The Arbiter Vol. 35 Issue 10 2.9.23

Editor-In-Chief

Andrea Teres - Martinez editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Online Editor

Kelby Andrew onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Editor

Brydon Black news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Reporter

Kate Jacobson

News Reporter

Kiryn Willett

Culture Editor Hanalei Potempa culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Culture Reporter

Emily Gordon

Sports & Rec Editor

Adam Bridges sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sports & Rec Reporter

Marlei Soderquist

Opinion Editor

Kiyah Henson opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Copy Editor

Kelly Ann Asker copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Social Media Coordinator

Amy Brennan

Digital Content Manager

Taya Thornton digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Digital Content Producer

Elise Ledesma

Graphic Design Manager

Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Graphic Designer

Dorothy Martin

Illustrator

Sydney Smith

Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

On

ON THE COVER:

With rising rental costs and increased demands for housing, Boise State students are left with limited options if they aren’t granted a place to stay on campus. Does the university provide enough support to its students amid Boise’s turbulent rental market?

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Jan. 27, the Boise State Chinese Club worked in alliance with different dance groups including Boise State Taekwondo and local orchestra groups to create a showcase for the Boise community. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

A STUDENT’S GUIDE TO IDAHO’S 67TH LEGISLATURE

What

Boise State students should know about the legislative session

Kate Jacobson | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Idaho’s 67th Legislature has been in session for nearly a month, and dozens of bills have already been introduced that could have widespread impacts for Idahoans.

For students who are juggling school, work, internships and extracurricular activities, it can be difficult and overwhelming to stay up to date on what is going on at Idaho’s Capitol. Many bills proposed in the Legislature could very quickly have repercussions for students, however, so it’s important to know how you could be affected.

Here are some key pieces of legislation introduced this session that students should pay attention to:

House Bill 2

House Bill 2 was introduced on Jan. 11, just two days into the Legislature convening. H.B. 2 would allow for “the withholding of sales and use tax revenues from local government entities that defy state law and refuse to investigate or enforce Idaho criminal abortion statutes.”

It is evident from the bill’s contents that it directly targets Boise because it is the only city that has openly said it will not comply with Idaho’s strict abortion regulations. In July of 2022, Boise City Council passed a resolution stating that “investigations for the purpose of prosecuting abortion providers will not be prioritized and additional resources will not be assigned.”

The City of Boise is projected to receive roughly $18 million in sales tax revenue for the 2023 fiscal year, according to the city’s 2021 annual budget. H.B. 2 was sent out of the State Affairs committee with a recommendation to pass, and if it does, Boise could lose up to 8% of its estimated annual revenue.

House Bill 33

House Bill 33 is intended to “exempt the sale of certain food items from sales tax,” meaning that certain groceries would no longer be subject to Idaho’s 6% sales tax. Idaho is one of only seven states that applies full sales tax to groceries.

In the eighth annual Idaho Public Policy survey, conducted by researchers at Boise State, it was found that an overwhelming 82% of Idahoans said they would support a grocery tax repeal.

The cost of living in Idaho has been growing exponentially with food increasing in cost by 10% since 2021 and rent increasing by 36% since 2020, according to the Idaho Center for Fiscal policy. These increases can be felt by Boise State students who would all benefit from a grocery tax repeal.

House Bill 54

House Bill 54 would “prohibit the use of student IDs for personal identification at polling places and prohibit personal affidavits in lieu of personal identification.”

This legislation is nearly identical to House Bill 549, which was introduced, but not passed, in the last session.

Currently, Idaho’s polling locations allow for voters to use a student ID to verify their identity. Additionally, those without access to a real or student ID could sign a personal affidavit ensuring they are who they claim to be.

H.B. 54 was first introduced to the State Affairs committee on Jan. 30, and it’s likely we will see it debated in the House in the coming weeks.

If passed, this bill could create a barrier for many Idahoans, especially for students, when trying to vote in elections. While similar legislation did not pass in 2022, roughly ⅓ of this year’s Legislature are

new members which could be enough to change the outcome.

Senate Bill 1008

Senate Bill 1008 “repeals the existing law to revise provisions regarding concealed weapons,” which specifically removes public universities’ ability to prohibit concealed weapons on campus.

At Boise State, it is against policy to carry a firearm on campus unless you have met very specific requirements. Those with an enhanced concealed weapon permit may bring firearms to certain parts of campus, but are still not allowed in housing or large entertainment venues.

However, this could change with S.B. 1008 because Boise State would no longer be able to enforce any of their own weapons policies and would instead have to fully rely on Idaho statutes.

Senate Bill 1011

Senate Bill 1011 would establish that “freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity is a civil right,” which Idaho has refused to acknowledge for years.

Add the Words is a non-profit organization that has been lobbying for Idaho to add protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity for the past 14 legislative sessions to no avail.

This bill is regularly reintroduced because hate crimes in Idaho are still prominent, with the large majority of them taking place in Ada County.

There are a handful of legislators who are strongly advocating for this bill to fail, though the public support for Add the Words is becoming much more widespread.

Idaho’s 67th Legislature has introduced a number of bills with the potential to impact Boise State students. Taya Thornton | The Arbiter

AT AN ACADEMIC CROSSROADS: WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A TRANSFER STUDENT?

Understanding the transfer student perspective at Boise State

Kaylie Hilliker | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Walking around campus, there are the faces of strangers and friends.

For new students on campus, the hurdle is to change the faces of strangers, to faces of friends. Transfer students have to undertake the same hurdle several weeks, months or semesters behind their peers.

It can be an intimidating process. In the fall 2022 semester, 1,634 undergraduate transfer students sought enrollment at Boise State University. Of these students, 52.7% transferred from in-state schools such as the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis and Clark State College, College of Western Idaho, College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College, according to the Boise

State Census Day Profile of New Transfer Students Fall 2022.

Transfer students have a unique experience: they must start their college experience over again in a new place, with new people.

Alongside state residents, 42.2% are nonresident transfers from fall 2022. Others have joined fellow nonresident transfers this spring semester in their college careers.

Lauren Gustafson, a freshman transfer from Colorado, is majoring in visual arts with an emphasis in ceramics. During an interview with The Arbiter, she mentioned that she chose Boise State for multiple reasons, including that Boise State felt similar to her hometown and she wanted a community of Christian clubs and influence she was aware of on campus.

Aja Wilson, a freshman transfer student majoring in nursing, told The Arbiter that she chose Boise State because it gave her an opportunity to go somewhere else, rather than stay in her home state of California.

Other students experienced the added challenge of long-distance travel for the sake of an education in Boise.

Thirty-eight international students transferred to Boise State last fall, as recorded by the Boise State University Census Day Profile of New Transfer Students Fall 2022.

Tina Ngeh is an international student studying integrated media and strategic communication with a minor in journalism, landing somewhere between a junior or senior in credits. She transferred last semester from the University of Buea in Cameroon, West Africa.

Ngeh’s story of how she ended up at Boise State is one that began in 2017, while she was in high school.

“Discovering Boise State goes back to five years ago when I was an exchange student for Middleton High School in Middleton,” Ngeh said. “So, we would always come out when there were football games, Boise State events. When I came for games, for basketball, football, I liked the ambiance.”

Ngeh’s time at Boise State all those years ago made an impression on her.

“I liked Boise State,” Ngeh said. “It was love at first sight.”

After she moved back to Africa, she was determined to find a way to come to the United States for her education — particularly Boise State.

“I was like: ‘I will apply for Boise State. If they don’t take me, I’m not going anywhere else,’” Ngeh said.

Because of Cameroon’s ongoing civil war, the Anglophone Crisis, the application process took her two to three years.

Just last year, after help from a friend in the United States and endless months of effort, Ngeh was accepted to Boise State.

ASBSU Transfer Student Representative Gabe Rodriguez, once a transfer student himself, spoke about his advice for all transfer students.

“I transferred from ISU in Pocatello, and it was very intimidating to come here with a completely different set of people,” Rodriguez said. “A big part of getting involved in the community is putting yourself out there, finding something you are interested in, and just engaging with other people in those organizations that share common interests.”

Rodriquez’s job is to oversee that transfer students feel welcome and comfortable on campus.

“Ultimately,” he declared, “They are part of a bigger collective: Boise State students.”

Boise State welcomed 1,634 transfer students during the fall 2022 semester.

Taya Thornton | The Arbiter

BOISE STATE JOINS THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION INNOVATION CORPS

Teams of faculty and graduate students will collaborate to gain entrepreneurial skills

Kate Jacobson | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Northern Arizona University, University of Arizona, University of California San Diego, University of Hawaii, University of Idaho and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In order to be accepted as an Innovation Corps member, Boise State had to apply by submitting a proposal to the National Science Foundation over the summer of 2022. In the proposal, Boise State was required to demonstrate the technologies and resources that it would be able to contribute to the program, according to Adkins.

When teams participate in Innovation Corps at a regional level, they each automatically receive $3,000 to research the marketability and potential of their innovation.

In October 2022, Boise State University became a recognized member of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps and received an award of $1,067,000.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1950 to support science and engineering across the country. The NSF Innovation Corps program was launched in 2011 to help “accelerate the process between research and commercialization”.

The NSF Innovation Corps has 10 regional “hubs” across the country that “work collaboratively to build and sustain diverse and inclusive innovation networks,” according to the NSF website. Boise State joined as a member of the Desert and Pacific Region hub.

As a member, Boise State will put together teams made up of faculty, students and mentors from across the regional hub. These teams will then work to research the commercial potential of an innovation or

idea of their choosing.

“(Boise) is kind of isolated geography wise,” said Brett Adkins, director of the Office of Technology Transfer at Boise State. “We’re missing key components of entrepreneurship, so we’re helping to drive that entrepreneurial community because we are a small community and haven’t had as big an influx as west and East Coast cities.”

Adkins is the informal “project manager” for Boise State’s Innovation Corps program and collaborates with faculty from the College of Business and Economics and the College of Innovation and Design to create and educate the teams.

Boise State has the goal of putting together at least 10 research teams across Idaho each year going forward, but there is room for more if the demand is there, according to Adkins.

Any member of the Boise State community with an idea or innovation that could potentially benefit the community is

encouraged to participate.

“We’re super flexible on building the teams,” Adkins said. “We can take single students, we can take single faculty, or anyone with a direct BSU affiliation.”

“(Innovation Corps) allows our faculty, students or staff to learn entrepreneurship,” Adkins said. “This methodology teaches how to write better grants, how to be a better speaker and how to be a better entrepreneur and gain the skills necessary to start a company.”

After completing their work at the regional level, teams will also be able to apply for a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation where they will continue researching and expanding upon their innovation.

“For the national program they want deep technology, so science or engineering innovations,” Adkins said. “For our regional program, however, we are open to a new, better flavor of salad dressing. Or we can have an improvement to the next mousetrap.”

Other universities of the Desert and Pacific Region hub include the lead university Arizona State University, as well as

Training sessions for teams last four weeks with the first set to begin in February, but Boise State plans to hold two fourweek sessions each semester and another over both winter and summer break. Those interested in joining or forming a team are encouraged to contact Brett Adkins at techtransfer@boisestate.edu.

As a member of the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, Boise State will assemble research teams to explore the commercial potential of different innovations and ideas. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

“We’re helping to drive that entrepreneurial community because we are a small community and haven’t had as big an influx as west and East Coast cities.”

- Brett Adkins, director of the Office of Technology Transfer

BOISE STATE PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS ACADEMIC CREDIT AND A PAYCHECK

The Career Accelerator Program turns students’ unpaid internships to paid and for-credit opportunities

Olivia Campbell | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Finishing its first year at Boise State, the Career Accelerator Program (CAP) is providing students with the skills and connections to receive payment for otherwise unpaid off-campus internship opportunities.

This comes at a good time for students seeking a paycheck with their otherwise unpaid job, as Boise’s cost of living currently sits 7% higher than the national average, according to Pay Scale, a company that monitors market trends.

Despite these rising costs, 40% of interns nationwide report being unpaid, according to a 2021 study by The National Association of Colleges and Employers.

For many students entering their junior or senior year, an internship credit is one class that still needs to be checked off the

degree tracker. Department internship coordinators and Career Services can connect students with internships in their field of study.

The Idaho Workforce Development Council’s CAP provides supplemental income of up to $1,500 per semester for Boise State students enrolled in an unpaid internship for academic credit.

According to an email shared with program participants from Rick Van Santen, the associate director of experiential learning, the grant serves two purposes: to provide a curriculum that supports students’ career development and to make internships accessible in cases where the employer cannot pay.

The $500 per credit students receive comes from the state of Idaho, specifically

the Idaho Workforce Development Council. The council works to provide public outreach that improves the “quality of and access to workforce education” in Idaho, according to Gov. Brad Little’s Executive Order NO.2019-08.

“Sometimes the stumbling block is students not having the time to pick up a job without being paid,” Bod Reinhardt, professor and internship coordinator for the history department told The Arbiter. “The $500 per credit stipend is a great way of incentivizing and drawing attention to the value of an internship.”

The hourly pay works out to $11 with CAP, beating the $10 per hour that sophomore and graphic design major Sasha White received as a ‘graphic design intern’ for Boise State’s student media in Spring

2022.

“I think people are realizing that unpaid internships aren’t working for college students,” White said.

The number of students taking advantage of CAP has continued to grow during its first year on campus. The program currently supports 52 students and will continue to fund internships through the fall 2024 semester, according to Van Santen.

However, the program is not available to every student. The caveat comes to what academic department a student is in. Participating departments in the CAP program are the media, communications, political science, history, world languages, school of public service, biological sciences, geological sciences and English departments.

“We are piloting this and slowly adding more faculty members,” Van Santen said. “This isn’t open to anyone at Boise State to apply. It works through academic departments to support their internships for good academic credit experiences.”

The deadline to register a qualifying internship for credit is Feb. 16 for those looking to fulfill their degree’s internship requirement and have a spot on the grant’s payroll.

Boise State’s Career Accelerator Program grants up to $1,500 a semester to students participating in an unpaid internship for academic credit. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

“The $500 stipend is a great way of incentivizing and drawing attention to the value of an internship.”

- Bod Reinhardt, professor and internship coordinator for the Department of History at Boise State

HOBBIES TO HELP COPE WITH STRESS

These hobbies can help relieve stress and improve overall well being

Kiyah Henson | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Being a student is tough enough in itself. It’s common knowledge that many, just like myself, have jobs and other obligations on top of it. This can make the balance between work and a social life difficult to maintain, and can often feel overwhelming. Viewers were promised a sequel, but as years passed, hope was lost.

Finding a healthy outlet to release the built-up stress and frustration that comes with this is extremely important. Over the years, I’ve found a few different ways to cope with stress in a healthy way and would like to share for those who haven’t found something that works for them just yet.

Music

Music has a number of health benefits tied to it. An article from John Hopkins Medicine states that “listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.”

Music has even been proven to trigger the production of dopamine in our bodies!

There are many different ways to use music as a tool to help with relieving stress. For some, just listening to their favorite songs is enough to relax them and bring them to a more positive or comforted state.

For those who would like to turn music into an activity, there are a number of ways to get involved. Curating playlists is a great way to focus your attention to dividing certain songs into themed playlists for yourself and others to enjoy.

This option is a bit more involved, but learning to play an instrument is a wonderful way to channel creativity into art and express it in a new way.

For Apple users, Garageband is a free

tool to create music from your iPhone or other Apple devices. There are also alternatives to Garageband for those without access such as BandLab and Walk Band.

I’ve played guitar for about two years, and songwriting has been more than helpful in allowing me to get my emotions, whether happy or sad, out of my system and take weight off my shoulders.

Journaling

I know this is one that everyone is constantly drilling, but journaling really lives up to its hype. According to an article from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, journaling has many benefits for students such as improvements to mental health, boosting self-confidence and improving emotional intelligence.

Journaling allows for thoughts and worries to be outwardly expressed and gives people the ability to sort through them and find the source of these emotions.

Along with being used as a place to rant, journaling can become an activity to practice writing positive affirmations and a place to organize ideas to help with setting goals.

Journaling is also a very accessible activity. People can journal in a notebook, on their phone, on a laptop or even on some scratch paper from the library. It is a place of no judgment and, in the long run, helps strengthen communication and writing skills.

Coloring

Sounds a bit childish, doesn’t it? Even so, coloring has many health benefits and helps to promote mindfulness and accidently coloring outside the lines from time to time will help you learn to accept imperfections.

According to an article from the Mayo Clinic Health System, coloring can help

improve sleep and decrease things like body aches, heart rate and feelings of depression and anxiety.

One of the reasons I enjoy coloring so much is because I can also listen to my favorite podcast and learn about new things while doing so. I have found that I have the ability to listen with more focus when I have an activity, like coloring, to block out other thoughts and distractions.

Coloring books and basic art supplies like crayons or color pencils aren’t very expensive and can be found at places like the dollar store.

Coloring is the perfect activity for practicing being in the moment. It relaxes the brain and is a very low stakes activity where people are well within their right to make mistakes and be as creative as they want!

I hope that if you’re someone struggling with finding a way to relieve stress, you attempt one of these activities. If you’ve already tried them and felt they didn’t help, I hope that I have given a different perspective on them and you consider giving it another go.

Students should try new hobbies to help cope with stress, such as learning a new instrument and coloring. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

MY TOP-5 FAVORITE 90S GRUNGE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

Why artists like Nirvana and Pearl Jam are known as staples of grunge music

Kiyah Henson | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The grunge subgenre of rock rose to popularity in the mid-80s and quickly became a staple piece of the 90s. In particular, the city of Seattle fostered the growth of many of the most popular bands of this time, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Many of these bands have inspired me in my own journey as a musician, and I have grown to love their albums very deeply.

Here is the ranking of my top-five favorite grunge albums of the 90s:

1. Dirt – Alice in Chains

Starting off strong with Alice in Chains’ second studio album “Dirt,” released in 1992. This album is certified five times platinum along with tracks “Would?,” “Rooster,” “Them Bones” and “Down in a Hole,” who all earned certifications in August 2022.

In my eyes, this album represents the definition of what “grunge” sounds like.

Behind front man and lead singer Layne Staley is the perfect ensemble of Jerry Cantrell’s shockingly simple but catchy guitar riffs, Mike Starr’s deep rhythmic bass and Sean Kinny’s unmatched versatility on the drums.

A clear strong point for this album is the heavy and blunt lyricism and haunting melodies that focus on themes of addiction and depression. An example of this can be heard in “Dirt” where Layne sings, “I want to taste dirty, stinging pistol. In my mouth, on my tongue. I want you to scrape me from the walls.” Layne Staley’s soulful and emotionally filled vocals carry these messages with ease.

Not only does this album take the number one spot in this ranking, but I would argue that this is the greatest album of all time. For first timers, I recommend giving the song “Would?” a listen.

2. In Utero – Nirvana

What’s 90s grunge without a little Nirvana?

Best known for their hit songs “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are,”

Nirvana have been a household name for many, and for good reason. The trio’s upbeat and ridiculous energy on and off the stage was something that drew many people in, including myself.

Nirvana’s third studio album, “In Utero,” released in 1993, was a perfect mix between the rawness of their earlier album, “Bleach,” and their more commercialized album, “Nevermind.”

In Utero was certified five time platinum in October 1996.

This album has a strong personality whose intense tracks are balanced out by its slower ones. Though guitarist and lead singer Kurt Cobain usually wrote very simple chord progressions, in this album there was more intricate plucking and his guitar solos were hard to replicate.

“Tourette’s” is a track I think most will enjoy, and for those not easily turned away from the controversy that surrounded it, “Rape me” is one to take a listen to.

3. Facelift – Alice in Chains

Alice in Chains, though one of the strongest grunge bands at the time, has always been underrated and overshadowed by more popular bands like Nirvana or Soundgarden. Despite this, “Facelift” went three time multi platinum, along with their best known song “Man in the Box.”

Their debut studio album, “Facelift,” released in 1990, has hints of the popular 80s metal sound and shows a much lighter and almost happier side of the band, while still staying true to their signature sound through the lyrics and vocal melodies.

If you’re willing to give them a chance, I recommend listening to “Put You Down.”

4. Live Through This – Hole

Hole, best known for their song “Celebrity Skin,” released their second studio album “Live Through This,” in 1994. This album went certified platinum in 1995 and became a staple in the 90s grunge era, especially when talking about women-fronted bands who were doing well at the time.

Many of the tracks combine soft melodic verses with heavy choruses giving Hole their edge. Bassist and backup singer Kristen Pfaff added touches of delicacy in her harmonies on top of front woman Courtney Love’s deeper and grittier vocal style to create this combination.

Hole is another grunge band with very simple guitar and bass riffs, but this didn’t hold them back in writing an album I would characterize as the epitome of female rage.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, give “Plump” a listen.

5. Ten – Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam’s first studio album, “Ten,” was released in 1991. This album is the home of many of their most popular songs such as “Alive” and “Even Flow,” and has done impressive numbers by becoming certified

13-time multi platinum in 2009.

Upon first listen, this album may seem to be a typical rock album, but like Alice in Chain’s “Dirt,” this album tackles themes like depression and suicide, which is a dark contrast to the instrumental’s brighter tone.

Eddie Vedder is one of the strongest vocalists from this era, not only in his range but his deep baritone vocals and clear tone in which he sang. Stone Gossard and Mike McCready’s soft and melodic lead guitar alongside a superb rhythm section consisting of bassist Jeff Ament and drummer Dave Krusen are the ingredients in the making of this ridiculously catchy album. “Jeremy” is a song that will sweep you off your feet in awe. Undoubtedly, it has its popularity for a reason.

Many popular 90s grunge bands like Nirvana originated in Seattle’s music scene, often credited as the birthplace of grunge. Photo courtesy of Rocky Schneck

HOUSING HEADACHES T HE fr UST r ATIONS O f STUDENT HOUSING IN b OISE

A d A m B ridges | s ports e ditor | sports @ stumedi A . B oisestAte . edu i llustr Ations B y sydney smith

You are a high school senior that just got accepted into one of your top choice schools: Boise State University. Even though you are nervous about starting college away from home, you are excited about the community life that comes with living in the campus dormitories — that is until Boise State denies your on-campus housing application.

This is the experience of far too many first-year students who enrolled in the fall of 2022.

Boise State received 3,813 housing applications for the fall 2022 semester and only approved 2,877 living assignments. This left 936 students without on-campus housing.

student who applied and stayed on the waitlist was allocated housing.”

Although Boise State may eventually offer housing to all freshman students, the wait can provide additional challenges for students in a time crunch to find sustainable housing options for the school year. it does not take into account the students leaving the waitlist to find housing elsewhere because they could not get a place to live before the school year started.

Student stories like the ones of freshmen Maddie Larman (biology major) and Lauren Burk (criminal justice major) reveal a first-hand perspective on the issue.

“Once you sign up for a lease and let’s say I was still on the waitlist, I can’t just drop a lease and easily go live on campus,” Burk said. “That’s not how it works.”

Hardly Any Help

In addition to not being able to provide housing to these students, Boise State did not offer much help to applicants who were now left to their own devices to find housing in the city where they would presumably be studying for the next four years.

“If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t feel really supported with housing,” Burk said. “I feel like Boise State has lots of support for other things when it comes to academics, but when it comes to housing, I completely felt like I was on my own.” According to both Burk and Larman, the school only provided them with a scholarship and an online engine for finding a roommate after not being granted housing.

“We have a set number of beds in on-campus housing,” Interim Director of Housing and Residence Life Lynda Tieck said. “If we had 3,813 bed spaces, we would allocate all of them. Every first-year

“The only helpful thing [Boise State] had was the roommate finder, but they did give me a $1,500 scholarship,” Larman said. “The scholarship did not do much though because they would not let us spend it on rent until the first week of school.”

When compared to the housing efforts of other schools, Boise State’s $1,500 scholarship solution starts to lose value.

When the University of Oregon began experiencing a shortage in first-year housing options, their solution was to adjust their dorms to accommodate an extra person. Their two-person dorms could now fit three, according to Oregon’s housing office.

The University of Idaho also faced issues with first-year housing and used a hotel to house freshmen. They operated the hotel as if it was a dorm by locating one of their resident assistants to each floor occupied with students, according to the University

of Idaho’s housing office.

“We have tried to mas ter lease apartments and apartment complexes to allocate to our students, but these entities are full, and they don’t need to lease their units to us,” Tieck said. “They are already leased out.”

Unaffordable and unavailable

Finding a place to live off campus is no easy task for Boise State students.

Zillow, an online real-estate marketplace, shows that there are currently 69 four+ bedroom rentals in Boise and each rental only lasts 38 days on average.

If all 69 available four+ bedroom houses were rented to students at Boise State, it would only house 276 more students across four years (freshman to senior year).

Zillow’s website also shows that there currently are only three four+ bedroom apartments available in Boise.

In addition to the problem of availability, the $1,500 scholarship given to students like Burk and Larman would only

last two months in Boise.

The median rent price for a four+ bedroom house in Boise is currently $3,048 (approximately $762 per student). This is a $373 month-over-month increase and a $350 year-over-year increase, according to Zillow.

$762 per month on top of natural living expenses such as food might not be manageable for every student enrolling in Boise State, especially for those moving away from home for the first time and learning how to independently manage their finances.

“Personally I think that’s unreasonable for a college student,” Burk said, addressing the cost of renting in Boise. “Yeah, you have to pay it because you don’t want to be homeless, but that’s a lot of money.”

There are currently five apartments near campus occupied mostly by students: IDENTITY Boise, The 208, Green Leaf River Edge, The Vista Apartments and La Pointe at Boise.

The average of the cheapest rent options for the five apartments is approximately $811.80 per month based on the price listings on each apartment complex’s website. This cost does not include each apartment’s additional fees for parking.

For the fall 2022 semester, the cheapest four-bedroom option of the apartments mentioned is The 208 Apartments charging $659 and the most expensive is IDENTITY Boise charging $1,059.

Both Burk and Larman were unable to find housing at The 208 Apartments but were able to pick up someone’s lease at The Vista West Apartments for $900 per month including parking.

“It kind of sucks because freshmen in their first semester don’t really know the flow of school or how classes are going to go,” Larman said. “You don’t know how to balance your social life, mental health and academic life, and figuring that out and paying rent at the same time just got way too much way too quickly.”

The

need

for a more sustainable option

For many students, bills attached to apartment housing can quickly add up.

“I am transferring sadly because I can’t afford my rent,” Larman said. “I can’t balance full-time work and full-time school, and the whole reason I am over here is because of school so there’s kind of no point.”

Because of the expensive rent, Larman

decided to move back in with her mom in Oregon and pursue the spring semester at Boise State online. Once the semester is over, she will be transferring to Eastern Oregon University.

“Maddie transferring was really hard,” Burk said. “I know that she wishes she stayed, but financially it just wasn’t work-

ing out for her.”

Although there will be more housing available through VERVE Boise and Uncommon Boise by the fall 2023 semester, most apartments are raising the cost of rent for the new lease year.

La Point at Boise is raising the rent for their four-bedroom apartment from $870 to $905, The 208 Apartments from $659 to $685 and The Vista Apartments from $680 to $710, according to their respective websites.

Green Leaf River Edge is keeping its rent the same, and IDENTITY Boise is lowering their rent from $1,059 to $959.

“I think that the apartment complexes in Boise take advantage of broke college students by upping the rent to $900 a month and charging $125 per month for parking passes,” Larman said.

CULTURE

THESE 3 BANNED CLASSICS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

Banned books carry the weight of classical literature as we know it, and for good reason

Emily Gordon | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Many of these stories are deemed “too much” and can be challenged by anyone ranging from local Facebook groups to the nonprofit organization “Moms for Liberty,” a national-level organization that recently made headlines on Fox for revolting against the teachings of critical race theory for K-12 students.

Historically, banned books were dismissed for their content from a rather narrow point of view. Although there is something to learn from banned books, they tell the stories of those who dared to write beyond the guidelines provided for them. The admiration of these novels have allowed them to be more widely accepted as time progressed and can be found in Idaho public libraries.

A great example of a captivating piece of banned classical literature is Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar.” This novel, still banned in Indiana, was published in 1961 and depicts the life of college-aged student Esther Greenwood and her dream of becoming a poet. The book, despite being nearly 62 years old, still contains relatable elements for today’s audience.

“The Bell Jar” is filled with mesmerizing quotes that college students can resonate with such as: “I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked.”

Plath puts the average college student’s feelings into words, the ache to know what you want and the overwhelming life that follows you as a young adult and the fear of rejecting your own identity for the hopes of others.

This untraditional classic was banned

in 1977 for not only its profanity and sexuality but for its overt rejection of the woman’s role as wife and mother. Simply ahead of its time, the piece is sure to resonate with any confused young adult.

Another controversial classic piece of literature is Erich Maria Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

This fast-paced novel was published in 1929 and details the life of German-born, 19-year-old Paul Baumer. Baumer, heavily influenced by the political propaganda that ensued during World War I, enlists in the military and discovers the reality of war.

This book is a violently beautiful piece that demands the attention of its readers. European countries banned soldiers from reading it, removed it from libraries or banned the novel entirely due to its anti-war and pacifistic content. Despite its success, or perhaps because of it, Remarque lost his German citizenship and was forced into exile.

This book is devastatingly truthful of the horrors of war, filled with tear-jerking quotes such as “we are crude and sorrowful and superficial—I believe we are lost.”

History buffs looking for a story that depicts the truth behind war and violence will find answers between the pages of this classic.

“All Quiet on the Western Front” has also been adapted into film, once in 1979 and again 2022. The film loosely follows the novel but still relays the message Remarque tells in this harrowing story. Readers looking for a more visual adaptation either before or after they dive into the novel itself will find just that within these films.

Another notorious classic is J.D. Sallingers “Catcher in the Rye.” The book

follows rebellious student Holden Caulfield after being expelled from his prestigious boarding school. Fans of unreliable narrators and coming-of-age novels will find just that within this short book.

Published in 1951, the book was quickly challenged and eventually banned for its content. It is still continuously challenged to this day. Though the depiction of angst, sexuality, frustration and the inevitability of growing up can come across as easily relatable to young adults.

Sallinger filled this novel with rather informal quotes that often feel as if they’ve been plucked from the average young adult’s mind, such as “I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.”

The bans on these books are not anomalies. From 2021 to 2022, nearly 1,600 books have been banned, most for their content regarding race, sexuality or religion. The censorship of literature often feels like a thing of the past. However, we are living it every day in the U.S.

Some states are still actively fighting

against the implementation of sexual identity and race theory in school curriculums, going as far as holding teachers and librarians legally responsible should a child read about it.

Idaho is one of the many states that still has active book bans, with titles like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Looking for Alaska” being just a few of those forbidden from public schools.

The censorship of literature is dangerous. Denying the connection to “controversial” ideas is how narrow minds form. There is power in seeing the dark side of the world around us and taking part in the stories that derive from it.

Sallinger, Plath, and Remarque dared to write beyond the norms. Their stories outlived the bans and challenges for a reason that can only be seen once they are read. These three short novels are just a small fraction of the banned books that continue to leave an impact with their powerful messages.

Nearly 1,600 books were banned from 2021-2022 across the nation for addressing themes related to religion, race and sexuality. Illustration by Dorothy Martin

BOISE STATE ALUM PRESENTS ‘CONTROLLING CHANCES’ EXHIBIT

The exhibit features mixed media pieces created through a hands-off artistic approach

terms of my own work. And so I started making shards and then putting them on with the oxides.”

In one of the pieces in the “Shardz” collection, “Shardz 30,” Oppenheimer added a glaze to create a glossy effect that resembles the look of water when placed over the oxidized pieces of rubble.

Oppenheimer shared that she was delighted to hear that one viewer of the exhibit said the piece reminded her of “the sparkle of the water,” a lovely combination with the White Pine imprints, the other main feature of the piece.

In her series of mixed media pieces titled “Elemental,” Oppenheimer shared that the pieces began with prints of photographs, and she actually finished the rest of the piece a few years later.

One of the pieces in this series includes imagery inspired by “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” a famous Japanese woodblock painting by Hokusai, and the traditional Chinese dragon.

Abstract artist and art therapist Esther Oppenheimer presents her collection of mixed media art pieces in her exhibit “Controlling Chances,” open on the second floor of the Student Union Building.

Oppenheimer, a Boise State alum with a childhood connection to Boise, shared she was ecstatic to present a collection of her art right on campus.

In her “Controlling Chances” exhibit, Oppenheimer presents different collections of abstract art.

Oppenheimer created her series “The End and the Beginning” through repurposing materials from past art projects, many pieces breaking throughout the process.

Oppenheimer shared that for these pieces she was inspired by poetry written

by Wislawa

Szymborska, who grew up in Poland during World War II.

“She really focuses on what happens after a war and how devastating that is, and that really spoke to me. So I then decided to make a piece that was coming apart, and then a piece that was totally broken. And then of course, you have to start over,” Oppenheimer said. “So it’s kind of that cycle of what happens after a disaster, whether it be a war, or just a personal disaster. But it really resonated with me.”

For many of the pieces in this collection, Oppenheimer used plant imprints from her very own garden in an effort to bring the plants indoors in a semi-permanent manner.

Oppenheimer shared that a majority of the pieces are displayed in a progressional pattern, meaning that many of the pieces

were created using the same materials and techniques but become increasingly complex, developing more visual characteristics.

Her collection titled “Shardz” includes clay and other oxidized materials that mimic the appearance of stones and rocks, inspired by the desert terrain where Oppenheimer grew up.

“There was a rock formation in that area … and I loved going over there because one of the things I liked about it was the large boulders that were so beautiful, but also the way they would come down and cascade down and then you’d have the shards at the bottom,” Oppenheimer said. “So I was thinking about that and also about some shards I had just seen on a driveway … and so they began to make more sense to me in

“I’m interested in also having shapes that are reminiscent of something that the viewer might pick up on,” Oppenheimer said. “So I really am interested in the sort of expressive part of the work and the feeling that someone might have when they’re looking at it.”

Oppenheimer reiterated how important it was for her creative process to involve a hands-off approach, often allowing a piece to develop in a different direction than she initially intended, or leaving pieces to sit for years before taking the next creative step.

This creative process inspired the title of the exhibit, “Controlling Chances.” The title represents the many directions a piece of art can go during the process of its creation, the artist merely attempting to control these chances.

The “Controlling Chances” exhibit is open for viewing through Feb. 19, and is located on the second floor of the SUB.

Boise State alum Esther Oppenheimer’s exhibit “Controlling Chances” features mixed media art pieces that illustrate the unpredictability of the creative process. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

Hanalei Potempa | Culture Editor |

CULTURE

LOCAL NONPROFIT EVENT PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SUPPORT

Community volunteers give advice to college student struggling with mental health

| culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Local nonprofit organization Connection is the Cure hosted a suicide, addiction and mental health awareness event on Jan. 17.

With words of affirmation adorning the entire event, Connection is the Cure featured local resource booths, free gifts, improv acts, challenges, giveaways, five guest speakers and a free musical guest, Ben Fuller.

then you will know ahead of time what’s available,” Frogley said.

Connection is the Cure featured many informative booths for local support systems such as Recovery Dharma, Victory Recovery, So Good! Inc. and BroncoBOLD.

Josh Reiker, a representative of the Recovery Dharma group, explained how their program works by utilizing mindfulness to aid in addiction recovery. Reiker offered advice to those who are battling addiction.

“Build social connections that are healthy and supportive and try to find a way to enjoy everyday,” Reiker said.

Reiker also touched on how to support

a loved one who is struggling with their mental health.

“Show compassion, try to understand their stories, and let them find a way to recover that works for them,” Reiker said.

BroncoBOLD, a club and organization at Boise State University, also attended Connection is the Cure.

Boise State students Joey Benson (junior), Rori Chartier (senior) and Sierra Land (junior) volunteered and represented BroncoBOLD.

“Don’t be afraid to seek help if needed. And definitely be kind to yourself and [take] breaks when you need to,” Benson said.

The Treasure Valley community, as well

as the Boise State community, are accessible and eager to help anyone suffering with mental health issues or addiction.

“We still have a long way to come, but we are making awesome progress,” Frogley said.

The topic of bringing awareness to mental illness has become a more open point of conversation in recent years. There are still many people who are struggling with mental illness who need resources and someone to lean on.

Connection is the Cure will continue to educate the public and assist those in need. Frogley expressed her goal to organize another event for the 2024 spring semester.

September Frogley, the founder of Connection is the Cure, started the nonprofit organization after losing her brother to suicide last May.

“Looking back over our life, it was so eye-opening to be next to him during the ups and downs of addiction and his mental health, and not being able to find resources,” Frogley said. “All the things our eyes were opened to as a family, I think, really pushed us after we lost him to help other families not feel so alone and helpless during these times.”

Frogley explained that the goal of the event is to educate the public about community resources and encourage those who are struggling to reach out. She also offered some advice for college students.

“As you are choosing a college, be proactive and take action beforehand. Check out what mental health resources your school has, so if you start to struggle,

Local nonprofit Connection is the Cure seeks to promote community connectedness to prevent suicide and substance addiction.

Illustration by Sydney Smith

Madi Ortiz | Staff Writer

“All the things our eyes were opened to as a family, I think, really pushed us after we lost (my brother) to help other families not feel so alone ... during these times.”

- September Frogley, founder of Connection is the Cure

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ADAPT TO A NEW CULTURE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM

Sofie Eriksen | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

such as the orientation, a shopping trip and a downtown dinner.

Bruintjes specifically noted that the international student orientation is a great way to be introduced to the different departments on campus. The event provides important information about who to contact when facing different challenges or issues, as well as the ability to meet other international students and gain some immediate social relations in the new city.

Likewise, Han pointed out the international student orientation as the most memorable experience so far.

“I just felt very welcomed, supported and warm, so that was actually very memorable to me. It was really good to learn and hear about where I can actually ask for help,” Han said.

Another challenge international students face is making new friends.

Han shared that she has been fortunate enough to have American roommates that have been welcoming and supportive, giving her advice, taking her shopping and helping her adapt to the new environment. She shared that she also made a friend in one of her classes that she has been hanging out with.

Bruintjes shared that in his experience many American students on campus tend not to interact much with their classmates, making it difficult for exchange students to connect with others.

As the spring semester commences, Boise State University is welcoming 22 new exchange students from various regions around the world, including Chile, The Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore and more. These students have embarked on a journey of studying abroad, some even traveled more than 24 hours to reach Boise.

Moving to a new country to study can be inflicted with many challenges when trying to adapt to a new culture.

Sunghyun Han, a junior double majoring in English interpreting and translation and international studies, traveled to Boise from South Korea and shared that almost everything has been a challenge, “even the small stuff.”

“I am 21 years old, and I could not do the laundry by myself because I did not know which button to press or even how to regulate the shower,” Han said. “I had to ask for someone to help me, so that was really funny.”

For exchange students, the semester began on Jan. 5 at the International Student Orientation organized by the Internation-

al Student Services (ISS).

Timothy Randall, coordinator for the ISS, shared that having international students on campus contributes to bringing cultural diversity as well as intellectual diversity and different ideas to campus.

As the coordinator, Randall is the first point of contact for international students once they arrive on campus, providing any support they might need in their transition.

The purpose of ISS is to provide the best possible experience for international students through a great number of events throughout the semester.

“We really want to make sure that we have fun social events so they can know each other, academic events where they can learn about OPT, CPT, and all the acronyms,” Randall said. “As well as work on their resumes and LinkedIn profiles to best set them up for success in the future.”

One foreign exchange student from The Netherlands, Kay Bruintjes, is a senior majoring in history.

Bruintjes has taken advantage of all the ISS events that have been arranged so far

Academically, both Bruintjes and Han experienced some differences in comparison to what they are used to in their own cultures.

“The relationship between professors and students is really different. I think it is affected by the language a lot,” Han said. “Korean has a casual way and a formal way of speaking to people which makes people either closer or more distant. Here in America, the relationship between professors and students is very close which is interesting.”

Han explained that she experiences this very casual relationship in the U.S., whereas in South Korea it is more hierarchical.

Bruintjes is experiencing that the assignments at Boise State are easier, but that the work load is heavier.

“Academically, it is easier than I am used to because they do quizzes weekly. I am used to starting and at the end have one big exam,” Bruintjes said.

The challenge for Bruintjes is not so much academic, but rather a test in time management and creating a schedule that works for him.

However, orientation day provided a valuable opportunity for all exchange students to meet and form connections. Buintjes emphasized the importance of these connections and noted that despite a challenging first week, his experience improved during the second week and that he is optimistic about his time at the university.

The ISS has a busy schedule ahead with a variety of events planned for the upcoming months.

Not only will the ISS be hosting events specifically for international students, but they will also be providing support and information for events happening on campus.

According to Randall there are a lot of things planned for the time ahead including a Valentine’s Day event, St. Patrick’s Day, and a food, song and dance festival.

There are plenty of opportunities for international students to get involved and hopefully have the time of their lives during this spring semester at Boise State.

Boise State’s International Student Services hosts a number of events throughout the school year to promote social engagement and professional development.

Illustration by Dorothy Martin

International students share their initial challenges and experiences in their first two weeks at Boise State

SPORTS & REC

February 9, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

BOISE STATE OVERPOWERED BY SAN DIEGO STATE IN 52-72 LOSS

Boise State loses the battle for the title of first place in the Mountain West

Marlei Soderquist | Sports & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

BBoise State failed to reclaim the top spot in the Mountain West as No. 22 San Diego routed the Broncos 52-72 on Feb. 3.

The two Mountain West conference foes battled for the title of first place in the Mountain West. With both teams sitting at 8-2 in the division, the game would decide who would regain control.

However, no one ever said reclaiming the top spot would be easy.

Despite the Broncos having had a three-game winning streak against the San Diego Aztecs, the lack in bench power and weak offensive display proved to be the source of contention.

The halftime stats were underwhelming and messy all on their own.

Both teams had a bountiful amount of unforced errors, unprecedented turnovers and multiple players in foul trouble.

The only question was, which team was messier?

The Broncos were 9-27 (33%) from field goal range, 0-7 from behind the arc with nine turnovers in the half.

San Diego State did not have an overwhelmingly impressive first half statline either.

Despite going 16-31 (51%) from the field and 3-10 from three, the Aztecs had a 43-21 lead to enter half time.

The Broncos played a game that was shaped by injuries and an underdeveloped bench.

The Broncos starting lineup has been consistent for most of the season with Naje Smith, Tyson Degenhart, Max Rice, Chibuzo Agbo and Marcus Shaver Jr. taking the starting slots.

Fifth-year point guard Marcus Shaver Jr. was out for the night’s game due to an injury, meaning the starting five looked a

little different than before.

Jace Whiting took over as starting point guard for the absent Shaver, as a multitude of new names were on display on the court.

In one of the most crucial games of the season so far, the lineup primarily consisted of inexperienced players.

The first half saw a total of 10 different players on the court for the Broncos.

Pavle Kuzmanovic, Mohamed Syla, Lukas Milner, Burke Smith, Kobe Young and Sadraque NgaNga were the new names on the court.

Combined, the bench scored 16 of the 52 total points for the Broncos. Kuzmanovic led the bench with a total of eight points for the night.

Despite the sunny San Diego weather, the Broncos couldn’t see the light.

One of the more formidable Broncos, Max Rice, went just 0-5 from deep. Even though he is averaging 43% from deep on the season, nothing would fall his way.

Chibuzo Agbo, the San Diego native, averages 11.7 points per game on the season, yet couldn’t make anything happen on the floor either.

Agbo garnered just nine points on the night, going 2-7 from the field and 0-3 from deep.

The Broncos were down by as much as 38-62 in the second half.

With this loss, the Broncos fall to 8-3 in the conference and will be among Utah State and Nevada in second place in the standings.

The Broncos’ next game will be at Extra Mile Arena on Feb. 11 as they take on Wyoming.

The Boise State men’s basketball team failed to reclaim the top spot in the Mountain West division after losing to San Diego State 52-72. Corissa Campbell | The Arbiter

ABBY MUSE BREAKS BOISE STATE RECORD FOR ALL-TIME CAREER BLOCKS

Muse reached a record of 144 career blocks after the Broncos’ victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack

Adam Bridges | Sports & Rec Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Junior forward Abby Muse etched herself into the record books after becoming the Boise State women’s basketball team’s all-time career block leader.

The accomplishment came during the Broncos’ 62-58 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack Thursday, Feb. 2.

“It feels crazy, which is super cliché to say,” Muse said about setting the all-time block record. “It makes this win even sweeter. To come out on the road and get a win that we battled for and then to get this accomplishment on top of it, I

couldn’t ask for a better night.”

The 6-foot-3 forward came into the game with 138 career blocks and added six more blocked shots during the game to pass Stephanie Block’s block record of 142.

This accomplishment could not have been achieved without Muse’s monumental performance this season. Muse recorded 71 blocks this season alone. This ranks third in the NCAA behind Saint Louis center Brooke Flowers and Stanford forward Cameron Brink, and first in the Mountain West.

“She has great timing, and she’s obviously long and athletic,” head coach Gordy Presnell said about Muse. “It gives you a psychological advantage as a rim protector.”

Her 71 blocks also put her eight blocks away from breaking the record for most blocks in a single season at Boise State. Camille Redmon holds the current record after posting 77 blocks during the 201415 season.

Despite the great success she has gotten from her ability to force blocked shots, Muse only sees her blocking ability as

another piece to her great playmaking ability.

“It’s just playing defense for me. It’s something I’ve always been able to do,” Muse said about forcing blocks. “It’s one of my assets, one of my strengths, so if one of my teammates needs help if they get beat, I’m gonna fly in there and try to help them.”

Junior forward Abby Muse broke the Boise State women’s basketball program’s career block record and is currently eight blocks away from breaking the record for most blocks in a single season at the university. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

MARCUS

SHAVER

JR: A BUDDING STAR OR FALLING STAR?

A look into the career of Boise State men’s basketball guard Marcus Shaver Jr.

Marlei Soderquist | Sports & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Marcus

Shaver Jr.

If you are a Bronco fan and follow basketball, you know the name.

The senior guard has become a prominent athlete in Bronco Athletics since 2020.

In 2022, Shaver Jr., or “Big-shot Shave,” not only helped lead the Broncos to a Mountain West title and a berth in the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament, but he also withdrew his name from the NBA draft.

To fulfill his final season of collegiate eligibility, Shaver returned for the 20222023 season.

“We are thrilled to have Marcus back for another season of Bronco basketball,” head coach Leon Rice said about the return of Shaver. “Not only is Marcus a special player, he’s a very integral part of our program. The continuity of leadership and experience that he provides will help us continue to elevate this program to new heights.”

of Portland.

The highest Shaver has averaged in his collegiate career was during his sophomore year, 2018-2019 season, at University of Portland, with 14.2 points. The statline fluctuates from then on.

During his first season as a Bronco, the 2020-2021 season, Shaver averaged 10.4 points. He then developed astronomically throughout the 2021-2022 season and finished the season averaging 13.3 points.

Come this season, the 2022-2023 season, he has averaged 13.2 points.

Though the Broncos welcome him with open arms, it is fair to wonder, was it all worth it?

Shaver Jr. has had high expectations and pressure on his shoulders since transferring to Boise State from the University

This season has also been the lowest for Shaver in regards to field-goal percentage (37.7%), three-point percentage (26.7%) and free-throw percentage (73.9%).

Each of these percentages are the lowest in his five season collegiate career.

This season, Shaver has had the opportunity to be the leader of this team. Being

one of the starting veterans of the 20212022 Mountain West champion team, the pressure is inevitable.

But, the goals for this year’s team seems to be heavily determined by Marcus Shaver’s production on the court.

Granted, Shaver has had clutch game winning moments this season.

His game-winning three-pointer with 2.4 seconds left against San Jose State solidified the 67-64 victory on Jan. 3.

Though he leads in many facets as a Bronco, leading in rebounds (6.3), assists (4.2) and steals (1.7) per game, his injuries have made a significant impact.

Though the season isn’t over, the injuries Shaver has faced may seem like the end of his.

Despite playing through his injury he suffered in December 2022, he sat out against San Diego State on Feb. 3 and

had a boot on his right foot.

The Feb. 3 game against San Diego State, proved just how influential Shaver’s presence is for the Broncos.

To preserve his health, and his draft capital, it seems understandable for Shaver to remain off the court for the remainder of the season.

With the 2022-2023 season being the final year of eligibility, the NBA prospect is looking forward to the future.

With this year’s return to the Bronco squad, there is much on the line for the young player.

The need to develop his game, become a more versatile and NBA-ready player and also recover from looming injuries.

It leads fans to wonder, is he a budding star or a falling star?

Marcus Shaver Jr., a big name in college basketball, faces heightened expectations during his final year of collegiate eligibility Taya Thornton | The Arbiter

“Not only is Marcus a special player, he’s a very integral part of our program. The continuity of leadership and experience that he provides will help us continue to elevate this program to new heights.”

- Leon Rice, head coach

OUR BEST GUESS

THE ARBITER ALIGNS YOUR STARS

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 19

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’RE NOW IN CHARGE OF PLANNING THE SINGLES PARTY FOR YOUR FRIEND GROUP!

PISCES

FEB 19 - MAR 20

FLIRT AS MUCH AS YOUR HEART DESIRES, JUST NO FOREHEAD KISSES

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 19

NOW’S THE TIME TO WRITE THAT LOVE LETTER (OKAY FINE, OR A TEXT, BUT MAKE IT GOOD)

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 20

YOU WILL SOON BE MET WITH A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, GO WITH YOUR GUT INSTINCT

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

HANGING OUT WITH A NEW FRIEND DURING THIS LOVING TIME WILL BRING YOU GOOD LUCK

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 20

NOW’S THE TIME! SERIOUSLY, ASK HER BRO. AND NO, THIS ISN’T FOR ONE SPECIFIC PERSON TO READ

CANCER

JUN 21 - JUL 22

YOUR FATE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, AKA YOUR NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT IS 1 BLOCK AWAY

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 22

FLOWERS HAVE A $0 DELIVERY FEE ON DOORDASH, JUST SAYING

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEPT 22

GOING ON A DATE WITH YOURSELF THIS WEEK WILL DO YOU MORE GOOD THAN YOU THINK

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

I’M SURE YOUR LOVED ONES’ BACKS ARE HURTING FROM VALIDATING THE RELATIONSHIPS, C’MON NOW

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

IT’S A GAMBLE PLANNING A VALENTINE’S DAY WITH A SITUATIONSHIP… TAKE THE RISK!

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 - DEC 21

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER IS IN YOUR FUTURE– DUE TO ROMANCE, OR CHAOS?

DOT MARTIN GRAPHIC DESIGNER

DESIGN@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALIEHA DRYDEN

THE GHOST SHOW

THURSDAYS 2 - 3 P.M.