Unopposed Executive Council Candidates
Ben Burdette
Athletics and Campus Recreations Executive Director
What year are you in school? What are you studying, and where are you from?
I am a sophomore this year from Saratoga Springs, Utah, and I’m a healthcare management major who’s also studying pre-med.
Tell me, why do you think attending athletics events is important to the college experience?
I think attending athletic events is super important to the college experience. First of all, they’re super fun. I don’t know if you guys have made it out to a basketball, football game, soccer — they’re super fun, so they add to the experience in that way, but also, you’re supporting your fellow students. A lot of coaches call the players student-athletes, and it’s student first, and so students supporting students. So, they’re getting the support, but also, we’re giving the support, so it’s super important that we can make it out to those events.
Do you plan on promoting women’s sports, and how will you do that?
I absolutely plan on promoting women’s sports, just like we have this year. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a lot of the women’s sporting events, like women’s soccer. I’ve been to some club soccer games as well and women’s basketball, gymnastics. I think what we’ve been doing this year has been super effective with the ‘this weeks’ — ‘this week at home’ — posts that we’ve been doing. But also, we want to make sure that we’re coming up with new and innovative ideas to continue building the support for the women athletes.
Mia Bean
Clubs and Organizations Executive Director
What year are you in school? What are you studying, and where are you from?
My name is Mia Bean. I am a sophomore dual majoring in marketing and business management. I am from Malad, Idaho.
How do you plan to represent each organization on campus?
I think when it comes to representing organizations on campus, it’s not possible without first understanding their needs and what they want to achieve throughout the year. So, when it comes to representing them, I want to be able to meet with each club organization I’m over and kind of talk about what their goals are for the year and what’s stopping them from achieving those goals and then be an advocate for them when it comes to USUSA meetings, faculty and USU organizations and just be able to represent them well.
In an anti-DEI world, how do you plan on moving forward and equally representing each club and organization?
That is a great question. With all of the representation problems going on, especially in Utah right now, I think just giving everyone a fair and equal opportunity, as well as supporting some clubs that may need a little bit more help when it comes to funding, representation and marketing. It’s going to be different for every organization. So, I’ll just have to really talk with them to understand them and what they need.
How will you use your own experiences to help you promote diversity on campus and give a voice to those who aren’t typically heard?
This past year, well, ever since my freshman year actually, I’ve been heavily involved with USUSA, A-Team, Campus Rec and a bunch of other different organizations on campus. I think doing so has given me a lot of opportunities to see other organizations, both in the Utah State community and outside that would allow clubs and organizations and just the student body in general on-campus — opportunities to grow and achieve their passions and what they want to do with their lives. Using my experience from A-Team, I’ve worked with a lot of clubs and organizations like CAPS and SAAVI, as well as community-based clubs, that I think would be a great resource when it comes to promoting and growing opportunities students have here on campus.
What do you think is the most important part of being the club and organizations executive director?
I think the most important part of being the clubs and organizations director is to be an advocate for the student body as well as someone who embraces belonging and also inspires other people to find their place at Utah State, as well as be accepting and inclusive of everyone. I think the best part about Utah State, or one of the best parts, is how we as a community are so passionate about what we do, as well as making sure that everyone does have a place and feels part of the Aggie community. So, I think just growing on that, as well as keeping where we are, is going to be a vital part of my position.
What is your go to place to eat on campus?
I’m not an education student, but my favorite is Beth’s Bistro in the Sorensen Clinical Center. I feel like it’s way out of the way where I usually have classes, but it’s a cute place just to study and have breakfast and, well, not just breakfast, but just eat and hang out with friends.