2-02-12 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

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February 2012

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“Mr. Blue Republican,” Robin Koerner, describes his journey from liberal to libertarian at the Blue Republican event Saturday night.

Republicans are blue, too

Suzanne Craig

Developing News Editor

Men’s and women’s basketball get their midterm grades.

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A variety of people filled the seats—old veterans, parents with their children, students and community members all turned up Saturday night to listen to Robin Koerner discuss the Blue Republican movement. Koerner, a British expatriate with degrees in physics and philosophy, coined the term Blue Republican in a Huffington Post article published last August. His argument is that President Barack Obama has failed to deliver on his message of change and

has in fact continued the policies of George W. Bush, which many were expecting him to stop. According to Koerner, Ron Paul is the candidate who will do what Obama promised, despite running on a Republican ticket. That’s the center of “Blue Republican.” The idea is that people who are Democrats, have “left” leanings and probably voted for Obama when he ran in 2008, will become Republican for one year, for the express purpose of getting Paul into office. Despite the fact that Paul’s

campaign hasn’t been making headlines, his campaign website states he has received the majority of the votes for the 18- to 29-year-old demographic in all the primaries in which he participated. He also got second place in the New Hampshire primary. The on-campus presentation was proposed in an effort to make young Idahoans aware of Paul’s message, though many outside community members came to listen to Koerner’s presentation. At the end of the hourand-a-half-long presentation, there was a question-

answer session, though in some cases Koerner delayed answering until after the session, as he wanted to make sure he answered completely. Lucas Baumbach, the event organizer, introduced Koerner and at the end of the talk, spent time explaining how to register as a Republican to vote for Paul in the primaries. But it won’t actually be a primary this year. The Republican party of Idaho decided to change the time of their vote from May to March, making it more likely to have an effect on the standings of the “favorites” of the presidential

race. Also, instead of a primary vote, they’re holding a caucus. Caucuses take longer and require voters to show up to the location selected for their county and hang out for a few hours casting their votes repeatedly. Baumbach advised setting aside two or three hours for the caucus if listeners want to participate. The talk was recorded and will be posted on the Idahoans for Liberty website. The event was sponsored by the Idahoans for Liberty and their sister organization, Students for Liberty.

Today

RAs crack down on policy Mallory Barker Journalist

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In a meeting on Jan. 22 in Driscoll Hall, the resident advisers (RAs), James Gravatt, Greg Franz and Hannah Baker announced a policy change regarding alcohol in the dorms. They informed the residents that in addition to possession of alcohol being a breach of university policy, it is now against the rules to be drunk in the dorms. Madison Hansen, a freshmen resident of Driscoll Hall studying English literature, confirmed that one of the RAs jokingly said if students are drunk, they shouldn’t come home. However, Malinda Jensen, assistant director of residence life, denied this is a new policy at all—it is simply one not often addressed. It appears many residents do not fully understand or have any knowledge of the alcohol

policy and run the risk of being written up due to ignorance. Connor McCloud, freshmen resident in Towers, said he was unaware of the policy regarding drunkenness in university housing. He said he did not agree with the policy because, “home should be a safe place.” “The goal of having a dry campus seems reasonable enough to me, “ Hansen said. “But, we need a safe place to come back to, even if housing doesn’t like our choice to drink. People can respect the rules by going off campus to drink and that’s great. But having the ultimatum of getting in trouble if they come back to the safest place they have is just plain wrong.” “Most students who live in housing are underage and as such are not allowed to be drinking,” Gravatt said. “It is not necessarily our place to say what they can and cannot do

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off campus, however if they are intoxicated and come back to campus, it is the place of university officials to document the situation.” The full policy can be found in the student code of conduct on Broncoweb. Here is an overview: There is absolutely no alcohol permitted in the residence halls (regardless of age). There is no promotion of drinking allowed in the residence halls. Containers will be considered as evidence of consumption. Anyone found in a room where alcohol is present will be held responsible for consumption. Public intoxication is considered a violation of university housing policy. A person is considered in violation of university housing policy if his or her alcohol consumption infringes upon the rights of other persons or property.

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Students are not allowed to be drunk on campus.

Body found near campus

What’s Inside

mct campus

CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER

A body was found a mile away from this bridge.

Tuesday, the Boise Police department received a call reporting a deceased person hanging from a tree along the Boise River near Americana Boulevard. The body of an adult male, reported at 12:42 p.m., was hanging about 100 yards

from a railroad bridge. Police reported to the scene near Kathrynn Albertson Park where they located the body. Police spokesperson Charles McClure said there is reason to believe the adult male is likely a suicide victim. The man has not been identified and no other information is available at this time.

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Action Romney victorious Man’s escape against in Florida primary was short-lived Syria a TAMPA, FLOR. spoke to supporters CALDWELL — speaking with his EgusMitt Romney, and tried to project Aaron Egusquiza girlfriend, no-go —presidential can- Republican unity by was taken into quiza slid through didate and former speaking of Presi- custody on two the window of the NEW YORK CITY — During the United Nation’s Security Council meeting where the Arab League presented its peace plan, China and Russia repeated their opposition to any direct interference in Syrian affairs. “China is firmly opposed to the use of force to solve the Syrian problem and resolutely opposes pushing for forced regime change in Syria, as it violates the United Nations Charter and the basic norms guiding the practice of international relations,” Xinhua quoted Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Li Baodong, according to Reuters. The Arab League’s plan did not call for military intervention, but instead recommended economic sanctions such as those imposed on Iran. Some economic sanctions are already in place, but are not supported by all U.N. member nations. Representatives from the Arab League asked for stronger sanctions and more universal support.

E ditor - in -C hief

Massachusetts governor, easily won Florida’s primary, which was open only to registered Republican voters. Romney came in first, followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with Rick Santorum and Ron Paul holding distant third and fourth. Gingrich reassured supporters he would continue the race all the way to the August primaries. After the polls closed, Romney

dent Barack Obama. Romney’s campaign and a super PAC group “Restore Our Future” outspent Gingrich 4-to-1 on advertising. The majority of the ads were focused on Gingrich and the baggage he collected while House Speaker, according to NBC Politics. The next candidate testing states are Nevada and Maine. Both of their Republican parties are holding caucuses this Saturday.

Charges filed after the Occupy march OAKL AND, CALIF. — The Attorney General’s office filed charges against 12 individuals after the march on Saturday. The march was mainly focused on seizing the abandoned Kaiser Convention Center. There was a clash with police, resulting in three officers and at least one protester injured. Participants also marched on the YMCA. Police ar-

rested members of the crowd after they entered the building. Others broke into the City Hall and vandalized it. Four were charged with felonies, including assault of an officer. All those arraigned on Tuesday were ordered to stay away from the City Plaza where many of the demonstrations were held. They will enter their pleas sometime today according to the Los Angeles Times.

outstanding warrants Tuesday, but escaped briefly. After a chase on foot, police officers caught him and put him in the back of a police car. They then went to his residence to inquire about his drug activity. While they were

car’s center divider and escaped out the passenger door. Officers were unable to find him. An anonymous tip led them to his hiding place at 4 p.m. He was hiding under a nearby trailer with his cuffs cut by an unknown individual.

WTF

Buy a piece of history, get a poker chip from a sunken cruise ship GIGLIO, ITALY — Items from the sunken cruise ship Costa Concordia have been appearing on eBay as former passengers attempt to recoup some of their losses. A casino token with a value of one euro was posted recently on eBay. The posting’s photo showed the chip next to a room key for authenticity purposes. Bids started at $900. Another Mass ac h u s e tt s - ba s ed seller posted the opportunity for

buyers to purchase a token with a starting bid of $1,800, but this ad was taken down by eBay. Another, more extravegant post was placed by an Australian man offering the opportunity to purchase the entire ship. eBay officials removed the ad almost immediately, and a company spokesperson declared the ad inappropriate for the website according to the Herald Sun. There are also models of the ship available for around $200.

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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Blood typing system 4 Sea once dotted with 1,500-plus islands 8 Some winds 13 Prince, to Cecil Fielder 14 Discman maker 15 Name that means “pretty” 16 Topeka-to-St. Paul direction 17 Tropical roadside area? 19 Morales of “Jericho” 21 Exude 22 Ryder Cup team 23 Roughly, San Jose’s population acting friendly? 27 Hazardous current 28 Stick on a stake 29 Bog 30 Unfair wear? 34 Literary miscellanea 35 Environmental concern ... and what’s happening in 17, 23-, 45- and 53Across? 38 Sound of pain or pleasure 39 Satisfied 40 __ above 41 Don’s code 44 Sharp-toothed fish 45 Sentiments from a hepcat? 50 Curling venue 51 Frizzy do 52 Peel 53 Polar exploration? 58 London-born miler 59 Olds models 60 Birthright seller 61 Tease 62 Works at the docks, say 63 Email folder 64 Hovel DOWN 1 Comparably fresh

2 Tree in a tray 3 Like macho push-ups 4 Lenten symbol 5 Short hopper 6 Scout on the floor, perhaps 7 It helps you clean up 8 Where Monet’s cathedral series was painted 9 Commercial development done in one hr.? 10 Permanent 11 Judgment Day poem 12 Colorful shawls 15 Clod 18 __ polloi 20 Evidence in a rug 24 Polite address 25 Like a pelvic artery 26 Slow, to Yo-Yo 29 Femme fatale 31 Layer 32 Player 33 Amusement park focus 35 Minute Maid parent company

BY LINDA C. BLACK Tribune Media Services

Today’s Birthday (02/02/12). Neptune ends its transit in your sign today, and moves to Pisces. Creativity’s profitable, but money could seem like an illusion. It can disappear as easily as it appears. Budget and schedule manage that. Dream big and follow through with a solid plan. 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 - Good news about your objectives. The money’s promising. Gather information. Get together to devise a family plan.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is an 8 - You have no problem getting your message across, and the response is encouraging. Consult a loved one for advice and support.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is an 8 - Stay in touch with your networks, and let them know what you’re up to. Check your work privately, and release it when it’s ready.

Today is a 6 - Extra work puts brass in pockets. Send support to someone who’s leading the way. Others look to you for entertainment. Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out.

For more info contact Gloria Garber at gloriagarber@u.boisestate.edu

The Funnies Adventures of a crazy sports fan

Jessica Swider onlineeditor@ arbiteronline.com

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved Monday’s Puzzle Solved

36 Adorned with a wreath 37 Rare blood type: Abbr. 38 Like a charm, maybe 42 Evidence in the snow 43 Skillful 45 Guitar tone changers 46 “Just the Two __”: 1981 hit

2/2/12

47 Immortal among hockey defensemen 48 Wins the battle of the bulge, ironically 49 Five-star opposite? 54 Rap’s Dr. __ 55 “What’s the __?” 56 Author Fleming 57 “For shame!”

The Future

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

“Kinesthetically Driven”

2/2/12

By Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel

Today is a 6 - Write down your unedited thoughts. The bad ideas need to get out so the brilliant ones pop up.

Join us in the Human Performance Lab of the Kinesiology Department On October 5th at 4pm

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Crossword

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9 - It’s easier to work on projects that require concentration now. Your thoughts may wander and that’s fine. You feel more balanced and assured.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 - Expect change in the workplace. It’s for the better. Stick to practicalities, and meditate for balance. Ask, “What can I provide?”

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7 - It’s easier to deal with financial planning, negotiate contracts and to ask for money now. The worse you get is “no.”

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 - You get a deserved acknowledgement, accept it gracefully, and don’t forget to send kind words the other way. The money’s improving, too.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9 - You’re exceptionally powerful in your communications now. How will you use the power of your word? A blog, book project, podcast or video.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8 - You’re exceptionally creative, charming and good looking now. Take advantage and make it happen.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 - It’s a perfect day to generate new contacts and communicate with old clients. Listen to their concerns and provide value.

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Research students advance science Lauren Jacob

Courtesy to The Arbiter

Lindsey Catlin, a senior human biology major, has spent the last two years researching Alzheimer’s disease under Troy Rohn Ph.d. Rohn’s focus is neurodegenerative diseases. Catlin spends about 10 hours researching every week, studying the human brain. “It’s really rewarding, working on Alzheimer’s,” Catlin said. “It’s such a major issue right now and it’s good to know that I’m working toward something and I can see the end goal.” Boise State’s research on Alzheimer’s was published in PLoS One, a peer-reviewed science journal. Theirs was the first study to show Influenza A in Alzheimer’s, which is also present in a Parkinson’s diseased brain. Catlin was part of this discovery. Research has become a large part of Boise State and they have given a majority of their focus to undergraduate involvement. About 450 to 500 students received $2.2 million in grants for research. This number doesn’t include the students not receiving grants who are also actively participating in research. The undergrads involved are often doing the work of graduate students. Students such as Catlin are spending time in a research lab in addition to their regular classes. “Doing the research has definitely been beneficial,” Catlin said. “It expands my knowledge base and it has helped me narrow down what I want to do.” Being a part of the research department, she also has to go to conferences and present her research. Because she communicates the research to an audience, she is able to get a much better grasp on what she has been working on. “It’s not just memorizing

for a test,” Catlin said. “You have to really understand it and be able to utilize the information.” Whether or not classroom time is being neglected due to the research is something that has the department talking. “My office catches a lot of heat,” said Mark Rudin, Vice President of Research and Economic Development. “People say teaching gets lost, but I disagree. That implies that learning only happens in the classroom. It doesn’t.” He said classroom teaching and applied research should be linked. “When students do research, it makes the course work relevant,” Rudin said. “4.0 engineers don’t matter. It’s the ones with real world experience that are successful.” Daniel Lundergreen, a freshman chemistry major, does research to look for inhibitors that reduce the metabolization of cancer medication. “Actually being a part of the research is awesome,” Lundergreen said. He is part of a group of students working to try to stop heart failures associated with cancer medications. The experience he gets researching, he said, cannot be emulated in a classroom. “It gives me a greater understanding than any class I could take,” Lundergreen said. Unlike Catlin, who has had two years experience, Lundergreen has been involved for only about four months. He is part of a unique group of students who are able to start doing research early in their college career. He works a lot with upperclassmen. They are able to help him in ways a professor isn’t able to. “My advisor can only do so much,” Lundergreen said. “But other students can help me and break it down for me. It’s nice to have that.”

Student involvement in research is something Rudin said is extremely important to the department. One of their main goals is support of undergraduate research. Rudin said discoveries made in the labs are something they want to see growing. Along with the developments in Alzheimer’s research, Lundergreen is also able to see research in his department pay off. Recently, an inhibitor was discovered by one of his classmates and he said it was a motivator to keep going with his own research. Even though he hasn’t found anything yet, he said he’s excited to see what he does find. Along with discoveries come disappointments. “It has its ups and downs,” Catlin said. “There are some days when things don’t turn out the way you want and there’s no explanation for why. It can be stressful to spend three days on something and have nothing to work with.” But with the real life issues they’re working with, both Catlin and Lundergreen said it’s rewarding no matter what. Lundergreen described it as an intellectually draining experience, having to constantly think about numbers, set up experiments and come up with solutions to problems he encounters. But they both agree the experience they get is enjoyable. These experiences allow for a gateway Catlin and Lundergreen said will prepare them for the future. With Catlin being published in PLoS One, she said not only does it look really good on a resumé, but it gives her something to show for her hard work. And with Lundergreen getting such a head start as a freshman, he is able to build up a resumé over the years that will give him more opportunities. “Having this under my belt will make me a more likely candidate to be selected for

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Aaron Thurber looks over an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer last year during a cancer treatment and development program in the physics department. other projects that are really prestigious,” Lundergreen said. “They build on each other. I just happen to be at the bottom right now.” The student involvement in the research department at Boise State is growing. Research, in multiple areas, is becoming a sought after program for many prospective

students. Jenny Cerda, director of admissions, said because of the growing focus on undergraduate research, many students, like Lundergreen, are choosing Boise State for its involvement in hands-on science. The Boise State campus is also home to an REU (Research Experiences for Un-

dergraduates) site, where students can apply for a summer program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, to further their research and get a unique experience they wouldn’t get during a normal semester. They were awarded a $3,250,000 grant for the program.

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Mission Accomplished! Celebrate victories

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Set concrete, worthwhile goals illustration by cassie harris/THE ARBITER

Natalie Craig Journalist

As we enter the second month of 2012, New Year’s resolutions have been kept, thrown away or haven’t even been put into action yet. The beginning of a new year is a fresh and inspiring time to set goals and resolutions. While these goals aren’t always kept, there are a couple interesting ways to achieve your aspirations no matter what time of year it is. When schedules get hectic, resolutions get put on the back burner. Chances are, if someone is reminded of their goals everyday they

are more likely to accomplish them. With a busy schedule and so many other things to remember, goals can get lost in the mix. “I stress myself out daily and everyone around me,” Kiley Macdonald, senior accounting major, said. “So my goal is to quit freaking out and the best thing I’ve got is deep breathing and one-dayat-a-time steps.” According to behavioralinstitute.org the first step to making concrete goals is choosing worthwhile and rewarding ones. Feeling a sense of achievement is important to keep and make future goals.

Genevieve Nutting, senior mass communication major, was crowned Miss Idaho America 2011. Her success is due to her unique and rewarding goal-setting techniques. She likes to remind herself of her goals through pictures, letters and quotes that inspire her to achieve above and beyond. She also looks at her goals as a journey and that helps her stay on track. “With my belief in enjoying the journey to accomplishing a goal, I recognize that along the road to seeking a destination, one finds growth with every challenge that they face along the way,”

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Nutting said. “Because of this, I set small goals to break down what may seem like an unbearably large goal. Then, I reward myself for each small goal achieved.” Another step toward accomplishing goals is to be specific in setting them. This will help tighten up expectations and eliminate any easyouts in order to keep you on track for success. Deadlines should be set in a timely manner. Long-term goals can be accomplished but for a successful start, set your deadlines one or two months out. Losing weight is on the top of many students’ to-do lists. Set a goal to lose 15 pounds in two months instead of 60 pounds in eight months. This will help keep the reward of accomplishing your goal close and will motivate you to work toward achieving your goal every day. Erza Haljiti, junior business entrepreneurship major, was crowned Miss Idaho USA 2011. She then took her title to Las Vegas to compete for Miss USA. She said her ability to be resilient and

work hard were the keys to becoming Miss Idaho USA. “I used to overwhelm myself and always worry about the big picture,” Haljiti said. “That made goals feel impossible to reach and much easier give up on. I’ve finally learned to take baby steps. Now I focus on one class at a time, or one gym session at a time.” Once your goals have been determined, commit to them and make them public, advises behavioralinstitute.org. Post your goals on your bedroom door, refrigerator, in a planner or as your computer desktop. Posting goals and resolutions in high-traffic areas are sure to catch your eye everyday. The more you see your goals, the more likely you are to keep them in mind and accomplish them. “I’m just a visual person, so I write down my goals and make sure I am reminded of them,” Haljiti said. “For the gym, I leave my tennis shoes on the passenger seat at all times.” The most important part of accomplishing goals is repetition. You need to be

reminded every day of your goals and how you will accomplish them. Most students log into BroncoWeb on a daily basis. While creating these passwords can be a nuisance with all of the requirements, this password can actually become your key to accomplishing your goals. If you want to lose 15 pounds by March 1, make your password March12012 to remind yourself of the upcoming deadline. Entering this password everyday will have you thinking about how you want to accomplish your goals and it may be the extra push you need to succeed. “Above all, the most important thing about wanting to achieve my goals is to keep telling myself that I can and will do it,” Andrew Jenkins, freshman sociology and social science major, said. “I accomplished my goal of Miss Idaho USA first by failing,” Haljiti said. “I didn’t even make semifinals my first year. To me, it couldn’t get any worse from there. Then I understood why I really wanted win. It wasn’t for the shiny crown, it was to be a role model for my little sisters. I love them so much so it was easy to be passionate about it. From there I just worked on one thing a week. For example, week one would be my nutrition, week two would be reading up on current events and week three work on stage presence.” The two things to remember when setting goals are that repetition is key and to be realistic. Kick those New Year’s resolutions in the butt and accomplish your goals.

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Jessica Swider Online Editor

Roughly half of my female Facebook friends need a pintervention. What’s a pintervention, you ask? An intervention from Pinterest. Now, at this point, you’re probably either nodding your head in agreement or wondering what the hell I’m talking about. In case you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, Pinterest is a new social network that was created in Palo Alto, Calif. in 2010. Just one year later, Time Magazine called Pinterest one of the “50 Best Websites of 2011.” Even more impressive, just last month, the site was named one of the Top 10 Social Networks by Hitwise. For anyone who’s already a member, the appeal is clear. For those who aren’t, Pinterest is, in short, a digital pinboard. Millions of users collectively “pin” different content to their personal boards, allowing others to peruse the content, even “following” another user if they choose to. If you find something you like, simply click the pin to enlarge it, then click it again to be linked to wherever the original pinner found that item. This allows you to easily buy things you find on Pinterest, find new blogs to follow or get the details on that recipe you’re dying to try. Pins can be reposted by others, or you can create new ones with an aptly named “Pin It” button that can be added to your browser’s bookmarks bar. The content on Pinterest ranges from clothing, recipes, home decorating tips, art, event planning ideas, quotes and photography of far away places. While a (very) few of you are probably still wondering what the appeal is at this point, Pinterest is undoubtedly THE website for 20-something women. In an interview with CNN, Pinterest co-founder Ben Silbermann describes the idea behind creating his site. “The things you collect say a lot about you, and we wanted to bring that experience online ... I think it’s really cool that people are pinning the most important projects in their lives. I think it’s a service that can really make your offline life more interesting,” he said. So how is Pinterest one of the most revolutionary new social networks and simultaneously one of the most underground? Easy. It’s primarily used by women, and in the male-dominated tech world, it’s not unheard of for something targeted toward females to get overlooked. However, regardless of gender, college students are in love with Pinterest and with good reason. The ability to find easy, dorm-friendly recipes, outfits on a budget and easy organizational tips all in one place is unprecedented. And that’s just the beginning. Pinterest is like Pandora’s Box for college kids. Got a stain and you’re not quite sure what it is? Search ways to clean that comforter. Looking for the perfect pair of shoes to show off at the bar? Search that, too. Hungry, but limited resources? There’s a whole category for that! Communication major Ali McQuain-Hardy even used Pinterest to help plan her wedding. “I got so many creative ideas for my decorations and reception from Pinterest that I never would have thought of myself. I had a fun color scheme and was able to stay within my budget,” she said. Pinterest recently surpassed 4 million users, all while technically not even being open to the general public yet. That’s right, Pinterest is still invite-only, requiring hopefuls to request an invitation, then wait anxiously to receive one. Once they do, they’re all set to pin away. However, individuals aren’t the only ones who are anxious to get a Pinterest invite. According to Mashable in a report it released earlier this week, Pinterest has become a “Top Traffic Driver for Retailers.” As anyone with an account can tell you, businesses are anxious to pin their own products, in the hopes users will repin and share them. In fact, Pinterest is so effective as a social commerce site that, according to Monetate, five specialty retailers reported their referring traffic rose 389 percent from July to December of 2011 because of Pinterest. While Pinterest has yet to regulate the way retailers use their site, it’s clear this platform is a game-changer for social commerce, college students and those who just want to know what that damn spot is on their comforter.

Illustration by cassie harris/THE ARBITER

The Arbiter

February 2, 2012

Much time had past since he had met eyes with the girl of his daydreams, leaving Cameron to the woes of unrequited conversation. “She hasn’t been to class in weeks,” he said to the tops of his shoes, sullenly, yet faintly audible. Gawking at the frivolous unwinding of his shoelaces, he walked forlornly with the booming of the church bells to where it all began. 7: 40 a.m., Liberal Arts Building, Boise State University. Part 1: The Awkward Silence Cameron, college freshman and hopeless romantic, swings wide the door of the classroom to see Sally collecting her things. In a moment of flustered panic he reaches out to speak to her, but is met with the crippling awkwardness of sexual frustration. “Hey, where have you been?” “Do I know you?” Sally snapped coldly as she brushed past him, taking a second this time to pause and ensnare him with her fixated stare. Feeling four inches tall, Cameron’s eyes turned toward the floor. “Cameron, I’m kidding,” laughed Sally as his heart resumed beating. “Take a joke, much?” As he regained feeling in his hands, face and genitals, Cameron hesitated, reaching deep into his pockets for anything to say. “Well, I have class,” said Sally as she looked around for any excuse to leave. “I’ll be seeing you.” Left to dwell on the cryptic nature of her exit, Cameron found his seat and poured himself into his notebook that, since meeting Sally, had become wrought with scribbles and short stanzas about love, lust and oral sex. “Hey man,” said a squeaky yet comforting voice to the left of him. “What’s with the brooding? You’re not going to go all Columbine on our asses are you?” “Screw you,” barked Cameron through his teeth. “Damn Columbine, take it easy. I was just busting your balls. Didn’t your mother ever teach you to take a joke?” Cameron wanted to break every lanky bone in this guy’s body. Through an ever-widening grin, the son-of-a-bitch spoke yet again, begging Cameron to take his eyes away from his lovesick catharsis. “Columbine, I have a bottle of Ten High and a liter of Dr. Pepper with your name on it. Want to come by, sit in a lawn chair and throw some water balloons at chicks?” Unbeknownst to Cameron at the time, the person he was looking at was destined to become one of the greatest and most loving friends that he would ever share a bathroom floor with. Presented with such a profound request, Cameron couldn’t help but acquiesce to the stranger’s demands. After exchanging a high-five the two boys gathered up their things and made their way to the door. “The name’s Collin, Collin Sanders.” “Nice to meet you, I’m—” “Like I give a shit,” chuckled Collin. “Let’s go do something we’ll regret.” arbiteronline.com

Opinion

February 2, 2012

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Put it in Print Something to be said about Kooskia Bryce DunhamZemberi Columnist

Guest opinions and Letters to the Editor (300 to 500 word limit each) can be emailed to letters@ arbiteronline.com

The Arbiter

CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER

An empty stadium is something the basketball players have to see during many of their home games at the Taco Bell Arena.

Football isn’t our only sport

Tony Madonna Opinion Editor

Bronco Nation talks the talk when it comes to the best fan base in NCAA Division I sports, but doesn’t walk the walk. And the students are the weakest link. When members of Bronco Nation mention Boise State, it’s all about football. It’s as if we don’t have basketball, tennis, wrestling, gymnastic or a handful of other teams. Yes, football is our claim to fame. Simply having the “Smurf Turf ” attracts fans and prospective students around the nation. This is great, but there’s more to our athletics than football. Ten years ago, basketball was the sport to follow at Boise State. Now, people act as if going to a basketball game at Taco Bell Arena is like going to a foreign country. The arena can hold 12,380 people, but on average, Bronco Nation can’t even fill a third of the seats. And the student section, referred to as the Corral, hardly even shows up. “We play really good teams in a great conference. That alone should get students to show up,” said Corral President Matt Lucich, a senior history major. “Some games we have some of the best (fans) in the country. Other games, it’s 15 of us there.” Last week’s game was the only game the Corral made an impact on this year when we took on UNLV, but it

wasn’t because UNLV was ranked. It was because the Corral administration offered free pizza and soda an hour before the game and orchestrated a flash mob set to happen with approximately eight minutes left of the first half. “Boise State students have proven two things,” Tyler Pagel, a senior communication major, said. “One being that when they want to, we can have a great home atmosphere to support our basketball team. They also have proven it takes free food and/ or a flash mob to get them there.” The Corral’s flash mob made national publications and everyone had a blast at that game, Pagel and Lucich added. With that type of coverage and the enthusiasm of the students, surely there would have been a comparable turnout for the home game last Saturday when they played Wyoming, right? “After Wednesday, us administrators were expecting the excitement to carry over to the Wyoming game (Saturday) and we were very disappointed to see a poor showing by the Corral,” said Corral Treasurer Max Forkner, a junior public relations major. “It kind of makes us look stupid in the nation’s eyes when they make a big deal about how awesome our student section is, and then no one follows up.”

It doesn’t make sense that students don’t attend basketball games, or any sporting event short of football for that matter. They have everything a college student could ask for from the university when it comes to sports. A valid student ID gets students free admission to all sporting events. All they have to do is walk up to Taco Bell Arena on game day, show their ID for their ticket, and enter the arena. So, money isn’t an issue. The 2,300 students who live on campus are within a 10-minute walking distance to all the sporting venues. Approximately 850 of those students could throw a rock and hit the arena from their dorm room. So, location isn’t an issue. If half of the students living in Taylor, Keiser, Chaffee, Driscoll and Morrison Halls attended every basketball game, there would be a full student section. While supporting our team, they would also be having fun and creating an intimidating atmosphere for the opposing team. “When we have a larger crowd at games, it makes us play better and harder. We love the support,” said Drew Wiley, a junior English major and basketball player for Boise State. “It gives us that extra belief that we need to win and it makes me feel like I have something and someone to play for.”

Being a fan isn’t about the fan; it’s about lending support to the players and coaches. Those players are peers who need support from their fellow students. “We just need students to show up willing to have fun and support the team in hopes, once they have an awesome time, they will continue to come back,” Pagel said. Students tend to use excuses such as having too much homework and early morning classes for not attending games. A basketball game ends at 10:30 p.m. at the latest, which is relatively early for college students. The students who use homework as an excuse could surrender the intermittent time wasted on Facebook to do something meaningful for others and probably also have fun along the way. Even though Bronco Nation claims to be some of the best fans around, it fails to accomplish the little things. Students left football games when it was too cold, when the Broncos were winning by 14 or more or when the starting quarterback was taken out for the rest of the game. After the heartbreaking loss to TCU in November, students didn’t use all of the 5,000 allotted tickets for the last home game of the football season. On Dec. 3, there were 34,000-plus people in at-

tendance for football, but only 5,342 of those fans came to the arena afterward for their free admission to the basketball game against Indiana State. And the largest turnout for men’s basketball this year wasn’t even when Boise State played UNLV, arguably the best team on our schedule. Instead, it was against Air Force the Saturday before spring classes began. Football isn’t the only sport at Boise State, even though the majority of sports fans act that way. The fan season shouldn’t end when the last football is snapped. It should continue to cheer on the spring sports. There is still plenty of time to turn this around with four men’s basketball games left, three women’s basketball games, 12 men’s tennis matches and other spring sports to look forward to. Students need to stop being fair-weather fans and realize there is more than just football to support. A student should be the fan who’s there from kick-off or tip-off until the game clock hits 0:00, regardless of score, record or opponent. We, the students, need to do a better job supporting all of the athletes who represent Boise State and we can start by being at Taco Bell Arena on Saturday at 2 p.m. to cheer on men’s basketball as they take on New Mexico.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Paying own way instills responsibility Angie Christiaens is a freshman English education major. My father always told me that people take for granted the things that are just given to them, rather than what they worked for. This lecture never hit me until I graduated from high school and started attending college at BSU. After a semester of taking 16 credits while working two jobs and paying for all the fees, I truly understand what he means. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, only 56 percent of students at four-year colleges complete just a The Arbiter cannot verify the accuracy of statements made in guest submissions. Opinions expressed by guest and staff colum-

Bachelor’s degree within six years. Six years? That seems like two years too long to complete a Bachelor’s degree at a four-year college. Also, what are the other 44 percent of students doing when they attend college and why aren’t they graduating? Obviously, I understand that there are many factors in why students don’t graduate such as life changes and stressful situations, and we can’t possibly pinpoint just one reason to explain. However, college students who have parents that are helping pay for their college educations seem to take it nists reflect the diversity of opinion in the academic community and often will be controversial, but they do not represent the institution-

more for granted. This is opposed to students who are working jobs at school to pay for it on their own. Now, of course I’m not exclaiming that all students who have parents helping with their financials are rich, spoiled brats, but there are instances when students simply don’t care because it’s not coming out of their pocket. I believe this may be why some college students don’t finish; a lack of responsibility toward their own education. Also, there’s the value of time. Two extra years to attain a simple Bachelor’s degree at Boise al opinion of The Arbiter or any organization the author may be affiliated with unless it is labeled as such. The Arbiter cannot guarantee

State would cost $11,132 in just fees alone according to the Boise State University cost of attendance. With that money, one could buy a fairly new car! What could students who are not working and not taking enough credits in a semester to finish in four years be doing? I feel many students have a lack of motivation toward their education and waste their time partying or relaxing. Also, there is the value that students are putting on their own education. I believe that all college students would benefit more from their educasubmissions will make it to print due to time and space constraints. The content of the opinion does not affect its eligibility to be printed.

tion if they had a full hand in paying for it. Being a college student myself, I see how expensive tuition is and how hard it can be to pay for college. Yet, I believe that graduation rates will start to increase if more students understand the amount of money wasted when they don’t achieve their degree. Think about it. If you were punching in timecards, working your tail off to put money in the bank and then watching the money you earned go toward your education, wouldn’t you value it more?

Online

There is something to be said about a home without cable television. Thoughts congregated when people refer to “living off the grid” are usually negative connotations of poverty or federal government disenfranchisement. But truthfully, the homes in Kooskia, Idaho and other rural towns are neither. These homes are not products; they are establishments to foster knowledge, conservation and love. Entertainment is not provided via a glowing screen, but rather the glowing hearts and passionate brains found in the simple pleasures created by board games, books and conversation; not out of poverty, but out of choice. In a Kooskia home, an 8-year-old is not prone to accepting false realities presented in Disney, but is encouraged to debate and think about the world beyond Mickey Mouse. Documentaries and informative series provide information, but books and later discussions challenge the brain and authors’ intent. Children are promoted to challenge information rather than accept the views expressed by biased media. There is something to be said about a home that contributes less psychical waste than the homes found in the “greener” North End. Forget refrigerators—an outdoor cooler in the Idaho freeze will suffice. Water does not come from environmentally toxic water bottles or expensive taps, but from the sky, streams and melted snow. In a Kooskia home, waste is non-existent. There is something to be said about a man who is not dependent on anything other than family. Bonds are not forged over materialistic celebrations like birthdays, Christmas or Easter, but are shaped over shared work required for the family to exist. Everyone in Kooskia understands members of family need one another, something not common in many suburban homes. In a Kooskia home, children are sources of innocent innovation, joy and curiosity. An 18-year-old daughter is not pampered or spoiled, but a contributor to the home. The mother is responsible for maintaining the comfort of the home. She ventures into the forest to retrieve wood and manages the clunky diesel generator. The father is the planner of all things practical such as managing future projects, food rationing and house maintenance; something that the suburban check-writer doesn’t accomplish. Living in the “sticks” may seem poor but truth be told, it is an honorable position to have in society. Kooskia Idahoans are of the few people who foster knowledge at such an early age, conserve so diligently and love each other so brightly.

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Sports

arbiteronline.com

February 2, 2012

Boise State Basketball The Newcomers

The Vets

The Leader

Ty Hawkins

t r o p e

Senior Journalist

T h e Australian duo of Anthony Drmic and Igor Hazdziomerovic started out hot but the “Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi” chants from the student section have fizzled as of late. Hazdziomerovic is out with an injury, Drmic has the ability to fill it up fast, but has been in a slump as of late. Derrick Marks has the ability to score inside and out, but at times gets lost in the shuffle. Joe Handstad, who was expected to redshirt this season, has been thrown into the fire and forced to provide minutes in aide to an injury depleted backcourt, and seems to be gaining more confidence. Kenny Buckner has been consistent on the glass and chips in with points here in there. Drew Wiley, like Drmic, has struggled recently offensively; it’s just a matter of getting some extra shots up in the gym.

R m r e

t d i M

Granted it’s their second year with Head Coach Leon Rice and two of them are sophomores, but this group has to find a way to come together at the same time, ASAP. Ryan Watkins, Thomas Bropleh, and Wes Perryman all have had big games this season for the Broncos, and Tre Nichols has been a much needed energy spark and playmaker off the bench as well. If two or three of these guys could get clicking on the same night good things could be in store for the rest of the season. The loss of Jeff Elorriaga to a season ending injury also hurt the BSU backcourt.

Offense

Lauren Lenhardt

Head Coach Leon Rice has shown he is about as even keel as they come, and has proven he has the ability to get a team to buy in. From Watkins to Bropleh to Marks, all relay what the coach has preached, and that is to just keep battling, stay positive and good things will come. Yet, they’re still searching for their first conference win. The Broncos may have let a few slip away, but on a team with two seniors and a host of wide-eyed fresh faces, Boise State fans should remain patient and supportive. This team can either finish last place in the conference, as predicted by the media in the preseason, or they can do like a college student who got off to a rough start early in the semester, that still finds a way to keep improving and pass the class.

Defense

t r o p e

R erm

t d i M John Engel Journalist

All that can be said about women’s basketball Head Coach Gordy Presnell is that he is doing the best with what he was given. The speed and athleticism for which he recruited current classes to compete in the WAC does not stack up against longer, taller opponents like UNLV and San Diego State. The Broncos have lost four straight games to the Rebels and University of Wyoming. They faced first place San Diego State yesterday.

A beacon to an otherwise turbulent season comes in junior post Lauren Lenhardt, who leads the Mountain West in scoring with 20.2 points per game and three point field goal percentage at .556. Unfortunately, she is the only true low-post threat that the Broncos possess on offense. For the majority of the season Lenhardt has been recovering from a knee injury that sidelined her for the entire off-season and made a return to form questionable in 2011-12.

Though the Broncos began the season atop the Mountain West statistical rankings for scoring, three-point shooting and field goal percentage, they have fallen to sixth or seventh in each of the categories. Early success overshadowed Boise State’s poor shot selection and inability to make smart choices. In their 84-64 loss to fifth place Wyoming, the Broncos have essentially sealed their fate as a Mountain West bottom feeder if changes are not implemented into the game plan. Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER

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Sports

February 2, 2012

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x x x x x x The Game

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o f G ar ret s o n o o o

Top 5 NBA rookies thus far John Garretson Online Sports Editor

I have not touched base on the NBA much with these columns, keeping generally in terms of football. But aside from my scornful, rage-filled article on the CBA debacle back in November, I figured “why not?” Not by any means was the 2011 NBA draft class an impressive one, as future stars such as Harrison Barnes of UNC and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State stayed put for another year in aims of a national championship. However, it caught us all off-guard to see some of these players blossom into mature role-players (Markieff Morris of the Phoenix Suns) and watch others deflate from their over-hyped draft stock (Enes Kanter of the Utah Jazz). Dipping into the 20 or so games so far, it’s really been the year of the guard for the rookie class, and some of them are making the case that this draft class is no joke. Here are the Top 5 that I believe stand out: 5. Kemba Walker, point guard Charlotte Bobcats 4. Brandon point guard Pistons

Knight, Detroit

3. MarShon Brooks, shooting guard New Jersey Nets 2. Ricky Rubio, poing guard Minnesota Timberwolves 1. Kyrie Irving, point guard Cleveland Cavaliers

ONLINE To read the full story, to go arbiteronline. com/sports.

CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER

Tyler Shoemaker (89) of Meridian has been rigorously training, trying to prepare to showcase his skills for NFL scouts at his pro-day.

Shoemaker prepares for NFL pro day John Engel Journalist

After playing in the Boise State football program for the past five years, not much surprises recently-graduated NFL prospect Tyler Shoemaker. Following the start of the new year, Shoemaker began training with St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis, Ind. but wasn’t shocked when the NFL Combine hadn’t requested his appearance. “Going in, it would have been great (to be invited),” Shoemaker said. “At this point it’s not even in my mind anymore.” Despite the disappointing thought of possibly not being invited to the combine, SVSP strength and conditioning Coach Greg Moore said Shoemaker will be more than ready by the Feb. 22 start date. “Come combine or pro day he’s absolutely ready, give him six weeks. It’s like a recipe,” Moore said. Shoemaker began his career as the home-grown boy from Meridian, Idaho and was a three-sport athlete for Mountain View High School, shining in both basketball and football. He was then recruited by Head Coach Chris Petersen, but was not offered a scholarship to play for the Broncos. Instead of walking away from Boise State, Shoemaker went on to set the school record for receiving touchdowns in one season (15) and became the favorite target of two-time Heisman Trophy candidate Kellen Moore. Those 15 touchdowns broke the previous record set by Austin Pettis, now a wide receiver for the St.

Louis Rams. On Jan. 8, Shoemaker began his training with SVSP along with a plethora of talented football players from around the nation looking to impress professional scouts at the combine. Though competition at this level is fierce, Shoemaker said instruction from his teammates is fundamental to his success. “We’re all working toward our individual goals, as a group,” Shoemaker said about his new teammates. “We’re all one big team and we’re working for everyone’s benefit.” In order to get Shoemaker combine and pro-day ready, Moore and the other coaches and trainers at SVSP focus on the seven tests performed at each showcase. Moore calls this their “one stop shop” for performance training. “It’s our tunnel vision out there. There are seven tests that we know the answers to; get over the hurdle and let’s go play football,” Moore said. While at the East-West Shrine game in St. Petersburg, Fla., Shoemaker met with 16 teams during practices and training, but is still unsure about his future in football. “There are a lot of unknowns right now—that’s probably the most stressful,” Shoemaker said. “I don’t know where I’ll end up in the next three months.” One of the hardest things for a player entering uncertain times is the reality that failure is, in fact, an option. According to Moore, Shoemaker not only has the mental capacity to withstand the turbulence, but also the resources. “Tyler’s mentally and

physically believes he can play on Sunday,” Moore said. “He believes in himself, that’s where it starts

don’t know the name of Tyler Shoemaker, he’s perfectly comfortable with surprising them.

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and that’s where it will end if he makes a team.” While many American football fans probably

1/18/12 11:48 AM

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