on your skin.

And just when you think you’re dreaming and life couldn’t be any better, you look to your right and see the love of your life down on one knee, asking you to be theirs forever.

Of course, you say yes and now you’re engaged.

But then what?

Between finding a good photographer, a gorgeous venue, the perfect dress and delicious food, it’s easy to forget the little details, not to mention the giant dent it makes in your bank account.

But don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Logan’s Bridal Faire, held Jan. 29 at the Riverwoods Conference Center and was a resource for all types of bridezillas to get help and receive inspiration.

Each year the event has an average of 80 vendors along with more than 45 prize giveaways, free samples, discounts and plenty of business cards.

Shaya Hawkes, who is getting married in June, said not only does being there make her feel special but also gives her options to find her style.

“This is the second one I’ve gone to and I really like them. You get a lot of awesome ideas and it’s just a good environment to be around,” she said.

The event began 38 years ago, when one couple struggled to round up the dozens of vendors needed for their own wedding. It Local bakery, Tempation Cupcake, displays various examples of specialty wedding cakes at the Logan Bridal Faire on Jan. 29. has stayed in the family ever since.

“We put it on to make it easier for brides so strawberries — the vendors also see a benefit in being that they have a chance to plan their wedding with ease,” there. said Tricia Falslev, the daughter of the founders and the “It reminds people of where we’re located,” said Catie social media coordinator for the event.

George, a vendor at the event for Temptation Cupcake.

Some of the vendors included Janelle’s Bridal, Twisted “Everybody knows that we do cupcakes and cookies beSugar, Castle Manor, Red Poppy Rentals, Perrine No. 5, cause we have those every single day, but it reminds them Andria Joleen Photography, VCI Audio Entertainment and that we also do wedding cakes.”

Harp Music by Chelsey.

Jacee Caldwell is a journalism student at USU. Other than her passion for writing, Jacee also enjoys snowboarding, eating Subway and watching football.

— jacee.caldwell@usu.edu

@jortday26

@Dobrenkz

why must i comment on a classmates post? is it not enough for me to lie about doing the reading? must i lie and say i care what stupid thing my classmate said as well?

Ugh punxsutawney phil couldn’t solve the Wordle so we’re gonna have another year of Covid :(

Aggies share their most awkward dates

By Brielle Carr NEWS STAFF WRITER

*Editor’s note: These interviews have been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What was the worst Valentine’s Day experience you’ve ever had?

A: In fourth grade, my first boyfriend and I started dating two days before Valentine’s Day. Honestly, I did it just so that he would give me chocolate. He ended up giving me this huge chocolate heart with caramel inside and it was super sweet. Then I ended up choking on it in the middle of lunch, and it led to an asthma attack. I had to go to the school nurse and my mom had to take me home. I broke up with him a week later.

Hannah Sapp - USU freshman Q: What was the worst date you’ve ever been on?

A: It was pretty bad. I knew this girl in one of my classes in high school who was really cool.

She asked me if I wanted to go to the movies with her and some of her friends and I said yes. I wanted to go see “Spider-Man.” When I showed up to give her a ride, I found out her friends really weren’t going to come and that was the plan all along. I got tricked into going on a date. We’re just hanging out and as we leave her house she tells me her day has been kind of rough. And I’m trying to be nice and be like, “Why?

What’s up?” And she said, “Things have been crazy. I just found out that my dad had a secret affair and I have like three other siblings that I haven’t met yet. I was also going to try to invite them to the movies. Is it OK if they come?”

Then, when we got to the theater, her siblings who neither of us had met before were there waiting for us. And so, I had to go on this date that I felt like I was tricked into going on with her estranged siblings.

Nathan Williams - USU junior Q: What was the worst Valentine’s Day experience you’ve had?

A: It was Valentine’s Day and I had asked this girl out like four days earlier. And it snowed so all the roads were slick and I was trying to decide if I should do something for Valentine’s Day. Me and my friends ordered one of those heart shaped pizzas you can get. We got that pizza and drove it over to her house. I was driving my sister’s car and we’re driving through these snowy roads, drifting around the corners, and just having fun. We got to her house and gave her the pizza and a flower. Then we leave and I go to the end of her street and turn around.

I’m trying to be all cool and I drift around the corner leaving her neighborhood, but I hit the curb on the other side. I popped my tire and we had to change the tire on my sister’s car in front of her

house. Her parents were out there watching. It was so bad.

Jacob Malm - USU freshman Q: What is the most awkward doorstep moment you have had?

A: I was going on a date with this guy and we went to a drivein movie. We had been kind of liking each other on and off all four years of high school. After we’d graduated, we went to the drive-in and the tension was there so when we got back to my house, he walked me to the door. We’re talking and I felt the vibes that he wanted to kiss me. I don’t know if I wanted to kiss him. It would be my second kiss ever and my first doorstep kiss. I was very nervous, and I didn’t really want to do it.

But we went in for a hug. I tilted my head down and backed away out of the hug, so he wouldn’t kiss me. It did not work. I had my hand on the doorknob and suddenly he’s just looking at me and I was like, “Oh, no.” He reaches out, grabs me by the waist, pulls me in and then he kisses me.

And then he says, “Wait.” And I say, “Please don’t. I don’t want to talk about it.” He goes, “Was that weird?” I just didn’t want to talk about it. And he said, “I really liked you on and off for four years in between all my girlfriends and stuff.” And I was like, “Great.

Good night!” And I went inside and cried.

Chloe Koehler - USU sophomore

Tune in to 92.3 FM or on the RadioFX app from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 14 for songs about love, galentines, heartbreaks, and everything in between. Text “LOVE” to 435797-2346 and dedicate a song to a lover or heartbreaker and hear it live on the air during the broadcast!

Never Can Say Goodbye The Jackson 5

Can’t Help Falling In Love Elvis Presley

Break up Slow Dance Delacey, Valley Boy

Twang Mason Ramsey

Girls Just Want to Have Fun Cyndi Lauper

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY Bailey Rigby

@clairehansen_ if you see me on campus smiling at my phone it’s because i’m reading my own tweets

@ Utah State University’s extension campuses in rural areas of the state do more for this country than any Ivy League! State schools rock.

@heyyotayo the secret to hydration is finding your ideal water bottle lid style

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Valentines gone wrong

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Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art celebrates 40 years with new exhibition

By Darcy Ritchie MANAGING EDITOR

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he Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a new exhibition on display from Feb. 5 to Dec. 17.

The exhibition, “Looking Backward & Forward” will consist of two parts: 40 pieces of art to represent, 40 years since the founding of the NEHMA and 35 pieces that will be gifted to the museum in the coming months.

Bolton Colburn, the curator of collections and exhibitions, searched through more than 5,500 objects in the NEHMA’s collections database and chose one to represent each year, including both the first and most recent object accessioned into the collection.

“I’ve chosen a combination of things that are iconic to the collection, along with some things that are lesser known and not seen as often,” Colburn said, “but they do cover a pretty broad range timewise as the collection does, going from about 1920 to close to 2019.”

In the looking forward portion of the exhibition, works from the personal collection of George C. Wanlass, the great-nephew of Nora Eccles Harrison, will be on display.

Wanlass has gifted art to the museum since its opening, and he plans to donate his personal collection to the NEHMA after the opening of its new facility: the NEHMA Art Research and Education Center.

“His personal collection compliments our collection very well,” said Katie Lee-Koven, the executive director and chief curator of the NEHMA. “He plans to gift his collection to the museum when this new facility — once it’s built. So we borrowed some works that he plans to give us that will fill gaps in our collection.”

Colburn said he mainly chose paintings from early Utah artists to display from Wanlass’ collection.

“We do have a few pieces from that same period but PHOTO BY Phil Weber nothing as strong or as wonderful as what he has,” ColA curator hangs paintings at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art in preparation for the new exhibition. burn said.

Wanlass was invited to speak at an anniversary recep- Lee-Koven said. “So the natural sort of progression or op- museums work and to help me work really closely with tion on Jan. 29 but, due to rising cases of the coronavirus, portunity for us as a museum is to think about programs, a lot of different types of museum work, like the curator it was postponed. Lee-Koven said she anticipates the re- discussions and such that can approach a piece of artwork and the registrar and also with marketing and educascheduled reception will take place in early March. from various angles, and bring different people together.” tion,” Briones said. “It’s also helped me understand what Wanlass, as well as collectors Driek and Michael Zirinsky The events and exhibitions hosted at the NEHMA are free I want to go into.” from Boise, Idaho, will speak at the reception about the to the public, and Lee-Koven said she is always telling stuBriones suggests students interested in working as artworks they have donated to the NEHMA. dents to take advantage of the museum. attendants apply at the beginning of each semester. The “When I get to listen to collectors talk about things “This is your museum,” Lee-Koven said. “You don’t have NEHMA also offers both paid and for-credit internships. they’ve acquired — those are the stories that are fun to to come just because your class assignment brings you More information can be found at artmuseum.usu.edu/ hear,” Lee-Koven said. “Because oftentimes there’s a story here, OK? Come on a date night or with some friends.” get-involved. behind the artwork — how they came to learn about the And the NEHMA isn’t just for students looking for a place artwork, if they met the artist. There’s always a story.” for date night. Lee-Koven said the museum regularly emDarcy Ritchie is a junior Lee-Koven said the museum’s mission is to “foster en- ploys 10-15 students. studying journalism and history. gagement with modern and contemporary art.” One way Shaylee Briones is the visitor services coordinator at the When she’s not running the the museum does this is by hosting these events with col- NEHMA. She started working at the NEHMA in 2019 as Statesman, she enjoys watching lectors, artists, professors and other experts who can dis- an attendant and was promoted to her current position Fast and Furious movies, cuss art in an interdisciplinary way. last summer. She is also a full-time student studying hisattending concerts and tweeting.

“Art is created by people, and people live in a time and tory and art history, as well as earning a museum studies a place, and they’re interested in what’s around them, certificate.

— darcy.ritchie@usu.edu and they’re responding to that and their creative process,” “NEHMA has given me opportunities to understand how

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he U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, or the OCR, has opened an investigation into Brigham Young University for the treatment of LGBTQ students.

According to Deseret News, the investigation began on Oct. 21, and is based on a complaint from March 2020.

The complaint was filed a short time after BYU removed a section of their honor code relating to “homosexual behavior.”

Many students viewed the removal as a change in a policy that prohibited hand holding, kissing and dating between same-sex couples.

However, BYU later clarified that those signs of affection were still unacceptable under the honor code.

The clarification resulted in several protests from students, including two instances where they lit BYU’s hillside letter “Y” in rainbow LED lights.

In March, a study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences which concluded nearly 1,000 students at the university, or about 13.2%, identified as LGBTQ. Amid the investigation, BYU insisted that as a private, religiously-owned university, they hold certain exemptions from Title IX, a statute that protects students on the basis of sex.

“Given BYU’s religious exemption, BYU does not anticipate any further action by OCR on this complaint,” the university said in a statement to KSL. “BYU is exempt from application of Title IX rules that conflict with the religious tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

OCR has repeatedly recognized BYU’s religious exemption, including in connection with this case.”

Kevin Worthen, the president of BYU, also commented on the investigation in a November letter.

“Neither the complaint nor OCR’s letter identifies any provision or specific requirement under Title IX that BYU is allegedly violating,” he wrote.

Also included with the several-page letter was a copy of the church’s Family Proclamation, a copy of the BYU honor code and a 1976 letter to former BYU President Dallin H. Oaks in which the civil rights exemption was initially granted.

Worthen also reminded the OCR that BYU welcomes LGBTQ students, but expects them to follow the guidelines outlined in the honor code along with all other students. Every student signs a copy of the honor code at the beginning of the academic year.

“BYU affirms that the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution and federal law includes the freedom to operate a religious uniPHOTO BY Bailey Rigby versity without sacrificing distinctive religious beliefs or practices,” Worthen told the OCR. USU’s Queer Student Alliance lit Old Main rainbow colors in support of BYU’s LGBTQ+ students in April 2021.

The investigation is one of ORC’s more than

1,400 ongoing investigations.

Erika-Danielle Lindström, the gender and sexuality coordinator of the USUs Inclusion Center, gave insight as to why the investigation is relevant to USU students and staff.

“Instances like this can continue to remind the USU community that inclusion is an active daily commitment and when there are policies that create barriers to access, we need to remove them so that all students, staff and faculty can be genuinely valued for who they are,” she said.

Lindström also highlighted some of the ways in which USU’s behavior differs from BYU, including the recent approval of an LGBTQ USU logo and a partnership with the resource group Encircle.

“There are many things left to be done on this campus, but I truly believe that USU strives to create an environment that is inclusive towards its LGBT+ students and we can continue to learn together on how to make this happen,” Lindström said.

USU’s Queer Student Alliance also previously showed their support and solidary with LGBTQ students at BYU. In April, the QSA held an event where more than 150 students surrounded Old Main and lit it up with rainbow-colored lights following a protest held on Y Mountain in Provo.

Lindström hopes the investigation will help BYU and other institutions start to take accountability.

She also said she thinks the school’s exemption is outdated.

“With the progress made at the federal level for LGBT+ rights, it is important that it follows its promises to obtain federal funding,” she said.

“By having consequences for institutions creating hostile environments or not fulfilling its obligations towards its students, other universities can showcase how they are committed towards the success of their students and create better environments for all.”

Emily Hill, a senior at USU, said she thinks it is important for students to be aware of what is happening at other institutions.

“This case will lay the groundwork for LGBTQ students across the state,” Hill said. “BYU is our major competitor, but also a lot of our peers are transferring to and from BYU’s Provo and Rexburg campuses. The outcomes of this investigation will bleed into our culture at USU eventually.”

Read the rest of this story at usustatesman.com.

Jared Adams is a sophomore at USU studying communications. Outside of news writing, Jared enjoys coffee, elephants, rainy days and Taylor Swift.

— Jared.Adams@usu.edu

Page 7 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 2022

By Jared Adams NEWS STAFF WRITER

Page 8 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 202

Utah State Theatre presents ‘The Moors’ the director and department head for theater arts. “Our students here are giving it their own unique personalities and spin on the charache Utah State Theatre is performing “The Moors,” ters.” a dark comedy about love and despair by Jen SilTickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors verman on Saturday, Feb. 12 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. and youth, $8 for USU faculty and free for in the Caine Lyric Theatre.

USU students with their student ID. The play takes place in the 1840s English moorland There are six leading actors. Bailee Miner where two sisters, a dog and a maid live. A governess plays Agatha, McKenna Walwyn plays Marjocomes along, thinking she has an invitation from the sis- rie, Nicole Frederick plays Emilie, Brynn Franter’s brother, to take care of a baby, but neither the brother cis plays Huldey, Ollie Chieppa plays Moor nor baby are present.

Hen and Jack Carter plays Mastiff.

“The students have done an absolutely amazing job The actors said they are excited to take on with this material. They’ve found the quirky humor while the role of their characters — it’s a chance to contrasting that with a touch of horror,” said Paul Mitri, step into a different world and someone else’s life.

“I’ve enjoyed coming to understand her more in depth and learn what it is like for her to live in me,” said USU junior Miner.

Frederick, a junior in the BFA acting program, said she has enjoyed all of the new experiences she has gained from being a part of this production. Unlike other shows she has been a part of where a lot of time is spent on table work, “The Moors” allowed Frederick to jump right into learning characters.

“We focused on embodying our characters and specifying their movement, habituations, hand gestures, how they sit or stand, what animal they relate to, etcetera,” Frederick said. “This has been extremely rewarding because of how easily I feel I can connect to my character and fulfill their wishes within the play.”

Stage manager Jordan Lockwood focuses on organizing and assisting in the production process. During shows she also calls cues and makes sure everything is running properly.

“I see that both technicians and actors have a voice and their ideas and concerns are heard,” Lockwood said.

The play was chosen to be performed around December 2020, in hopes of school being back in person.

The design process began last spring and has continued to be worked on through this fall.

“Ultimately, to me, the play is about how people might try to escape their nature but can’t,” Mitri said. “I’m very curious about how the audience will respond. Like ‘The PHOTOS BY Bailey Rigby Moors,’ things are not always what they seem.”

USU Acting BFA junior Bailee Minor (left) and sophomore Brynn Francis (right) rehearse on Feb. 2 for their

By Keianah Weakland LIFESTYLES STAFF WRITER

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upcoming performance of “The Moors. “

Auditions were in November and rehearsals started the first day of spring semester.

Rehearsals are scheduled Monday through Friday 6-10 p.m. and held for four hours on Saturdays. Cast members are called to rehearsals depending on which scenes they are working on that day. Since they have a smaller cast, most cast members are present for every rehearsal.

“Both the most exciting and rewarding, yet difficult part of preparing, is all the fun physical things I get to do,” Francis said. “We have some crazy fight choreography, I get to use a trap door, there’s lots of jumping, spinning, dancing and throwing myself on furniture all while wearing a corset.”

Due to the coronavirus, there have been several complications with rehearsals. Since there was a positive test amongst the team, production wore masks for a while, and everybody had to test negative before attending rehearsal. Frederick says the cast is very grateful for the understudies and all the work they have done to be able to jump in when needed.

“It’s one thing to watch the work happen versus being part of the work happening onstage,” Frederick said. “We talk as a group to decide what course of action is best moving forward, but it still hurts a bit to be released from a run of the show.”

Lockwood said she is most excited to see everyone’s hard work come together on opening night.

“As a stage manager, I have had the privilege of witnessing the creative process firsthand. I have seen the actors bring their characters to life and the technicians’ renderings become a reality,” Lockwood said.

There is an audience warning due to adult humor and content, sexual themes and scenes of violence.

Keianah Weakland is a freshman considering studying journalism.

Outside of writing for the Statesman, she enjoys traveling and hanging out with friends.

— A02367276@usu.edu

Page 9 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 2022

Aggie Chocolate Factory

A unique approach to selling chocolate

The new Aggie Chocolate Factory soap mixes chocolate nibs with a vanilla shea butter soap base.

By Natalie Rust LIFESTYLES STAFF WRITER

T

he idea came to Paul Beck at work: chocolate nibs mixed with a vanilla shea butter soap base.

He’d seen something similar done before with coffee grounds. The larger particles acted as a sort of exfoliator, making the soap more appealing to certain audiences.

Beck, the cafe manager at the Aggie Chocolate Factory, had experimented with coffee ground soap before and decided to apply the same concept with chocolate nibs — roughly ground cocoa beans — at the Aggie Chocolate Factory.

“It’s also just kind of a novelty item,” Beck said. “To have the soap with the cacao on it is cool.”

Beck asked his boss for permission then finalized the production process. Finally, the factory began producing and selling chocolate nib soap.

The Aggie Chocolate Factory opened in November 2018 as a facility focused on providing outreach and research opportunities to students as well as high quality chocolate products to the community — products like the factory’s novelty chocolate nib soap.

“We do single-origin chocolate,” Beck said. “Which

means rather than mixing the beans from the various origins and making kind of a generic chocolate flavor, we keep them separate. Because then the tasting notes end up being quite different in the final product.”

Most chocolate found at stores use beans from a variety of origins. This makes the factory’s single-source approach unique.

“It’s kind of more of a chocolate connoisseur paradise,” Beck said.

The factory gets their beans from Ghana, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador and Belize. Because most of their bars are only made out of one type of bean, each bar has a specific, natural taste.

“We have bars that taste more like coffee,” said Jentrie Gilliland, the factory’s assistant manager. “Other ones that taste more caramelly, as well as some that taste fruity.”

Chocolates are differentiated by the color of their wrapping paper, which delineates the type of bean and country of origin.

The factory sells everything from chocolate bars and cacao meat seasoning to apparel, but Beck said the factory’s chocolate bars and frozen hot chocolate are some of their best-sellers.

The frozen hot chocolate essentially resembles a choco-

PHOTO BY Phil Weber

late shake, including whipped cream and chocolate nibs sprinkled on top.

The chocolate bars — most specifically the factory’s trademark Go Aggie Bar — are Gilliland’s favorite.

“It has the iconic skyline that includes Old Main and then Utah State’s campus,” Gilliland said.

In addition to providing research opportunities to students, more than 100 students come to the factory every year as part of a USU chocolate-making class. The factory also opens up the chocolate making process to the community.

“We also offer tours for free, so people can come in and learn about the entire process,” Beck said.

Everywhere from the factory’s research opportunities and outreach to its unique chocolate products and novelty cocoa items, the factory provides something fresh to the community.

Natalie Rust is a freshman interested in studying international studies at Utah State University. In her free time, she loves to read, thrift and explore the great outdoors.

— natalie.rust@usu.edu

Page 10 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 202

Football announces 2022 signing class

Coach Blake Anderson speaks to the media on Dec. 17 prior to Utah State’s matchup against Oregon State in the LA Bowl.

By Tia Reese SPORTS STAFF WRITER

U

tah State Football announced its 2022 Signing Day class on Feb 2.

On the heels of an 11-3 season in Blake Anderson’s first year as head coach, the Aggies added 33 recruits in an effort to build upon their historic success.

The signing class of 2022 is composed of 23 high school commits, nine transfers and one returned missionary. According to 247 Sports, the class ranks fourth in the Mountain West and 77th nationally and features 18 linemen.

Leading the high school signees is an offensive tackle from Hawaii, Tavo Motu’apuaka. Motu’apuaka is the younger brother of Utah State defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 280 pounds, Motu’apuaka originally signed to Pac-12 powerhouse Utah but, de-committed and committed to Utah State in December.

Utah State’s top-ranked recruit from Utah, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho, will travel from South Jordan to Logan in the spring. The 6-foot-4-inch 295 pound Bingham high product declined offers from Utah, UNLV, and New Mexico.

Motuapuaka and Lapuaho exemplify coach Anderson’s philosophy: build foundational offensive and defensive lines.

PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby

“The class starts with offensive and defensive linemen,” Anderson said. “We closed the gap on the offensive line and picked up some really solid players.”

Twelve of the 23 high school signees hail from the Beehive State. Anderson, who has been impressed with the talent level with Utah, said recruiting locally is critical to the team’s culture and tradition.

“We don’t look at recruiting as like is he a Logan guy or he is a Salt Lake City guy, we look for in-state guys. We want to start at home and work our way from there,” he said.

But recruiting in-state talent is becoming increasingly difficult. For the first time in history, BYU, Utah and Utah State all ended their seasons in AP Top 25. With tough recruiting competition along the Wasatch Front, Anderson explained what makes Utah State a favorable destination among recruits.

“We’ve built tradition. If you look at the last 10 years, minus maybe one year, we have had great tradition,” he said. “Students have unreal energy and we get players to a higher level. For some players maybe they can get on the field faster here than Utah or BYU.” Playing time is certainly on the minds of the recruits.

With several players graduating and All-American receiver Deven Thompkins declaring for the draft, coach Anderson hopes to fill vacancies with seasoned transfers.

Junior wide receiver Xavier Williams, a former four-star

High school signees • Bryce Radford, OL, Green Canyon HS • Ryker Lotulelei, LB, West HS • James Aloisio, OL, Timpview HS • Kauasi Hansen, OL, Herriman HS • Saco Alofipe, S, Liberty HS, Nevada • Malachi Keels, WR, Orange Glen HS, California • Jett Solomon S, Desert Pines HS, Nevada • Jordan Drew, CB, Booker T. Washington HS, Okla.

• Thomas Turpin, DE, Bonneville HS • Austin Okerwa, WR, Skyline HS • Kyler Baker, TE, Green Canyon HS • Max Alford, LB, Park City HS • Lofa Fonoti-Maikui, LB, Layton HS • Joshua Williams, LB, Mesquite, Texas • Paul Fitzgerald, DL, Idaho Falls, Idaho • Adam Tomczyk, DE, Los Alamitos, California • Sione Tavo Motu’apuaka, OL, Honolulu, Hawaii • Teague Anderson, OL, Lehi HS • Weylin Lapuaho, OL, Bingham HS • Bishop Davenport, QB, Spring, Texas • Chase Tuatagaloa, QB, Orem HS • Robert Briggs, RB, Bellville, Texas Transfer players • Anthony Switzer, LB, Arkansas State, Jr. • MJ Tafisi, LB, Washington, Jr. • Gurvan Hall Jr., S, Miami, Sr. • Tavian Coleman, DT, Trinity Valley CC (Texas), So. • Brian Cobbs, WR, Maryland, Sr. • Xavier Williams, WR, Alabama, Jr. • Levi Williams, QB, Wyoming, So. • Terrell Vaughn, WR, Ventura JC (California), Jr. • Daniel Grzesiak DE, Nevada, Jr. Returned missionary • Bronson Olevao, DB, Highland HS high school recruit, joins the Aggies from Alabama. Williams signed with USU in January after a combination of injuries and limited playing time kept him off the field.

“Xavier had some medical issues and wanted to come here and flourish in a different system,” Anderson said.

“He can have a bigger impact on the team now. He’s so versatile and he has speed when the ball is in his hands.

He has a tremendous ability to fight for the ball in the air.”

In addition to Williams, wide receiver Brian Cobbs (Maryland), four-star quarterback Levi Williams (Wyoming) and offensive tackle Cade Parrish (BYU) will join the Aggies for Spring training.

Besides talent, transfers are scouted for their leadership, character, and willingness to contribute to the Aggie football culture.

“I’m very blunt with transfers,” Anderson said. “I try to convince them not to come here and I tell them how hard it will be. But I mostly talk to them about culture so that when they get here, they know what to expect. They know our culture is centered on faith, family, toughness, and self-lessness. These transfers will succeed because they are underdogs and blue-collar guys.”

For the high school prospects coming in, Coach Anderson reminded fan to temper their expectation.

“We never know if any draft class is good until two, three years into the future.”

PHOTOS BY Joseph F Myers

Utah State Men’s Basketball defeated Air Force 73-46 on Feb. 1 in the Spectrum.

By Mark Greenwood SPORTS STAFF WRITER

U

tah State opened their conference schedule with a two-point loss on the road to the Air Force Falcons. On ‘Spectrum Magic’ night on Feb. 1, the Aggies got their revenge.

A packed student section clad in orange, yellow and grey shirts cheered on USU as they dominated the game from start to finish. The Aggies led by as many as 30 in the second half, en route to a 73-46 win over the Falcons.

USU was led by forward Brandon Horvath who had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists — the closest Aggie to a triple-double this season. Horvath was one of four Aggies in double digits for the night.

“The balance was huge,” head coach Ryan Odom said.

“I think it just speaks to our guys’ willingness to share

(the ball). The open guy is the go-to guy.”

The Aggies also tallied 20 total assists on the night.

Sean Bairstow was the recipient of several highlight-reel assists, including an electrifying alley-oop by Rylan Jones from 30-feet out.

“I saw Sean just kind of cut, I just threw it and he dunked it,” Jones said about the play. “It was just a great feeling, It was just like, hey, I’m back.”

Jones had five points and three rebounds in his first game back from a concussion suffered nearly two weeks ago in a game against Fresno State.

The Aggies took control of the game early in the first half, taking a lead with 15:28 left that they would never relinquish. Utah State ended the half on a 9-3 run to take a 36-23 lead into the break. They cruised through the second half behind a 62% shooting performance to hand Air Force their biggest loss of the season.

This is the third game in a row where Utah State has

given their opponent their biggest loss of the year.

The Utah State defense was crucial in the win, holding Air Force to just 35% shooting from the floor and 13% from range throughout the game. They allowed just 46 points; the Aggie’s lowest number of points they’ve allowed for the season.

In addition to limiting open shots from the Airmen, USU dominated the glass, pulling down 36 rebounds and allowing Air Force to just 16. Controlling the boards has been crucial for Utah State on their current threegame win streak.

This Falcon team that gave them fits with countless screens and back cuts in their first matchup struggled to get anything going.

“I think just playing harder, just being ready for it,” Horvath said on the defensive matchup. “We weren’t really ready for it the first time. We just came out and set the tone to be more physical than them.”

Page 11 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 2022

SPECTRUM MAGIC

Page 12 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 202

O U

OPINION

Winter weather safety in Logan is understated

tah State University has little to offer for weather safety resources. Given that Utah is ranked sixth among the worst states to drive in and Salt Lake City being eighth for worst city, the roads in Utah are unsafe to say the least.

USU has students from all different parts of the country and the world. States such as Florida and most of Texas have no snowfall and their driver’s education classes do not teach how to safety drive on ice. USU should provide educational resources for students to accommodate students’ changes in their environments.

Victoria Mendoza, a sophomore studying aviation, had no assistance in the transition from Texas driving to Utah driving. She was recently in a car accident in Sardine Canyon resulting in multiple broken ribs.

Her first experience with driving in Utah snow was frightful to say the least.

“Worst snow-related thing that happened was me and a friend were going up through Sardine Canyon last November and the rain turned to snow,” Mendoza said. “We got stuck in the snow and it was a hor-

rible feeling. No plows had gone through, cars were bumper to bumper and many were stuck off on the side of the road. We only got out because of highway patrol helping to push the car. It was frightening.”

She’s had her vehicle since living in Texas and it was not meant for the conditions of Logan. The best types of cars for driving in the snow have four- or all-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, and studless winter tires, according to Outside magazine.

USU does issue campus alerts when there are safety concerns from weather, but that is only in severe cases. Snow- and ice-covered rows are a constant concern in Logan during this time of year. The university can remedy the unsafe conditions in Logan by providing resources for Utah driving workshops for incoming freshmen. Students can be informed about said workshops during connection classes.

There are laws unique to Utah that should also be taught to incoming students. For instance, Utah law requires drivers to clear snow from their windows before driving. Neglecting to do so will result in a ticket.

Similarly, in light of what occurred this past

December with the Kentucky tornadoes, natural disasters are no laughing matter and should not be taken lightly. The tornados had resulted in dozens killed and homes in ruins. Tornadoes do not occur in states such as Utah, but Utah has its own forms of natural disasters.

Earthquakes and snow squalls are some primary ones in this state. Snow squalls are typically confused with blizzards but are far more common and can be more dangerous. They result in an intense, short period of heavy snowfall and rapid temperature drops. On Dec. 27, a squall hit Salt Lake City, causing 75 crashes in a five-hour time period according to Utah Highway Patrol.

When asking fellow students if they had heard of a snow squall, the answer I received was almost unanimously no. For something so dangerous and prominent in our state, students should be warned about squalls as well as different types of natural disasters and informed on safety protocol and measures.

A student from the lower East Coast doesn’t know what to do in the event of a blizzard but they know the precautionary steps to take in the event of a hurricane. Coming to Utah, which has a very different climate than South Carolina, is a culture and weather shock. Accommodations should be made to help students adjust.

For the safety of all Aggies, USU should have more resources on weather safety and winter driving.

Sara Prettyman is a Maryland-bornand-raised sophomore majoring in applied mathematics. She loves drawing, running and reading.

— A02342348@usu.edu

GRAPHIC BY Keith Wilson

M

WhySound is a small music venue and recording studio in Logan popular among USU students.

y roommate and I were sitting in an empty parking lot. We had attempted to go to the USU vs. BYU hockey game but did not anticipate the sheer amount of Aggies who would be willing to freeze themselves solid as they cheered their team to victory.

In short, the already-filled parking spots extended so far out from the parking lot we had no choice but to seek weekend entertainment elsewhere. We didn’t feel like ax throwing and we didn’t want food, so we checked to see if there were any live music events and there weren’t. Here’s the thing.

In Logan, have there been live, indie concerts … ever?

For any vocalists or other trained instrumentalists on campus, I don’t mean to insult you. I’m not suggesting campus events or local musicians and performers are underachieving. In fact, your backs must be very sore from constantly carrying music culture in Cache Valley because there’s not really anywhere else to engage with music.

While sitting in the car on a frigid weekend evening in Logan, I didn’t know where to go. I couldn’t think of any indie music rooms or downtown basements or theaters turned rock halls. To put it plainly, I’ve lived in this town for two years, but the only music events I’ve attended in Cache Valley have been in either a church or in the Ellen Eccles Theatre, featuring a decent performance of

the “Little Shop of Horrors.” And while I’m both religious and a fan of Broadway, those venues just don’t quite scratch the itch of standing in an actual crowd, banging my head up and down, and stretching my hand out towards a band on stage.

However, I can’t stretch my hand out towards anyone if there’s nowhere for them to actually play. The music scene in Logan is absolutely dead.

Its last escaping breath must have been “student discount” as it tried to funnel a new generation towards campus events, but students need somewhere outside the towering, overwhelming walls of their studies to relax. We need venues. We need something new and exciting.

Upon some initial research, I discovered a local recording studio and music venue called WhySound. I wanted to interview them for this article, in fact, but they didn’t have an email and the number I tried to call took me to someone’s personal phone. I left a message, but they never called back. And perhaps, as we’re on the trail of trying to find music’s killer in Logan, Utah, this interaction brought us a step closer to catching our culprit.

It’s not that music isn’t happening at all here in Logan, it’s just hard to know if and when it’s happening.

No business phone number. No website. No location. Many supposed performances are sabo-

taged by a lack of marketing and accessibility. For example, I didn’t know what WhySound was until I started writing this and had to be told by someone else. Now you, reader, know about it too, but only because you randomly decided to read your university newspaper.

In an age of digital communication, Logan is experiencing a sad silence which is affecting our ability to hear up-and-coming talents in our own neighborhood.

I think there’s potential for change though. We need more grassroots concerts and more passionate people showing up and being willing to support fundraisPHOTO BY William Bultez ing and local musicians. We need more effort from venues to make themselves known and to spread the word about what they can offer students and music enthusiasts alike.

Don’t let the music scene stay dead.

Why so surprised? Surely you’ve figured out by now we’re responsible for its death. We killed the mood. Whether a musician, a fan in the crowd, or a venue owner, each of us needs to make an effort to cultivate music in our community.

So, let’s go check out WhySound one of these weekends. Throw the living room concert you’ve been thinking about. The music scene can only feel alive if we’re willing to be alive in the scene ourselves.

Natalie Hawes was born in Eugene, OR and found her way through the mountains to attend USU. She’s a liberal arts senior and hopes to become a published poet and film critic someday.

— A02365302@usu.edu

Page 13 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 2022

Opinion: Logan’s music scene is dead

Page 14 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 202

PHOTO BY Jacee Caldwell

Volunteers at the BRAG office wait for their PIT Count assignments on Jan. 29.

Bear River holds annual homelessness count

By Brielle Carr NEWS STAFF WRITER

I

n the early hours of Jan. 27-29, local volunteers came together to participate in the annual Point in Time Count in Cache Valley.

The PIT Count tracks those experiencing homelessness in the community. Volunteers will go out as early as 3 a.m. in search of individuals who may not have a safe place to sleep at night.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires every community nationwide to conduct a PIT Count sometime in the last 10 days of January.

“It helps us get as accurate of a count as we can about unsheltered homelessness. It gives us an opportunity to reach out in one of the coldest times of the year and get people connected to resources,” said Jess Lucero, the PIT Count leader. “When we can get a more accurate count of homelessness in our community, we’re more likely to have funding for our community to help support those who are experiencing homelessness.”

The count is conducted through the Bear River Association of Governments, or BRAG, a volunteer organization in Logan. Volunteers are placed in small groups and search the valley for individuals or families showing signs of homelessness in assigned areas.

For those willing to speak with the volunteers, a short interview is conducted and supplies including blankets, hygiene kits and food are distributed.

To get an accurate idea of people’s sleeping arrangements, volunteers conduct the count early in the morning.

“One of the main things I noticed is that homeless-

ness looks different depending on the location and the person,” said Andriana Jensen, a volunteer from USU. “It can be people staying in a car or it could be in a tent.

It just isn’t always what you typically think it is and that helped me understand what homelessness looks like in our valley specifically.”

Logan Municipal Council member Amy Anderson said she saw the lack of attention towards the homeless community and took initiative through Cache Community Connections for nearly 10 years. Since then, she has become the co-chair in the Local Homeless Council in Logan and has participated twice in the count.

“I think it’s important for our community to realize that there are a lot of people that are homeless,” Anderson said. “If you go and talk to both school districts, there’s a lot of homeless families.”

To be included in the count, individuals must be unsheltered, meaning they sleep in an uninhabitable location. This can be a tent, a car or staying in a public building like a gas station.

According to Lucero, 50-60 families in Cache Valley are experiencing homelessness. However, most of them are not recorded in the count due to having friends or family members to bunk with until they get back on their feet, so they are considered sheltered.

“That’s a distinction people don’t always understand,” Anderson said. “When you look at the PIT Count, it doesn’t truly reflect all the people in our community who don’t have their own home.”

Nicole Burnard, the executive secretary of the Local Homeless Council, said most people in the valley wouldn’t think homelessness was a local issue.

“Having these conversations and creating awareness in

our community and trying to have empathy and realize that these folks experiencing homelessness are just like you and me,” Burnard said. “Maybe they don’t have the solid support system that we do.”

A local council meeting is scheduled a week after the count to discuss further actions and funding the city will be able to provide.

Currently, there are few available resources in Cache Valley, one being BRAG where people in need can be put in a hotel for about 10 days.

Citizens Against Physical and Sexual Abuse, or CAPSA, is another resource for those who have experienced domestic violence and don’t have a safe place to sleep.

Despite these resources, there are always more gaps to be filled. Anderson, Lucero and Burnard all agreed there is a need for a homeless shelter or a warming shelter in Logan City for those sleeping in the cold.

According to Lucero, a shelter is possible and the PIT Count is an important step in that direction.

More information on the PIT Count, housing crisis assistance and other resources can be found at brag. utah.gov.

Brielle Carr is a first-year student studying journalism and is a first-year writer for the Statesman.

She loves to read and spends most of her time at the gym.

— Brielle.Carr@usu.edu

Page 15 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 2022 CARTOON BY Keith Wilson

Last week’s solution:

Sudoku puzzles are provided by www.sudokuoftheday.com.

Page 16 - The Utah Statesman, February 7, 202