Letter to the Editor: Why is “hitched” hooked on Mormon values?

(In my opinion), journalists, much like scientists, are storytellers, and (generally) tellers of realities (truths) or as near to them as possible.

In December 2017, I had the honor and privilege of a 31B, basic economy, middle seat, two rows from the spacious (3.5 ft 2) rear bathrooms on Delta flight 2839 from Salt Lake City to New Orleans. I say honor and privilege because despite a growing number of airlines (including Delta) relegating their coach patrons (to essentially, cattle) all in the name of a few extra bucks, the iconic CBS anchorman, Dan Rather was on my flight! He was sitting in first class, of course, but can you really blame an 86 year old man of average height who (probably, like the rest of us) just wants to be comfortable and have a decent bathroom experience during a 3.5 hour journey across the US? Who wouldn’t fly first class (if you could afford it)?

The entire plane ride there, I was full of excitement and all I kept thinking was, “I really want to get there safely”. While you might conclude that I am a nervous flyer and the excitement of Dan Rather confounded these nerves; I was actually terrified for humanity in the unlikely event that our plane went down. This was because some (of the brightest and most inspirational) scientists (in the world) were also traveling from the Intermountain West to New Orleans for the 98 the American Geophysical Union [AGU] Annual Meeting.

Okay, I’m well over 240 words into this story and you’re probably wondering where the heck I’m going with it, right? Am I trying to toot my own horn about (cool) science and flying with Dan Rather? (Maybe.)

Or, based on the title and things that I have shared so far, perhaps you unfortunately and understandably expect me to sucker punch the Mormon faith? I am pleading with you to trust me when I say, that it is not my intent to bash or even pinch the Mormon faith with this article. Think of this as a harmless but hopefully helpful nudge. Though these first few words have been somewhat playful in nature, in the next (roughly) 800 words, I will try my best to emulate the style of Dan Rather, and call attention to something that may simply have been overlooked by USU student media. Please bear with me as I share with you my experience with and reaction to the 2018 release of the Utah Statesman’s wedding guide, “hitched”…

Dan Rather was a keynote speaker at AGU, and gave us scientists an extremely inspirational talk, despite national and international attacks on science and the media. Additionally, Dan Rather is famous for saying (which I heard, from his own mouth in December!): “The press is a watchdog. Not an attack dog. Not a lapdog. A watchdog. Now, a watchdog can’t be right all the time. He doesn’t bark only when he sees or smells something that’s dangerous. A good watchdog barks at things that are suspicious”. As a PhD candidate in Watershed Sciences and soon to be graduate (May 4th, 2018) attending three summer weddings, I view scientists much in the same way as journalists. We must bark at suspicions and question when information is presented in a biased or untruthful way.

In USU student media’s own video on “what is usu student media?” words and phrases such as storytelling, acceptance, inclusivity, freedom to express ideas, activism, and community are echoed throughout. However, as far as I can tell the hotly anticipated spring release of the Utah Statesman and community partner sponsored, glossy, full-color wedding guide, “hitched”, tells one story very clearly: Mormon values. Now, I am not trying to attack Mormon values of marriage in this article. I believe that marriage practices (religious or not) should be protected under Constitutional rights and personal freedoms. But what I would like to do is point out some glaring issues with the release of a free university magazine that in my own opinion violates Title IX and a code of ethics that the University, and the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, (strive to and) legally must uphold.

Although there are a few pages in a few select year releases of “hitched” with people of color and women exposing shoulders and/or knees, these pages are few and far between. Additionally, not a single issue photographs a same sex couple; 2014 signifies the national legalization of same sex marriage. This is very concerning to me because I feel like my friends and family members (some of whom are marrying this summer), and especially my USU community are being overtly excluded from a practice many people (regardless of background and identity) hold dear to their hearts, marriage.
I encourage and invite members of the Utah Statesman to release an even more hotly (nationally?) anticipated spring 2019 release of “hitched” showcasing beautiful stories of same sex marriages in Utah, as well as other marriage stories that are equally moving and beautiful, and yet grossly underrepresented in every glossy page of previous “hitched” issues. These are the stories of international students, non-traditional students, students of color, interracial couples, interfaith couples, students with disabilities, and of course, stories of Mormon values.

Look, I get it. Utah State University has a large (dominant) population that is LDS. As a USU journalist, catering to the LDS audience is (arguably somewhat) important since the USU student body is largely Mormon. Also, if you, yourself are a writer, photographer, journalist who is LDS or are familiar with LDS culture, it is probably relatively easy and/or comfortable to tell stories about and communicate to this audience. But, I would encourage all serious journalists to recognize their own lens and try to present unbiased information after careful thought and examination of an issue through as many lenses as possible. Additionally, Utah State University is a public, state-funded university (not private, like BYU), and there are people from all walks of life inhibiting this state and attending USU.

While I have absolutely no journalism credentials to back this next statement up, in my opinion, national recognition and success comes to those journalists who do the hard work, learn something new, try to understand different perspectives, and present unbiased information to the public and/or readers they serve. For USU student media, the readers you serve are an incredibly diverse assemblage of individuals who all have stories that are equally important as Mormon stories at USU to be told. It might be that this
issue was never brought to the attention of the USU student media, and I am not trying to blame anyone at student media for the (egregious) Mormon bias in “hitched”. As a white, heterosexual woman, I have been in situations where as part of the norm or majority, I may not have immediately recognized those
who were excluded. I anticipate that those who take journalism seriously will read this letter as a call to action for the spring 2019 issue of “hitched” and beyond, so that all students of USU (regardless of background or identity) will feel in some small way included and valued by the larger study body.

Thank you for your time and the opportunity to engage in the USU community.
Kind regards,

Sara Kelly