Cheyanne
Opinion: USUSA elections
Editor’s Note: The Utah Statesman is committed to fair and unbiased elections coverage. The Statesman encourages feedback on each edition.
The Utah Statesman Editorial Board is deeply disappointed by the 2025 USUSA election season. This year, an unprecedented number of candidates ran unopposed, effectively walking into positions of power without challenge. This trend is concerning because it hands influence to a select few without competition or accountability and rebukes the university’s attempt at democracy.
Utah State is unique in the relationship it fosters between student government and university leadership, faculty and staff. USUSA officers are given the power to make decisions that directly impact
every student across the state. These positions come with power, responsibility and ample benefits. Every USUSA position, whether elected or appointed, comes with a substantial scholarship.
Yet, as these elections become less competitive, the board implores students to be truly engaged in the leadership that represents them and vote to ensure those in power are the best and most qualified for the job.
The board now calls for greater transparency in all aspects of USUSA elections. Students deserve to know how their representatives are chosen, how their campaigns are run and what steps are being taken to encourage broader participation. Without these changes, the integrity of student leadership remains at risk. Readers are encouraged to act now by voting in this
election and to consider running for office next election season. USUSA positions have a role for every single student to fill, whether that be a statewide leadership position, an academic senator or an events director.
The Statesman will be holding a debate on Feb. 25 in the TSC Hub for students to get to know the officers who will be representing them next year and to decide who to vote for.
The Editorial Board
News Release: Summer semester receives tuition decrease and early registration
Students may be surprised to see emails for summer registration in February. This change is a part of attempts to increase summer enrollment. The university is also lowering tuition and fees with a $500 reduction for some students. The summer schedule is already available online, including general education courses and study abroad options. Students can choose from three main sessions: a full-term session and two shorter seven-week sessions.
John Mortensen, associate vice president for course management analytics & strategy led a team that surveyed students about summer enrollment. This group found that cost was the primary barrier to summer semester enrollment. Students who registered and later dropped cited tuition and fees as the main reason. Those who never enrolled pointed to financial concerns, summer commitments and limited course availability. More information can be found at usu.edu/ summer.
Serving as student advocate
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 opportunity to write a guest column informing students of the work USUSA does in shaping USU’s campus community.
Ioften joke I was an extremely unlikely candidate for USUSA student advocate vice president. During my final years of high school, a move from Wyoming to Utah left me feeling like a small fish in a massive pond. I wasn’t particularly well connected, didn’t serve in student government and spent most of my lunches alone in the library. When I came to Utah State, I had no plans to get involved. But an accidental sign-up for Aggie Blue Leadership Conference changed everything. Encouraged to step outside my comfort zone, I applied to the USU Government Relations Council, a lesser-known but impactful branch of USUSA focused on meaningful change. I spent three years there before deciding to run for student advocate, the position that chairs the GRC among other responsibilities.
Campaigning pushed me out of my introverted comfort zone, forced me to overcome my fear of public speaking and challenged me in ways I never expected. Months of preparation boiled down to a few key election days in February, days that felt like months. Looking back, they were just the beginning of one of the most fulfilling years of my life.
Student advocate is a
unique position. Unlike others in USUSA, it doesn’t come with built-in events or a rigid structure. My predecessor Tyson Packer once wrote, “It doesn’t have the glitz and glam of other positions, but it attracts those who want to make a difference. It attracts those who want to help students and be there for those who don’t have anyone else.” That sentiment has defined my experience.
From Aggies Vote Week to Gripe Night, my goal has always been to help students, whether by guiding them through governmental systems or simply listening and empowering them to create change. I came into this role wanting to give students the knowledge and opportunity to participate in elections, but I also wanted to help them feel less alone. The most rewarding part of my job has been the students who wander into my office looking for advice, support or someone to talk to.
One of the other ways I connect to students is by overseeing the MyVoice program. I love reading MyVoice submissions, and even more, I love it when I can help. If you didn’t know, every complaint submitted through the MyVoice program is read by the student advocate and then assigned to an officer. It’s one of the most direct ways students can influence change on campus.
Winning this position gave me more than just a title. It gave me a community. My adviser Alex Gatherum, Excel guru, has helped bring some of my biggest, seemingly unattainable ideas to life while providing a judgment-free space to analyze failures and grow. Staff members like Linda Zimmerman have changed my life through simple acts of kindness. Every holiday, I found caramel corn on my desk. She was the one who drove me home when I got sick on a student involvement trip. No matter how busy they were, I always knew I was welcome in their office.
When I hear the phrase “Aggie Family,” I don’t think of just a slogan. I think of these people. My advisers and mentors have shaped me, enabling me to grow beyond my shy high school self. I think of the community that has given so much to me and the people I’ve been able to give back to as a result.
Some of the changes I helped make, such as more accessible facilities and better campus voter registration, could seem like a drop in the bucket. However, I hope these small changes will make students’ lives better. I can’t wait to bring my future family here to show off the bus benches Kai Li Tullis, GRC member, secured through facilities enhancement funds.
— studentadvocatevp.ususa@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Claire Ott Sydney Lyman at the 2024 Executive Leadership Board debate.
Meet the candidates: President
Brandon
Sorensen
Class Rank: Junior
Majors: Marketing and Public Realtions
Hometown: Salt lake City, Utah
What does it mean to you to be an Aggie?
For me, what it means to be an Aggie is someone that finds a sense of community but is also able to adapt to things that come in their path. I mean, when you look at the name Aggie itself, it’s comes from an agricultural background of farmers that, you know, have to adapt to what their surroundings are to make good with what they have. I think that’s something that still stays true to spirit here at Utah State, is everyone has a great sense of community and continues to just push forward in whatever they pursue.
As USU searches for a new university president as a bridge between the student body and upper administration, what qualities would you look for in the new president?
I think the biggest thing to look for in a new university president, while approaching it, is to make sure that this president that’s coming in understands — Utah State’s culture and traditions. Being able to have someone who is going to be able to well represent the students and their interests. But I think the main focus is a president that is willing to adapt to their surroundings but also focus on the students andto get to be able to know the students because, at the end of the day, that’s our university’s business, is supporting students.
What do you plan to do to include and empower the students at the statewide campuses and regions?
I think the best way to support our incredible statewide institution is to advocate for them at a higher level. Obviously, being a Logan student, I don’t know the needs or the culture of the campuses around the state, and it was an incredible opportunity during our statewide tour to be able to visit students there and better understand how their culture and their campus work. But at the end of the day, the reason that we have representatives from the campuses and from the regions is because they know their students best and are able to form a good relationship with them to be able to advocate for them here in Logan and with higher administration.
If you do not win the election, how do you plan on staying involved at Utah State?
Involvement, for me, is something that I’ve hadsince my first year here at Utah State — my freshman year as a part of the HURD and events and SAA, throughout my time, getting involved in USUSA and in my colleges. There are so many ways to stay involved outside of just traditional student government, and though that’s been my life for my entire time here at Utah State, I think it’ll be completely easy to be able to continue to stay involved and being able to meet more students here.
If you performed at PoBev what would you perform?
I would have to think about the song, but I would probably sing. It’s something that I haven’t done since high school, but it’s always fun to be able to bring that back for other people.
Editor’s Note: Candidates are arranged in offical ballot order as listed on the State of Utah’s 2024-25 master position list.
Logan Greene
Logan Greene was reached out to by The Utah Statesman to interview and failed to respond.
Class Rank: Graduate Student
Major: No Infromation Provided
Hometown: No information provided
Candidates to remain on the ballot due to lack of withdrawl
STATESMAN STAFF REPORT
Nate Flake and Garret Lawton failed to provide a headshot to USUSA and The Utah Statesman.
Both were contacted by The Utah Statesman via email for interview, to which Flake responded, “I’m not sure either how I came to be either that I am signed up to run for office.”
Lawton followed up with the email, “I think my friend may have taken my A# and signed me up as a joke. I did not apply in any way for this.”
The Utah Statesman then contacted the USUSA elections email inquiring about cadidates who names appear on the ballot but fail to offically undeclare. The elections email repsonded with the following statement.
“Unfortunately, these individuals have not directly contacted us to withdraw from their races. We are unable to remove them from the ballot unless they reach out to us at this email to formally request their withdrawal. Those that have requested to be dropped from the ballot have been.”
While it is possible for a candidate to remain in the race without completing the required training, their campaign materials — such as their photo and platform — will not be included in any marketing materials. However, their name will remain on the ballot until they officially request to drop out.
Because all candidates have received training materials through this email, been provided access to our in-person information session, and have readily available access to the Bylaws, the process of dropping out has been made accessible. We would encourage anyone whose name is listed incorrectly to contact us immediately,” USUSA elections wrote.
Executive Vice President
Max Alder
Class Rank: Sophomore
Majors: Finance and economics
Hometown: Stansbury Park, Utah
Favorite Aggie Ice Cream flavor: Cookies and cream
Why do you feel it is important to include and support students across USU statewide campuses?
Every single one of our campuses makes us stronger as a whole. The fact that we have 30 campuses across the state is really very cool, and they make us stronger, and it’s important that we here in Logan return the favor and make sure that their voices are heard and their needs are met in order to make sure that our environment all across the state is collaborative, inclusive, for just an overall better experience no matter what campus you attend.
Brayden Adamson
Class Rank: Junior Major: Finance and accounting
Hometown: Salem, Utah
Favorite Aggie Ice Cream Falvor: Aggie Blue Mint
At what point during your college career did you first feel like you were truly an Aggie?
It’s kind of a crazy story, and I’ll talk more about it throughout my campaign. I originally started as a chemical engineering student at the niversity of Utah, and I got to see a little taste of what college looks like and the feel at University of Utah. I came here, and from my my first True Aggie Night, I knew that the people here were something special. I wanted to be here, and I felt like a true Aggie that night.
Will Hull
Class Rank: Sophmore
Major: Kinesiology
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Favorite Agge Ice Ceam
Flavor: Aggie Blue Mint
How would you handle disagreements with other USUSA officers, and how would you handle making difficult decisions that may go against the other officers?
First and foremost, just leading with kindness and being direct with them about how I feel is a good option and then also consulting with our whole Executive Leadership Board and ultimately coming to the decision on what we’re going to do as a group. We have that board for a reason, so it’s not just one person always making the decisions.
Student Advocate Vice President
Myla Millet
Class Rank: Junior
Majors: Finance and economics
Hometown: Salem, Utah
How will you extend your support and advocacy to students at USU statewide campuses and regions?
By reaching out to the people there, and I have friends who are on the leadership teams out there, and I’ve already been communicating with them and seeing what is most important to them, and what’s important is that they want more options, and they want just to have a seat at the table and facilitating a table for them to come speak at.
Ronan Spencer
Class Rank: Sophomore
Major: Political science and economics
Hometown: Draper, Utah
What do you see as the most important part of being the student advocate vice president?
Yeah, so I think the most important part of being the student advocate vice president is actually representing student voices, not what people think the student voices are. So, this means that, you know, you really have to represent the students, and you have to understand student opinion to a tee, and so, I think that the best way to do that is by directly asking students. I think that we need to be walking around campus asking students opinions on political issues and other things, so we can truly understand what’s happening with the student population. But I also think that it’s important to reach out to media to represent student issues as well.
Collin Hastings
Class Rank: Junior
Major: Political science
Hometown: Smithfield, UT
If you are not elected, how will you continue to be involved at USU?
I’ve always been involved at USU. I’m the longest-serving member of the student fee board. I’ve been on committees like Activities Committee or CHaSS Council and all these other things, and I always will be. I ran for election last year, and I did not get it. And what did I do? I immediately started applying for every other council that I could to make sure that I’m always going to be providing and trying to help students here at USU, whether I’m in a position or not.
Logan Vice President
Po’ Yamakoshi-Sing
Class Rank: Sophomore
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Washington, Idaho
If the university was given a million-dollar donation and you were asked to decide what to do with the money, what would you put it toward?
I first would put it back towards us as students in general. I know that wouldbe a little icky situation, but I think especially — I know it’s not in my objectives, but for example — student well-being. Transportation, for example, is a huge thing. Being off campus, it’s annoying. It sucks. Buses are full. I think focusing on students itself, first of all, is the most realistic thing I would do. Giving back to community development, where we don’t have enough funding and cultural resources.
Class Rank: Senior
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Ashburn, Virginia
Safety is one of the biggest topics for Logan VP. How would you go about making the Logan campus safer?
Yeah, so when we do a safety walk across campus to check buildings and the Logan campus in general to see if there’s any safety concerns, I want to make sure we also do this walk at night to make sure there’s adequate lighting throughout all of campus. I would hate for a student to feel unsafe walking across campus at night just because there’s areas of a campus that are darker than others that might make students feel more fearful.
Student Events Executive Director
Class Rank: Junior
Major: Public health and healthcare administration
Hometown: Stansbury Park, Utah
How do you plan to create an inclusive, safe and fun atmosphere at USU events?
One of the ways I plan to create a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all student events is to make sure that there’s something for everyone, whether it be a little night just here at the TSC with your friends or a huge party that you’re moshing in — making sure that there’s an event for everyone — for everyone to enjoy.
Josie Packer
Class Rank: Junior
Major: Plant science
Hometown: Pocatello, Idaho
Why do you feel events are important for the college experience?
I think events are important for the college experience. Studies actually show that students who attend events are more likely to graduate and to get higher GPAs from their university. I think that events create a sense of belonging at Utah State and other colleges, and especially at Utah State, we have a really unique events team and a unique way that we do student events. We have student events very frequently, and I’ve been able to see firsthand people that come to our events being able to love Utah State more and stay more involved on campus.
Matthew Peters
Class Rank: Junior
Major: Data Analytics
Hometown: No information provided
Matthew Peters was reached out to by The Utah Statesman to interview and failed to respond.
Unopposed Executive Council Candidates
Ben Burdette
Athletics and Campus Rec Director
Class Rank: Sophomore
Majors: Management and pre-med
Hometown: Saratoga Springs, Utah
Mia Bean
Class Rank: Sophomore
Majors: Marketing and business management
I think attending athletic events is super important to the college experience. First of all, they’re super fun. I don’t know if you guys have made it out to a basketball, football game, soccer — they’re super fun, so they add to the experience in that way ...
Clubs and Organizations Director
I think the most important part of being the clubs and organizations director is to be an advocate for the student body as well as someone who embraces belonging and also inspires other people to find their place at Utah State ...
Hometown: Milad City, Idaho
Madison Scholz
Jake Russell
Cache Valley Humanitarian uplifts Logan’s vulnerable
By Layla Alnadar STATESMAN REPORTER
In 2021, Dwight and Katherine Whittaker founded the Cache Valley Humanitarian Center to help supplement the needs of underserved people in Logan. In conjunction with other organizations like The Family Place and Women, Infants, and Children, they work to help poverty-level and low-income families.
“I’ve always had a tender spot for those in need,” Dwight said. “We started about four years ago with the idea that there are needs that are unmet, and we had some experience in Idaho Falls, and we just kept getting the feeling that there were similar needs here in Cache Valley.”
An initial $2000 was granted to start the center, and they have since expanded from an office space to an unused elementary school located at 420 S. 500 E. in River Heights.
Mary Ann Clark has worked at the center as a member of the board of directors and has volunteered for the past two years. She has lived in the valley her entire life and has seen firsthand the unmet needs of many families.
“My work means I’m giving back. In my life, I have been blessed, and it keeps me growing to be on the board,” Clark said. “I just feel that people are so good. People are generous. People want to do good things and help.”
The center has a space with looms to create sleeping mats and a quilting area stocked with fabrics. They create kits out of donated or purchased goods such as toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner. Their newborn kits come with knitted sleep and headwear and toys for the infants.
“The first thing that was identified as a need was back-toschool kits for poverty-level or low-income kids,” Dwight said. “After school got started, school districts and agencies said they needed hygiene kits.”
The center works with agencies and organizations to identify what individuals need most. Following back-to-school, coats were needed as the winter months approached.
The center produces sleeping mats for warming centers made up of grocery bags. Volunteers work to stack, fold and cut bags and weave them together to make a mat that insulates heat and adds comfort during the winter months. People can discard their unused bags at the center or at Lee’s Marketplace.
Dwight says there are many ways people can get involved and serve their community.
“Students at Utah State University have been a valuable resource,” Dwight says. “A lot of students who are looking for leadership or service hours have contacted us — we’ve had the USU basketball team and the women’s soccer team come in. The Huntsman School of Business has put together hygiene kits for us for the past two years. Some people
donate component parts for the kits.”
Katherine Whittaker oversees production at the center.
“There just seems to be a need for what we have,” Katherine said. “It’s an ongoing process — counselors will come in and take things for their students — and I think we are really needed in this community.”
Hundreds of back-to-school kits are sent out during the summer, and many kits for low-income mothers and their infants are made to be sent out to the WIC. The center also works with USU’s Student Nutrition Access Center to provide students with poultry, lentils, greens and canned goods.
Layla is studying public health. She loves music, hiking, writing and the sun.
— a02414012@usu.edu
News Release: Message from
President Alan L. Smith
On his first official day as interim president of Utah State University, Alan L. Smith sent a message to faculty and staff which outlined his plans for the coming months. The message, sent on Feb. 20, emphasized the importance of developing long-term health for the university, which he hopes will last several decades.
Smith touched on some of his current pursuits as interim president, including operational efficiencies, preparing for the coming accreditation visit and budget planning
legislative budget reallocation takes effect. Smith urged faculty and staff to provide a degree of trust during the coming changes.
The message recognized the coming changes will be challenging, but Smith said he hopes to maintain momentum by imploring the university staff to maintain a collaborative mindset and to help USU thrive.
Smith’s message called attention to his anticipation of a smooth transition to the next president by centering his focus on student needs.
before
STATESMAN STAFF REPORT
PHOTO BY Hazel Harris
Addison Eversull and Larissa Reichden work on the pillow portion of a sleeping mat inside the Cache Valley Humanitarian Center on Feb. 11.
Soul Food: Celebrating Black History Month
By Samantha Isaacson STATESMAN REPORTER
To celebrate Black History Month, Utah State University’s Black Student Union collaborated with the Center for Community to host Soul Food 2025, Black Wall Street earlier this month.
The event featured a free market event in the TSC International Lounge, followed by a dinner and performance in the Evan N. Stevenson Ballroom in the TSC.
Ta’Mariah Jenkins, BSU president, said the free market event consisted of community businesses and USU organizations wanting to promote themselves to the student body.
“They also wanted to show students that they care about the community,” Jenkins said. “Black Student Union cares about the community, and this event is a way for us to showcase it.”
Jasmine Kemp, BSU vice president, said the accompanying dinner and performance was meant to help educate and engage the community.
“We had singers and dancers performing, as well as someone teaching step,” Kemp said. “We also taught them about the history of step and had a speaker who talked about Black Wall Street and the history behind it.”
The menu for dinner was soul food, a cuisine developed by African Americans in the American South with deep ties to history, tradition and resilience.
“We decided to just have basic soul food,” Jenkins said. “Jambalaya with mac and cheese, cornbread muf-
fins with butter, peach cobbler with whipped cream, pink lemonade and water.”
Jenkins said BSU hosts the event every year.
“The Soul Food event is just a way for us to experience Black culture, excellence and investment, as well as to share it with others every year,” Jenkins said.
Kemp said the event is also a celebration of Black History Month aimed to bring students together.
“We just want to create a community here at USU and connect with the community outside of school,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins said this year’s theme for the event was inspired by Black Wall Street.
“Within the last year, I went to Tulsa, Oklahoma on a trip for an organization,” Jenkins said. “After going to Tulsa and seeing Black Wall Street, I wanted to bring that back to the community and show it to Utah.”
Kemp said the focus was on educating students and the community this year, and they felt Black Wall Street was a good option.
“We want to educate the students about a topic that they may not know, as well as just create a community for everybody,” Kemp said. “We wanted them to have a good time and eat good food while learning about some cool stuff.”
Jenkins said BSU went through some struggles while planning the event due to HB261, more commonly known as the anti-DEI bill.
“The anti-DEI bill basically states that DEI can’t be practiced within the USU institution. In doing so, it
affects our funding and where we get things — how things are produced for us — things like that,” Jenkins said. “Even though there have been setbacks with the anti-DEI Bill, we’ve gotten a lot of support from the Center for Community, USU Athletics and other large groups of people who still want to celebrate Black culture within the USU community.”
To get involved with BSU, students can reach out to the club’s email address blackstudentunion.usu@gmail. com or their Instagram account @ususa.bsu.
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
PHOTOS BY Elise Gottling Jambalaya and mac and cheese being served at the BSU’S Soul Food event on Feb. 15.
Building opportunities in Monument Valley
By Esther Owens STATESMAN REPORTER
The USU Monument Valley statewide campus is constructing a new facility on the Navajo Nation reservation that will provide access to opportunities in an underserved part of the state.
Kristian Olsen, senior associate vice president for USU Blanding and Moab, has overseen USU’s campuses in San Juan County for five and a half years.
USU Monument Valley originally operated out of a leased space in an old hospital building that was not serving its purpose.
“The building is functional, but it’s not good,” Olsen said. “There’s a lot of taboo in Navajo culture around being places where people have died.”
Located in the Southeast corner of the state, along the border of Utah and Arizona, the campus was not getting the same attention other campuses get.
“We have to figure out how to build a building that people feel really comfortable in — that they want to come to — that they feel like they are valued in,” Olsen said. “Not an afterthought.”
About five years later, in August 2024, ground was broken for the new facility on the reservation next to Monument Valley High School on a plot of land belonging to San Juan School District.
Getting approval to build on a reservation was challenging due to its federal land status.
“It is tremendously difficult to get property, even if you’re a member of the tribe,” Olsen said. “It’s a multiyear, extraordinarily difficult process, so we approached the school district because it would be much easier.”
The location is also ideal for creating a pipeline for high school students.
“Having it right next to the high school will allow us to expand some concurrent enrollment offerings and help those students feel comfortable in a higher education setting so they can go on to pursue college after they graduate from high school,” Olsen said.
Don Mose is the project coordinator in Monument Valley. He is from the area and has been working for the university for 18 years.
“We’re very limited in our services here,” Mose said. “The only thing we really have, as far as jobs, are mostly tied to government positions with schools or hospitals. The biggest moneymaker around here is tourism.”
According to the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau Report, San Juan County is one of the poorest counties in Utah, with 18.4% of the population living below the poverty line, compared to the 9% average of the entire state.
“There is a sense that we are underserved here,” Mose said. “We’d be able to have something that we’re proud
of here in Monument Valley, and a state-of-the-art facility is just one step in the right direction for our community to be more informed and more educated moving forward into the future.”
According to Mose, Navajo students make up more than 90% of enrollment at USU Monument Valley.
“This new building is going to open doors for a lot of opportunities for our Native students or Indigenous people,” Mose said.
Olsen believes the project speaks to USU’s land-grant mission.
“One of the most awesome things about Utah State and its mission is it’s all about trying to bring education to where people are at and open up access to people that don’t have the ability to relocate somewhere to go to school,” Olsen said.
Olsen said the impact will be greater than adding another facility along the Wasatch Front.
“To build something in such a remote part of the world that doesn’t have access, the impact of it is exponentially greater than if we built another building in Salt Lake, Provo or St. George,” Olsen said.
Mose said this is a small step in the right direction for the students and would like to see other developments like museums and archaeological sites dedicated to the area.
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
Arlo Child hosts “Evil Radio” Fridays at 12-2 p.m. Get evil and mischievous, but mostly, hear some bangers — and Arlo knows bangers.
Apostrophe’ Frank Zappa
Ponta De Areia Esperanza Spalding, Leo Genovese
The Ballad of Matt and Mica Magdalena Bay
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Higher education sees rising female enrollment
By Lacey Cintron STATESMAN REPORTER
Across Utah State University’s 30 campuses, women have surpassed men in numbers. Nearly 55% of USU’s total 2024-25 enrollment is female, a trend that has steadily risen since 2020.
This growing gender gap is not unique to USU and represents a larger shift in higher education — colleges around the country are seeing more women and fewer men enroll.
“I’ve absolutely noticed this trend,” said Tatyana Felt, campus resource specialist and career design coach at USU Orem. “I think this trend started about 15 years ago. From the 1980s, the demographics have changed.”
According to the Women’s College Coalition, the late 1970s through the 1980s is when women would begin to exceed male enrollment, a shocking change as women were largely excluded from higher institutions for much of history. It would take over a millennium for women to access higher institutions, with Wesleyan College being the first to grant women degrees in 1836. Oberlin College would follow soon after, admitting students regardless of race or gender in 1837.
“I think we’re seeing this change because of changing social expectations about women’s educational and professional opportunities,” Felt said. “There’s also increased support, like child care centers, group support and more financial aid available.”
While women’s integration into higher education was far from seamless, women would go on to make great strides and skyrocket female attendance. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, women make up 58% of undergraduate enrollment.
At USU, the gap has surpassed national trends, with nearly 70% female enrollment in 2020 at USU Orem.
“In 2020, we had 69% women, then in 2021, we had 64%,” Felt said. “In 2023, we had 65% and 64% in 2024, so we’ve been seeing women more than men.”
Laws such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act — born from second-wave feminism in the early 1960s — allowed women to open bank accounts regardless of marital status, opening doors for careers outside of the home. These changes led to higher college attendance rates and remain a motivating factor for women today.
“I think women this age are seeking financial independence,” Felt said. “I just finished my fourth degree, and I’m a single mom, so I perceive education as that pathway for me. Education is extremely important to me because it gives me a foot in the door.”
Melissa Cecil obtained her bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies and is now a proctor at USU Orem.
“Being in the statewide campuses, I have noticed more women,” Cecil said. “I also feel like the statewide campuses offer a lot more flexibility, so it does reach certain demographics like moms.”
The availability of online or hybrid classes and parenting resources such as Care About Childcare, which connects parents with daycare services, has helped women cross certain barriers to college and increased enrollment.
“I do think we’re seeing a lot of things change to work for and benefit women, especially within the aspect of children and the realities women face with their career, ” Cecil said. Genders are also clustering within specific majors, a gap trending toward women in fields geared towards the social sciences.
“We have a few top majors in Orem,” Felt said. “For communicative disorders, we have 97% female student body. Special education is 100%, psychology is 75% and human development and family studies is 100%.”
This gap is present among larger USU campuses as well — women made up 71% of USU Logan’s psychology program in 2021, one of the most popular majors among USU’s 28,900 students.
“It really depends on the major though,” Felt said. “For example, an MBA in business administration is only 20% women.”
While women are surpassing men in both college attendance and graduation rates, they still earn less and occupying fewer leadership positions than men.
According to Pew Research Center and S&P Global, women earn 82 cents for every dollar men earn, and female manag-
ers of top companies make up less than 12% of the demographic. The majors which women disproportionately cluster in, such as social work and education, are lower-paying fields. Nationwide, women make up less than half of higher-paying fields, such as business and engineering.
“For women going into male-dominated industries, have an honest expectation of that,” Cecil said. “As much as we like professors to be really inclusive and not exclude women as examples focused towards men, that tends to happen in these fields.”
Recent surveys from the Pew Research Center show nearly half of Americans consider four-year degrees less and less important amid rising costs and changing job markets, which begs the question of how valuable a four-year degree really is.
“A four-year degree is important to me, not just because of the opportunities it opened up for me but because of how much I have learned besides the degree-specific skills,” Felt said. “It’s the knowledge I learned about myself, the self-awareness, the social skills, the networking — you learn all that in college. However, it does depend on your individual goals.”
For others, a bachelor’s degree provides a safety net in today’s ever-changing economic climate.
“I think that things are just too unpredictable,” Cecil said. “Anything you can do for stability is good. My mom was a single, stay-at-home mom, and because she had a bachelor’s degree, she was able to support us.”
As less and less individuals are completing college, Cecil urges current students to finish out their degree.
“The biggest thing is that you have come this far,” Cecil said. “Continuing and finishing will mean just that much more for your future. Having that combined degree, employers will look so much more favorably than just the other years of college.”
Pew Research Center indicates more women are completing college, with 47% of women obtaining a bachelor’s compared to 37% of men. As degree-holders continue to make higher salaries on average than those without, according to a 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, having a degree can still make all the difference in earning potential.
“Don’t give up on finishing your degree,” Felt said. “There’s services and support available. Whether it’s mental health or financial difficulties, there are opportunities and support services that the university provides. Don’t give up because it’s worth it.”
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
A group of majority female students touring USU Uintah Basin campus on June 13, 2024.
Lacey Cintron is majoring in psychology. She loves learning about the human mind, sharing stories and naps.
DESIGN BY Kaylee Robinson
USU Extension empowers rural communities
By Brook Wood STATESMAN REPORTER
USU Extension has long been at the forefront of research-based community support, dedicated to delivering education and resources to improve the lives of individuals, families and communities across rural Utah.
This dedication was recently recognized when Extension received the Rural Education Partner of The Year award from the Rural Health Association of Utah for the program’s ongoing efforts to uplift and empower rural populations.
Paul Hill is an Extension professor and the founder of the Rural Online Initiative.
“Our mission is to provide research-based programming and resources to improve the lives of individuals, families and our communities.” Hill said. “We operate through a cooperative agreement between the USDA [United States Department of Agriculture] and the Utah State University and county governments. That’s Extension, and our role is to help USU fulfill its land-grant mission as part of the Smith-Lever Act that was established in 1914.”
Over a century later, Extension remains as vital and relevant as ever, adapting to modern challenges while staying true to its mission. While historically, it focused on agricultural education, today’s programs face issues such as artificial intelligence, financial literacy, mental health and remote work opportunities.
ROI supplies rural Utah residents the necessary skills to secure remote employment, allowing them to stay in their communities while earning sustainable incomes.
“We developed a training course to help people get a remote job and function as remote workers, and we’ve helped well over 600 people get into remote jobs that help them stay in their communities,” Hill said. “That was before the pandemic, and then when the pandemic happened, we helped train hundreds more so that they could keep their jobs.”
Another critical program is the E-Commerce Accelerator, currently in the pilot phase. Dominic Bria, associate program director for ROI, highlighted its impact.
“We’re helping businesses in rural Utah or agricultural businesses anywhere in Utah create websites so they can sell online,” Bria said. “Businesses that come to us either have a website and they’re not selling online, or they don’t have a website at all. Our program runs them through a six-week process where we have consultants actually help them build it, get it running and teach them how to maintain it.”
Bria emphasized the main mission of the program is to improve the economic prosperity and diversity of rural Utah by impacting USU students, both traditional and nontraditional, from such counties.
The recognition of Extension by the RHAU highlights the impact of these programs and how they have adapted to community and/or individuals needs.
“We conduct systematic needs assessments throughout our communities, and that informs our programming,” Hill said.
The assessments help identify whether there are mental health, financial literacy or job training needs in those communities and gives them an idea of what skills to teach and what information they need to get to the people in that community.
The impact of Extension extends beyond immediate economic benefits. The Health Extension: Advocacy, Research, and Training Initiative is a prime example of how the program takes care of public health concerns. Through HEART, specialists work on critical issues such as opioid addiction, mental health resilience and public health education.
“They look at helping people understand the issues regarding the opioid epidemic and also just the public health issues that are in our communities but also help with building resiliency and preparing for things that are on the horizon,” Hill said.
For college students, Extension offers lifelong learning opportunities beyond the traditional, on-campus classroom setting.
“Wherever they are in their learning throughout life, there’s a place for them to learn and to belong at USU,” Hill said. “When they go back home — in-state or beyond — they can continue their learning through USU Extension. Everyone needs information on how to live a healthy life.”
Extension also plays a critical role in youth development through 4-H, a national positive youth development program that equips young people with essential life skills.
“We’re a partner in their personal growth, their parenting and helping them raise the next generation of productive citizens,” Hill said.
As the land-grant school in Utah, USU is responsible for making sure the benefits of higher education are available to anyone who wants them.
“We do that in two ways: We make it so that you can earn a degree from anywhere in the state, and we also make it so that the research we do here at the university gets to people who need it.” Bria said.
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.
STATESMAN FILE PHOTO
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
Interior wall of Davis County’s USU Extension office as seen on June 13, 2024.
Slaughter shoots for stars
By Carson Frost STATESMAN REPORTER
Last fall, Utah State University Eastern made a unique investment in their launch of an archery program, making it the only school in Utah with an official, school-sanctioned archery team.
Archery was chosen as USUE’s newest sport due to the growing prominence of local National Archery in the Schools Program teams. These programs have developed a pool of skilled archers, making the new university team a natural next step for students who are passionate about the sport.
“We want to create something meaningful and lasting,” USUE athletic director Jess Brinkerhoff said in a press release. “Our goal is to involve the entire community through workshops, demonstrations and events that showcase the incredible talent and potential of our athletes.”
Leading the new program is 19-year-old head coach Cheyanne Slaughter, a skilled and accomplished archer who has dedicated much of her life to the sport.
The young coach arrived at Eastern with a top-tier resume. Since taking up the sport in junior high, Slaughter dominated regional competitions, won two state championships and secured a national championship in 11th grade.
“I picked up that bow and fell in love with it,” Slaughter said. “It is a sport where you are competing for yourself and your team.”
By the time Slaughter was finishing high school, she had shifted her focus from competing to coaching. In her senior year, she returned the favor to the coach who had first introduced her to the sport, helping coach the middle school team.
Under her guidance, the middle school 3D archery team placed second at the world competition, and her high school team made history by qualifying for the world competition for the first time, also finishing second in 3D archery.
When USUE’s archery program began to take shape, Slaughter was approached to help develop it. Her passion for the sport, her wealth of experience and her dedication to the archery community made her an ideal candidate.
“Jess was like, ‘How would you like to be the coach?,’ and I was like, ‘That would be amazing’ because I’m very, very dedicated to it,” Slaughter said.
The archery program’s addition to the school marks a significant milestone for the community. As the only college in Utah to have a USA Archery-affiliated team, Eastern is quickly becoming a hub for archery in the state.
“We have so many great archers in the state of Utah and in the nation, and I’m getting the word out there,” Slaughter said. “I’m telling them ‘Hey, come to Eastern. We have an official team.’”
Unlike other sports often defined by rivalries and competition, archery emphasizes personal growth while also building team camaraderie. Slaughter said she’s looking for athletes who can abide by these values, along with some of the typical qualities sought after in any student-athlete.
“Be coachable,” Slaughter said. “Be willing to change your style. Be willing to hear feedback and take feedback.
School work is very important. Stay up on your grades. Be a team member.”
The program will begin its first competition season in the fall of 2025. The official roster is still being determined, but Slaughter indicated she was talking to about 15 interested students and had three verbal commits.
“I have a lot of interest right now, and it should start growing here soon,” Slaughter said.
In spearheading the first program of its kind in the state’s history, Slaughter understands the challenge ahead, but just like she did as a competitor, she plans to face it head-on.
“These first couple years are going to be hard,” Slaughter said. “They’re going to be hard — like, you’re starting up a new program. I just want the program to grow and grow and grow.”
Carson Frost is a transfer student from Denver studying journalism. His family originally hails from Los Angeles, and he is a passionate fan of the Lakers, Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles. He loves writing, making music, hitting the gym and taking road trips.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF USU Eastern Athletics
USUE archery head coach Cheyanne Slaughter poses in a field.
USUE archery head coach Cheyanne Slaughter shoots an arrow.
USU’s nationally-ranked pickleball club
By Rain Schenck STATESMAN REPORTER
Ranked No. 7 in the nation according to the latest Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, the Utah State University club pickleball team is preparing to bring even more intensity to their upcoming season.
Currently a club of 38 registered members, the team is built on community involvement, inclusivity for all skill levels and a strong competitive edge.
“We’re trying to cater to all levels of pickleball players,” said Olivia Phillips, athlete on the Division I team and officer in the pickleball club leadership. “If you want to be social, hang out and learn the sport, we welcome that. But if you want to compete at a high level, we offer that too.”
To keep the club competitive, they’ve composed a DI team of select players who travel and represent the club in collegiate tournaments across the nation. Among them are two online USU students — one from Tooele and the other residing in Illinois — who train daily and travel to tournaments with the team.
“The pickleball team is a place for students to get involved with the pickleball community,” said Parker Eggli, club president. “Our goal is to have Utah State University represented at collegiate-level tournaments nationwide.”
As pickleball continues its rapid rise, there’s hope it will one day be recognized as a National Collegiate Athletic Association-sanctioned sport. For that to happen, more universities must sanction the sport. While two teams in Utah, Utah Tech University and the University of Utah, have taken that step to be a sanctioned university sport, most collegiate teams, including USU, remain at the club level.
“That’s the goal for the future,” Eggli said. “Right now, like other universities, we’re still considered a club sport.
But with pickleball being the fastest-growing sport in the nation, I wouldn’t be surprised if it became NCAA-sanctioned. That’s what we’re pushing for.”
The club finds it can be difficult to recruit even in a state where pickleball is popular. The problem is awareness. Students aren’t aware these opportunities are at USU. Club leadership invites those who wish to participate in the club, foster student relationships, experience competitive play and meet players from different colleges to join, Eggli said.
“There’s a lot of talent out there,” Eggli said. “We’re always looking for recruits who can bring the heat in tournaments.”
Beyond competition, the pickleball community thrives on camaraderie and inclusion.
“You’ll go to courts and see top players welcoming people who have never picked up a paddle before,” Phillips said. “That’s what makes this sport so unique. It’s competitive, but also incredibly inviting.”
The sport is still in its youth, despite being around since 1965, but it saw a rapid surge in 2015 when it became the fastest-growing sport in America. Since then, professional pickleball players have stepped up to claim their stake in the game. According to Phillips, now is the perfect time to get involved, as the sport continues its hot streak of popularity while still being in its early stages.
While many students play for fun, others like Eggli and Phillips are working toward professional careers in the sport.
“We’re actively engaged in the community, competing in tournaments and even pursuing pickleball professionally,” Phillips said.
With pickleball still being a young sport, players see massive opportunities for growth.
“We’re right on the tipping point of a lot of really big things,” Eggli said. “People don’t realize how high-caliber this sport really is. It takes just as much dedication, training and physicality as any other competitive sport.”
As pickleball has evolved, players like Eggli and Phillips have seen the intensity change right before their eyes. With that change, a new wave of players — young players — are claiming the sport.
“When the game first started, it was more slow-paced,” Eggli said. “But now, with so many new players, including former tennis professionals, it’s getting faster and faster. You have to adapt.”
Despite the sport’s fast growth, it hasn’t received the same recognition as other collegiate sports. Clubs like the one at USU are fighting this stigma and working to get more recognition for their athletes.
“A lot of people think of pickleball as an ‘old-person sport,’” Phillips said. “They don’t realize how dynamic and electric the environment is at these collegiate tournaments.”
The sport thrives on its tight-knit community and high energy, even as broader support continues to grow. Thanks to sponsors like No Apologies Nutrition, Stack Athletics and Montis Pickleball, the club can travel to tournaments, compete and support one another along the way.
“It’s incredible to experience what other collegiate athletes go through,” Eggli said. “Having your teammates on the sidelines cheering after you hit a game-winning shot, moving to the next round or defeating a rival team — that energy is unmatched.”
Looking ahead, the club aims to expand its reach and continue growing the sport.
“We plan to host tournaments in the future to get more people involved,” Eggli said. “We’ve also looked at collaborations with Picklr, the ARC and even the USU Tennis Club to build a stronger presence on campus,” Phillips said.
The bigger their presence, the closer they get to their ultimate goal: turning USU into a powerhouse in collegiate pickleball.
“Our goal is to make Utah State a known name in the sport,” Eggli said. “We want to be number one.”
Rain Schenck is from Syracuse. She’s a senior at USU studying journalism and communications. If she’s not writing or reading, she can be found at any competitive event or game night, throwing a ball or yelling at a card game.
PHOTO BY Alyssa Wangsgard
From left, Olivia Phillips and Parker Eggli discuss Utah State’s pickleball team on Feb. 6.
Anderson flies high with the Eagles
By Mark Greenwood STATESMAN REPORTER
Utah State University Eastern in Price is Utah State’s largest campus outside of Logan. Additionally, USUE is the only other subsidiary of Utah State with university-sanctioned sports. USUE has baseball, volleyball, softball, archery, rodeo, esports, spirit squad and mountain biking, as well as men’s and women’s soccer and basketball.
USUE Women’s Basketball is well through the 2025 season, boasting a 13-12 record overall and a 5-6 record in conference play. A key part of the Eagle’s success this season has been 6-feet sophomore forward Madison Anderson.
“She did a great job for us as a freshman, but this year, just the sophomore side of things, she’s just a leader for us on and off the court,” said Chelsey Warburton, USUE head coach. “She does a lot just on the campus in general — but just a great leader — a great teammate. We go to her a lot for confidence and flow for our team.”
Warburton is a former USUE player and Price native who now coaches the program alongside her sister Morgan Warburton-Nelson.
Anderson hails from West Jordan, and graduated from West Jordan High School, where she was a varsity starter during all four seasons and put together a prolific high school career. Some of her accolades include First Team All-Region, Offensive Player of the Year, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a four-time All-Region Academics Team member and a Utah Girls Basketball Coaches Association All-Star.
Anderson made herself known as a West Jordan Jaguar, which wasn’t always the plan. She originally planned to attend Copper Hills High School until she started to play for the Bantam team from West Jordan.
“Two of my best friends that I just met in Junior Jazz that still played basketball — they were in the boundaries for West Jordan, and we had played on club teams together and all that. So, they told me, ‘Hey, come play on West Jordan Bantam because that at least gives you a team to play on,’” Anderson said.
Bantam is a competitive youth winter basketball league organized according to high school boundaries rather than club team signups. While playing for the team, Anderson built a connection with the head coach, who was also the head coach for West Jordan.
“I went, and I played with them, and that’s where I met coach Lei [Lolohea], and that’s honestly just where it all started. She cared about us so much from a young age. She always came. She’d never miss a game, no matter Bantam, sophomore games, JV, all that. She loved every single girl that would wear the jersey,” Anderson said.
During her time playing for Lolohea, Anderson was convinced to change her plans and go to West Jordan despite her initial reservations.
“I wanted to be with my friends, but then once I kept playing for her, I realized how important she was to me and how West Jordan would be a better fit for me, just because that program was such a family, and coach Lei
made it such a big deal for everyone to feel involved, and she’s shown me culture that I’ve never felt anywhere before,” Anderson said.
“It was bigger than just basketball to them,” she said. “They always went out of their way just to make us and shape us into women, too, instead of just basketball players. She will always be someone that I look up to.”
Anderson has now moved on to play at USUE, but a similar theme runs through the program in Price.
“Part of my job is to be their coach and help them expand and get better and move on, but also, another big
part of our job is just to help them off the court,” Warburton said. “Are they happy? Are they having fun? Are they getting better? Are we able to help them in any areas needed? So, that’s a big deal for me and my sister and our program.”
Anderson, now in her sophomore season, is averaging over eight points per game, which is nearly double her record from her freshman season. Anderson credits her improvements to time spent working out with Lolohea over the summer and several mechanical adjustments she’s made to her technique.
“I did a lot of work over the summer, training with my previous coaches to really improve my game, and I think I also adjusted my shot a little, and I think that has helped me more than I thought it would,” Anderson said.
Additionally, Anderson has gained more confidence now in her second and final season at USUE. In addition to nearly doubling her point averages from her first season, Anderson has emerged as a premier rim protector for the Eagles, partially stemming from her increased confidence on the court.
With 38 blocks on the season as of last Wednesday, Anderson ranks No. 20 in the nation in blocked shots at the National Junior College Athletic Association level.
“My confidence is a lot higher, and I feel like I just knew it was my time to prove to Eastern and all of our opponents that I’m the one they need to stop and not play in as much fear,” Anderson said. “The confidence is a lot higher than coming in as a freshman.”
In addition to gaining some additional confidence, Warburton cites the offseason work Anderson has done as a large part of her jump this season.
“She’s done her work. She’s put the work in, and she’s very coachable. I think that’s a huge part for her success,” Warburton said. “She just has all the talent in the world, and again, she’s done the work on her own time to just keep getting better, and we’re excited to see where this takes her.”
Mark is a sophomore at USU studying economics and finance. He is an avid Los Angeles Dodgers fan and loves playing tennis and skiing.
— mark.greenwood@usu.edu
PHOTO COURTESY OF USU Eastern Athletics Madison Anderson jumps to make a shot at a game.
OPINION
By Ella Stott STATESMAN REPORTER
Black History Month was removed from Google Calendars. The U.S. already recognizes African American culture, heritage and history in the shortest month of the year, and now it isn’t listed at all. Google said removing this and other markers of cultural celebrations and non-federally recognized holidays was for apolitical reasons, as reported by the New York Times, but that’s hard for me to believe considering the anti-DEI legislation and general hostile attitude the country is fostering around marginalized communities.
For those who didn’t know, February is Black History Month, a month to honor African American people and cultural and heritage events. In light of House Bill 261, previously reported on by The Utah Statesman, Utah
Why I study Black cinema
State University hasn’t, as an institution, done anything to recognize this month that is so important to a significant portion of the student body. The bill claims this is to make everything “equal,” but there are systems in place both statewide and nationally that don’t make things equal for everyone, especially not for African American people. I’m of the opinion more protection for marginalized communities is an effort to make things more equal, and pretending everyone has the same advantages furthers the problem: There is still systemic racism in the U.S. today. This is why I decided to take ENGL 4365 — Studies in Film: Black American Cinema.
I want to recognize that, as a white person, I am in no way speaking as part of or on behalf of the African American community. I also acknowledge my speaking in favor of Black History Month and education in Black cinema is done as a person who is not subjected to the same discrimination. It’s important to me the voices of African Americans can tell their own stories, and in speaking now, my aim is not to tell these stories through a white lens but rather to offer my personal explanation for why studying Black cinema is an important piece of my educational journey.
Taught by English professor Adena Rivera-Dundas, the class focuses on modern American cinema directed by, written by and starring Black people. The oldest movie we examined was “Foxy Brown,” released in 1974 and directed by Jack Hill, the only white director we study. The Blaxploitation film was problematic in many ways, and it began our discourse on Black voices and who should be involved in their representation.
As an English major, many of the courses surrounding subjects of race are focused on the literature seen in older time periods. While these periods still need to be studied — history repeats itself, and the only way to mitigate this is by learning how to prevent it — a modern approach is really what makes this class soar. Maybe it’s because we’re taught everyone who can vote is treated equally. Maybe it’s because there are more people of color in positions of power, so we believe everyone has an equal chance of success. Whatever the case, many people don’t believe racism is still prevalent, but it is.
Police brutality, as seen in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” 1989, and Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station,” 2013, which tells the true story of Oscar Grant’s murder, is still a horror of modern-day America.
This is what my classmate Yasamin Osqueezadeh touched on when I asked her why she took the class.
“For historical African literature, that was before a police force even existed, so it hasn’t been touched on, but it’s important,” Osqueezadeh said. “To be able to analyze what people are now viewing as the Black lens — it’s important.”
Spike Lee visited USU in 2003 as part of the Arts and Lecture series the university held, as reported by the Statesman. During this speech, he addressed the inequalities Black people still face today, both in real life and in their representation on the screen.
“We don’t really get the diversity of the African-American experience on screen,” Lee said. He spoke on the importance of cinema as a means of shaping the way society views certain subjects. “It really depends on who’s telling the story, so that’s why film is so important.”
Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” 2017, uncovers the horror of the fascination with and hatred toward Black bodies. The protagonist Chris leads what we’d consider to be a normal life until he visits his girlfriend’s parents, who try to use his body as a vessel for a white person’s brain, thereby solidifying their ideology that the experience of whiteness is more important than Blackness.
Ella Stott is a junior studying English. In her free time, she can be found playing “Mario Kart,” making a smoothie bowl or complaining she actually doesn’t have any free time.
— ella.stott@usu.edu
Snow In February
In his third year at Utah State, Jack Burton still doesn’t know what he is doing. If you could help him out and tell him whats up then he’d much appreciate it. Make sure to carry the conversation when you meet him because he is relatively weak and can barely hold himself up.
