USUSA Executive Council drafts new belonging statement admidst HB261
USUSA is developing a new belonging statement after two previous versions were removed from the USUSA constitution following the passing of House Bill 261: Equal Opportunity Initiatives, which restricted diversity, equity and inclusion language in higher education.
The first inclusion statement was adopted in 2022 but taken down after HB261 was signed into law. The bill prohibits Utah’s public universities from using certain DEI-related terminology or hosting programs that “promote differential treatment based on personal identity characteristics.”
In response, student leaders created what they called a belonging statement, a replacement of the inclusion statement. That version was also removed this summer after USU’s legal team advised the association certain language might violate the new law.
USUSA President Brandon Sorensen said the process of creating a new statement began in July with a small group of officers.
“There were a few words in there that didn’t necessarily comply,” Sorensen said. “Starting in July, I brought together a small team of officers that began the brainstorming process of creating the new statement.”
Sorensen said the student body officers wanted the statement to affirm USUSA represents all students without crossing legal boundaries.
“To me, Utah State should be a place where every student feels like they belong,” Sorensen said. “Our sole purpose is for students, by students, completely student-run, and I think it’s important to have a statement that makes students know that.”
The legislation passed by the Utah Legislature in January 2024 has made it difficult for student leaders to know what language is acceptable according to School of Graduate Studies Senator Jamie Parry. She said the restrictions are vague, leaving USU and other universities cautious.
“House Bill 261 is really poorly written legislation in the way where it is super broad and is kind of being left up to the universities to decide what can and cannot be included,” Parry said. “Utah State is staying really far away from this so-called line because they’re not sure what an auditor would say violates it.”
Parry said the previous belonging statement was reviewed and approved by USU’s legal office before being removed.
“The words that it had a problem with were ‘includes’ and ‘inclusive,’” Parry said. “In the context, it said, ‘The Utah State Student Association includes every Utah State student,’ which felt more like a descriptive term than anything regarding DEI.”
The current goal, Parry said, is to collect feedback from students to guide the creation of a new version.
Science Senator Breanna Cahoon is helping lead the effort. She said the team wants to ensure this version reflects student perspectives and lasts longer than previous ones.
“The goal is to have something that represents students’ feelings about what it means to be part of USUSA,” Cahoon said. “We’ve seen a lot of changes, and I think having something that students can contribute to is important.”
Cahoon said the association plans to gather student input through a university-wide survey and public forums before writing the final statement.
“We have a really solid plan,” Cahoon said. “Through student emailing and college Instagrams, as well as a public forum, we’re hoping to collect lots of data. The more input we have, the more meaningful it is.”
Cahoon explained every iteration of the statement will continue to be reviewed by USU’s legal team to ensure compliance with state law.
“Even the phrase ‘belonging statement’ was run through legal,” Cahoon said.
Student Events Executive Director Josie Packer said the process has been challenging but hopes the end result will make every student feel represented. She said this version will be different because it will be written with input directly from students.
“We’re creating questions to send out to the student body so we can have good feedback on what they think we should include in this statement,” Packer said. “It’s more like it’s written for them and not just what we think.”
Parry hopes the final statement will serve as a message of unity rather than division.
“This is an opportunity to create something that students can tell each other — that they are accepted and that they are creating this space of belonging and community,” Parry said.