The Utah Statesman - March 20, 2014

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Utah State University • Logan, Utah

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Break out the shovels

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Alumna shares importance of life’s plot twists 4By Madison Maners staff writer

Ryan Costanzo photo GROUNDBREAKING ATTENDEES dig in their shovels at the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Student Recreation and Wellness Center on Wednesday. The center is slated to be open for the Fall 2015 semester, and construction starts next month.

Groundbreaking held for long-awaited Student Recreation and Wellness Center 4By David Berg staff writer

Construction on what will become the Student Recreation and Wellness Center kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. “This kicks off the project that has been in the works for five years. It’s finally going to be a reality,” said James Morales, vice president for Student Services. The SRWC will include new basketball courts, a MAC gym, a weight room, an indoor track and a fitness studio. It will also include offices

for Campus Recreation. There is to many local politicians, including Logan Mayor Craig Petersen, space set aside for a climbing members of the Utah Legislature wall, which will be included in and the USU Board of Trustees. the design as more funds open Follow us on The chief student services advisors up. Construction begins this Facebook April, and it is slated to open for The Utah Statesman were also invited. Morales opened the ceremony the Fall 2015 semester. with a brief history of the project. The groundbreaking was He discussed the various steps the attended by more than 80 people, both students and dignitaries, including rep- project went through to get approval, including resentatives from the architectural firms and how the project was attempted 10 years ago. construction companies overseeing the project. Invitations to the groundbreaking were sent jSee REC, Page 2

Get Social

Liz Howell shared one of the deepest and darkest twists in her life story Wednesday in the TSC Auditorium. Her speech, “What Will Your Story Be?” highlighted feelings of hope and determination that can arise after tragedy. Howell and her husband Brady, USU alumni with degrees in international relations and political science, were living, working and achieving their dreams in Washington, D.C. when American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001. Brady was working as an intelligence specialist in the naval offices of the Pentagon. He died in the 9/11 attack at the age of 26. “Brady was fun,” Howell said. “He was adventurous. He was unstoppable.” After his death, Howell struggled with her identity and rebuilding her life. “Who is Liz Howell?” she said. “I didn’t even know who I am. So much of my identity was part of his identity. It was part of our story together, and it was no longer there.” Howell said she eventually realized the loss of her husband was not the end of her story. Instead, she saw it as her personal character development for the next chapter of her life. She continued to plan and dream by first completing medical school and then serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She learned two languages, Spanish and Portuguese, while serving. Upon returning home, she said she was drawn to humanitarian work. Howell said her biggest motivators today are her hope for tomorrow and her husband. Howell works for LDS Charities, the humanitarian branch of The LDS church that specializes in disaster relief. Following her speech, Howell was awarded the USU Alumni Merit Citation for her humanitarian work. The event was held by the College of Education and Human Services. Matt Ditto, CEHS senator, planned the event and said he felt her perspective on the 9/11 attacks was different because of her proximity to the event and that her speech touched him. “Her story is really quite incredible,” Ditto said. “It was quite touching because she shared the experience of losing her husband. I was impressed that even though her life was shattered, she took that and moved it into humanitarian work.” When Howell watched the news coverage of the 9/11 attacks in New York, she was at work

jSee HOWELL, Page 3

Annual service week gets Greeks involved 4By Christopher Nicholson staff writer

The fraternities and sororities of USU teamed up for their annual service week, performing various acts of service throughout the community in what is becoming a Greek tradition. “We’ve been doing this for at least three years,” said Marissa Campbell, a volunteer from the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Tyler Gregerson, a volunteer from the fraternity Delta Sigma Phi, said the turnout has been about the same as previous years. Among those helped were the hungry, deployed soldiers, senior citizens, blood recipients and people with disabilities. The Greek chapters hosted a canned food drive on behalf of the Student Nutrition Access Center, located in TSC 333, from Monday to Thursday. “There are places set up throughout campus for people to donate,” said Ricardo Jimenez, another volunteer from Delta Sigma Phi. Other events kicked off on Monday with participants in the TSC Auditorium writing letters to deployed soldiers. “During the monthly all-Greek meeting, we decided to show our appreciation for them,” Jimenez said. “Every member of the Greek system wrote a letter.” The Greeks met at the Carl Inoway Senior Housing Center on Tuesday as part of the “Friends of the Elderly” project, which provides socializa-

tion for senior citizens on a weekly basis. “We got to meet cool people, and we played ‘Sorry’ and a bunch of board games,” Campbell said. “It was cute. We’re playing bingo tonight.” A blood drive was held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the TSC International Lounge. The drive was put on by the American Red Cross and hosted by Delta Sigma Phi. “We’re involved in national philanthropy, so we took the reigns on this,” Gregerson said. “A lot of people showed up,” Campbell said. “I think it’s been pretty successful.” The Greek communities also partnered with an organization called Best Buddies which, according to its Utah chapter’s website, strives to create “opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” “We’re going bowling with them just for fun,” Jimenez said. The fraternities and sororities will gather from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday for an all-Greek pizza party to celebrate the culmination of the week. “(Service Week is) a time for all the Greek houses to gather as a community, not individual chapters,” Campbell said. “It’s more of a Greeks-give-back thing than lots of non-Greeks to come do service for us,” said Kevin Webb, assistant director of the

Riley Densley photo USU ALUMNUS KEITH CARTER donates blood in the TSC International Lounge on Wednesday as part of Greek Service Week.

Student Involvement Office of the USU Student Association. Campbell said service week events have varied from year to year since its inception. “The Council PR decides what happens,” she

said. “Last year we worked with the recycling center, and the year before that we participated in National Hug Day.”

– c.r.nicholson@aggiemail.usu.edu

CampusNews

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Nation & World

In brief Crimean voters decide to join Russian Federation Voters in Crimea chose to split from Ukraine on Sunday. The vote was dismissed by western powers as illegal. Russia and Crimea then signed a treaty on Tuesday that absorbed the peninsula into the Russian Federation. Pro-Russian forces have taken control of two naval bases in Crimea. One of them was the headquarters of Ukraine’s navy. Ukraine’s interim president, Olexander Turchynov, demanded Crimean authorities release navy chief Serhiy Hayduk and all other military and civilian hostages.

International search continues for airplane A Malaysia Airlines flight headed from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared on March 8. The plane was carrying 239 people. The FBI announced it will aid in the search for the flight on Wednesday. Teams from 26 different countries are looking for the airliner. U.S. investigators are believed to be aiding in a search of a home flight simulator that belonged to one of the pilots of the airliner. The pilot reportedly deleted files off the computer simulator.

Israel retaliates, strikes Syrian military sites In retaliation for a bombing that wounded four Israeli troops in Golan Heights, Israel carried out airstrikes on several Syrian military sites. Syrian media said one soldier was killed and several others were wounded. The Israeli military said its targets included a headquarters, a training facility and artillery batteries. The Syrian general command of the army and armed forces said the airstrikes were an attempt by Israel to divert attention from the fact that the Syrian government forces had successive victories over rebel forces. Israel was warned by Syria that “such aggressive acts would jeopardize the region’s security and stability, and make it vulnerable to all options.”

U.S. Federal reserve cuts bond purchases by $10 B The Federal Reserve furthered its stimulus campaign by announcing it would reduce its monthly bond purchases on Wednesday. The announcement was expected because of the progress of the economic recovery. The Federal Reserve plans to continue the suppression of short-term interest rates.

4Compiled

from staff and media reports

The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find in error, please contact the editor at 797-1742, statesman@aggiemail.usu.edu or come in to TSC 311.

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Thursday, March 20, 2014

Natural Resources race is on 4By Danielle Manley assistant news editor

Students gathered at noon on Wednesday in the atrium of the Natural Resources building to hear Arthur Wallis and Lacey Wilder battle for the spot of Natural Resources senator. Out of four initial candidates, Wallis and Wilder advanced past the primary elections and into the finals. Because the unopposed candidate, Patrick Adams, withdrew during regular elections during the last week of February, the senatorial race needed to be reopened. Both candidates showed appreciation for the college and focused on attracting more students to the program. “I found this college and I knew I had to switch,” Wallis said. “One thing I like about this college is it’s not just animals. There’s a lot of research that goes on. People need to know that if you want to be a scientist, this is the college to be in.” One of Wilder’s main goals to attract students is aimed at marketing and public relations. “I really want a good PR push for this college,” she said. Though both candidates said they want to unify departments and clubs, both had different, specific goals. Along with an improved marketing strategy, Wilder wants to provide students with more guest speaker opportunities as well as future jobs and internships. “What I’d really love to try and implement is to have a delegate from each club, each college, one person who can really do it and have them meet and bounce ideas off each other,” Wilder said. Wallis said he wants to make

Danielle Manley photo FROM LEFT, ARTHUR WALLIS AND LACEY WILDER are running for the open Natural Resources senatorial seat. A special election is being held because the former lone candidate, Patrick Adams, dropped out.

the opportunities available more the Natural Resources building and know at least 80 percent of accessible to students. “We already have a lot of good students by name. programs in place,” Wallis said. A student in the audience questioned the “We already f e a si bi l it y have great In the Know of the latinternships ter goal and opporVoting for Natural and wanttunities, but maybe ed to know Resources senator ends not everyhow Wallis at 3:30 p.m. today. planned to one knows facilitate it. about them, He told especially the first- and second-year stu- the girl he would show her and dents who don’t have too many walked over, shook her hand and asked what her name was. classes in this college.” Wallis said he wants to work to “I think it’s important that I install a drinking fountain with make a connection to the person,” a water bottle filling station in he said.

Rec From Page 1 USU President Stan Albrecht spoke next. He discussed how this project is unique in conception than any other current project. “This project is driven by students for students,” Albrecht said. “Important projects like this take time … take effort.” Doug Fiefia, the USU Student Association president, spoke next. He discussed how important the SRWC will be in creating a legacy at USU. He said he is excited that his 1-year-old daughter will, as a future USU student, be able to enjoy the legacy that current students established. “Every day is a great day to be an Aggie, but today this is especially true,” Fiefia said. After the ceremony’s conclusion, the George Nelson Fieldhouse was opened up for a recreation celebration. Students and visitors could visit the various stations manned by different parts of Campus Recreation. Visitors who

Ryan Costanzo photo STUDENTS LOOK AT PLANS for the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center at the groundbreaking Wednesday.

visited each station were entered into a raffle to win various recreation-themed prizes. Some of the most popular stations were the dunk tank sponsored by Aquatics, the raft rope toss

sponsored by Outdoor Recreation and the snack table catered by University Catering. It is intended that the SRWC will join the Taggart Student Center and the Merrill-Cazier Library as

He plans to use this goal to help represent the 595 students in student government affairs. Wilder has a different plan for representation. “Let’s be honest: You can’t have one person represent 500 people,” Wilder said. “You have to have delegates. You have to have people working with you. You have to be available to have people come to you.” Voting opened 7 a.m. on Wednesday and closes at 3 p.m. Thursday. The final announcement will be at 4 p.m. in the Natural Resources atrium. – daniellekmanley@gmail.com Twitter: @DanielleKManley

important focal points for student life on campus. “It will be one of those key pieces to continue that vibrancy,” Morales said. According to Morales, the project is still on budget. However, like any project, small changes to the design and budget will continue as construction occurs. Plans for the project began in 2009 when Tyler Johnson, the student body president for the 20092010 school year, used the project as part of his campaign for election. The student body voted on and approved the construction of the Recreation Center, along with the Aggie Legacy Fields, in the March 2012 election. This vote included a vote on an increase in student fees. Starting Fall 2014, student fees for the project will increase by $75 a semester to pay for the recreation center. For those interested in learning more about the project, a link to the project is available on myUSU or at http://www.usu.edu/camprec/ htm/facilities/aggierec. – david.berg@aggiemail.usu.edu

CampusNews

Thursday, March 20, 2014

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Elections: Which system is better? 4By Jeffrey Dahdah assistant sports editor

While USU students were going through student body elections, universities across the state were also holding elections. What students may not know, however, is there are different ways of running such contests. USU saw a voter turnout of less than 13 percent in February’s elections, with far less candidates. USU had 28 people running on the primary ballot this year, down from 47 last year and the 48.4 average over the last 14 years. Many people ran unopposed, a problem that the University of Utah and Utah Valley University did not h a v e . Despite the low numbers this ye a r, Linda Zimmerman, the executive director of Student Involvement and Leadership at USU, sees the drop in numbers as an outlier. “I think this year was unique. We had four current USU officers running for positions,” she said. “I think that may have hindered a few people that may have decided to run.” University of Utah and Utah Valley University, the two largest universities in the state, both use variations of the “party system,” where a group of people run togeth-

est number of people running ever.” There are 74 elected positions at the U of U. This is in extreme contrast to UVU,

Benefit concert to be held for Wengert College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences student returns to Logan after near-fatal car crash 4By Morgan Pratt staff writer

The band County Red will be performing a benefit concert for Dallin Wengert on Friday at the Kent Concert Hall. Wengert is a pre-veterinary science student from USU who was in a car accident nine months ago and has since made what some call a miraculous recovery. Wengert was driving from Nibley to USU’s animal science farm on U.S. Highway 89/91 near 3600 South when he pulled in front of another car and was struck on the passenger side. “All of this, I have no memory of,” Wengert said. “There are months before the accident and months after the accident that I don’t remember anything. This is all from my wife.” His wife, Amy Wengert, witnessed the crash because she was following him in another car. Amy was pregnant at the time. Having seen pictures from after the crash, Wengert said the entire passenger side of the car was gone. Wengert was taken to the Logan Regional Hospital temporarily and was later flown to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden because of his critical condition. He was in a coma for two weeks, and the doctors told Wengert’s family that he was in a vegetative state. Wengert came out of his coma and was transferred to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona where he participated in speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and neuropsychology. “If it would have taken 10 years to get to my point, that would have been a miracle,” he said. “But to do it in less than nine months, not that it’s over, but it’s been extremely rapid for the situation.” After his treatments finished in February, he and his wife and son — who was born Dec. 31 — moved back to Logan with the hopes that Wengert could complete his degree. “Last semester they put me on an online class — one that I’ve taken before — just to see where I was,” Wengert said. “I got much better grade than the last

which has four. UVU also uses the party system, or as they call it, “group” system. “ T h e team aspect is a good way of getting people involved,” said Jonothon Andrews, U V U ’s student body

er under one banner. “One part that I really enjoy is that you get to create an organization that has common goals and ideas,” said Justin Spangler, the recently elected student body president of U of U. Spangler’s vice president, Madison Black, echoed her support for the party system. “Running for a particular cause, running with a group of people, you just feel connected,” she said. U of U had three separate parties involved this year; one was eliminated during a primary election. Then, in a final election, candidates were either a member of the Unite Party, the Vision Party or an independent. Though students had to vote individually for the candidates, their affiliated party was made known on the ballot. “This was the first time that three parties have run,” Spangler said. “It was the high-

time I took the class.” Wengert is taking an online class with the USU Extension program and said it is going well. Wengert plans on returning to on campus classes next fall, but he probably won’t take a full load of courses. Since the family’s return to Logan, Wengert was given his old job back at a sheep farm. To help him pay some of the medical costs, the College Agriculture and Applied Sciences Department is hosting a concert to raise money for the family. “We wanted to do something to help, and we heard from our students that they wanted a country night,” said Sara Clicchia, service vice president of CAAS. “So we thought it would be fun to combine the events and make it a concert for him.” Wengert said he is excited for the concert and has been listening to County Red’s songs online. He said it is unreal to have a concert in his name. “When I think about it, I see the flier and I see my name at the top of it, I think, ‘Woah, that’s my name. Why?’” Wengert said. “People are so nice. Their generosity has been so incredible.” Beth Johnson, the CAAS Student Council president, said all proceeds from the concert will to to the Wengert family. “The College of Ag is there for their students, and the student council is there for their students,” Johnson said. “We are honored to do that for him and his family.” Wengert said he would like to thank everyone for how much they’ve helped the family between Logan, the university and the college. “It’s been amazing, the help that people have given us,” Wengert said. “That itself is incredible because it is definitely not cheap.” The concert will be held Friday at the Kent Concert Hall. Tickets for students are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and the doors open at 6 p.m. – morgan.pratt.robinson@gmail.com Twitter: @MorganPRobinson

president. UVU students elect four people to the executive branch, who then select the rest of

• USU Police responded to the Distance Education building on a report of criminal mischief. Golf carts were damaged. The investigation in ongoing. • USU Police responded to the Military Science building because someone tried to hot wire a golf cart and take it for a ride. • USU Police pulled over the driver at 745 E. 800 North because the vehicle was registered to an individual with a suspended license for drug abuse. The driver wasn’t the owner of the vehicle, rather the owner’s boyfriend. Officers observed a pipe on the floor of the driver’s side, and the driver claimed ownership. He consented to a urinalysis and tested positive for THC. Police cited him for possession of drug paraphernalia.

jSee ELECTIONS, Page 10

Howell From Page 1

on Capitol Hill, just miles away from the Pentagon. She said she felt incredibly calm. “I had the thought of, ‘Everything will be OK,’” Howell said. After being evacuated from the Capitol by police, Howell made her way home. Once there, she immediately looked for signs of her husband, but there were none. She said she was overcome with the dark Photo courtesy JoLynne Lyon and evil feeling in the air. LIZ HOWELL receives an alumni merit citation from USU at her From her apartment in Arlington, Va., she could see the Common Hour speach Wednesday. Pentagon and the ominous smoke “I looked at him and I said, ‘My rienced a renewal of hope after which filled the skyline. That night, she was visited by a husband is in there and if you don’t listening. “The ashes were just a really congressman and an armed guard get him, I will,’” Howell said. at her home. They informed her She was permitted to approach deep chapter in the book of her life, the rope and said she could feel and it didn’t destroy her,” Holloway Brady was “officially missing.” Her friends urged her to get the heat coming from the flames said. “People tell me that I’m not going to get where I want to be, some rest, but Howell couldn’t inside the building. sleep knowing her husband was “I just stared … I yelled out and become a doctor or do this, that I said, ‘It’s OK Brady. You can go or another. But those are the ashes missing. now. I will be that I need to allow to build me “I got out of OK,’” Howell instead of destroy me.” bed and I put Liz Howell said. “And I Slideshow pictures of Howell’s on my shoes USU alumna wept.” humanitarian service were then and I snuck out She used featured, from Mongolia to of my house the burning Hurricane Katrina. so my friends building and Howell concluded with words didn’t see me,” the ashes left for those whose stories may not Howell said. behind as an ever be told who are experiencing “And I just analogy for heartache and disappointment on started walkhow she felt in every and any level. She offered ing over to that moment two suggestions for dealing with the Pentagon. and the months personal plot changes. There were and years that “Stay true to your story. Make police lines followed. sure it’s really what you want and and police tape “Those ashes, it’s really true to who you are,” e ve r y w he r e. to me, repre- Howell said. “And if there’s a turn There was sented grief, in your plot, I would say to stay f i ref ighters putting out the blaze still … and heartache, lost potential, devas- in character ... It may be devastatlights flashing everywhere. And I tation, destruction,” Howell said. ing, but learn all you can from the “And you know, I started to realize experiences which you are going remember that I didn’t care.” Howell continued through the that if anything these ashes were through. You do not need to reindark and lifted police tape along actually building my character.” vent yourself. You do not need to the way. One officer stopped her Eddie Holloway attended start all over. Take that with you to before she reached the last rope. Howell’s speech and said he expe- the next chapter.”

“

Stay true to your story. Make sure it’s really what you want and it’s really true to who you are.

The Police Blotter Friday, March 7

the student council. The four elected members usually run as a group, though they can run as independents. However, according to Andrews, running as an individual is ill-advised. “Usually, individuals don’t have a shot or a chance because teams can print more (advertisements) with all their faces on it rather than just one,” he said. Not everyone at these universities endorse the party system. “There are benefits to it,” said Nathan Turner, the student government beat writer for U of U’s student newspaper, The Daily Chronicle. “But in the long run, I think it’s bad for the student body.” That is a sentiment USU’s student body president, Douglas Fiefia, agrees with. “If you’re not chosen to be in those parties, you just kind of can’t run, or people don’t because they are intimidated,” he said. “I feel like that way disincentivises students to run because if they’re not in the ‘in’ crowd of the groups or the parties that are running, they don’t run.” Despite what was considered a low voter turnout in this year’s elections at USU, 3,559 people voted in the final election, just 94 votes fewer than U of U, which has almost 5,000 more students. However, voter turnout is a problem for most universities across the state.

• USU Police filed a report from an individual who was upset on how the USU Police Department was handling criminal situations. Officers called the individual and learned the person was upset with the Utah Valley Police Department. • USU Police responded to the Aggie Terrace because six people were riding longboards in the area. They were issued warnings and told the longboards would be impounded if they were caught again. Monday, March 10 • USU Police responded to a domestic dispute between a boyfriend and girlfriend. The two were in a yelling match and told to stay away from each other until they cooled down.

Saturday, March 8

Tuesday, March 11

• USU Police stopped a car for failing to signal. Two of the occupants had been consuming alcohol and were under the age of 21. They were cited with minor in possession of alcohol. The third occupant had a warrant out for his arrest and was taken to jail.

• USU Police received a report of a lost phone. An individual found the phone and answered a call but refused to return it. Police are investigating.

”

Contact USU Police at 797-1939 for non-emergencies. Anonymous reporting line: 797-5000 EMERGENCY NUMBER: 911 Wednesday, March 12

• USU Police responded to a suspicious incident at Aggie Village. An individual informed officers her vehicle was stolen. When police arrived, they found the car in the west parking lot. They learned the vehicle was moved due to marital problems. Thursday, March 13

• A young child was found on the east side of 1200 East standing in the crosswalk with no adult. Officers learned the child ran away from home in Aggie Village. The parents were contacted and the issue was resolved. The parents were also warned for not keeping an eye on the child. • An individual was possibly assaulted in front of the Industrial Science building while waiting for the bus. Police are investigating.

4Compiled by Danielle Manley

Thursday, March 20, 2014 Page 4

AggieLife

Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com

Community Novel an outlet for all creative writers 4By Carleen Hunsaker staff writer

On a bulletin board in the basement of the Ray B. West Building hangs a blue notebook filled with different sections written by anonymous authors, all of which build off each other’s stories. It’s known as the Community Novel. “The Community Novel is about community involvement, and it doesn’t have a real purpose other than to invite people in,” said Millie Tullis, president of The Bull Pen, USU’s creative writing club. “Anyone that is interested in it is totally welcome to it because every piece that gets added to it makes it unique and a group project. The short little segments build up the story, changing it all the time.” USU’s creative writing club got the idea from a similar project on camTrevor pus. “Last semester, we learned of a student who had hid a novel among the stacks in the Merrill Librar y,” said Jennifer Sinor, a USU professor and faculty advisor for The Bull Pen. “And through backdoor information, you could go and find it and write in it, and I thought it was a really good idea, but I didn’t like that it was so exclusive.” The Bull Pen wanted to make a novel like that, but more accessible. When the group redesigned its bulletin board at the start of the semester, they started the Community Novel. “It started as an opportunity to

“

have students kind of collaborate on a writing project,” Sinor said. “It’s meant to be the process and experience of writing for the students. It’s just some place to play and be creative and to do something jointly and together.” Trevor Grant, vice president of The Bull Pen, said they were always thinking of little things to do around the big events of the creative writing club. Grant said the Community Novel is a little thing anyone can participate in. “This is for everybody,” Grant said. “Anybody is welcome to join. It’s open to the community, and anyone can feel involved. It’s a good outlet for people who want to write prose or want to have fun writing little bits of a story, and we wanted something that anybody could jump into. It’s really fun and totally changing with every entry. start with Grant Ita may mad scientist, and by chapter two it’s about a woman walking down the street. It’s a jumbled, disjointed, haphazard way of writing that only a community of writers could come up with.” Sinor said all writing is collaborative. “Even when you think you’re writing by yourself, you’ve been informed by multiple conversations, multiple things you’ve read, experiences you’ve had,” Sinor said. “The way you put words on the page has been influenced by all these thoughts and ideas that have gone before you, so all writing is a communal act.” She said she hopes the project continues to grow. “What we’re trying to do is high-

This is for everybody. Anyone can join. It’s open to the community, and anyone can feel involved.

”

Nick Carpenter photo USU STUDENT RACHEL ADAMS HOLDS THE COMMUNITY NOVEL, located in the Ray B. West Building. The notebook provides a place for people to write anonymously and build off each others’ work.

light the fact that we write together and that we can challenge ourselves artistically by doing something that’s anonymous and communal instead of something that’s private and singular,” Sinor said. Tullis said anyone who walks past the notebook notices it, and that’s all the invite students need. She said the fact that it is anonymous creates a free and open atmosphere. “People are free to write whatever they want and don’t have to worry

about being judged,” Grant said. “Sometimes it’s hard to be honest when your name is attached to something. It’s important that people not worry about the response and focus on what they’re saying. If it’s anonymous, it frees up people’s focus on the craft instead of the response. I just wanted to set the stage and then let it happen.” One thing Sinor said she especially likes about the project is how “old school” it is. “This is pen and paper,” Sinor

ending the story. “We might publish it online or just keep it in the club,” Grant said. “It’d be cool, though, if someone were reading this and thought that people at Utah State wrote this.” Whether or not it is published, Grant wants to see the story keep going through fall semester. “You can add a line, you can add a page, but the idea is to just keep it moving forward,” Sinor said.

said. “This takes effort. Everything is so digital now, but this, you can’t just flip open your phone for this. It’s tactile and a physical object, and there’s value in that kind of writing. It’s different than what students are typically doing everyday. It’s outside the boundaries of a class or a website, and the only boundaries are what you can do on this physical piece of paper.” Tullis said the novel will continue until it naturally ends, either by filling up the notebook or by someone

– carleehun@aggiemail.usu.edu

USU graduate launches ‘Lost Socks’campaign Warm-cision 2014: The debate heard ‘round campus 4By Sarah Romero staff writer

The solution for perpetually freezing feet may be in the near future for USU students. Recent USU graduate Bryan LaBar launched a Kickstarter campaign for his invention “Lost Socks,” and wants student’s help to make his idea a reality. LaBar described his product as a pair of sweatpants attached to foot slippers that can be rolled up inside the pant leg. “It’s just really convenient because you can put the slipper on and you can actually go outside to do something,” said Chase Casillas, LaBar’s roommate last year and self-proclaimed product tester for Lost Socks. According to its website, Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects such as films, games, technology, art and

photo courtesy of Nicholas Ushio

more. Anyone can create and upload a project to it. If people like the idea, they can pledge money to help the creator make it happen. “People have great ideas all the time, but the biggest barrier of entry is often the capital behind that idea,” LaBar said. “With Kickstarter, you pay a small fee for them hosting the website and getting your name out there.

You find out all the costs that are going to be associated with your first purchase order, and you market and advertise it like you already have the product.” LaBar said if the project fails to fund within the given time, the pledger’s credit cards aren’t charged. If it is funded, the creator has 90 days to complete the order, or the money is returned to the pledgers.

The idea for Lost Socks came to LaBar during his involvement with USU’s Entrepreneurship Club last year. “I met some guys who had a lot of great ideas and they gave me some advice,” he said. “They told me you could find opportunities everywhere, so really I just started to look around.” LaBar said the “cold, dingy apartment” he inhabited during one of Logan’s colder winters inspired him to create a product to keep his feet warm. “The people I was surrounded by at the time were mostly students living in cold apartments,” he said. “I noticed that a lot of them would pull their sweatpants down over their toes, and kind of grip them, so the idea for Lost Socks was born.” LaBar decided to pitch his idea

jSee LOST SOCKS, Page 5

spring break, the lot of card-carrying Logan residents have become increasingly confused as to the status of the weather. Reports Just have surfaced of the climate a few changes being referred to as laughs “crisp and pleasant,” though claims still arise of the weather being “chilly,” “too frigid for March” or, in regard to untimely breezes — and this was an actual word a human said to me — “frizzeezing.” While this current state of meteorology affairs raises several community-dividing I come to you this afternoon questions, one particular into settle what has very recently quiry stands firmly above the been a most heated debate in the Schwartzman household. In short, after returning from jSee DEBATE, Page 5

Steve Schwartzman

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Lost Socks

$16,000 is pledged by Sunday, March 30. As of Monday, $3,227 is pledged. “I want students to know about the campaign and I’d absolutely love their support,” LaBar said. From Page 4 “But I’d also want them to know that I got my support from the Entrepreneurship Club at Utah in the 2013 Elevator Pitch Contest hosted by USU. State. Really, that’s where I developed these first “I was pretty nervous because I was going up relationships and where I got the nerve to actually against some people who had some fantastic start my own business.” ideas,” he said. “I actually tied for first with a guy who came up with a quick-connect coupling de- He said if he’d presented his idea to other stuvice for use in hospitals and stuff like that. To me, dents in classes who didn’t understand entrepreneurship, they probably would have laughed at it blew my invention out of the water.” LaBar said he thinks the feasibility of his idea him. “And in all honesactually becoming a ty, I’ve gotten laughed small business helped at quite a few times for him to win. the idea,” LaBar said. “I “And I think I maybe guess succeeding is more had practiced my pitch about perseverance ratha little bit more than er than immediate gratihim,” he said. fication.” LaBar used the money Casillas said stuhe won from the compedents should donate tition to develop intelto LaBar’s campaign lectual property rights, because it is a product start an LLC, create a college students can use patent for his product and relate to. and make some proto “It’s a product you types of his invention. can use while you’re in “I developed a relacollege,” he said. “Most tionship with a manlikely, you know what ufacturer in China,” it’s like to be cold and to he said. “The rest of have a poor housing situthe money was used to ation as a student where make samples.” you’d need something LaBar said he has five like this to keep warm.” or six different samples. LaBar said he’s Some are the basic samphoto courtesy of Nicholas Ushio proud of what he’s acples he personally made complished so far, with from existing sweatwhat little resources he has. pants and fabric from WalMart. The other samples were manufactured in “I’m passionate about it because I’ve worked on it and put in the time,” he said. “I don’t think that China as quality control prototypes. “I’ve been wearing and washing them to see prior to this I was ever this passionate about pajahow they hold up,” LaBar said. “As soon as I have mas.” the money to place my purchase order, I’ll send Students can donate to LaBar’s campaign it to China and they’ll manufacture it and send by visiting kickstarter.com and searching for “Lost Socks,” or by typing in the URL: https:// them back.” LaBar said the manufacturer requires him to or- www.kickstarter.com/projects/647012072/ lost-socks?ref=search. der at least 2,000 sweatpants. “That takes a lot of money,” he said. LaBar’s project will only be funded if at least – sarah.men@aggiemail.usu.edu

Debate

From Page 4

field and came into play vividly just this morning before leaving my apartment: Jacket … or hoodie? Innocent on first glance, but simple research shows that with the current weather, there is no clear answer. I first took the run-of-the-mill approach to this decision and did what most would do: stare at both items back and forth for several minutes while my Toaster Strudels were heating up. This very blatantly proved unfruitful — minus of course the Toaster Strudels, which were blackberry. This is what brings us to now. I have invited our candidates, Hoodie and Jacket, to the stage today to discuss platforms, debate issues and finally settle what I am sure have all of you wrapped in various pandemonium. Welcome, all of you, to Warm-cision 2014.

Steve: Let’s welcome our candidates. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Jacket: Good afternoon, Steve. Hoodie: Pleasure to be here. S: Now, let’s get right to the quick. The responsi-

bility of keeping my deceptively impressive torso warm in a moderately cold climate is not to be take lightly. Where do you see yourself as the more qualified candidate to drape such smoldering shoulders? J: I’ll start here. Steve, from my vantage point, it’s simple: You want to be warm. That’s what this all comes down to. Living uncovered in a chilly world is an open gate to more health risks than any of us want to talk about. Warmth is the answer, and so why wouldn’t you choose an item of clothing whose sole purpose is to keep one warm? I come from a long family tradition of jackets who have made warmth a priority — the very phrase is on our family crest — and through that credo we’ve calmed illnesses, we’ve saved lives, we’ve even equipped the likes of Shaun White and James Dean through thick and thin. The resume just speaks for itself. S: Thank you for your response. Mr. Hoodie? H: I understand such a point. What my counterpart overlooks is a factor that means a lot more than we give credit: convenience. I see how something as well-equipped as a jacket can keep one warm, but aren’t we worried about overkill? We’re talking body heat inflation here. That means overused sweat glands, uncomfortable indoor bystanders, overwrinkling clothes, and the list goes on. At some point, before the end of the day, Steve is going to have no choice but to take

Page 5

‘Cinder’ gives fresh twist to classic fairy tale Hold on to your bootstraps, because I, the one with a fetish for romance novels, have finally gotten out of my solid-romance books and have read something sci-fi and fantasy. But, here’s the catch: It does have a hint of romance. Don’t expect me to give up altogether. Have you ever read a retelling of those classic fairy tales, say “Cinderella,” where she was part human, part machine? Well, in “Cinder” by Marissa Meyer, you read all about it. One of the aspects my friend likes about the book is that Meyer uses the basic plot of “Cinderella.” You’ve got your typical characters, a ball and an endless list of chores. Other than these parameters, Meyer runs away with her imagination. Instead of mice for friends as in the Disney version, you’ve got an android as a friend. Instead of Cinderella — called Cinder in the book — mopping the floors, she’s a mechanic fixing everything for everyone, including the prince. You’ll love this book. The twists in the plot are awesome. It’s a futuristic, dystopian novel, and like I said earlier, it’s somewhat sci-fi. I mean, we’ve got people living on the moon — the moon — called Lunars. They are a manipulative, cruel and savage people. They have the potential to have gifts called glamours. But wait, this book

Marissa Neeley Good reads

gets better. There’s this disease, letumosis, killing hundreds of people. It’s a big worry, especially when it comes close to home for Cinder. All of the sudden, Cinder is thrust right into the middle of a pandemic. If you’re looking for my honest opinion of this book, it is this: It is so fresh and different. I know I’ve said that before, but it really is. I never read a retelling before, but so far, I love it. As mentioned previously, you have your basic Cinderella story, but honestly, this book feels like a whole new idea all on its own. Meyer’s writing is easy to follow. It’s not a complicated read, and it is engaging; you have to wrap your mind around portscreens, netscreens, hovers and androids, cyborgs, Lunars and letumosis. There is so much going on that you have to keep reading to find out what it

his heat covering off, and does he really want to spend minutes trying to stow away a bulky heap of fleece and polyester? I say make it easy on yourself. Grab a hoodie and have no worries. S: I appreciate your interest in my potential sweating in front of the public. Your rebuttal, Jacket. J: I simply don’t think sweating is the real issue here. We’re focusing too much on a concern that may or may not come into play when we all know full well Steve will most definitely need to be warm at some point. Let’s stick to the basics. H: So, you’re saying his physical appearance and aroma don’t matter? What if he runs into a potential employer? J: That’s putting the cart well before the horse, don’t you think? H: Is it? You seem to only be focused on the now. I’m concerned about Steve’s future. J: And a bright, red-hooded Doritos sweatshirt he won in a drawing when touring the Frito Lay factory is going to swoon his employers? H: A heck of a lot more than smelling like the inside of an aardvark. S: Gentlemen, let’s keep things in order. Now, on the opposite side of the discussion, what is one thing you feel makes your opponent less qualified under certain conditions? H: My opponent only reaches optimal performance under inclement weather. Have you seen any snow today? Rain? Hail? Volcano ash? His

all means. I, for one, didn’t see some of the plot twists coming. Cinder, I believe, is a relatable character. She’s had a rough past that she doesn’t remember. She has a complicated present and an unknown future. One minute she was a well-known mechanic in the market and the next thing you know, she is friends with the prince, valuable to so many people. Her identity is questioned, her abilities tested. She has a secret to hide, especially from the prince. As a cyborg, there are strong prejudices against her, and it becomes more and more difficult to keep her secret. Intriguing, is it not? It is positively fascinating. I hear that it ends on a major cliffhanger, making you grasp for the next book like you gasp for air after you hold your breath. Maybe that was a touch dramatic, but who cares? It’s good. The next book, “Scarlet,” has Little Red Riding Hood in it. Following that is “Cress.” However, we have to wait a whole year for the fourth book. – Marissa Neeley is a freshman majoring in history with an emphasis in teaching. She is an avid reader, reading anything from historical fiction and fantasy to romance and nonfiction. Send any comments to marissa.neeley@aggiemail.usu. edu.

services clearly aren’t needed. J: Not needed? You’re not even in full capacity. Some would even say damaged. There is a hole above his right wrist. You can check it. H: That hole is a pin-sized tear at worst. Your smear campaign made that hole a much bigger problem than it is. J: So you don’t deny it. H: I admit nothing but your dirty games. J: You have holes. H: You have a crooked zipper. J: (Gasps) You agreed we wouldn’t discuss that. H: You pushed too far. (Stares. Then silence.) S: Umm … wow. I had no clue it would get this ... intense. What you two need is some time alone to resolve this, whatever this is, or we’re going to have a very contentious Easter weekend on our hands, and nobody wants that. I think I’m just going to wear a long-sleeved flannel shirt and take my chances out there for now. That’s all for Warm-cision 2014. Thanks for listening, everyone. – Steve Schwartzman is a senior finishing a degree in communication studies. With eight years of column writing and improvisational comedy under his belt, he lives to make you laugh. Send thoughts to steve.schwartzman@aggiemail.usu. edu or hit him up on Twitter @SESchwartzman.

StatesmanSports Thursday, March 20, 2014 Page 6

Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com

Gone

Men’s Basketball

Stone, Berger announce departure from USU basketball 4By Jeffrey Dahdah assistant sports editor

Statesman File photo

Utah State men’s basketball head coach Stew Morrill announced on Tuesday that center Jordan Stone and forward Danny Berger will not be returning for their senior seasons. The announcement comes in light of the lowest point output of Morrill’s time coaching the Aggies as they lost 73-39 to San Diego State in the quarterfinals of the Mountain West Tournament. USU also loses five players to graduation this season in Preston Medlin, Tenale Roland, Spencer Butterfield, Sean Harris and Jarred Shaw. Morrill cited Stone’s reason for leaving as graduation, because he is set to graduate this summer. Berger’s reason for leaving is a search for playing time elsewhere. “We wish Jordan and Danny nothing but the best,” Morrill said. “We greatly appreciate their contributions to Utah State basketball.” Stone and Shaw were the only centers on the active roster this season, though the Aggies have been recruiting other centers. Stone played in all 32 games this season and averaged 11.9 minutes per game, 2.7 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game. Berger played in 28 of the Aggies 32 games this season and averaged 3.2 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game and .8 assists per game. Berger received a medical redshirt last season after collapsing in full cardiac arrest in a practice in early December. The team wore a patch with Berger’s jersey number 12 for the remainder of the season to honor the forward. With Stone and Berger’s departures, USU will have seven players returning next season who either played or redshirted this season. – dahdahjm@gmail.com Twitter: @dahdahUSU

Former Utah State Center Jordan Stone goes up for a dunk against San Diego State in the Spectrum on Jan. 25.

Delayne Ripplinger photo Former USU forward Danny Berger goes up for a layup in a game against San Jose State on Jan. 4 in the Spectrum.

Men’s Basketball

Big-time big man: Aggies get late commit 4By Jeffrey Dahdah assistant sports editor

“Better late than never.” That was the motto for the USU men’s basketball team Monday when Elston Jones, a 6-foot-10, two-star center from Arizona, committed for next season. The next day, head coach Stew Morrill announced center Jordan Stone would not be returning for his senior season. That announcement, coupled

with the graduation of senior center Jarred Shaw, leaves Jones as the only center projected for the 2014-15 season. That role is something Jones is excited about. “It feels pretty good,” Jones said. “I can go in and prove myself.” Jones was in contact with New Mexico, Fresno State, Cal and South Carolina before ultimately deciding on USU. “I thought it would be the right fit,” Jones said. “Coach Morrill’s system uses a post center, and

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that is how I play.” Jones tore his patella tendon last season, causing some schools to back off of him. However, Morrill saw him as a fix at center for next year and for years to come. “I felt pretty good talking to

him,” Jones said about Morrill. “He was loyal towards me and he told me that I was the guy. I appreciated that.” Having lost seven players this offseason already to graduation or transfer, the Aggies may have a rebuilding year next season. Whatever the case, Aggie fans can rest assured Jones will be part of it. Jones made his official visit to USU on senior night against Wyoming. “I’m just excited to play in

front of those great fans at Utah State,” Jones said. The Aggies are coming off their second straight season of not going to a postseason tournament. It also marks the first time in 14 years that the Aggies didn’t collect 21 wins as they finished the season 18-14. It was also the Aggies first year in the Mountain West Conference. – dadhahjm@gmail.com Twitter: @dahdahUSU

“

Elston Jones USU commit

It feels pretty good,” Jones said. “I can go in and prove myself.”

”

StatesmanSports

Page 7

Thursday, March 20, 2014

baseball

Cabrera: Ace bringing the heat 4By Calvin Makelky staff writer

Photo courtesy of Norm Doyle Senior Pitcher Sixto Cabrera throws a pitch during an early season game. Cabrera is the ace for this year’s USU baseball team.

Just as Canada is synonymous with hockey, the Dominican Republic is with baseball. Luckily for the Utah State club baseball team, it has a Dominican on its side and his name is Sixto Cabrera. Growing up in the Dominican Republic — or the D.R., as some call it — kids all over the country live and breathe baseball. “There is no way around it: You play baseball,” Cabrera said. “Everyone around there has played baseball.” Cabrera was no exception. He started playing the game at age six. “I think you’re born with a glove and a bat,” Cabrera said. Baseball is not just a mere sport in the Dominican Republic, but a way to make ends meet for baseball players’ families. “In the D.R. it is not like America,” he said. “It is a thirdworld country, so there are not many ways to get money and provide for your family.” Due to his love of the game that was instilled in him, Cabrera to wanted play baseball and obtain an education in America. However, Utah State wasn’t even on his radar at the time. “I knew USU did not have a NCAA (baseball) team,” he said. Cabrera struggled to obtain a baseball scholarship in the U.S. because of the influx of Dominican talent coming to the U.S. “In the end I was like, ‘If I just get an academic scholarship, I would be OK with that,’” Cabrera said. This is where USU entered the picture. The Dominican Republic has had a partnership with USU since 2000 that awards students from the D.R. with a full academic scholarship to attend USU.

“I applied and got accepted, and here I am,” Cabrera said. Despite his desire to play baseball, the dream of playing college ball still seemed uncertain. Cabrera said he did not know if USU even had a baseball team. One day during his freshman year he spotted something that grabbed his attention. “I saw one of those tryout banners in the TSC and I decided to try out,” Cabrera said. Cabrera tried out and made the team as a pitcher. “First impressions were I thought he had a lot of ability, but he was a little bit raw and a bit undeveloped and had a huge amount of potential if he was willing to work hard,” head coach Norm Doyle said. Despite being from a foreign country, the toughest transition for him was common with all freshmen. “He was coming from a place where he had always been one of the main stars on the team, and now he was coming to a team that had a lot of guys that were really good and even better than him at the time,” Doyle said. With Cabrera discouraged early on, Doyle sat him down and told him he had a ton of talent and he wasn’t quite ready to step in and do everything. “To his credit, he worked hard and he understood, listened to what I was telling him,” Doyle said. “He never once complained. He just did what was asked, and he has been a great addition to the team ever since.” The following year, 2012, was the year it all clicked for the Aggie baseball team. USU made it the NCBA College World Series, and Cabrera played a key role all season as the team’s No. 3 starting pitcher. With the team needing a win against No. 2 Texas Tech to make the championship game, Cabrera was given the nod for the start. He then responded with a clutch performance

where he surrendered just one run in six innings of work, and the Aggies went on to win in a 16-inning thriller. They would win the World Series a game later against Colorado State. “His biggest strength is his confidence. We tease him about having the ‘Dominican Swag,’” Doyle said. With a two-seam fastball reaching the upper 80s in velocity and an impressive assortment of breaking balls, Cabrera also possesses the nasty “stuff” to back up that swag. Majoring in electrical engineering and hoping to attend grad school, Cabrera is also a stand-up guy off the diamond. As an example, Doyle recounted an insightful story. “That 2012 year, he was living in the dorms and he had to move out of the dorms two weeks before we ended up making the World Series, so he had no place to live,” he said. With an extra bedroom in his house, Doyle placed his trust in Cabrera and offered him a place to stay for two weeks. Cabrera accepted his offer. Doyle had no problems with Cabrera while he stayed with him, and it shows what the “family” concept in sports is really about. Cabrera, now a senior at USU, is one of the leading pitchers on this year’s staff, and with conference play starting in less than a week, both Doyle and Cabrera expect success this season. “I think he is going to have a great year, and he is going to be a really big piece of any success we have this year,” Doyle stated. “We expect to win,” Cabrera said on his expectations for the 2014 season. “I think we can go to nationals.” Whether or not they make that goal, Cabrera has found a new home, nearly 3,000 miles from where it all started. – cmakelky@gmail.com Twitter: @makelky

State your case:

Which No. 1 seed will be the first to bow out of the NCAA Tournament?

4By Jeff Dahdah

4By Calvin Makelky

4By Connor Comeau

4By Brad Ferguson

NEW CHALLENGER

NEW CHALLENGER

NEW CHALLENGER

NEW CHALLENGER

So you think Florida is invincible? You think they are going to prance through their bracket like a lamb in a daisy field? Well I’m here to tell you otherwise. Granted, they have the easiest bracket, and granted, they didn’t lose a game in dahdah conference. However, the SEC is not what it used to be. There are two good teams in Florida and Kentucky, a few mediocre teams and some bad ones. It’s about as impressive as going 18-0 in the American Conference. Kentucky proved in the SEC championship game that Florida wasn’t unbeatable. They won by one point and were lucky to do so. Had it not been for a slip by a Kentucky player while driving in for the winning basket, Florida would not have hoisted that SEC trophy. If a No. 8-seeded, inconsistent Kentucky team should have taken down everyone’s favorite Gators, why can’t Pittsburgh or Colorado? Those two teams battled it out in extremely competitive conferences all season. How about a tournament-tested VCU team or surging UCLA team? Both of them play in more competitive conferences. Before you go hopping on the Florida bandwagon, look at the other wagons. Some of them may have better seating.

Arizona started the year 21-0, but their invincibility has faded ever since they lost starting forward Brandon Ashley to a season-ending injury. They have dropped two of their last four games, and their last three losses have all been against Pac-12 Makelky teams who made the NCAA Tournament, showing that they struggle against top-tier competition. In order to beat the best teams, Arizona has to win close games. While nobody questions Arizona’s defense and physicality, they have one major flaw in free throws. In order to win these barn-burner games, they need to hit the clutch free throws down the stretch because of their slow pace. They have struggled to do so all year, ranking No. 181 in the nation in free throw percentage. With an easy first game against Weber State, Arizona’s first real test is against either Gonzaga or Oklahoma State, both very good teams. OSU’s Marcus Smart has the ability to shut down Arizona’s best scorer in Nick Johnson, and both Gonzaga and OSU excel at creating turnovers. Arizona has struggled to hold on the ball, recording 422 turnovers. So while Arizona has had a great season, it is hard to see them going far if you can not trust them down the stretch.

Wichita State went undefeated during the regular season and now has chance to run the tables and win the national championship as a No. 1 seed. Going 34-0 is impressive in any conference, and the Shockers have shown they can play. comeau The big question entering the tournament is: Who have the Shockers played? The Shockers hail from the Missouri Valley Conference, which they dominated this year. But playing teams like Indiana State and Missouri State doesn’t help a whole lot when a team is trying to send a message. The closest the Shockers came to losing was an overtime game at Missouri State. Other than that, they haven’t played any power teams this year, which can bode bad news in the tournament. The tournament is full of teams from power conferences, and going undefeated into the Big Dance doesn’t necessarily mean a clean path to the championship. Add to this the fact that three of last year’s Final Four teams are in the same part of the bracket as the Shockers means a tough road to get to the Final Four. In the end, a tough bracket and a lack of games against power teams will spell doom for the Shockers.

There are three teams better than Virginia in the East bracket; Michigan State, Villanova and Iowa State. The selection committee correctly picked the three No. 1 seeds; and then they picked Virginia. If the Cavaliers don’t lose to a team like ferguson Memphis, they will fall to a healthier, stronger team like the Spartans from Michigan State; yahoo.com sports gives Virginia a 33 percent chance of beating the No. 4 Spartans. Go figure. As the selection committee states, they “look at a team’s full body of work.” Apparently they didn’t check the season Virginia had last year. This is the team that lost to North Carolina State 56-75 in last year’s ACC Tournament. This is the team that didn’t even make it to the Big Dance last year. An ACC championship win is great and all, but would’ve been more impressive last year when the conference was actually stronger than the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. Wichita hasn’t lost a game, Arizona held the No. 1 spot in the AP for eight weeks and Florida — let’s face it — is going to cut down the net as the kings of the court. When it comes to being in the “Top Four Teams Club,” Virginia is the fat kid on your dodgeball team. We all know they’re going out fast.

– dahdahjm@gmail.com Twitter: @dahdahusu

– cmakelky@gmail.com Twitter: @makelky

– connor.comeau@aggiemail.usu.edu Twitter: @ConnorSports

– brad.ferguson76@gmail.com Twitter: @BradFerg47

assistant sports editor

staff writer

staff writer

staff writer

StatesmanSports

Page 8

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Softball

Counting K’s: Johnson mowing down opponents 4By Calvin Makelky staff writer

Ace. Workhorse. Stellar. Those are just some of the words used to describe Utah State softball pitcher Noelle Johnson this season. Although she is just a sophomore, the Aggie softball team has leaned on her like a seasoned veteran throughout the year. Johnson has answered the call with an impressive 2.57 ERA, 124 strikeouts in just 103 innings, nine complete games, has nine of the team’s ten wins and earned the save in the other team’s win. Johnson, a San Diego native, committed to USU despite receiving offers from prominent schools such as Oregon State, Texas Tech and hometown colleges like San Diego State. “When I was looking at colleges I knew I wanted to go away from home and growing up in San Diego in the big city, I knew I wanted to go to a small town,

something different,” Johnson said as to why USU appealed to her the most. She made her first visit to USU in December and witnessed snow for just the third time. Despite the cold, it was the small-town atmosphere and support that drew her to USU. “I came up with my dad and it was really cool to me, I loved the small town,” Johnson said. “We went to Angie’s for breakfast, and everything was Utah State. I thought it was so cool that the town completely revolved around the college.” That kind of support was something she didn’t see in San Diego with the colleges there. Once at USU, Johnson learned making the transition from high school to college athletics is not easy. She had an up-and-down freshman season last year where she split innings with another Aggie starter. She started 21 games and posted a 4.94 ERA but led the team in strikeouts with

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127. The team as a whole struggled mightily, winning only 11 of their 54 games. Fast forward to this season and thanks to new coaches, new players and a new attitude, both the team and Johnson have made huge strides. The Aggies won four of six games at the first tournament of the season and Johnson ended the last game against NebraskaOmaha with a gem. She tossed two-hit shutout and struck out a USU record-breaking 16 batters. “Our mentality, our coaches have a lot do with it,” Johnson said about the team’s sudden change. “Our coaches this year work a lot better with us than the coaches last year. We’re working better as a team. Last year we played individually; this year we play as one unit.” During the game against Nebraska-Omaha, Johnson tried to focus on the game, not the strikeouts. “After the first two innings, I knew I had six strikeouts but I tried not to think about it after that,” she said. “I didn’t keep count.” Once she finished pitching, however, it was a different story. “After the game I was like, ‘OK, how many did I have?’” she said. Pitching coach Sarah Sigrest credits Johnson’s success because of her three “Cs”: command, coachability and a changeup. “Noelle is a good pitcher because she is extremely coachable,” Sigrest said. “Her changeup is absolutely filthy, one of the best changeups I’ve ever seen. She has a great changeup because she has really good command of it.” Johnson has brought her lunch pail to work all season, pitching in

Photo courtesy USU media relations Sophomore Pitcher Noelle Johnson throws a pitch during one of Utah State’s early season softball games.

all but two of the 23 games so far. “She’s stellar on the mound, and you can’t help but want to give her the ball in every opportunity that you can,” Sigrest said. Just like every true ace, Johnson relishes the moment and wants the ball in her hands every chance she can get.

“I love it,” she said. “If it was possible for me to pitch every game, I would do it in a heartbeat.” The Aggies as a team have clearly benefited from Johnson’s outstanding play this season. With 10 wins in the books already in about the same amount of games

it took them to win a single game last season, the USU softball team looks to be relevant as they enter conference play in the Mountain West for the first time this weekend. – cmakelky@gmail.com Twitter: @makelky

women’s lacrosse

Aggies ready to buck probation 4By Logan Jones staff writer

A small group of vehicles drove single-file out of the Stan Laub Indoor Training Center parking lot Thursday shortly after 11 p.m., signaling the end of another women’s lacrosse practice. Nobody complained that practice had

come at such a late hour, since it was still an upgrade from playing in the parking lot. “When the turf fields were covered with snow, we were practicing on blacktop,” said sophomore captain Janessa Woods. The women’s lacrosse team is in its final probationary season before becoming an official club sport at USU, and it’s used to the late hours. “The biggest problem early in the season was finding places to practice and times when the majority of the team could come,” Woods said. “Sometimes, the girls don’t get the memo of where we’re practicing. It changes so often because of the weather and things.” Woods, who is playing in her second season for USU, is eagerly anticipating the changes that will accompany being a club sport. “We aren’t technically a club team right now,” Woods said. “But if we do everything correctly, we will be next year. Then we get field time, in the Fieldhouse and Stan Laub. We’ll also have home games and the support of the school behind us.” Woods isn’t the only one excited for lacrosse to be promoted to the club level. “I like the team we have here,” said freshman attack Kristin Porter. “We’d love more girls to try out. You can’t even get to women’s lacrosse from the campus recreation website, so I think a lot of girls don’t even know about it.” According to USU’s club sports manual, the process of becoming a club includes demonstrating “interested, involved and committed student leadership capable of organizing and operating the club,” as well as proving there are opportunities to be competitive within the region. The Aggies routed Northern Colorado 18-1 in their season opener in Colorado, then beat

Kylee Larsen photo Maddie Lowrey Goes For a ball during a women’s lacrosse practice at the Mountain View fields.

rival Boise State 9-8 in the same weekend to begin the season 2-0. “We’re doing pretty good. We’re 2-2 right now, and we’ve played some tough teams,” Woods said. “When we played our conference rival Boise, they were working toward beating us all season after last year when we beat them by a point and went to regionals. But we still beat them by one again.” Boise State will have another shot at revenge Friday at the Salt Lake Classic, hosted by the University of Utah. The Aggies will face the Broncos

Friday at 6:45 p.m. USU will then play a doubleheader on Saturday, taking on the Utes at 3 p.m. followed by Colorado School of Mines at 7 p.m. “We’re really looking forward to getting to regionals at the end of the season,” Woods said. “It’s something we’re really hoping for.” The Aggie women’s lacrosse team will play at home for the first time Saturday against both UVU and Wyoming at the Mountain View fields. – logantjones@gmail.com Twitter: @Logantj

Thursday, March 20, 2014 Page 9

Views&Opinion Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com

The Book of Paul

Her name was Charlee Nelson. She was only 6 years old. She was a representative figure of the more than 50 children throughout Utah affected by epileptic seizures. Nationwide studies conducted in the past have shown this neurological disorder could be effectively treated through the use of cannabis oil, a substance that doesn’t share the intoxicating effects of similar marijuana derivatives. Recently, Utah has been posed to become the 22nd state to legalize the use of some type of medical marijuana. But being the 22nd state to hop on board an idea that other states — including neighboring states Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and the nearby Washington, California and Oregon — have adopted, it seems as if Utah has

been dragging its reluctant feet for some time as other areas moved toward a viable solution to a problem affecting more and more people. I will say this; once a recent House Bill was proposed to the Utah Legislature, representatives took quick action to come to a decision on whether cannabis oil should be made legally available to those with epileptic neurological disorders. It cleared the House Law Enforcement Committee in an 8-2 vote Feb. 21 and was sent to the House floor for full debate shortly after. On Thursday, the Legislature passed H.B. 105 and named it “Charlee’s Law” in Nelson’s honor. The bill is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Gary Herbert, but it comes too late for Nelson, who passed away Saturday morning, only two days after the Legislature’s vote. Her death came after nearly three years of increasing mental impairment and worsening seizures, which diminished her sight, motor skills and ability to speak. Although cannabis oil wouldn’t have cured Nelson’s seizures, it likely would have calmed their severity and prolonged her life. The girl’s father, Jeff Nelson, told The Salt Lake

jSee PAUL, Page 11

Sometimes it’s better to keep your mouth shut

Letters to the editor

I got into my first ever Facebook fight over Spring Break. It was completely ridiculous. Somebody posted an article I was interested in, somebody made an offensive comment on it, and I was off. I typed out a reply that seemed witty and completely justified at the time. I double-checked my grammar, reread it several times to make sure I made my point well and pressed that oh-so-inviting blue button. I then made the mistake of not checking back for a couple hours. The notifications on my smartphone blew up as people bantered back-and-forth, the actual reason for the post forgotten as everyone accused everyone of being judgemental. The original poster made sure to tag me in a comment that made fun of the fact that I live in little old Logan, Utah, which of course had nothing to do with the subject at hand. While I do make fun of Cache Valley on occasion, that one really stung. As I typed my reply to her geocentric words, I got a sick feeling in my stomach. My conscience started making fun of me, as we would have said in high school, “hardcore.” “Seriously? You are going to let them bait you?” she asked. “You shouldn’t have posted that in the first place. You are making it worse. This argument is crossing lines it shouldn’t.” I didn’t start the argument,

Lis Stewart

From the soap box

but I fueled it. I like to think the online world is a safe place where views can be shared, examined and discussed in a rational manner. The fact is that social media is not the place for controversial topics when people are going to resort to personal attacks and not try to understand the other side. Remember, these are real people you are talking to. They have their opinions and probably think they are just as right as you think you are. Another lesson here is a timeless one that also applies to the real world: Sometimes it is better to keep your mouth shut. Over the last year, I’ve gotten gutsier with what I share on social media. I think it has lost me a few friends and gained others. Those who were close to me already knew my opinions, but now it’s out in the open to my more than 500 virtual friends

jSee STEWART, Page 11

•  All letters may be shortened, edited or rejected for reasons of good taste, redundancy or volume of similar letters. •  No anonymous letters will be published. Writers must sign all letters and include a phone number or email address as well as a student identification

Those who read my columns would unTavin derstandably assume I am overly critical of Utah State University and can’t stand living in a dinky little town like Logan, Utah. While I concede a much milder version of both those accusations, there is much to be said of my feelings that reflect an opposite attitude. I grew up an Aggie and have quite enjoyed my time in Logan at USU. Cache Valley has treated me well. I’ve especially loved summers here, when I could climb the walls of Logan Canyon, hike up to the Concrete Jungle or down to First Dam, float Cutler Canal or use the rope swing and dive into Bloomington Lake. Winters haven’t been bad either, especially after learning to bowl at

Logan Lanes and The Gutter, working on my technique at the Rock Haus and playing guitar with my friends and neighHail bors. Many of the to sporting events I’ve the seen here, ranging Chief from Aggie football and basketball to high school track meets and baseball games, have been some of the most enjoyable games I’ve seen. The university has a piece of my soul — especially because of the minutes I’ve spent writing for, and later editing, The Statesman. Several professors in the journalism and communication department have gone out of their way to help me become one of the best all-around student journalists in the state, that help even extended to job offers and internships when they

Stucki

weren’t expected. It pretty much goes without saying that I owe a lot to USU for allowing me to earn a college degree — though I’m sure I won’t be happy about the term “owe” much when I start making student loan payments in the coming months. What I’ve been amazed by the most is the generosity of the office I used to hold very little respect for. Last summer, The Statesman was on the chopping block because any student publication is a potential fiscal and legal liability. We were evicted from our newsroom next to the Quickstop in the TSC and relocated to the much-smaller SOAR office on the third floor — all this coming after administrators made such a big deal of moving the Aggie Radio studio next door to our former office under the guise of having the two media groups work more closely with one another. Not to mention this was

jSee CHIEF, Page 11

Local government affects our daily lives more than you know

Let’s face it: Traffic lights and sidewalk maintenance aren’t as interesting as immigration reform or national security policy. State, city and county election campaigns just aren’t as “sexy” as national races, but they are definitely more important and can have a greater impact on our lives. We need to be active participants in local government. Most of us follow the presidential elections every four years. We know who is running and often support a specific candidate. How many of you know who our state representative or state senator are? Rep. Ed Redd represents House District 4, which encompasses Logan, and Sen. Lyle Hillyard represents Senate District 25, which encompasses most of Cache County. How about the mayor of Logan or the Cache County executive? Craig Petersen is the mayor and Lynn Lemon our county executive. You would be surprised to know what positions we vote for. The sheriff is an elected official, and so is the county treasurer, county assessor and countless other individuals. Lemon is retiring after almost 20 years in office. So far, three candidates have entered the race to replace him. Boyd Pugmire, the former mayor of Clarkston, manager at ATK and former Cache County GOP chair, is one

of those candidates. Mark Maughan, a sherAndy iff’s deputy, and Craig Buttars, a former state representative, are the other two candidates running for the open seat. The results of this election will have a lasting impact on our lives, so pay attention and get involved. A well-rounded college education means stepping out of the classroom and making a positive difference in your community. I have absolutely loved my time at USU because I have become involved in the community. Did you know Logan has a Neighborhood Council? We meet the third Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Logan City Hall. Come on out, we’d love to have you. You can get involved in community building projects and assist in bringing real change to the city that is our home for at least four years. I recognize many of us are not planning on staying in Cache County forever, but while we are here, we should make a positive impact on the community. Educate yourself on local elections. Go to your neighborhood caucus meeting tonight. The Republi-

can caucus meetings for all Logan precincts will be at the Mt. Logan Middle School at 7 p.m. You can register to vote at the door. Pierucci’s All you need to bring Politics is a driver’s license. If you have ideas for community improvement, make them known. If you are frustrated with things like parking or road maintenance, make your voice heard. If you dislike an elected official, you can help someone else get elected or you could run for office. Our local elected officials affect our daily lives far more than the president or Congress. So instead of complaining about the way things are, get up and get involved.

Pierucci

– Andy is a senior majoring in political science. He is currently the vice president of USU Pi Sigma Alpha, a member of the GRC, the Secretary of the Utah Federation of College Republicans and president of USU College Republicans.

Perfectionism is walking a tightrope In the academic of perfection as unacceptable.” While this world, attention to deTy Aller tail and an undaunted internal force can help desire to achieve tasks you complete the next others might deem assignment and motivate your pursuits for impossible are often The a 4.0 GPA, the thinkencouraged. Refining mind ing patterns of perfecyour personal charmatters tionism can become acter to reflect these traits is a pursuit many obsessive. Obsessive students find pride thinking and the desire in during their jourto always complete a ney throughout their task to perfection can schooling. cause an imbalance in There is, however, your life and negatively a concern that this ataffect your schooling. tention to detail and Understanding how to an undaunted desire to achieve can balance the desire to pursue your fullest potential with the reality that you flirt with the need to be perfect. Perfectionism can be defined as “a cannot accomplish every assignment disposition to regard anything short perfectly will help in remaining men-

number (none of which is published). Letters will not be printed without this verification. •  Letters can be hand delivered or mailed to The Statesman in the TSC, Room 311, or can be emailed to: statesmaneditor@ aggiemail.usu.edu.

Opinions on this page (columns, letters) unless otherwise identified are not from Utah Statesman staff, but from a wide variety of members of the campus community who have strong opinions, just like you. This is an open forum. Want to write something? Contact: statesmaneditor@ aggiemail.usu.edu.

The staff

Paul Christiansen

OK, I confess, it’s not actually all that awful

The page

Lawmakers take a step in the right direction

tally healthy. Finding balance is not always easy. Much like a tightrope walker who gracefully walks across a remarkably thin wire with the aid of a balancing pole, the mind must also use a balancing pole to harmonize your thoughts with your actions. On one end of the mind’s pole are the thoughts and ambitions that push us toward perfectionism. On the other end of the pole is the lack of desire to accomplish anything. Finding your unique balancing point to help walk the tightrope consists of evaluating your thoughts and accepting your emotional experiences. Try to imagine yourself during the end of the semester. Each one of your 15-page papers are due, your group

jSee ALLER, Page 11

Editorial Board: Lis Stewart Danielle Manley Eric Jungblut Mariah Noble Chelsea Hunter Curtis Lundstrom Jeff Dahdah Mikayla Kapp Meghann Nixon Noelle Johansen

Editor-in-Chief: Tavin Stucki

Views&Opinion

Page 10

Elections From Page 3 “A lot of non-traditional students just don’t care,” Andrews said. “People are not on campus. There are a lot of night and online students.” The issue of student voting may be one that can’t be solved. “I don’t know how much

more the (election) committee could have done to advertise and get the word out about our candidates more than we did this year,” Zimmerman said. “If students wanted to learn about their candidates, it was there for them. They didn’t have to go searching for it.” A large group of students don’t vote. It takes a special kind of person to run, and it doesn’t necessarily help to be part of a group or party, Fiefia

said. “Running a campaign is tough,” Fiefia said. “Putting yourself out there, your feelings are out there, you put a lot of work and money into it. So you’re vulnerable, and people don’t like that. It’s tough, and I think it is easy for some students to complain and say, ‘Why don’t we have more people running?’ But at the end of the day, the people who run have to want it.”

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Forum letters The Ignoble Truth about US Healthcare To the editor: I hate to rain on anyone’s flag-waving, chest-beating parade of patriotism, but Bryan Daines’ recent letter (‘Obamacare increasing costs,’ March 18) was riddled with pervasive myths that need to be addressed. I’m fine with people expressing an opinion against the Affordable Care Act — it has its problems — but let’s stick to the truth in doing so. Daines boldly claims America’s health care system is the best in the world and that anyone who has been in a foreign hospital would agree. False. I know it’s easier to live life in a state of delusion, but the World Health Organization report from 2000, well before Obamacare, ranks the United States’ health care system as 37th worldwide. We’ve also ranked very poorly in many other credible studies, including 46th — that’s 45 countries ahead of us — in a recent Bloomberg report on the efficiency of worldwide health care systems, the focuses being life expectancy, health care costs as a percentage of GDP per capita and absolute costs per capita. Simply, one of the few things we can claim to be almost tops in — at No. 2 — is cost; which, with America’s increasing rates of poverty, is probably not a good thing. Furthermore,

The Deep End • Tyson Cole

Wonders and Blunders • melissamw89@gmail.com

despite earnings double or triple doctors in several European countries, job satisfaction is notably lower among doctors here at home. I have lived in one of these other developed countries, visited a hospital there and talked to their citizens. No, they are not longing to partake of our system. In fact, time after time, I faced questions about why we don’t care enough about our own people to make basic health care accessible to them. In many of these other countries, the “unalienable right to life” and “the general welfare” — see the American Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution preamble — actually includes having access to life-bettering and life-saving health care — not to mention preventative measures, which are often lacking here — without regard to social class. The ignoble truth for us is that most people in most other developed countries view their own systems very favorably and generally would not trade. Here in the U.S., I have what is considered very good health insurance. Nonetheless, I often avoid going to the doctor if I can help it, because it’s just not worth the cost. Shortly after I returned to my homeland after my short time abroad, I went to a local clinic. I had to pay $25, with my insurance, for the privilege of seeing the doctor for about four minutes to request a prescription that I already knew was necessary. Then of course, with insurance, I still had to pay nearly $20 to fill it. Not a year later, I had to wait nearly four hours at an “instacare,” nauseated and in a lot of pain, for a 10 minute visit with a doctor — but of course, only after I paid my $35 copay — whose only real service to me was prescribing what I knew I needed. My visit to a foreign hospital was pleasant enough, and free, but too often and especially in non-emergency situations, I’ve been sorely disappointed with my health care experiences here. I could go on, but even a little research can suggest our system needs a lot of help, with or without Obamacare. Let’s be real about this. Failing large portions of our population hurts us all. Hypernationalism will get us nowhere. As college students, we need to be looking at all sides of an issue. Even bold, persistent denial could not make the emperor’s new clothes magically cover him during his awkwardly bare promenade. – Aaron Holladay

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5 VCU 12 Step F Austin

5 Oklahoma 12 N Dakota St

4 UCLA 13 Tulsa

4 San Diego St 13 New Mex St

6 Ohio State 11 Dayton

6 Baylor 11 Nebraska

3 Syracuse 14 WMich

3 Creighton 14 LA-Lafay

7 New Mexico 10 Stanford

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2 Kansas 15 EKentucky

2 Wisconsin 15 American

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1 Wichita St 16 Play-in #2

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6 UMass 11 Play-in #4

3 Iowa State 14 NC Central

3 Duke 14 Mercer

7 Connecticut 10 St Josephs

7 Texas 10 Arizona State

2 Villanova 15 Milwaukee

2 Michigan 15 Wofford

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Views&Opinion

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Page 11

What to do when you can’t follow helpful hints — or how to remember to remember 4By Viviane Baji guest columnist

Every time I go to an event, someone is handing out fliers filled with tips and tricks to become the best person ever. There are pamphlets about how to reduce your cholesterol, pick a 401K, buy local, dress for interviews and more. The amount of information we receive in print is astronomical. Why, this very newspaper is filled with ideas for how to better live your life. What is my suggestion to you? Every time something really grabs your attention, stop and engage with it for a minute. Don’t stuff it in your bag, thinking you’ll have time for it

Aller From Page 9 work is concluding and you are starting to apply for jobs and/or graduate school. You are extremely concerned about your grades and making sure each application you turn in fully represents you to the last detail. Your thoughts reflect the idea that each piece of work you turn in must be done flawlessly and you hold yourself to perfection. It may not be obvious, but during this time the balance between your driven self and the inactive self is out of sync. Increasing mindfulness of your internal (e.g., thoughts and feelings) and external (e.g., actions) experiences can restore balance. When you start to feel pressure to pursue perfectionism, stop yourself from reacting and be aware of the experience. What are you thinking? Do you think if you do not ac-

Paul From Page 9 Tribune his family was grateful for the love and support the community showed for his daughter and the courage if the Legislature to take on this controversial issue. “We feel more than honored to have her name attached to this law for what it will mean for parents like us who are so desperate for seizure control,” he said. “It’s a way of remembering Charlee, to let her name live on.” It’s a brave statement certainly, and I don’t doubt his sincerity. But one can’t help but wonder if Jeff Nelson wishes such action had been taken in the past so this type of treatment could have been available to his daughter. Perhaps if it had, she would be around rather than only her name attached to a bill. The problem with Utah — and a problem I fear will always be prominent — is our ability to create controversial issues where there is no controversy. In spite of support from doctors and researchers throughout this state and across the country, canna-

later. The late Charles Burton said, “You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” Make time for what moves you, because that’s where you can find meaning as well as ways to improve. How does this apply to a flier about the five best ways to reduce your water use, the three most outrageous facts about solid waste stream in America, or any other way to save resources? Instead of trying to change your entire life in order to be the most sustainable person, do one thing. Make time for one conscious act that you can stand by. For me, it was investing in compact fluores-

cent light bulbs — $5 a pop — that will last about 6,000 hours. Every time I turned on a lamp, I saw the distinctive curl of the bulb and remembered to remember energy conservation. It wasn’t a big move and it certainly didn’t change the world’s energy consumption by much that day, but it happened. That’s important because, eventually, I realized I could easily do more. If you want to save food but don’t always remember to use it by the expiration date, find ways to make it last longer. Invest in some airtight containers that enhance the shelf-life of your food. On the other hand, you can buy food that looks and tastes the best

when it is fresh. Make it easy to save money by not wasting. These daily reminders can help you find new ways to be environmentally sound because you see them at work all the time. Eventually, you might want to make another conscious act towards less consumption. There won’t be any trouble finding another step to make. Next, make the system work for you. Ask your landlord to weatherize your apartment. If that doesn’t seem likely to happen for some reason, look into the Bear River Association of Governments Weatherization program in Cache Valley for low income residents to

Stewart From Page 9

Ty Aller

“

Will you be a failure if you do not perfect these assignments or will your work still turn out to be high quality?

”

complish each task at a high level that you will be a failure? What are you feeling? Do you feel tension in your body, have sweaty palms or feel sick to your stomach? How are you behaving? Do your eating and sleeping patterns change? Are your actions altered? As you think of the thoughts that surface during times of perfectionism, are they realistic? Will you be a bis oil is still being debated within community circles. Why are Utahns so eager to rally against a treatment that has been proven to help prevent and calm debilitating seizures? I would say it’s because of the intoxicating components found in THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes a high, but those effects are not associated with this oil. Likewise, why are so many Utahns fine with the “Zion Curtain” law that demands all alcoholic drinks in restaurants to be poured and mixed behind a partition so young eyes won’t be encouraged to take part in alcohol consumption? Are these same young eyes not affected by watching a person at a neighboring table consuming the margarita that was just brought to them by their server? I realize liquor laws and cannabis legalization are two different things. My point is that Utah has some strange laws, but an even stranger population. As time pushes forward and our Legislature takes on tough issues and handles them with tact, I hope our citizens can look past the taboo context they’ve been presented in the past. This is 2014, a time of science

failure if you do not perfect these assignments or will your work still turn out to be high quality? If you do not study a set amount of hours will your anxiety really consume you or will it pass with time? Answering these questions will help you learn to separate unrealistic thoughts from realistic thoughts while allowing intense emotional experiences to pass. These skills help create an awareness of your situation, but in the end you must take action. Setting a plan to not let unrealistic thoughts and intense emotions keep you from walking the tightrope will allow you to walk more easily. So, take the first step out on the wire and be mindful of your experience.

how I feel about certain things. Spring break’s Facebook fight was a wake-up call to the fact that some opinions, however, should be weighed and guarded. Although the person who posted the article lives in another state and we are not likely to meet again, I bet some of the other people who commented will run into her someday. That meeting will be awkward. If you must keep posting and commenting on controversial issues via social media, here are a few things points of advice: 1. Get used to someone who opposes you leaving their opinion. It could be educational, anyway. 2. Get used to the “troll” friend who makes a point of

access and utilize. Where else do you spend a lot of your time? Right here on campus. Ask Facilities if there will be more water bottle refilling stations or tell Dining Services that composting is a great way to cut down on waste. If you’re feeling really jazzed about something that should be happening at USU but you haven’t seen yet, contact the Student Sustainability Office to get involved in it being brought here. I realize I just gave you a long list of helpful hints, and you probably won’t remember any of them. In order to get this remembering movement going, I have made the starting point easy for you.

Lis Stewart

“

Spring break’s Facebook fight was a wakeup call to the fact that some opinions, however, should be weighed and guarded.

”

leaving a slightly off-kilter and offensive comment on every post. Or better yet, get rid of him. 3. Think about the effect it will have one those who care about you. Do you really want to stir up trouble when you are going to run into up-

Instagram yourself recycling with the hashtag #USUdontbetrashy today and you will be entered into the drawing for free compact fluorescent light bulbs. – Viviane is a sophomore majoring in environmental and natural resource economics. She is the food intern at the Student Sustainability Office, an EcoRep and a member of the Sustainability Club as well as the Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Club. She is a part of the Bioneers Conference Planning Committee and the Cache Valley Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby. Send any comments to vbaji93@gmail.com.

set relatives at a family Christmas party? 4. Fact check. As Mark Twain said, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” 5. You don’t have to reply to everyone’s comment. Sometimes it is better to leave alone. There is also another solution. I started arguing with my personal Jiminy Cricket until I realized I never liked the person who posted the article that started the online bantering. Why are we friends on Facebook? I found the perfect solution to my problems: I unfriended her.

– Lis Stewart is a senior studying print journalism and political science. She’s in the process of cleaning out her Facebook friends list, but you can become one of her Twitter followers: @CarpetComm.

Haslam Comic • marcus.haslam@aggiemail.usu.edu

All But Dead • abdcomics.com

– Ty Aller is a master’s student in marriage and family therapy at Utah State University. If you have topics relating to mental health that you want covered, send him your suggestions via email: Ty.Aller@aggiemail. usu.edu.

Paul Christiansen

are Utahns “ Why so eager to rally

against a treatment that has been proven to help prevent and calm debilitating seizures?

”

and society. There’s no need to drag your feet against things that could ultimately extend your life and the lives of those in your community and family. The time to act is now to make sure the future is a viable thing for our children. Like Bob Dylan said, “The times, they are a’ changin’.” Maybe we should change with them. – Paul is the former features editor of The Utah Statesman and is a senior majoring in print journalism. Send any comments to paul.r.christiansen@aggiemail.usu.

Chief From Page 9 right after our former adviser was forced to retire — or at least that’s how it looked to us. We felt lied to, betrayed and bullied. The administrators to whom I voiced my concerns brushed me off like a nuisance. It’s no secret my newspaper isn’t the most accurate, timely, friendly or interesting — the most adept employees are always about to graduate. It’s probably not a secret that my newspaper isn’t well-liked by the Greek community on campus, much less the student government — both groups have been regularly criticized since I’ve been on staff. But I was surprised when the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, the very same advisers who work with the greeks and

Tavin Stucki

“

That says a lot about what good people will do when others in need ask them for help. Even when those down-and-outers can be critics, pests, and grumpy jerks like me.

”

student body officers, took us into their department — liability, debt and whininess included. SILC not only saved my job, scholarship and newspaper, but the advisers and students involved in the

various organizations within the office welcomed me and my staff with more kindness than I’m sure we probably deserved. Attending the USC football game and 2014 Mountain West Basketball Tournament would have been considered unethical from a journalism standpoint, but it’s difficult to have a negative attitude when my own department advisers handed me a ticket, bus fare and hotel room. That says a lot about what good people will do when others in need ask them for help. Even when those down-and-outers can be critics, pests and grumpy jerks like me.

– Tavin Stucki is the Editor-in-Chief of The Utah Statesman. His articles have won awards and appeared in numerous news publications throughout Utah. Send any comments to tstuckinews@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter: @StuckiAggies.

theBackBurner

Thursday, March 20, 2014

56/30

Thursday Partly cloudy

March 20 • Better Notes=Better Grades workshop, 10-11 a.m., TSC 315A • Mightier than the Sword: the women who wrote WWll, 3 p.m., TSC Auditorium • Third Thursday at 3: Museum and Music, 3-4 p.m., Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art • Wassermann 2014: Sean Chen, 7: 30 p.m., Performance Hall

51/30 Friday Clear

Page 12

51/30

Saturday Partly cloudy

March 21

55/34 Sunday Clear

54/36

Monday Partly cloudy

March 22

• Volleyball for Common Ground, 9 a.m. to 3 • Softball vs. Colorado State, 3-6 p.m., p.m., HPER Building • Last Night on Campus, 7-9 p.m., Engineer• Student Professional Awareness Confering Building ence, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Engineering Building • Wassermann 2014: Vadym Kholodenko, 101 7:30 p.m., The Performance Hall • Extra Life Gaming Event, all day, Old Main • Softball vs. Colorado State, 1-4 p.m., • Extra Life Gaming Event, all day, Old Main

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Travis Whitfield, a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering, was caught reading the police blotter. “I like reading about what’s going on. Sometimes you have ridiculous accounts, but this time it’s pretty basic.”

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