2/28/17 Arbiter Online

Vol. 29 Issue 25

February 28, 2017 IN D EPE ND E NT

ST U D E NT

V O I CE

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B O I SE

STAT E

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Playing off politics

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BRANDON RASMUSSEN/ THE ARBITER

New production questions the role of social discourse in theatre arts p.10

WEEKLY EVENTS 10th Annual Family of Woman Film Festival Tuesday, February 28 and Friday, March 3

Morrison Center Recital Hall, 6:30 PM, FREE Boise State will help sponsor the screenings of “The Apology,” on Feb. 28, and ““No le Digas a Nadie” (“Don’t Tell Anyone”), on March 3, with discussions led by the respective filmmakers following the screenings. The Family of Woman festival “presents international filmmakers, film subjects and speakers to raise awareness of the difficulties women and girls face throughout the world to gain access to basic health care, education and human rights.”

Biomolecular Seminar Series Brian Blagg Wednesday, March 1

Multipurpose Building, Room 106, 3:00 PM, FREE University of Kansas’ Brian Blagg will present “Modern Hsp90 Inhibitors from Old Natural Products” as part of the Biomolecular Seminar Series. This event is hosted by Owen McDougal, Boise State Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Urinetown Musical

Thursday, March 2 - Saturday, March 4 Student Union Building Special Events Center, 7:30 PM, FREE w/ Student I.D. otherwise $18 Boise State students will present “Urinetown,” a satirical musical. Visit the Theatre Arts Department Facebook event page or last week’s issue of The Arbiter for more information.

Heather Marion Discussion Thursday, March 2

Student Union Building, Lookout Room, 7:00 PM, FREE Leslie Durham, of the Boise State Theatre Arts Department, will discuss TV writing with writer Heather Marion from “Better Call Saul,” and will then open the floor to audience questions. This is the inaugural event for the AHI’s Public Culture Initiative.

Springhill Suites Classic Softball Tournament Friday, March 3 - Sunday, March 5

Donna Larsen Park, FREE w/ Student I.D., $6 otherwise Boise State will face Cal State Northridge, Weber State and Santa Clara in a weekend classic softball tournament.

SEND EVENTS TO DARBYEBELING@BOISESTATE.EDU. DESIGN BY NANCY FLECHA

EVENTS

INSIDE: 2/28/17

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Patty Bowen

editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

OPINION EDITOR Sierra Williams

sierrawilliams659@u.boisestate. edu

INVESTIGATIVE/ENTERPRISE REPORTER Jacob Palmer

jacobpalmer@u.boisestate.edu

NEWS EDITOR

Samantha Harting

LARRY DENIS / COURTESY

news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“A Streetcar Named Desire” rolls into production : pg.15

NEWS REPORTER Taylor Munson

taylormunson@u.boisestate.edu

CULTURE EDITOR

Brandon Rasmussen

culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

CULTURE REPORTER Michael Paquin

michaelpaquin@u.boisestate. edu

SPORTS EDITOR Evan Werner

sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

SPORTS REPORTER Rylan Kobre

rylankobre@u.boisestate.edu

DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Jared Lewis

digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu

COPY EDITORS

Darby Ebeling Maxwell Peterson

DESIGN MANAGER

JARED LEWIS / THE ARBITER

AXEL QUARTARONE / THE ARBITER

Ted Atwell

Protest held in response to Nationalist meeting : pg. 5

Contact Us:

Things heat up at geothermal hangouts : pg. 18

A r b i t e r o n l i n e . c o m 1 9 1 0 U n i v e r s i t y D r. B o i s e , I D 8 3 7 2 5 P h o n e : 2 0 8 . 4 2 6 . 6 3 0 0

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nancy Flecha

Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University and a designated public forum, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales.

The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

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NEWS DACA Resolution passes through ASBSU Executive Council on second try

With three in favor, three opposed and one abstaining, President Rebecca Kopp had to break the tie Samantha Harting News Editor

News@stumedia.boisestate.edu

After initially being introduced on Jan. 25, 2017 to the Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) Student Assembly, a Resolution to Protect Undocumented and DACA Broncos—proposed

by Students Honoring Active Demarginalization Efforts (SHADES)—was brought back to the ASBSU Executive Council for a second time on Monday, Feb. 28 where it was passed by one vote.

After a long debate, the resolution was put to a vote. Three were in favor, three were against and one abstained—leaving the tie to be broken by ASBSU President Rebecca Kopp.

Ximena Bustillo described the resolution’s stipulations in her Feb. 14 Arbiter article, “SHADES advocates for undocumented students,” when it was introduced to student assembly for the second time.

The resolution failed its first time through the ASBSU Executive Council—with a tally of two in favor, five opposed— according to the Executive Council Minutes from Monday, Jan. 30.

Chandra Reyna, senior sociology major and one of three co-founders of SHADES, has not been surprised by the duration of discussion on this resolution.

“We were prepared for it to not gain traction,” Reyna said.

“Unfortunately, we knew that it was going to be a tooth-andnail fight to get this through (ASBSU) Student Assembly—which says a lot as it is.”

ASBSU Vice President Jade Donnelly said when SHADES reached out to create the resolution, it was important to her that ASBSU partnered with a group who stands for students’ safety. “(The resolution passing is) showing a platform based on inclusion and diversity, and the importance of diverse opinions and the safety of all students,” Donnelly said. “Mostly moving forward it’s a really good platform and starting point to extend our diversity efforts.”

Donnelly said the split in voting does not mean ASBSU Executive Council members don’t support undocumented and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students.

“The split is interesting, because we’re both on the same side,” Donnelly said. “We want

to do what’s best for students, we just saw it two different ways: what’s best for students is not endangering funding and what’s best for students is supporting their efforts. We are all pro-student, it’s just if you weighed the pros and cons.”

Senior criminal justice major and fellow co-founder of SHADES, Jese Robles, said most ASBSU Student Assembly and ASBSU Executive Council members are not directly affected by the issues addressed in the bill, resulting in a failure to understand the importance or timeliness involved in passing the resolution.

Other bills and resolutions presented to ASBSU Student Assembly go through with little opposition, unless they have a real-life impact—such as the DACA resolution—according to Reyna.

ASBSU Secretary of Academic Affairs, Olivia Rodriguez, voted against the resolution on its first time through, because she felt it was condescending to imply undocumented and DACA students were not already aware of their rights, and where they could go to get more information.

Others in opposition of the resolution, such as ASBSU Government Relations Officer

Josh Scholer, said there could be serious long-term impacts now that the resolution has passed.

“My personal, individual opinion on the issue is different than my role as Government Relations Officer. I’ve said since day one my job is to responsibly advocate politically for almost 24,000 students,” Scholer said. “I fully stand behind our marginalized and underrepresented students, but I didn’t feel this resolution did enough to justify the amount of risk we take on when it comes to potential political ramifications.”

Scholer explained how some of the provisions are asking Boise State to not comply with federal immigration laws, such as Provision One, which asks for the prohibition of, “school funds or resources from furthering restrictive immigration laws that may prohibit current and future students from completing their education at Boise State,” according to the resolution.

Reyna said she feels the resolution is straightforward and that SHADES is not asking for any university policies to be changed, but for the Boise State campus to be educated about undocumented

and DACA students having the same rights as U.S. citizens.

“I don’t think our tuition dollars should be used to deport other students,” Reyna said.

In reference to funding, Scholer said this is another aspect of the resolution which caused him to to vote in opposition. In its passing, the resolution will now be communicated to the Idaho State House of Representatives.

“I can’t guarantee funding will be lost, but I do know a lot of (the legislators) are looking for reasons to either reduce funding or completely get rid of funding, because they don’t believe that’s the state’s job,” Scholer said. “Regardless if that’s wrong or right, the reality is that is the state and country we live in—right, wrong or indifferent.”

Reyna said SHADES has considered the loss of funding, but does not think the Idaho Legislature can justify taking away funding from Boise State for acknowledging federal law.

Reyna also discussed how all students—including undocumented students—would be affected if the University lost funding, which would be counterproductive to their hope of helping campus.

Scholer, as well as ASBSU

President Rebecca Kopp, said the majority of the resolution’s provisions are actions already taking place. Scholer said he does not understand why Boise State needs to be making this statement and attracting unnecessary attention from the Statehouse and media outlets.

Though the resolution includes provisions addressing policies which are already instated at Boise State, Reyna does not see the harm in reaffirming these items in order to assure awareness of undocumented and DACA students’ rights. Reyna compared the resolution to the It’s On Us campaign and the Not Silent Because movement, saying most people on campus are aware sexual violence is illegal—yet the administration and students say it can’t hurt to remind people of this fact. “(The resolution) is the same thing, but it seems like it’s a lot more controversial, because it’s a different population of people who are affected,” Reyna said.

Now that the Executive Council has passed the resolution, it will be communicated to President Kustra where he will decide whether or not to act on the statement.

The resolution is called Protect Undocumented and DACA Broncos

It was introduced on January 25,2017.

SHADES introduced in to help DACA students feel safer on campus

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NANCY FLECHA / THE ARBITER

It’s been being discussed in student assembly for four weeks

Boise State Nationalists clarify purpose and intention while protesters make their voices heard outside Brandon Rasmussen Culture Editor Culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Maxwell Peterson Copy Editor

News@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Albertsons Library erupted into sign-making and tense conversation last week, as the Boise State Nationalists Club met for the first time in room 301 on Thursday, Feb. 23.

Having caught wind of the meeting, several students formed a preemptive protest outside the building, which attracted the attention of students to the conflict happening both inside and outside the brick walls.

Inside the meeting room On the silent study third floor of the Albertsons Library—in a conference room meant to accommodate only a small study group—four club members, two students and three university officials gathered Thursday to be present at the first meeting of the Boise State Nationalist Club.

Brown, a Boise State student and the creator of the original nationalist posters, said the backlash the club received was surprising to him.

“Of course it was kind of expected,” Brown said. “You say ‘Nationalist’ in this political climate and everyone automatically jumps on the Nazi train, but we reject those claims. We are American patriots who want to see the furthering of American interests.”

The purpose of the meeting was to allow the members to become acquainted, draft a

mission statement and begin to spread awareness about the interests of the Nationalists at Boise State.

Before the meeting began, Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Leslie Webb, Dean of Students Christian Wuthrich and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Jeremiah Shinn entered the study room.

“It’s difficult, but our responsibility is to understand what (The Boise State Nationalists’) rights are as students and my interest is to bring conversation out into the open,” Webb said.

“Knowledge is one of the best tools we have to really engage in an environment here that is going to be conducive to learning.”

Webb informed the group about the process through which they may become an official club. She also explained resources available to them as students should they suffer discrimination.

“There are a series of checks and balances. There’s a nondiscrimination clause (during club formation) that you’d want to think about,” she cautioned Henry Brown, who organized the meeting. “Not everybody wants perspectives to be out in the open, I recognize that. I still believe that’s one of the best ways we can get into the nitty gritty of the dialogue.”

The club’s mission statement will include elements such as “patriotism, preservation of American citizens before immigrants, and the promotion of morals and values that we see fit to furthering America,” according to Brown.

Brown also clarified that degeneracy, which he did not intend to be such a hot-button

ground, the harder it gets to do that.”

The protest on the steps

A masked student shows their objection to the Boise State Nationalists Club. (Photo by Jared Lewis / The Arbiter).

word, was meant to connote “(vehement) drug and alcohol habits and out-of-control sexual promiscuity.”

The club describes themselves as non-racially charged and anti-immigration, with particular scrutiny on Sharia.

“A lot of (Syrians) are going to Europe, which I’m against.

They are against foreign people, foreign cultures and they don’t mesh well with modern society,” Brown said. “Sharia Law hinders free speech.”

Tom Alcott, whose name was changed to protect his identity, spoke of his fear that the influence of Sharia could influence America in a negative manner.

“The First Amendment protects (discussing) Sharia Law, but use your head,” Alcott said.

“Islamists have completely different ideologies than Americans. The moment we bring in people and give them free speech, they are vocalizing antiAmerican rhetoric, that inevitably hurts us.”

Brown stated his qualms were not solely about Sharia.

He believes religion in general is anti-Western.

“At the start of any religion, it becomes very violent,” Brown said. “As it grows, it eventually calms down. We see this in Judaism. We’re seeing it in Islam right now, because it is a very young religion.”

Alcott said the club’s purpose is not to cause further division, but to find a way to have everyone’s voices heard and not draw dividing lines.

“Right now there’s such a rift between both sides of the political spectrum. I could look at (a liberal person) and people would automatically think that we have to be enemies on a personal level. That’s stupid to me. Nationalism, in its actual denotation, is having a nation and having that nation come before you,” Alcott said.

Webb said she wants to find a way to engage in constructive discourse and that “the more that we push folks under-

Outside, on the steps of Albertsons Library, a group of approximately 20 students and faculty gathered to protest the Boise State Nationalists meeting taking place inside. The demonstrators first appeared on the scene at approximately 2 p.m., where several of the students made posters, many of which used the word “Nazi” to describe those attending the meeting.

According to Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion Francisco Salinas, who was in attendance, the idea for the demonstration was conceived and spread within a few hours after information about the meeting was leaked.

“I want to be here for students,” Salinas said. “I became aware of this event through social media. I was asked by a student to share it, and I did.”

Word about the demonstration was also spread through posters, which were put up a few hours prior to the protest by student Michelle Henderson, whose last name has been changed at her request. Henderson was one of the several demonstrators wearing masks at the protest.

According to Henderson, the masks were representative of the fear some students felt when they saw the original nationalist posters go up earlier this month.

“There’s a reason some of us are wearing masks,” Henderson said. “For marginalized groups on campus, we live in Idaho.

And as much as Boise tries, it can still feel unsafe for a lot of

people. The damage was done when they put up the posters; whatever safety marginalized groups feel on campus, (the nationalists) have torn it away.”

Despite this sentiment being shared among many of those holding signs in the cold, a few of the protesters emphasized the demonstration’s goal was not to keep the nationalist group from meeting. Jax Perez, a third-degree-seeking social sciences major said their purpose was to send a message to those meeting inside as well as to underrepresented students throughout campus.

“We’re not here to tell them they can’t meet; we’re here to tell everyone we have just as much free speech as they do,” Perez said.

Perez also stated there is a need for an affirmation of safety, a sentiment that was mentioned repeatedly throughout the protest. Steve Levesque, a junior geoscience major, said he had been passing by after class and decided to join the demonstration to be a mediator, in the event of a potentially violnt conflict.

Despite an air of tension, Salinas hoped the protest would be a positive encouragement for students on campus, and give an affirmation of safety in the form of civil discourse.

“The best thing with which to meet bad ideas is better ideas,” Salinas said. “People experimenting with new ideas are given outlets for frustration in the form of outmoded scapegoating. They might not know it’s outmoded, so it makes sense for us to challenge those things.”

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NEWS Protesters gather outside Rep. Labrador event in support of Planned Parenthood Taylor Muson News Reporter

Taylormunson@u.boieestate.edu

Freshman nursing student Michelle Doty stood alongside a mass of Planned Parenthood supporters all dressed in pink, chanting over the gusty winds in front of the Grove Hotel in Downtown Boise on Thursday, Feb. 23.

“I’m lucky enough to be a queer transwoman who lives in Boise—I have a lot of options for going and finding therapists and finding hormone therapy,” Doty said. “A lot of (others) who live in other parts of the country,they don’t have that. Planned Parenthood is the only place they can go to get a prescription, to get hormones to get help.”

The protest was organized by Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii (PPVNH)—a political and advocacy branch of Planned Parenthood representing Idaho, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.

Protesters gathered in opposition of Representative Raul Labrador’s legislative support of defunding Planned Parenthood.

The Idaho Legislative Director and Public Affairs manager of PPVNH, Mistie Tolman, helped organize the event. According to Tolman, the current administration’s attack on Planned Parenthood is also an attack on women, people of color, people with lower incomes and those in the LGBT community.

“Our basic healthcare is where we all intersect.

None of us live single -is-

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sue lives. While it’s not awesome they’re doing this, at the same time, that’s a place where we can all come together to fight back,” Tolman said.

During the protest, Rep. Labrador was inside the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce—located in the Grove Hotel—holding a congressional forum. It cost between $35 and $45 to attend.

“We are simply protesting Rep. Labrador, because this is one of the only public events any of our congressman have (during the congressional recess),” Tolman said. “Obviously not all of Labrador’s constituents are going to be able to afford to go into something like that.”

About a block down from the Planned Parenthood protesters, a smaller group of protesters were gathered all dressed in red.

They called themselves, “the Cardinals in Labrador’s Church of the Unconstitutional.”

“My granddaughter came out as trans and I’ve been educating myself. Those kids have a really rough time, so that is my primary issue in being here,” said protest participant Karing Nile. “I also am hearing that a number of the legislators around the country are not meeting with their constituents—there are a lot of people who want to speak out.”

Boise citizen David Monsees also stood with this group dressed in red.

“I am a Buddhist and human rights activist. I sense this atmosphere of hate,” Monsees said. “The fact that Labrador, and other legislators, are not listen-

Campus departments propose increases at Tuition and Fee Hearing Samantha Harting NewsEditor

News@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State held the Spring 2017 Tuition and Fee Hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 21, where the Executive Budget Committee discussed the budget for the 2018 fiscal year.

Associate Vice President for Budget and Planning and Chairman of the Hearing, Ken Kline, proposed an overall tuition increase of 5 percent per full-time equivalent (FTE) student for fiscal year 2018, as well as a facilities fee increase of $40 per FTE student per semester to add to the pooled funds for debt services on new and existing campus buildings. Various campus departments also presented their rationale for their particular fee increase proposals.

After the hearing, the

Executive Budget Committee met to deliberate and create a recommendation for Boise State President Bob Kustra, who will then submit the proposal to the Idaho State Board of Education. The ISBE will consider the suggestions as they set tuition and fees at the State Board meetings—in Moscow, Idaho— on April 19 and April 20, according to Kline.

“The purpose of these hearings are really for the Executive Budget Committee to consider proposed tuition fee requests and to hear testimony from the campus community and anyone who would like to testify,” Kline said.

The full hearing was recorded by Boise State University Television Productions and can be found on the Boise State UTP YouTube channel.

Citizens advocate for Planned Parenthood outside the Grove Hotel in downtown Boise. (Photo by Alec Foege/ The Arbiter).

ing to a majority of the people—they’re just playing on all of the negative things they can.”

According to Tolman, the Trump Administration’s wish to defund Planned Parenthood is less in regards to anti-abortion beliefs and more of an overall attack on the organization as a whole.

“If they were truly against abortion—if that’s truly what this was about—they would be triple-funding Planned Parenthood,” Tolman said.

“Planned Parenthood, as an organization, works to prevent unintended pregnancies more than any other organization in the country.”

The potential loss of Planned Parenthood healthcare services has led PPVNW to take precautionary initiatives. They have created an emergency fund should Planned Parenthood lose its funding.

Donations can be made through the PPVNW website.

STUDENT FEES

New bill regarding sexual assault evidence introduced in legislature Jordan Erb Staff Writer

News@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Heard for the second time on Tuesday, Feb. 21, a new house bill brought forward by Representative Melissa Wintrow proposed evidence preservation laws, specifically in sexual assault cases.

In an attempt to send positive messages to victims of sexual assault who are hesitant to come forward, House Bill No. 146 was presented to the House Judiciary and Rules committee—and passed unanimously. The bill would ensure that sexual assault victims would not be refused access to a rape kit, the package of items used by medical professionals to gather and preserve physical evidence of sexual assault allegations—regardless of their

ability to pay. Furthermore, victims would be alerted upon the destruction of their evidence—provided they express a desire to be notified and law enforcement has their contact information or that of a guardian or relative in the event the victim is a minor or deceased.

“It sends messages to victims that we care, we take (sexual assault victims) seriously and we’re going to hold perpetrators accountable,” Wintrow said.

The bill was proposed in response to legislation passed last year, which introduced a tracking system for all sexual assault kits throughout the state. This statute was passed in an attempt to eliminate the backlog of evidence that had accumulated and was not tested.

Laboratory Systems Director for the Idaho State Police

“ingWethesehavevictims to start by believing. We have to start by givthe confidence that we, as a system, are going to be there for them.”

—Twin Falls Police Chief, Craig Kingsbury

Forensic Services Laboratories Matthew Gamette states that the ISP was tasked with developing the tracking software. Gamette spoke about the backlog of sexual assault kits in the committee meeting and described some of the issues which existed before the advent of the new tracking system.

“The kit-tracking software will give us much better data,” Gamette said. “We don’t know where some of those (uncollected) kits are going, and we don’t know if they’re being destroyed, if they’re expired or what exactly is happening—

but we will know now.”

The kit tracking software is now live, making Idaho the first state in the nation to fully implement something of its kind, according to Gamette. It allows law enforcement to track sexual assault kits from their distribution to collection, testing and retention.

According to Wintrow, the new system is going to increase levels of transparency and accountability within law enforcement, and helped create this year’s proposed legislation.

“Preserving evidence lends itself to increasing victim trust, positive outcomes in prosecu-

tion, perpetrator accountability and the exoneration of truly innocent,” Wintrow said.

As explained by Wintrow, the bill, if passed, will mandate that in death-sentence cases, evidence will be retained until the sentence is completed. In felony and anonymous cases, evidence will be retained for 55 years. In cases determined not to be a crime, evidence will be retained for 10 years.

To calculate this statute, Representative Wintrow gathered a taskforce of individuals represented by law enforcement, a prosecutor, victims’ advocates and victims’ compensation crime labs. Together, they wrote a bill they hope will send a positive message to victims of sexual assault who may be vacillating stepping forward.

Though the bill passed unanimously in its second hearing,

there were testimonials which expressed concern over the retention rates, feeling that 55 years was too long.

Former Boise State nursing professor Ingrid Brudenell opposed this viewpoint.

Brudenell argued victims may wait to come forward until a later date, requiring longer retention of their evidence.

Also testifying in favor of the bill was Twin Falls Police Chief Craig Kingsbury.

“We have to start by believing. We have to start by giving these victims the confidence that we, as a system, are going to be there for them,” Kingsbury said.

House Bill No. 146 was heard for a third time on the House floor on Monday, Feb. 27, and further decisions will determine whether the bill will be instated.

ASBSU proposes new legislation requiring Boise State to notify transferring students’ universities about Student Code of Conduct violations Patty Bowen Editor-in-Chief

Editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) are in the process of drafting legislation that will require Boise State to notify other universities about Boise State students who are applying to transfer who have violated the Student Code of Conduct in a way that resulted in expulsion or suspension.

“It would be anything that, according to the Student Code of Conduct, gets you suspended or expelled. That would be sent as an additional document if a student decided to transfer to an institution,” said Josh Scholer, ASBSU Government Relations Officer.

According to Scholer, the details on how the additional document will be utilized to show the Student Code of Conduct violation have not been settled on yet.

Dean of Students Christian Wuthrich said that of the universities that have similar policies, there isn’t a standard practice. Wuthrich explained that if this policy was implemented, there would most likely be a “note that says ‘There is additional information about this student’ from student conduct and you can ask for it if you want it.”

“What we’re not going to do here is, we’re not going to make the situation a notation on your transcript as a permanent record,” said Wuthrich.

“We’re not going to have when

see your grade print-out signed by the registrar somewhere on there say this person did ‘x’.”

Wuthrich stated that adding a student’s violations to their transcript would change a 75-year-old decision to just include course outcomes on a student’s transcript.

“The student conduct process—no matter how we slice or dice it, no matter what the person’s behavior is—is designed to be educational,” Wuthrich said. “And it’s also accepted practice under various legal underpinnings that make it not a criminal justice process, but an educational one.”

The bill was created in response to a proposal for statewide bill that would require all public universities in Idaho to inform other universities about

students that had been expelled or suspended for violations of Title IX. This bill was proposed by the Associated Students University of Idaho (ASUI) two years ago, and resurfaced at the beginning of the 20162017 academic school year.

According to ASUI Lobbyist, Michael Ryan, the bill is currently in the language-drafting. After that ASUI will “seek institutional approval and from there (they) will be able to go to the State Board of Education.”

“We chose to take (this bill) a different route so the language could potentially change,” Ryan said. “We’re not looking for an institution to mark it on a transcript; we’re just looking for an institution to communicate it to another institution.

They can communicate it however they’d like.”

After reading ASUI’s legislation, ASBSU decided to expand the bill, according to Scholer.

“While Title IX is super important, we realized when we talked to the Dean and the Registrar’s Office, there are more things that can get you kicked out than just Title IX, and so we thought if we were going to try to protect other students from other universities from Title IX, why would we stop at just Title IX?” said Scholer.

According to Rebecca Kopp, ASBSU president, the language for the bill won’t be finished for several more weeks.

A+ BD+ There is additional information about the student ....

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OPINION Alternative facts cannot be used to combat the truth Sierra Williams Opinion Editor

SierraWiliams659@u.boisestate.edu

Prior to the Trump Administration, the term “alternative facts” was not used as a means to sugarcoat lies. Alternative facts were used primarily by lawyers to describe the facts of a case that could be suitable to use to support either outcome of a case. In this context, alternative facts actually have a valid purpose. However labeling a lie as an alternative fact is simply pathetic and incorrect. Where are the MythBusters when you need them?

As the Counselor to the President, KellyAnne Conway kickstarted this trend when she attempted to defend White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer when he lied about the crowd turnout at Trump’s inauguration. It was immature—although not unexpected of someone affiliated with Trump’s Administration—of her to not hold Spicer accountable for his actions. Yet, once again, this administration chose to continue justifying their poor judgement and wrongful action as something that is acceptable by labeling them as alternative facts.

Opinions should not be mistaken for, or equated to, alternative facts. A “fact” is rooted in truth and is usually a static statement. Although the truth is something that may need to be proven, it is not something that can be

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easily altered once it is. So when throwing the word “alternative” in front of it, it takes away from the legitimacy of a claim. It just sounds like an overly fancy way to avoid saying something is outright false.

While it may have been initially embarrassing for Conway to admit Spicer was wrong, it could have been resolved and eventually forgotten about. It exposed a lot about the character within this administration and reduces their credibility. A crowd turnout is not even worth lying about in the first place and neither is protecting a lie about it.

In this day and age, it would seem fair to assume that we have an ethical understanding of the value of truth. To support Conway’s idea of the alternative fact is a slap in the face to education and history— especially when it is coming from individuals who are on one of the highest platoforms in running a country. An important role of both educators and historians is to seek out truth and inform others of it. It is discomforting, especially when in an institution of higher education, to hear degree-holding individuals in power attempt to use alternative facts rather than admitting fault. The truth should not have to be altered in an attempt to protect an image that is already problematic. Conway’s decision to distort the truth by wrongfully utilizing “alternative facts” is a small example of the is-

sue at large. This does not contribute to the progress promised, but it definitely exemplifies why progress is needed.

Part of ensuring progress is addressing the issues and ways to improve.

While Spicer’s and Conway’s actions may seem like something that we should just act like never happened, it really should have never occurred in the first place. If it were to go unaddressed, this is something that would become acceptable. In an era that relies on fact-checking to determine what is right or wrong, this incident with alternative facts is a reminder that everyone—regardless of what platform they are on—should be held accountable. If the inaugural crowd turnout was deemed worthy to be lied about, what other lies can we expect from this administration?

Some advice to protestors: Fact check before you chant

Protests such as the recent student walkout might be spreading more falsehoods than truth JacobPalmer@u.boisestate.edu

If you want to form a protest, it might be more efficient to research what you’re protesting before chanting the day away. You can accomplish a lot with a protest if it’s done right. Informed citizens take issue with a specific policy and gather together to let their leaders know their displeasure with said policy, as well as advocate for specific solutions. But when standing amongst the protestors at the recent Public Education Rally and Student Walkout—held on Feb. 16—I got the feeling the protest was less of a gathering of concerned citizens, and more a mob of shallow groupthinkers.

In the past few months, the country has been inundated with protests mainly regarding the new presidential administration. There were protests when Trump was elected, protests when Trump was inaugurated, protests at colleges—such as UC Berkeley—the Women’s March on Washington, the Day Without Immigrants protest, the Not My President’s Day protest, the Planned Parenthood protests, etc. With so many protests in such a small amount of time some of them have led to oversimplification of complex issues. Nowhere was this more apparent than at the Public Education Rally and Student Walkout.

Many young adults showed up with the sole purpose of either skipping school, chant-

ing or just being angry. They weren’t informed about the rally’s topic. The majority of the event was chant after chant of tired cliches, with only a small amount of time given to speeches. When speakers did try to give speeches, they were often overpowered by the crowd chanting. The speeches themselves were shallow with trite “the government works for us” messages. There were many complaints, but few solutions other than the generic, “Get rid of DeVos,” and “more funding,” which have been repeated ad nauseam lately.

There will always be some uninformed demonstrations at protests on any side of the political spectrum, but in the case of the Student Walkout, the ignorance led all the way up to the top. As reported last week in an Arbiter article I wrote titled, “Students walk out of class to protest new education secretary,” the organization responsible for the protest, “People for Unity” sent out a fact sheet with arguments for protesters to memorize. The sheet made a lot of very extreme claims such as: advocating for charter schools creates de-facto segregation, minorities and those in poverty wouldn’t be able to get a charter education and recent reforms to charter schools in Detroit were “what even charter (school) advocates acknowledge is the biggest school reform disaster in the country.”

The way People for Unity tried to source these claims was sloppy. They only di-

rectly cited one source that stated 87 percent of schools in Idaho were public schools.

Every other bold claim levied by the group was uncorroborated. There was one indirect citation given by the group— if you call an indirect citation directly copying word-forword an expert from a New York Times opinion piece without citing it indirect. In an interview for said Arbiter article, Jesse Thomas, an organizer of People for Unity, did indirectly cite the study used to back up that opinion piece and claimed the study showed millions of dollars were poured into charter schools in Michigan with zero gains shown.

But when you read the actual study—which was called “Charter School Performance in Michigan” and was conducted by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO)—it becomes clear how uninformed and hastily thrown together the group’s message was.

The conclusion of the study suggests charter schools actually helped do some good in Michigan, even though People for Unity claimed they only negatively impacted Michigian.

If the organizers had taken just a few minutes to look through their own sources, they would have found that the conclusion of the study rather embarrassingly contradicts their bold claims.

“Based on the findings presented here, the typical student in Michigan charter schools gains more learning in a year than his TPS (tradi-

tional public school) counterparts,” CREDO states in their conclusion. “Charter schools have significantly better results than TPS for minority students who are in poverty.”

Now this study is not the end-all evidence to the very complex debate about school vouchers and charter schools.

However, the leaders of People for Unity supported the spread of general ignorance surrounding complex issues at their rally. The very people who organized the event didn’t take the time to check their own sources.

In an environment where claims about so-called “fake news” are being circulated more than ever, it’s up to every individual to fact check their own arguments and constantly search for opposing viewpoints. In that regard, People for Unity failed.

People for Unity have the right to hold a protest. But they and all protestors in the future should ask themselves what they are really protesting, if they know enough about that subject to be informed and what specific solutions they would put forward. Right now, the outrage culture is instead pushing out as many uninformed and angry protests as it can, and that only alienates people from each other. If you want to protest every little thing someone you don’t like does every single week, then go ahead, but if you are uninformed or look hysterical, it makes your side look bad and alienates any moderates you’re trying to reach.

ALEC FOEGE / THE ARBITER

Jacob Palmer Investigative/Enterprise Reporter

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FEATURE

EXIT STAGE LEFT? PO

Political and social activism is part of Theatre Arts produc Jacob Palmer Investigative/Enterprise Reporter JacobPalmer@u.boisestate.edu “Urinetown” is set to open this week after months of preparation and rehearsal. While several political theories are touched on in “Urinetown”— the play is one of satire rather than advocacy. However, this has not always been the preference for Theatre Arts Department productions.

The Theatre Arts Department has put on various politically oriented plays in the past. Productions such as “A Bright New Boise”, “Twelve Angry Jurors” and “Becoming: An Evening of Short Plays,” which have all touched on controversial social issues such as race, religion and sexuality. Beyond productions the department has also held political demonstrations such as the Ghost Light Vigil, which took place on the eve of President Trump’s inauguration. Through these actions, the department has mixed entertainment and advocacy in its productions.

This style of performance has been praised by some students such as junior theatre performance major Noel Nelson.

“When I transferred here I really liked their program because it was so different from a lot of the theater programs in Idaho. I felt like they weren’t afraid to tackle works that might have been slightly controversial in other parts of Idaho,” Nelson said.

Politics and “Urinetown” Director and Professor in the Theatre Arts Department Gordon Reinhart has opted not to have any overt political messages in the new production of Urinetown,. While there were some talks early in the production of “Urinetown” about how it might apply to modern politics, no plans to try to hammer in a modern political message were eventually considered.

“I have not purported to do anything other than tell a story. The theater is often guilty of doing stories as if they were a political speech, I know some very fine artists who historically have approached the theater that way,” Reinhart said. “When you do that you make something thin. I’m interested in making

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something deep. I’m more interested in doing something not directly (aimed) at my culture but something that invites the audience to scrutinize.”

Reinhart further stated that he sees his mission in theatre arts as not to purposely offend, but to entertain and encourage thought. Reinhart already felt like there was too much outrage in current culture.

This debate over whether theatre should intentionally try to get a reaction was largely shown in the production “A Bright New Boise,” where strong language and provocative imagery was mixed in with messages about sexuality, religion and bigotry. Noel Nelson, who was involved with the production liked the effect it had on audiences.

“A lot of theater is based around stirring up the community. I was involved with the production of “A Bright New Boise.” A lot of people left that theater feeling confused and feeling ‘What do I think about this?’ I feel like that’s a very important theater feeling, because you don’t go to every movie expecting to have a happy ending. It’s good to go to a theater and be stirred up a little bit,” Nelson said.

While Nelson said this was a positive thing to do in theatre, Reinhart looked upon the idea of intentionally offending his audience with skepticism in regards to his own productions.

“I don’t know if there is a way to avoid offense but I do not seek it. I know its vicarious (to think), ‘Ah I got under somebody’s skin,’ but that’s not what I’m interested in,” Reinhart said. “I’m interested in someone going, ‘huh, I’ve never thought about that, that’s an interesting idea maybe I’ll look into it more,’ That’s a much better target I think for an artistic endeavor.”

Advocacy or opinion?

Taken as a whole, these kinds of productions that mix advocacy into themselves have had the tendency to aim for the dramatic and are, according to some students, left leaning in their viewpoint. One such student is sophomore theatre performance and criminal justice major Rachel Holliday. Holliday, who voted for Donald Trump, explains the discord that can sometimes arise by being a person with a minority opinion in theatre arts.

“There’s never been a question in my mind that theatre arts is predominantly left. My issue with be-

ing in the Theatre (Arts) Department is that I have to be careful (about) what I say,” Holliday said.

Holliday expressed a desire to be respected and accepted in the Theatre Arts Department despite her differing opinions. This sort of acceptance is also the goal of the Theatre Arts Department as a whole, according to Assistant Theatre Arts Professor Raquel Davis.

“The Theatre Arts Department is part of the larger campus community. We strongly support values of caring, respect and citizenship. Theatre Arts, as a department might not be directly engaging in politics.

It is, however, welcoming anyone seeking a safe space of inclusion,” Davis said.

While both faculty and students in theatre arts want to work towards this goal of inclusion for all opinions, sometimes these goals are not always met.

Holliday suggested the political undertones in some recent productions tend to reflect the opinions of theater students themselves, and thus tends to lean mostly left.

One such example was attributed to the recent theatre arts production of “Crimes of the Heart,” a play written in 1979. In a past Arbiter article “Theatre Arts Department performs ‘Crimes of the Heart’” Nelson, who performed in the play stated one of deciding factors behind performing the play was a report done by two student researchers on a lack of female representation in theatre. As a result, “Crimes of the Heart” was chosen to be performed because it passed the Bechdel Test, a contemporary test that states a work of fiction must have two women in it that talk about something other than men. A work that passes this test is seen as more gender inclusive.

“Last semester, we had some girls do a report about the lack of female representation in our department and about how we needed more female playwrights and women on stage who passed the Bechdel test,” Nelson said in a previous interview with the Arbiter. “(‘Crimes of the Heart’) was a beautiful choice, because all these women are strong and want something more than a romantic connection.”

Holliday, who also performed in the play, spoke highly about her experience with the play, but also expressed some regret that more modern social message overshadowed the play itself.

“I love ‘Crimes of the Heart,’ my Mom was in it. It

was wonderful experience.” Holliday said. “But I was interviewed and asked ‘do you feel like ‘Crimes of the Heart’ was a response to there not being enough female representation in the arts?’ And I said, ‘I do think it’s a response, but I don’t think it’s an actual issue.’”

Other students such as Austin Lamb, freshman political science and Spanish major, didn’t mind the mix of social issues into theatre. Lamb saw social issues and theatre as going hand in hand with each other.

“Theatre is a reflection of life. Life deals very heavily with social issues. It’s something people think about a lot and theatre is going to reflect that. There’s not so many political stances being taken so much as (it’s) an exploratory thing,” Lamb said.

Holliday, when asked about inclusiveness offstage in theatre arts gave an example of times she’s taken flak in the theatre department for her views. When the play “Stop Kiss”, which revolves around a gay love story, was being performed, Holliday declined to see it because of a disagreement with some social views of the play. Holliday said she received a lot of criticism for not only her opinion, but also decision to simply not attend the play. This event, along with others have led Holliday to believe there can be some intolerance to minority opinions in Theatre Arts.

“I don’t want to offend anyone, but I also don’t want to be silenced. Just as much as anybody I want my opinion to be heard but I know that when you say something that is against the majority, you’re going to get a lot of flak for it,” Holliday said.

Other students see the issue differently. Nelson saw the viewpoints put forward by some of the theatre arts productions as crucial to starting conversations that might not be brought to the public eye in largely conservative Idaho.

“A majority of Idaho is very Conservative and a lot of the theatre you see is focused on a good family fun time. But there’s so many different ways to look at theater and to learn from it,” Nelson said. “It’s nice to have this bubble in Boise, different from the rest of Idaho, a place that’s not afraid to speak out against things. I very much believe the theater can be used as a tool for social justice and helping other people.”

While Holliday didn’t have a problem with students voicing their opinions through art, she felt there

OLITICS AND THEATRE

ctions

is a double standard in the Theatre Arts Department when presenting liberal viewpoints over conservative ones, a double standard that is problematic when the Theatre Arts Department passes the mostly liberal viewpoint it puts out as “diversity.”

“When we constantly have plays coming out (with) a leftist perspective, it’s like ‘This is a good play but I really would like to see some variety here,” Holliday said. “Overall I do believe there’s a double standard. Am I not allowed to have my own opinion, and you be okay with it? Because I’m not shoving it down your throat and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shove yours down mine.”

A Love for Theatre, Right and Left

BRANDON RASMUSSEN / THE ARBITER

Regardless of political affiliation, all who were interviewed expressed a love for the theatre arts program in general. Specifically, some of the things liked about the program were the skills it teaches to students, the friendship it inspires between students and the talent it fosters in many actors.

“There are some very talented and very passionate people here and that’s really inspiring,” Nelson said.

Despite some disagreements she has with other students, Holliday can’t see herself leaving the Theatre Arts Department anytime soon. She clarified multiple times during the interview that even though she didn’t always share some opinions with students and faculty, it didn’t mean the had any ill will toward them. She wanted to make friends and treat people with respect.

“I may disagree with them but that doesn’t mean I don’t like them. I am uncomfortable sometimes, (but) not to the point where I would ditch theatre.

I love how theatre teaches so many life skills, not just being in front of people, but how to accept different worldviews. It makes you a better person ultimately,” Holliday said.

For those interested in seeing the upcoming production of “Urinetown,” performances are from Thursday, March 2 to Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m., with a final matinee Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m.

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Bucking around

Sudoku:

Each of the nine blocks has to contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares. Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box.

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New weekly interview series featuring local musicians

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CULTURE Professor spotlight: Local activist renovates architecture course at Boise State Brandon Rasmussen Culture Editor Culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

In the dim, blue glow of the projector, Amy Pence-Brown walks her class through the history of Boise’s architecture.

As she explains the buildings’ past, she is reminded of her own as an individual with a foundation in the ground that makes Boise her home.

She soon snaps herself out of her moment of reflection and hands back her students’ recently-graded tests.

Well-known for her political activism concerning bodypositivity, Adjunct Professor Pence-Brown returned to lecturing at Boise State at the beginning of the Spring 2017 semester to teach a course on History of Modern Architecture.

According to Dean of the Department of Art Kathleen Keyes, this course has a history of being taught by different lecturers and adjunct professors, leaving an opportunity for variety in how it is taught each spring.

“Individual adjunct instructors are expected to honor course descriptions, and to bring their expertise and experience to the course in creative ways,” Keys said. “When we were looking to expand our roster of adjuncts to teach the course, we reached out to Pence-Brown because we knew about her work with Preservation Idaho.”

In addition to her activism, Pence-Brown also works as a tour coordinator and architectural historian for Preservation Idaho, a nonprofit organization advocating for Idaho’s his-

toric environment.

While she has experience in working as adjunct faculty in the past, this will be her first course taught as an adjunct faculty member since rising to internet fame in 2015 in a video called “The Stand for Self-Love.”

In the video, Pence-Brown stood in the Boise downtown market blindfolded in a black bikini and invited people to draw a heart on her body.

People did more than just that,” Pence-Brown said.

“They wrote words, talked to me and talked to each other.

They cried and I cried.”

After the video went viral on the internet, Pence-Brown’s activism career became more intense. Alongside teaching at Boise State, the professor gives talks about her career as an activist and body-positivity to a variety of audiences across the country. Her talks often link feminism with body-positivity, exploring the word ‘fat,’ and how it is used in our modern vernacular.

“For any marginalized group, challenging words that have been used against a group in a negative or harmful way is very important. Fat people have reclaimed the word ‘fat,’” Pence-Brown said. “It has no negative connotation inherently. But we’ve given it this negative definition. Reclaiming that word as a neutral descriptor removes that stigma.”

According to Pence-Brown, while architecture and bodypositivity may seem different on the surface, the two fields have thematic bridges that, for her, put them under the same roof.

“Our bodies are the vessels

that carry us through our lives.

It’s my home,” Pence-Brown said. “I feel the same way about architecture. It’s something we take for granted, but it does so much for us in a functional way. Buildings hold so much meaning and tell the stories of who we are.”

Pence-Brown hopes to instill this sense of architectural importance in her students by introducing a final project to her architectural course, where students will conduct extensive research on a building of their choosing on campus.

“Not a lot of history has been written about Boise State—architecture, art or otherwise,” Pence-Brown said.

“But there are some great old photos and subtle documentations about how campus and its students have changed over time.”

After the students complete their projects, their research will be filed with Boise State University Special Collections and Archives and Preservation Idaho. The projects will also be added to Clio, a mobile app that maps out historically significant architecture throughout the United States.

According to Keys, this is a more practical approach to teaching architecture, and it will be observed by the department and Boise’s architectural community.

“We are very excited students will actively explore, tour and research historic architecture on campus and in Boise,” Keys said. “We look forward to watching the course unfold.”

Pick up the phone

Writer from “Better Call Saul” speaks at Boise State

. Heather Marion will speak on Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Lookout Room.

(Photo courtesy Arts and humanities Institute)

Patty Bowen Editor-in-Chief

Editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Television writer of “Better Call Saul” Heather Marion will speak about her experience as a member of the show’s writers’ room on Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the SUB Lookout Room. “(Heather) will speak about the impact of the college experience—both as an undergraduate and (during her) MFA in screenwriting,” said Jacky O’Connor, professor in the English Department and co-director of the Arts and Humanities Insti-

tute.

During the event, Marion will be interviewed by Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Leslie Durham which, according to O’Connor, will make the lecture “informal and different.”

“It’s going to be a kind of conversation on stage which, I think, is going to be something unique and interesting to people,” O’Connor said.

This event is the first in the Arts and Humanities Institutes’ Public Culture Initiative speaker series. According to O’Connor, Marion is a good example of “someone making it in a creative industry,” and someone who “is

involved in doing collaborative work in a creative field,” which is what the series is trying to highlight.

“We see this speaker series, Public Culture Initiatives, as a way to bring people in different fields who are relatively new—who are just finding their ways to success—to campus so that students can see ‘This is how you forge a career and a creative life,’” O’Connor said.

Students can find out more about Heather Marion’s visit and the other events in the Public Culture Initiative series at the Arts and Humanities Institute’s Facebook page.

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CULTURE Lounging on a hot streak

Local band featuring Boise State students releases “Lips of Calypso” album and prepares for upcoming performances Natasha Williams Staff Writer

Culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The hum of bass fills headphones and gathers in the space between your ears. The smoothness of the funk music envelopes you and you find yourself yearning for more. It’s the first taste of Boise-based band Lounge on Fire’s latest album: “Lips of Calypso.”

The funk band, featuring its own horn section in addition to the usual suspects, is made

up of seven members—almost all of which are Boise State students. The album, released on Jan. 28, has influences not just in funk but also jazz, rock and classical. The members of the band were influenced and inspired during their writing process by several different genres, and according to drummer and senior entrepreneurship major, Wade Ronsse, this influence is what makes their sound so unique.

“Two people will write a song, and then there’s five

“‘Lips of Calypso’ is an ode to the hu-

man body as a hostage to the temptation of sin.”

- Nathan Norton other people that need to come in and learn that,” Ronsse said.

“Between that, there’s three horn players that come in with their influences, and they’re trying to figure out (if) they want it to sound like this or that. It’s an interesting writing

process.”

According to Frontman Nathan Norton, the album is 10 years in the making.

“I’ve thought about this for almost a decade,” Norton said. “‘Lips of Calypso’ is an ode to the human body as a hostage

to the temptation of sin. Each track embodies the perspective of the sinner and their struggle with the burden created by this seduction.”

When it comes to balancing work and class, Ronsse said all of the musicians find a way to pull together, even if just a few of them can meet at a time.

“We work really hard,” Ronsse said. “A lot of us put in extra time outside of class for preparation. Sometimes we get together in small groups to work on songs, or record so

that we can listen to what we’ve done.”

Students who want to get a copy of the new album can find it on all of the major streaming services, as well as at The Record Exchange for $14.99.

Lounge on Fire will also be performing at Treefort and have a guest appearance at the upcoming “Interface” Idaho Dance Theatre event on March 10 through March 12.

Oscar Shorts not short on entertainment Michael Paquin Culture Reporter

Michaelpaquin@u.boisestate.edu

As the fallout from The Oscars radiates, I decided this year to try a first for me: I actually watched the shorts. If you’re like me and usually use this segment of the ceremony to order a pizza or channel flip, I’ll break down what I took away from them.

The fist genre I saw at The Flicks downtown was animated shorts. Except for one —more on that later—they’re largely family-friendly. By far the most interesting of the allages type shorts was the French film “Blind Vayshna”—a tragic tale of a young girl living in remote village who is born with the unusual affliction of one eye seeing the past and another seeing the future. It thoroughly achieves its live-here-in-thenow point, but what’s even more arresting is the art direc-

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tion, which presents the narrative as a fable told through moving woodcuts.

I’m not going to get too much into “Pearl,” about an adolescent traveling with her father and her coming of age, except to say where other animated shorts seek to impress us with cutting edge CG, “Pearl” goes with the less is more approach, and progresses its narrative with feel-good mandolin and guitar music. As an aside, I’m considering starting a petition banning Independent film and Hollywood in general from saturating every frame with ear-splitting mandolin riffs, a trend for which I blame Eddie Vedder. It’s also important to note that Pearl is VR compatible—a first for the Oscars and totally irrelevant if you’re not equipped with a headset.

Now let’s get to poor “Piper.”

Of course, in walks 800 lb. gorilla Disney/Pixar with their submission about a sandpiper

hatchling learning to overcome its fear of the ocean to eat oysters. The audience melts at the adorable bird’s trial-anderror attempts taking place on a stunningly rendered (and very expensive-looking) beach.

The short ends with a nice little wrapped up McLife-Lesson and every independent filmmaker is painfully aware that Disney/Pixar has more money and resources that they can ever fathom and can crank out shorts like this almost by accident at this point.

And finally, here we are—at “Pear Cider and Cigarettes.”

This is definitely not a familyfriendly animated short like the rest, and clocking in at nearly a half an hour, it also by far the longest. The premise is this: After a life time of chronic alcoholism and fast living, coupled with a prolonged diagnosis of Hepatitis C, the narrator’s eccentric, wealthy friend travels to China to a) kick boozing

and b) undergo a sketchy liver transplant operation made possible by the greased palms of the Chinese government and medical personnel. Once he emerges from the operation with a brand new liver of a recently executed Chinese man (dissident, maybe?), he gets back to Vancouver and dies promptly. This isn’t a spoiler by the way, we learn this in the beginning. “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” is as interesting in its sketch style animation and matter-of-fact narrative as it is thoroughly depressing and guaranteed to make the viewer stare skeptically at their next beer—which was about 30 minutes after it ended, in the case of your reviewer.

Now, the live action shorts!

As a whole, they were all far longer than the animated, each being roughly 30 minutes.

Another interesting note is that they were much more political. Almost all of them were

foreign language, and what’s particularly interesting is that two of them deal heavily with the issue of immigration. The French “Ennemis Intérieurs” is about an Algerian applying for French citizenship as the immigration officer grills him about his past connections with organized Islam with a sort of “1984” motif. Its message, as well as the frustration of the interogatee come off pretty clear.

The live -action short “Silent Nights,” filmed in Denmark, gives us the story of a Salvation Army worker who falls in love with a Ghanan refugee and begins an interracial relationship with him, much to the chagrin of her drunk bigot mother.

Again, we see foreign filmmakers try to delicately treat the complex issue of immigration, I’m assuming in consideration of waves of isolationist populism spreading throughout western Europe. Both of these pace themselves and go by rela-

tively quickly, which is more than I can say for “La Femme et le TGV,” from Switzerland. It’s about a woman who watches the Eurorail pass her house everyday as she waves a Swiss flag.

She begins a correspondence with the conductor (explaining how they do this is literally not even worth it) that feels reminiscent of “You’ve Got Mail.”

It drags on forever, and had the unfortunate position as the last short I watched after 4.5 hours of them, which could explain why I was a little “short” with the film’s progression. Oh! Now my winner picks: Animated: “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” Live Action: “Ennemis Intérieurs” The Academy’s picks: Animated: Disney/Pixar’s “Piper” (Render unto Caesar you swine!)

Live Action: “Sing”

Drift into March

A desired performance

Boise Little Theater rides the streetcar to New Orleans

Music recommendations for biking in the rain—or sitting on your bed in a pleasant trance Darby Ebeling Copy Editor Culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Patty Bowen Editor-in-Chief

Editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Pacing back and forth, a woman cradles her face while she waits for the gunshot that punctuates the tune of Mardi Gras music consuming her in memory. The woman, Blanche DuBois, has travelled to New Orleans to live with her younger sister, Stella Kowalski, who lives in a two-room apartment with her husband, Stanley Kowalski, an arguably violent World War II veteran.

This is a scene from “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a play written by Tennessee Williams that will be performed

by Boise Little Theater (BLT) from Thursday, March 2 to Saturday, March 11. The play has won several awards including a Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1948 and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Best Play award in 1948.

Larry Denis, director of BLT’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” said that, although he doesn’t often put on productions of plays that are

as well-known as “A Streetcar Named Desire” producing the performance was a “challenge and a dream.”

“There’s visual things that people are so used to that they identify it with (“A Streetcar Named Desire”) that aren’t really part of the script originally—something that another production added (to their performance) that became popular.” Denis said. “Rather than creating someone else’s show, we strip all that away and go with the actual text and come up with our own interpretations.”

The fresh translation of the script was evident in BLT’s production. Stanley’s qualities—depicted as overbearing and brutish in the movie adaptation—seemed reasonable when voiced through prospective student Don VanPraag.

Blanche DuBois’ character— who is often read as whiny and unreasonable—came off as lost, but charming.

The elevated tragedy of the play highlighted what professor in the English Department Jacky O’Connor thought was

true about the writing of “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

“In ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ (Williams) manages to strike this balance that makes it so difficult to decide who is the tragic character and who is the protagonist in this play,” O’Connor said.

The tragedy of “A Streetcar Named Desire” is amplified in BLT’s rendition. Blanche, who struggles with the suicide of her husband becomes a relatable springboard for the illogical way homosexuality was treated in a court of law in midcentury America. According to O’Connor, Williams was a homosexual himself; he used “A Streetcar Named Desire” as an allegory for the the American judicial system’s treatment of homosexuals and how disgust played into it.

“That particular word, disgust, was used in legal arguments about homosexuality and other illegal behavior that was specifically sexual,” O’Connor said. “There was a way that Williams was getting at law’s ways to stir people’s emotions about things. We

think of laws as rational, and of course, they’re not at all.”

Even though it mulls through older legislation, O’Connor said students will still be able to relate to the play.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” was written in 1947. According to O’Connor, the play serves as both a time capsule of PostWorld War II American life and a relevant depiction of the contemporary family structure.

“There was actually a streetcar named Desire in New Orleans that ran through the French Corridor at the time (Williams) was writing. He was writing about a specific moment when people used streetcars and when there was a streetcar named Desire in that city. Yet I teach the play regularly, it has never gone out of print, it is performed all over the world in different languages, and so clearly it speaks to us as a contemporary play.”

Students who are interested in watching BLT’s production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” can get their tickets at BLT’s website.

KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD FACEBOOK / COURTESY

Blanche DuBois, played by Shelby Bay, and Harold (Mitch) Mitchell, played by Darin Vickey, perform in the Boise Little Theatre’s performance of “A Streetcar Named Desire.” (Photo courtesy Larry Denis)

Oceans Are Zeroes, “Inside” (Single) Released Thursday, Feb. 23 in anticipation of an upcoming April 17 album, this single from Boise locals Oceans Are Zeroes will have you weeping and kneeling at its feet. This track, to be found on Oceans Are Zeroes’ website, is ethereal and will have you wandering—in awe of the beauty of the human voice and the human condition—miles down the Boise River Greenbelt before you’ve noticed you left your easy chair. If you’re as captivated as I was, catch them at Treefort in March.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, “Flying Microtonal Banana” Best song: “Open Water” If that name doesn’t get you, I don’t know what will. “Flying Microtonal Banana,” released by Ato Records on Friday, Feb. 24, is the first of five planned records the Australian acid-rock band will release in 2017.

The first track, “Rattlesnake,” sets the tone of a snake-bite, fever-dream trance, and the rest of the album follows through. If you want to feel as though you jumped on a rainbow bus in the Haight-Ashbury and it has suddenly become the 1960s, listen to this album.

All Them Witches, “Sleeping Through the War” Best song: “3-5-7” (Be sure to watch the music video.)

Released by New West Records on Friday, Feb. 24, Nashvillebased All Them Witches brings the garage rock-meets-indie-rock scene to your headphones with album “Sleeping Through The War.” The listening experience is like a ride in a classic car with the windows down; sometimes it’s muddy—fuzzy electric guitar kind of muddy—and you’re being pelted with rocks, and otherwise it is smooth, shiny and the wind is blowing in your face at exactly the right speed. This album will make you want to crack open a cold drink and dance around in your backyard.

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SPORTS & REc Boise State Track and Field Team Competes in Mountain West Championship Peter Huguenin Staff Writer

Sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Boise State Track and Field team is starting to wrap up their indoor season and prepare for their outdoor season.

The team competed in the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships this past weekend in Albuquerque, N.M. Several Boise State athletes did well at the meet including junior Allison Jeffries, who holds the Boise State indoor pole vault record for women.

She cleared a height of 135.25 which got her second place in the Mountain West Championships.

The Broncos were also successful in the Women’s Distance Medley Relay, when they got first place with a time of 11:19:.39.

The team was made up of Sadi Henderson (1,200m), Amy Praff (400m), Alexis Fuller (800m) and Clare O’Brien (1,600m). They finished with a time of 11:19.39.

This is the second year in a row that Boise State has won the Women’s Distance Medley Relay, and with all four of the team having eligibility left they will be a tough team to beat next year.

Sadi Henderson and Clare O’Brien both achieved victory in individual races as well. Henderson won the women’s 800m and O’Brien won the women’s 3,000m. They also both broke Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships records.

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Henderson ran a 2:04.83 and O’Brien ran a 9:24.75.

Red shirt junior Dusty Fisher placed second place in the Men’s 200m. He ran a time of 21.15. Sophomore Brenna Peloquin placed third in the Women’s 5000m with a time of 16:49.71.

Boise State’s last indoor track meet is the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas. Boise State will send its best competitors to represent in the national championships.

Their success is in part due to their special training requirements.

Junior Camden Stod-

Training does change a little bit when the team switches to outdoor season.

“Our training changes on the conditions (we) will run in. Indoor is a 200m banked track and outdoor is a 400m flat track. As well as weather and wind always come into account,” said Stoddard.

Boise State’s outdoor season begins on March 31 with the Stanford Invitational and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.

This starts the long buildup to outdoor championship.

Some of the highlights of the outdoor schedule are the Border Clash, Boise

“

“Our end goal is still the Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and outdoor nationals. Next week we go right back into training for our main goal.”

- Junior Camden Stoddard

dard, whose main event is the pole vault and placed second in pole vault at the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships said, “We only ease off about a week before the indoor conference meet.”

This dedication helps the team recover while staying in shape. This is only the beginning for the Broncos season. They will now start preparing for outdoor track and field which is always their priority.

“Our end goal is still the Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and outdoor nationals. Next week we go right back into training for our main goal,” said Stoddard.

State’s only meet in Boise.

It will take place on April 28 and April 29 at the Ed Jacoby Outdoor Track at Dona Larsen Park.

The Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships take place in Logan, Utah from May 10 to May 13, which leads to national competition which starts in Austin for the NCAA West Preliminary Round from May 25 to May 27. If the athletes are successful there, they will move on to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene from June 7 to June 10.

Boise State Track and Field wrap up their indoor season at the Mountain West Championship, as outdoor season begins to take shape.(Photo by Jared Lewis / The Arbiter)

No. 12 Boise State Gymnastics team comes up short against No. 4 Alabama Tyler Deitrick Staff Writer

Sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The No. 12 Broncos Gymnastics team came up just short against No. 4 Alabama, falling 196.925 – 196.675 on Friday, Feb. 24 in Tuscaloosa.

In front of a packed crowd in Coleman Coliseum, Boise State put forth an amazing performance that was highlighted by some remarkable scores.

The Broncos, who hit 100 percent of their routines, were led by juniors Alex Esmerian and Abby Webb. Esmerian took home the balance beam title with

a 9.925 and Webb won the floor with a 9.875. Senior Mackenzie Bennion shared the uneven bars title with a 9.875. Sophomore Shani Remme won the AA with a 39.375.

“Unbelievable night for us. Best beam set of the year. The depth we have is so exciting because our sport is truly a team effort.

So proud of our junior class for stepping up tonight,” Co-Head Coach Tina Bird said, in a press release from Boise State Athletics Assistant Sports Information Director Pete Clark.

The Broncos posted their highest score of the season on the apparatus with a

“The depth we have is so exciting because our sport is truly a team effort. So proud of our junior class for stepping up tonight,” - Co-Head Coach Tina Bird 49.300. This score is tied for the sixth-highest beam score in school history.

“It’s hard to describe how much adversity we overcame tonight. Our entire team came through on a big stage,” Co-Head Coach Neil Resnick said, according to the release.

Boise State began the meet on uneven bars with a score of 49.125. Junior Ann Stockwell posted a 9.8 and

Bennion followed with a 9.875. Freshman Courtney McGregor posted a 9.775, Remme recorded a 9.825 and senior Diana Mejia came up with a 9.85 to boost the Broncos’ confidence in the opening event.

The Broncos moved to vault in the second rotation and posted another score of 49.125. Bennion and senior Paige Urquhart both scored 9.775. Stockwell came up

with a 9.8; Remme scored a 9.825; redshirt junior Mary Frances Bir was solid with a 9.85; McGregor tallied a season high with a 9.875.

At the halfway point, Alabama held a 98.375 to 98.250 lead.

Boise State kept it consistent and on floor scored its third straight 49.125 score on the third rotation.

Urquhart started off with a 9.8, and Remme achieved a 9.85. With Bennion’s 9.775 and Stockwell’s 9.825, junior Abby Webb scored 9.875 to tally the final 49.125. With Webb’s score, Boise State chose not to compete a sixth on floor.

On the final apparatus,

the Broncos took on the balance beam and scored a 49.300. Competing with just five gymnasts again, Mejia opened with a 9.85 and Urquhart followed up with a 9.775.

Remme and sophomore Sarah Means put on inspiring performances in earning 9.875s, and Esmerian almost placed a perfect score with her 9.925.

“The dedication the girls put in year around, set them up to succeed for the entire season,” said Bird.

The Broncos will return to Taco Bell Arena and host Utah State on Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m.

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SPORTS & REc

Sadi Henderson runs down the competition Addison Dehaven Staff Writer

Sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sadi Henderson is having a breakout season for the Women’s Track and Field team.

The junior psychology and business double major currently holds the school record in the 800, which she set last month at the Washington Invitational with a time of 2:04.01.

The time currently places her tenth overall on the national leaderboard.

Henderson, who is from Hamilton, Mont., said both a change in her coaching and her mental-

ity has helped propel her to a five-second improvement in the 800.

“It was really just a conscious decision I made sitting in class this fall,” said Henderson. “I just decided I wanted to make running a top priority in my life; running is something I really wanted to be good at, so I decided to go all in and do everything I could to get better.”

Henderson also credits First-Year Assistant Track Coach, Pat McCurrey, with her successful winter.

“Coach McCurrey really helped elevate how serious I took running and what kind of training it would take to be a really success-

ful athlete,” said Henderson. “Pretty much since the first workout of the season back in October, I knew it was going to be a really good season.”

Henderson’s success on the track has not been limited to just the 800, however. At the Boise State Team Challenge, Henderson ran the third fastest time in school history in the 400 with a 54.82.

Outside of running, Henderson spends her time attempting to visit every coffee shop in the Boise area.

“So far I’ve been to about 57 of the 143 coffee shops in the Boise area. I started my freshman year, and

hopefully I’ll be able to visit all 143 before the time I graduate,” said Henderson.

“I would have to say Zero Six Coffee Fix on the eastside of Boise would have to be my favorite so far.”

Henderson plans to spend the rest of the season running both the Distance Medley Relay and the 800 meters at the Mountain West Conference meet in Albuquerque, N.M., on Monday, Feb. 27 and Tuesday, Feb. 28.

After that she will likely run at the NCAA Indoor Championships at Texas A&M come mid-March.

Sadi Henderson leads the charge for the Women’s Track and Field Team, setting several team records.(Courtesy Sadi Henderson)

Visit the Kirkham Hot Springs for a stress relief from school and work Axel Quartarone Staff Writer

Sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Kirkham Hot Springs offers a great get away from school and work to relax.(Courtesy Axel Quartarone)

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77 miles outside of Boise, beside the South Fork of the Payette River, steams Kirkham Hot Springs. Geothermal heat seeps out the sides of the canyon, supplying the soaking pools with bath-temperature water.

The pools’ bottoms are made up of rock and sand, so sandals are the best choice; going barefoot can be a painful experience.

To those seeking a spot to get away, winter is the best time to go. The summer can be crowded due to the availability of on-site camping.

Hot Springs-goers must park on the far side of the Payette River and cross a bridge to access Kirkham.

The first soaking pool is positioned at the base of the hillside overlook-

ing the campground and picnic area.

The pool is large enough to fit several people and is a nice spot to go if the lower ones are occupied.

But the best soaking pools are by the river. A small path winds its way through the campground and down to the Payette.

Two large pools are nestled in rock outcroppings that sit beside the river.

Hot waterfalls feed these pools and add to the sound of rushing water that fills the air. Several smaller pools are positioned downstream from the larger two.

Big boulders flank the rims of these pools, which are ideal for small groups.

“It’s a short getaway to a one of mother nature’s best gifts,” said Nathan Swift, a business major who wanted to enjoy a little time away from studying.

Year-round access and a reason-

able-length drive make Kirkham an easy and fun weekend adventure with friends.

A simple search on Google Maps will bring up its location. Make sure to have the directions loaded before you leave because cell-phone coverage is spotty.

“I can’t wait for the campground to open. I really want to try to camp there this summer,” said Swift.

To see a video about the Kirkham Hot Springs visit our website at

arbiteronline.com.

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