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In-depth look at marriage Garretson injured equality in Utah in bout with CSU Page 4 Page 6 The Utah State University • Logan, Utah 435-797-1742 Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014 Statesmanwww.usustatesman.com Utah Free single copy Students, faculty respond to campus gun laws 4By Brenna Kelly staff writer For Tim Students were disappointed Vitale, Executive when feminist blogger and media Director of Public Relations critic Anita Sarkeesian cancelled and Marketing, safety and com- assur- her presentation, which was to munication with students were ing our free- be held during common hour on the top priorities. dom of speech. Oct.15. Her decision has caused “Even after hearing that she The letter read, “The relation- Utah State University students had cancelled the event,” Vitale ship between the presence of and faculty to reevaluate campus said. “We still were trying to guns and the freedom of speech gun policies and consider the del- communicate to students the is clear... We fear that students icate relationship between safety level of threat.” may see the threat of violence or and freedom of speech. Professors Jen Peeples and actual violence as a way to dictate Mikayla Kapp photo The decision to cancel was Jennifer Sinor composed an open what faculty say and do.” made in response to a threat- letter to President Albrecht and Sinor argues that removing ening email, sent to university Professor Austin of the Center firearms from campus is not Star Coulbrooke, director of the hope the motive behind the law,” he said. “It was debated for Women and Gender Studies. officials the Monday before. only legislatively achievable, but writing center. threat gets a lot more attention extensively when that law was Ultimately, Sarkeesian deter- They attached a petition with necessary for student safety. “When the letter came out, I and publicity than the university implemented. It even then was mined that the university’s safe- over 200 signatures, including “All of this has been boiling immediately jumped in and said, or the actions they did or did not appealed and went to the Utah ty measures were deficient. She those of students, faculty, staff up for about a year and a half... ‘Yes, I want my name on that.’ I take,” Faylor said. “That to me is tweeted, “To be clear: I didn’t and community members. By inviting Anita Sarkeesian to really would like a gun-free cam- the real issue.” Supreme Court... It became law cancel my USU talk because “We’re hoping with a letter like campus, USU unwittingly caught pus, so that we can tell who the “As a Utah public institu- and it is the law of the land.” of terrorist threats, I canceled that, that (President Albrecht) itself in the worst case scenar- criminals are,” Coulbrooke said. tion, we follow state law,” Said President Albrecht reempha- because I didn’t feel the security can then use that letter and io of internet drama to date,” She argues that armed criminals President Albrecht in a press sized the purpose of the universi- measures were adequate.” take it to the legislature and say, said Brian Cook, a writing center can be as dangerous as armed release. “The Utah law provides ty in his statement. Death threats are not uncom- ‘Look. It’s four hours - two hun- tutor. vigilantes. that people who legally possess “While we will always priori- mon for Sarkeesian, but she said, dred people signed this letter,” He was referring to Gamergate, Graduate student Garrett a concealed firearm permit are tize the safety of our communi- “This was the first time I had Sinor said. “It can be something a movement determined to Faylor was forwarded the email, allowed to carry a firearm on ever declined to do an event.” It he can use to help lobby the leg- ingrain sexism and misogyny in as well. He hopes that the let- public property, like the USU ty, no threat changes Utah State was after she learned that - in islature and to create some gun- the gaming community. Cook ter and petition will bring more campus.” University’s unwavering advoca- accordance with Utah law - con- free legislation.” says he wasn’t surprised when attention to the issue and that Tim Vitale agreed with cy of academic freedom and free cealed weapons are permitted on The letter urged President the email petition was forwarded awareness will be promoted. President Albrecht. speech rights of everyone.” campus that she cancelled her Albrecht to take the opportunity to him. One recipi- “I don’t know what I would “That issue (of gun control on presentation. to make campus gun-free, thereby ent of the forwarded email was want as far as gun laws, but I campus) has been settled in state — [email protected] Students harbor pets in on-campus housing 4By Chris Farnes Resident Handbook. The hand- staff writer book states: “potential health and sanitation problems dic- Amanda Barber kept her two tate that pets of any kind, other pet turtles hidden from her than fish in an aquarium, are managers for months in her not allowed possession, care, or apartment in the Valley View harboring of all animals, except Tower. While her resident assis- fish, is prohibited in University tant turned a blind eye, her Housing or adjacent grounds.” boss did not. When the manag- Violation of the residents’ pet er came for the cleaning check policy may result in a $50 fine Barber and her roommates kept and removal of the animal. If the their turtles a secret by hiding animal is not removed within them in the shower, turning it three days, then the student is on, pretending someone was in subject to an additional $100 there. To explain the turtle tank fine and possible eviction. they filled it with water and put “You may see animals on a fish, which is allowed, in its campus in residence halls that place. are not fish that do not fall “It was a last minute plan we under our pet policy, but those cooked up but turned out okay,” are protected under our support recently graduated Barber said. or service animal policy,” Ledna “We got to keep our turtles so it said. worked well enough.” Campus residents suffering For USU students living on from physical disabilities are campus, keeping pets can be permitted to live with service perilous, but many students are animals while support animals willing to take the risk. For those are allowed for students with that qualify, pets are available as mental disabilities. This right support and service animals for is protected by the Fair Housing mental and physical disabilities. Act. “On occasion students try to “I have a support animal, a smuggle pets in here, it’s not black cat. She has been my sup- an everyday occurrence, but it port animal for a long time, but happens,” said Timothy Ledna, officially since 2008,” said resi- the residence director for the dent assistant Felicia Gallegos. Living Learning Center. “Right “I didn’t even know we were now there are rumors that there allowed to have pets here until is a snake living under some- last year.” one’s bed somewhere in the LLC Now that Gallegos has a sup- which I’m currently investigat- port pet of her own, she now ing.” helps her residents obtain the Students living on cam- proper certification to live with Riley Densley photo pus are required to obey the Riley Densley photo pet policy rules outlined in the jSee PETS, Page 5 Page 2 CampusNews Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014 Re-evaluating Common Hour Students and faculty receive poll about their thoughts of the Wednesday Common Hour 4By Manda Perkins tude towards it. where everyone is able asst. news editor “Results of this will go back to meet at and work on to the Calender Committee group projects. And a Utah State University stu- and USUSA and so the results little break from class, dents, faculty and staff now will be used to inform what- knowing that every week have the opportunity to voice ever happens going forward,” on Wednesday you have their opinions concerning the Bates said. “That’s the point of that break where you can future of Common Hour. it.” go get lunch, you can A survey was sent to out The complications sur- study...So I think from to the primary contact email rounding Common Hour have a student’s perspective, addresses on the university’s been a point of discussion those are the benefits.” server Thursday morning, for the Calender Committee But Assistant Provost containing questions about and the Executive Council Andi McCabe said it’s the attitudes surrounding the since last spring. Doug Fiefia, difficult to assume the weekly one-hour break. USUSA president, said a con- position of the entire The survey will help the cern of some members of uni- university community, Calendar Committee capture versity faculty is the sched- which is why a survey the overall attitude surround- uling of classroom space.