Founders of USU meme page “Gaggies” create a student community online
USU.gaggies, an Instagram meme page, started in 2022 when the founding admin decided it was time for a way to channel her innermost personal thoughts on the university.
“I would post things on my private story about USU, and I felt like no one appreciated it enough,” she said. “This was during finals that fall, so I was having a rough time. I just made the account the next day.”
Since then, three “Gagmins,” who asked to stay anonymous, have amassed over 1,600 followers and counting. They aim to use their platform to promote sex positivity and a safe space for queer individuals at the university.
“I love when people DM us and say they feel safe with us talking about certain things that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to,” one Gagmin said, describing a “community and connection” with their followers.
One Gagmin said they have all found their own “safe space” and community through their platform.
“It has made me feel like I am less alone at the school,” he said. “I see all these people that follow the account and are comfortable with the things that we post and think that it’s good.”
The founding members said USU students, even those coming from a religious culture, often feel overwhelmed in such an intense population of religious individuals. According to Deseret News, 55% of people in Utah are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“The town I lived in was very conservative, and a lot of the topics we talk about on Gaggies was considered pretty taboo,” one Gagmin said. “Now, there are quite a few people from my high school who follow the account and interact with the posts, and it’s cool to see the connection. I felt like, ‘Wow, I wasn’t as alone as I thought back then.’ I’m sure that a lot of people from communities in Utah grew up in similar situations. It’s cool to see people engaging and relating to things that a lot of us have been conditioned to avoid.”
The three founders of the page are majoring in psychology, social work and accounting as full-time students.
According to CollegeFactual.com, Utah State University consists of 27% out-of-state students, and almost 2% of students enrolled are from out of the country. Incoming students can experience culture shock, not knowing what to expect when they move to Utah.
“Yes to the culture shock,” one Gagmin said. “I knew of the religious culture, but I didn’t realize how intense it would be.”
With both in-state and out-of-state students running the page, the founders strive to be inclusive in recognizing the changes that come with moving to Utah.
The students have been candid about their issues with Utah schooling, at both the high school and the college level.
According to the Utah State Board of Education, Utah’s sex education in high schools is abstinence-based. Utah is one of three states with an opt-in requirement, which means that students can only participate in sex education classes if they have a parent-signed permission form.
One Gagmin comes from a background where sex education and positivity weren’t a point of emphasis in education.
“I did not have sex ed in high school, and what I did have was a ‘Don’t do anything sexual’ approach,” she said.
The founders are outspoken about their focus on “counterculture” humor, as they put it, but they also mentioned things to come. “Sustainable and ethically-sourced” merch might be in the works, as well as an advice column for their followers.
The Gagmins also aim to use their platform to voice the concerns of students.
“We think USU should improve higher wages for students and employees that work for the university, as well as better funding for clubs and organizations outside of sports,” one Gagmin said.
The admins also had high praise for USU’s initiative in certain programs.
“The ASA does a lot of good stuff for our school,” one Gagmin said, referencing the Asian Student Association.
“We really like the Inclusion Center,” another Gagmin said. “We have a great Black students union too.”