Meet the Candidates: Student Events Executive Director
Jake Russell
What year are you in school, what are you studying, and where are you from, name and position?
Hi, I’m Jake Russell. I’m running for student events executive director. I’m a junior here at Utah State. I’m studying public health and healthcare administration, and I’m from Stansbury Park, Utah, which is over by Tooele.
What is your favorite USU event and why?
There’s so many to choose from. My favorite USUSA event is PoBev, mainly because it brings so many people together, and it’s such a big event that it’s hard to go wrong with it.
How do you plan to create an inclusive, safe and fun atmosphere at USU events?
One of the ways I plan to create a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all student events is to make sure that there’s something for everyone, whether it be a little night just here at the TSC with your friends or a huge party that you’re moshing in — making sure that there’s an event for everyone — for everyone to enjoy.
Why do you feel events are important for the college experience?
USU brings so many people together. We’re all here for a reason, right? To learn, to go to school, to make friends, but it’s the traditions that unite us, and I know that those traditions are student events and just that those kind of things are the things that help people come together.
If you are not elected, how will you continue to stay involved at USU?
If I don’t get elected, this won’t be the last you see of me. I mean, I’m still involved in lots of other things, and I’d still like to continue making my place here on campus and helping others do the same. I love to be here.
If you could cater any restaurant for the Howl or Casino Night, what would it be?
Mo’Bettahs. Mo’Bettahs all the way. We’re having terry chicken, katsu chicken, a little pake salad, some rice, Teri sauce all over it, like everyone’s getting a big bite. Trust. Mo’Bettahs all the way.
Josie Packer
What is your name, what is the position you’re running for, what year are you in school and what are you studying?
My name is Josie Packer. I’m running to be the student events executive director. I’m a junior here at Utah State. I’m studying plant science with an emphasis in research and a minor in crop biotechnology, and I’m from Pocatello, Idaho.
What is your favorite USU event and why?
My favorite USU event is actually one that I recently put on with my committee. It was Casino Night Spurs and Spades. We actually increased ticket sales by about 30% this year from last year. It was a really cool experience for myself and my committee just to see our hard work pay off and see all of the people that were able to come and enjoy the event — just seeing people smile and having a good time is such a reward for me.
How do you plan to create an inclusive, safe and fun atmosphere at USU events?
Something I plan to do to create a more inclusive environment at USUSA events is by pushing an event inclusivity form. It is on the USUSA links page, but not very many people know about this. I would love to push this on our marketing. Whether that’s on Instagram or on our posters, just making that link more accessible, so that if someone maybe wants to come but needs an ASL interpreter, they can get access to that, and we can cater for them. As for safety, as the activities director, I work very closely with campus safety and local police, and I plan to continue to work with those people so that we have those resources available should there be an emergency at one of our events. As far as fun goes, I think that students really bring the fun to the events. So, I plan to create a fun atmosphere by increasing our marketing strategies so that more students feel invited and feel like they belong at our events and then, in turn, can have a fun, relaxing time at our events.
Why do you feel events are important for the college experience?
I think events are important for the college experience. Studies actually show that students who attend events are more likely to graduate and to get higher GPAs from their university. I think that events create a sense of belonging at Utah State and other colleges, and especially at Utah State, we have a really unique events team and a unique way that we do student events. We have student events very frequently, and I’ve been able to see firsthand people that come to our events being able to love Utah State more and stay more involved on campus.
If you are not elected, how will you continue to stay involved at USU?
If I’m not elected to this position, I plan to be involved a lot more in my college. Like I said, I’m studying plant science with an emphasis in research and minor in crop biotechnology. I really am passionate about research, and I would love to do more research at my college. I also would love to be on the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Council and help them with their events and things like that.
If you could cater any restaurant for the how or Casino Night, what would it be?
Okay, so maybe not so much a restaurant, but working in the student events office now, we’re right next to the campus store, and we love to hop over and get a little fudge sample here and there, maybe even once a day. But I would love to have fudge samples — not fudge samples, full blocks of fudge catered at an event like the Howl or Casino Night to give people a little sweet treat during their experience.