Utah State University - Buzzer Yearbook (Logan, UT)

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the town to notice the cultural undertow. One new student (who hod no idea thot the mojor religion in Utoh wos Mormonism) sow the Temple ond thought it on eccentric millionaire's castle. Rnother heard frequent reference to gentile this ond gentile that' I hod no idea, he told a friend, there wos such a Jewish population in Utah. Just how Logan first appears to the newcomer is defined, in great measure, by the parollex view. The appearance of the city depends not os much on its physical as on the student's frame of reference, his background—what he's used to seeing. Logan is. at the some time, a provincial homlet and a big city. USU's Business Building emphasizes this condition. R freshman girl from Panguitch, Utah stores at the top of the building, its roof hoisted atop nine stories of brick, concrete and steel. It’s comforting to know. she jokes to a friend, that if school gets too tough, there's o skyscraper right on campus to jump off of. R new arrival from New Vork City looked ot the some building and remarked. It's not 9

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The subject of oil this discussion wanders through the Hub one morning looking for o seat. He sees o familor face. Vou mind if I sit down. he asks. Pleose do. she responds. Their conversation advances from pleasantries to specifics. She asks. tUas it hard switching to English from Spanish when you got home from your mission? Not too hard. That's my major, by the way.” he responds. English? she asks. Spanish. he answers. Rsa motter of fact, the Spanish Club is having a party Saturday night. UUould you like to go? Sure. she says. Six months later, they're engoged. Ves. it's a widely accepted fact that Cache Valley harbors an amazing variety of lifestyles. It takes o newcomer some time, however, to realize that. They are often too busy adjusting to the surface peculiarities of

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much, but if I get homesick. I guess I con look ot it sideways ond pretend it's o skyscraper. Often, it seems thot U5U is two schools. Among the more conservative elements of Utah. U5U hos the reputation of being o por-ty school, ftnd yet. students from the Cast or the UUest Coast ore omozed thot there isn't o tovern adjacent to compus. ond thot beer, the traditional university beverage, is forbidden in the dorms. And when these outsiders write home to complain about the illegality of kegs in the valley, their friends sometimes laugh off the complaints as jokes. Occasionally, some situation arises that underscores the cultural conflict. For example, the Logan City Council caused a major flap among o number of students when it decreed dancing in bars would end at midnight on Saturday. The assumption wos quickly mode by outraged students that the council didn't wont anyone dancing on Sunday, and that the city fathers were foisting their morals upon the city. After a flurry of letters to the Logan Herald-Journal and The Utah Statesman as well os articles and editorials on the Cinderella dance ban, the council resided its action. After a while, however, outsiders grow used to the lifestyle in the volley, often insulating themselves in small, familiar groups. 8ut the religious aura of the university is like the temple in Logan; everything happens in its shadow, and for better or worse, is affected by its presence. The dominant culture is a tough one to adjust to. but it's worth the effort. If you can survive the first year's shock, you'll find that it's not as bad os you thought. In fact, you might begin to like it. Some of those who come before you hove become so severely afflicted with Valley fever that they hove decided to moke their homes here. And for good reason. For nature freaks, ski bums etc., there is Jackson Hole. UJyoming, o mere four hours drive away. Or head south to Canyonlands or Arches for some spectacular desert scenery. Of course, some of the finest skiing in the