Students visit state Capitol, thank legislators on Aggie Ice Cream Day
On Thursday, Feb. 22, the USUSA academic senate, executive leadership board and government relations council visited Utah’s public servants and legislators for Aggie Ice Cream Day.
Students arrived at the Utah Capitol around 1 p.m. and delivered ice cream to offices throughout the building.
At lunch, students heard from USU President Elizabeth Cantwell and vice president of government and external relations Devin Wiser.
“Getting involved and engaged at this level where you are right now truly makes a difference and changes the trajectory of your path, so I encourage you to keep going,” Wiser said.
Cantwell even promoted a new Aggie Ice Cream flavor that she designed, coming out on April 12.
“Come to my investiture, get some Aggie Ice Cream for President Cantwell, and let me know what you think,” Cantwell said.
Three of the five candidates running for 2024-25 USUSA President — Jake Russell, Jamie Parry and Sarah Pope — were present. Russell and Parry were representing the GRC, while Pope attended representing USUSA as the graduate studies senator.
“It’s really helpful to build those relationships in order for representatives to understand the importance of higher education. I think this year has been very interesting and their legislation regarding care and education,” Parry said. “Being here at Aggie Ice Cream Day means being a student that’s interacting one-on-one with them, and hopefully being able to let them know that student voices should be the priority in that legislation.”
While Aggies were at the Capitol, two separate protests were happening. The first was in response to HB257, also called the bathroom bill. Two protests have been held on USU’s campus this past semester in response to the bill.
The second protest was against HB29, which allows books to be banned from schools if two or more Utah school districts agree to do so. The bill was passed by the House on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
“To see people like actively participating in politics, to see them coming to the Capitol and actively trying to do something about their rights and what they believe — regardless of what your beliefs are, I think we can all relate to that story of trying to stick up for our beliefs and act on doing something about what we believe should change,” said GRC member Abby Hansen.
While at the Capitol, members of USUSA and the GRC reflected on when they first felt like Aggies.
“I transferred to Utah State my sophomore year, and it was just so vastly different from my other university experience,” said Fran Simpson, senator for the Caine College of Arts. “I immediately felt welcomed, and there were also opportunities to get involved.”
Russell said he first felt he was an Aggie during his first month at Utah State.
“The Big Agg Show 2022, my first month at Utah State. I was at the rail during the concert, was moshing with everybody. And I was like, ‘Holy crap, I go to the school with all these people.’ It was so fun,” Russell said.
Parry said her time as activities director and a member of the GRC has helped her feel like an Aggie.
“Being here and being an Aggie is super awesome because being an Aggie means being in a community of people that are awesome,” Parry said.