COLUMN: Feeling at home at USU depends on you
As a teenager I loved making the drive through Sardine Canyon to watch my older brother play football for Utah State University. The leaves changing colors, the smell of crisp fresh air and the cold, biting wind are all impressions in my memory. Even though these still have an impact on my image of Logan, being a student here has definitely increased the value of that image.
When it came to choosing which college to attend, Utah State was at the top of my list. I applied and received acceptance within two months. With excitement, I packed up my things, stuffed them into my car and made the scenic drive I knew all too well. When I arrived, I barely new anyone, had very few friends, and had a small idea of what I wanted to do with my future. It was not until I got involved that I felt a sense of belonging.
I am a business marketing student here at Utah State University, now completing my junior year. I first attended Utah State University as a freshman in 2005. After leaving to serve a Tongan-speaking LDS mission in San Francisco, I returned in spring 2009 and have been here ever since. I have had the pleasure of being a USU radio DJ, the president and vice-president of the Polynesian Student Union, a chapter president for the Institute Men’s Association, and a member of the men’s volleyball club team. I am currently a resident assistant in Mountain View Tower, a member of Psi Sigma Phi Fraternity, and this year’s Diversity and Organizations Vice President.
As the Diversity and Organizations Vice President, my goal is to get students involved on campus and help them feel at home. Now this may sound like a beauty-pageant answer but this is seriously what makes me passionate about everything I do here.
I’m now in the process of updating the clubs and organizations website online which will be up and running by the end of this month. This will allow the student body to see what clubs are active and how to get involved with them. I’m also doing some reconstructing of the Council of Student Clubs and Organizations (CSCO). Clubs that fall within an academic department will now be in communication with their college senators monthly instead of attending the monthly CSCO meeting. For other clubs, attendance is still required at the monthly CSCO meetings. These meetings provide clubs with useful information about activities, requesting funds, fundraisers, sustainability, and how to enrich students’ college experience.
I have plans to place paintings, sculptures and all types of art around campus that represent the diverse students that attend here. Just as someone would decorate their home with something that represents them, I hope students can identify with these types of art as they walk the campus grounds.
The Diversity and Organizations Council and I will be planning events and activities that represent diversity within culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, backgrounds, etc. As a matter of fact, the first event that the traditions chair and I are putting together is the Global Picnic which will take place on Friday, Sept. 24. This will be a great event to come and try different foods and see the diversity in culture that is represented here on campus. We are encouraging students to join us for a picnic on the quad and bring lunch to share with others. There will also be vendors selling a variety of foods for five dollars or less as well as free entertainment and activities for all students.
What I’ve learned while attending here is: the more you invest in this university, the more you feel a part of it, and only then can you make Utah State a home.
It’s Suki at the Hub making sure I buy her pizza and the kiss with that freshman who badly wants to become a True Aggie. It’s the taste of Aggie Blue mint with the double scoop of Lemon Custard, and the sound of the roaring crowd chanting “winning team, losing team” at basketball games. It’s about sledding down Old Main trying to avoid the pine trees, it’s the sight of the Polynesian Student Union’s half-naked dancers at their annual luau, the inspiration from Religion and Life speakers, and so much more that welcome me back home.
Make Utah State your home and get involved!
Kaho Fiefia is the ASUSU Diversity and Organizations Vice President