The Humor Issue
Spring 2021
Look Back: A Brief History of Aggie Pranks
Pranks, when done well, can be memorable, funny, and even unifying—particularly against a common adversary like Brigham Young University. A good prank requires ingenuity and a good dose of verve. Utah State University Aggies know a thing or two about that.
Look Back: A Brief History of Aggie Pranks
Pranks, when done well, can be memorable, funny, and even unifying—particularly against a common adversary like Brigham Young University. A good prank requires ingenuity and a good dose of verve. Utah State University Aggies know a thing or two about that.
Aggies Underground: Behind the Scenes with Gage Duffin
During his freshman year, Gage Duffin didn’t have big spring break plans, so he used his spare time to explore the Logan campus while it was devoid of people. That’s when his fascination with the Old Main bell tower began. After a year and a half of begging for someone to let him into the tower of the four-story structure—mostly in the form of memes posted on social media—USU surprised Duffin with a private tour of the restricted space. Now, the political science and English major is the host of a TV series on USU’s official social media channels, bringing tens of thousands of viewers into all of the obscure, bizarre, and inaccessible places USU has to offer.
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Aggies Underground: Behind the Scenes with Gage Duffin
During his freshman year, Gage Duffin didn’t have big spring break plans, so he used his spare time to explore the Logan campus while it was devoid of people. That’s when his fascination with the Old Main bell tower began. After a year and a half of begging for someone to let him into the tower of the four-story structure—mostly in the form of memes posted on social media—USU surprised Duffin with a private tour of the restricted space. Now, the political science and English major is the host of a TV series on USU’s official social media channels, bringing tens of thousands of viewers into all of the obscure, bizarre, and inaccessible places USU has to offer.
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What do the memes we share say about us?
In mid-January, the internet was awash in sea shanty videos on TikTok. A week later, memes of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, bundled in a Burton coat and sweater mittens, made the rounds on Twitter. Within minutes, Sanders, originally photographed at the January 20 inauguration ceremony, was Photoshopped sitting on a subway, perched on the iconic Friends couch, and on the White House lawn near a boy pushing a lawnmower. Where do memes come from and why do we love them so?
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TJ Davis Finds His Happy Place
“I have learned that comedy and laughter aren’t the opposite of difficulties and trials. So often we think its comedy vs. tragedy or laughter vs. sorrow, but they’re not the opposite,” says TJ Davis. “Rather, I think it’s a remedy that can help you through some of the most difficult times that you have.”
TJ Davis Finds His Happy Place
“I have learned that comedy and laughter aren’t the opposite of difficulties and trials. So often we think its comedy vs. tragedy or laughter vs. sorrow, but they’re not the opposite,” says TJ Davis. “Rather, I think it’s a remedy that can help you through some of the most difficult times that you have.”
Hollywood Hamster: Mark Walton Keeps Rolling with the Punches
Mark Walton ’95 is more renowned in the entertainment industry for his substantial abilities as a story artist rather than a voice actor. But during the creation of Bolt, Walton was so good at providing what was essentially placeholder dialogue for an actor with a more recognizable name, that the Salt Lake City native was given the gig—and some of the most humorous lines in the movie. What is he up to now?
Hollywood Hamster: Mark Walton Keeps Rolling with the Punches
Mark Walton ’95 is more renowned in the entertainment industry for his substantial abilities as a story artist rather than a voice actor. But during the creation of Bolt, Walton was so good at providing what was essentially placeholder dialogue for an actor with a more recognizable name, that the Salt Lake City native was given the gig—and some of the most humorous lines in the movie. What is he up to now?
The Dark Side of Memes
A meme, for the uninitiated, is not just a cat joke on the internet. A meme is an idea or behavior that spreads and evolves as people interact with them, often through the internet. Memes can make you laugh. Memes can make you scared. They can be a benign source of entertainment or engineered to promote information that is false. When the latter occurs online, it exploits human fallibilities and can spread disinformation like wildfire.
The Dark Side of Memes
A meme, for the uninitiated, is not just a cat joke on the internet. A meme is an idea or behavior that spreads and evolves as people interact with them, often through the internet. Memes can make you laugh. Memes can make you scared. They can be a benign source of entertainment or engineered to promote information that is false. When the latter occurs online, it exploits human fallibilities and can spread disinformation like wildfire.
Accidental Catfishing: The best prank one student never planned
Aggies like moving heavy things where they ought not to be—like dinosaur mascots balanced on apartment rooftops and electric wheelchairs perched atop the Block A. You are partial to glitter bombs. And water wars. You are perhaps too talented at sneaking into apartments to remove items like doors and light bulbs and food. Speaking of which, you enjoy placing foods where no food should go—ramen in the bathtub, sardines in the closet, oranges in the oven. But our favorite Aggie submission for best prank was an honest mistake that spiraled out of control. Sophomore Kelsey Benson explains how it happened.
Accidental Catfishing: The best prank one student never planned
Aggies like moving heavy things where they ought not to be—like dinosaur mascots balanced on apartment rooftops and electric wheelchairs perched atop the Block A. You are partial to glitter bombs. And water wars. You are perhaps too talented at sneaking into apartments to remove items like doors and light bulbs and food. Speaking of which, you enjoy placing foods where no food should go—ramen in the bathtub, sardines in the closet, oranges in the oven. But our favorite Aggie submission for best prank was an honest mistake that spiraled out of control. Sophomore Kelsey Benson explains how it happened.
Humor in Dark Times
Medicine is not considered a bastion of comedy. Many doctors work in high-stress, high-stakes environments where patient health is at risk. Where is the humor in that?
Humor in Dark Times
Medicine is not considered a bastion of comedy. Many doctors work in high-stress, high-stakes environments where patient health is at risk. Where is the humor in that?
The Blue and the Aggie Blue: Capt. Craig F. Smith and the Mother of all Aggie Twitter Accounts
Utilizing a complex maze of backdoor channels, Utah State magazine made contact with the individual responsible for the popular @CaptCraigSmith Twitter handle—an account that arose from boredom while sitting in the backseat during a road trip.
The Blue and the Aggie Blue: Capt. Craig F. Smith and the Mother of all Aggie Twitter Accounts
Utilizing a complex maze of backdoor channels, Utah State magazine made contact with the individual responsible for the popular @CaptCraigSmith Twitter handle—an account that arose from boredom while sitting in the backseat during a road trip.
Project Joy
The last year is not one people often describe as joyful. But sometimes, a benign internet meme was enough to spark a grin.
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Campus Scene: Spring is coming
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