In the News

The Herald Journal Friday, Jul. 19, 2019

USU's New Assistive Tech Coordinator Reaches Out to Community

Dan O’Crowley said his interest in engineering began while in high school when he designed and helped build his parents’ home and building an antique wooden refrigerator in shop class. Now O’Crowley is the new program coordinator at the Utah Assistive Technology Program. The UATP is a part of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University and is a federally funded program that helps make assistive technology — any item, piece of equipment or system to help increase, maintain, or improve independence — available for people with disabilities. “We are losing money the minute we open the doors,” O’Crowley said. “We are not here to make money, we’re here to perform a service.” O’Crowley sat down with The Herald Journal in his office to talk about his career and what goals and new projects he will be working on as the new UATP coordinator in Logan.
The Herald Journal Thursday, Jul. 18, 2019

Logan Poet Laureate Hosts Final Walkabout at USU

Utah State University geologist Jim Evans outright admitted on Thursday night during a poetry walkabout on campus that he had never been part of an event like it. “I’m about the least lyrical human being you can find on this planet,” Evans told participants. “So I’m very interested to find out how this is going to go.” The event, a creation of USU Writing Center Director Star Coulbrooke, was her last as Logan’s inaugural poet laureate before she steps down on Aug. 20. The event was called Rock ‘n’ Walk. ... Since 2015, when Coulbrooke’s appointment began, the walkabouts have inspired members of the USU community and the general public to write their own poetry. Coulbrooke has hosted each walkabout at a different place in the city, having participants think and write around a different theme. When everyone is finished observing what’s around them in that location, Coulbrooke will give them a prompt from which to write. Then, they’ll have seven minutes to compose their poem. The event concludes with participants reading their poems. ... Coulbrooke said stepping down as poet laureate brings mixed emotions. “It’s been such a wonderful time in my life that I feel a little sad to let it go,” Coulbrooke said. “But I’m thoroughly excited to be poet laureate emeritus, so I can still participate in poetry the rest of my life and I’ll get to go along instead of organizing.”
The Herald Journal Wednesday, Jul. 17, 2019

USU's Interpersonal Violence Office Gets $250,000 Grant

As the number of students seeking help after sexual violence increases, Utah State University’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information office continues to grow. SAAVI secured a new grant of nearly $250,000 from the Office for Victims of Crime. The office intends to use the grant to add a new full-time advocate and retain a part-time therapist. The office is “really excited about that,” SAAVI Director Jenny Erazo said. “Since I’ve been there … we’ve seen continual growth.” According to Erazo, USU became the first university in Utah to dedicate a full-time position to gender-based violence or interpersonal violence with the establishment of SAAVI in 2003. SAAVI offers information, advocacy and confidential counseling for all USU students, staff and faculty who are survivors of interpersonal violence. These services are available to primary survivors as well as secondary survivors — individuals close to the victim. ... Although SAAVI’s client list increased by 400 percent between 2017 and 2018, Erazo said it’s still below the national statistic that 1 in 5 college students will experience interpersonal violence. Erazo said the growth in clients is due to the collaboration between USU and SAAVI to spread awareness across campus about the services and resources SAAVI provides as well as students bringing their friends in.
The Herald Journal Thursday, Jul. 11, 2019

Western Dairy Center at USU Announces New Director

Utah State University has named the Vice President of Industry Relations for Dairy West as the new Western Dairy Center director. New WDC Director Eric Bastian would be replacing Donald McMahon. Bastian said the center is currently working on multiple projects to help them reach their goals for the future. ... Established in 1987, The WDC performs research and workforce development and trains younger generations in the technical aspects of dairy products. Currently, the center has about 50 students working with 17 faculty members in the dairy industry. ... Although the WDC and the dairy industry seem to be growing today, according to Bastian, the center started to struggle in the late '90s and the early 2000s. He said by 2005-06 the number of students interested in the industry were almost gone. To help revitalize the industry, Bastian worked with McMahon in developing the Building University and Industry Linkages through Learning and Discovery, or BUILD, Program with the purpose of training students in the dairy industry.
The Herald Journal Tuesday, Jul. 09, 2019

New USU Extension Agent Introduces Himself

My name is Jake Hadfield and I am the new Agriculture Extension Agent here in Cache County. I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of Utah State University Extension and to work here in Cache County with local agricultural producers. I have been involved with agriculture from a young age. I was born and raised in Lehi on a small beef operation. I loved being involved in agriculture and spent many early hours, and almost every weekend, helping my dad work cows, cut hay or do other chores. Growing up, I had the opportunity to show livestock, mainly marketing steers in both 4-H and Future Farmers of America. The agriculture experiences that I had while in my youth helped develop a passion for all things agriculture. My academic path first took me to Snow College in Ephraim and then I decided to come north to USU, where I got my Bachelor of Science in animal science. ... During this time, I learned how much I enjoyed agriculture research. I had the opportunity to study beef and sheep nutrition as an undergraduate researcher. So it was not a hard decision to further my education and get my Master of Science in animal nutrition. ... After graduating this May, the opportunity to work with USU Extension in Cache County became available. I applied and, well, the rest is history.
KSL.com Friday, Jul. 05, 2019

Gear Disrupting the Outdoor Industry Was Designed by Utah State Students

The Utah State University Outdoor Product Design and Development program had its first graduating class this past May — and with that, their first batch of final projects. The items were presented at the Senior Exhibit, showcasing student creations which involved either building entirely new gear or improving upon existing gear in the outdoor industry, according to Chase Anderson, program coordinator. The projects ranged from revolutionized fishing waders to hammock tents. ... Over the years students accumulate a variety of skills in the process of creating outdoor products, Anderson said. They begin by learning how to put their ideas onto paper through sketches, then create them digitally and then finally translate them into physical prototypes using the sewing lab, machine shop and more. ... The Outdoor Product Design and Development program had their first graduating class in May and some of the students have since been placed at companies like Columbia Sportswear, Black Diamond, Patagonia, Under Armor, Klymit, Browning and others, according to Anderson.
Deseret News Wednesday, Jul. 03, 2019

USU Offering Free Online Course for Dementia Caregivers

Few caregivers are trained to care for loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, which can make them feel isolated and underprepared, says Utah State University researcher Elizabeth Fauth. It can also result in mental, emotional and physical fatigue from providing round-the-clock care and navigating the patient's challenging behaviors, such as asking the same questions repeatedly, agitation, wandering, and the loss of reciprocity the relationship they once had with that person, said Fauth. Caregivers may be hard-pressed to meet the patient's demands, let alone manage their stress or tend to their own needs. While some Utah communities have support services, many caregivers find it difficult to leave home to participate in them. ... Researchers hope the ease of accessing an online program will encourage people taking care of loved ones with forms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease to devote 20 minutes twice a week to skill building. ... According to the Alzheimer's Association, there were 155,000 people in Utah who are provided 177,000 hours of unpaid care to loved ones who have the disease in 2018. USU researchers have funding to cover 109 participants for the online program. So far 25 people have completed the course and eight are taking it. The research team seeks additional participants to receive the free training and compensation, which will allow researchers can obtain more feedback about their experiences using the tool.
The Herald Journal Wednesday, Jul. 03, 2019

USU Researchers Ask Public to Send in Photos of Insects on Alfalfa

Researchers from Utah State University’s biology department and ecology center are inviting science enthusiasts of all ages to contribute data to a research project examining the interactions of various insects with alfalfa plants. USU Biology Lecturer and Lab Coordinator Lauren Lucas and Assistant Professor Zach Gompert are asking community members to take photos of insects on alfalfa plants and upload them to the “Bugs on Alfalfa” iNaturalist page as part of the citizen science project. ... The project is USU’s response to the National Science Foundation’s inquiry for researchers to think about biodiversity in new ways, according to Lucas. “Alfalfa is important to us because it’s everywhere, especially in Cache Valley,” Lucas said. Alfalfa is cultivated in the valley, but wild alfalfa also grows in many places locally, making it a “nice plant to focus on for this kind of biodiversity awareness project,” according to Lucas. ... With the submissions, the researchers hope to gather enough data to study the interaction between bug and plant, note patterns and possibly categorize which bugs are good or bad for the plants to assist farmers. “From the pictures that people contribute, then we can summarize the data,” Lucas said. “We can summarize differences in the numbers or types of species across alfalfa sites.”
WalletHub Tuesday, Jul. 02, 2019

2019's Best & Worst Cities for Recreation
Staying active isn’t just good for your health. It’s also good for your wallet. One of the best ways to maintain an active lifestyle is to choose a city that encourages and facilitates recreation. The best cities have a wide range of leisure activities, both indoor and outdoor. Those activities require varying levels of exercise and contribute to a city’s overall well-being and economy. ... But some cities offer more and cheaper options than others. To determine the places where recreation is a high priority, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 48 key metrics that speak to the benefits of recreational activities. ... Zach Miller, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Utah State University, Department of Environment and Society, Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. What are some cost effective ways for local authorities to improve parks and recreation facilities? Play to your strengths. Many areas have some wonderful natural resources that can provide fantastic opportunities for low-cost outdoor recreation invest. Local authorities should focus on these natural assets and work to promote their inherent strengths. Two great examples of this are in Missoula, Montana and Greenville, South Carolina.
The Herald Journal Tuesday, Jul. 02, 2019

Suffrage Political Art Exhibit Visiting Utah State

A visiting exhibit at Utah State University highlights the work of a 20th-century political cartoonist and women’s rights advocate. “I don’t think I had quite a sense of what it took to pass the 19th Amendment,” said Molly Cannon, the director of the university’s anthropology museum. “That is something that I have learned from having this exhibit here on campus.” The exhibit, entitled “A Woman Speaking to Women,” features eight original political cartoons drawn by Nina Allender for “The Suffragist,” the weekly publication of the National Women’s Party. Allender created cartoons for the newspaper each week from 1914 to 1917. ... Madison Dunn, another contributor to the exhibit, said they wanted to focus their exhibit on women’s empowerment and selected the topic of labor divisions because being able to work is important to women’s equality. ... Both exhibits will be on display at the museum through August. On Tuesdays at 2 p.m., a docent-led tour will be offered featuring a short presentation on the exhibit. On Saturday at 3 p.m., there will be an opening event at the at the museum featuring a presentation by Candi Carter Olson, a professor in the university’s journalism department.
The Herald Journal Monday, Jul. 01, 2019

USU Jazz Ochestra, Faculty Combo Concert to Raise Funds for Europe Tour

The Utah State University Jazz Orchestra and the faculty jazz combo will host a benefit concert to help fund their upcoming European tour at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Russell/Wanlass Performance Hall, 600 N. 1150 East. “The concert is help us fund one of the first times that the university is stepping out in the international music world,” orchestra member and trumpet player Sam Dickson said. “Coming to that would help us, but it’s also a chance to see some of the best prepared music that the school has done in a long time.” The orchestra, composed of USU students, was invited to perform in some of the world’s most prestigious jazz festivals, including Jazz Vienne in France, Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and Umbria Jazz in Italy, among others. The orchestra will leave on Thursday and tour Europe for 13 days. ... Although the Jazz Orchestra and the faculty jazz combo will be traveling to Europe together, they will perform different sets and at different venues, according to Matzen. The concert will be hosted by Craig Jessop of the music department and will feature the orchestra’s full set, according to Matzen. He said the concert would also help the students prepare for the tour.
The Herald Journal Friday, Jun. 28, 2019

USU Raising Funds For Projects Accommodating Students Who Are Parents

In an effort to make Utah State University a more family-friendly campus, the Aggie Childcare Committee is raising funds to help the construction of an infant care/lactation space in the Merrill-Cazier Library. “We have a lot of students who are also parents,” said USU Inclusion Center Director Michelle Bogdan-Holt. “We are always wanting to be the most inclusive campus we can be, and part of that means making sure that our students who are parents, faculty who are parents and staff who are parents have enough spaces where they can provide infant care.” The committee, created to help address the needs of student parents, is working on two projects to help parents feel comfortable studying while still caring for their children. ... The first project is the remodel of an underused area in the library into a family study space where students who are parents could meet with study groups in a quiet room where they can watch their children as they play in the playroom. ... The second project is remodeling a space donated by the library into an infant care/lactation space. Since this project is not covered by the grants, the committee is asking for donations to finish remodeling and furnishing the space.
The Herald Journal Thursday, Jun. 27, 2019

USU Hosts 200 Students for Middle-to-High School Transition Camp

Utah State University hosted 200 students from nine different schools for the fifth annual USU STARS! GEAR UP Transition Camp. The camp aims to provide eighth grade students transitioning into high school the opportunity to learn skills they will need to be successful in school as well as an understanding of what they can expect in high school. ... The camp was hosted by USU STARS! GEAR UP, a federal grant-funded student program, with support from different programs at USU including the ROTC program, the Academic Success Center, the School of Teacher Education and Leadership, the College of Engineering and the College of Science. GEAR UP partners with participating schools in Central and Northern Utah as well as Nevada to encourage students to graduate high school and continue their education. ... The students had the opportunity to get to know each other with activities such as a relay race and tug of war organized by the USU ROTC. They also had a chance to use the USU Challenge Course.
St. George News Tuesday, Jun. 25, 2019

USU Extension 4-H Partners with Google to Expand Computer Science Education

The National 4-H Council recently announced a new $6 million collaboration with Google to bring computer science education to underserved youth across the country with a new computer science pathway. Utah State University Extension’s 4-H program has been a key partner in co-creating the computer science curriculum and developing tools for educators to implement the program, according to a news release issued by USU. USU Extension 4-H supports the new pathway by providing training for 15 programs at a variety of land-grant universities. The training teaches youth and adults how they can develop and implement computer science education programs that align with local interests, needs and resources. ... Those efforts build on USU Extension’s existing computer science program for youth. Across the state, USU Extension 4-H programs provide training and support for youth interested in a computer science pathway. These experiences include camps, 4-H clubs, teacher professional development, competitions and more.
Deseret News Sunday, Jun. 23, 2019

Can Utah's Water Supply Keep Up with its Booming Population?

Will Utah’s water supply catch up with the state's rising population, expected to double by 2065? It was one of the several questions posed at Utah State University’s Research Landscapes series focused on Utah's waterscapes. The event Tuesday at the O.C. Tanner headquarters in Salt Lake City attracted a mix of state and local government officials, businesses leaders, developers and nonprofit organizations. Rep. Timothy Hawkes, R-Centerville, said now is a great point in time to reflect on Utah’s water, as he remembers a time when talking about water would invoke ridicule or hostility. ... While Hawkes admits he might not have the answers, he knows that “to have innovation we need to have good information.”“The biggest challenge we face as policymakers is lack of good, high-quality information,” he said.And that’s where Michelle Baker, an associate dean and professor of biology at USU, and her research come into play to help answer those questions.Baker and her student research group focus on understanding how water links landforms and people, and how it influences freshwater ecosystems. ... According to Baker, Utah’s water consumption is among the highest in the nation, as 160-170 gallons of water are used per person each day, mostly to support agricultural industries. She added that Utahns pay less than a penny per gallon, making it the second-lowest water per gallon rate in the nation. ... Baker attributes Utah’s population boom to having a young population compared to the rest of the nation, leading to more births than deaths, as well as people moving to Utah attracted by the growing tech industry. USU researchers are focusing their efforts on three areas such as water’s quantity, quality and efficiency, she said.
Cache Valley Daily Thursday, Jun. 20, 2019

Professor says Window Collisions Kill Nearly a Billion Birds a Year
he beautiful glass buildings, low and high-rise, look like landscape marvels with the reflection of trees and clear blue skies. Those neat looking buildings may look good to people, but they are bird killers. Utah State University professor Kimberley Sullivan estimates a billion birds are killed in the United States due to collisions with glass. Glass buildings and windows in homes are the second leading cause of death to birds. A 2017 bird study from USU estimates 10 percent of the world’s bird population is killed running into glass windows. ... Sullivan said some of the buildings on campus get hit more than others. For instance, the southwest part of the Fine Arts Visual building, and the walk-way between the Science Engineering Research building and the Engineering building. The west facing windows on Old Main and the University Inn also have a fair share of bird strikes. Over 60 cedar waxwings were killed by colliding with the University Inn windows over the span of two days in 2015.
The Herald Journal Thursday, Jun. 20, 2019

USU Implements Lab Ventilation Project to Help School Go Green

With the recent addition of a grant, the Utah State University has launched a lab ventilation project to move forward with their resolution to become carbon neutral by 2050. “We set a goal to … become carbon neutral by 2050,” Sustainability Coordinator Alexi Lamm said. “This feeds into that goal and then, in addition to that, the faculty and the students in their legislative bodies both asked the university to speed that up.” The Edwards Mother Earth Foundation granted USU a one-year grant of $220,000 to help fund a pilot ventilation project for laboratory efficiency. ... The project would install sensors to monitor the air quality in laboratory spaces in the Biology and Natural Resources and Agriculture Sciences Buildings to help customize ventilation needs for each laboratory. Ventilation rates would be lower when the sensors determine the air quality is safe, while in the case of a chemical spill, it would increase ventilation, cleansing the air in the laboratory. Cook said each lab could customize which chemicals to detect to increase effectiveness.
The Herald Journal Thursday, Jun. 20, 2019

USU's Nora Eccles Harrison Museum Introduces New Music Event

Staff at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art are working on new events and activities as a way to encourage the public to visit the recently-remodeled space on the Utah State University campus. One of these programs is Thursday Evening Music at NEHMA. “Music brings magic to every experience. Art is magic, music is magic. So they are just a beautiful combination,” said Terry Guy, the museum’s development and events coordinator. ... Katherine Taylor, the public relations and marketing coordinator for the museum, said it is an ideal time to visit the museum. “The parking in front of the lot is free, where it would otherwise be more enforced. And then you’ve got some time outside of your regular schedule, your workday, to come and appreciate some artwork,” Taylor said. ... Thursday marked the second week of the new event, and music was provided by Holly Conger, a local guitarist who graduated from Utah State University. She said she has always appreciated the art on campus and hoped her music did the museum’s space justice.
KSL.com Thursday, Jun. 20, 2019

USU's Outdoor Product Design Students Invited to Outdoor Retailer Show

Utah State University’s Outdoor Product Design and Development students were invited to the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver this year to make chalk bags, on the spot, out of used textiles. Their textile repurposing station provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate their gear production skills while helping them connect to businesses that can donate used textiles to the school, according to program coordinator Chase Anderson. Convention attendees were able to come to their booth and choose what materials they wanted for their chalk bags, and the Utah State students made them on the spot. ... The Outdoor Product Design and Development program began in the fall of 2015 and yielded its first graduating class of 30 students this past May, according to Anderson. It’s a first-of-its-kind undergraduate program focused on the development and design of outdoor products. ... Students from the program often go into design, technical development, product line management, supply chain management and more, according to the program’s website. Throughout their four years of school, they have access to six labs on campus to help them turn their ideas into reality.
The Herald Journal Wednesday, Jun. 19, 2019

USU Computer Science Department Moves Back to College of Science

After six years of being a part of Utah State University’s College of Engineering, the department of computer science will move back to the College of Science effective July 1. According to an email from USU College of Science Dean Maura Hagan to The Herald Journal, after students, faculty, administrators, state business and government leaders discussed the needs of the state and university, they decided to make the move. ... The College of Science was home to the department until it was moved to the College of Engineering in the Spring of 2012. With the move back to the College of Science, the department faculty continues to prepare classes and and student research opportunities for the fall semester. ... The department will maintain its Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology accreditation. The move will mainly be administrative, according to Hagan.
The Herald Journal Tuesday, Jun. 18, 2019

USU's Newly Accredited Nursing Program Prepares for Fall Semester

After recently being granted accreditation for the Utah State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the department is fine-tuning the programs for the fall semester. According to Nursing and Health Professions Department Head Carma Miller, the department prepared for over a year for the nursing program to be evaluated by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. ... To grant accreditation, the ACEN evaluates the program’s faculty and staff, student policy, curriculum and resources, as well as the graduating nurses’ ability to pass licensing and find a job. The accreditation of the BSN degree is important for the program, because, according to Miller, the Utah Board of Nursing requires that all nursing programs in Utah be accredited by one of the two nursing accrediting programs approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Salt Lake Tribune Sunday, Jun. 16, 2019

Taking a Closer Look at How Utah Uses Water

This year has been a good water year for Utah, with June snowpack levels in some areas measured at 200-plus percent above average and many of our reservoirs filling to capacity. By many accounts, the state’s years-long drought is officially over, but now is not the time to take our eye off the wise-water-management prize. Our reservoirs might be rising, but our population also is rising along with demands for water — demands that will over time in this arid state test every bit of technology and innovation we can muster. That’s why several years ago the Utah Legislature decided to set aside additional money each year for Utah State University’s Extension Program. Both the Legislature and the university recognized a pressing need to identify and fund research into the most critical water scarcity challenges that Utah faces now and will face in the future. ... To further that effort, Utah State University will bring together policy makers, business leaders and community stakeholders on June 18 in Salt Lake City to talk about water issues in the state. The forum is part of USU series titled Research Landscapes, a series of discussions about research into our most vital natural resources: water, land, and air. ... USU associate dean and professor of biology Michelle Baker will lead the forum and discuss how Utah’s landscapes contribute to the health of cities and their residents, and how our changing population and economy necessitates a closer look into how we use water.
The Herald Journal Saturday, Jun. 15, 2019

USU Students Organize Suffrage March Enactment as Part of Conference

A few dozen community members and Utah State University students gathered on the steps of the Logan Tabernacle on Friday morning for a voting rights march. Some people carried signs with quotes from early voting rights activists. Many of the participants wore purple, gold and white — the colors past suffragists used to represent their movement. ... This voting rights march was part of the annual Bennion Teachers’ Workshop at Utah State University. The theme this year was “Forward Out of Darkness: Gender, Media, and Suffrage in the United States.” ... As part of the workshop, the students drafted a modern Declaration of Sentiments on voting rights, similar to the one shared during the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls in 1848. Their declaration focused on voting issues related to privacy and accessibility, including eliminating closed primaries, keeping voter records private and instituting a 24-hour on-site polling period. During a short program after the march, workshop participants read their declaration and invited local elected officials to speak and sign the declaration.
The Herald Journal Wednesday, Jun. 12, 2019

USU Hosts Resilience Through Caring Connections Conference

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox encouraged audience members to focus on individual-level solutions and building a sense of community while speaking at the Resilience through Caring Connections conference on Wednesday afternoon. “The only way that we are going to fix what is wrong in our society is to work directly with the individual,” Cox said. The conference was hosted at Utah State University by the Resilience through Caring Connections coalition. This group is focused on improving the well-being of families and individuals by providing resources for addressing trauma. In addition to Cox’s presentation, the conference included other workshops and speakers on different areas of resiliency. ... During the conference, former USU basketball player Gary Wilkinson spoke about his personal experiences with resiliency in overcoming life challenges. Wilkinson said learning to care about one’s self is an important first step in resiliency because it is harder to help others when you are struggling.