December 10, 2009

Page 1

WHAT’S INSIDE

NEWS 1–2

SPORTS 5–6

OPINION 3–4

CULTURE 8–10 I SSU E

30

The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933

Volume 22

First Issue

F R E E DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

World leaders discuss climate

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5

2009 WAC award winners

Holiday chemistry demo show

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Campus remembers legendary professor Tom Trusky JENNIFER SPENCER Journalist

“I’ve never met anyone who loved his job more than Tom Trusky.” Days after Professor Tom Trusky’s passing, Michelle Payne, chair of the English Department, returned from his office with wrapped Christmas gifts he purchased for the department’s office staff. “Tom was a presence on campus,” Payne said. On Nov. 27, Trusky, an icon at Boise State since 1970, died of a heart attack in his home. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a teacher, scholar and human being,” Payne said. Trusky came to the university after graduating with a Masters from Northwestern University in 1968. Soon, he earned the rank of full professor in the English Department based on his research and publications. An accomplished poet, Trusky’s research focused on several areas including Western poetry, silent films, Idaho censorship, WWI Belgian wheat and flour sack paintings and James Castle, an autistic selftaught artist. According to his friend of 22 years, Alan Virta, associate professor and Head of Special Collections at Albertsons Library, Trusky’s most impor-

COURTESY BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

Professor Tom Trusky browses publications of ‘Cold Drill’ in his Hemingway office in 1989, a student literary magazine which he founded.

…I was drawn to his acerbic wit and his ability to see hilarity in even the most tragic circumstance. — Cheryl Shurtleff-Young tant artistic contribution was the rediscovery of the work of silent filmmaker Nell Shipman. Shipman made several short films in the 1920s in Priest Lake. Trusky, along with Virta, edited a book of Shipman’s letters. “My best memory is his enthusiasm in his research, his absolute delight in discovery,” Virta said.

According to many of his colleagues, Trusky’s work ethic was infallible. “What I admired most about Tom was his commitment to our state, to Idaho writing, art and history,” said Karen Uehling, associate professor of English. “He was ... always involved in some project, always doing something creative, and the

more controversial the better,” said Steve Lyon, editorial adviser for the Arbiter and a former student of Trusky. In addition to directing the Hemingway Western Studies Center, Trusky founded and edited “cold-drill,” a graduate-run literary magazine in 1974 and co-founded Ahsahta Press, a Boise State poetry publication, the same year.

Faculty senate seeks legal counsel to protect employment KIM KING Journalist The decision to seek legal council on a proposal to protect tenured rights and employment was finalized Tuesday at a faculty senate meeting in the SUB. A special session scheduled last month to discuss a revision in policy ended in a walk-out. Shared governance was proposed to change the delegation of authority from the university’s chief executive officer to a policy of employee involvement, further protecting tenure and salaries. A debate over intentions and implied meaning of words began a heated argument. The suggestion of involving all faculty and staff in the final decision resulted in a walk-out. The revision recommending guidelines in the event of university imposed furloughs and layoffs was to be presented to the State Board of Education

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

Faculty senate met Tuesday for the final time in 2009. by Owen McDougal, faculty senate president. An employee survey was conducted by e-mail to determine if obtaining legal counsel would be an appropriate alternative. Faculty and staff members agreed the matter should be presented to Attorney General Lawrence Wasden after the approval of a final draft by Kevin Satterlee, University general counsel. A discussion draft was pre-

sented at the senate meeting Tuesday outlining four questions of concern. The questions were issues of legality pertaining to the rights of tenure and Boise State contractual terms of employment, whether Satterlee’s representation would create a conflict of interest and if the faculty senate was pursuing change in an appropriate manner. Senator Anne Gregory

said asking for legal opinion seemed pointless. “What’s the purpose?” she asked. “If our position will not change and this is just to show our concern, it is a moot point. Every agency is concerned about financial issues at this time. I am worried about spending political capital on something that doesn’t matter.”

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Recently, he stepped down as the Director of the Idaho Center for the Book. The Council for the Advancement and Support of Education named him Idaho’s Professor of the Year in ‘90, ‘91 and ‘93. Bruce Ballenger, English professor, knew Trusky as a colleague and friend for 16 years. Trusky possessed a wealth of ideas and always looked for new approaches to teaching, according to Ballenger. Trusky’s idea for a poetry in public places program focused on placing poems on items such as doorknobs and city buses.

In one of his classes, Trusky had students create text on bones. “If I happened to be in on the weekend, Tom was often there, squirreled away in his cavernous office, perhaps boiling bones for his English class,” Ballenger said. A friend of Trusky’s for more than 30 years, Cheryl Shurtleff-Young, graduate program director for the Visual Arts Program, remembers his unique sense of humor and intelligence. “…I was drawn to his

See TRUSKY I page 10

Academic Technologies Service Desk offers free rental, more BENJAMIN MACK Journalist

It’s Monday, and your Spanish professor has told you to make a short movie in Spanish. The project is due Friday. Easy enough, you think, except for one problem. You don’t have a video camera. None of your friends have one, either. Cameras are expensive, and as a college student already deep in student loan debt, you can’t afford to buy one. Fortunately, there’s help for such predicaments. Nestled deep inside the labyrinth-like bowels of the Simplot Micron Building lies the Academic Technolo-

gies Service Desk. It’s where students and staff can go to check out camcorders, tripods, digital cameras, audio recorders, USB headsets and a plethora of other equipment to use for projects. “They are available for rental three days at a time,” said Academic Technologies scheduling specialist Angela Stevens. “People use them for a variety of reasons. Dispute classes use the equipment we rent out to tape mediations, language classes make mini-movies, and headsets are used for podcasts.” Weekend rentals require instructor permission. According to Stevens, more and more people have

See RENTAL I page 2

Correction: In the Dec. 3 issue of The Arbiter an article titled, “$40,000 stimulus grant aids BSU’s service learning,” incorrectly used the term “Service Learning” in place of the correct term, “Community Work Study.”

See SENATE I page 2

VISIT ASBSU.BOISESTATE.EDU

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COURTESY BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

Trusky looks at film reels in his office for a project he developed searching for pieces of early Idaho cinema.

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ATTENTION STUDENT CLUBS

ASBSU is always looking to highlight clubs, and their events, to give them exposure. ASBUS is looking to provide media cover­ age for club events. For details on FREE ad space contact Caley Christian at caleychristian@boisestate.edu

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2

NEWS

DECEMBER 10, 2009

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Facebook games have Web surfers in their thrall MCT SAN JOSE, Calif. – Facebook has grown into a Web medium that more than 350 million people use as an extension of their authentic

selves, not their alter egos. Yet in recent months the world’s biggest social networking site has been invaded by makebelieve farmers, chefs and tropical fish collectors. You pretenders know who you are.

“It kind of just got me hooked,� Melanie Earhart, a 46-year-old self-employed Los Gatos resident said of “FarmVille,� the most popular game on Facebook with 69.3 million monthly users, on average, including 26.6 million who daily tend their virtual crops and maybe milk digital cows. With Facebook and MySpace providing the wind beneath their wings, “FarmVille� maker Zynga leads a flock of online game startups that has soared as one of Silicon Valley’s success stories during the recession, attracting hefty venture capital investments and generating

strong revenue from ads and the sale of “virtual goods,� even though most people play the games for free. Devotees say they enjoy the casual aspect of games that become integrated into their multi-tasking online social life. The ease contrasts sharply with the deeper engagement of popular online role-playing destinations such as Second Life and World of Warcraft, as well as the graphically rich games favored by hard-core gamers on consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox. In a telling shift of trends, Electronic Arts, the Redwood City, Calif.-based giant

known for console games such as “Madden NFL,� recently announced plans to terminate 1,500 employees even as it expanded online offerings by acquiring Playfish, a Zynga rival. The deal put Playfish’s value as at least $300 million, and possibly $400 million, based on future performance. Back-of-the-napkin estimates put the social gaming sector’s value into the billions, largely because of its success in executing the socalled “freemium� revenue model. Most of the revenue is earned from ardent players like Earhart who are enticed to pay for enhancements

MCT

such as more acreage to plow and plant. Earhart, who says she’s starting to “burn out� on “FarmVille,� has also fallen hard for “Cafe World� and “Happy Aquarium,� the second- and third-ranked games on Facebook.

Senate [from page 1] McDougal explained the draft approval by Satterlee and the attorney general as an independent investigation. “We are stuck in the mud with this issue and moving forward on the other just in case,� he said. Senator William Rainford indicated the investigation could not be taken seriously. “This is laughable,� he said. “We are asking for presentation of our recommendations to the state board and at the same time asking an attorney if it’s legal.� David Saunders said the solution remains in the hands of the faculty senate. “Can the attorney general tell the state board what they can and can’t do?� he said. “Do we care what the state board says? I am faculty, too, and I want my salary protected. We can write our own policy that the state board can‘t take away.� According to McDougal, the presented draft of four questions will be forwarded to Satterlee for further legal clarification of wording and then returned to the faculty senate for approval. When approved, it will be sent to the state attorney general for his opinion and advice on possible legal ramifications and consequences. “We are hoping for a final document after this procedure to be presented to the state board by the second reading in January,� McDougal said. The opinions of faculty senate members remain divided.

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been using the rental service. “We’ve always seen a lot of faculty,� Stevens said, “but more students (have been renting equipment) as well lately.� Students and staff can rent equipment for up to three days at a time simply by showing their BSU ID and signing a form. “It’s pretty speedy,� said Stevens. Not returning equipment on time or damaging equipment, however, can have severe consequences. Late returns result in a fine and a hold on the offender’s BroncoWeb account. More severe infractions, such as destroying equipment, could lead to having to recoup the cost of the equipment. In some cases, this can exceed $400. “People have been really good at coming back,� Stevens said. “As long as I’ve been here, nobody’s had to recoup anything.� Stevens warned that all equipment is for academic uses only, meaning creating youtube videos of your friend jumping into the Boise River is forbidden. Also at the Service Desk, students are able to book socalled “breakout� rooms in the Interactive Learning Center (ILC). The rooms, specially designed for multimedia usage, are available for three hours at a time. The Academic Technologies Service Desk is located in room 101 of the Simplot Micron Building, next to the Education Building and across from the ILC. Equipment rentals are available Monday through Friday from 9 - 11 a.m. and 2 - 4 p.m. Equipment can be reserved in advance by e-mailing Stevens at angelastevens2@boisestate.edu.

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OPINION

3

DECEMBER 10, 2009

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A conference to change the world

Trusky will be missed

CODY GITTINGS Columnist

Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 marked the beginning of the Copenhagen Climate Conference held at Hamlet’s Kronborg Castle in the Danish capital. From Dec. 7 through 12, world leaders from 192 countries will gather to discuss issues regarding climate change, and hopefully come to a resolution that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus control global warming. This conference is a necessary step toward curbing the effects global warming has on this planet, and the decisions made in these six short days could end up changing the face of this Earth as we know it. For those of you out there saying, “Global warming doesn’t exist! It’s obviously a conspiracy theory set in motion by tree-hugging hippies and the creator of the Internet himself, Mr. Al Gore,” you may want to take a seat. I’ve got some news for you: global warming does exist! Now, as you begin to question your own existence and the cognitive state of mind formerly known as “reality,” prepare to be enlightened. During the period of time from the year 1850 to 2000, annual global emissions from fossil-fuel burning and cement have been steadily increasing at a rapid pace. According to guardian. co.uk, in 1950, global emissions peaked at around 5 billion tonnes (a metric ton is equal to 1,000 kilograms, or 2,204.6 pounds for all of you Americans out there). In 2000, global emissions reached an unprecedented high of over 20 billion tons. In conjunction with the rising levels of global emissions, the average near-surface temperature of the Earth has been increasing in an almost identical manner, and since 1900 the earth has warmed 0.7 degrees Celsius. When placed on the same line graph, the lines for both global emissions levels and near-surface temperature

MCT

Ozone, the chief component of smog, is a byproduct of emissions from automobiles, power plants and oil refineries such as this refinery, on the Delaware River. are nearly identical. Unless we change our ways immediately, global emissions will continue to increase, and by way of inductive reasoning so too will the near-surface temperature of the Earth. Enter the Copenhagen Climate Conference, aimed at renegotiating several elements of the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012. According to UN climate chief Yvo De Boer, international consensus needs to be reached on several points: How much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gasses? How much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to do to limit the growth of their emissions? How is the help needed by developing countries to reduce their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change going to be financed? And finally, how is that money going to be managed? It is obvious that the industrialized countries of this world need to make the most drastic changes in their emission levels. While smaller, less-developed countries should take preemptive action against rising levels of emissions, they cannot be expected to do so in such

large strides as the wealthier nations. Further, in order to allow these less-developed countries to take action against global warming, rich nations must be willing to help fund efforts to do so outside of their own borders. Thus far, the expectations of this ‘conference to change the world’ seem high, though I see no reason why the leaders of this world cannot come to a reasonable resolution by Dec. 12, because after all, they are the leaders of the world. According to a group of leading academics who write for the journal Nature, unless the negotiating countries reach their most ambitious goals, temperatures could rise by as much as 3.6F (2C). Further, if there is a “weak agreement” temperatures may even rise by 7.2F (4C) by 2060, causing the glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, and mass droughts and flooding across the globe. At this point, many of you may be thinking, “It seems as if the issues surrounding this global warming phenomenon are out of my hands.” To speak plainly, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it is you who are directly responsible for most of the greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global

The average near-surface temperature of the earth has been increasing in an almost identical manner since 1900.

warming. According to nasa. gov, “The main human activities that contribute to global warming are the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and the clearing of land. Most of the burning occurs in automobiles, in factories, and in electric power plants that provide energy for houses and office buildings.” Knowing this, there are several obvious steps that you can take to help reduce global emissions. For example, you could carpool to work or school, substitute a bike for your vehicle when possible or turn off unnecessary lights and appliances. According to terrapass. com, “Only 5% of the power drawn from a cell phone charger is used to charge a phone. The other 95% is wasted when it is left plugged in to a wall.” These are just a few examples of immediate actions that you can take to reduce your personal contribution to greenhouse gas

emissions. To find out how else you can help, visit www.vtacc.org and follow the link “personal action.” For more information on the Copenhagen Climate Conference that is currently underway, and to read a live blog of the event, visit www. guardian.co.uk and follow the “environment” link. The conference in Copenhagen is a conference to change the world. While much legislation and government action will follow, this is only a small step in the process of reducing global emissions. As a citizen of this world, it is your responsibility to ensure the well-being of future generations, so that they may enjoy the same good-health and opportunity that you yourself have been granted. Action resounds more loudly when it is the result of a collective effort, and in order for a collective group to exist, you must first take the initiative as an individual.

The mythical ‘Liberal Christian’ JOSH GAMBLE

Community Manager Perhaps you’ve noticed by now that Idaho is, in general, a rather conservative state. Many of these conservative men and women adhere to some new-fangled gizmo called Christianity. They’ve also been known to listen to country music, which often carries Christian themes or references to some dude named Jesus. Because of these associations, the modern lexicon has acquired the term “the Christian right.” However, the radical Christian right is completely crazy. I’m not talking your run-of-the-mill, churchgoing, truck-driving republican; I’m talking about militant, funeral-picketing, theocracy-advocating madmen. These people take every word of the Bible literal-

Letter to the Editor

ly, and then twist it for their own political ends. Because they’re so aggressive (read: bat-s**t insane), they get a lot of media attention. So much so, in fact, that for some they have become the mental image conjured when someone says “Republican” or “Christian.” At this point, before I move on, I feel there is something I should address. On many occasions in the last semester, I have criticized, mocked, and generalized “conservatives,” much to the chagrin of many non-insane members of the community. Well those people aren’t the ones who I was addressing. I was referring to the radicals. Well, them and Glenn Beck. I just don’t like that man. Okay, now that I’ve explained myself, we can move on. As long as we’re demonizing large groups of people based on an extremely ag-

gressive handful of folks who stole their label, let’s talk about liberals. While there are relatively civil and moderate liberals who drive normal cars, there are also the pretentious, atheistic, Prius owners who pay a monthly membership premium to PETA and will defend the “rights” of anyone from pedophiles to fish. Thanks to the media, this is common image of the “liberal,” especially among fans of “The O’Rielly Factor.” Granted, there are these kinds of liberals, but I promise we’re not all that crazy. It should also be stated that no, we are not all in love with Obama, nor do we think that everyone should smoke marijuana and have promiscuous sex. Similarly, not all Christians think that America should be a theocracy or that homosexuality is a crime.

The American zeitgeist seems to dictate that Christianity and liberalism are mutually exclusive. However, this is not the case. There are, in fact, an elusive group of people (at least in a state like Idaho) known as “liberal Christians.” I like to think that I fall into this category, despite my mildly heretical tendencies. I can’t speak for other liberal Christians, as they’re extremely rare around this region, but here’s what I believe (yeah, you knew this was coming): I believe the most important part of the Bible isn’t the set of laws, rules and guidelines that it sets down, but rather the message of unbridled love and forgiveness. Rather than the exclusion that some hold dear, it teaches acceptance and redemption for everyone. I also believe that the Bible is

not something to be taken literally, but rather a set of lessons about life and morality. I also believe in science. I believe in the power of knowledge, of people and of governments. The powers of God and Man are not mutually exclusive, neither are intelligent design and evolution. I believe in a government that takes care of its people before its bank account. Okay, I’ll step down off of my soap box for now. I wanted to clarify for everyone that I’m not anti-religious or spiteful toward Republicans. Thanks to everyone who has read my work this semester and encouraged the start of my journalism career. I also want to thank everyone who I’ve pissed-off with my writing. You make my day. See you all again in 2010.

Crotchety, cranky old Trusky made me work my ass off creating works of art by way of little books which I fretted over and spent countless hours deliberating and wondering, “Is it good enough?” To look at Trusky, you wouldn’t know the sense of humor that lied beneath the brusque exterior. I think a lot of people missed that. I’d be in class and he’d be rattling on about papyrus, making perplexing little remarks the entire time. I’d snort and look around the class wondering why I was the only one laughing. I think it’s because he never slowed down, never paused, and never allowed what he had just said to sink in at all. He just kept right on talking about paper making as if he hadn’t just said something satirical and horrible and funny and clever. I liked going to Trusky’s class. It was creative, interesting, and inspiring. I wrote my best short stories because of him. I worked hard; I so wanted him to respect my work because he was the toughest of critics and I’m thankful to him for that. Many have been quick to criticize him, and I get that. It was excruciatingly painful each time he’d put our books on that long, communal table arranging them according to our letter grades from A’s to F’s. He’d then raise his favorites, telling us why they were great, while also raising the ones he said were horrible and made no sense. It was always kind of shocking to know he was actually assigning F’s to our masterpieces, but then, it all seemed sort of fitting, too. I kind of think of Trusky as an institution. I have always had the impression he was someone who’d been around campus for so long that he could say or do anything he pleased and it was always okay; he was his own university within Boise State and if you could get an A in his class, well then the world was wide open to you, you were alumni of the Tom Trusky Book Arts Academy! I’m sad he’s gone and I miss him already. I’m disappointed I will never get to experience the pain that would have been his graduate course. I will feel the depth of my sadness every time I pass the Hemingway Center and think about him up in his personal workspace/ classroom, fiddling on his latest project, exclaiming over his latest book art purchase, collecting old typewriters and other oddities. I wonder what will happen to all the wonderful little treasures he had up there. Where will they go? What will become of them? Who will take care of them? Will they love them like he did? I really don’t think anybody could. Lastly, I wonder who will carry on the book art tradition. Who will teach the following generations about lost arts and all the nuances that are involved in making the treasure that is a book? Perhaps that is the worst part for me. I hate thinking that someone else will not be pushed like I was to seek the approval of a man who seemed a little bit bitter, a little bit mad genius, and a little bit the best professor anyone could ever ask for. Thanks, Tom. Amanda Hammond is a senior studying English literature.

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4

OPINION

DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Is the Internet making us worse? STEPHEN HELEKER Assistant Online Editor

Few of us can really imagine a life without the Internet. The Internet functions as our means of communication, our resource for news and our method of entertainment. It is obvious that it has changed the way we live our lives. However, a few of us wonder whether it has changed us as well. The instantaneity of broadband Internet -- now the

standard in American homes and businesses -- provides faster access to media and its information than has been available at any other time in history. I can read the breaking news on CNN.com, check my email, and check the current temperature on my little weather widget, all in less time than it would take to pick up a newspaper and turn to the third page. Perhaps more importantly, my web-based information is far more current than the information in the newspaper was when I bought it. It seems crazy -- a world where news becomes outdated faster than it can be printed. The Internet has changed the very way we look at time. It’s hard to believe that there

was a moment in history, earlier than the popularization of television, when everyone had to rely on newspapers for information, some people receiving only one a week. Even in such trying circumstances, they managed to perform their jobs, have wonderful families (as much as we do today, anyway), and elect generally capable and wellmeaning people into public office. Having a hard time imagining that? I am too, and that’s frightening. America Online, an Internet frontrunner, developed a web browsing system that combined search functionality, email, and chat all in one software package. With AOL -- as the company was later called -- users

could navigate the confusing world of the Internet with some comfort. Unfortunately for AOL, Hotmail shook email free from software and gave its users the ability to access their email from any computer on the Internet -free of cost. Today, AOL is anything but an Internet heavy hitter. Instead, the fallen giant focuses its effort on contentheavy endeavors, like TMZ. com (the site that broke the big news about Tiger Wood’s sex life). Although it may not seem like it, the lesson of AOL is important. We have seen the Internet transform from the world of AOL, where information was carefully organized and filtered (if comparably expensive), to the world

of TMZ, where information is instant, free, and -- in general -- worthless. The world of the World Wide Web is without context, and that world is larger than ever before. There is almost no method of discovering whether an information source is credible. Perhaps this is why media giants like CNN and NewsCorp dominate the Internet as well as television --- there is no credibility to be had but name recognition. This isn’t a problem for news only: what is Twitter if not talking without the context of conversation? We have become adjusted to the world of instant gratification, and simply do not have to tools to cope with the information glut of the

Internet. Unfortunately, local newspapers are collapsing all around the country, and television -- never much good for news -- has become so enamored with sports and the President that there are few places to look but online. Something must be done to establish credibility and context online. If there isn’t, the corporate news block that makes billions on television will continue to make money hand-over-fist on the Internet, and do so without providing the quality of work that is required for a functioning citizenry. For now, as you check your email or look for Fiesta Bowl information, ask yourself, “Could I live without this?” And please, answer “yes.”

Bored, addicted, over stimulated JENNY KNISS Online Editor

Today’s ritualistic reading of headlines in the Science subcategory of Reddit.com delivered a boot to the head. I tend to forget after a long

day of job one, job two and trying to maintain some semblance of an active and social life, that television shows are rotting what’s left of my brain. Often I find Hulu.com propping up my exhausted eyelids while I eat -- sometimes for the first time that day -- and try not to think about anything for an hour or more before sleeping. Why Reddit affected me more today than others, I am not really sure. Don’t get me wrong the idea of a justiceseeking, good-looking serial killer and a self-centric and humorous medical genius is pretty enticing when the sun goes down and the cold sets in. That doesn’t change the fact that television is a wasteful way for people to spend their days when there are people out there researching how to cure us, how to fix our inevitable aging, or how to see deeper into space and

someday travel there. I sincerely doubt those scientists have time to stay caught up on their weekly dose of impossible character development and drama. With things like the discovery of how to make pond scum, known as cyanobacteria, self-destruct for future use as bio fuel. Things like how gene therapy is allowing once blind children to read again, and researchers creating a bakers yeast that lives 10-fold longer than its normal life span, how can I possibly justify ending my nights with House or Dexter? I used to be safe from the siren of television. For years, without really being interested in television I also wasn’t interested in Tivo or sites like Hulu.com. I didn’t even own a TV for years. Then I was introduced to Firefly, followed by Battlestar Galactica, the Wire and of course Hulu and

Television is a wasteful way for people to spend their days few others. I simultaneously found my appetite and attention span for special effects, plots and characters insatiable. Spending $40 at a theater for an hour and half resolution-conflict-resolution cycle narrated with moving pictures and complimented by expensive popcorn seemed even more absurd -- like being starved and handed a cracker. So, I woke up this morning, read a little Reddit as usual and realized I am completely bored and hyper-stimulated all the time. I am caught up on my current events, sure, but Hulu/ television episodes has just made my list of things that are

similar to alcohol. They are okay, even healthy in small doses, but addictive. You can binge on it and suffer mental and physical consequences. Like a kid denied candy, I took the bowl and made myself sick eating it all. Is this what is happening to Americans in general? Are we bored and hyperstimulated by television and Internet to the point where we are backsliding in education, imagination, and passion? I am not arrogant or selfdepreciating enough to think that I am the only one doing this, and that is frightening. Just a little something to consider over the holidays.

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

SPORTS

5

DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Rematch against TCU excites Broncos Last year’s 17-16 Poinsettia Bowl loss to Texas Christian still lingers. TRENT LOOTENS Producer

For the Broncos, this year’s Fiesta Bowl isn’t just a chance to prove themselves to the nation, it’s an opportunity to build on something that could be greater than any BSU player or coach ever imagined. A second Fiesta Bowl win over a team some think should been playing for the national championship sets BSU up for the 2010 season with teams on its schedule including Virginia Tech and Oregon State. It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves here, but it’s hard not to when we’re talking about a potential national championship run for the Broncos next season if they can beat TCU this time around. While we sit here and speculate about next season already, the minds of BSU’s players and coaches couldn’t be any further away from next season. They’re still soaking in the glory of being invited to college football’s grandest stage. “We’re really excited about the opportunity to be play-

ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

Boise State junior wide receiver TItus Young celebrates with teammates and fans after BSU clinched the Western Athletic Conference championship and a second consecutive undefeated season Dec. 4 at Bronco Stadium. ing on the biggest stage possible. Both teams are trying to prove themselves at the national level. We’re going to play each other now and prove ourselves that way,”

BSU sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore said after he heard the news of the Fiesta Bowl’s selection. People tend to forget that the Bowl Championship

WAC names 2009 award winners Moore takes home top offensive honors

committee didn’t have to invite BSU, and in a way BSU, is just lucky to be there at all. Sure, the BCS’s selection to match up two non-automatic qualifiers was a sneaky way

to ensure that one of them would lose, but they both will still get paid the same either way. Going to a BCS game can literally build a program, just

Huxley hosts hardened mentality for Steelheads

KIRK BELL

Sports Editor The Boise State Broncos were recognized by the Western Athletic Conference for the team’s individual performance’s throughout their 2009 campaign. Headlining the group was sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore who was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Moore completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,325 yards and 39 touchdowns. He set the record for most passing touchdowns in a single season for BSU. The record was previously held by Bart Hendricks who set the mark at 35 touchdowns. Moore was also a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy but was not invited to New York for the ceremonies due to a strong field of athletes who performed well this season. Head coach Chris Petersen was named WAC Coach of the Year for a second consecutive year. Petersen has led the Broncos to three undefeated seasons during his four years as head coach at BSU and an overall record of 48-4 since 2006. Petersen is the only

COURTESY/IDAHO STEELHEADS

COURTESY/KENT NISHIMURA

Kellen Moore reaches back to throw against Hawai’i earlier this season. Moore was named 2009 WAC Offensive Player of the Year. coach to take the Broncos to a BCS game, both times in the Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos face TCU Jan. 4 in Glendale, Ariz. Among individual awards, the first and second All-WAC teams were announced, placing six players on the first team and four on the second. Offensive players named to the list include Moore as quarterback, junior wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young and offensive tackle Nate Potter. Young was

also recognized as a first team specialist for kickoff returns. Defensively junior defensive end Ryan Winterswyk and cornerback Kyle Wilson were named to the first team. Four players were named to the All-WAC second team including junior running back Jeremy Avery, sophomore defensive lineman Billy Winn, junior nickel back Winston Venable and junior safety Jeron Johnson.

See Awards I page 10

ask BSU and Utah. Being invited to two BCS games in four years can take a program to a level that was previously out of reach. “I know we worked so hard for this opportunity and I know we deserved it. I was just hoping we’d get in some how and I’m glad it worked out the way it did,” senior cornerback Kyle Wilson said. Wilson remains the only Bronco left who played in the classic Fiesta Bowl of 2007 when BSU beat Oklahoma 43-42 in overtime. For BSU, it’s too hard to look toward what could be in 2010. It already has too much to worry about with TCU. The stakes are extremely high in this year’s Fiesta Bowl because the winner of this game could potentially end the year No. 2 in the final BCS standings. With 20-of-22 starters coming back for the Broncos next season, they simply can’t afford to slip up and have a poor outing against the Horned Frogs. “We know TCU fairly well, we know what a tough challenge it will be,” Boise State head coach and Western Athletic Conference coach of the year Chris Petersen said. “We couldn’t have been matched up against a tougher opponent, but with tough opponents lie great opportunities out there for us.”

The Steelheads’ Adam Huxely is seen fighting during a hockey game this season. MICHAEL BRADY

Courtesy Idaho Steelheads One player can change the momentum of a hockey game. That player is the guy who drops the gloves and energizes his teammates and the crowd. Every hockey team has that guy that brings hope. A guy that makes sure that no opposing player will hurt the team’s star players. A guy that will get under opposing players’ skin which throws players off their game or even draw penalties. Adam Huxley is that player

for the Idaho Steelheads. Every team needs an enforcer, a type of bodyguard for the team, which knows their role on the team and does their job accordingly. Like many Steelheads players before him (Craig Cescon, Jeremy Yablonksi, and Matt Nickerson), Huxley is quickly becoming a fan favorite. In twenty games for the Steelheads, Huxley has been in seven fights with 49 penalty minutes so far. In the past three seasons with the Stockton Thunder, Huxley had racked up at least 200

penalty minutes. Huxley’s first fight with the Steelheads came against his former team and former teammate, Garet Hunt. In the Steelheads second game of the season opening three game home stand against Stockton, Huxley went toe-to-toe with Hunt. Huxley landed several shots and convincingly won the fight that helped boost the Steelheads to a 3-2 victory. In his seventh season of professional hockey, Huxley is not only helping his team with his fists but also with his play in the offensive and defensive zones. Although he isn’t a guy who is expected to add offensively, he is a guy that does the little things right to help his team win. Whether that is getting pucks deep into the offensive zone or getting pucks out of the defensive zone, Huxley has proven that being a wellrounded player is better than just being able to fight. With the help of Huxley, the Steelheads have raced to the top of the national standings in the ECHL. Huxley will keep opposing teams in check and help contribute any way he

See Steelheads I page 10

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

6

SPORTS CULTURE

DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Bronco swimmers shatter six school records BENJAMIN MACK Journalist

Taking a break from the dual meet season, the Boise State swimming and diving team traveled to Columbia, Mo. for the Missouri Invitational Dec. 4 - 6. Despite facing no less than eight of the best teams in the country, the Broncos once again proved they’re a force to be reckoned with, blasting their way to fourth place overall. Sophomore Stephanie North once again led the way for the Broncos, who broke six team records over the course of the three-day meet. North captured the overall title in the 100 freestyle and shattered her own school record with a time of 50.06. Freshman Jennifer Cahill continued her stellar season, placing fourth in the 1,650

free (one mile) with a personal-best 17:07.88 on the third day of the meet. Cahill also helped make the Broncos’ presence known on the meet’s first day as she set a new school record in the 500 free. In the preliminary heat, Cahill posted a new best time of 4:56.83, beating out the old record set by Rachael Meisner set at the 2009 WAC Championships by more than two and a half seconds. Cahill posted a time of 4:56.90 in the finals, good for seventh place. The day’s record-breaking continued with the next event as sophomore Emily Irvin broke her own record in the 200 individual medley. Irvin recorded a time of 2:04.82 in the final to win the heat and take ninth overall in the event. Chelsea Lopus and Christine Raininger hit the

wall in the two spots behind Irvin to give the Broncos a 1-2-3 sweep in the final heat. The second day brought more fireworks, with Raininger breaking the first record of her career in the finals of the 400 IM. The freshman finished third in the event with a time of 4:25.84, an improvement of more than two and a half seconds from her preliminary swim earlier in the day. The finals heats began with the 200 medley relay just before Raininger’s record-breaking swim. Denise Green, Kelly Forrester, Amber Boucher and North teamed up to finish fourth overall in the event with a time of 1:44.61. All four swimmers would go on to shine in their individual events for the Broncos. Boucher was the top finish-

TAYLOR RUTLEDGE/THE ARBITER.

The Boise State women’s swim and dive team set several records over the weekend at the Missouri Invitational in Columbia, Mo. er for the Broncos in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.01 and a sixth-place finish. North

took the spotlight next as she finished fifth in the 200 free in 1:51.60. Not to be outdone,

Forrester kept the streak alive as she recorded a career-best

See Swimming I page 10

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For full schedule and to purchase your tickets online go to www.idahosteelheads.com/boisestate The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

CLASSIFIEDS Classifieds 7

DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

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So you wanna place a classified ad? It’s easy!

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The Arbiter takes no responsibility if you get scammed out of your beer money. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The

BY MICHAEL MEPHAM

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

www.sudoku.org.uk

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The Future

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

BY LINDA C. BLACK Tribune Media Services Today’s Birthday (12/10/09) The coming year offers greater potential for leadership and publishing. Do you have an idea for a novel or a story? Perhaps you want to run for election. This is a good year to imagine success and make it your own through daily application of skills towards the desired goal. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 -- Get started early on any project that you want done by day’s end. Expect interference in the form of demands from distant sources.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is an 8 -- You have a long list of tasks facing you. Take five minutes to discuss the plans. Then, focus on your part, and all goes well.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is an 8 -- You couldn’t have asked for a better day to accomplish your favorite goal. Others get turned on to your ideas.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 7 -- Everyone has an opinion, and you hear about them all. Just because you listen doesn’t mean you need to take action.

Today is an 8 -- You love what you do, so focus on that today. Let others pursue their own ideas. You can catch up with them later.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 5 -- Everything works out well today if you begin on practical footing and state your needs clearly. Then, monitor feedback.

Scorpio (Oct. 23--Nov. 21) Today is a 6 -- An older person makes demands. Listen and learn. You don’t have to do everything right now. But you should take steps to satisfy yourself and others.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 -- You get a lot more done today than you thought possible, if everyone works together. Prioritize, but also do the small stuff.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 6 -- If you apply yourself to the task at hand, you’ll get a lot done in a short time. Plenty of time for play this afternoon.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7 -- Challenge yourself to say only what must be said today. Others hear criticism where none is intended. Shift gears late in the day.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7 -- There’s no lack of energy now. What’s missing is careful communication. Balance the truth with compassion.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 -- New projects begun today hold promise for income in the future. Bring the ideas of others together into one master plan.

___ (c) 2009, Tribune Media Services Inc.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

8

CULTURE

DECEMBER 10, 2009

‘The Nutcracker’

ARBITERONLINE.COM

A timeless holiday ballet returns to The Morrison Center “The Nutcracker” is a must-see classic holiday ballet. Ballet Idaho brings this classic to The Morrison Center from Dec. 11-13.

made this year’s production unique Anastos said, “The music tells you what you have to do. The balancing act is you have to fulfill expectations while not being predictable." Anastos said he created more of a connection between the ballet and the original story by. "Traditionally in the ballet you do not get where the mice came from. I strength-

ened the mouse story by inventing a mechanical mouse that fights the soldier in Act 1 with an inserted short variation from ‘Sleeping Beauty.’ This sets up the dream Clara has later," he said. According to Anastos, the principal challenge is developing choreography for children that also suits them. "We ask them to be charming and we create appropriate choreography so when

they are dancing they look accomplished.” Anastos said his favorite scene is The Snow Scene in Waltz of the Flowers. “It is a big whole company moment with gorgeous music.”Phyllis Affrunti, principal dancer, has been in more than 400 productions of “The Nutcracker” and has played every part a female can play. Affrunti’s favorite scene is

the finale.“A few nights ago I found myself getting choked up watching the finale from the wings," she said. "It’s a culmination of the best Christmas party ever. The family is happy and celebrating together.” For Affrunti, the best part about performing this ballet is the children in the performance and the audience. "Seeing the little girls in their Christmas dresses and

Mary Janes twirling in the lobby after the show makes me realize how lucky I am," she said. "Sometimes we forget the joy of just getting out there and dancing. The kids help to remind me.” "The Nutcracker" will be performed at 8 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday. For information and tickets, visit their Web site: www. balletidaho.org, or the Morrison Center box office.

MARGARET REIMER Journalist

“People who have never been to any other ballets have seen and love “The Nutcracker,” says Peter Anastos, artistic director of Ballet Idaho. The story of “The Nutcracker” was inspired by E.T.A. Hoffman’s version called “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” and was a fairy-tale written for adults. French author Alexander Dumas revised the story making it more appropriate for children. Marius Petipa, chief ballet master of the Russian Imperial Ballet, loved this new story and decided to have it made into a ballet. He commissioned Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky to write the music. The production was first performed in December 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Famous dancer and choreographer, George Balanchine, grew up in Russia, and danced the role of the Prince in the 1919 production of “The Nutcracker.” Later, after he had moved to America and founded New York City Ballet, he decided to choreograph his own version of “The Nutcracker.” The first performance of Balanchine’s production was on Feb. 2, 1954, in New York City. From that point on, it has been an annual holiday tradition. When asked how he had

COURTESY/ BALLET IDAHO

The charming classic ‘The Nutcracker’ will be performed at the Morrison Center Dec. 11-13.

Chemistry professors boil down science concepts

ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

Mitch, 14, observes a magnetic experiment in various beakers at the Holiday Chemistry Demo Show Monday night in the SUB. and orange Afro-wig and sage of chemistry. ZACH GANSCHOW Producer

“When I am Dr. Picklestein, I cannot be held accountable for what I do or say,” said chemistry professor Henry Charlier to a room full of excited children and their parents Monday night. Dr. Picklestein then proceeded with a variety of experiments from atop a stage in the Jordan Ballroom, wearing a tie-dye lab coat, a blue

safety goggles. The scientific shenanigans were part of the Holiday Chemistry Demo Show created by the BSU Chemistry Club. Experiments included lighting Santa’s beard on fire, a demo titled "Elephant toothpaste" and an attempted can crushing using liquid Nitrogen. Throughout the performance, the crowd was led in singing holiday songs converted to speak the mes-

“The show originally began to celebrate chemistry students' hard work at the end of the semester,” said Charlier. “But the Chemistry Club wanted to create a community event." Charlier said last year was the first public show and it had enormous attendance. “Professor (of organic chemistry) Don Warner originally gave me the idea, and with last years success,

we decided to go way bigger," said Lisa Young, Chemistry Club president. The free event was even more popular this year, completely filling the Jordan Ballroom with many observers standing in the back. In addition to the stage show, the back of the room contained a network of tables with hands-on experiments for kids to perform. Children were allowed to create goo, construct molecules, build crystal snowflakes and other colorful feats. James, a 10-year-old who watched the spectacle said he enjoyed the show, but got tired of the kids running forward and blocking his) view. “It got really annoying,” he said as he played with his plastic model titled "no idea molecule." During the can-crushing experiment, Warner attempted to condense the pressure on the inside of various cans -- ranging from soda cans to barrels -- creating a higher pressure from the room's atmosphere. "I didn't like it when they were trying to smash the cans. They tried to use science, but nothing would work," said Ilah, age 8. Although the experiment

had been successfully practiced the night before, it did not perform for the waiting audience of eager children. Picklestein heckled the experimenter, Warner, from offstage, entertaining the crowd with his clever observations. "Science didn't work this time," Warner said. While the cans didn't compress as planned, it did not stop Warner from having a stellar presentation. The crowd got wild as he later picked up a rubber mallet and bashed the can until it collapsed, breaking the mal-

let in the process, narrowly dodging the head of the mallet as it flew off. “There’s a lot of power in the venue of science to get kids asking questions," he said. Warner said they visit high schools and put on presentations. Of course, there are always students who are "too cool" for the presentations initially. "But in the end, they are really interested, and ready to be nerds right with ya,” he said.

ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

Don Warner, organic chemistry professor, puts a synthetic rubber mallet to use as he bashes metal, resting in a tub of liquid nitrogen.

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

9

CULTURE Mechanic by day, Dickens by night

DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Poet performs live on the street during 'First Thursday' EVAN WESTERFIELD Journalist

If you didn’t go to First Thursday or you don’t hit the downtown area often, you might have missed an enthusiastic street performance of poetry by Scott Berge. Berge, who during the day works as a mechanic, on First Thursday dresses the part of a Dickens character -- bowler, tails and the matching vest

-- to recite poetry on the sidewalk near the Grove Hotel. Berge has committed to memory poems running the gamut from Shakespeare to Frost and performs them with flare and showmanship. The vigor Berge puts into his readings is not surprising considering he has traveled with carnivals and performed on variety shows. When he is not performing on the streets, Berge works as

Scott Berge preforming poetry roadside on first Thursday.

host for the weekly open mic night at Alia’s Coffeehouse on Tuesdays. Berge started the event for others to share their poetry, or read their favorites. If you are interested in seeing Berge perform come see him on Tuesdays at Alia’s Coffeehouse, the poetry starts at 7 p.m. You can also look for him on First Thursdays performing on the street.

To see a video of Berge performing Dr. Seuss and other poems on 8th Street, visit arbiteronline.com.

ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

10 DECEMBER 10, 2009

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Awards [from page 5]

Steelheads [from page 5]

Top Individual Awards

can while the Steelheads continue for their chance to play for the Kelly Cup. Come watch Huxley and the Steelheads in action as they take on the Ontario Reign in a three game homestand on December 9th, 11th and 12th. All games start at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12th, the Steelheads will team up with the Booster Club and Marines to collect stuffed toys for children in need over the holidays; fans throw a

Offense Player of the Year Kellen Moore, So., QB, Boise State

Freshman of the Year Brandon Wimberly, WR, Nevada

Defense Player of the Year Dontay Moch, Jr., DE, Nevada

Coach of the Year Chris Petersen, Boise State First Team

First Team

Offense

WR-Austin Pettis WR-Titus Young WR-Greg Salas TE-Dennis Morris OL-Nate Potter OL-Andrew Jackson OL-John Estes OL-Mike Iupati OL-Alonzo Durham QB-Kellen Moore RB-Ryan Mathews RB-Vai Taua

Defense

DL-R. Winterswyk DL-Chris Carter DL-D’Anthony Smith DL-Dontay Moch LB-Ben Jacobs LB-Blaze Soares LB-Adrien Cole LB-Bobby Wagner DB-Kyle Wilson DB-Shiloh Keo DB-Davon House DB-Duke Ihenacho

Second Team

Boise State Boise State Hawai‘i Louisiana Tech Boise State Fresno State Hawai‘i Idaho Nevada Boise State Fresno State Nevada

Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr.

Boise State Fresno State Louisiana Tech Nevada Fresno State Hawai‘i Louisiana Tech Utah State Boise State Idaho NMS San Jose State

Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr.

Specialists

PK-Kevin Goessling Fresno State P-Robert Malone Fresno State ST-Titus Young Boise State

So. Sr. Jr.

Offense

WR-Seyi Ajirotutu WR-Max Komar WR-Brandon Wimberly WR-Kevin Jurovich TE-Virgil Green OL-Kenny Wiggins OL-Aaron Kia OL-Irv Stevens OL-Rob McGill OL-Kenneth Ackerman QB-Colin Kaepernck RB-Jeremy Avery RB-Daniel Porter RB-Robert Turbin

Defense

DL-Billy Winn DL-Aaron Lavarias DL-Kevin Basped DL-Carl Ihenacho LB-Winston Venable LB-JoJo Dickson LB-J.Michael Johnson LB-Justin Cole DB-Jeron Johnson DB-Lorne Bell DB-Moses Harris DB-Jonathon Amaya

Specialists

PK-Trey Farquhar P-Philip Zavala ST-Phillip Livas

Sr. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. So.

Fresno State Idaho Nevada San Jose State Nevada Fresno State Hawai‘i Idaho Louisiana Tech Nevada Nevada Boise State Louisiana Tech Utah State

So. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr.

Boise State Idaho Nevada San Jose State Boise State Idaho Nevada San Jose State Boise State Fresno State Fresno State Nevada

Fr. Sr. Jr.

Idaho San Jose State Louisiana Tech

Swimming [from page 5] of the 100 breaststroke to also finish in fifth. Finally, Green ended the individual events with a season-best time of 57.27 in the 100 backstroke and a seventh-place finish. On day three, the Broncos excelled in the 200 butterfly as Lopus and Raininger teamed up to finish third and fifth in the event, respectively. Lopus finished with a time of 2:03.44 while Raininger finished in 2:05.25. The Broncos’ relay teams also continued to turn out impressive results as they

took third in the 400 free relay. Forrester, North, Lopus and Boucher recorded the second-best time in school history of 3:26.38 to finish only behind teams from Missouri and Arizona State. Amanda Burnett and Erin Lionberger competed in the platform diving event for the Broncos, finishing eighth and ninth. The pair of divers were the first to compete on the platform for the Broncos this year. Burnett's score of 186.30 set a new school record, shatter-

ing the old record of 106.30 set by Megan Morton at the WAC Championships in 2008. Other teams that competed in the Missouri Invitational were Missouri, Missouri S&T, Colorado State, Drury, Southern Illinois, Arizona State, Nebraska and North Dakota. The Broncos will next compete in San Diego, Calif. against San Diego State and Tulane Jan. 7 before facing the University of San Diego Jan. 9. Their next home meet is Jan. 23 against the University of Idaho.

stuffed toy on the ice during the first Steelheads goal and the Marine Corp collects and distributes to families. In addition, the event raises thousands in proceeds from the sale of toys at the game, so bring a stuffed toy or animal to throw onto the ice. Boise State students present your student ID at the Qwest Arena Box Office for an $11 ticket plus a voucher for a FREE small beer or Pepsi. Limit 2 per ID.

Purchase Online: Purchase tickets online at idahosteelheads.com/ groups; Login: MIKE, Password: MIKEBSU. Michael Brady is a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For additional information, visit Ida hoSteelheads.com/ boisestate.

Trusky [from page 1]

He was an extreme movie buff. He went to several movies every weekend and often would write reviews of them which he’d share with his friends via e-mail Virta acerbic wit and his ability to see hilarity in even the most tragic circumstance,” she said. “I don’t use the word genius much, but I think Tom had that quality.” Trusky’s hobbies outside of the classroom included films and storytelling. “He was an extreme movie buff. He went to several movies every weekend and often would write reviews of them which he’d share with his friends via e-mail,” Virta said. “It was a competition to see who had the most intriguing information about going-ons at the university and elsewhere,” ShurtleffYoung said. Trusky was extremely devoted to his students. “He could be brutally honest when he did not think their work was up to par, but so many have said that their writing became so much better thanks to his constructive criticism," Virta said. "And

he was generous in lavishing praise when it was warranted.” Chamong Churjeng, a junior photography major taking Trusky’s book arts class, agrees. “He’s very straightforward and doesn’t really beat around the bush,” he said. In Churjeng’s class, students wrote essays about Trusky which will be given to his family. “I don’t think it quite hit me yet, as with most students,” he said. Another student in the class, senior philosophy major, Justin Fowler, once rode with Trusky to Mountain Home for a papermaking workshop. Trusky regaled him with a story about a diary someone gave him to publish. “He’s a great entertainer. I didn’t feel anxious or out of place,” Folwer said. Trusky’s contribution to Boise State will not be for-

gotten soon. “He shaped the English Department we have today, and his legacy will be felt for decades more,” Payne said. Shurtleff-Young said Trusky’s passing will impact more than the campus and community. “The world has lost an amazing man,” she said. A memorial service for Trusky will be held this Friday, Dec. 11 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Visual Arts Center Gallery in the Hemingway Western Studies Center. Free parking will be available in the library and Liberal Arts parking lot. Students, faculty, staff and the community are welcome to attend. To share your memories of Trusky, visit the Facebook group page, "Remember Tom Trusky." To learn more about Trusky and his accomplishments, visit the English Department's Web site, english.boisestate.edu/ ttrusky.

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