By Melanie Fenstermaker, photos by Avery Brannen and Abby Roush** “Just tell everyone you fell down the stairs.” That’s what Jenny Hill’s* boyfriend told her after he raped and beat her so relentlessly that he broke two of her ribs. He threatened that … Continue reading Breaking the Silence: Reporting instances of sexual assault helps survivors and the community
By Rachel Jones, photos by Marcus Catlett Loud crowds of excited, chatty people eagerly gather around Block A. It stands adjacent to Old Main and is decorated with bright, vibrant lights on the base. Anticipation fills the air as couples and singles … Continue reading Kissing through the decades: True Aggie Night is a Utah State tradition
By Jeffrey Dahdah, photos by Marcus Catlett and Jaesea Gatherum The trouble with calling it a snowball effect is that it might melt. But that could also make the metaphor perfect: In a way, the idea of sustainability is to keep the … Continue reading Sustainability Grows: Campus organizations watch their carbon footprint
by Madison Adams, photos by Candi Chiu “It’s like putting this weight on your shoulders and having to drag yourself everywhere to do anything.” That’s how Utah State University student Drew Gagon describes his typical encounter with school-related stress, a common … Continue reading Avoiding Anxiety and Coping with Stress
by Fallon Rowe, photos by Nick Carpenter Diving into Cache water Picture a giant mass of earth and water crashing down a hillside, destroying everything in its path. Most people imagine this happening in a mountain landscape, far from daily life. … Continue reading Beneath the Surface: Diving into Cache Water
by Ariell Allred, photos by Nick Carpenter First-generation and low-income students are more than twice as likely to drop out during their freshman year than their collegiate counterparts, according to the Pell Institute. But first-generation college students who keep going despite … Continue reading Branching Out: First-generation college students develop new roots
by Jeffrey Dahdah, photos by Nick Carpenter In late March, Utah State University found itself in the media spotlight on sexual crimes. Hayden Wiechers, a former USU football player, was charged with sexual battery on March 18. A week later, … Continue reading Close to Home: A look at sexual assault at USU
by Dawn Otterby, photos by Nick Carpenter Kate Kelly was excommunicated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June 2014. It was not lack of faith, but Kelly’s desire to become an ordained member of the Church that … Continue reading Tracing Tradition: Women’s thoughts on religious roles
by Noelle Johansen, photos courtesy of Debra Jenson Small, golden squares form a starburst mosaic on the wall behind the podium in the Salt Lake City church. It’s March 8, International Women’s day. A pastor speaks, followed by a minister, another pastor … Continue reading Why I Stay: One woman’s quest for religious equality
by Jeffrey Dahdah, photos by Nick Carpenter In December of 2013, same-sex couples across Utah hastily threw on coats and boots to go to the county clerk’s office and receive what had been unattainable for so long: marriage licenses. Roughly 1,000 couples … Continue reading Courting the Constitution: The road to marriage equality in Utah
Aggie Blueprint Magazine 