Local schools respond to new ICE Policy
By Bailey Daniels STATESMAN REPORTER
On Jan. 21, the U.S Department of Homeland Security announced Immigrations and Customs Enforcement would have a change in policy. They would no longer be upholding policies regarding the avoidance of immigration enforcement actions in or near “sensitive areas,” such as schools, places of worship and hospitals.
Under the Obama administration in 2011, ICE issued Policy Memorandum 10029.2. The policy’s purpose was to guarantee actions such as arrests, detentions and interrogations did not occur in sensitive areas unless certain circumstances were met, including terrorism, imminent risks of death or violence or the pursuit of dangerous felons.
Because sensitive areas include services such as medical care and education, ICE felt it was crucial those worried about potential deportation did not deprive themselves or their families of these facilities, according to studyinthestates.dhs.gov. Although this policy was not a law, it was adhered to until last month.
One of President Donald Trump’s first priorities, according to whitehouse.gov, is securing America’s borders and protecting American communities. This is why Benjamine C. Huffman, acting secretary of DHS, revoked Policy Memorandum 10029.2.
The same week these policy changes were announced, faculty, guardians and parents received an email from
the Logan City School District administration and Board of Education. The message reassured the district is committed to providing a safe environment for all students regardless of immigration status. They do not collect or share information about a student’s immigration status, and they encourage parents and guardians to ensure their student’s emergency contact information is up to date.
“We will continue to follow laws guaranteeing that all children in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, have a right to a free and appropriate education,” Logan City School District administration and Board of Education wrote.
Shana Longhurst is the district’s director of communications. Families are encouraged to reach out to her with questions or concerns. School administration has received instruction on what to do if ICE enters one of their schools.
“The Superintendent or designee will go to the school and request to see written legal authorization and verify the identity of the agent(s) and work through the process from that point forward,” Longhurst wrote to The Utah Statesman.
If ICE approaches any student, their emergency contact will be notified immediately.
In an interview on The Dr. Phil Podcast, the previous acting director of ICE and Trump’s current border czar Thomas Homan claimed they are not performing sweeps in schools but aiming to access the area around them.
This was explained in more detail by Jason Twede, associate professor in the criminal justice department at Utah State University.
“I have heard some people trying to defend the decision, saying that the policy had prohibited ICE agents from getting into neighborhoods surrounding a school, neighborhoods surrounding a hospital, et cetera,” Twede said. “Now, whether that’s the actual reason they’re deciding not to follow the policy, I have no idea.”
Regardless of ICE’s intentions, Utah schools have reported a decrease in attendance.
“The Salt Lake City School District, for instance, saw an attendance dip from 91% at the start of January down to 87% by the month’s end,” The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
While a number of the absences are likely due to illnesses common in the winter, Utah Sen. Luz Escamilla told The Salt Lake Tribune families have reached out in fear about the safety of their children.
“It’s not always what actually happens that’s having the impact, it’s the fear of what will happen. Kids are freaking out. Parents are freaking out. They’re not going to send them. Whether ICE actually goes in or not, I think the harm is being done regardless,” Twede said.
Twede believes if ICE begins to enter schools on a large scale, it could harm not only children and families lacking permanent legal status but could also upset and confuse children who are legal citizens. He was a prosecutor in Arizona before working for USU, so he has experience working in law enforcement in a border state.
“The cartel is setting up footholds over the border to make operations work better, so you don’t want that. Do I care if a couple of families come over to escape the less-than-ideal, we’ll say generously, conditions? I can sympathize with them,” Twede said. “I just think it’s being misrepresented by both sides, depending on what their slant is. I think people get hung up on trying to make this a black and white issue.”
Amanda DeRito, associate vice president for strategic communications at USU stated the university will be following the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, meaning USU is unable to release certain personally identifiable information about students without consent.
Bailey Daniels is a junior studying technology systems. She loves Lana Del Rey, sweet treats and all things whimsical.
PHOTO BY Elise Gottling
Redefining inclusive excellence
Editor’s Note: This column is one of three guest opinions that will appear in The Utah Statesman leading up to the 2025 USUSA elections results. All of the Executive Council was given the oppurtunity to write a guest column informing students of the work USUSA does in shaping USU’s campus community.
For nearly a decade, this position has served as a bridge between the diverse communities on our campus. However, in January 2024, the passage of House Bill 261 Equal Opportunity Initiatives brought significant changes. I first learned about this bill during my senior year of high school while attending a higher-education multicultural conference. At the time, I never imagined I would one day experience its impact firsthand. Yet, three years later, here we are.
Now known as the Clubs & Organizations executive director, my position entered its inaugural year for the 2024-2025 school term. While the title has changed, the responsibilities, initiatives and objectives remain the same: to ensure every student, regardless of background or interests, has a community where they feel they belong, as well as to provide the
and communities at USU and within Logan. The emphasis shifted toward fostering belonging and acceptance, ensuring all students could participate without fear of judgment. It was the first event of its kind, and I believe it was a meaningful success.
Beyond navigating these changes, I have worked closely with USUSA clubs to support their missions and ensure they have the resources to thrive. While I do not directly advise student organizations — since they are intended to operate independently — I assist with questions and concerns and review funding requests and club registration forms, which remain open year-round.
newspaper for Utah State University since 1902. Reporting online 24/7. Printed weekly during the school year.
February 17, 2025
resources and support necessary for student organizations to thrive at USU.
The fall semester was all about trial and error, marked by challenges and obstacles as we adapted to changes at the state level affecting all Utah institutions. One of the biggest challenges was navigating and redefining inclusive excellence within our campus.
When I ran for office, I was determined to expand the inclusive excellence initiatives, even with the awareness that HB 261 had passed. As someone who finds support and comfort within both the Latinx and Asian communities, I deeply understood the importance of spaces where students feel accepted. I planned to foster collaboration among our communities, bridging the gaps that had widened due to legislature changes. However, as the year unfolded, I realized the regulations were more restrictive than anticipated, limiting the efforts I initially envisioned.
One initiative affected was the week-long celebration planned and hosted by my position. In the past, this event highlighted student organizations and heritage celebrations, fostering unity without barriers. Faced with new constraints, I rebranded it into what is now known as Community Week — a celebration of the many groups, organizations
With so many shifts occurring, my team and I are laying a strong foundation to ensure future progress for clubs and organizations. One of our recent projects this year is updating the club handbook and developing resources that will assist club presidents. Though these changes must go through a formal process, we hope they will be implemented in the next academic year alongside the impact of those changes.
The role of Clubs & Organizations executive director is still evolving, and this year has been a learning experience filled with growth and errors. It has not been an easy journey, but I have faced these challenges head-on to pave the way for future leaders. While this year was far from perfect, I have encountered personal hardships along the way that made it difficult to manage everything. I wish I could do more in this position. However, new opportunities have opened up to me, and it is time to close my chapter with USUSA.
To any student considering leadership or involvement, take that leap. Whether it’s joining a club, running for a position or simply sharing your ideas, your voice matters. Student voices matter. You never know who you might inspire or how your contributions might shape our campus community. Student involvement is the backbone of USU, and through it all, every student can find a place to belong here at Utah State.
— clubsandorgs.ususa@usu.edu
Utah bans public union bargaining
By Isabella Erwin STATESMAN REPORTER
After days of intense debate, protests and failed substitutions, House Bill 267 passed both the Utah House of Representatives and Senate, banning collective bargaining between public employee unions and their government employers. It has been sent to Gov. Cox to await his signature as of Feb. 12.
“Collective bargaining simply means that working people organize into groups, usually labor unions, in order to negotiate with their employer about workplace issues such as hours, wages, conditions, safety, and discrimination. This gives them more power than negotiating as individuals,” wrote Victoria Grieve, associate professor of history, in an email to The Utah Statesman.
Multiple different versions of the bill were introduced, including one which allowed unions to continue to negotiate with their employers. The legislature voted on the bill’s original language sponsored by Republican Rep. Jordan Teuscher and Sen. Kirk Cullimore.
According to Grieve, public unions representing jobs such as teachers, firefighters and police officers are typically treated differently under the law than public sector unions.
“In most states, public employees, especially those deemed essential—police, firefighters—do not have
a federal right to strike. In Utah, they are prohibited from striking,” Grieve wrote.
When United Campus Workers USU, the union for university employees, met in the Merrill-Cazier Library for a town hall on Jan. 30, their leadership appeared hopeful about their future.
“We’ve always recognized it’s going to be years in the future before we get a collective bargaining agreement, but we can still do all sorts of important stuff in the meantime,” said one union organizer at the event. “The union is still fully legal. You are still fully protected to join it, and we’re not changing anything about how we organize.”
The union’s leadership pointed to examples of successful university unions around USU who also do
not have collective bargaining agreements, such as the University of Utah’s healthcare worker union, which was able to secure parking passes for hospital employees.
Before collective agreements and the right to unionize, “Americans went on strikes and were exposed to violence, many died in fights for a minimum wage, the eight-hour day, safer working conditions, higher wages, equal pay for equal work,” Grieve wrote.
Isabella Erwin is a sophomore studying journalism with a minor in political science. When not busy with a new project, Isabella can be found listening to some indie rock and playing way too much “Balatro.”
— isabella.erwin@usu.edu
Jan. 29
Police responded to an alleged injured squirrel in a parking lot near the Forestry Sciences Laboratory.
Jan. 30
K-9 Officer Sage responded to a request to meet with individuals on the Quad and at the TSC as part of her role in community engagement.
Feb. 2
USU fire marshals facilitated an industrial hygiene safety course for students. This training was intended to teach students about fire safety and how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
Feb. 6
An unknown male was observed in the women’s locker room in the HPER. Officers have not been able to identify the suspect and conclude no crime has been determined at this time.
PHOTO BY Isabella Erwin
Protestors gather in the Utah State Capitol rotunda to voice opposition to HB267 on Feb. 7.
The Utah Statesman presents...
USUSA ELECTIONS DEBATE
FEB 25 @ the Hub 11:30-1
Aggies hit jackpot at Casino Night
By Brook Wood STATESMAN REPORTER
The TSC transformed into a Western on Feb. 7 as partygoers dressed in cowboy hats and flannels and gambled for raffle tickets to win big prizes during this year’s Casino Night.
The sold-out event hosted a myriad of activities, including karaoke, mechanical bull-riding, bandana decorating, swing dancing, silent disco, an old-western photobooth, bingo and the casino itself.
USUSA student events activities director Josie Packer said the event was a hit. A steady line of people waited for Chester’s Chicken all night, and the gambling tables never emptied.
“We sold out, which has never happened for Casino Night,” Packer said. “We had probably 600 more people than last year.”
Madilyn Dahle, second-year student studying pre-nursing, was among those in attendance.
“I think it’s a great way to socialize and get around and have a fun night out without classes,” Dahle said.
Texas hold ‘em, Craps, Roulette and Blackjack were some of the games in the George Nelson Fieldhouse. Attendees could gamble their initial chips to win and afford more raffle tickets for the drawing at the end of the night.
“We wanted a big casino,” Packer said. “We probably did 10 or 15 more tables than last year. We hired professional dealers as well, which helped things run a lot more smoothly than in the past.”
Attendees who won more than a 2,000 chip value had the opportunity to go to the High Roller room and bet high stakes. Everyone could cash in their chips for up to 40 raffle tickets. The drawing hosted a unique variety of prizes, ranging from Amazon and Ticketmaster gift cards to an iPad and a large-screen TV.
The Activities Committee was in charge of deciding what prizes to purchase and how to appeal the drawing to a wide variety of people. According to Packer, the committee worked tirelessly to organize, decorate and run the event.
“They don’t get paid. It’s just completely volunteer,” Packer said. “No one even knows that it’s just students planning it. It was not possible without them.”
Josie Davidson, first-year student studying plant science, is a member of the committee. Committee members were in charge of designated areas to decorate and oversee for the night.
“It’s my first one, but I absolutely loved every minute,” Davidson said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it. It’s paid off.”
Davidson became a part of the committee after attending the Aggie Blue Leadership Conference in August of last year. After hearing about the opportunity, she applied, interviewed and became a member.
“There are four different committees under student events,” Davidson said. “There’s traditions, series, Blue Crew and activities. I’m on activities, and we do the Howl, Casino Night and the End of Year Bash.”
USU Public Safety Officer Shane Nebeker attended the event with critical incident and crisis response K-9 Sage, along with around 15 other officers.
“Most of it is just to make sure that things are safe and that we’re having a good time and doing it in a safe way, and then we’ve got Sage here tonight to kind of spread a little bit of goodwill and happiness as well,” Nebeker said. “She’s probably had contact with a couple 100 people tonight.”
Casino Night went from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with students filing in all throughout the night and taking their chances with gambling.
Brook Wood is working towards receiving a bachelor’s degree in literature. When they aren’t writing or reading, they enjoy playing the violin in the USU Symphony Orchestra and the occasional sweet treat.
— b.wood@usu.edu
PHOTOS BY Kelly WInter
Attendees playing roulette in the George Nelson Fieldhouse during Casino Night on Feb. 7.
Cody Roberts riding the mechanical bull during Casino Night in the TSC on Feb. 7.
Attendees playing Blackjack in the Fieldhouse during Casino Night on Feb. 7.
Banff Film Tour comes to Logan
By Essence Barnes STATESMAN REPORTER
One of the largest adventure film tours in the world made a stop in Logan on Jan. 7–8 to present the annual Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Ellen Eccles Theatre.
Attendees enjoyed evening screenings of award-winning environment and adventure-based films made by independent filmmakers from all over the world.
“The Banff Centre Mountain film festival started 50 years ago, celebrating Mountain culture from around the world in Banff Alberta, in the heart of Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies,” Heather Walter, on-site coordinator for Banff, wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman.
The Banff Centre showcases films from the finalists of its annual Banff Mountain Film Competition held every year at the Banff, Alberta film festival.
“We have juries who screen all of the entries in different categories,” Walter wrote. “The top films from each category are pooled and then the top films of all of those are screened at the festival.”
According to Walter, 90 of the 477 submitted films were chosen to be screened at this year’s festival. Roughly 30 of the winning films were selected to be taken on the Banff World Tour, where they will be screened in over 45 countries and seven continents.
USU Outdoor Programs has hosted the tour in Logan for the last 26 years. According to the associate director of OP Dan Galliher, ticket sales from the event go toward funding an OP scholarship.
“The main thing that this event does for us is it is our major fundraiser for the Lyon, Maas, Mueggler Outdoor Leadership Scholarship,” Galliher said. “It pays for half of a wilderness first responder certification course.”
The scholarship is named after three men who died in an avalanche near the Bear River Range, all of whom were heavily involved in outdoor activities, adventure and activism.
“This is how we keep that scholarship going and keep their names alive,” Galliher said.
According to Galliher, world tour hosts of the festivals get the opportunity to select which of the 30 films to screen at their venue.
“We get to have custom programs both nights,” Galliher said. “The films we show are different from the ones they might screen in Ogden in a couple of weeks.”
According to the center’s website, the film competition takes submissions from six main categories: climbing, mountain sports, mountain culture, environment, snowsports and adventure.
“This year, I think it’s mostly skiing, climbing,
mountain biking, canyoneering and running films,” Galliher said. “They usually have some sort of human interest component as well.”
According to Walter, Banff puts together traveling festivals like these to highlight the importance and beauty of storytelling within visual arts and to share those stories with the world.
“The festival is an extension of arts and creativity, in celebration of mountain cultures, — people, arts, environment, sports, expedition, etc. — from around the world,” Walter wrote. “In recent years, we are so happy to see that the films have much greater representation of diverse cultures and individuals, and much greater gender equity.”
Essence Barnes is a second-year student majoring in journalism and minoring in environmental studies. She enjoys reading, writing and caffeine.
— essence.barnes@usu.edu
Showcasing familiar artists, Xander Hayden shares songs you will love that didn’t quite make the mainstream airwaves on “The IYKYK Show” Mondays at 2 p.m. From deep cuts to inspirations to samples, listeners discover new music that still feels close to home. Flash Delirium
running out of time Lil Yachty Virtue
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY Baily Kruzan
The Voidz
Paint Me Silver Pond
Half Mast Empire of the Sun
Aleena Palumbo: ‘The car accident that saved my life’
By Esther Owens STATESMAN REPORTER
On Feb. 19, 2024, Aleena Palumbo was driving home from work on a rainy evening when she was hit head-on by a truck running a red light at 55 mph.
In an essay she wrote after enrolling for a semester in USU online classes that earned her the Car Accident Injury Survivor Scholarship, she called it “the car accident that saved [her] life.”
“I had a lot of injuries,” Palumbo said. “The airbags failed to deploy, the back seats broke and it was pretty traumatic.”
At the time of the accident, Palumbo was dancing professionally.
“I’d just had a performance that weekend, and pretty much right after the accident, I wasn’t able to dance anymore, so I just left my professional dancing right on the scene,” Palumbo said. “I couldn’t go back to what I love. I’d danced for 18 years of my life.”
Palumbo had three broken ribs, a type II separation of the AC joint in her left shoulder, whiplash, a tear in her right knee, contusions and a concussion.
“Then I had a brain injury, where I was starting to stutter,” Palumbo said.
Aleena was referred to a brain injury doctor who ordered an MRI.
“Within 24 hours, they gave me a call, and they said, ‘Hi, this is a surgeon from UC Davis Medical Center. We just want to let you know that you have a really rare disease in your brain. You’ve had it since birth, and it’s called an arteriovenous malformation,” Palumbo said.
An arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins that interferes with the blood flow process. Palumbo’s AVM was growing on the occipital lobe of her brain and had an 84% chance of hemorrhaging.
“It was this really crazy feeling of, you went from just wanting justice from all your injuries to, ‘This car accident saved my life,’” Palumbo said. “It was a very odd situation, and it became really confusing.”
Tony Palumbo is Aleena Palumbo’s father. He was the first one at the scene of the accident and has been on each step of the journey with his daughter.
“Aleena and I met with the surgeon, and the first thing he did when he came in the room is he went up to her and said, ‘Young lady, you don’t know how lucky you are,’” Tony Palumbo said.
The surgeon explained Aleena Palumbo’s case was one of very few where the AVM was “free-floating,” meaning it stayed compact and was not connected to the brain tissue.
AVMs typically don’t show themselves until they hemorrhage or the individual has a reduction in one of their senses. Aleena Palumbo had shown no symptoms. While 18 in 100,000 people have an AVM, she was one in 100,000 cases where her AVM had been caught before it ruptured.
Aleena Palumbo underwent an angiogram procedure, where a catheter was inserted from her wrist to her brain to take pictures of the AVM, and was informed it could not be surgically removed.
On Oct. 23, 2024, Aleena Palumbo underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery, where 192 beams of radiation lasers targeted the AVM.
“They drilled four pins: two in the front my forehead and two in the back, and I received three hours of precise radiation,” Aleena Palumbo said.
The day of the procedure, Tony Palumbo was in the waiting room when a nurse ran down the hallway and called his name.
“Not knowing what to expect, I’m thinking the worst,” he said. “I entered the room, and the doctor is hugging Aleena, and he’s saying, ‘We got it. You won’t be coming back here again.’”
Gamma Knife radiosurgery has potential side effects medical professionals will need to monitor in Aleena Palumbo for the next few years, including deafness, blindness and brain necrosis.
When Aleena Palumbo started her AVM journey and began doing research about Gamma Knife radiation, she found only negative perspectives on the treatment.
“What frustrated me was I didn’t see any good stories about it, and so I wanted to use my story to show people that the technology is actually fantastic, and it saves people’s lives,” Aleena Palumbo said. “I still am showing how you can use a positive outlook on everything to get through some of the weirdest and scariest situations.”
At the beginning of her journey, Aleena Palumbo had around 20 people per day reaching out to her on social media.
“At the end of the day, we all go through the same emotional processing of this disease,” she said. “So, giving them positive hope and things to look out for that I’ve been told or I’ve been through — it’s really created a better ease to show how I’m doing something positive with my situation.”
In follow-up appointments since the procedure, Aleena Palumbo’s team of doctors says she is doing excellent. She looks forward to the day when she is officially AVM free.
“In the next three months, she’ll have her first MRI and MRA of her brain,” Tony Palumbo said. “And that’s where
they will take that MRI and MRA and compare it to the ones done in early October. What we’re looking for is reduction, not a growth.”
After finishing prerequisites at USU online this semester, Aleena Palumbo will be enrolling in Sacramento State’s doctor of audiology program this fall and has been pre-approved for a doctorate project that studies the relationship between hearing and AVMs in the brain and the ears.
“Turning something so negative that affected me so personally with my dancing and education to something so positive,” Aleena Palumbo said. “And now, I get to continue the rest of my life.”
Aleena hopes to get back into dancing, but while dealing with physical limitations from the AVM, she has found an outlet through AVM art, highlighting the highs and lows of her journey.
“I can be creative and process emotions that way,” she said.
Tony Palumbo said he admires how Aleena Palumbo has dealt with the whole situation.
“She has educated herself through the internet in all aspects, and in every area, it’s been positive,” he said. “These are life-threatening challenges that she faced, and she hit them head on, and we’re proud of her.”
Aleena Palumbo said she is grateful for the immense support she has received from the people around her.
“I always run with the quote, ‘It’s only rare until it happens to you,’” she said.
Esther Owens is a sophomore studying journalism. When she’s not busy working on a story, she’s probably at the climbing wall. — esther.owens@usu.edu
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY Aleena Palumbo
ARTWORK BY Aleena Palumbo
Barks & Books: Unique shelter experience
By Sam Isaacson STATESMAN REPORTER
Cache Humane Society is offering the public an opportunity to interact with their adoptable animals through reading with their Barks & Books event. The next one will be on Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. Barks & Books, hosted every other week from 5-6 p.m., allows the public to read a book to dogs and cats at the shelter and participate in a book swap. Participants are asked for a $5 monetary or material donation. Elizabeth Taramasso, assistant dog staff manager and volunteer outreach education event coordinator, said the idea for the event came from her love of reading. “Reading is super beneficial to everyone, and I wanted to offer something like that with our dogs and cats,” Taramasso said. “We decided to do this event not only
Q&A by Esther Owens
to get more foot traffic here in the shelter but also to create a fun, unique way to get involved with the shelter in a way that is very relaxed.”
Volunteer Emily Jones said they want the event to help people feel more comfortable visiting the shelter.
“This event makes our shelter feel like a more open, friendly environment,” Jones said. “You can just come in, give a donation and then be able to sit and read with the animals there.”
Brooklyn Strickland, administrative manager, said the event allows the public to interact with the animals in a different way than usual.
“This event allows you to come and sit and look at the adoptable animals rather than just walking through. It creates great exposure for these animals,” Strickland said.
Taramasso said the event is an excellent opportunity for low-pressure interactions with the animals.
“This event is a great way for people to come in and see the dogs and cats without having to commit to adopting or fostering them. You can just come hang out and read to them for an hour,” Taramasso said. Jones said these interactions help the animals become more comfortable with people.
“There is no pressure put on the animals to interact with the people who come in. They can just sit while someone reads to them,” Jones said.
Jones said one of their goals for the event is to boost community involvement with the shelter.
“We want to give people more opportunity to come here to the shelter to see the animals that we have that are adoptable,” Jones said. “It also is nice to get donations and stuff like that, since we are a nonprofit and depend on the support of the community.”
Donations to Cache Humane Society can be made online at cachehumane.org/donate or in person at the shelter.
Samantha Isaacson is a junior majoring in journalism with a double minor in art and psychology. She loves to read and spend time outdoors.
— sam.isaacson@usu.edu
Q: What is your role within the Christensen Office of Service and Sustainability?
A: My major is psychology, and I help teach mental health skills to students here at wUSU. My module is assertiveness, but I also help with a lot of our outreach events.
Q: Which ATCA principles align with the work you do?
A: Assertiveness really ties into respect — feeling like you’re being respected at school, in your home and with the people around you.
Q: How do you think your work impacts the Aggie Community?
A: What CAPS [Counseling and Prevention Services] does is provide that safe space for students to voice their concerns — to think about things. Even if it’s just something simple, like having test anxiety, one of our wonderful REACH Peers can do a module on that.
Q: Can you provide a specific example when you or someone on your team demonstrated ATCA principles?
A: I did an outreach with the Latinx Cultural Center, where my emphasis was how to navigate a school that has a majority of white people and how to make sure you have a lot of pride in your culture. It really showed me that I have the power to create a safe space for students who don’t feel safe all the time on campus.
Camila Coria
Kelsy and Skye Despain read to Clover, an adoptable dog at Cache Humane Society on Feb. 7.
PHOTOS BY Hazel Harris
Books available to take or trade at the Barks & Books event at Cache Humane Society on Feb. 7
Track and field to TikTok star
By Sicily Clay STATESMAN REPORTER
Nestled among the scenic beauty of Cache Valley, Logan, known for Utah State University’s athletic spirit, has produced a new kind of star. Olivia Smith, once celebrated for her speed in the 400-meter dash, has sprinted into the digital arena, amassing nearly 60,000 followers on TikTok @oliviassmith8 and extending her influence on Instagram @oliviassmith. Her journey from collegiate athlete to social media influencer is a testament to how passion can redefine career paths, all while embracing her roots in Logan’s close-knit community.
“First of all, I had so much fun — probably the funnest I’ve ever had in my entire life. I would not trade my experience for the world,” Smith said.
Her athletic career was marked by significant achievements. Smith reflected on the teamwork and determination that propelled her to success.
“I believe I am fifth all-time in the 400-meter hurdles on the USU outdoor list,” Smith said. “Then, we were second all-time on the USU outdoor list for the 4x400-meter relay, as well as second all-time on the indoor list for the distance medley relay and third all-time on the indoor list for the indoor 4x400-meter relay.”
Growing up, Smith was “super big into soccer.” She wanted to play soccer in college, but as a COVID-19 grad, her opportunities were limited because seniors could return for another
“I knew I wanted to do some sport in college, but I didn’t know whether I was going to go for track or if I was going to do soccer first,” Smith said.
The landscape of college sports has seen dramatic change with the introduction of new opportunities for athletes. The 2021 introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness rights reshaped college athletics, allowing athletes like Smith to profit from their personal brand through endorsements, sponsorships and appearances.
“I started social media kind of just for fun,” Smith said. “When all of the NIL stuff came out, I was like, ‘OK, how can I monetize what I’m doing?’
That’s when I decided to get into social media.”
Her strategy evolved into creating content that resonates.
“You have to create content that people can share or save in the beginning,” Smith said. “Whether it’s
educational content or relatable content that people are wanting to send to their friends, you need something that people can engage with.”
Autumn Kidd, Smith’s former teammate and now assistant track coach at Utah Tech University, recalled their shared experiences.
“We were both freshmen at the same time, and I think the only freshman walk-ons as well,” Kidd said. “We went through all of it together, which was awesome.”
Kidd highlighted a memorable moment from their athletic journey.
“We placed third, and we got the number two all-time Utah State record, and that was really big because we went into it almost last in the conference, and it was all over senior years, so that was the last race of our career for a lot of us, and we just ran out of our minds,” Kidd said. “Afterwards, we were more surprised than anyone else there, and it was so fun.”
Graduating with a degree in marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship in May 2024, Smith moved from Logan’s small-town vibe to Orem.
“I’ve honestly loved it so far. I was so nervous to move, but I think I was ready for a change,” Smith said.
Smith said her heart remains in Logan, where she often returns to cheer on her former teammates or to enjoy the trails around Logan Canyon. Smith still feels a strong connection to her former teammates.
“I still have teammates that I love so much that are still competing,” Smith said. “So, I keep in touch with them and like to follow along with what they’re doing and how they’re doing in their events.”
With her move to Orem, Smith’s social media strategy has also evolved.
“I realized that there really is a strategy to posting,” Smith said, emphasizing the importance of shareable content.
Her posts, now including running tips and lifestyle vlogs, have led to partnerships with brands like Nike, Clean Simple Eats, Taylor Farms and Trail Running.
“I have some super exciting partnerships coming up,” Smith said. “Social media has brought so many fun, cool opportunities.”
Her favorite type of content to post is her vlogs.
“I just think they’re so fun to make. I’d probably still say that my educational content does the best for me, but I think vlogs give people an opportunity to want to know you better and feel like they have a personal connection,” Smith said.
The life of an influencer requires a delicate balance. Smith is now training for her first marathon.
“It’s been honestly such a weird adjustment going from sprinting to marathon training,” Smith said. “I usually run four or five times a week, lift three times a week and then one of those days, I have a long run.”
She recognized the need for balance in her new life chapter.
“You’re going to make time for what you prioritize,” Smith said. “It all just comes down to what you’re prioritizing and what you enjoy doing because you’re going to make time for whatever you want.”
Kidd shared her perspective on Smith’s character.
“The thing I love most about Olivia is she’s so competitive, but she has the perfect balance of competitiveness and fun,” Kidd said. “Our 400 girls training group — we were so competitive at meets, but it was always well-intentioned, and we were always best friends before and after. There was the perfect balance of being super competitive in a competitive environment but also having fun and not taking it all that serious.”
Sicily Clay is a sophomore studying journalism and marketing. When not crafting engaging content, she can be found chasing sunrises, painting, hitting the slopes or exploring the latest news and stories.
— sicily.clay@usu.edu
PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY Olivia Smith Olivia Smith poses with her teammates.
Remembering an Aggie: Jon Wickizer
By Gabriella Kozic STATESMAN REPORTER
The Utah State University community mourns the unexpected passing of Jon Wickizer, who died on Jan. 29 at age 51. A native of Woods Cross, Wickizer’s legacy is deeply etched in USU’s basketball history and extends into his personal life.
Wickizer attended Woods Cross High School, where he distinguished himself as a formidable basketball player. According to the USU Athletics website, his exceptional performance on the court earned him first-team all-state honors from The Salt Lake Tribune, averaging 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game his senior year. These achievements paved the way for his recruitment to Utah State.
Joining the Aggies in 1992 as a forward, Wickizer made an immediate impact. As a freshman, he earned a spot on the Big West Conference All-Freshman Team, showcasing his potential early on. Over his fouryear tenure from 1992 to 1996, Wickizer played 113 games, starting 73. He accumulated 690 points and 380 rebounds, averaging 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage stood at an impressive 54.2 percent, and he was notably efficient from beyond the arc, shooting 39.5 percent from three-point range, according to the USU Athletics website.
In the 1994-95 season, his junior year, Wickizer played a pivotal role in leading the Aggies to a 21-8 record and an appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. His contributions were instrumental to the team’s success, underscoring his value as a player.
According to the athletics website, during his senior year, 1995-96, Wickizer was one of only three players to start all 33 games, averaging 31.7 minutes per game. He ranked fifth on the team in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 8.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. A highlight of his senior season was a standout performance against Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 25, 1996, when he scored a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 2-of2 from three-point range, along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
After graduating from USU in 1997 with a bachelor’s in occupational health, Wickizer continued to support his alma mater. Ac-
cording to Utah State TODAY, in 2009, he and his brother Nate Wickizer — also a former USU basketball player — donated $100,000 to USU Athletics. This contribution facilitated the renovation and expansion of off-court facilities at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, benefitting the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams.
Professionally, Wickizer worked for Cache Valley Electric and lived in Davis County, with his wife Tera and their five children: Katelyn, Kennady, River, Kwincy-Bell and Rock, according to Utah State TODAY.
Gabriella Kozic is a first-year student from Easton, Pennsylvania studying journalism and communications. She loves to read, write and play guitar and sports. Most of all, she loves her friends, family and her dog DJ. — gabriella.kozic@usu.edu
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PHOTO COURTESY OF Utah State TODAY
Jon Wickizer plays with his teammates
04
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY
Latinx Cultural Program and Native American Program
Join us this February
for engaging learning activities and light refreshments. Don't forget to bring a friend!
TSC Room 227
Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Community Table
Latin American Program
TSC Room 227, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
20
Sovereignty Speaker
Courtney Muir Family Life Building Room 307 @ 4:00 p.m.
11
18
The Community Table ALPFA
TSC Room 227, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
25
27
James & Alecia Porras Latinx Voices Series
Present: James Porras
TSC Room 227, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
James Edward Porras, a third-generation Mexican American, overcame dyslexia to achieve the American dream. Despite struggling with reading, he graduated from San Jacinto Junior College and Utah State University. With a natural talent for business, James built a successful career and made millions, proving that perseverance can overcome any obstacle.
The Community Table Black Student Union
TSC Room 227, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Cultural Arts
Beading Bracelets
Family Life Building Room 307 @ 4:00 pm
This spring semester, let’s come together to create a warm and friendly community where everyone feels welcome, appreciated, and supported, no matter where we find ourselves.
Join our MyUSU group!
Column: Study abroad with student reporter in Vietnam
By Landri LaJeunesse STATESMAN REPORTER
My name is Landri, and I am a Utah State University student studying abroad this semester in Vietnam. To stay connected while I am away, I would like you, dear reader, to follow along with me as I participate in the Heravi Peace Institute’s Conflict, Communication, and Global Peacebuilding program for the next three months.
While we are there, we will be focusing on reconciliation, how to handle conflict, ways in which we communicate and how we can develop peace. It is going to be a crazy time of change, learning, growth and new experiences, and I am so excited for the opportunity to share it with you — starting with how this trip came to be. The decision to study abroad was not difficult for me. Taking my studies outside of the U.S. has always been a goal of mine, and I have been excited about a trip abroad since I was in high school. Even with all that anticipation, I must say it has not been without its road bumps and stop signs.
Originally, I was set on traveling to Australia — totally different, I know — but the cost of a student visa there rose from $450 to $1,000 last summer. All of a sudden, my planning went out the window, and I had to start fresh with new ideas and destinations.
I looked online, I started various applications and I stalked Instagram for what other people were doing, and it just seemed so futile. I began to debate whether I should just spend the extra money to go to Australia, or if I should keep up this tiring process of deciding what to do.
To be honest, it wasn’t just the money that held me back from going to Australia. I didn’t have a purpose in being there. Sure, the beaches are nice and everyone has a fun accent — kangaroos are a bonus, too — but I couldn’t find meaning in what I was going there to do. That’s when I stumbled upon HPI’s Vietnam trip. As a last-ditch effort, I attended the study abroad fair, hoping I could find a program that felt right for me. As I was walking around being inundated with program pitches and handed flyer after flyer, I was drawn to a table in the back of the room. It was as simple as talking to one of the program leads and a student who was going to know this trip to Vietnam was what I should be doing. I started an application that night.
Before I knew it, I was getting accepted, attending a pre-departure meeting, setting up my flights and getting packed. You should have seen the look on my mom’s face when I told her I was going to be in Vietnam for three months on a whim — it was a sight to see. However, after I told her about the program, she was just as excited as I was. It’s crazy to think now, after so much time and effort getting this set up, I will be in Vietnam by the time
you are reading this. It’s nerve-racking, but I can’t wait to see what this trip has to offer me.
More than anything, I am looking forward to having a part in larger reconciliation and communication, no matter how small it may be. Nothing is insignificant in the process of peacebuilding.
Thank you for following me along in this process, and I can’t wait to share more with you about Vietnam! Be prepared for lots of photos, stories and discussions on what we are learning while we are there — as well as some food reviews, probably. Stay tuned for what we are up to, and I’ll catch you next week with an update from Vietnam. See you soon!
and
- landri.lajeunesse@usu.edu
Landri LaJeunesse is a junior studying journalism
communications with a minor in yoga studies.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY Landri LaJeunesse
Students participating in the Heravi Peace Institute’s Conflict, Communication, and Global Peacebuilding program stand in front of the Statue of Ho Chi Minh.
Hardware Ranch
Dane is in his third year at USU studying mechanical engineering. He loves taking photos and anything in the great outdoors.
— a02340940@usu.edu
www.sudokuoftheday.com.
PHOTO BY Jack Burton