‘A people’s president:’ Brandon Sorensen elected as USUSA president for 2025-26
By Malory Rau STATESMAN REPORTER
Taking off from Salt Lake Valley and arriving at Utah State in 2022, Brandon Sorensen has just soared through the 2025 USUSA election season and landed as the new 2025-26 student body president. In what is being nicknamed the “SigEp Sweep,” Sorensen, alongside Executive VP-elect Max Alder and Student Advocate VP-elect Colin Hastings, was announced to be the new president on Feb. 26 in the TSC Hub. Thus, the 2025-26 Executive Leadership Board is made up entirely of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers.
2023-24 USUSA President Abraham Rodriguez and current President Matt Richey are also both members of Sigma Phi Epsilon. All of the fraternity brothers, including 2023-24 Athletics and Campus Recreation Executive Director Tate Bennett, have affiliated themselves with fellow fraternity brother Zach Stewart, who after the elections announcement, posted it was “time to hang up the cleats.” Sorensen also took to social media in response, calling Zach the best campaign manager. Sorensen is a junior double-majoring in marketing in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business as well as public relations within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He hopes to work in the airline world post-graduation.
“Both my parents work for Delta, but I just feel like I’m too social of a person to be in a cockpit my whole life. I love interacting with people and more of the way creative side,” Sorensen said.
Sorensen previously served as the Logan VP before deciding to campaign for president, which is where his campaign slogan “keeping soaring with Sorensen” came from. The Logan VP is a member of the Executive Council that works with campus safety and plans the Aggie Blue Leadership Conference.
“Logan VP was very much administrative and behind the scenes, and it kind of had its challenges at times because I’d always come from very forward-facing or student-interacting committees, so it was hard to switch to maybe all the work that you’re doing isn’t going to be seen by students and going to have a direct impact, but it’s working with administration or working with my awesome committee” Sorensen said. ”I think the big thing is the connections that I’ve made. Administration here genuinely does want to work with student leaders, and it’s cool to be able to be walking around campus and to run into administration and know that you can go to them about concerns you have for students.”
Sorensen also explained he and many of the other USUSA officers have been surprised by what each position has to offer.
“Once you’re actually in the position, there is so much more to it that you don’t realize by reading the description,” Sorensen said.
When he is not working with USUSA or in class, the president-elect can be found at his favorite campus eatery the Forum Cafe, studying in Huntsman Hall or watching “La La Land” and cracking jokes with good friend and USUSA Student Events Director Ashlynn Smith.
After the election results announcement, Sorensen reflected on his favorite aspects of Utah State, including traditions like “dam Aggie” and the Luminary, as well as the legacy he hopes to leave here on campus.
“A people’s president was something I was going in with Logan VP. If I leave not having the most insane thing that we accomplished or that everyone remembers for years to come, I just hope they remember not even me but just that I wanted to be able to meet students and put all of my time and effort into the position and who I was as a person not needing the title at all but just who I was here,” Sorensen said.
Malory Rau succesfully survived the 2025 USUSA elections season. You can probably now find her napping on the student media couch.
PHOTOS BY Jack Burton
USUSA President-elect Brandon Sorense being interviewed by The Utah Statesman news editor Malory Rau on Feb. 26 in the student media photo studio.
Student Advocate VP-elect Colin Hastings embraces Executive VP-elect Max Alder at the USUSA election results annoucements.
USUSA President-elect Brandon Sorensen poses for a photo outside of Old Main following the announcement of his successful campaign.
Aggie Ice Cream Day: Coverted capitol tradition
By Sicily Clay STATESMAN REPORTER
Utah State University students turned a Utah State long-standing tradition into a Capitol takeover on Feb. 25, delivering cups of Aggie Ice Cream to every corner of Utah’s legislative hub as a gesture of gratitude and connection.
Fifty thousand gallons of Aggie Ice Cream are produced every year, and Utah lawmakers, staff and security personnel lined up to get their fair share as dozens of students from USUSA and the USU Government Relations Council fanned out and hauled coolers through marble halls across the capitol. Utah lawmakers, staff, and security personnel flocked to try unique flavors like Aggie Blue Mint and True Aggie Night. Big Blue, USU mascot, joined the effort, posing for pictures with legislators and visiting kids, adding a playful touch to the day’s outreach.
“For those who’ve never tried Aggie Ice Cream — which blows my mind — we were thrilled to share it,” said USUSA President Matt Richey, who kicked off the day’s reflections from the student perspective. He said many legislators, whether alumni or connected through family, shared a fondness for Utah State.
That spirit of sharing extended to the event’s logistics, led in part by USUSA student advocate VP Sydney Lyman, senior double-majoring in political science and print journalism.
It was Lyman’s third and final Aggie Ice Cream Day.
“I’ve done this for a few years,” Lyman said. “I remember when I was a freshman, I wore ridiculous five-inch high heels because I had never been in the capitol before, and I was so nervous. On the marble steps, I fell, and this representative came and helped me up, asking, ‘Are you okay?’ It’s kind of silly that that was such a small moment, but it helped me feel my elected officials were watching out for me in such a time of division.”
As students filled the capitol, university leaders offered their takes on the event’s significance.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to connect with others: community members, legislators, those working in government,” said Interim President Alan L. Smith. He chuckled that Aggie Blue Mint is probably his favorite flavor but that “I’m avoiding sugar this year. It was my New Year’s resolution. I know it’s going to be very difficult today to be handing this out and not eat any of it.”
The ice cream’s distribution grew broader under the supervision of Devin Wiser, vice president of government and external relations at Utah State, who marked his third legislative session.
to 2014 and brought a lawmaker’s lens to the event.
“When the students come up here and we feature Aggie Ice Cream, it allows students at Utah State University to become engaged in the state legislative process,” Seelig said. “It also shows one of the great initiatives we have as an educational institution with our food sciences. It’s a welcoming time — not only for the public staff and elected officials — especially now at the end of the session when things can be very tense and people are exhausted, and ice cream is a nice way to remind us all that we’re human beings.”
“It’s an annual tradition to do Aggie Day on the Hill, and the ice cream is an integral part of that,” Wiser said. “We’ve made a real point to spread the love all throughout the capitol. I love the excitement you see on people’s faces when they see us with the big coolers.”
Jennifer Seelig, director of the USU Institute of Government & Politics, served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2006
Sicily Clay is studying Journalism and marketing. When not crafting content, she can be found chasing sunrises.
— a02358875@usu.edu
PHOTOS BY Kelly Winter
Student Advocate VP Sydney Lyman being interviewed in the capitol on Feb. 25.
PHOTO BY Kelly Winter Gov. Spencer Cox with a new USU bull pin given to him by USUSA President Matt Richey.
Digging into Geology at Rock and Fossil Day
By Bailey Daniels STATESMAN REPORTER
Students and members of the public who want to discover more about the world beneath their feet and the ways minerals impact their daily lives were able to attend Rock-n-Fossil Day. Hosted on Feb. 22 by the Utah State University Department of geosciences department, the annual free event enticed curious kids and experts alike. It was held in the Geology Building, which is located on the northeast corner of the Quad, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Although it’s open to all ages, many of the activities at Rock-n-Fossil Day were aimed toward a younger audience. These included coloring pages, creating pet rocks and discovering what rocks and minerals from the video game “Minecraft” look like in real life.
Dennis L. Newell, geoscience’s interim department head, spoke to The Utah Statesman about the importance of the public being aware of their impact geology has on our daily lives.
“The goal of today is to basically open up our department to the whole community to show people what geosciences are all about — Bring awareness to other important things that are in our local geology, like earthquake hazards and groundwater. Often, people don’t know that we do more than just rocks,” Newell said.
Newell credits the majority of the event’s planning to Ellen Imler, geology program assistant III.
“We’ve done this every year for decades, actually, and we just try to make it accessible to all ages so that they can learn things about geology,” Imler said. “We just try to have all sorts of different activities, and we change it each year a little bit to include something new.”
Next year’s Rock-n-Fossil Day will be held in the USU Geology Building on Feb. 28.
Different presentations were given throughout the day by the Cache Rock and Gem Club, Alba M. Rodriguez Padilla and Amy Hochberg. They went over topics such as Lake Bonneville and the science of earthquakes.
Room 101 contained a display about earthquake hazards. This helped attendees understand how they work, the frequency which they occur and plans for resilience.
“Most of our city’s drinking water comes from the spring that’s up Logan Canyon: Dewitt Spring’s. That’s important to know because the snow that falls in the mountains infiltrates and feeds that spring,” Newell said. “Sometimes, we have lots of snow, and sometimes, we don’t have a lot of snow, so that’s important for our supply.”
In GEOL 205 guests were able to explore the USU Geology Museum. On display are an array of fossils and minerals primarily found in Utah. A highlight of the museum as stated on their website includes “Percy” the Utahraptor, which is a sculpture made by a student named Justin Tolman.
Bailey Daniels is a studying technology systems. She loves Lana Del Rey, sweet treats and all things whimsical.
— bailey.daniels@usu.edu
Feb. 10
Twenty attendees took part in the Basic Self-Defense and Awareness or BADA workshop facilitated by USUPD Officers at the Emma Eccles Jones Building.
Feb. 14
There was a report of a suspicious individual at the location knocking on doors. The complainant was advised to call
Feb. 14
Police officers and fire marshals responded to a report of a fire in Wasatch Housing. The fire, determined to be caused while cooking, was found to have caused no injuries or damage.
Feb. 14
Individuals reported to be in the TSC after business hours were asked to leave and were advised being in building after hours is consiered trespassing.The TSC hours of opperation are 6:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.
PHOTO BY Hazel Harris
Attendees at the Rock-N-Fossils Day complete coloring pages and create rock friends on Feb. 22.
Twenty students awarded for clean air PSAs
By Sariah Maez STATESMAN REPORTER
Twenty of over 1,150 high school students were recognized and rewarded for their environmental public service announcements on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The 10th annual Utah High School Clean Air Marketing contest strives to promote environmentally friendly habits to teenagers across Utah. UCAM travels to Utah high schools to help up-and-coming drivers understand the impact their choices can have on the environment. Sixty-one finalists received $50 gift cards and 20 state winners received awards and cash prizes anywhere from $100-300.
“I am in awe of these students every year, and for me, the entries become more compelling and more interesting and more elaborate every year. That’s part of the excitement of this as I go into these classrooms and give my presentations, and then to see the outcomes is just very gratifying,” said marketing professor in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Edwin Stafford.
The project began when its founders Edwin Stafford and Roslynn McCann discovered Utah students were not being educated on air pollution. In 2015, the contest started at Logan High School with only 75 entries. Over the last ten years, the outreach has increased significantly.
“As you know, Utah — we have some of the worst air quality in the country at times, and so what’s interesting is our research has found the State of Utah does not have air pollution as part of its curriculum for youth in the education system, so the kids and teens in our school system do not learn about local air pollution,” Stafford said.
As teenagers begin driving, UCAM finds it important for students to understand the responsibility that comes with the privilege of driving.
“Given that the teens competing in our contest are just learning how to drive, we are hoping their creation of PSAs for clean air will influence their driving behavior (not idling, carpooling, and engaging in alternative modes of transportation),” McCann wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman.
Miriam Dixon, UCAM’s extension intern, explained the program partners with local businesses throughout Utah that contribute money to their top artists who are then invited to Logan for the awards ceremony. Dixon also noted how important this competition is for the state.
“I have loved to see the amount of effort that the students put into the competition. It is something that I think people would not assume high schoolers need to know or care about, but they are just getting cards, and they are learning about the importance of environmental sustainability,” Dixon said.
The contest aims to promote an outlet where kids can use creativity to make a difference. As one student Zoe Appel stated, “It meant something to me.”
“What’s important about this is that they have to come up with an advertisement to encourage other people to keep the air clean, so I think just the idea of the creativity that’s needed to communicate the idea of not idling or communicate the need to carpool or communicate the need to take the bus, and that’s why it’s so fascinating to see some of the creativity that these kids come up with,” Stafford said.
The winning PSAs will be displayed throughout the state and on social media.
Sariah Maez is a first-year student studying journalism with a minor in criminal justice. When she’s not working or at school, she can be found reading a good book, watching sitcoms or listening to a new podcast or song.
Edwin Stafford and Roslynn McCann present the $100 Zions Bank award to Zoe Appel, Ridgeline High School student, at the UCAM awards ceremony.
Edwin Stafford and Roslynn McCann present the $100 Cache Valley Bank award to Lila Mortensen, Ridgeline High School student, at the UCAM awards ceremony.
PHOTOS BY Elise Gottling
Rosylnn McCann, natural resources extension professor at Utah State University, presents awards at the UCAM awards ceremony on Feb. 8.
Read-in sparks dialogue on race, identity during Black History
By Brook Wood STATESMAN REPORTER
For the second year in a row, the Utah State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted the national African American Read-In, bringing students and faculty together for meaningful discussion and exposure to African American authors during Black History Month.
The book for this year’s read-in was “Go Tell it On The Mountain” by James Baldwin, sparking conversations about race, identity and belonging organizers hope will continue long after the final page is turned.
Cree Taylor is a senior lecturer in the USU English Department, as well as the associate dean for inclusive excellence and belonging in CHaSS.
“Everybody can come and participate,” Taylor said. “Everyone who signs up can get a free copy of this book. Even though it has that title ‘African American Read-In,’ that doesn’t mean you have to fit that hyphenation to read the books and engage in the conversations.”
The National Council of Teachers of English has promoted the effort for decades, first establishing the event in 1990 to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.
“What we get to do is file — they call it a report card, and the report card says that we participated. We say how many people participated in what we did, and then it goes on this national log of ‘Look at all of the entities and people who participated in the read-in,’” Taylor said.
Taylor said USU has not participated in the read-in since 2003. A proposal was written to the dean, and departments within CHaSS collaborated to make it possible.
“The English Department helped fund the snacks, and then the Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research bought everybody copies of the book,” Taylor said.
Taylor emphasized the significance of the read-in occurring during Black History Month and how it gives people a chance to focus on something not normally focused on.
“The tapestry of the United States in particular is so vast — so diverse,” Taylor said. “There are so many different cultures and ethnicities and identities represented here that it can be hard to meet the demands of ‘Actually, you should be teaching this from every single perspective involved.’”
The read-in created a space for students and faculty to thoughtfully discuss African American literature — a space Taylor believes is essential to creating a feeling of belonging at USU.
“There’s space for you and the people that are here,” Taylor said. “We’re complying with everything we need to comply with really well and are going to keep doing whatever it takes to help our students, faculty and staff know that this is their campus too.”
Adena Rivera-Dundas is an assistant professor of African American literature in the Department of English. Taylor and Rivera-Dundas worked together to organize the read-in.
Rivera-Dundas decided on “Go Tell it on The Mountain” because of its historical significance as a foundational text of the African American canon.
“It’s written in the ‘50s and takes place in the ‘30s and has a lot to say about the relationship between race, gender, sexuality and religion in a way that can be both educational and also relatable to the folks at USU,” Rivera-Dundas said.
Rivera-Dundas was pleased with the level of participation this year. She said there was a large turnout, and her hope is the popularity and participation will grow as the read-in reoccurs through the years.
“It’s important to acknowledge the history of race relationships in a predominantly white institution such as USU,” Rivera-Dundas said. “Taking the time to read a book that is about African American experience in a place that is predominantly white feels really necessary if the college genuinely wants to be inclusive.”
Additionally, Rivera-Dundas underlined the importance of having student-to-faculty discussion in alternate settings to promote learning and connection.
“Integration of people at different stages in the university and having stuff that includes staff is so important and doesn’t happen that much,” Rivera-Dundas said. “Having that kind of cross and also to have students and faculty be in a space and conversation where they’re on equal footing can be really powerful, too.”
The ultimate goal of the read-in, for both Taylor and Rivera-Dundas, was to create a space for learning and discussion and to expose participants to African American literature and writers they may not have come across otherwise.
“My ideal would be to have some kind of reading group like this happen all the time — a reading group that is dedicated to reading Black writers,” Rivera-Dundas said. “Not something that we only do one month a year, but it’s something that’s constantly ongoing.”
Brook Wood is working towards receiving a bachelor’s degree in literature. They enjoy playing the violin in the USU Symphony Orchestra.
Natalie McKee is bringing music from around the world to our little corner of Utah on Aggie Radio. Whether it’s K-pop, Anatolian Rock, Nigerian Rap or something else, Natalie will expand your music horizons with “Beyond the Quad” Mondays 8-9 p.m.
Ride or Die Jeff Satur
Life Goes On BTS
Bu Son Olsun Cem Karaca
HAPPY SONG Seyi Vibez
Marigolds Andrea Bejar
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
Creativity between classes at Art + Design Paper & Clay exhibition
By Esther Owens STATESMAN REPORTER
For students looking to take a break in between classes, the Paper & Clay exhibition is open for wandering and meandering.
On display in the Tippetts & Eccles Galleries, Paper & Clay is an annual juried exhibition displaying works by students from 25 institutions across the country, including students from USU.
Kathy Puzey is the department head of USU Art + Design and is responsible for starting up the exhibition eight years ago.
“We were thinking of how we could provide students an inexpensive opportunity to be part of a professional exhibition and provide that opportunity to other students, specifically in our areas, which are printmaking and ceramics, to participate,” Puzey said
Undergraduate and graduate ceramic and printmaking students send in digital images of their work every fall, from which USU faculty selects work to be displayed. A guest juror selects award winners.
In an effort to keep the expense for participants low, the exhibition is sponsored by differential tuition, a charge added to students’ tuition and fees that varies by college.
“They only pay their initial entry fee and then the payment of shipping their works here,” Puzey said. “Then we are able to cover the return shipping costs to them and provide a reception.”
Todd Hayes is the ceramics lab manager and instructor and collaborated with Puzey on the exhibition.
“It’s paid by students for students,” Hayes said. “It’s just kind of a beautiful thing where we’re just there to facilitate it, but it’s really student-operated, whether or not they know that.”
According to Hayes, the exhibition sets students up well for their professional careers after college.
“Oftentimes, students don’t have the opportunity to get into exhibitions because the competition is a little bit more extreme once you get out of school,” Hayes said. “It gives them a foot in the door and the experience to apply to an exhibition, put together their images and try to get organized. It’s one of the earlier opportunities for students to see what it’s like to then, in the professional field, apply to juried exhibitions.”
Participants also get the chance to have their work viewed by reputable artists.
“You have higher caliber artists actually selecting the award winners and things,” Puzey said. “To be part of that show with that type of a level of a juror is a great asset for them on their CVs, especially when they’re applying for other opportunities down the road.”
Hayes enjoys the behind-the-scenes installation process, which brings the show exhibition to life.
“Bringing the show together is actually one of my favorite parts about it,” Hayes said. “When the actual object shows up, that’s the beautiful moment — and then between the two of us, curating that space, getting it to have good flow.”
News Release: Changes to student fees and tuition
Several proposed student tuition and fee changes were discussed at a USUSA Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the TSC Senate Chambers. One increase
As it’s open to the public, the exhibition also opens doors for community engagement.
“It’s also great to bring this here to this campus and not only provide the opportunity for that work to be seen by our Art + Design students, but it’s open to and free to the entire community here in Logan,” Puzey said.
The exhibition will be up until March 7, open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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
was a proposal to increase tuition from 2.5% to 3%. There was also a proposed fee increase totaling 1.99%. Fee board items would increase by $8.03, with $1.73 requested by the Aggie Shuttle, $3 requested by the Student Nutrition Access Center and $3.30 requested by the music and theater departments. The $3 SNAC increase was voted on by the student body, with the results of that vote released on Wednesday. It passed with 75.06%. Compensation is asking for $1.26 split between activity, Campus Recreation and the music and theater departments. In the internal fee movement, it was requested to move $22.28 from the building fee to the Campus Recreation fee. For students who want to know more, there will be a Truth-in-Tuition hearing on March 4 at 3 p.m. in the Evan N. Stevenson Ballroom in the TSC.
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
Different student artworks are displayed in the Tippetts and Eccles Galleries for the 8th Annual Paper & Clay Exhibition as seen on Feb. 20.
PHOTOS BY Jack Burton USUSA President Matt Richey talks about increased student fees in the Executive Council meeting.
Public lands, public debate: Growth & Balance panel
By Lacey Cintron STATESMAN REPORTER
In a state where almost three-fourths of the land is publicly owned, Utah legislators filed a lawsuit in August of last year asking the Supreme Court to declare federal control over unappropriated lands unconstitutional. Since this controversial push from the governor’s office, the idea behind and purpose of public lands has sparked fierce debate over their place in the United States.
Utah State University’s Growth & Balance panel on Feb. 21 sought to address these questions, with four different speakers weighing in.
“It’s more of a conversation panel,” said assistant professor of U.S. history at USU Nichelle Frank. “Some topics I’ve addressed are how settlers have viewed public lands over time and what lessons we can learn from the past when we look at public lands.”
Alongside Frank, the panel featured former Chairman of the Northwestern Band Shoshone Nation Darren Parry, CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation Greg Sheehan and director for the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region Initiative Jordan W. Smith. Frank offers a historical perspective, arguing context can inform people’s decisions regarding these lands today.
“I hope people see the different perspectives represented on the panel,” Frank said. “We have people who have worked for the Bureau of Land Management, Darren Parry representing the indigenous perspective, and we have somebody who’s been more involved with the nonprofit side of things.”
Public lands are defined as land managed by federal agencies, such as the BLM. This land includes national parks, monuments and wildlife reserves.
“In 1848, we had the General Land Office, who split up and sold land and designated the rest as public lands,” Frank said. “So, then what do you do with those public lands? That started to become a bigger and bigger question in the late 1800s.”
In the wake of the First Industrial Revolution and on the cusp of the second, development such as mining, grazing and ranching began taking place at a rapid pace on public lands. The formation of national parks happened around this time period, with Yosemite recognized as the first in 1864.
“The Yosemite Grant was a reservation of land set aside just for us to enjoy not to graze on,” Frank said. “That brings us to this debate in the 1900s and the 20th century — questions about what you do with these public lands.”
Activities like mining, grazing, oil extraction and more have all occurred on public lands and continue to happen to this day. Nearly 25% of public lands are utilized for livestock grazing, 30% for oil and gas production and 1.3 million acres for mining.
“‘Can we do things like mining and grazing on these lands?’ is a big question, and we do,” Frank said. “But what about certain areas that we want to leave untouched?”
Approximately 71% of Utah is deemed public land. About 34% of this land is unappropriated — it’s held by the federal government with no defined purpose or designation. Debate over what to do with this land and who should control it continues to be a hot topic.
“Utah is one of the states with the greatest amount of public lands,” Frank said. “Since the 1900s, states have been dealing with this debate over how much public land is there and can it be turned over to state or private ownership.”
According to Frank, upholding federal control over public lands is one way to preserve the history of the land.
“It’s interesting to think about preservation on a large scale because anyone involved in preservation knows what you can preserve is limited, so you have to make choices,” Frank said. “But by preserving something like public lands, we’re keeping those stories and the experience alive.”
A wide variety of entities have a stake in Utah’s land, from state and federal governments to tribal nations and environmental agencies. The panel provided a glimpse into some of these different viewpoints.
“By having all these different perspectives on the panel, you can see why public lands matter,” Frank said.
Bradley Parry, vice chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, believes leaving public lands under the federal government is best.
“They’re protecting these lands from mining, fracking and all of these different things,” Parry said. “We’re just not confident in the states to have all good intentions for our Mother Earth.”
Loss of public and unappropriated lands such as Labyrinth Canyon and Fisher Towers could cause irreversible damage by opening up these sites to runaway development.
“If it gets privatized, there will be fences, rules, and it will be monetized,” Parry said. “We really want the public lands to stay public, and if the federal government wants to give a piece out, they really should look at the tribes first.”
This fight over public lands has reached a tipping point in Utah’s recent lawsuit, which claims the federal government holding public land within Utah is unconstitutional. The BLM currently manages 22.8 million acres of public lands, 18.5 million acres of which are unappropriated. This lawsuit targets these 18.5 million acres, arguing unappropriated lands should be under state control.
“I hope public lands stay open to all people and stay protected,” Parry said. “We’re not just talking about people, we’re talking about our animals. We start degrading their habitats and we lose those beautiful things. We lose the
wild strawberries and chokecherries and all the things people go out and do to enjoy nature.”
Utah’s lawsuit has implications for over 200 million acres of land across the U.S., and ownership of these lands would not immediately fall to the state. According to the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, these lands would be sold, essentially going to the highest bidder.
“We call the Earth our mother,” Parry said. “Your mother is your most important person in the world, and you don’t mistreat your mother, but that’s how we’ve been treating the land.”
While Utah’s lawsuit was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Jan. 13, Utah government officials intend to pursue this case in other courts. As recent federal employee cuts have gutted agencies like the BLM and moves to undercut key land legislation continue, discussion over the value of public lands comes to the forefront.
“By preserving public lands, we allow ourselves to have spaces where we can revisit moments of the United States’ history,” Frank said. “Sometimes, it’s a national park like Yosemite and it’s this beautiful landscape, or it’s a monument where it’s these old buildings — it’s all human history.”
Lacey Cintron is majoring in psychology. She loves learning about the human mind, sharing stories and naps.
PHOTOS BY Aubrey Holdaway Lower Calf Creek Falls, locoated in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and managed by BLM, as seen in April 2024.
Section of the Cache National Forest near Tony Grove in Logan Canyon, as seen in June 2024.
Canines cruise on Cache Valley’s pup bus
By Samantha Isaacson STATESMAN REPORTER
Move over, school buses — Cache Valley’s newest ride is all about the paws. ARETE
Canine Purpose, dog training company in Newton, has created an opportunity for dogs throughout the valley to get out of the house during the day with their pup bus. The pup bus has multiple stops within the valley where people can drop off their dogs to go to doggy day care.
The bus runs on Mondays and Wednesdays, with pickup between 7-9 a.m. and drop off between 5-7 p.m.
Bryan Hansen, owner of ARETE, said the idea for the pup bus came from a social media post he saw. “One of my clients sent me a video of a dog bus going around in Alaska. They would pick up the dogs, have a lot of fun and then drop them off after,” Hansen said. “It was kind of like this big play date for the dogs. We had the facility for it — we had the process for it — all we needed was a bus.”
After Hansen found one that would work and was a good price, he decided to buy the bus and see if they could make it work. He said they received phenomenal support from Cache County and were able to fill the bus and create a demand for it.
Morgann Sears, kennel tech at ARETE, said she thought this was a cute idea to help dogs to get good exposure and have fun at doggy day care.
“There are some people who maybe don’t have the ability to drive all the way to our facility in Newton — they might have work or something else,” Sears said. “So, it can be really convenient for them to have somebody who can come pick their dogs up. On top of that, I think the idea of putting your dog on the school bus to go to daycare, to me, seems like a super fun opportunity.”
Hansen said this program is also beneficial and enjoyable for him and other workers at the facility.
“The hardest part about training is once you’re done, you miss the dogs,” Hansen said. “It’s so fun to see them go from scared, nervous or overexcitable to a really well-behaved dog. After you’re done though, you don’t get to see them anymore. So, it was fun to create a process where we can see the dogs more often and have more fun with them.”
Hansen said they have a lot of long-term goals for the pup bus, one of them being to be able to run it Monday through Friday.
“We really just want to see more people engage with the daycare, as well as give dogs a space to be during the day,” said Hansen.
Sears also said they want to create a great experience for the dogs.
“A lot of dogs are bored at home and need something to do during the day, and our daycare helps give them a new experience,” Sears said.
The pup bus program takes many precautions in order to ensure the safety of the dogs they transport on their bus to doggy daycare.
Hansen said they always have two people on the bus: the bus driver and an assistant. This allows the bus driver to focus on getting the dogs to the daycare safely, and the assistant can focus on taking care of any issues that arise with the dogs and make sure all of them are secured with seat belts.
Those interested in signing up for the pup bus or dog training can visit ARETE’s website arete.dog.
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
Dogs from across Cache Valley riding ARETE Canine Purpose’s new pup bus to doggy day care on Feb. 24.
Hometown hero: Mason Falslev
By Mark Greenwood STATESMAN REPORTER
Utah State University Men’s Basketball is on its third coach in as many years. Despite all the coaching turbulence, the Aggies have remained at the top of the Mountain West Conference and made a postseason appearance the last six years.
From past players such as Sam Merrill and Justin Bean to current players like Ian Martinez and Isaac Johnson, many Aggie stars have elected to stay in Logan even when head coaches came and went.
For many of these Utah State players that have decided to stay, the relationships in Cache Valley go beyond Aggie basketball and playing games in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum — no matter how magical it may be. Many have family or local ties past playing hoops that anchor them to Logan despite other reasons to leave. In few cases is that more prevalent than for sophomore guard Mason Falslev.
Falslev, Cache Valley native and graduate of Sky View High School, has been at Utah State for three seasons and has had a different head coach in all three.
Loyalty from players and coaches to specific programs is becoming extremely uncommon in college athletics. New coaches frequently bring several players with them and ask the remaining players to leave to make room.
When Jerrod Calhoun was hired as the new head coach at Utah State, his focus was not to bring players with him but to build on an already prosperous program.
“I just thought these kids are used to winning. An old Jim Tressel quote that has stuck with me seven years
If there’s one thing Falslev knows how to do, it’s win. Falslev spent his high school days leading Sky View to state championships in basketball and football as the back-to-back 4A state MVP in basketball and the 2019 4A MVP in football.
In his time at USU, Falslev has already proven success and winning remain in his DNA beyond the high school level. A year ago, Falslev earned Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors three times and now ranks in the top 10 in 18 different categories in the Utah State freshman record books.
This season, Falslev has been Mountain West Player of the Week four times and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week twice. He was also the NIT Season Tip-Off MVP after big performances against St. Bonaventure and North Texas. Winners certainly know how to win, and Falslev continues to prove winning is a skill he’s acquired.
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 BY Kelly Winter Mason Falslev goes up for a layup against Boise State on Jan. 11.
Elise Livingston plays as Local legend
By Carson Frost STATESMAN REPORTER
From her early days playing recreational basketball to becoming one of the standout first-year players for Utah State, Elise Livingston’s journey has been defined by dedication, resilience and an unrelenting work ethic. Now, in her first season with the Aggies, Livingston is proving why she was a must-have recruit for head coach Wesley Brooks and why she could be a centerpiece of the program moving forward.
Growing up in Millville, Livingston’s path to Division I basketball began when she was around five years old. At first, basketball was just something fun to do, alongside dance, which she participated in for years.
It wasn’t until eighth grade she decided basketball was her true calling. By high school, she was making waves at Ridgeline High School, where she helped lead her team to two 4A state championships.
Livingston was named first-team all-state three years in a row, showcasing her ability to rise to the occasion against top competition. In her senior year, Ridgeline was ranked No. 28 in the nation, according to MaxPreps, and she capped off her high school career with a game-leading performance in the state championship game, dropping 20 points to secure the title.
Livingston received interest from multiple programs, but her college decision ultimately kept her close to home. Her initial recruitment process took a turn when Brooks was hired at Utah State. Upon watching her film, Brooks knew he had to bring her into the fold.
“When I first got the job here, I watched her film, and
Livingston, who had already committed to another school, recommitted to Utah State under Brooks. The de cision for her was an easy one — she wanted to stay in her hometown, play in front of her family and friends and contribute to building a winning culture at Utah State. Like any first-year player transitioning to the collegiate level, Livingston has faced challenges. The game is faster, and mistakes are more costly.
Carson Frost is a transfer student from Denver studying journalism. He loves writing, making music, hitting the gym and taking road trips.
— carson.frost@usu.edu
BY
PHOTO BY Jack Burton
Elise Livingston, 12, looks to dribble toward the basket at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Jan. 8.
PHOTO
Jack Burton
Training under Bronco
By Rain Schenck STATESMAN REPORTER
As the countdown to the next football season begins, the new Utah State University coaching staff is adopting a rigorous strength and conditioning protocol, with goals to focus on what head strength and conditioning coach Kody Cooke called “the details.”
“The culture has been the biggest change,” Cooke said. “It’s about us, about our team, not one individual player.”
To ensure every player starts from the same point, head coach Bronco Mendenhall introduced a tiered gear system that emphasizes equality and rewards hard work. Cooke explained players earn higher levels of team apparel, progressing from white to gray, blue and ultimately black, the elite level.
The gear is based on their performance in testing cycles, fostering competition and motivating the players to push their limits.
“We’re not just training to test. There are specific goals to meet to be elite,” Cooke said.
He emphasized attention to detail, from how players warm up to their foot placement, believing these small details will pay off in the long run.
“The way he came in and the demand that he started with the program — the way that coach Mendenhall, the strength staff, coach Cooke came in and put us straight to work day one was definitely something I’ve never experienced,” senior safety Ike Larsen said.
After being with the USU Football program since 2021 and seeing three different coaching staffs, Larsen went on to say he feels more pushed and challenged with the current coaching staff than ever before.
The biggest change for sophomore Noah Flores has been “the sense of urgency.” He said the team is tired of losing and they’re ready to build a foundation for something greater than themselves.
Using their guiding principle of “will before skill,” Cooke said it has been about the daily challenge from not just the coaching staff and the whistle but “peer to peer leadership.”
“The stuff we’ve been through the last couple of weeks has definitely formed a brotherhood, and now we’re all really good friends,” Larsen said. He and Cooke agreed these friendships are made to challenge each other and demand effort in their practice and execution.
Dedication to four or more strenuous workouts a week has been a commitment not all returning players were willing to make. A few players decided to part ways with the team, to whom Larsen said, “We wish them the best.”
As other programs in college football take a lighter approach to the offseason, USU hopes to be a step ahead when summer comes, Larsen said.
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$900 in Cal Ranch & Smithfield Implement Gift Cards
Keeping the players motivated, especially as they practice on the Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium in winter weather, has been key.
“Transparency,” Cooke said. “This is what we expect of you, and this is how you can get there.”
With that transparency, the players know what their coaches expect of them, they understand the details are noticed and as Flores said, they’re all starting from ground zero to earn their spot.
Flores and Larsen both echoed Cooke’s sentiment, noting the culture change has pushed them to want to be their best for their team and Utah State.
“We’re going to give it our all every single day, no matter what, for our future, our future kids, future family, our family now,” Flores said. “It’s bigger than just football, and it’s going to carry us for the rest of our lives.”
This level of discipline is something Cooke has praised the players for, noting how they bought in to the new standards set by Mendenhall and the coaching staff quickly.
With their first game not until September, Larsen said the work they’re doing now will be something Aggie fans can recognize in the upcoming season.
“I can’t tell the season if we’re going to win 10 games or we’re going to win five games,” Larsen said. “I do know is when that ball snaps, we’re definitely going to be the most conditioned team and the most physical team.”
Aggie Nation can expect a “different team,” Flores said. “We’re going to be hungry.”
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 Hazel Harris Members
CENTER FOR COMMUNITY
Column: Housing crisis worsens with Mountain View Tower’s retirement
By Alici Archibald STATESMAN REPORTER
For many students, spring semester is when they must determine their living conditions for the next school year. With rising costs, many students may have significant financial concerns.
If recent events concerning Mountain View Tower have taught us anything, it’s that not all resident halls are created equally. Mountain View Tower is the cheapest on-campus student housing option, yet it’s still questionable whether it’s worth saving the money.
USU Student Financial Support estimates the cost of living to be about $7,200 per semester, including about $2,400 in housing and $2,200 in food. Let’s break it down.
If the average rent per month is $800 and the average grocery price is $550, that means you would need to make $1,350 a month just to cover housing and food. For a student being paid $15/hour, they would have to
work 90 hours a month, averaging 22.5 hours a week. A typical student working a part-time job would barely make enough to cover rent and food, let alone keep up with tuition, transportation, books and supplies, student fees and any miscellaneous expenses.
Mountain View Tower was the lowest costing option for on-campus housing this year, with rent costing $1,355/ semester and requiring a meal plan, the least expensive being $2200. This meal plan includes unlimited swipes and $100 in Dining Dollars, averaging about $6.25 per meal. If we apply the same math, students choosing the cheapest housing option available would still need to work 15 hours a week.
But Mountain View Tower is being retired, leaving Richards Halls as the cheapest option for students wanting to live on campus. Meal plans next year are increasing from $2,200 to $2,600. Richards Hall’s rent will increase from $1,355 to $1,490. If your hourly wage stay at $15/hour, one would need to work two more hours a week just to keep up with the same living conditions.
Meal plans can be an easy and convenient way to feed yourself. However, some students may want more control over their diet and enjoy making their own food. Some people like having the community that on-campus housing provides, while others would rather skip roommate agreements and room checks.
The challenge lies in determining what works best for you. I quickly discovered that as an insomniac, having a private room is important for me. Having my own space reduces my worrying about if I’m being clean or ensuring I’m not taking up someone else’s space. I’m not on edge waiting for my roommate to come home or quietly tiptoe through my room late at night trying not to make noise. At my first apartment in Logan, I woke up nearly every morning with swollen eyes, a sore throat and a runny nose. I felt awful. Now that I’ve moved, I feel healthier, and I have more energy. Just changing my environment made a huge difference.
Even though my new apartment costs much more, it’s worth it to me because I feel so much better. I can get more done because I’ve had a full eight hours of sleep. I’m not stressed about keeping my space clean, and I can relax knowing I have privacy.
For some people, a college dorm is just a place to stay during the week while you have class. For other students, Logan is their home.
When choosing housing, it’s important to acknowledge your priorities. What works best for you may not work best for another student. Sometimes the cheap option isn’t worth the money. Sometimes investing a little more money into the place you live is invaluable.
Alici Archibald is a junior studying journalism who loves all things related to news. You may spot her playing the trumpet in the Aggie Marching and Pep Bands, watching sports or listening to one of her many political podcasts.
a.archibald@usu.edu
PHOTO BY Claire Ott
Behind the stage at Ellen Eccles Theatre
By Ella Stott STATESMAN REPORTER
More than one million people have attended a performance or presentation at CacheARTS’s Ellen Eccles Theatre since it reopened in 1993. Logan only has 53,000 people, so I’m impressed.
I’m excited for the new collaboration between CacheARTS and The Utah Statesman. Four reviews during the next two months on their shows will be featured in our new Arts & Entertainment section.
To jumpstart this collaboration, on Feb. 26, I had the privilege of receiving a tour at the theater, located on 43 S. Main St.
“100 plus performances every year — over 700 participants,” said director of marketing and media for CacheARTS Gavin Syme — my tour guide. “Over two million in ticket sales.”
How does a theater in Logan do it? How are almost half of the patrons of its performances coming from outside of Cache County?
Not only is this theater resilient — surviving not just one but two fires — but it cares about the community. Through accessibility, outreach and intentional programming, the theater is proof the arts are ever alive in Cache County and through art, there is community.
The first stop of the tour was in the foyer leading up to the ticket booth, where Syme told me about the theater’s start.
George W. Thatcher Jr. and Brigham Guy Thatcher built the Thatcher Opera House from their vision of a grand
theater. Eleven years after it burned down in 1912 — the first fire in our story — their dream became a reality in the Capitol Theater, the original name of the Ellen Eccles, which came from its rival in Salt Lake.
The foyer used to be completely outside, fully carpeted and difficult to maintain. Now inside, it fosters artwork provided by the Artist’s Gallery, located next door to the theater in the Pullman Center, who do different themed exhibits.
Syme and I walked up to the balcony of the theater, which showcases an art piece of a phoenix painted to look almost like a mosaic of tile instead of glass, mirrored by another on the other side.
“We have two different phoenixes,” Syme said. “The theater’s burned down a couple times, so the phoenix has kind of become our mascot.”
The second fire burned down most of the theater’s annex in 1990. It took over 320 volunteers and 40 businesses to clean up the mess.
Before the fire, the theater had ceased doing live performances.
“They had a big plywood board that covered the proscenium here and drapes over all the murals, and they would show films like ‘Star Wars’ in its original run,” Syme said. The old projector sits between the lower and upper level. “Now, we kind of use that area for employees to sit in and watch a show and eat a pizza.”
1993 marked the reopening of the theater after the second fire, and it was named the Ellen Eccles Theatre,
focusing again on live performances. Despite finding its grounding, 2018 brought some renovations to the space.
“We had a bunch of great donors, state funding, to come in and help us redo all these motifs, walls — all that’s been restored,” Syme said.
We went down to the stage next, viewing the 1,100 seat theater from the audience’s perspective.
“Most touring shows require you to have at least 1,000 [seats], which makes it a little harder,” Syme said. “That’s why we’re kind of the main stop between Salt Lake and Idaho Falls.”
While some of the shows will only draw in about a 200600 crowd, Syme said the theater plans for this and the bigger headlining productions make up for the potential loss in profit.
“We have our big sellout shows, like the Broadway musicals or the big spectacles like ‘Champions of Magic,’” Syme said. “That kind of helps us supplement. It also allows us to do things, like two days ago, we had ‘A Bee Story’ here. We try to do an annual free family show, which is a great way to bring in folks who don’t really get to come to the theater often.”
In the back of the lower level, across from stage left, lies what Syme calls the fish bowl, a glass room that was originally made for nursing mothers and is now both a tech area and accessibility tool.
“We had an individual who had to stay in a bed, and they really wanted to come see — I believe it was ‘Come From Away,’” Syme said. “So, we were able to set up that spot so they could come in and stay in that bed and be able to still watch the show. One of my favorite things about working here is we’re able to really help folks, especially if they need accessibility.”
Ella Stott is a junior studying English. In her free time, she can be found playing “Mario Kart,” making a smoothie bowl or complaining that she actually doesn’t have any free time.
The theater is seen from backstage of the Ellen Eccles Theatre.
PHOTOS BY Ella Stott
The phoenix artwork sits above the balcony in the Ellen Eccles Theatre as seen on Feb. 26.
Elise Gottling is a sophomore at Utah State University studying Outdoor Product Design. She loves taking pictures of people, animals, nature, and anything else that catches her eye. Along with photography, she loves playing guitar, singing, and anything outdoors! — A02386895@usu.edu
