Caught on campus: Student supports peace, the environment and the Utah Jazz
Shumit Vatsal
Enviromental Economics Graduate Student
Caught Where: Science and Technology Library
Hometown: Madras, India
Age: 24
Astronomical sign: Leo
Hobbies: Smoking the peace pipe, painting, hiking and snowboarding
Utah Statesman: Why did you choose USU?
Shumit Vatsel: When I was in India I loved the Utah Jazz, especially John Stockton and Karl Malone, so I wanted to come to Utah. I was accepted to BYU and USU. But I didn’t really want to go to BYU because I’m scared of conservatives. So I chose Utah State.
US: How did you come to love the Utah Jazz?
Vatsal: I like to play tennis and my friend showed me Michael Jordan’s video one day and I just shifted to basketball and started watching and playing it a lot. I was watching a lot of NBA and I remember watching the Utah Jazz play the Bulls in the Finals in 1997 and I really liked watching Stockton and Malone.
US: What are your plans after college?
Vatsal: More college. I’m going for my PhD here at Utah State in the Natural Resources Department researching wildlife damage economics. I probably want to be a professor when I’m done.
US: What’s your favorite thing about USU?
Vatsal: I like the Outdoor Recreation Center (ORC) the best because I started really loving nature when I got to Utah and the ORC really helped me with loving the outdoors more.
US: What’s your least favorite thing about USU?
Vatsal: The Computer Science Department in the fourth floor of the Old Main building. The people are really mean there and they talk to you point-blank and don’t ever have a smile on their face. Even if you have a genuine doubt or problem they don’t seem like they want to help you out.
US: What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on campus?
Vatsal: There was this protest on campus a while back. I think it was the College Republicans who were supporting the war, which just didn’t make sense to me. I don’t know how you can support a cause when so many innocent civilians are being killed. It was just too funny watching these people yelling and getting pepped up. It was more like a football game. People were getting really into it and jumping about – it was just funny.
US: What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Vatsal: I had a job with Citibank back home and I quit that job to come here for more school. I chose USU and didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But now I don’t really regret it. It’s been a wonderful experience overall.
US: What’s your philosophy of life?
Vatsal: Respect others, give them their privacy and just be yourself.
US: What famous quotation do you live by?
Vatsal: “I came to the conclusion long ago … that all religions were true, and also that all had some error in them.” -Mahatma Gandhi
US: What’s the last movie you rented or saw in the theater?
Vatsal: The Brazilian film “City of God.” It’s awesome. It’s very realistically made. That’s how life really is in a third world country.
US: If you had five hours of free time right now and money was not an issue, what would you do?
Vatsal: Fly to Las Vegas and gamble all the money away.
US: What five words best describe you?
Vatsal: Extrovert, fun-loving, hardworking, geeky, ambitious.
US: If money were no object, what would you do for a living?
Vatsal: Live on the beach, make some handcrafts and do some painting – just live a simple life, I guess.
US: If everyone was exactly like you, what would the world be like?
Vatsal: There would be a lot of smoke in the world. It would probably be a disaster. I think the positive part – there would definitely be no war and there would be a lot of love.
US: What were the last three books you chose to read?
Vatsal: “On the Run,” “The Life of Pi,” “Bookends.”
US: What’s your deepest darkest fear?
Vatsal: I’m really scared to drive. I’ve never driven in all my life.
US: Do you want to get your driver’s license?
Vatsal: Yes, as soon as the snow melts.
US: What characteristics do you look for in the opposite sex?
Vatsal: More than how people look. I think how they are and their personality really matters to me, because I get bored of people really fast. If they don’t have a good personality then I just get bored of them in like 15 to 20 minuets. I look for people who are themselves and don’t act fake or look for attention.
US: What do you think the biggest problem in our society is?
Vatsal: I think in Logan the cops go after the college students who want to party and just want to hang out, while neglecting to go after the real criminals here. They have to understand it’s a college town and people like to have a good time and have fun. But it doesn’t seem like they understand us; they raid or bust a party whenever they want, even if the students are not causing harm.
US: What’s your favorite word and why?
Vatsal: My favorite word in Logan is fetch. My favorite word of all is definitely the F-word, because you can use it as an adjective, a noun or as any part of speech. If you don’t have anything to say, you can always use the F-word.
US: Describe the perfect date:
Vatsal: Probably go for a burger and a big dog at the White Owl and get trashed.
US: What do you want out of life?
Vatsal: Happiness, I guess. I’m a very simple person and I don’t like a lot materialistic stuff. I’d be happy just eating simple food and having a place to live. I value my recreational time and my freedom. If I get all this, I would be the happiest person.
US: What’s your favorite smells and sounds?
Vatsal: The smell of sand after the first rain and eucalyptus. I like the sound of a windy snow storm.
US: What advice would you give to future Aggies?
Vatsal: Don’t talk too loud and don’t yell when you get onto the bus and in public places. Don’t yell and shout; yeah we know you’re freshman, but hey, keep it down.
-jrsaunders@cc.usu.edu