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News Changes to the USUSA Constitution are proposed in public forum.

Utah State University, Logan, Utah

Lifestyles Gabe Cortez is crowned Mr. USU and speaks on who has supported him.

Sports USU Men’s Basketball holds first official practice of the season.

Week of September 28, 2026

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Proposed changes to USUSA Constitution By Essence Barnes STATESMAN EDITOR

n response to controversy following the outcome of last year’s USUSA election, this year’s executive leadership board came together to clarify rules within the USUSA Constitution. During public forums in the TSC Hub on Sept. 13 and 14, USUSA President Max Alder, Student Advocate Vice President Colin Hastings and Executive Vice President J.J. Watts presented proposed changes they hope to make to the constitution, hearing board bylaws and election bylaws. They first proposed a change to the USUSA membership statement. The current definition states, “All students, currently in a degree or certificate-seeking program at

PHOTO BY Owen Clarke USUSA President Max Alder speaks to students regarding recent changes to the USUSA Constitution in The Hub in the TSC on Sept. 15.

Utah State University are members of the USUSA and shall be granted all rights, responsibilities and privileges as established by this Constitution.” The definition would change under the newly proposed changes. “We are proposing that it instead be, ‘All students at Utah State University who are currently registered for academic credit while being issued charges of tuition and student body fees,’” Alder said during the forum. Alder said some students who qualify include study abroad, technical education, employee and spouse, and employee dependent students. This new definition doesn’t include students who don’t pay tuition or fees, meaning concurrent enrollment students would not qualify as members. “The reason why we say ‘charged’ and not ‘paid’ is because we don’t want to eliminate those that have tuition waivers or waived their fees but were still charged for it,” Alder said. Under the new definition, USUSA members would have voting eligibility and access to all USUSA student events. It would not impact student access to university services like tutoring, advising, class registration or space usage, according to Alder. “In the preamble of the constitution, it says, ‘The constitution for the students of Utah State University is hereby established for and by the students,’” Alder said. “Even if you are a type of student who is not a USUSA member, you are still represented by the student body officers within USUSA.” Concerns surrounding live polling were also discussed. Alder said students would no longer have access to live polling during the election. “No co-chairs, no students, nobody that is a USUSA officer

will be able to see the live polling data,” Alder said. “It will only be a select few advisors, the student success leadership and the IT department.” Proposed changes to the proxy voting section of the election bylaws were also presented. “Our plan right now, if my memory serves, is that a candidate or a campaign team member is not allowed to touch or even view anybody’s ballot,” Alder said, “and there will be some more obvious descriptions as to what proxy voting is and is not.” Proposed changes to administrative responsibilities and document organization were presented. To accommodate campuses like USU Eastern that have mainly two-year programs, incoming freshmen and transfers may now apply for appointed positions, but they would remain ineligible for elected roles until enrolled.

Essence Barnes is a fourth-year student majoring in journalism who enjoys reading, writing and storytelling. — essence.barnes@usu.edu

Sept. 7 USUPD received information from a resident advisor concerning a report that had been received regarding several individuals discussing selling drugs on campus. The complainant stated that the drugs haven’t been brought to campus yet. USUPD will be following up with the complainant who made the initial report. Sept. 15 The Idaho State vs. USU football game held at Maverik Stadium had a total of nine incidents reported. Sept. 12 USUPD responded to a report of individuals in a vehicle spraying people with water guns on campus. Officers advised they would screen the case for potential trespassing action from campus and each individual received citations for one count of disorderly conduct and one count of prohibition as to passenger riding on improper portion of motor vehicle.

Sept. 17 USUPD responded to a hit-and-run call at the Aggie Terrace. Upon arrival officers made contact with the complainant, took photos of the damage and requested USU security officers search video footage. During the investigation it was learned from USU security that there were no cameras in the area where the complainant’s vehicle was parked. This case was cleared for lack of evidence.

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By Dylan Moore STATESMAN REPORTER

tah State University introduced Valentina Salotti as the next dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at a reception on Sept. 18 at the L. Tom Perry Pavilion. The event also celebrated David Huntsman’s eight years of service on the university’s Board of Trustees. Salotti, who will take over the role Jan. 1, 2027, comes to Utah State from Iowa State University, where she serves as senior associate dean for academic affairs at the Ivy College of Business after previously serving as associate dean for undergraduate programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in banking and finance and a doctorate in finance, all from the University of Bologna in Italy, which she noted is the oldest university in the world, founded in 1088. Salotti will be the second dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business since the business college was named nearly 20 years ago, following longtime dean Douglas Anderson. In an interview with The Utah Statesman, Salotti said the appeal of Utah State began with its landgrant mission. Iowa State, like Utah State, is a landgrant institution, and Salotti said her own background as a first-generation college student shapes how she PHOTO SUBMITTED BY VALENTINA SALOTTI approaches the job. New dean of the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, Valentina Salotti. “I see myself in the students,” Salotti said. “I really believe in the mission of a land-grant institution ... and of ways,” Corcoran said. “I mean, the political climate I think because of that, I’ve been more effective and just there in the state is similar. The demographic makeup is a better administrator, because you believe that you are similar, and so we knew that she could bring kind of a part of something that is really transformative.” fresh perspective.” She said a visit to Logan reinforced that sense of fit, At the reception, Corcoran read remarks from David particularly a lunch with a group of Huntsman students. Spalding, a former dean at Iowa State’s Ivy College “The students at Huntsman are a very happy bunch,” of Business, crediting Salotti with launching new Salotti said. “They also seem to be doing more than undergraduate and graduate programs, modernizing simply going to class ... which is telling me that they admissions and expanding online education during feel like they belong to the business school, and they are her time there. According to Spalding’s remarks, the having a really incredible experience.” Ivy College reached record enrollment by fall 2025 Salotti outlined three priorities for her first years as under her leadership, and its online MBA became the dean: improving student outcomes and internship university’s largest online graduate program. opportunities, strengthening the school’s research output as part of Utah State’s status as an R1 institution, and deepening ties with industry and the state’s economic development efforts. She also said she wants to see the business school work more closely with other colleges across campus. “It could be journalism, or it could be that you are an engineer,” Salotti said. “I think it would be a benefit for any student at Utah State to have the ability to be Dylan is a senior majoring a specialist in their own discipline but also see how in political science. You can business is everywhere.” usually find him on some sort Utah State Provost and Executive Vice President of outdoor adventure. Chris Corcoran, who announced Salotti’s hiring to the Huntsman faculty and staff, said her experience at a — dylan.moore@usu.edu similarly situated land-grant institution stood out during the search process. “Iowa State is a very similar institution to us in a lot

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Page 3 - The Utah Statesman, September 28, 2026

Valentina Salotti named new dean of Huntsman School

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USU Police Department retires K9, welcomes new four-legged officer By Kendy Plant STATESMAN REPORTER

he Utah State University Police Department welcomed its newest K9 officer, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, in August. The police dog, Demona, is currently going through weekly training to gain her certification in the state of Utah for explosive detection. Demona, known as “Mona” to USUPD, mostly works alongside Officer Micah Talbot, her handler, and Lt. Scott Murray. Talbot and Murray described the selection process as choosing Mona out of five different dogs through a private donor. Throughout the selection process, Talbot and Murray worked alongside Chief of Police Erik Christensen to consider cost, logistics and how the K9 would work with different handlers. Mona’s arrival follows shortly after the retirement of Zoomer, one of USUPD’s oldest K9 officers. Zoomer, an 8-year-old English Labrador retriever, worked for USUPD for six years, officially retiring in July. Zoomer will spend retirement as a family dog with his handler, Murray. “I will miss bringing him to work each day and at first, he too missed working. Now he just loves retired life and relaxing at home,” Murray said. USUPD said they found it necessary to replace Zoomer due to an increase in hostility surrounding public events, political figures and higher education. Talbot stated that K9 sweeps and handlers are also important when it comes to keeping people safe at over 20,000 events held annually at USU. STATESMAN FILE PHOTO Christensen stated in an interview with The Utah USUPD Officer Murray stands with police dog Zoomer by his patrol vehicle during the K9s first days on the job in 2020. Statesman that Zoomer’s absence has had a large impact on USUPD. Zoomer was the first K9 to work Each one has their own personality, and it’s always a K9 is the years of life they take with them when they for USUPD and was incredibly intelligent and well- such a joy to see their little idiosyncrasies and quirks leave. He referenced writer John Galsworthy, who behaved. Most of the training for the K9 program as they develop. It’s also heartbreaking when they wrote, “Not the least hard thing to bear when they go was inspired by Zoomer himself. In his time working leave us, but that’s because we love them and care from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry away for USUPD, Zoomer performed nearly 150 pre-event about them so much. They give their entire lives to us, with them so many years of our own lives.” For USUPD, Zoomer was more than a K9 officer. sweeps. According to Christensen, Zoomer was not and that really matters to me, to our K9 handlers and to our department,” Christensen said. He was a constant companion to his handler, a only an excellent officer, but also a good friend to USUPD is the only department in Cache Valley familiar presence on campus and a trusted part of the everyone at USUPD. “I think we have to really emphasize that these K9s with Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) K9’s, so department. After six years of service, Zoomer leaves are living creatures with beautiful souls who give their Mona will play a crucial role within the department. behind a lasting legacy as USUPD welcomes Mona entire lives in service of our university’s public safety Christensen said that although the puppy has only into the K9 program. “To us, he’s that constant companion to his handler mission. It is very emotional to me and to the K9 been at the department for a couple of weeks, she has in all weathers and times of day, a constant presence handlers when we speak of these dogs. They aren’t just already started to build a home there. “Mona has adjusted great. Both her and I have been that has kept our campus safe, and overall, just a a piece of equipment. They’re alive — they’re in there. getting used to being partners with USUPD,” Talbot really, really, exceptionally good boy,” Christensen They have good days and bad days,” said Christensen. said. said. Christensen has worked for USU for 11 years and is Talbot said that he has worked in law enforcement a USU graduate himself. He has a deep passion for the Kendy Plant is a psychology university and the roles that the police have to make for over 27 years and this is his second year with student. In her free time, she enjoys USUPD. He is the one responsible for giving the new sure everyone feels safe and welcome. Christensen thrifting tiny trinkets, making cute said that he, and the rest of his team, are excited for K9 her nickname, Mona. crafts and, of course, writing. As Mona begins her training and settles into her new the arrival of Mona and what the future holds for the role, she will eventually take on the responsibilities K9 staff. — kennedy.plant@usu.edu “I love dogs, and I see them as part of our family. that Zoomer laid out for her. Christensen said one of the hardest parts of retiring

By Cambria Thurgood STATESMAN REPORTER

r. USU has been crowned in Utah State University’s annual Homecoming week tradition. On Sept. 23, representatives from each USU college and other campus organizations competed for the crown in the Mr. USU Pageant at Newel and Jean Daines Concert Hall. At the end of the night, Mr. Involvement Gabe Cortez was crowned the winner. Cortez competed as Mr. Involvement due to his experience in organizations such as being a university ambassador, a Fraternity and Sorority Life ambassador and the director of civic engagement for the Government Relations Council. “It’s a very surreal feeling,” Cortez said. “I’ve been wanting to do Mr. USU since I was a freshman.” Although he had wanted to compete since his first year at USU, he said his first-year self would not have believed him if he had been told he would one day win the pageant.

PHOTOS BY Lola Probasco Gabe Cortez performs at the annual Mr. USU pageant.

“If I can only show this to my freshman year of high school and my freshman year of college, I don’t think they’d believe it because it is a completely different person in the best way possible,” Cortez said. USUSA traditions director Ella Garrett had attended every practice leading up to the event. She said the most

exciting part of the competition is being able to watch your peers perform. “I think it’s really fun when you recognize someone from class doing something totally out of their comfort zone and being completely silly,” Garrett said. She said that the competitors this year have been “awesome”. “These guys are very excited. They’re ready to put on a show,” Garrett said. Every Mr. USU competition begins with a group dance performed to popular songs from a chosen artist. This year’s group dance opened to songs by Justin Bieber. The audience at the annual Mr. USU event. USU students vote on the winner and each contestant represents a Cortez said that he really different major or affiliation with USU. enjoyed doing the dance and taught me strength, taught me love, taught me my being able to do it with the other competitors. humor, and to tell her that I genuinely would not be the “I felt like I was on top of the world,” Cortez said. “It man that I am today without her.” was the perfect jump-start to the rest of Mr. USU.” During the event, contestants randomly pick from a After the group dance, the next event of the evening bowl to decide what question they will have to answer, was the individual talent section. This year, competitors although they are told what questions are in the bowl displayed a variety of talents including drumming, ahead of time. singing, dancing, card tricks and basketball tricks. “When I was practicing it, I would always get For Cortez’s talent, he performed a card trick along emotional because my answer every single time was my with a dance. The talent originally started out as a grandmother,” Cortez said. dance — the magic trick was not added until later. “I thought, ‘I can’t just do a dance. I need to do something that is going to set me apart — something that’s going to be fun,’” Cortez said. The card trick was the classic “pick a card, any card” trick. However, the end of the trick where they ask, “Is this your card?” was never revealed until after the dance, leaving the audience in suspense. Mr. USU 2025 Jacob Moore was one of the panel judges for this year’s contest. He said that Cortez’s performance was unexpected. “There were so many unexpected turns with the magic trick at the beginning and then all the dancing in the middle,” Moore said. “I did not expect that from Gabe.” The final event of the evening was the formal wear and questionnaire section. During the event, Cortez was escorted by his grandmother and paid an emotional tribute to her, saying that she was the person who has had the largest impact on his life. “If there was one part of the night that went perfect, it was being able to be walked out by my grandma,” Cortez said. “Walking with her and then, at the same time, being able to tell her how much she meant to me and how she was someone who taught me resilience,

Cambria is from West Point, Utah. This is her third year at Utah State. She is double majoring in journalism and communications. She loves camping and snowboarding. — cambria.thurgood@usu.edu

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Mr. Involvement Gabe Cortez crowned the new Mr. USU

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Aggie Commons replaces The Junction By Jillian Peterson STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER

he Junction, Utah State University’s decades-old residential dining hall, has been transformed into Aggie Commons, replacing the all-you-can-eat buffet with restaurants, games and gathering spaces. With the building slated for demolition within the next year, Aggie Commons is a temporary use of a space USU Dining Services still wants students and faculty to use. Aggie Commons is open seven days a week and offers board games, puzzles, TVs, a karaoke machine and free popcorn and soda. “We’ve got cornhole, Jazzminton, a really nice poker table, and my personal favorite, shuffleboard,” said Alan Andersen, director of Dining Services. Aggie Commons has four restaurants: Big Blue’s Grill, Global Kitchen, Taste of the Americas and Common Greens Deli and Salad Bar. These restaurants are open to anyone, Andersen said, whether they are students, faculty or community members. Students with meal plans can use meal swipes or Dining Dollars here, according to Andersen. One meal swipe allows a student to receive an entree, a side, a beverage and a dessert. The restaurants at Aggie Commons serve food PHOTO BY Elise Bliss from 5-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, which is USU students Samantha James, Jaden Howe and Taylor Todd sit around a table at Aggie Commons on Sept. 21. more limited than The Junction, which was open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Aggie Commons. from The Hub, and the chairs are originally from the Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 7 “It’s a very chill vibe,” Kearns said. “The Marketplace David B. Haight Alumni Center. a.m. to 2 p.m. can be very chaotic. There’s usually a lot of people in After the building is demolished, a new dining hall is “It became apparent that The Junction was there.” expected to be built in its place, though plans for the underutilized, especially for breakfast and lunch,” Unlike The Junction and The Aggie Marketplace, site are not yet finalized. Andersen said. “The place was literally a ghost town students with meal plans are allowed to take the food “The idea right now is to build a new dining hall, at lunchtime.” to go. and then maybe add a couple stories of housing on According to Andersen, The Junction’s hours “It’s super nice when you are in a rush,” Kearns said. top,” Andersen said. contributed to money and food being wasted. “When I need to go to class or do homework and I “We looked at the numbers and kept The Junction don’t want to sit and eat, I can just take the food back open last year to really understand the viability of to my dorm.” it, to see if it was necessary,” Andersen said. “We Students can order food using the Transact Mobile determined throughout the year that it wasn’t serving Ordering app and receive a text when the food is its purpose.” ready for pickup. Some students, including USU senior Mason In addition to the restaurants, students can buy England, miss the old hours. food and snacks from the Aggie Commons C-Store, “I remember some Sundays, I would come in, previously named The Depot, located by the entrance eat breakfast, do my homework, eat lunch, do my of Aggie Commons. homework, then eat dinner and leave,” England said. “We’ve added a lot more grab-and-go items,” Students living on Central Campus with required Andersen said. “We’ll have fresh-made salads and then Jillian Peterson is a junior studying meal plans must head to The Aggie Marketplace in breakfast line items like Jimmy Dean’s sausages too.” journalism. She is a big fan of concerts, the TSC if they want to use a meal swipe for breakfast Since Aggie Commons is a short-term plan, snowboarding and the Taco Bell driveor lunch. renovations of the building were done on a budget. thru. “Sometimes it’s annoying to have to walk over to The “Since we’re only investing for a year, we didn’t want Marketplace,” said Taylor Kearns, a first- year student to spend a million dollars on something,” Andersen — jillian.peterson@usu.edu who lives in Central Suites. said. Kearns said she prefers the food and environment at According to Andersen, the tables were brought in

By Cambria Thurgood STATESMAN REPORTER

ggie Cat Services began 21 years ago as a pre-veterinary club that trapped feral cats to demonstrate how to spay and neuter them. Today, it is a donation-based trap-neuter-return (TNR) management program. Aggie Cat Services was inspired by the No More Homeless Pets program’s TNR efforts in Salt Lake City according to Whit Milligan, USU Residence Life executive director. They wanted to start implementing more TNR programs in different cities. Due to Utah State University having many clusters of feral cats around campus, the administrative assistant of the USU Pre-Vet Club had representatives from the shelter come talk to the club and other faculty about the program. “I had never heard of it before,” said Milligan. “We went and thought it was the coolest thing ever.” Areas such as Aggie Commons, previously known as The Junction, family housing areas and the mobile home park were places stray cats liked to call home. They were there because there was plenty of food and shelter options, Milligan said. “People leave dumpsters open so they can dumpster dive and find food,” Milligan said. “That’s how they were trying to survive.” In order to control the population, Milligan and other faculty members implemented their own TNR program.

“They exist because of humans, so I feel like we have a responsibility to humanely manage what’s going on with them,” Milligan said. Milligan said, in order to trap the cats, a feeding station must be established. “You identify where cats are, and you establish a feeding station because usually there are more cats around than what you’re seeing,” Milligan said. When they are trapped, the cats are taken to the vet to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and have the tips of their left ear clipped, a visual sign that the cats have been treated. “We have their ear tipped so that we can tell visually that they’ve been trapped,” Milligan said. They are then released back to the same place they were trapped to continue living. “I estimate we’ve trapped a little over 80 cats in all since the beginning,” Milligan said. When cats are released, the feeding station stays in the same place. Aggie Cat Services shelters are also put in place so cats don’t have to search for their own. “Once we had shelters and a feeding station on the other side of the fence of the townhomes, the cats had no reason to stay near the houses,” Milligan said. “They don’t want to be around you or your stuff.” Twelve shelters were built and donated to the program by a high school student for his Eagle Scout project. Without the shelters, cats would use back porches in

PHOTO BY Lola Probasco A stray cat on USU campus going to an Aggie Cat Services shelter.

family housing areas to live in. To minimize that issue, shelters and feeding stations have been placed in Aggie Village, giving the cats a better spot to stay. “Providing them with shelters made all the difference in the world for them being around family housing,” Milligan said. “They don’t want to be on your back porch, but you’re storing a bunch of stuff there. You’re creating all these hiding cubby places for them to winter in.” Aggie Cat Services volunteers help with feedings and keep the shelters clean and stocked with fresh straw in the winter. If the snow gets too high for the cats to get in or out of the shelters, they also shovel paths so they can roam around as usual. Stockton Benson, an Aggie Cat Services volunteer, said he loves being able to help these cats. “I love getting to know that I’m making a difference and helping these cats out,” Benson said. This is Benson’s fourth year at Utah State and his second year as an Aggie Cat Services volunteer. Each volunteer has specific feeding days to ensure that all the animals are sufficiently managed. Benson is the Friday feeder. “It’s a cool experience to see the cats every Friday,” Stockton said. “I really do love cats, and so getting to see them is always a pleasure.”

— cambria.thurgood@usu.edu

Asa Finch volunteers multiple times a week to feed and care for stray cats on USU campus.

PHOTO BY Lola Probasco

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Aggie Cat Services manage feral cat population at USU

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Utah native Olivia Ruy brings Pow By Rory McNeill STATESMAN SENIOR REPORTER

ith serious shake-ups within Utah State University’s volleyball team occurring last offseason, new head coach Keith Smith and his coaching staff needed to find players who could help bring stability to the team. For the Aggies, that role has been filled by junior outside hitter Olivia Ruy. For Smith, making sure Ruy would become an Aggie was one of his first goals as USU’s head coach. “She was my first call. I got hired on a Thursday. We didn’t tell the team until Saturday. I did a team Zoom, and she was a part of it, and literally, the Zoom hung up, and I called her right after that, so that was number one priority — to keep her,” Smith said. “It was highly important because we lost 90% of our offense, either in the portal or to graduation. Part of what was so important was her experience, part of it was talent, part of it was that she’s just kind of a special, motivated human.” Ruy entered the season as one of the Aggies’ most seasoned veterans, playing at different Power Four schools until finding her way to USU. Even before college, Ruy spent years playing among the highest levels of volleyball in the nation. From a young age, Ruy knew that volleyball would be her lifelong passion. “Growing up, I would be peppering with my dad in the living room, and I loved it, but when I was eight or nine, a family friend was playing volleyball, and I went to their tournament. While I was there, I just kind of

fell in love with it. I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do,” Ruy said. “I hopped on a rec team, and then I just went into the club season the next season, so I haven’t stopped since I was nine on my club team.” A Salt Lake City native, Ruy quickly moved up the ranks of the volleyball world, finding herself among the premier teams of club volleyball in Utah. “By the time I was 12, I was on a traveling competitive team, and they kind of funnel you into collegiate athletics. I played for Club V in Salt Lake City, and it’s a very competitive club. It’s a club that colleges consistently recruit from, and that helped me realize I could play in college,” Ruy said. “In high school I was also on a really good team. We were ranked in the nation, and we were getting a lot of looks at national tournaments — we’d have coaches on our court during games.” Out of high school, Ruy would commit to play volleyball at the University of Arkansas. Knowing she wanted to be in a big conference, she would head to the SEC, where she would take on some of the powerhouses of the sport. “I loved Arkansas. That was my first visit, and then I went on three or four other visits before I committed, and nothing really compared. I mean, it is an SEC school. A big reason I went was for a coach named Macey Gardner,” Ruy said. “She played at Arizona State [University] under Jason Watson, the Arkansas coach. She played my position, and she was unreal at volleyball. I felt that she could really push me. I also Olivia Ruy, 9, prepares for a point against UCLA during a match against the Bruins in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9.

Utah State Volleyball players celebrate after winning a point against UCLA during a match in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9.

knew that I wanted to leave home and have a new experience that way.” After two years in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Ruy would make the decision to enter the transfer portal. She would find herself at the University of Maryland. “It was an emotional decision to leave Arkansas because I did love it, and I loved the people that I was around, the culture, but I felt like the program was kind of going to go a little bit of a different way than I wanted it to,” Ruy said. “I ended up at Maryland because there were four other girls that were coming in with me, and three of them were also SEC pins. I felt really confident that we would be a really good team, and we would be able to turn some heads and kind of change the trajectory of Maryland volleyball.” Ruy would only play one season at Maryland before entering the transfer portal again. This time, connections from home would lead to USU. Players such as Ava Napierski and Ava Nakai grew up playing with Ruy, and they would have a major impact on Ruy’s decision to come back to Utah. “Back in December, when Ruy was in the portal, it was Rob [Neilson] and Chloe [Hirst] recruiting her at the time. I hopped on a call with Chloe because she knew that we knew each other from Club V. She asked me questions about her and whether she would fit in,” PHOTOS BY Owen Clarke Napierski said in a phone call with The Utah Statesman. “I immediately said, ‘I think Olivia Ruy could come

to this team and wouldn’t skip a beat. She wouldn’t be hesitant on the court,’ and that’s exactly what’s happened. She wasn’t hesitant at all. She immediately came in and played her volleyball, and I think that created a great connection with the team.” Despite former head coach Rob Neilson’s departure for Brigham Young University, Ruy felt that USU was still the best fit for her, especially under the direction of Smith. “I committed under Rob right before he left, kind of knowing that there was a good chance that he was going to leave and then stayed committed and met Keith. I think that Keith was pretty much exactly what I needed as a player,” Ruy said. “I was really lacking in some confidence and really trying to get out of a little bit of a rut that I had dug myself into when I was at Maryland, just in performance, and Keith was a coach that believed in me. He was a coach who had a really good vision for the program.” With so many new faces on this year’s team, her relationships with others have helped bring the team together. “The biggest impact she’s had is her leadership. She believes in us, and she believes in herself and the coaches. She has bought into anything coach Smith says, and with any feedback, she tries to implement it. Off the court, she’s bought into our relationship — she’s bought into being a good person for you and wants to leave you better off than she found you,” Napierski said. “Her relationship building has helped this team much faster. The more new people there are, the harder it is for the team to connect, but I don’t feel that was the case at all with this team, and I feel like Ruy was a big factor in that.” For Smith, the example she sets for the team has been extremely important for creating the culture around the program. “Her leadership is seen every day just by her actions. You know, lead by example. She’s not afraid to talk and say stuff too, but for the most part, she just comes in

which sounds basic, but not everyone does it all the time. She does it all the time, consistently. I think she’s going to be a huge part of starting our culture — or continuing that culture, if you will.” While the Aggies’ season hasn’t started out quite as hoped, Smith feels like Ruy’s experience will be irreplaceable as the team heads into conference play. Smith also expects that her role on the court will grow as the season progresses. For now, the team is quite clear about how important Ruy has been to this team, especially amongst all the change the program has seen.

Olivia Ruy, 9, celebrates after winning a point during a match against UCLA in the Wayne Estes Center on Sept. 9.

and does her job every single day, and when she says things, no one feels attacked because she’s such an awesome human outside the gym, too,” said Smith. “She is one of the most disciplined athletes I’ve ever been fortunate enough to work with. If she isn’t doing something well, she stays late and does extra work,

Rory McNeill is a junior from Rocklin, California studying mechanical engineering. He loves Aggie sports, skiing, golf and writing music. — rory.mcneill@usu.edu

Page 9 - The Utah Statesman, September 28, 2026

wer Four experience to Utah State

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Utah State Men’s Basketball holds first official practice of the 2026-2027 season athletic, gets up and down the court super Jacobson said. “You see it in rebounding. You see it, you fast. There’s just a ton of guys,” Hall said. “We know, guys are guarding the basketball, the ability to get a have a lot of depth, and that’s what you need deflection, the ability to chase down a longer rebound, so it in this day of college basketball. I’m excited shows up in some different ways.” about it.” The Aggies will play a number of exhibition games before The returning group brings needed getting into the regular season on Nov. 2. Two of Utah State’s experience and maturity as players who exhibition matchups will be at home, with the first taking have won a lot of games in Logan, while place on Oct. 10 against the University of Denver. still maintaining the potential for their replacements to be Aggies for future years. In addition to the returners, Jacobson brought in a number of experienced transfers, including the late addition of Hall from the University of Virginia. Hall led the Cavaliers in minutes a season ago and has played his previous four seasons at the Power Four level split between Brigham Young University and PHOTOS BY Mark Greenwood Virginia. Utah State basketball players huddle during a practice in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Sept. 22. “You talk the basketball piece, and you By Mark Greenwood feel his experience, you feel his leadership. He’s a high-level STATESMAN EDITOR player,” Jacobson said. “We’ve added a guy in Dallin that’s a tah State University Men’s Basketball had its first very high-level player, but as I just mentioned, the leadership official practice of the 2026-2027 season on Tuesday, and the experience that he brings, the maturity he brings to which they opened to members of the media. The our team has been — it’s going to be valuable.” open practice was the first time since earlier in the summer In addition to Hall, Jacobson brought significant size in that the media could see new head coach Ben Jacobson’s the offseason, rostering four players that are 6’11” or taller. squad. Interior size is something the Aggies lacked during former Coming off a Mountain West regular season and tournament USU Men’s Basketball head coach Jerrod Calhoun’s tenure championship that was followed up with a round of 64 win in in Logan and seems to be an issue Jacobson doesn’t want to the NCAA Tournament last season, the Aggies now enter the repeat. Pac-12 looking to build off last year’s success. “There is some size and length, but the skill level is probably “I think we’re capable of whatever we set our minds to. the thing that has stood out the most. Their ability to handle Kingston Tosi, 24, participates in a drill during a Men’s Basketball practice in the Obviously, we want to compete for a Pac-12 championship. the ball and pass the ball and make a three-point shot,” Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Sept. 22. We want to compete for a national championship,” guard Dallin Hall said. “Those are the goals. Every team has similar goals to start the year. It’s going to come down to executing every day to put ourselves in a position in March where we’re ready to accomplish those.” The Aggies were able to retain several players from last year’s championship team. Most notably, USU is returning the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Mason Falslev and Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year Karson Templin. The two award winners from last season bring back needed experience and leadership as they’ve both been in Logan for a couple of years now. “The other thing you feel is the competitive spirit. You feel that a lot from these guys, and you get that from playing games, but really, where it comes from is having success, and a number of these guys have been a part of championship Mark Greenwood is a senior studying finance. teams or played in the NCAA Tournament,” Jacobson said. When not covering Utah State athletics, he enjoys “You feel that competitive spirit because they have been there. watching baseball, tennis and getting embarassed What they — what that really means is they understand and by the greens at Birch Creek Golf Course. know what it takes day to day in order to get to that place.” In addition to Falslev and Templin, the Aggies return two — mark.greenwood@usu.edu redshirt freshmen in Brayden Boe and Kingston Tosi. Tosi in particular is one that Jacobson and the team are very bullish on and feel he can raise their ceiling considerably. “I think Tosi is going to have a big year this year. 6’ 8”, super Dallin Hall, 30, participates in a drill during a Men’s Basketball practice in the

Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Sept. 22.

By Quinton Papa STATESMAN REPORTER

irst introductions are always remembered. This was one of the topics Ben Jacobson, the new Utah State University Men’s Basketball head coach, discussed in a workshop on communication in partnership with the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center. The workshop served as Jacobson’s first introduction to many students attending the workshop. It was attended by an estimated 150 students by the Leadership Center. Even Sage, a USUPD K9 officer was in attendance at the Eccles Conference Center. As part of the introduction, Jacobson posed the question: How would you spend eight extra hours in the day? He responded by saying he would spend them with the USU Men’s Basketball team and fishing with his son. He then went on to demonstrate how fishing with his son taught him a valuable lesson. “Instead of saying, ‘Hunt, let’s go over here,’ I said, ‘Hunt, where do you want to go?’” Jacobson said. Asking that question led his son to catch his first small-mouth bass. Jacobson recalled that this taught him the importance of listening to others instead of just talking.

PHOTO BY Dane Johnson Utah State University head Men’s Basketball coach Ben Jacobson speaks about communication at an event for the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center in the Eccles Conference Center in Logan, Utah on Sept. 17.

The remarks about family had an impact on the students, especially Tyler Roberts, a recent USU graduate and program coordinator at the Covey Leadership Center. “I think it’s cool that he’s so close to his family. That was a huge takeaway for me,” Roberts said. “He’s this huge, successful coach, yet he looks up to his dad and his grandpa, and I’m sure he’s an incredible dad as well, as he shared stories about his children.” Jacobson continued to talk about how you present yourself and communication are related. “Very important to me — how we represent ourselves, how we represent our family, how we represent you as our student body, how we represent our university, how we represent our friends that support us,” Jacobson said. “One of the ways is in our communication.” He then talked about how essential nonverbal communication is for that. “Body language, eye contact, tone of voice, that piece of it. Here’s maybe the one point I would love to impress upon you,” Jacobson said. “It’s hard to know how much impact it has on the people you are talking with.” Roberts thought the discussion on body language was impactful. “I think a lot of leaders or coaches in today’s world can degrade people, and they think that that’s leadership and cracking down on them and being harsh, getting people in line, which I’m sure he still does,” Roberts said. “I love how much he talks about body language and the words you choose has such a big effect on the confidence of your players, and so that’s what I got that he wants to instill the players with belief instead of fear, and I think that’s going to be powerful.” Jacobsen ended his workshop with his six rules for communication: share congratulations and good news ASAP; be curious; be a great listener; be intentional, thoughtful and positive; be who you are — willing to grow and get uncomfortable; and send handwritten notes and cards. This workshop was offered as part of the leadership credential offered through the Covey Leadership Center. According to Roberts, anyone can come to the seminars, but if they want to participate more, the leadership credential

offers something they can put on their resume. “I always leave inspired to be a better version of me, and it’s not just the speakers, the community here, like the people you rub shoulders with, the students here,” Roberts said, talking about the Covey Leadership Center. “Everyone is here to become a better version of themselves.” Roberts then shared even more about why he loves the Covey Leadership Center. “A second reason why is it helps you turn outward,” Roberts said. “My freshman year here at Utah State, I got to be teaching leadership conferences to elementary kids, and it was so refreshing because college is so much about me, me, me — my decisions, my dating — and I got to turn outwards and just teach some kiddos about leadership, and it was the most fulfilling days of my freshman year, and it got me hooked.” The Covey Leadership Center holds similar workshops all year with special guest speakers. More information can be found on their website, huntsman.usu.edu/leadership/.

Quinton is a senior studying communication studies from Springfield, Missouri. He loves writing music, off-roading and being an Aggie. — quinton.papa@usu.edu

Page 11 - The Utah Statesman, September 28, 2026

USU Men’s Basketball head coach speaks on communication as part of leadership seminar

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The last days of summer

As the seasons change, Aggies make the most of the remaining warm weather by studying, skateboarding, or just soaking up the sun on the Quad.

Dane Johnson is a mechanical engineering student at USU. When not studying, you can find him exploring new places with his camera or on an evening stroll with his wife. —dane.johnson@usu.edu

We provide educational and celebratory programming centered on heritage months and long-standing USU cultural traditions.

All are welcome—students, families, and community members—to jump in with Heritage & Culture this year. Whether you want to help plan events or share your culture, we’d love to celebrate with you and create meaningful moments together.

Upcoming Events September 29, 2026 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration TSC International Lounge, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Nuestros Vecinos: La Presencia Hispánica en Cache Valley Photography by Dr. JP Spicer‑Escalante. Visit our community tables to explore Hispanic culture, learn something new, and meet people from Cache Valley. Then stop by the USU tables to learn about their work and discover simple ways to get involved.

October 02, 2026 Fiestas Américas TSC Grand Ballroom Event: 6:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Latin Dance: 8:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

FRE

E EV

ENT

Explore the meaning behind Latin American flags and enjoy Nuestros Vecinos: La Presencia Hispánica en Cache Valley, a photography display by Dr. JP Spicer‑Escalante. For the main event enjoy: Flag Parade, Ballet Folklórico de Efraín Villalobos, Live Performances, Zumba Session, and More

Learn more at usu.edu/involvement/heritage-culture Interested in volunteering? We’d love to have you! Email us at community@usu.edu Questions? Call us at (435) 797-0446 We're here Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM TSC 326 and 314 USU Heritage & Culture

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HERITAGE & CULTURE

October 06, 2026 LGBTQ+ History Month Celebration

TSC Fountain Plaza, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Connect with USU student organizations and academic units, learn about LGBTQ+ history, and engage with the campus community through interactive tabling activities.

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Aggie Radio Album Review

All for Aught, hosted by Jackson Kulick, collects music from the 2000s ... plus a little bit more. Every week is a different subtheme and folksy music shows up more often than naught. Listen Fridays at 4 p.m. on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM. The Temptation of Adam John Ritter

I Wish I was the Moon Neko Case

My Sweet Annette - Live Michael Cooley, Patterson Hood, Jason Isbell

Hard Times Gillian Welch

Rain Patty Griffin

The Fury of The Aquabats! “The Fury of The Aquabats!” has been tickling the eardrums of those lucky enough to experience it since its release in late 1997. The Aquabats! have become a relatively well-known name in Utah for their frequent concerts in the state and the popularity of their familyfriendly TV series, “The Aquabats! Super Show!”. In this album, the zany 8-piece ska band delves into some of the world’s most pressing and personal issues — fighting evil cats with two heads, falling in love with a Martian Girl from Planet V and getting attacked by thousands upon thousands of snakes. With bright horns, bouncy upbeats and catchy hooks, this album captures The Aquabats! wacky sense of humor in full display. Drummer Travis Barker — better known as the drummer for pop-punk band Blink-182 — creates a tasty backbeat for both casual listeners and those with an astute ear for subtle technicalities. — Griffin Gallagher of Griffy G’s Radiocracy A Stranger To You Released July 17, 2026, A Stranger To You is an alternative metal album muddy and sonically rich to its core. From the very beginning you are thrown into a world of uncertainty as the quiet narrator delivers verses over a cinematic buildup in the track “entrance”. You are then immediately thrown into the standout track on this album, “Block Of Flats”, an overproduced, loud, rhythmic, cacophony of emotion and truth. For those who enjoy the sounds of alternative metal and shoegaze, this album opens your eyes into a world of new sounds within the genre. Emotionally and sonically the album is messy and loud, but through this the true message of the album bleeds through as listeners discover in the final track “No Stranger To You…” that quote “Everything you said, comes crawling back to me.” — Ryker Thompson of R-Squared NEVER ENOUGH: VERSIONS “NEVER ENOUGH: VERSIONS” finds Turnstile pulling songs apart and putting them back together for a collection of songs thats play more like a series of reimaginings as opposed to remixes. The album heavily features crossovers between rock and electronic music, while dancing between energetic and atmospheric. Turnstile calls on a variety of support, with an all-star lineup including Hayley Williams, Slayyyter, Blood Orange, Elton John and more. Turnstile’s hardcore roots are still present, but they are joined by flares of alternative rock, pop and electronic music, with the featured artists adding heavy doses of their own sound, making this project feel reminiscent of a collective album. Heavy guitars and anthemic drums punch through electronic textures, quieter passages and more spacious production. Some songs seem to stretch out into the distance, while others are right in your face, holding on to the urgency that has always been associated with Turnstile’s music. — Max Murray of Max Capacity

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The Fury of The Aquabats!

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A Stranger to You

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NEVER ENOUGH: VERSIONS PHOTO BY MAX MURRAY

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Last week’s solution:

Sudoku puzzles are provided by www. sudokuoftheday.com.

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