The latest issue of University of Utah Magazine is hot off the presses. Check out some of the highlights.
A Delicate Balance
Soaring crowds at Utah’s beloved outdoor destinations have many locals asking how much is too much. As public lands boost economies and encourage preservation, U researchers are helping strike a balance between enjoying nature and preserving it.
Dig In
Can you have a yard that’s both wonderful and water-wise? Absolutely! Check out tips, techniques, and plant suggestions from experts at the U’s Red Butte Garden to help you create a climate-appropriate landscape without sacrificing beauty.
Restoring Historic Japantown
Salt Lake City’s Japantown was once a bustling neighborhood spanning several city blocks. But urban renewal and cultural erasure diminished it to one stretch of a single street. Now, U alums are working to save and revitalize it.
Major Alex Horn
“I joined the Air Force as an 18-year-old cadet. I came to the U as part of a program that would allow me to later return to the Air Force Academy to teach. In my doctoral studies, I wanted to understand the relationships between our evolved propensity to form intense fraternal bonds in the face of stress and our abilities to maintain health and performance amidst difficult circumstances.”
World-Class Art with Homegrown Roots
The artistry of Lane Twitchell BFA’93 is as captivating and hypnotic as the snowflakes he creates—unique, unexpected, and never duplicated. His creations are full of color, cultural insight, and whimsy and have been reviewed by esteemed publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Symphonic Convergence
In 1948, then U President A. Ray Olpin announced that the Utah Symphony would have a new home on the U’s campus. Music students who previously had to travel to either coast for expert instruction were now able to study with experienced professionals who held adjunct faculty appointments at the U and leadership positions in the symphony. This practice continues today with 20 members of the Utah Symphony teaching as adjunct members of the U’s applied orchestral faculty.
Triumphant Legacy
You might say skiing is in Novie McCabe’s blood—and so is the U. Both the Olympian’s parents attended—and mom Laura is herself a two-time Olympic skier. “The coaches here support us pursuing other racing opportunities, and they knew it was a goal of mine to make the Olympics,” says McCabe. In the 2022 Beijing Games, she was part of the U.S. women’s 4x5km relay team that finished sixth, and she placed 18th in the women’s 30km freestyle where all four Americans finished in the top 20, including Utah teammate Sophia Laukli. Then, fresh off competition on the world stage, they helped the U ski team win its third straight NCAA Championship. McCabe was also named the NCAA National Women’s Nordic Skier of the Year.