February 1, 2010 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

WHAT’S INSIDE

NEWS 1–2

SPORTS 4–5

OPINION 3

CULTURE 7–8 I SSU E

The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933

Volume 22

First Issue

F R E E FEBRUARY 01, 2010

Boise State slams Fresno State

Tease #3

Who is this guy?!

PAGE

Do you have bad driving habits?

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ASBSU dismisses 'minimum work hours' bill KIM KING Journalist

After much debate, student senators dismissed a bill requiring minimum work hours at an ASBSU meeting in the Student Union Building Forum Jan. 22. Sen. Chase Johnson introduced the proposed revision after a recent internal audit uncovered a lack of compliance to Boise State University's and the State Board of Education's policies. The changes were to take effect immediately and required ASBSU officials to work 12 hours per week to receive their service award, an annual amount of approximately $1,600. “Accountability is a good thing,” said Johnson. “What kind of image are we giving the student body if we don’t pass something like this?” Johnson stated that voting to pass the bill should be more than a public relations move and defined service as more than office hours. “Work done on the campus that is becoming of the officials title may also be considered as work,” he said. “This bill leaves the discretion up to branch leaders as to what may be included.” Sen. Julie Kirk led the opposition by stating a specific number of hours should not be required and was unnecessary given their record of service and accomplishments. After further debate and a short recess, the bill was dismissed and sent to the Ways and Means Committee for further evaluation.

KIM KING/THE ARBITER

Sen. Chase Johnson takes notes at an ASBSU meeting Thursday in the SUB. ASBSU dismissed a bill that would have required senators to work a minimum of 12 hours per week to receive their service award, an annual amount of approximately $1,600. “People need time to think about this,” Kirk said. “I am divided. I understand both sides. But is there a point to sitting in an office after work is done just to satisfy a 12 hour requirement?” Kirk is a political science

major from Troy, Idaho serving as a senator at-large without a specific constituency. “I am a full-time student involved in a sorority and I work part time,” she said. “Twelve hours is a lot on top of that. If we fulfill our du-

ties it shouldn’t matter how much time it takes. And we all do that.” Chairman Abel Morel, newly appointed member of the financial board, suggested the bill was a move in the right direction.

MUN seeks funds for NY convention; launches fundraising campaign Journalist

SARAH MURPHY Journalist

MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER

Conor McGee, left, and Melanie Palmer conduct a meeting of the Model United Nations club. The goal of the meeting was to discuss fundraising ideas for an upcoming trip to New York. does not. So, typical MUN (organizations) don't have to worry about fund raising." The current arrangement for the club’s funding is a fifty-fifty deal with ASBSU: funds contributed by private sources to the club coffers are matched to the dollar by the student government. While viewed by some as a fair arrangement, they believe an undertaking of this magnitude calls for much more than MUN currently has to spend on such a lofty objective. In the face of these challenges, the club looks to se-

cure some of these needed funds through a time-tested method, good old-fashioned fund raising. The first of MUN’s fund raising events has been arranged to take place Feb. 24 at the The Reef -- located on 6th and Main street -- featuring a buffet style dinner and a live performance by local rock band A Rotterdam November. The $5 cost of entry will jointly benefit both MUN and The Human Equality and Rights Organization (HERO). “It's going to be a great

event -- not just if you like music, but there's going to be a lot of BSU students there,” Murphy said. “It's a good chance to mingle a bit (with other BSU students).” Murphy has worked to coordinate this event and is currently collaborating with other club members to arrange more fundraisers over the next two months. Beyond this event, several options are being examined for further fund raising. Considered so far are concessions during basketball games and additional dinner fundraisers.

The senate plans to further discuss more necessary changes to the financial code in future legislation. Students are encouraged to attend ASBSU meetings every Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. in the SUB Forum.

Evolution of Blue Thunder Marching Band Eric M. Smedley to become new director

SAM BURDICK This spring break, Boise State's own Model United Nations club plans to attend the National Model United Nations (MUN) Convention in New York City, a yearly convention that draws together “delegates” from across the nation's universities to participate in a large scale simulation of the United Nations General Assembly. The three-to-four day conference is the largest gathering of MUN members in the nation, and aims to teach skills such as diplomacy and compromise in an environment comparable to the real UN. However, this kind of immersion has a very real cost: $300 per member for hotel costs, even before factoring in the costs of airfare and food per person. To get every member to New York, the total cost easily reaches into the neighborhood of $10,000 -- no small number on a college budget, and certainly an uphill battle given the limited funding arrangement the club has with ASBSU. “Our Model UN is set up a lot differently than other Model UNs” said Gabe Murphy, a member of the MUN club. “Universities typically have a budget for MUN on their campus; Boise State

“I am happy to see the senate involved in legislation like this,” he said. “I don’t really know what all of my duties will entail, but I am looking forward to working with them to benefit all students here at Boise State.”

The Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band will welcome a new director, Eric M. Smedley, to their team come July. Mark Hansen, Ph.D., the music department chair, believes Smedley will bring, “Excellent leadership, excellent musicianship, improved precision, and provide a new outlook... we’re not talking revolution, we’re talking evolution.”

Smedley’s journey to Boise State began when he earned his bachelor’s degree at Indiana University and went on to direct at Cocoa Beach High School in Cocoa Beach, Fla. before moving on to Santa Monica, Calif. to teach. He started his master’s program back at Indiana University and after graduation became director at Western Kentucky University. He pursued his doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Washington. As mellophonist, Kris Walker said, “Blue Thunder has always been about the excitement and having a good time.” The upbeat environment

See Band I page 2

PHOTO COURTESY BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

Eric M. Smedley will take over as director of the Keith Stein Blue Thunder Marching Band in July.

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NEWS Ratemyprofessors.com Is it a savior or is it stupid?

February 01, 2010

ILLUSTRATION BY ZACH GANSCHOW

DAVID GASCH Journalist

Professors grade their students each semester based on academic performance, but in the last decade students have begun to return the favor. To provide a means for students to alleviate the apprehension of new professors every semester, Web sites like Ratemyprofessors. com have emerged. The sites provide a venue for students to comment on their past experiences with different professors. Each student is different and will respond to different classes and professors in their own ways. “I like that people are very honest on those sites,” junior Shana Kendall said. “Also they will mention (what) they love about (a class) but they won’t be so vague. I personally look for certain qualities

in professors.” A college student created RateMyProfessors.com in 1999 and MTV established control of it in 2007. According to Carlo DeMarco, of overseas operations and VP of University Relations, students access the site over 100,000 times per day on average. Based on traffic, the site receives a large amount of recognition from college students as a source to help research professors. Some, however, see such resources as useless or encourage students to not believe every comment. “I was trying to think of a good analogy for this and what I thought is it’s like talk radio because it’s very high in emotional content and very low in informational content,” BSU Communication professor Peter

Wollheim said. “If I were a student I would be highly skeptical of the information because it is so contradictory and non-specific.” As each student is unique, students and professors alike suggest digging through comments to find ones that relate to actual coursework and in class experiences. Other advice includes looking for comments repeated by several students to increase the likelihood of finding accurate information. Even DeMarco encourages making a smart decision about what a reader believes. “It is an information depot. The student has to be smart with how to utilize the information. Some comments are extremely bad and some are extremely good and if they base their decision on those then it is probably poor judgment on their part,” DeMarco said. As with any opinion or rating site, opinions will vary. Though Boise State requires student evaluations of each class, only teachers and administration receive the results. Professors often use the information to shape or design their classes based on student feedback about what

helped and hindered performance in the class. Future students may benefit from this with a better in class experience but have no access to information about the structure of a class. “When I taught at the University of New Mexico a long time ago, when you would do the evaluations in class they would post the scores so students could see what the evaluations were,” psychology professor Pennie Seibert said. “There were a number of professors who didn’t like that and a number who did.” With so many visiting the site and posting, comments may stray from material directly related to academics. However, regional administrators watch content and users have the ability to flag irrelevant material. DeMarco insisted that students value the site too much to pollute it with crude or irrelevant material. “Sixty five percent of the ratings are actually positive, which speaks to the site not being a place where students go just to vent,” he said. Other resources exist for a student to get a feel of their future classes and professors. Wollheim suggested looking at syllabi and looking at required reading, while Seibert proves the power of “word of mouth” each semester with hand counts of those who had heard of her. Professor Jeremy Ball attempts to let his students know about the Web site each semester, so they can choose whether or not to use it as a source to get a preview of what type of teacher he is and what they can expect from his class. To him, it provides one tool of many to aid students but still questions its accuracy. “There are two of the responses, one says I flirt with all the female students in the room and another one says I flirt with all the guys in the room. So to me that is a funny thing to point out. Also shows the inaccuracy of the Web site,” Ball said. When used wisely, the Web site has proven to be useful to some. Others, however, disregard it as a useless hindrance that students should avoid. Each person has different opinions so whether they post comments or use the site to gain knowledge, students should be mindful when on RateMyProfessors.com. “I’d say most people that go on those sites for every class is going to be different for every person,” senior Angie Zimmer said. “So take it with a grain of salt.”

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Campus Crime

Campus crime sets record for academic year BENJAMIN MACK News Editor

Crime on campus increased last week, University Security responding to no less than 11 separate incidents. Six incidents of theft were reported in addition to the two separate drug charges. The numbers reported represent the busiest week for University Security this academic year, eclipsing last week’s record high. Once numbers are released for the week of Jan. 25-31, January may go down as the most crime-ridden month so far, despite the fact that students did not return to their dorms until Jan. 16. Six incidents alone were reported on Jan. 19, setting a new single-day record for the year. In addition to three thefts, a total of five students were cited for marijuana-related violations in two separate incidents. Statistics suggest that crimes on campus are occurring in spurts. The six inci-

dents on Jan. 19 took place on a Tuesday, which is uncommon considering most crimes occur on weekends. There were no reports of sexual assault on campus in the past week. According to University Security, a person can avoid becoming a victim of theft by keeping valuable belongings with them at all times, and not leaving items such as laptops, cell phones and iPods unattended. When locking a bike, it is recommended to use a sturdy metal lock rather than a rope or chain, as thieves can cut them with wire or bolt cutters. It is also recommended to always lock car doors, and students who live in dorms are advised to lock their doors when they’re not in the room. Students are also reminded that possession of marijuana or any other drugs is illegal on all Boise State property. More resources are available by visiting University Security’s Web site, http://finad.boisestate.edu/security.

Campus Crime Log: Jan. 18-24 Courtesy of University Security Jan. 19 – Possession of Marijuana – A student in a room in Taylor Hall had marijuana in her possession. Jan. 19 – Theft – An unknown suspect took unattended books from a table in the Student Union. Jan. 19 – Bike Theft – A bike was stolen from a rack near Keiser Hall after its lock was cut. Jan. 19 – Theft – An unknown suspect took an iPhone, jacket, and keys from the Albertsons Library. Jan. 19 – Vandalism – A window on a vehicle in the Library parking lot was broken. Jan. 19 – Narcotic Violations – Four subjects were found smoking marijuana at the University Square Apartments. Jan. 20 – Attempted Burglary – Suspects attempted to break into a Boise State-owned house on Oakland. A report was taken and they were arrested. Jan. 22 – Hit and Run – An unknown suspect struck and damaged a parked vehicle in the Morrison Towers general parking lot and left without leaving contact information. Jan. 22 – Bike Theft – Someone took a bike frame and back tire from a rack outside of the Albertsons Library. The front tire was left locked to the rack. Jan. 23 – Bike Theft – An unknown suspect cut a lock and took the lock and attached bike from a rack outside of the University Square Apartments. Jan. 24 – Vandalism – A Boise State rented vehicle outside of the Micron Engineering Building was keyed.

Band [from page 1] Blue Thunder has always been about the excitement and having a good time Kris Walker

&3-7) 78%8) 92-:)67-8= Student Involvement & Leadership Center

parallels Smedley’s excited nature to join BSU according to Walker, who feels “strongly that an active and spirited marching band can have a tremendous impact on the game atmosphere.” Not only is Smedley encouraged by Boise State itself but also the city that supports the values of the university. With their first baby due in July, Smedley and his wife look forward “to be part of what seems to be a very nice place to live and raise children.” A more personal side of Smedley reveals he has a passion for everything he is involved with. His love for music began at an early age as he “recognized that playing and

listening to great music made (him) feel connected to something difficult to explain with words.” His career suits him well as he is an avid sports fan, particularly of college football, basketball and the NFL. Smedley spends much of his time in outdoor activities including backpacking and hiking. “The marching band is full of all sorts of people, but the incredible thing about marching band is that it brings all these people together who share a common interest and allows us to show it to the world… I hope we, as a band, can learn to accept the change this new director will bring as well as broaden our horizons.” Walker said.

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OPINION

February 01, 2010

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To the girl who thought she was part chameleon:

Texting and driving don't mix

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN JOHNSON/THE ARBITER

HALEY ROBINSON Journalist

At about 7:45 p.m. last Thursday I stood at the corner of University and Lincoln waiting for the light to change. Once the little white man lit up, indicating that it was unquestionably my turn to cross the street, I began to venture to the other side. About half-way, I saw a white car approaching, showing little sign of stopping. I extended my hand in some sort of sad defense and the car slammed on its breaks, the bumper lurching to a stop inches from my kneecap. I glared up at the inattentive driver as her doe-eyed stare snapped up from looking at… you guessed it… her phone. While I can’t say I was too enraged, as I man-

aged to walk away unscathed, my friend did not take it so lightly, flipping her off and shouting something obscene. This charming encounter was brought to me courtesy of one of my biggest pet-peeves: texting while driving. Let’s be honest here -- unless you are some strange hybrid of chameleon and human you physically cannot look in two places at once. In other words, if you are reading a text, you aren’t looking at the road. On top of that, once you are done not watching where you are going, many people take a few moments to respond. As easy as it may seem to pull the “look ma, no hands!" it’s irrefutably unsafe. Then, once you get close to campus, just pepper in a few crosswalks to ignore and you have created a legitimately hazardous

WEEKLY BUZZ KILL:

The State of the Union JOSH GAMBLE

Assistant Online Editor

atmosphere for both drivers and pedestrians. According to an article from the Wall Street Journal, so far 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed anti-texting laws, most within the last year. Maybe it has something to do with the research coming from a recent Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study which showed that drivers who are texting are 23 times more likely to crash or nearly crash than drivers who are paying attention to the road. Another article, from the New York Times, discussed statistics which show that texting while driving is actually more dangerous than driving drunk. A test of drivers traveling 35 miles per hour revealed that the reaction time for someone texting (1.36 seconds on average) is more than twice that of someone who is under the influence of alcohol (.64 seconds). What would cause a person to willingly to put themselves at this kind of risk? The dire need to send a text littered with “lol”s and “OMG”s to Facebook, updating their status so the world can constantly be informed on every move that person makes? Great. As relevant as it may seem at the time, I think these things can wait for a few minutes. An Idaho politician, Sen. Les Bock, is continuing his campaign to ban texting while driving in 2010. There is push for two pieces of legislation pertaining to this issue to be passed. The first would ban the use of hand-held cell phones on Idaho's roads and highways with a penalty of $75. The second would ban the use of cell phones in school zones while children are present with a first offense fine of $75 and a second offense fine of $150. Ideally, people would recognize the dangers of behaving so irresponsibly on their own and stop trying and failing to multitask while driving. Regardless of the ability people have to make this decision, it seems that outlawing texting while driving is gaining momentum and (fingers crossed) Idaho will join this movement in the upcoming year. Until then, I have a suggestion for students driving on campus: save the texting for class time.

Blackboard enhances college experience ALLEN SPURGEON Journalist

From semester to semester, the college education system continues to grow and evolve. During this time, technology has kept pace by using Blackboard, an online teaching tool. This new function of the Boise State education system has become a fully integrated part of its learning environment. Over the years, technological innovation has become a mainstay of our society and has, in general, vastly improved our lives; but do these immense leaps in technology have any place in school, or are the tried and tested methods the best? As a public university, Boise State can pride itself on readying students for the future; for better or worse, Blackboard has become a part of that experience. Blackboard offers a whole new facet to the educational experience. Utilizing the discussion boards, students are now able to carry on discussions and debates outside the classroom, something which until now has been virtually impossible. This new ability allows for a much deeper and broader understanding of topics covered during the "standard" class period, allowing students to get even more out of their educational career. Teachers are able to post readings online which might otherwise be inaccessible to students, providing more perspectives on a single topic than would conventionally possible. This ability helps teachers cut down on the number of required textbooks necessary for a course, reflecting savings in the pocket of students. However, these attributes that significantly help

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

students and make their lives easier are not without cost. Online access to Blackboard has opened up a new venue for teachers to require work to be submitted. Requirements such as mandatory discussion board participation, submission of homework, and online quizzes has created yet another hurtle for students to surmount in order to pass a class. These new requirements, which are expected outside traditional classroom work, keep students even busier than ever before, making the difficult task of school even more challenging. In preparation for a life after school, Black-

board is an integral tool. It improves the educational quality of traditional classes, and while this comes at the cost of more work for the student, it is well worth the effort. This increase in workload can only be viewed as a positive. tStudents are now getting more "bang for their buck," providing them with the best education possible, and preparing them for a world where work is often done online, and not in the office. The new constraints imparted on students are nothing compared to the beneficial experiences they receive, which will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

E DITORIAL S TAFF

B USINESS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shannon Morgan

NEWS Editor

Ben Mack

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Kirk Bell

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SPORTS

Journalists Patrick Trujillo David Gasch Chris Bodovinitz Sarah Murphy

Journalists Daniel Priddy Brenden Sherry Kayla Bartling Drew Vatchel

OPINION

CULTURE

Editor

Nate Green

Journalists Evan Bashir Haley Robinson Allen Spurgeon

Last week one man took the stage to announce a decisive twist in the fate of America's future. What he said will shape the next year of America's economy and will have rippling effects for years to come. He is hailed as an innovator and a leader, revolutionary in his position. Man, I really want to play with an iPad. Oh yeah, and that Obama guy had a speech or something too. If you, like the rest of America's Mac-snob population, spent all of Wednesday celebrating the arrival of Apple's first foray into feminine hygiene products, you missed an impressive, albeit painfully long, showing by President Barack Obama. Here's my interpretation of The State of Union Address: "Thing's aren't looking great, but it's getting better. It's not my fault, we've been going this direction for years. Congress, you guys need to stop acting so butt-hurt with each other and start getting crap done. Americans are strong people and even if we're hurting, we're still a great nation. Things that need improving: Schools, Jobs, health care, taxes, housing, education, energy, and, most of all, people's trust in their government. We need to be leaders, not politicians -- show some common sense. We're not ignoring national security, but this war needs to end. To sum up: We're working on it. America Rocks." Sounds good to me. He also, after much introduction (18 of his nearly 70 minutes), told Congress that he wants a "jobs bill" on his desk ASAP. While setting an August 2010 deadline for withdrawal from Iraq, he told viewers that he is still sending more troops to Afghanistan. Other topics he touched on were community colleges, clean energy projects, tax cuts, blaming George W. Bush, and shout-outs to his wife. He did not, thankfully, have anything to say about his dog. After the address, the Republican party had a twelve minute-long rebuttal speech, courtesy of Virginia's governor, Bob McDonnell. He seems to have the same end goals in mind as the president, but his methods seems to promote only the same old rhetoric. You know, "family values," "free-enterprise," "individual responsibility," and that lot. He said there are solutions on the GOP Web site, but didn't really mention any in his speech. I'm a little terrified that one of his main talking points was a Bible verse, though. Overall the speech was civil and pleasant, but lacking in substance. If you missed the speech because you were too busy drooling over Steve Jobs' newest creation, the spawn of a threesome between a netbook, an iPod touch and an Amazon Kindle, you can see both Obama's and McDonnell's speeches at whitehouse.gov and cbsnews.com. Want to compliment, insult, pester or yell at me? Jump over to my Facebook page at www.facebook. com/usernameofdoom or my Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/ arbitergamble.

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SPORTS

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February 01, 2010

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Men's basketball holds winning momentum; Broncos beat Bulldogs BRENDAN SHERRY Journalist

ROBBY MILO /THE ARBITER

Broncos’ junior forward Robert Arnold attacks the rim during BSU’s defeat of Fresno State, 65-49, Saturday night at Taco Bell Arena.

The Boise State men’s basketball (11-11, 2-7 Western Athletic Conference) took on the Fresno State Bulldogs (11-12, 4-5 WAC) in the second game of a double header hosted by the men’s and women’s teams Saturday at Taco Bell Arena. Coming off their first conference win of the season earlier this week, the Broncos were looking to build some momentum and avenge their earlier season loss to the Bulldogs. Thanks to the play of junior forward Paul Noonan and senior center Kurt Cunningham the Broncos were able to get vengeance on FSU with a 65-49 victory. The Broncos overcame some turnovers early on and settled in on offense in the closing portion of the first half. BSU’s inside game was able to produce consistently throughout the night which opened up the floor for Noonan who shot made four of nine shots from 3-point range. Noonan’s shooting combined with the inside presence of Cunningham and junior forwards Robert Arnold and Daequon Montreal made all the difference for the Broncos. “When Paul is hitting (his shots), they have to shade him and get to his side of the floor,” coach Greg

We had a good defensive plan headed in and we were able to execute on it Kurt Cunningham Graham said. “It makes a huge difference.” Noonan finished with 12 points and took advantage of what the Bulldogs gave him. Noonan knocked in a series of 3-pointers to help Boise State end the half with a 12 point lead. Although the Broncos were efficient on the offensive end of the floor, their defense was biggest key to the game. The Bulldogs scored 49 points Saturday, the fewest amount of points the Broncos have allowed this season. Cunningham set the tone for the defense pulling in five defensive rebounds and taking several charges. “We had a good defensive plan headed in and we were able to execute on it,” Cunningham said. “We played a great game.” The Broncos knew they could take advantage of FSU's Paul George absence and double team the Bulldog's big men. The added pressure contributed to the 25 forced turnovers, 15 of which came in the first half. Following the break the

Broncos continued to attack the basket with Arnold and were able to maintain their lead. Arnold finished with nine points on the night but his slam dunks are what kept the Broncos fired up in the second half. BSU kept the Bulldogs at a safe distance the rest of the game in route to a comfortable win. “All along through the losing streak we knew we had a good team, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” Cunningham said. “Once we got over that hump we got our confidence back and that was the main thing. Now that everyone is locked in and confident we’ll be alright moving forward.” Saturday’s win put the Broncos back to .500 on the season and into eighth place in the conference. The Broncos hope to keep the momentum going into next week’s matchup against the University of Idaho at Taco Bell Arena. “As long as we don’t relax and we keep playing, we can make some progress.” Graham said.

Lady Broncos buck Aggies, improve to 3-4 in WAC MIA PARRETT Journalist

At Taco Bell Arena Saturday night, the Lady Broncos (14-7, 3-4 Western Athletic Conference) defeated the Utah State Aggies (11-10, 3-5 WAC) in an incredible showing, 70-63. Tension between the two teams was clear; both teams kept the score very close from just the second timeout. The main scorers for the first half of the game included senior forward Rebecca Kepilino, senior guard Tasha Harris, forward sophomore Stacy Gross and forward freshman Lauren Lenhardt. Rebounds came from junior forward Janie Boss, freshman guard Julia Marshall and junior forward Melissa Rima. The Broncos scored 35 first half points -- a mark matched during the second. During the first half, there

was aggressive play from the Bronco players who were constantly diving for the ball. With both teams closely following each other in score, the first half ended at 35-28, BSU. The Broncos used every ounce of teamwork they had to get motivated for the second half. Senior forward Rebecca Kepilino tried her best to keep her team on track. “When we play together, it really shows out there that we are the better team,” Kepilino said. As halftime passed, BSU picked up its pace with several free throw shots from Kepilino. With the help of a three-pointer from Rima with 7 minutes remaining, the Broncos took the lead, 62-61. Harris hit the go-ahead shot to further their lead. Bos got the rebound and dished the ball out to Harris who hit a

jump shot at the top of the key. The Broncos came back for an incredible finish with a final shot from Harris to put the game at 70-63. “My focus was to take care of the ball, make sure our team executed and ran our offense, and we did that tonight,” Harris said. “I think we realized that we needed to express more leadership at the end of the game so we really tried to have a lot of energy and focus and then we were able to score.” The Broncos used all of their strength to finish convincingly in final few minutes of the second half. A lot of the ending victory in the second half can be attributed to Rima, who got the last two free throws of the game, and Kepilino, who was also the Carl’s Jr. Player of the Game. “I think defensively, we real-

ly stepped up our intensity, and on the offensive end, the coach would call a play and we would execute it to the tee. I think that helped a lot down the stretch by being composed and playing together,” Kepilino said. “Coach has really been pushing to have everybody contribute, so coming in tonight, I was looking to take what was open, and be more aggressive than I normally am.” Coach Gordy Presnell was very pleased with the game’s end, especially the last remaining minutes. “We’ve had big leads and then let them evaporate, and not take care of business at the end, and this time, I thought the last three minutes were executed really well, and we did a nice job,” Presnell said. The Broncos travel to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech (136, 4-3 WAC) Feb. 3.

ROBBY MILO/THE ARBITER

Tasha Harris drives down the court Saturday night at Taco Bell Arena. BSU beat the Aggies 70-63.

to you: Rivalry soup for the soul JOEY MCCULLOUGH Journalist

Seven games into the conference schedule meant seven losses for the Broncos and things looked bleak. The Boise State men’s basketball team dug itself into one of the worst conference starts in school history. The team was the target of heavy criticism. Outcry for the removal of head coach Greg Graham could be heard from angry fans. The 0-7 conference start for the Broncos painted an ugly picture that looked to only be getting worse. On Jan. 25, the Broncos travelled north to go toe-to-toe with the Idaho Vandals. With a chip on its shoulder that came from being swept by the Vandals last season, BSU could not have chosen a better place to end the losing streak. After Anthony Thomas’ three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, the Broncos recorded their first conference win of the season, 77-67 in overtime. “The biggest thing was, whether it was Idaho

or not, was that we just need to get a win,” junior guard Paul Noonan said. “Getting that first win out of the way definitely helped our confidence.” “You get to the point where you’re trying to play not to lose instead of trying to play to win,” head coach Greg Graham said. “The overtime was the first time in a while that I thought we were trying to play to win.” The confidence Noonan spoke of was evident Saturday night, even before the tip. The Broncos faced the Fresno State Bulldogs in front of a much larger crowd than the Broncos expected. There was definitely something different about Saturday night’s game. Maybe it was introducing the players with the Taco Bell Arena brightly lit. The trend was turning the house lights off and spotlighting the players as they are introduced. As if it this is NBA or something. No matter what it was, there was electricity in the air, energy in the stands and fire in the eyes of the Broncos that had yet to be seen this season. “I thought we came out with a little more energy and enthusiasm (Saturday) and hopefully it will

continue,” Graham said after Saturday night’s victory. “I thought the energy helped us. The crowd makes a big difference when having them behind you.” The win against the Vandals two weeks ago allowed the Broncos to find something: Confidence. “When you start going through a slump like that, you start questioning small things,” senior center Kurt Cunningham said. “After that win, it seemed like in practice everybody was little more upbeat. We had a great week of practice and that carried onto the floor.” This isn’t an anthem proclaiming that the Broncos are back in business. What's being said is that there is a sparkle in the eyes of this team. If the Broncos firmly grasp the confidence they have right now and hold onto it for the rest of the season. The Broncos have a fighting chance at turning this season around. Like the old proverb says, “The night is always darkest before the dawn.” Hopefully for the Broncos, the dawn is now.

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C SPORTS ULTURE

5 B

February 01, 2010

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Millisecond wins

BSU Weekend

Roundup Jan. 29-31

Broncos prove their strength against the Aggies KAYLA BARTLING Journalist

Cox preseason All-WAC The Broncos were voted to finish seventh on the Western Athletic Conference for the 2010 season. The Broncos received 18 votes, just behind San Jose State who were picked to finish sixth with 19 votes. Boise State finished seventh during their inaugural season last year. BSU third baseman Kathy Cox earned preseason All-WAC Team honors. Cox, a senior, led BSU with 40 RBI, .341 batting average, 59 hits and 40 runs during 2009. The Broncos begin their season Feb. 13, traveling to San Diego, Calif. to play San Diego and UC Riverside.

Broncos remain undefeated in Pac-10 The No. 8 Boise State Broncos (13-2, 6-0 Pac10) continued conference domination with wins over the weekend against Stanford (29-15) and UC Davis (30-13). Major players for the Broncos included No. 6 Levi Jones won by fall (6:58) against both Stanford’s Bret Baumbach and UC Davis’ Bryan Osuna (4:06). No. 6 Jason Chamberlain won by major decision (21MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER 8) over Stanford’s Tyler Parker No. 15 Barrett Abel of UC Davis by decision (8-6). No. 2 Adam Hall won by major decisions over both Mike Kent (16-8) of Stanford and Trevor Machado-Ching of UC Davis (14-4). No. 11 Nate Lee beat Jake Johnson of Stanford (8-3) by decision and a major decision over Alex Darkhovsky of UC Davis (16-5). No. 1 Kirk Smith defeated Stanford’s No. 12 Zack Giesen (41) by decision and UC Davis’ Rory McBryde by fall (2:37).

Men’s tennis drop two for ITA Kick-Off The No. 21 BSU men’s tennis struggled to find a team-win this weekend at Urbana, Ill. against opponents No. 26 Washington (5-1) and No. 27 Virginia Tech (4-3). BSU found one win Friday from Filipp Pogostkin (6-3, 6-4) over Derek Drabble of Washington. The Broncos had one match unfinished from Cristian Hodel against Martin Kildahl in a push [7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 5-5]. NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER The men went on to lose against Virginia Tech Saturday in a heart breaker 4-3. "We were banging on the door for the second straight day," head coach Greg Patton said. "But we're getting a taste of reality. We've just got to figure out a way to get the feast. It's going to happen. I'm really encouraged with how we competed. I really feel like this doesn't define our season in any way shape or form." The Broncos return home for a pair of weekend duals against Utah State and Weber State Saturday, Feb. 6.

As the last dual meet for the season, Boise State’s swimming and diving team (14-4, 9-1 Western Athletic Conference) brought their A game to the water against New Mexico State University on January 30. Broncos defeated the Aggies, 198.5-95.5, during the second annual Big Splash competition. Orange and blue balloons surrounded the pool and fans sat in the bleachers ready to support the Bronco’s last competition of the season. The Broncos’ fight song blared from the speakers and the special guests in attendance, players of BSU’s football team, began to clap and cheer for the swimmers waiting on deck below. The meet started with strong performances from the Broncos who were prepared to face off against the Aggies. The meet was a prime example of how important even the milliseconds are in competitive swimming with sophomore Stephanie North taking first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.29, and New Mexico State’s senior Tessa Bain taking second with 24.74 and freshman Kelsey Konicke third with a time of 24.82. One of the most exciting millisecond wins came from BSU’s freshman Jennifer Cahill who won the 500yard freestyle with a time of 5:05.70, narrowly defeating NMSU’s freshman Beth Cate, who took second with a time of 5:05.82. The Broncos swept two events against the Aggies, taking the top three spots in both events. Cahill took first in the 1650yard freestyle with a time

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

Boise State swim and dive team defeated the Aggies of New Mexico State during the annual Big Splash event Saturday at the YMCA West. The meet was the final before competing in the WAC Championships Feb. 24-27. of 17:26.92, senior Katelyn Lofland took second with 17:29.52, and junior Rachel Meisner third with 17:34.53. The ladies showed their strength in the 200-yard backstroke with sophomore Morgan McLain who dominated the event with a time of 2:05.85, junior Denise Green finished second with 2:07.38, and freshman Lily Donohue took third with 2:08.28. Of the last 42 events the Bronco swimmers have competed in, they took first in 39 of them. The Broncos are riding a 23 event win streak. The meet against the Aggies was the last dual meet for seniors Chelsea Lopus, Katelyn Lofland and Lauren Keele. "It is definitely bittersweet. It was an exciting last meet and now I get to move on to a new chapter of my life, but it is hard to leave the team," Keel said in response to finishing the season. Lofland also described the meet as bittersweet but had

a positive outlook for the Western Athletic Conference Championships. "I thought we proved ourselves strongly today. I think that we are a threat for the WAC," Lofland said. Spirits are higher than ever and now the Broncos have a month to prepare for the WAC Championships. "I would like to contend for the title. Coming into the season it wasn't our exact focus but if they get it then definitely earned it," head coach Kristin Hill said. With another win under the Broncos' belt, it now comes down to the WAC Championships in San Antonio, Texas Feb. 24-27.

Football struts swim, dive strength The meet was offset by the second annual Big Splash competition performed by players of BSU’s football

team. They creating two teams led by “Coach” Austin Pettis and “Coach” Brandyn Thomson. The players first competed in a freestyle relay in which Thomson’s team won. The second event was the one-meter springboard competition between the teams. Amidst the failed flips and numerous face plants into the water, offensive line, Will Lawerence, and offensive tackle, Matt Slater, proceeded in a battle of the belly flops and at the end of the event was a jump off for the audience to determine the winner. Wide receiver, Geraldo Hiwat, went up against defensive tackle, Jarrell Root. Root ended up winning the event with such dives as the “double special” and claiming himself to be the “Lebron James of men’s diving.” Overall the football players brought a lot of support and fans to the meet and provided some quality entertainment.

BSU posts provisional marks at Bronco Invitational I don’t think Zach has began to peak yet. I think he definitely has a chance at finishing season in the top five

Women’s tennis struggle in shutout The No. 33 Broncos were swept by No. 17 North Carolina Saturday during the 2010 ITA Kick-Off in South Bend, Ind. They failed to score any team points against the Tarheels who gave BSU one set in six matches. No. 44 Pichittra Thongdach lost to No. 100 Katrina Tsang in three sets [1-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-4)]. The Broncos return to Boise to face Colorado in their first home dual of the season Sunday, Feb. 7.

Karl gets the call

Jeff Petersmyer NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER

BSU sophomore Quinten Hennekam pulled ahead during the final lap of the men’s mile to take first place Saturday at the Jackson Indoor Track in Nampa. DANIEL PRIDDY Journalist

THE ARBITER/FILE PHOTO

Former BSU basketball standout Coby Karl was called up to play for the Golden State Warriors after playing five games for the Idaho Stampede. Karl averaged 27.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while with the Stampede. Karl ranks third on the Broncos’ all-time scoring list with 1,698 points. He leads BSU with all-time games played (127) and three-pointers made (266).

NAMPA, Idaho -- The Boise State track and field team competed in its second meet of the 2010 indoor season Saturday in Nampa at the Bronco Invitational. The BSU squad continued its pattern of doing exceptional in some areas and struggling in others. The Broncos faced stiff competition from Mountain West opponents Utah and BYU as well as locals Northwest Nazarene University and the College of Idaho. The BSU women’s team had a topsy-turvy day. They struggled for the most part in the running aspect of the day, but earned high marks in field competition. Eleni Kafourou had a break out performance earning first place in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 13.05 meters and the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.35

meters. Mele Vaisima took first for the second time in two weeks with a throw of 18.49 meters. The most riveting event of the day occurred early in the men’s one mile. BSU’s Quinten Hennekam and NNU’S Barak Watson were engaged in a duel that could have gone either way. Both runners kept trading spots for first place and came into the last lap neck and neck. Hennekam, who in the pervious lap had led the race, began to lose ground to Watson. “It was a mental battle,” Watson said. It seemed during the final lap that Watson would take it but during the final stretch Watson visibly began to wear down as Hennekam broke away into the clear to earn a first place finish with a time of 4 minutes, 19.99 seconds. Though it was a close race Hennekam said he believed from the start that he would take first.

“Coming into that last lap I knew I had a lot left in the tank,” said Hennekam. “I think I won today because I was the strongest out there.” Triple jump star Zach Arnos’ solidified his place as the man to watch with another exceptional performance. Arno’s came into Saturday’s competition already ranked ninth in the nation. Arnos, who last week earned NCAA provisional status with a leap of 15.55 meters, reached down somewhere deep inside himself to pull out an even better jump of 15.96 meters. “My goal coming into my senior year was to compete in nationals,” Arnos said. “I am healthy and as the day began I thought to myself ‘why not today?’” “I don’t think Zach has began to peak yet. I think he definitely has a chance at finishing season in the top five,” BSU jumps coach Jeff Petersmyer said. Finnish long jumper Eetu

Viitala burst out of nowhere to earn first place in the men’s long jump event. Coming off of an injury earlier this summer Viitala place on the squad was more than uncertain coming into today. Viitala competed Saturday under the banner as an unattached individual, not as apart of the Boise State team. Though Viitala trains with the Broncos, none of the points he earned were scored along with the rest of the team. With a first place finish it is almost guaranteed that by next week’s meet Viitala will be a full fledged member of the BSU track and field team. “I came into the meet with little training,” Viitala said. Viitalla took first with a jump of 7.26 meters. As good as he did, Vitala is positive there is more where that came from. “I will definitely be doing better later in the season.” The Broncos compete in Nampa next at the United Heritage Invitational Feb. 5-6. Friday events begin at 5 p.m. while Saturday events kick off at 9 a.m.

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The Future

BY LINDA C. BLACK Tribune Media Services

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birthday (2/1/10) Over the coming year, you will learn more than you thought possible about change. By remaining flexible throughout the process, you can absorb this with grace. If you expand your love to ripple out to others, it will come back to you exponentially. To get the advantage, check the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Complete the grid issue. You ment on a fundamental were just using different so each row, words to describe the same feeling. column and 3-by-3 box Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Toborders) day is(in a 5 bold -- Dreams can provide pocontains every etry and metaphor for actions. Look for double digit,meanings 1 to 9. in recalled images, and your subconscious For allow strategies on to flavor your decisions. how to solve Sudoku, visit Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Todaywww.sudoku.org.uk is a 6 -- Cash flow (or lack of cramps your style. However, you + $ ! %#($ it) &'% (' * have plenty of little projects that % (" %) & % '& % & %) Aries (March 21-April 19) donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require money today. Focus Today is a 5 -- Take time today to on those. consider the desires of others, as well as your own. Get creative at Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) work by bouncing ideas off each Today is a 6 -- Nothing succeeds like group member and getting their success. Your only limit today is your responses. capacity to remain flexible under duress. Bring in an expert to sort out Taurus (April 20-May 20) a few details. Today is a 5 -- Choose your battles carefully, considering both immediCapricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ate gratification and longer-term Today is a 5 -- If you have plans to benefits. Change your tune to suit head off into the sunset, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the tempo of the moment. the right track. This could mean business travel, or meeting your Gemini (May 21-June 21) partner for a lovely rendezvous. Today is a 6 -- Excitement on the home front spills over into the Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) career arena. Creative use of time Today is a 6 -- The only thing that allows you to accommodate family slows you down is getting your and work. ideas into a format others can use. This happens when you rearrange Cancer (June 22-July 22) the details until they feel just right. Today is a 5 -- Share your words and feelings generously. Who knows? Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) The feedback you receive could give Today is a 6 -- Group efforts thrive you a boost over a huge obstacle. today because everyone is on the same page concerning practical isLeo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is sues. Today you really feel like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a 5 -- Your mind and heart battle for where you belong. control. You want to side with heart, of course. However, power rests in ___ logic for you today. (c) 2009, Tribune Media Services Inc.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6 -- You and a partner overcome a perceived disagree

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No Quarter gets Boise's

'LED' OUT

MATT DALLEY Journalist

he term "tribute band" often possess an ill deserved negative connotation. Last Friday, Seattle-based Led Zeppelin cover band, No Quarter, proved to a crowded Knitting Factory that tribute acts can be much more than just bar bands. Hollywood Hotel, a four-piece consisting of members between the ages of 8-years-old to 10-years-old, kicked the evening off by covering acts ranging from The White Stripes to AC/DC. Members of the group came from the Boise Rock School, an after school program that gives rock music lessons to youth. A short video performance montage signaled the beginning of the Zeppelin experience; the excitement quickly grew. Donning Zeppelin T-shirts and ecstatic expressions, a cluster of super-fans directly in front of the stage appeared as if they were about to witness the actual Led Zeppelin. The devotees became increasingly animated upon hearing the familiar drum intro to “Rock and Roll,” No Quarter’s opening track. The band, decked out in long wigs and traditional Zeppelin-esque attire, gave the crowd a much-demanded one-two punch of “Celebration Day” and “Black Dog.” The latter was extended with a solo by guitarist, Bryan Christiansen, that demonstrated his musicianship and ability to do more than simply re-create the work of Jimmy Page. Each of the four members flawlessly imitated their well-known counterparts. Seated behind his large golden drum set, Nathan Carroll played with the ferocity of John Bonham while Chad McMurray took the shy on-stage persona of John Paul Jones. Singer Lonny Rice had the enormous vocal range of Robert Plant with the personality to back it up. Mid-way through the show, No Quarter pulled back the energy level for three acoustic numbers. In true 1970s style, some fans held lighters in the air, others tossed flowers onstage, and many couples took the opportunity to awkwardly make-out. “’Going to California’ was very well done. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought I was in the presence of Led Zeppelin themselves,” said Kevin Glueckert, a graduate student of biology at Boise State University. At times, members of the band appeared to be paying tribute to the Grateful Dead rather than Zeppelin, especially during their version of “Dazed and Confused.” The song began with its eerie, legendary bass line, and soon morphed into a sample of Scott Mackenzie’s “If You’re Going To San Francisco.” The other three members exited the stage as Christiansen, using a violin bow, solemnly soloed before a sea of endless full band jamming which concluded with a return to the song’s refrain. Even the front row die-hards appeared to grow weary toward the end of the lengthy arrangement. No Quarter then regained any lost excitement by immediately delving into crowd favorite, “Immigrant Song.” Young and old jumped along to the memorable song. The group continued with four tracks from “Led Zeppelin II” including “Moby Dick,” complete with the song’s trademark drum solo. The main set concluded with an accurate depiction of the epic “Kashmir.” No Quarter returned with encore, “Stairway to Heaven,” which ignited the eagerly awaiting audience. The crowd loudly sang before Christiansen played the recognizable guitar solo verbatim. The evening, which ended with a stirring “The Ocean,” served as a reminder of why, after 11 years as a band, No Quarter remains a must-see for any Led Zeppelin fan.

Bryan Christiansen, of No Quarter, performs as Jimmy Page, of Led Zeppelin, Friday night at the Knitting Factory. ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

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Talk$ick and Auz the Tableist are 'holding it down' Journalist

Moments when life shines down and grants the unimaginable are rare. For two Boise State fans, Matt Wilcox and Austin Graveley, dreams became reality as they found themselves on a stage, in front of 10,000 blue and orange clad fans in Tempe, Ariz. Coming off a high after the 2008 Bronco football season, the two wrote the song “Holdin' It Down” about the team’s success. After this year’s Fiesta Bowl announcement, a local radio station caught wind of the song and propelled the duo to local fame. This enabled them to perform at a massive alumni pep rally the day before the game. The event, broadcast on local television, became the talk of the town. Wilcox and Gravely, both natives of Boise, started making music together in 2007. After honing their skills through hours of practice, they adopted the pseudonym’s Talk$ick and Auz the Tableist, respectively. In 2009 they began performing locally and recording at a rapid pace. The Arbiter sat down with Talk$ick and Auz the Tableist, who go by the collective tag of “DeZineD PhingAprintZ,” and got their take on the big moment: So how did you get the opportunity to perform the song at the Fiesta Bowl? Auz the Tableist (AT): What kind

MITCH ESLPIN/THE ARBITER

Talk$ick performed his Boise State rap song at the BSU pep rally Jan. 3 in Phoenix, Ariz. prior to the Fiesta Bowl. of moved it all along was Kiss FM. We approached them, or they approached us rather, and said, “You know, this is great for what’s about to happen with the Broncos.” And they actually played the track on Kiss FM when it was announced that we were going to the Fiesta Bowl. It was one of the best experiences of our lives.

Did you write the song after the Fiesta Bowl announcement or previously? Talk$ick (T$): Previously; actually about six months before the season started. It was our prediction that they’d go undefeated the whole year and win whatever bowl game they went to.

How long have you guys been fans of Boise State football? AT: I’m 26, so 16 years… The big draw to Boise (football) was the blue field and the story about the ducks smashing into the turf. T$: My mom has worked there for 20 years or something now in 12 different departments. But I have to admit; I’ve only been a "fan" fan for about four years. Why write a song about Boise State football? T$: We were actually at his (Auz the Tableist) house... We were just jamming out, one of our usual freestyle sessions, and we came across something mentioning Boise State. They went undefeated in the regular season and I kinda mentioned it once and we stopped and said “Why don’t we write an actual song?” AT: But the coolest part of it all is that we would watch the Boise State games at my house, and from there we’d go into the studio and just add a little more to the track. So basically what was fresh in our minds after the win, you know, that’s how we would celebrate after the win. What has this song done for your career? T$: The biggest effect I’ve seen thus far is, obviously because of the TV exposure with it being live on TV. It’s possible that 80,000 plus people saw our performance... Everywhere we go we’re recognized like, “Oh my gosh, you’re the guys that did the

BSU song.” What’s next for Dezined PhingAprintZ? T$: Next for us is really just to roll off of this. It definitely got us big exposure, opened doors... And so, we’ve got a demo now, we’ve got to finish our CD, we’ve got some out of state tours coming up, it started a lot for us. AT: But the biggest part of it is that the song was for Bronco Nation. We’re fans, we’ve been fans, we’ll continue to be fans, and this is what we can contribute to Bronco Nation as a whole. For more information on Talk$ick and Auz the Tableist, visit their Web site: www.myspace.com/talksick2me

To see the live performance of Talk$ick spitting his rhyme “Holdin’ it Down’ at the BSU pep rally, go to arbiteronline. com. Otherwise, you may be "square like a waffle."

Club and organization fair engages students TONY ROGERS Journalist

Students looking for a few more activities can flock to the student club and organization fair, Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. t0 2 p.m. in the Student Union Building Atrium. The event, held every semester, is geared toward all students. The fair is an opportunity for students to sign up for a plethora of extracurricular activities with nearly 40 clubs participating. “It will be a good chance for students to meet the members and officers of these organizations face to face and find a

group that they want to join,” Charlie Varland, assistant director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, said. One of the goals of the Student Involvement and Leadership Office is to make sure students have the most enriching experience at Boise State as possible. “When students get involved with organizations and clubs, they start to build a support group and make connections. This allows them to make a deeper connection and start to feel like they are part of a family here at BSU,” said Erin K. Lewis, program coordinator for the Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

WEEKLY

PREVIEW

CONCERT

STEPHEN FOSTER

Tuesday, Feb. 2 Joe Firstman with White Buffalo at Reef

Wednesday, Feb.3 Trevor Hall with Tomorrows Bad Seeds at Reef

Friday, Feb. 5 Mortal Enemy with OCD, Frantik, and Sub*Vert at The Knitting Factory

Saturday, Feb. 6 Abacabb with Dr. Acula, Molotov Solution, and Upon A Burning Body at The Venue

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com