<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Governor Spencer J Cox Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <atom:link href="https://usustatesman.com/tag/governor-spencer-j-cox/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/governor-spencer-j-cox/</link> <description>USU's Student Newspaper</description> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 09 Sep 2022 17:29:09 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1</generator> <image> <url>https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-screen-shot-2017-10-19-at-4.33.29-pm-32x32.png</url> <title>Governor Spencer J Cox Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/governor-spencer-j-cox/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Gov. Cox talks drought at USU</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/governor-cox-talks-drought-at-usu/</link> <comments>https://usustatesman.com/governor-cox-talks-drought-at-usu/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kris Carpenter]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:00:27 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Craig Butters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[drought]]></category> <category><![CDATA[environmental protection groups]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Governor Spencer J Cox]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Neil Abercrombie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Great Salt Lake]]></category> <category><![CDATA[utah governor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Utah State University]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://usustatesman.com/?p=22120735</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Gov. Spencer Cox sits in front of rows of eager students, faculty, and legislators at Utah State University on Sept.…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/governor-cox-talks-drought-at-usu/">Gov. Cox talks drought at USU</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="none">Gov. Spencer Cox sits in front of rows of eager students, faculty, and legislators at Utah State University on Sept. 1.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">With cameras and microphones pointed to him, he’s eager to speak at his alma mater about issues related to the record-breaking drought affecting the Great Salt Lake. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">The USU event was organized into a Q&A format, where over 200 students and faculty submitted questions about Utah’s land, water, and air to both Cox and Brian Steed, the executive director of the USU Institute for Land, Water, and Air. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">One of the first questions asked jumped straight to the point and questioned if it was possible for the Great Salt Lake to be restored at this point. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Cox answered in a serious tone that things have improved and he does see hope for the future.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">“I am less worried about the Great Salt Lake right now than I was a year ago,” he said. “Is it too far gone? The answer is no, and the experts agree.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Cox also noted the lake is at a similar recession as it was in 1964. He explained that newspapers back then had hardly any comments on the dangers of the drought. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">However, that doesn’t mean Cox plans to do nothing. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">To help bring the issue to legislators’ attention, Cox flew them above the Great Salt Lake. He explained that when they saw just how low the lake was, legislators passed policies that “set the foundation for how we save the lake.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">One of those policies involved donating $40 million dollars to environmental protection groups, such as the Audubon Society and Nature Conservancy. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">But according to Cox, there is still a long way to go. </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">“Paradigm shifts in large populations rarely happen quickly,” he said. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Cox also acknowledged how students can be an integral part of those shifts. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">As a former legislator, he expected to receive thousands of emails from constituents convincing him how he ought to vote—and then received hardly anything. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">“But when someone took the time to actually call me or send me a personalized email, I would respond to that person,” he said. “Students changed my votes.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Not only can students change politicians’ minds, but Utah’s Commissioner of Agriculture Craig Buttars, commented on how students can conserve water. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">“The average college student can evaluate the way they use water,” Buttars said. “Then as they make decisions for future occupations or future goals, they can use those wiser water evaluations in whatever field they go into.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Former USU VP of Government Relations and director of IODP, Neil Abercrombie, also acknowledged the need for the public and students to understand the issue to better tackle it. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">“Four years ago, nobody was talking about the concerns of the Great Salt Lake. And now it’s a question (Governor Cox) gets in every meeting. That’s progress even there,” Abercrombie said. “Understanding what the threat is, understanding the issue, before we start to address it. I think there will be a lot of continued investment towards conservation.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">Cox concluded the event by showing his recognition of how valuable students can be in action. </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="none">“We don’t fix the dumpster fire (of drought) by disengaging. We fix it by having smart, young people like you care about it,” he said. “Those are things you can do right now to make a difference. You really can make a difference—I’ve seen you make it.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p>-Jenny.Carpenter@usu.edu</p> <p>Featured photo by Jenny Carpenter</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/governor-cox-talks-drought-at-usu/">Gov. Cox talks drought at USU</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://usustatesman.com/governor-cox-talks-drought-at-usu/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>