Soccer Team and President Albrecht Match Up for Lunch
Members of Utah State University’s Soccer team, including Coach Heather Cairns, met with President Stan Albrecht and First Lady Joyce Albrecht for an informal lunch. Vice President for Student Services Juan Franco and Athletics Director Randy Spetman were also on hand. Tiffany Evans, director of USU’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center, also attended.
Gathering in the Haight Alumni Center, the group met to get acquainted and discuss issues facing the student athletes. The president’s “Lunch with Students” program was established this fall by President Albrecht with the intent to meet more students from across campus, and to become aware of issues, concerns or problems that Utah State University’s students face.
“President Albrecht takes time each month to meet with a randomly selected group of students,” said Franco. “President Albrecht likes to meet with as many students as possible and this lunch visit is for you to discuss anything and everything. We want you to let us know what we are doing right, and what we might do better.”
The students, who have majors ranging from exercise science to education to social work, have traveled from across the country to study and play soccer at USU, but Utah is most heavily represented.
President Albrecht opened the discussion with a summary of the legislative session that concluded the same day as the luncheon. He also thanked the student athletes for representing the university.
“I appreciate what you do for Utah State University,” he said. “You represent us well — both as athletes and as students.”
Favorable experiences by the students at USU included living in a small college town, the friendly atmosphere on campus, the physical appeal of the environment and the changing seasons.
“Logan is a small town, but it is thriving,” one student said. “There is more going on than just the university.”
“A residential campus and all the close-by apartments are a plus when we bring students to campus for recruiting visits,” coach Cairns said. “The surroundings play an important part as well.”
Problems with lack of academic programs, especially a nursing program, were brought up. That appeared to be the biggest concern discussed at the meeting. When asked if the move to the WAC was a good one, an athlete responded with an enthusiastic yes.
“It’s great. We get to play in Hawai’i now. There’s nothing bad about that.”
President Albrecht agreed.
President Albrecht joined members of USU's Soccer team for lunch and a discussion on a variety of topics.
First Lady Joyce Albrecht attended the lunch and provided a tray of her signature brownies. A late-night trip to purchase a new mixer didn't interrupt Albrecht’s brownie record. She has provided more than 50 trays to a variety of student events.
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