Week of January 23, 2018 www.usustatesman.com (435) 797-1742 TSC Room 118 Free single copy SPORTS | USU Hockey
SPORTS | Men’s Basketball
Utah State defeated BYU 3-0 on Friday to improve to 4-1-1 on the new year, but the group has been slowed by a team illness. see PAGE 5
STUDENT LIFE | Sundance 2018
The Aggies fell to 3-5 in conference play after their comeback attempt against Wyoming fell short on Saturday.
The filmmaking industry descended on Park City this weekend and our writers and photographers were there to capture it.
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WOMEN’S MARCH 2018 USU students, faculty join community as they ‘look back to march forward’
By Bobbee Russell NEWS STAFF WRITER
Utah State University students and professors
braved the frigid temperatures with other com-
By Alison Berg NEWS SENIOR WRITER
munity members as they participated in the Women's March Saturday in Logan.
Utah State University President Noelle Cockett
Women, men and various dogs gathered in
released a “resource guide” Thursday to guide
front of the Historic Cache County Courthouse
faculty and staff through helping distressed stu-
carrying signs. Some were seen wearing pink
dents, specifically those dealing with mental
hats representing “The Pussyhat Project.”
health or sexual assault-related issues.
Multiple USU students, professors and com-
The guide, which was sent via email to all uni-
munity members spoke before the marching
versity faculty and staff,
began.
comes at a time when
Karina Hernandez, president of Theta Nu Xi,
mental health and sexual
USU’s multicultural sorority, spoke about how
assault are at the forefront
people from other countries, like her parents,
of societal topics, Cockett
are “guests” in the United States.
said, mentioning the issue
“In my home, being a guest means being a ser-
is situated “With growing
vant to your host because it’s an expression of
awareness about the prev-
gratitude. That is changing,” Hernandez said.
alence of mental health
Hernandez also said seeing her parents’ hard
issues and sexual violence on college campuses.”
work and service growing up influenced her
Though university faculty and staff have long
value for service today.
been required to alert the school’s Affirmative
“From their example, I was taught to relent-
Action office of “any allegations of sexual mis-
lessly serve those around me without asking for
conduct,” the guide serves to provide its recipi-
anything in return,” she said.
ents with telltale signs of students in distress, as
Gonca Feyza Soyer shared her experiences as
well as resources to help the student and protect
a Muslim woman living in America. She said
the safety of those around them.
she was naive when she first came to the United
The four-page electronic document first lists
States eight years ago.
USU’s “Think, Care, Act” slogan, encouraging
Soyer said she came to the United States with
those faced with distressed students to notice
a dream — to get her graduate education. She
warning signs of dangerous behavior or trou-
is a Ph.D. candidate with the University of
bling circumstances, show care for the student
North Texas and works as an instructor at USU.
and contact appropriate resources.
Soyer said she thought she could come to the
“Your expression of concern may be a critical
U.S. to get her education and nobody would
factor in saving a student's academic career or
judge her for wearing her headscarf.
even their life,” the document states.
“I wasn’t allowed to be myself in Turkey, where
The document emphasizes the necessity of fol-
I’m from, and have an education,” Soyer said.
lowing official procedures — such as reporting
Soyer added that she wanted to be herself,
sexual misconduct to Affirmative Action, as well
wear a headscarf and have an education. She said she is noticing change.
“Last year I realized that I am being acknowl-
edged, and I am not alone. There are women
and men out there supporting what I do, what
I believe in, and who want me to be myself,” Soyer said.
Colleen O’Neill, an associate professor of his-
tory, spoke about how events in the past are still happening today.
O’Neill brought up iconic instances from the
past where women have spoken up against abusers.
“Women have been seeking justice and seek-
ing men’s accountability for a long time,” she said.
O’Neill added that it seems the difference be-
tween the past and the present is that women
are speaking up and abusers are being held to
Cockett unveils guide aimed at helping students in distress
PHOTOS BY Kyle Todecheene (Above) Protesters listened to speakers at the Logan women’s march on Saturday. (Below) Protestors held signs supporting the #MeToo movement among others during the demonstration.
as filing reports with the “Behavior Intervention
Team” and contacting USU Police when necessary. It also recommends faculty and staff “Al-
task for their behavior — such as men losing
“We managed to win.”
ways document your interactions with distressed
cial media in 2017.
March showed their support for the message it
chair/supervisor after any incident.”
their jobs after the “Me Too” movement on so-
“The Women’s March last year has made an
impact on women running for office,” O’Neill
USU students who attended the Women’s
brought.
students and consult with your department Similarly, the document reminds faculty and
“I want to continue the progress we had last
staff “The Family Education Rights and Privacy
ple coming out and marching in response to the
student of concern in connection with a health
Joshua Johnson, a junior studying internation-
dent’s conduct or statements made by a student
to be an individual who can help others feel
In addition to listing resources, the document
said. They are “organizing their communities
year, where we had the largest numbers of peo-
Act (FERPA) permits communication about a
including homelessness, police brutality.”
election of Donald Trump as President,” said
and safety emergency. Observations of a stu-
al business and global communications. “I want
are not FERPA protected.”
they are supported in their efforts.”
points out “distress indicators” of students in ac-
and campaigns to challenge layers of injustice, O’Neill added that women are demanding
rights for the LGBT community, clean air, the protection of land and “reproductive justice.”
O’Neill talked about the “small victory” last
year at Standing Rock.
“For months, thousands braved the harsh
weather and endured the violent tactics,” she said of the Dakota Access Pipeline protesters.
— b96russell@gmail.com @bjr24601
ademic and personal circumstances. Though it focuses on the USU Logan campus, the docu-
ment also points out resources and protocol for regional campuses.
While outlining procedures and warning signs
for faculty and staff, the guide also lists confidential resources for students, such as:
COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SER-
VICES (CAPS) 435-797-1012
USU HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER 435-797-1660
LOGAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL 435-716-1000
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ANTI-VIOLENCE IN-
FORMATION (SAAVI) 435-797-7273
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE 800-273-TALK (8255)
— alisonberg28@gmail.com