The Utah Statesman Statewide - February 5, 2024 by The Utah Statesman

News USU provides leadership opportunities statewide with USUSA.

Utah State University, Logan, Utah

Lifestyles The USU Bingham Research Center employs scientists and students to aid in environmental work.

Sports

USU Eastern’s sole athletic trainer heads the care for athletes’ physical health.

Week of February 5, 2024

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USU Eastern students assist BLM with research on endangered kit foxes By Reagan Thomas NEWS REPORTER

tudents at Utah State University Eastern are aiding the local Bureau of Land Management field office in their efforts to preserve the San Joaquin kit fox population in Emery County through a semester-long project. Kit foxes are an endangered species, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources reports there are only 57 known kit foxes in the state of Utah. The students placed five game cameras in the Emery County region and placed bait near the cameras, trying to lure the elusive critters in to capture a photo of them and estimate the number of foxes in the area. Laura Redfield, a recent graduate of USU Eastern, said one of the areas where they set up their cameras was previously unstudied by the BLM. “We were able to catch a kit fox in that area. So we’re kind of able to extend and update their information which is kind of pretty cool,” Redfield said. Since the 1950s, the kit fox population has been monitored only occasionally, Redfield said. “We know that their numbers are pretty reduced in some locations,” Redfield said. “I think the real risk is extirpation or local extinction in Utah.” “We never want a population to go extinct, and doing studies like this will help further protect their population,” wrote Madisyn Thomas, a first-year student at USU Eastern, in an email. “It is also very important to learn what kinds of animals are in your area and how we can help them.” There are many reasons for projects like this, said Sunshine Brosi, an associate professor of wildland resources at USU Eastern. If someone is looking to build a mine or begin oil and gas development, the BLM wants to know if there is a kit fox there so they can preserve the population. Urbanization, land development and even solar facilities can affect kit fox habitats, Brosi said. The results of these studies also help when the BLM is considering building more guzzler tanks, artificial water sources built to help the mule deer population. Brosi said the BLM can track if other wildlife are using these tanks and if more of them should be built based on how many kit foxes are in the area. Brosi said the foxes are an essential part of the local food web. Kit foxes are uniquely suited to the desert environment with their large ears and nocturnal tendencies, and they eat invasive and potentially disease-ridden animals such as mice. “They’re seen as a keystone species, a really important species for ecosystem functioning,” Brosi said. Not only are the foxes useful to the ecosystem, they’re also cute. Brosi said they fall under what is called a charismatic species. Charismatic species are cute and fluffy, and motivate

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Kit fox researchers work in Emery County.

people to protect the environment. Redfield agreed. Up until this point, she’s worked mainly in fisheries. “It’s really tough to get people enthusiastic about fish, depending on your crowd, but it’s much much easier with a cute little fox,” Redfield said. An important part of the project was testing out the bait. The kit foxes enjoyed it, particularly the Vienna sausages, Redfield said. “They’re seeking other nutrients,” she said. Besides just calories, the salt in the sausages was likely to be a draw. Knowing what kind of bait attracts kit foxes is important to know. People who are using poisoned bait to control the coyote population should be aware that kit foxes could also be susceptible to raiding those traps, Redfield said. Brosi enjoyed being out with her students in the desert, walking around, checking the cameras, seeing animal tracks and pack rat nests. Redfield agreed, and said the desert feels barren at first. “You’re not totally convinced there’s much out there,”

Redfield said. “Seeing how many critters were there was really kind of new and interesting.” The students will continue their research into kit foxes, baiting them in and hopefully discovering more of them.

Reagan Thomas is an avid news junkie studying journalism and political science. When not perusing the latest stories of the day, she enjoys running, hiking, and stargazing. — reagan.thomas@usu.edu

By Malory Rau NEWS REPORTER

tah State University provides leadership opportunities all students can get involved in, whether on or off campus. With 30 locations, USU spans Utah’s nearly 85,000 square miles, meaning that not all leadership is in Logan. USUSA elections are set to take place for the Executive Leadership Board on Feb. 28 and 29. The ELB includes the student body president, student advocate vice president and executive vice president. Academic Senate and region elections will follow on March 4 and 5. The Academic Senate contains a senator from each respective college and a senator for graduate students. The group meets under the USUSA executive vice president, a position currently held by Aly Cinq-Mars, to discuss the needs of students within each college. “Our Academic Senate also represents statewide students, so our college senators are statewide positions,” said USUSA President Abraham Rodriguez. Statewide offices represent any students not on the Logan campus. Each region elects a vice president to sit on the Statewide Campuses Executive Council. The positions are elected based on the following divisions: Blanding, Brigham, Eastern, Moab, Tooele, Southwest, Uintah Basin and Wasatch. The council meets with the ELB bi-monthly. “Our statewide executive council serves as the overarching student government body, providing representation advocates for students in our 30 campuses and centers across the state,” Rodriguez said. Aside from the vice president, each region also has at least one other representative. Smaller campuses such as USU Blanding have a vice president and only one representative, but larger campuses like USU Eastern have an entire board with a student advocate, events director, traditions event coordinators and more. “We have a lot of non-traditional students,” said Madysen Probst, the chief of staff at USU Eastern. “It’s really important to include

them, especially because some of them are coming back to school and they’ve never received the college experience.” Non-traditional students include parents and older students. Statewide students can get involved by running for a position on the Statewide Campuses Executive Council or the ELB. Although historically all ELB members have been Logan campus-based, nothing prevents a statewide student from running. “USU has about 20,000 students and about 17,000 on the Logan campus,” said Rodriguez. “If we’re going to be a student government, we need to advocate for all students.” With the majority of students at regional campuses being off-campus or online, voter turnout is less. For every 10 votes in the Logan elections, there is only one vote in statewide elections. Current USUSA student advocate vice president Tyson Packer explained this is the biggest difference between Logan and statewide elections. He also explained the need for representation. “There are a lot of different campuses around the state and each one has its own specific needs. What USU Eastern might need is different than what USU Moab might need, having different representatives over each region helps each region get the representation they want,” Packer wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. There are 56 students declared to run for office in the upcoming election season, with five of them running for student body president, and nine running for statewide offices.

Malory Rau is a sophomore studying social media, public relations and marketing. When not skateboarding with friends, she is usually thrifting, reading or seeing the latest movie. — m.rau@usu.edu

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THE BOARD Leah Call managing editor editor@usustatesman.com 435-797-1742 —————— Caitlin Keith news editor news@usustatesman.com —————— Jack Johnson sports editor sports@usustatesman.com —————— Avery Truman lifestyles editor life@usustatesman.com —————— Maren Archibald copy editor copyeditor@usustatesman.com —————— Heidi Bingham multimedia editor photo@usustatesman.com —————— For advertising inquiries studentmedia@usu.edu —————— Student Media Office TSC 118 435.797.1775 Cover art by Heidi Bingham

The 2023-24 USUSA officers.

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An overview of USUSA elections statewide

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The ambassador program goes statewide

Photo of the 2023-24 USU Ambassadors at their latest retreat. By Aubrey Holdaway NEWS REPORTER

reviously, the Ambassador Program has only been available to students at the Logan and USU Eastern campuses, but it is now being piloted in the Wasatch region and Tooele. According to the their webpage, “The Utah State Ambassador Program focuses on service and leadership. Ambassadors positively represent and serve Utah State University campuses and communities across the state.” Vanessa Liesik, the director of statewide and online recruitment, saw potential for the program to expand to statewide campuses. “I’ve witnessed the connection that Logan ambassadors make when they’re working with prospective students, and it was something that I was interested in bringing to our statewide campuses,” Liesik said. The Ambassador Program has been adapted to fit the unique needs and experiences of students on non-residential campuses. “Many of these students work part or full-time, and

statewide campuses have a lot of non or post-traditional students,” Liesik said. Olivia Lee, admissions specialist and ambassador adviser for the Wasatch region, sees this firsthand. “Oftentimes the students who attend statewide have a very different college experience to those at Logan or Eastern,” Lee said. Liesik and her team worked hard to cater the program to those differences. In addition to traditional recruitSUBMITTED PHOTO ment efforts, statewide ambassadors are “attending more community events to reach non-traditional students,” Liesik said. The program seeks to actively engage students in recruitment activities and work closely with admission specialists to connect with local communities and prospective students. The program is an opportunity for students to be involved and add to their experience. “We tailored the program to be flexible and individualized to support the ambassadors in everything they’re doing, not just in their identity as a student,” Lee said. The initiative focuses on providing students with opportunities for service, leadership and professional development. It also offers a scholarship that covers full tuition and student body fees, renewable for up to eight semesters or until graduation. “Being involved offers them invaluable experiences. We take very seriously providing service and leadership opportunities,” Liesik said. The skills learned through the program are ones that will carry over into other aspects of students’ lives.

THE USUSA UPDATE 1/23 • • •

The council’s service project this semester is helping Facilities clean up snow on campus after a snow storm. The Aux Battles event has been moved back and will now take place on Feb. 13. The council discussed the upcoming Soul Food event hosted by the Black Student Union for which tickets are sold out.

“We focus on public speaking, giving productive feedback and working things into a resume,” Lee said. “When we look at what employees are looking for from recent college graduates or what people want in their personal relationships, a lot of those skills and attributes are ones promoted by the Ambassador Program.” Current statewide ambassadors Alivia Hadfield and Austin Smith spoke in a Utah State Today article about their experiences in the program so far. “I’ve gained invaluable job and career skills that I never thought I would gain as a sophomore,” Hadfield said. Smith has been able to expand his college experience through the program. “They’ve adjusted it in a way to where we are doing the most beneficial things, and a lot more of them to compensate for the things that we don’t have available down here,” Smith said. The Statewide Ambassador Program is expanding in the 2024 school year, and applications are open now until March 15. The program is seeking applicants who are involved in school or community leadership, highly motivated and passionate. More information about the Ambassador Program and how to apply can be found at usu.edu/admission/ scholarships/ambassador.php.

Aubrey Holdaway is a junior studying print journalism. She loves doing anything outside, the band Pinegrove and listening to hours of true crime podcasts in an effort to become invincible. — a.holdaway@usu.edu

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VP Packer had the chance to hand out over 250 letters written by students about the DEI bill to seven different state legislators. The GRC had their first advocacy trip of the year to the state Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Candidacy filing for graduate students senator has been extended because no one declared for the position before the deadline. There were 15 facilities enhancement requests received. An update to USU’s micromobility policy is in the process of being approved.

By Sydney Lyman NEWS REPORTER

tudents at Utah State University’s campus in Price are getting a rare opportunity to see a traveling Smithsonian exhibit. “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” explores the difficult moments rural America faces as economic pressures strain local towns. It is being displayed along with the works of a local landscape artist, Terry Willis, and an exhibit about labor in America. This collective exhibit is in part thanks to English professor Michaelann Nelson, one of the grant writers who enabled the exhibit to come to USU Eastern. Nelson said displaying all three exhibits together helps personalize the content for Utah. “The main exhibit that has traveled here from the Smithsonian is the Crossroads exhibit itself, which highlights the way land, community, economies, energy extraction and national parks are all ways of how people fund their rural communities,” Nelson said. “One of the other exhibits is about labor in Carbon County. Then the other exhibit is an art exhibit that’s from a local landscape painter.” Nelson says Price won’t be the only stop on the exhibit tour. The display, minus its companion labor and mural exhibits, will be traveling to Brigham City on March 9. Nelson said the feedback from the surrounding community in Price, where the exhibit is currently disWater fountains on the USU Eastern campus as seen on June 21, 2023. played, has been overwhelmingly positive. “It has really resonated. We’ve just had a lot of really as more rural or shaped by rural identities and ideals,” positive feedback from the community,” Nelson said. Nelson said. “Everybody’s just really excited about this. It is the first Nelson said although this trend is global, citing the time anything like this has come to our community.” statistic only that 17% of Americans live in rural areas, Nelson said this excitement may be due to many it especially hits home for Utah. Utahns’ identity as rural Americans and Utah’s history This exhibit has taken over a year to prepare for. as an agricultural state. Nelson said seeing the exhibit in person made it worth “In Utah, people have really strong opinions about it. public land in particular,” Nelson said. “So much of “It’s been really cool to see it in its space,” Nelson Utah’s public lands are in rural areas.” said. “This has been 18 months of preparations to get it Utah itself is also in a state of change. An article posthere. It has been months and months of preparation and ed by KSL in 2023 cites census data that found urban planning to get it here.” growth in Utah is almost unparalleled by any other Nelson said most of this planning involved creating a state. program of events that would engage residents and stu“Last week, the Census Bureau released data tied to dents. Some examples are talks from Navajo storytellurban and rural trends from the 2020 census, which ers, book talks and even a performance from The Last found that Utah’s urban population grew by 17%. Much Wild Buffalo, a bluegrass band based in Logan. higher than the national rate of 6.4%.” Carter Williams, “It’s just a whole bunch of activities and events that a reporter for KSL News, wrote. “In addition, about 88% are also part of the exhibit,” Nelson said. of all of Utah’s housing units in Utah are also found Joe Ward, dean of the College of Humanities and within urban areas.” Social Sciences, said this event would not have been Utah is at a crossroads where its identity is being rede- possible without dedicated staff writing grants and fined through the evolution of its rural areas. Nelson planning the programming. said she thinks this is what makes the exhibit resonate “I think it’s a wonderful project, and it’s certainly very with so many people. consistent with USU’s mission to bring knowledge to all “Most of us live in urban areas in Utah, but it’s really the people of Utah,” Ward said. “I’m really glad it’s hapfunny how so many Utahns still seem to see themselves pening. I give great credit to the faculty members for

PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham

taking the initiative on this.” Students interested in visiting the exhibit in Price can visit USU Eastern’s website and navigate to the Crossroads page. The exhibit will be in Price until March 3, and students in northern Utah can visit the exhibit on March 9 in Brigham City.

Sydney is a junior studying political science, journalism and anticipatory intelligence. When she’s not chasing the latest scoop, you can find Sydney hiking and turning stress into delicious baked goods. — sydney.lyman@usu.edu

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USU Eastern hosts traveling Smithsonian exhibit ‘Crossroads: Change in Rural America’

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USU Eastern Gibby tradition unites college community in Price By Ella Stott LIFESTYLES REPORTER

very student at Utah State University’s Logan campus knows what it means to be a “True Aggie.” In 1914, the block A was erected and later became the spot for Aggies to share a kiss at midnight. This tradition has become a famous part of the Logan college experience, and some of the statewide campuses have similar traditions. USU Eastern students have the opportunity to become a “True Eagle” about once a semester by kissing over Gibby on a night with a full moon. So, what is Gibby? Gibby is a rock, and its full name is Gibraltar. Madysen Probst, USU Eastern chief of staff, is a junior in integrated studies. Probst said Gibby is located outside the Jennifer Leavitt Student Center at USU Eastern. “Gibby has been there for years, like years and years PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham and years when people were first going to college there,” Gibby is shown with a layer of paint. Probst said. Reeves building was torn down, so Gibby was again reSailor Jensen, director of events for USU Eastern, said located to it’s current place in front of the student center. there are different stories of how Gibby arrived at the Lily Hyde, a first-year student in marketing, is the tradischool. tions and events coordinator for USU Eastern. Hyde said “What I’ve heard is one day, students didn’t want to go she heard a different story of Gibby’s origin at the school, to class,” Jensen said. “They went and got a big rock and but the rock has become a legend at the school regardless. put it in front of the door, so they’d have to cancel school.” “The rock has kind of traveled around a lot of differWhat is agreed on is all 1,500 pounds of Gibby was ent places,” Hyde said. “Students would come, and they lugged onto campus in 1940. The rock spent some time would take it and move it, so they had to cement it down.” encased in glass in the school’s library before going into According to Hyde, people look forward to the biannual storage. event, especially since each True Eagle night is themed Later, it was placed in front of the original G.J. Reeves differently. Building by the student body president of the time. The

“The rock is something everybody sees all the time,” Hyde said. “It’s not always decorated the same.” Mollie Horsley, a sophomore in cosmetology, is the public relations manager for USU Eastern. Horsley’s job is painting Gibby, which she described as “another form of advertising.” “I try every week to paint one of our biggest events of that week,” Horsley said. “I just go spray paint it, and then I’ll just write the events.” According to Horsley, painting the rock for the “True Eagle” events is a little different. “I spend a little more time on it and try and incorporate the theme,” Horsley said. “When our event was ‘country kissing,’ I painted a cowboy boot on it.” Probst said the paint was a great addition to the tradition. “He has so many thick layers of paint,” Probst said. “It’s insane.” Unlike True Aggie events, True Eagle events have prizes larger than lip balm. For starters, in addition to the official card, participants also get a shirt. There are also prizes couples can win if they have the best kiss in a certain category. Read the rest of this story at usustatesman.com Ella Stott is a first-year student studying English and journalism. — ella.stott@usu.edu

By Sam Goodman LIFESTYLES REPORTER

he USU Bingham Research Center employs both professional scientists and students to help in their environmental work. The facility is 70,000 square feet and has been open since 2010. Its staff is dedicated to studying air quality, energy and the environment. Seth Lyman, the director of the team, has worked for USU and the center for 12 years. He is also a research professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at USU. “My research focuses on atmospheric measurements, atmospheric instrumentation, measurements of pollution that is emitted from a source and the kind of chemistry in the atmosphere,” Lyman said. Lyman and his team also work with students at the center and do what he calls “outreach work” to help their mission. “We work a lot with industry and regulatory agencies and environmental groups to make sure that the research that we do helps solve problems,” Lyman said. Utah’s climate sees a lot of unique issues, specifically in air quality. In 2023, a State of the Air report was released by the American Lung Association. This report shows ozone rates, pollution levels and air quality levels throughout different states. “Salt Lake City ranks 10th in the U.S. for worst ozone pollution, and 19th for worst short-term particle pollution,” the report said. “Logan ranks 17th worst short-term particle pollution.” Lyman is aware of the specific problems surrounding the state. “Utah is such a unique place because we have a lot of mountain valleys and basins surrounded by mountains,” Lyman said. “We also tend to have some pretty low winds in the winter. Air quality is going to continue to be a Utah problem for a long time to come.” The center has goals they strive for to create work that has a real-world application. “The biggest part of our research is studying air quality issues that are unique to this region, in the Uinta Basin, around Vernal,” Lyman said. “The chemicals emitted from those pollution sources are different and so it ends up that we have high ozone in the wintertime, which is unusual. Ozone usually occurs in urban areas in the summer.” John Lawson, a senior air quality scientist, works with Lyman and the research center. His role is to improve weather predictions for Utah weather, and he works with high-ozone pollution episodes. Though relatively new to the center, Lawson has already started important projects. “I’ve looked at how ChatGPT performs when applied to weather problems, like predicting thunderstorms or pretending to be a student answering an exam,” Lawson said. “I am also creating an artificial intelligence model that combines weather forecasts, like snowfall and high-pressure values, with a set of rules that predict whether that weather will lead to a pollution

PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham A television in the Bingham Research Center displays air quality.

episode.” The geographical setting of the state is a part of what makes the ozone a unique issue. “Other countries are from a stratosphere where ozone is good, and we’re at high elevation, and so stratospheric sources, where we also are in an area without the wildfires, which leads me to ozone,” Lyman said. “There’s a lot of cards stacked against it.” A seemingly never-ending issue with Utah’s climate is the need for more water. Coming off a record-breaking winter was positive for Utah in many ways, but did not solve its problems. “Where we have high ozone winter, it’s maybe getting better, but it’s so episodic that it’s hard to know yet. We have had a lot of good years and then this past winter, 2023 was just really, really ugly,” Lyman said. “Air quality has been beautiful all winter long, and even a basin so far, but we also haven’t had much snow out here.” Colleen Jones, a lead researcher for the center, has been involved with USU since 2014. “I participate in a wide variety of projects from air, soil and water quality issues in the Uinta Basin,” Jones said. According to Jones, the work performed at the research center is essential. “I believe what I do is an important part of solving complex environmental issues, as well as ensuring that my community has accurate information about the environment to make informed decisions that will impact future generations,” Jones said. The staff members have a passion for their work, which carries into training and mentoring students as well. “We hire students from Statewide Campuses and especially the new Innovation Campus than elsewhere, but we do have students in Logan that work with us,” Lyman said.

Sam Goodman is a junior studying journalism with an emphasis in print. — a02401436@usu.edu

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Bingham Research Center works to improve Utah’s climate

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A peek at the life of USUSA Pr By Ashley Dorius LIFESTYLES REPORTER

ith USUSA elections right around the corner, the importance of student representation is a relevant topic on each Utah State University campus. Abraham Rodriguez, the 2023-24 USUSA president, is an integral part of not only the Logan campus, but the statewide campuses as well. Rodriguez was born and raised in Cache Valley and started at USU in the fall of 2019 as a first-generation college student. Thanks to parents who taught him the importance of seizing opportunities and working hard for an education, he started his college life focused on doing the best he could in academics. “I really look up to both my parents and my uncle,” Rodriguez said. “My mom was always there for me. I’m fortunate that my parents are so supportive. They taught me to appreciate the little things.” When Rodriguez came to college, he didn’t love it at the start, but his first semester put him in contact with people who he said changed his life. “My first semester here, I wasn’t really involved,” Rodriguez said. “I was very stressed about getting the best grades possible. Once I stepped foot here, I got to meet some key people in my life who guided me through these opportunities.” Rodriguez said he started getting more involved through the USU A-Team. After discussing it with a close friend and mentor, he decided to apply. “I was able to share my story, and I’m really grateful

PHOTOS BY Heidi Bingham USUSA President Abraham Rodriguez’s gavel sits on his desk in his office on the third floor of the TSC.

that the orientation office gave me a shot,” Rodriguez said. “I was stoked. I remember the night I got the acceptance letter. It’s changed the trajectory of my college experience.” Rodriguez said he realized the key to enjoying college was to focus on service. He loved feeling a sense of purpose. “I learned I wasn’t really happy my first semester, but that’s because I was so focused on myself,” Rodriguez said. “Once I kind of shifted my mindset into what I can do to help others, I’ve found more joy in what I do.” As Rodriguez continued getting involved, he realized he loved being a voice for students, and he started to run for elected positions. “I wanted to run because I felt there were a lot of changes coming,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to make sure I left this place better than I found it.” After being elected as USUSA president, Rodriguez was put to work almost immediately. “I remember vividly as soon as I got elected, they invited me to attend all the commencements statewide,” Rodriguez said. “I made it a goal to attend our three largest campuses in the state. I drove by myself to Blanding, and it was a long drive, but it was beautiful.” Rodriguez said the experience was one of his favorites, and it helped him recognize his role in representing every Utah State student on all campuses. “We get to serve and represent different communities and give access to so many to education,” Rodriguez said. “It really helped me stay grounded and realize this role comes with a lot of weight and to take it as seriously as possible.” He was also taught to take his role as a representative seriously when it came to choosing a new president for the university. “The most eye-opening experience has been serving on the board of trustees, especially because after I was inaugurated, I immediately had to step in and help with the presidential finalists and give input in determining who would be the 17th president of Utah State University,” Rodriguez said. He believes he and the board made a great decision. “As I’ve gotten to know President Cantwell more, I’m just really impressed,” Rodriguez said. “I think we’re fortunate to have her. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Utah State.” Rodriguez said he and other elected student body officers are heard, which he explained doesn’t happen at every school. “It’s incredible to think about how as an organization, all our elected student body officers get a seat at the table and get to be a voting member. That’s rare at other institutions,” Rodriguez said. “I really appreciate the fact that the president and the trustees try to include me in the conversations.” Rodriguez participates in many USUSA councils and committees, some of which include Stater’s Council, Elections Committee, Executive Leadership Board, Logan

Executive Council and Statewide Campuses Executive Council. He also participates in the Tuition Review Committee, Alumni Association Executive Board, Board of Trustees, Student Life Council, University Physical Resources Planning Committee, University Executive Committee and the Utah Student Association. He chairs several of

USUSA President Abraham Rodriguez poses for a photo at his desk in his office on the third floor of the TSC.

these and strives to give students perspective in all his meetings. “The biggest highlights are working with lots of different stakeholders,” Rodriguez said. “You get to really understand how an institution is operated. It’s been fun to chair student committees.” With the number of committees he’s on, Rodriguez is a busy man. However, he still gets involved in more than just his presidential duties. He’s an avid Aggie sports fan and “a student first,” in his own words. He’s also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and good friends with the chapter’s president, Tanner Buttars. “When we first rushed SigEp together, I never knew how big of an impact Abe would have on me and the other brothers over the course of the next few years,” Buttars wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “No

one would have blamed him if he had taken a step back from the fraternity after winning the Exec VP election last year; he had a lot on his plate. And even more so this year with the election to the office of student body president.” Buttars said Rodriguez continues to be an active member who mentors the younger pledges, and he believes Rodriguez is the prime example of what a brother should be, along with an excellent leader and friend. Rodriguez is also a dedicated student. He will graduate at the end of this semester with a double major in marketing and public relations and two minors in tech sales and entrepreneurship. “We’re in a college campus environment,” Rodriguez said. “We’re here to learn.” The Utah Statesman was invited to shadow Rodriguez throughout his day. Rodriguez began his day with online classwork before meeting with Eric Olsen, interim vice president for student affairs. He then had a call with the Utah Student Association presidency, a group of student body presidents from across Utah. He hosts his office hours and has a weekly coaching workshop, all before lunch. After lunch, he met with Linda Zimmerman, executive director of student involvement and leadership. Zimmerman reviewed his significant meetings and events for the next few weeks, including the upcoming Mountain West basketball championship, a visit to a Connections class and committee meetings. Rodriguez then ran the Logan Executive Council meeting, discussing policies affecting USU. A busy day is a regular occurrence for Rodriguez, but he said he is making a difference and is grateful for the opportunity. “I care about Utah State, its people,” Rodriguez said. “I always try to take a second to be grateful.” Rodriguez feels bittersweet about leaving office soon. He’s excited for Utah State and his new opportunities, but he will miss being involved. “What I would define as success when leaving this office is seeing students I’ve interacted with get to the point where they’re driving the change at an institutional level,” Rodriguez said. “It’s cool to have achievements and whatnot, but at the end of the day, people won’t really care what you did; they’ll remember how you made them feel.” Rodriguez said being oneself should be the goal of Aggies everywhere, and people love authenticity. “Be yourself, and people will love you for who you are,” Rodriguez said. Kennedy Thurgood, a program coordinator who helps with the Academic Senate and public relations, discussed Rodriguez’s light he shares wherever he goes. “Abe is one of the bubbliest people you’ll ever meet,” Thurgood said. “When he first did his headshots, he took these pictures with his mouth wide open in the biggest smile, so students would know he’s friendly. Everyone loves Abe. He’s so fun and cares about the students.”

USUSA President Abraham Rodriguez answers his phone located in his office on the third floor of the TSC.

Buttars agreed with Thurgood. He said Rodriguez has impacted his life and the lives of so many at USU. “I’m incredibly proud of the man he is, the impact that he has made at USU and his brothers in SigEp, and all else he has done for the community,” Buttars wrote. “I’d take 100 new members if they embodied half of what Abe is. I’m incredibly grateful to have met him and to call him brother.” With election season coming up, Rodriguez is leaving big shoes to fill. He had a word of advice for all the candidates. “I can only imagine how stressed they are,” Rodriguez said. “It’s definitely hard to put yourself out there, but just think back to your why. I can guarantee you that if that ‘why’ is bigger than yourself, you’ll find a way to get through it.”

Ashley Dorius is a first-year student studying English with a teaching emphasis. A Nebraska native, she loves exploring old bookstores, quoting New Girl, eating soft pretzels and being a Swiftie. — ashley.dorius@usu.edu

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resident Abraham Rodriguez

Page 10 - The Utah Statesman, February 5, 202

50 Influential Aggies

he Utah Statesman has begun campaigning for 50 Influential Aggies! Since 2015, The Utah Statesman has published the 50 Most Influential Aggies. The individuals are nominated by students, faculty and staff on campus, then selected by our editorial staff. The Utah Statesman staff is privileged to honor these people for their contributions to Utah State University. Our goal is to highlight those who have made a significant impact across all Utah State campuses throughout the year and to recognize their conscious efforts. If you know someone you think deserves to be featured, please scan the QR code and fill out the nomination form. The deadline to nominate is April 12, and those chosen will be featured alongside notable graduating students from each college in the last edition of the semester on April 29.

Abe Eborn President of Aggie Game Night

Abe Rodriguez 2022-2023 USUSA Executive Vice President

Alexander Gaeta-Troutner Engineering Career Design Specialist

Allison Fox Clinical Assistant Professor of Music Therapy

Amy Crosbie Executive Associate Athletics Director

Ashley Walter Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in the Department of Journalism and Communication

Aubree Dickinson Resident Assistant

Avery Edenfield Director for USU’s Center for Intersectional Gender Studies and Research

Benjamin Seamons Teaching Assistant in the Math and Statistics Department

Bobbi Crabtree Academic Advising Supervisor in the School of Teacher Education and Leadership

Brett McAllister Facilities Manager

Brian Smith Graduate Student in the Department of Wildland Resources

Brian Warnick Interim Department Head of Technology, Design and Technical Education

Cameron J. Cuch Lecturer and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship – USU Uintah Basin

Chad Warnick Alumnus, 2023 Utah Teacher of the Year

Christy Glass Professor of Sociology

Clara Alder 2022-2023 USUSA President

Courtney Check Graduate Student in the Department of Wildland Resources

Dakota Oldham 2022-2023 USUSA Student Events Executive Director

Elle Brown-Horton 2022-2023 USUSA Public Relations Director

Ellie Roberts Office Director of the Student Nutrition Access Center

Erik Fogth 2022-2023 USUSA Logan Vice President

Erika-Danielle Lindstrom LGBT+ & Allies Program Coordinator for the USU Inclusion Center

Evan Noble President of the Student Alumni Association

Felicia Gallegos

Hunter Warren 2022-2023 USUSA Blanding Vice President

Jacqueline Johnson Board Vice President of Avenues of Hope, Member of HDFS DEI Council

Jared Adams Resident Assistant

Jaxton Winders 2023-2024 College of Science Senator, Computer Science Coaching Center Manager

Jayme Walters Assistant Professor of Social Work

Joyce Kinkead Distinguished Professor of English

Korena Klimczak Graduate Student in the Department of Psychology

Leiloni De Pew Advocate for Accessibility in the Department of Theatre Arts

Lyle McNeal Alumnus, Former Professor in the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences

Maria J. Rodriguez Associate Professor in the Department of Physics

Mary Heers Alumna, Volunteer Producer for Utah Public Radio

Matthew Meng Assistant Professor in the Department of Marketing and Strategy

Matthew White President of the USU Foundation, Vice President for Advancement

Megan Wilson Founder of the Students Tenants Union

Melanie Rice-Moffat Alumna, Teacher and Founder of Dream Big Program at Park City High School

Michael Torrens Executive Director of Analysis, Assessment, and Accreditation

Michael Henderson Program Coordinator for the Covey Leadership Center

Mykel Beorchia Executive Director of University and Exploratory Advising

Rana Abulbasal Graduate Student in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Ronan Hart Graduate Student in the Department of Wildland Resources

Sam Perkins President of the USU Rotaract Club

Sherri Callister 2022-2023 USUSA Southwest Vice President

Scott Garrard Alumnus, Voice of Utah State Football and Men’s Basketball

Sydney Kap Marketing Intern for USU Athletics

Whit Milligan Director of Residence Life

The Utah Statesman has highlighted 50 Influential Aggies each year since 2015. The individuals were nominated by students, faculty and staff on campus, then selected by our editorial staff. The Utah Statesman staff is privileged to honor these people for their contributions to Utah State University.

Outreach and Prevention Coordiner for the Sexual Assault & Anti-Violence Information Office

To view the 50 Influential Aggies from past years, visit usustatesman.com/50-aggies.

By Ashley Dorius SPORTS REPORTER

or collegiate athletes, it can sometimes feel like the season never ends. Such is the case for Utah State Eastern’s women’s volleyball team. Even though their season won’t start back up until August, the team is already prepping for the upcoming year. The Lady Eagles, led by head coach Danielle Jensen, finished out the 2023 season with 22 wins out of 32 games total. They play in the Scenic West Athletic Conference, which they ended up ranked third in. Now that they’ve tackled this season, Jensen says it’s time to focus on other things, namely recruitment. “I’m just finishing up the recruiting I have left,” Jensen said. “We’ve even started our 2025 recruiting.” Jensen explained how the recruitment process works for USU Eastern. She works with her husband, Calvin, who is also an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator for the program. “We look through the high school teams,” Jensen said. “We look at clubs, too. We have a lot of different connectors.” Jensen mentioned how recruiting can be a difficult process for both the coaches and the athletes. Coaches have to be constantly searching for new players and networking to connect with players, while athletes have to perform at their best and then “make a really big decision.” “Recruitment works differently depending on the athlete,” Jensen said. “It can be an exhausting process; it never ends.”

The NCAA has strict rules when it comes to recruiting athletes, such as when the coach can contact a student-athlete. A contact “occurs any time a college coach says more than hello during a face-to-face contact with a college-bound student-athlete or his or her parents off the college’s campus,” according to the NCAA website. There are also times when the coaches can not contact the athlete in certain circumstances, such as a quiet period where the coach can only talk to the player on a college campus, or a dead period where the coach may not contact the player at all. At the end of the recruitment process, the athlete must sign a National Letter of Intent, which is when the athlete agrees to go to a college. However, recruitment isn’t the only thing done for volleyball in the off-season. The team continues to have practices, even though they don’t practice nearly as much as they do during the season. “We only do it so many days because of rules for off-season,” Jensen said. “We’re limited to eight hours a week.” According to NCAA rules for practices in the off-season, teams shall limit the amount of practices they have not to inhibit the academic progress of a student-athlete. Along with this, the NCAA has well-defined playing seasons for teams. The players are happy to be practicing, even if it’s less.

One person exercises in the iFIT Sports Performance Center, located by Maverik Stadium, on Jan. 31.

Page 11 - The Utah Statesman, February 5, 2024

It’s never really over: USU Eastern women’s volleyball team works toward next season Rachel West, a sophomore on the team from Cedar Hills, discussed what they’ve been working on. “We have focused more on skills, and broken things down this off season,” West wrote in a text message to the Utah Statesman. “We’re also super focused on increasing strength, verticals, and speed, so we’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room.” West explained how the Lady Eagles don’t just focus on the physical; they take a holistic approach to training. “We’ve also started to work on our mental side of volleyball, and have been meeting with a sports psychologist,” West wrote. The team doesn’t just play at practice, though. West loves playing volleyball just for fun as well. “Sometimes I’ll go play for fun with old teammates, but it’s not structured,” West wrote. West and her team are excited for the upcoming season, even if it’s a distance away. “I’m super excited to see how we do this next season,” West wrote. “We set some big goals, and have been working hard, so I’m excited to see the results of that.” Those interested in women’s volleyball at USU Eastern can learn more at usueasternathletics.com/sports/womens-volleyball. — ashley.dorius@usu.edu

PHOTO BY Claire Ott

Page 12 - The Utah Statesman, February 5, 202

USU Eastern’s Tanner Hallock maintains physical health of student-athletes

PHOTO COURTESY OF Tanner Hallock Headshot of Tanner Hallock, head athletic trainer at USU Eastern.

for physical injuries, but also for the mental challenges that come with these injuries. “I think one thing with the trainers is that when athletes get injured, it not only shocks them physically, but the main thing is that it kind of rocks them mentally,” Jensen said. “Being able to have a trainer who knows what to say and who knows how to approach it in a way so the athlete knows they are going to be OK and get them past that mental block has been really important, and Tanner has a way of doing that.” West said Hallock is good at helping athletes on an individualized level when it comes to their nutritional needs and training programs. West reflected on the individualized training program Hallock made for her. He rewrote the entire weights and

conditioning program for the team. “This one’s been very volleyball specific, which has been fun to like, see the differences. I already feel like I’ve gotten so much stronger from i,t and it’s only been a couple of weeks,” West said. Hallock said at the end of the day, all of the sports teams come through the athletic training room at one point or another. “I know everyone on an individual level. I try to have communication and build those relationships with my athletes so I know who they are, what their goals are, and so that I can help them in any way possible,” Hallock said.

By Savannah Burnard SPORTS REPORTER

tah State University Eastern’s sole athletic trainer, Tanner Hallock, heads the care for athletes’ physical health. “My biggest goal here is to have athletes perform at their peak performance and give them the available resources to help them get to that point,” Hallock said. Hallock works under two directing physicians, and if he has any questions, concerns, or needs to refer somebody to an orthopedic doctor for imaging, he utilizes these physicians. Hallock also works with two physical therapy clinics where he can send athletes to help rehabilitate their injuries or recover after surgery. But Hallock said for lighter injuries like a sprained ankle, he takes care of them himself. “The minute that happens, I’m on site at all times,” Hallock said. “I immediately start rehab within minutes of the injury. I evaluate it, diagnose it and then start a plan to get them back as quickly as possible.” Hallock said with injuries, he’s not here to hold athletes back, but to push them forward. “My big thing is I want all my athletes to continue playing sports as long as they can do it safely and with a full, safe amount of function to be able to push through,” Hallock said. Sometimes, there is a season-ending injury for an athlete, such as a torn ACL. “That’s where I have to draw the line and say, ‘sorry, your season is over,’” Hallock said. “‘We’ll get you back for next season stronger than ever.’” Student athlete Rachel West said she has problems with her knees, and Hallock has been a resource in helping her find ways to function with the pain through a variety of approaches to the injury. “I feel like because of him teaching me how to tape and all that, I’ve been able to play better and longer,” West said. Danielle Jensen, head volleyball coach at USU Eastern, said Hallock is a valuable resource to the athletes not only

Savannah is a student in the journalism program. She loves meeting new people and trying new things. — savannah.burnard@usu.edu

USU Eastern’s physical therapy room.

USU Eastern’s weight room.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Tanner Hallock

@usublanding

“Aggies! We hope your first week of the semester was colorful and exciting.”

@usu_moab

“USU Moab is finally getting snow!!!”

@ususouthwest

@ususaltlake

“Kayleen and Hailey showcasing USU Southwest at the 2024 Nephi Public Library Info Fair”

“Taking a moment to celebrate Marissa Armitstead, Assistant Director of Career Design for Statewide, she has decided to step down after over 3.5 years of service.”

@usueastern

“It was great to have President Cantwell on campus today to meet with faculty, staff, and students.”

@usubrighamcity

“Come enjoy contrasting colors and make these wonderful blocks.”

Page 13 - The Utah Statesman, February 5, 2024

Statewide Socials

Page 14 - The Utah Statesman, February 5, 202

hen Gov. Spencer Cox took office in Jan-

clusion is not a pie — more for someone else does not

the Utah Compact on Racial Equity, Diver-

don’t apply to me, improve my college experience be-

uary 2021, he emphasized his support for

sity and Inclusion. As reported by the Salt Lake Tribune,

he claimed the ideals of the compact would “‘continue

mean less for you. Programs under DEI, even ones that cause I know my peers are welcomed and supported.

The Utah Legislature doesn’t seem to understand that

during my administration.’”

DEI programs have broad support on campuses, espe-

but a system that creates inequalities, the compact

don’t care, a frightening attitude from those whose pri-

Along with condemning racism as not just an attitude

pledges to support “priorities and laws that create equal

opportunity and access for all” and to “invest our time and resources to create greater opportunity for people of color.”

On Feb. 1, Cox posted on X with a message about cel-

ebrating Black History Month, saying “we honor the re-

silience, courage and contributions African Americans have made to our state and nation.”

This all sounds lovely. That is, if you’ve forgotten that

last Tuesday, Cox signed HB261, which prohibits hiring practices, requirements and programs based on diversity, equity and inclusion in Utah’s public schools, universities and government offices.

The post was made less than 48 hours after he signed

the bill. I haven’t gotten this kind of whiplash from po-

litical hypocrisy since people were mourning the death of a war criminal a few months ago.

If you can manage to stop rolling your eyes long enough

to read the full post, the second line is even more hypo-

critical than the first: “We celebrate Black communities and remain committed to improving access to opportunity.”

I didn’t know banning programs that improve access to

opportunity was a way to remain committed to improving access to opportunity, but I guess you learn something new every day.

The compact was notable, but it’s not a law. Posts on

X have no legislative power. Anti-racist sentiments have

to be accompanied by concrete action if their speakers want to be taken seriously.

And DEI isn’t just about race. DEI programs, in com-

pliance with both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Education Amendments of 1972, support all students

regardless of ethnic background, nationality, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, veteran sta-

tus, religious values, physical or mental disability, age, political affiliation or socioeconomic status.

Rarely have I met anyone privileged on all these

counts. Real people have intersecting challenges and identities, visible or not, and even people who seem to

occupy places of privilege have a need for community and support. Opponents of DEI programs act as if some students are left out in the cold because of them, but in-

cially here at USU. Or maybe they do, and they simply mary job is to represent the views of their constituents, not themselves.

Maren Archibald is a writer, editor and musician. She supports DEI programs. — maren.archibald@usu.edu

If you are interested in writing a guest column, please contact the Statesman at editor@usustatesman.com with your idea. For more information about Letters to the Editor, visit usustatesman.com/opinionpolicy

Sudoku puzzles are provided by www.sudokuoftheday.com.

Page 15 - The Utah Statesman, February 5, 2024

Last week’s solution:

PHOTO BY Heidi Bingham

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