Logan • For Maddie Boyce, having a space to learn rock climbing surrounded by other women changed her life.
The Utah State University senior had always wanted to get into the sport, but every time she entered the school’s Aggie Recreation Center — where she was greeted by mostly male climbers — she felt too intimidated to try. That changed two years ago when a friend invited her to Women’s Climb Night, held every Tuesday at the gym.
After that, she was hooked.
“Truly, going to Women’s Climb Night gave me that confidence to get started,” Boyce said. “...I don’t think I would have done it otherwise.”
So, when she saw an Instagram post in early December stating that her beloved climb night would be the next endeavor to fall victim to HB261 — the new state law that targeted diversity, equity and inclusion programs and recently shut down USU’s Inclusion Center — she was shocked.
“I have all of these friends, this whole climbing community, just because I went to that and was comfortable going,” Boyce said. “My whole life would be completely different if I had never gone into it. Thinking about people who are like me and not feeling like there’s a space for them — it is really frustrating that that got taken away.”
Women’s Climb Night launched in spring 2021 to provide an environment where women and nonbinary individuals could feel comfortable climbing, especially those new to the sport.
(Matthew D. LaPlante | Utah State University) Bethany Smith, a junior studying kinesiology, climbs at the Utah State University Aggie Recreation Center in November 2023. Utah's anti-DEI law has eliminated Women's Climb Night at the Logan school.
When Jessica John — who used to run the event — found out that carving out those 2½ hours from the wall’s 45-hour weekly schedule no longer would be permitted, she too was devastated.
In her experience, climbing and outdoor circles tended to be male-dominated, she said. So these types of spaces provided a leg up for those afraid to take that first step and a path to greater inclusivity.
“We’re diversifying the sport,” John said. “We’re making it more accessible. It’s becoming a bigger thing, and that’ll make it so that climbing areas are preserved more.”
Clayton Shaw, a USU senior involved in USU’s outdoor programs, said that he has never felt discriminated against due to Women’s Climb Night.
He has, however, seen the benefits of the program.
“The thought that a night specifically promoting a marginalized group would somehow be discriminatory towards the majority is ridiculous,” Shaw said, “and I’m embarrassed to attend a university that thinks so.”
Student Kate McDonald, who has helped staff the climbing wall during her time at USU, said she frequently saw individuals arrive alone and leave with others, returning the next week as part of a group.
She said 10 to 40 climbers attended each Tuesday.
“You go on a random Thursday night, and usually there’s like 15 men to like three women,” McDonald said. “So it’s like every night is men’s night. Let us have one night.”
(Matthew D. LaPlante | Utah State University) Kayley Bullock, a junior studying kinesiology, climbs at the Utah State University Aggie Recreation Center in November 2023. Utah's anti-DEI law has eliminated Women's Climb Night at the Logan school.
For such a small amount of time allotted to women and nonbinary climbers, it makes a big difference, said USU senior Reagan Tracy, who has gone to climb nights every year since starting her engineering degree.
Upon hearing of the program’s end, Tracy said, she wonders what else the law might end up eliminating.
“Anything’s up for grabs,” she said, “if you think about it.”
USU spokesperson Amanda DeRito said the university has received feedback from those who embraced Women’s Climb Night and would share their concerns with the Utah System of Higher Education.
“We encourage students to continue to support each other,” DeRito said in a statement, “and create an environment where everyone feels welcome to participate and enjoy the sport together.”
Women’s Climb Night is not the only outdoor event for women and nonbinary individuals no longer will be permitted. The school’s Outdoor Programs will cease overnight trips for these students.
Outdoor Programs staffer Meredith Aamodt led a group of women and nonbinary individuals on one of these trips in October to Idaho’s City of Rocks National Reserve.
“Every single safe space they have is just being torn away from them,” she said. “That just gives me the vibe that they do not care about their students.”
