February 18, 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 18, 2010

Boise State's national track champion

'The Slants' to melt faces at VAC

PAGE

Flower farmland hurts wildlife

PAGE

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Professional Fees Engineering faces increases

SARAH MURPHY Journalist

Boise State’s college of engineering is following in the footsteps of many colleges across the country and introducing professional fees to its program. College of engineering's (COE) dean, Cheryl Schrader, said this has been in the process before she became dean in 2003. The three universities participating are Boise State University, Idaho State University and University of Idaho. According to Schrader, the first step was to look at statistics of other engineering colleges that currently use professional fees. These have gone before advisory boards and student leaders. The next step is for the three Idaho universities proposing the fee to come together and bring it in front of the State Board of Education during the next annual tuition and fee hearing -- which is scheduled for April. The fee will be phased in starting in the Fall 2010 semester. The fee will start at $500 per semester in 2010-11, $750 per semester in 2011-12, and $1,000 in 2012-13 and beyond. Unlike tuition, professional fees

The fee will be phased in starting in the Fall 2010 semester and will start at $500 per semester in 2010-11. go “straight to the college, not the university,” Schrader said. The professional fees in the COE will only affect engineering students at the junior and senior level. Engineering student Jessica Minick said the professional fees “are unfair to engineering students. If they’re going to charge an additional fee, it should be shared.” There will be a maximum cap of $4,000 for part-time students needing to take extra time to complete course work. Scholarships are eligible to be used for the professional fees but depend on the donor. The motivation behind the professional fees is not “because of the current economic situation but because of the increased cost and increase in demand,” Schrader said. The COE has been struggling like every other college to make ends meet and has been connecting

Kustra to speak at State Board of Education meeting WHEN

Meeting begins today at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE

Simplot Ballroom in the SUB Continue to check arbiteronline.com for live Twitter updates and articles related to Boise State and President Kustra's speech.

Swine Flu, who? H1N1 cases dwindle on campus KATY BUTLER Journalist

With spring just around the corner there has been little talk about the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. "There were 298 cases reported on campus as of Dec. 1. There hasn’t been any cases reported since, but that is no reason to let down your guard," said director of medical services Vincent J. Serio, III, M.D. “We can assume that the actual number of cases is two to three times that many due to the cases that weren’t reported,” Serio said. According to Serio, a typical person diagnosed with H1N1 was 19-years-old and lived in the residence halls. “My sister was diagnosed with swine flu a few weeks after it was announced on campus, I tried not to worry about it too much. Instead I took simple precautions such as wash my hands more frequently and stay away from stair railings and other high traffic areas,” Boise State student Shara Aberham said. Signs of H1N1 virus include: fever higher than 100 degrees lasting for three or four days, muscle aches,

headaches, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, vomiting and diarrhea. Ways to prevent H1N1 are to practice healthy hygiene habits; cough into a tissue, wash your hands regularly and stay home if you feel sick. “Luckily there weren’t any deaths on campus, but you can never predict how severe it could get,” Serio said. Over 900 vaccines were given on campus with only 90 still available. There are no restrictions pertaining to who can receive an H1N1 virus vaccine. It’s available to all students, faculty and staff on campus. People can get the vaccine at the new Health, Wellness and Counseling Services building on Belmont street. An appointment is not necessary; people can walk in anytime during regular business hours. Receiving the vaccine is a short process that only takes about 20 to 25 minutes. “The vaccines made a huge difference on the number of people who were affected by H1N1 on campus," Serio said. "I highly recommend getting vaccinated while it’s still available.”

Engineering students Ben Becker, right, Ryan Rust, middle, and Tyler Phillips use a computer to design an experiment in an engineering lab Tuesday.

MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER

those ends only through gifts, sponsorships and grants. They provide approximately 30 percent of BSU external funding. The proposal states that “the fee will be dedicated to supporting the student experience in the professional undergraduate programs of

the COE.” This would include “laboratory equipment, course support, professional advising, and enhanced student support services such as internship coordination and placement.” All of these help students gain the education they are

pursuing. “It addresses additional costs not linked directly to courses,” Schrader said. Minick believes the fees will benefit the students over time but, “we’re doing just fine with what we have. I feel (the fees) are unnecessary.”

Reagan Biographer Hayward and the Libertarian Vanguard PATRICK TRUJILLO Journalist

Policy scholar and columnist, Steven F. Hayward appeared before faculty, staff and students Wednesday, Feb. 10 to speak on his work, "The Age of Reagan," and the opulent refuse of mining that dirty little gem called politics. Hayward addressed an estimated 200 listeners in the Simplot Ballroom. He was introduced by State Sen. Russ Fulcher and Boise State professor Scott Yenor. Also in attendance were State Rep. Judy Boyle and Rep. Steven P. Thayn. The event was made possible by the American Founding Initiative (AFI), brainchild of Yenor to promote the ideals of constitutional limited government and classical liberalism. AFI presented Hayward as part of its bi-annual lecture series on the heels of having produced columnist Charles R. Kesler for Constitution Day. On the legacy of Reagan, Hayward spoke of the former president’s ability to engage the Soviets on diplomatic and strategic issues, restore the American public’s faith in the Office of the Presidency, and recognize the threat of a growing federal government eroding constitutional freedom. Hayward then answered questions fielded from the audience, drawing similarities in today’s political climate to those of the years before and leading up to Reagan’s presidency. “Some of the circumstances that we face economically right now are not unlike the early 1980s when Reagan took office,” Fulcher said. His fellow constituent, Thayn, elaborated on the growing social programs of a welfare state. “It’s important to talk about the legacy of Reagan both on what he did accomplish and what he wasn’t able to accomplish -- specifically deal with the growth of the entitlement sector of budget which is still bothering us today -- that is the issue we need to address. It goes

Some of the circumstances that we face economically right now are not unlike the early 1980s when Reagan took office. — Steven F. Hayward back to the idea of federalism,” Thayn said. “Federal government was to be limited in its responsibilities, and the entitlement portion of the budget would be better served being pushed back to the states where they could run the programs more efficiently and effectively. It’s part of the budget that Congress seems unable to exercise a discipline to reign in. If the states were able to take those responsibilities for 30 percent less cost because of the inherent nature of states being closer to the people, then you could solve a lot of the state’s budget problems simply by transferring that responsibility.” Hayward’s "The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order" and "The Conservative Counterrevolution," is a two volume biography considered by many conservative intellectuals to be a concise account of the late 20th century political landscape that was conducive for Reagan to become president; from the social program effects of FDR’s New Deal to the welfare state of LBJ, the rise of the radical left, and the spring board result to the far right. I asked Hayward afterwards about the course of liberalism through those eras, and its direction now. “The left and the right have frac-

tioned into several different currents, it’s hard to pick out a dominate strain,” Hayward said. “You really do see a resurgence -- all those magazine covers a year ago -- ‘is Obama the second coming of FDR’-- of what I’d call Johnson programmatic liberalism; let’s start lots of new programs and bigger government and confidence that we can actually spend money and solve problems. Liberals are feeling more confident that they know how to fix the economy better than conservatives, and conservatives frankly have not been speaking with a clear voice about what happened with the banking and housing crisis. A big part of liberalism has really become cultural. Conservatives have their own splits. I think now that the libertarians are about to have their biggest innings in a while. Smaller government across the board -- economic liberalism.” Hayward is a Weyerhaeuser Fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Research Institute and an adjunct Fellow with the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs. A former contributing editor of "Reason," Hayward’s commentary has been published in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times and National Review.

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NEWS

February 18, 2010

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'The Vagina Monologues' return KATY BUTLER Journalist

The Boise State Women’s Center presents the ben-

efit production, “The Vagina Monologues,” in celebration of its 10th anniversary of Vday on Campus. “The Vagina Monologues,”

by playwright Eve Ensler, is a collection of women's interviews on real-life reactions towards the treatment of women. “The testimonials are used as a way to empower, educate and provide awareness to end violence against women and girls,” program coordinator for the Women’s Center, Sara Gomez said. Ten percent of the funds raised from the production will go to the V-day spotlight campaign to help the Democratic Republic of Congo Congolese survivors rebuild their lives. Remaining proceeds will help fund violence education awareness outreach programs offered through the Women’s Center. “This is the only fund raiser held for women’s violence awareness,” Gomez said.

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Janet Summers, an honored guest and first director of The Women’s Center, will help direct the play this year and for the first time the event will feature two deaf performers and ASL translation. The play has also been translated into over 24 languages worldwide. “(The Vagina Monologues) embodies the power and compassion women have all over the world,” Gomez said.

The testimonials are used as a way to empower, educate and provide awareness to end violence against women and girls

Sara Gomez

The production will be held Feb. 19 through 21 at the Student Union Special Events Center. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the show begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at idahotickets.com or at the information desk in the Student Union Building, students are $7.50, general admission is $12.

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OPINION

February 18, 2010

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State budget cuts could hit BSU students ASHLEY HARSHBARGER Journalist

LIGHTS ON:

Funding for higher education could be dramatically reduced because of budget cuts in Idaho. Boise State University is proposing to make up the difference by increasing tuition for full-time students by 10 percent. If the proposal is accepted, students will be forced to carry even more of the financial burden. Over the last 10 years, the state's general fund went from covering 76 percent of educational costs to only 57 percent, according to Boise State University President Bob Kustra in an Idaho Statesman article. Kustra also mentioned that Boise State University receives the least amount of state funding with $5,066 per student, while the University of Idaho receives $8,946 per student. Although raising tuition may help keep the university afloat, the students can only take so much. Dr. Mike Rush gave a presentation to the Idaho State Board of Education on Aug. 20, 2009. In the presentation he pointed out that as state budgets are getting tighter, the ability to make up the difference in tuition is limited. Matt Koob, a physics major, fears that academic opportunities will be reduced. He is also concerned that funding for research projects will shrink, making academic opportunities hard to come by.

The Princess Syndrome HALEY ROBINSON Columnist

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

Cuts in the state's budget could force BSU to increase tuition. educational costs? Or, will the state step in and turn things around? Will organizations and departments be downsized, or even worse eliminated? How will the quality of education be affected? Regardless of what will happen in the future, I strongly suggest taking

“My mother, Professor Mel Koob, works for the school,” Koob said. “The reduction of funding could lessen the number of classes she teaches.” What does the future hold for higher education? Will students continue to carry the majority of

on a part-time job and saving money to help cover increases in tuition. We may not be able to control how the state handles educational funding, but we can control how we deal with it. Don’t let tuition increases scare you away from your education.

Flower farms harm wetlands TERESA HYMER Guest Opinion

Ten Boise State students traveled to Kenya in January to study the raptors of Eastern Africa as part of Marc Bechard’s biology 497 African raptor ecology class. The class studied at Elsamere Research Facility and the Masai Mara National Reserve. While they were doing surveys of African fish eagles and hippos, they learned about Lake Naivasha. Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake northwest of Nairobi. It is internationally recognized as an important wetland habitat. Unfortunately, it is also the main source of water for more than 30 flower farms that surround the lake. According to our guide, renowned ornithologist Munir Virani, the international flower farms, which are mostly Dutch owned, supply over 70 percent of cut flowers to the European market. The farms ship over 80 million tons of cut flowers, worth millions of dollars, to Europe. The flowers are sold in Europe under the guise of flowers grown in a sustainable environment. There are many problems that come with the flower farms besides the usage of the lake as a water source. According to Virani, Kenyan laborers are paid less than $2 a day to work in the farms. The farms use many pesticides and fertilizers, which are sprayed by the unprotected workers. The run-off from the flower farms flows directly into the lake. While the class was on the lake, they witnessed bigger trenches being dug so more water could flow from the lake to the flower farms.

YOZORA TADHARA

Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in Kenya, is home to a variety of birds, including African Fish Eagles and Greater Flamingos. Habitats like Lake Naivasha could be harmed by flower farming.

YOZORA TADHARA

People that know the lake said that they could see the bottom of the lake just 10 years ago. It was crystal clear and very clean. Many people have been fighting the destruction of the lake and the flower farms for years. Documentaries have been filmed about the plight of the lake and the flowers that come from it. The flowers that are sold in Europe are sold under the label of “grown in a sustainable environment.” Most Europeans do not know

that the flowers that they are buying (and throwing away in a few days) for Valentine’s or Mother’s Day are destroying Lake Naivasha. Where are the flowers coming from that Idahoans buy? Are they grown in a “protected” area? Is it really protected? Do we really need to be buying flowers? Teresa Hymer traveled to Kenya in January along with other BSU students as part of a raptor ecology class.

E DITORIAL S TAFF

B USINESS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shannon Morgan

NEWS Editor

Ben Mack

Editor

Kirk Bell

MANAGING EDITOR Bob Beers

Producer

Mitch Esplin

Producer

Trent Lootens

MEDIA MANAGER Glenn Landberg ONLINE EDITOR Stephen Heleker MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Joey McCoullough PHOTO EDITOR Nik Bjurstrom EDITORIAL ADVISORS Steve Lyon Dan Morris

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 Josh Gamble Ashley Harshbarger Haley Robinson Allen Spurgeon Jessica Swider

YOZORA TADHARA

When asked what they want to be when they grow up, many little girls will inevitably say, “a princess!” A major source of this princess mentality comes from Disney movies that have created a disturbing cultural obsession. While it may seem like these cute, harmless, love stories are acceptable for children, I think it’s time to question the role models being portrayed in many Disney movies. Ariel (“The Little Mermaid”) is a prime example of this strange female figure. When a little girl shouts “I want to be Ariel!” she may as well be saying that she hopes when she is sixteen she will become a naïve, belligerent, stubborn teenager who refuses to listen to her father, falls in love with someone she has never spoken a word to, and then alienates herself from all of her family and friends so that she can marry the man she met three days before. Disney may mask its weirdly upsetting storyline behind likable characters and adorable musical numbers, but the role that Ariel takes is still apparent and disturbing. There is also Aurora, also known as Sleeping Beauty. In this scenario, little girls can hope that after having absolutely no interactions with men, they can go to sleep and magically wake up to their true love giving them their first kiss. Well that’s convenient and everything, but maybe it’s time for something a little more realistic. It’s true that there are some Disney role models that are strong and positive. Mulan and Pocahontas for example, are both independent and responsible women. But compared to the Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty, how often are they seen on Disney paraphernalia? When Disney has such an intense strangle-hold on the influence over young girls, it should be using this power to promote hard work and independence. A New York Times article entitled “What’s wrong with Cinderella?” quoted author Lyn Mikel Brown who wrote “Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing our daughters from marketers’ schemes” discussing the monopoly Disney has on this industry. “When one thing is so dominant, then it’s no longer a choice: It’s a mandate, cannibalizing all other forms of play. There’s the illusion of more choices out there for girls, but if you look around, you’ll see their choices are slowly narrowing,” said Brown. Perhaps these are just representations of older stories passed down from decades earlier. But it’s not impossible to strike a balance -- maintaining innocence and at the same time presenting realistic situations. Even if these fairy tales are told all in good fun, it’s time to shed the archaic ideals represented in many of these movies and encourage women to hold themselves to a higher standard.

Editor

Jennifer Spencer

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Journalists Tony Rogers Nikki Houston Margaret Reimer Matt Dalley

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SPORTS

February 18, 2010

Athletics Calendar 2/18 - 2/24 Home Events*

Thursday, Feb. 18

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Kafourou courts outdoor national jump title DANIEL PRIDDY

Softball – Louiville Slugger Desert Classic – UNLV 8:15 p.m. – Las Vegas, Nevada

Friday, Feb. 19 Softball – Louisville Slugger Desert Classic – Indiana 10 a.m. – Las Vegas, Nevada Softball – Louisville Slugger Classic – Long Beach State 12:15 p.m. – Las Vegas, Nevada Men’s Tennis – Stanford 1:30 p.m. – Palo Alto, Calif. Gymnastics Missouri

–

Denver

and

Southeast

6 p.m. – Denver, Colo.

Saturday, Feb. 20 Women’s Tennis – Marshall 10 a.m. – University Park, Penn. Softball – Louisville Slugger Desert Classic – Oklahoma 10 a.m. – Las Vegas, Nevada Softball - Louisville Slugger Desert Classic – San Diego 12:15 p.m. – Las Vegas, Nevada Men’s Tennis – Fresno State 5 p.m. – Fresno, Calif. Men’s Basketball – UC Davis 7:05 p.m. – Taco Bell Arena* Women’s Basketball – San Jose State 8 p.m. – San Jose, Calif.

Sunday, Feb. 21 Women’s Tennis – Penn State 10 a.m. – University Park, Penn.

Monday, Feb. 22 Men’s Golf – Snowman Invitational All day – Phoenix, Ariz.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 Men’s Golf – Snowman Invitational All day – Phoenix, Ariz.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 Swimming and Diving – WAC Conference Championships All day – San Antonio, Texas. Women’s Basketball – Hawai’i 10 p.m. – Honolulu, Hawa

Journalist

Senior track and field star Eleni Kafourou is one of Boise State’s most decorated athlete. While it may be a fruitless and unfair enterprise to try to measure or rate the overall abilities of athletes who compete in different sports, a strong case can be made that Kafourou possesses the most individual talent of any athlete on this campus. That’s a large statement to make at a university that harbors an impressive number of nationally ranked and recognized athletes. But in terms of personal success, physical capabilities and inter-collegiate accomplishments, Eleni stands alone. Her successes are so numerous, it's hard to know where to begin. Former Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, Eleni lays claim to a staggering 11 conference titles, school records in the long jump and triple jump, and is the only women in the history of BSU track and field to become a national champion. At age 23, Eleni is older than the majority of her teammates and acts as a mentor to the younger athletes who affectionately refer to her as “Mama El.” “I feel like a mom to a lot of the kids because our team is so young,” Eleni said. “I want to be there for them and help them in any way I can.” Kafourou is a national champion with leadership abilities. She is currently pursuing her degree in civil engineering. Eleni’s remarkable journey began in a suburb of Athens, Greece. Her jumping career began at age 12 when she entered a high jump competition. After a year she progressed to the long jump, and it was as a distance jumper that she discovered her true talent. “I could jump really far for that age,” Eleni said. Though Eleni was quick to earn local status she was under-recruited in spite of the magnitude of her abilities. She explained it was not so much a case of being passed over, but rather undiscovered. “I was not recruited because I was from Greece,” Kafourou said. Luck would have it, a former BSU coach who coincidently came from Greece knew of her and offered her a chance to compete. By coming to BSU, Eleni unknowingly become a part of a time-honored BSU tradition of athletes who are overlooked by the more

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

Eleni Kafourou was the 2009 NCAA Indoor National Champion in the long jump. She finishes her career with Boise State during the 2010 outdoor track and field season Mar. 26-27 in Tempe, Ariz. prominent universities, yet go on to out-perform the very same athletes who receive more lucrative offers. “She is very fast and strong and has good elastic strength,” jumps coach Jeff Petersmeyer said. “I would not call her a speed jumper or a power jumper, she has a lot of everything. She’s very versatile.” Eleni is very ambitious. Her present goal is to take home another Indoor National Championship. After that, she intends to achieve her first Outdoor National Championship. Amazingly, she hopes to achieve those goals in different events. After she graduates from college, Eleni says that she plans to shift her attention to competing at the world level at the World Indoor Championships. Eleni is refreshingly candid, and is quick to admit that she

believes she is a top-notch athlete. “I don’t like to compare myself to others, but I think I am one of the best,” she said. Kafourou is also quick to admit that winning a national championship was no walk in the park because while her physical ability was second to none, she tended to struggle with the mental aspect of competition. “I used to choke at big events,” admitted Eleni. She acknowledges that in order to become a national champion she had to conquer the anxiety that comes with big time completion. “I go with the flow more now,” she said. Eleni went from a great jumper to one of the best in the nation when she learned to block out the pressure and anxiety that bears down on athletes when titles are on the line.

“I can see she has a lot more confidence,” Petersmyer said. Aside from anxiety, she had to conquer a whole host of superstitions. “I would wear certain shoes or put my hair up in certain way. I would always try and do things in sets of three,” Eleni said. “But things like that hold you back and take you out of your mental zone.” There are hundreds of jumpers who have natural talent, but what she has done that many jumpers have failed to do is to connect their physical ability with their mental aptitude and have them operate as one. These are advanced concepts for any jumper and mastering them is the key to championships. With her college career winding down, Eleni is poised to transition into a professional career.

Men's Lacrosse seeks early success BRENDAN SHERRY Journalist

The Boise State men’s club lacrosse team, like other competitive club sports, are responsible for dishing out most of its expenses for the love of the sport.

MCT

Unlike most athletes on Boise State's campus, those who participate in club sports aren’t playing on a scholarship. In fact, those who choose to join a club team have to pay a significant amount of money to participate in the sport they are passionate about. The near 30 men who make up Boise State’s lacrosse team are part of this group of athletes who sacrifice their own time and money to play. “We’re a club sport,” senior Jake Christensen said. “So we do all of our own fundraising for our traveling trips. The school doesn't help us much.” Once again the men’s lacrosse team enters its season with high expectations and is looking to build off past success. The men will be able

to measure themselves up against some of the best club teams from around the country in the early part of their schedule. The Broncos open the season with a trip to Utah where they will take on the University of Utah Utes Friday Feb. 19. The Broncos will play the Utah State University Aggies the following day. The Utes are ranked No. 22 by Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association Magazine in the preseason polls and will be a tough test for the Broncos. “The game against Utah, besides the game against [the University of Idaho], will be the most intense game of the year.” senior Chase Hanchett said. “Both Utah and ourselves are two teams making names for themselves. Both schools are loaded with local talent and both programs are looking up for a long time coming.”

After their match-up against the Aggies, the Broncos will return home to take on the Westminster Griffins. Westminster is ranked No. 8 in Division II by MCLA Magazine. Unfortunately for Boise State, they will face another tough test the following day when they battle the University of Washington Huskies -ranked No. 20 by LAXPower. com. However, the Broncos plan on taking advantage of their situation and hope to gain some valuable experience. “We have a pretty young team and a first year goalie,” Christensen said. “I'm hoping our freshmen and sophomores get a feel for how much different and how fast paced college lacrosse is from high school lacrosse.” With the recent loss of Washington State University’s

See Lacrosse I page 5

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C SPORTS ULTURE

5 B

February 18, 2010

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Thongdach: From Thailand to BSU tennis MARSHELL MARTINEZ Journalist

Boise State men and women’s tennis teams are known for having a great diversity of athletes. With both teams composed of mostly international students, it's safe to say each athlete brings various attributes and talents to the team. In particular, Boise State's women’s team includes a few players from the United States with many international students in the mix. One of the lady Broncos' international athletes is senior Pichittra Thongdach, who is ranked No. 43 in singles and No. 24 in doubles during 2009-10 season. Thongdach is a native of Thailand and previously affiliated with the University of Thailand before beginning her tennis career at BSU in 2008. Beginning with her sophomore season at Boise State, Thongdach has had a successful career and has won many prominent awards along the way. She was named All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) First Team in singles as well as being named the WAC’s women’s tennis player of the week twice. Thongdach’s junior season was no different; she again was named to the 2009 AllWAC First Team in singles but also for doubles (with partner Lauren Megale). There is no doubt Thongdach has been an tremendous asset to the women’s tennis team and has entered her final season at BSU looking toward a bright future. Many may not know Thongdach on a person level, so when asking Thongdach various questions about herself and about Boise State these are her responses.

Where were you born: Nakornsritammarat, Thailand Hometown: Petchaburi, Thailand Major: Communications Favorite TV show(s): Sex and the City Favorite movie(s): A Walk to Remember Worst habit: Sweet tooth, procrastinating Favorite class(es): All Communication classes Who would you love to trade places with for a day: Matthew McConaughey’s girlfriend Favorite reading(s): All kinds of magazines Talent you would like to posses: To be able to run faster Favorite meal (s): Thai and Japanese Food Favorite value in others: Sincerity Favorite attribute about yourself: I am dedicated in everything I put my mind into

STEVEN HANCOCK/ARBITER FILE PHOTO

Boise State No. 35 women’s tennis team is led by Thailand native and senior Pitchittra

Lacrosse [page 4] lacrosse program, the Broncos will only have two home games on a schedule already loaded with road games. “It was heart breaking hearing that we lost a home game but you have to roll with the punches,” Hanchett said. “That’s the great thing about this team, it hasn't even phased our team, no one talks about it and no one mopes about it. We look at it more or less another week to prep for our next game. Hopefully we can pick up a game with a team traveling through or find a scrimmage sometime.” Another obstacle the Broncos are looking to overcome is the loss of several key players from last year’s squad. They are hoping some of the newcomers can help cushion the loss of goalie Shawn Carmen, defensemen Joe Hazah and Bradford Christensen, and face-off middle Pat McIntyre. If Boise State can overcome its tough early season schedule, lack of home games and replace some of the key roster vacancies; the team can reach its goal of a top-25 finish and a playoff appearance.

Dream date: Candlelight dinner by the beach Your hero: My parents Your favorite motto: Live like there is no tomorrow Hobbies: Make-up and Blogging What do you like most about Boise State: Its nice campus, nice people, and the women’s tennis team

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BOISE STATE STUDENT Media is looking for applicants interested in the top student business leadership position with the student newspaper, The Arbiter. The Business Manager is responsible for the accurate accounting of revenue and expenditures, accounts receivable, and all advertising sales operations and marketing of Boise State Student Media. The Business Manager also prepares monthly financial reports. The job is a 12 month position starting on May 16, 2010 and running through May 15, 2011. Approximate hours per week are 20 with a required 12-15 scheduled office hours. The position includes a monthly salary and undergraduate tuition scholarship. If you are interested in applying, stop by the Student Media offices located in the SUB Annex on the corner of University and Michigan between the REC and parking structure. A resume, cover letter,

proposal and completed application are required. Deadline is for applications is February 18th, 2010 by 5pm to the Student Media offices. You must be a current Boise State student taking at least 6 credits to apply and maintain at least 12 credits during the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters. BOISE STATE STUDENT Media is looking for applicants interested in the top student leadership position with the student newspaper, The Arbiter. The editor is the executive head and has decision&#8209;making authority and responsibility for publishing the student newspaper. He/ she retains final decision-making authority of all internal content matters. The job is a 12 month position starting on May 16, 2010 and running through May 15, 2011. Approximate hours per week are 20 with a required 12-15 scheduled office hours. The position includes a monthly salary and undergraduate tuition scholarship. If you are interested in applying, stop by the Student Media offices located in the SUB Annex on the corner of University and Michigan between the REC and parking structure. A resume, cover letter, proposal and completed application are required. Deadline is for applications is February 18th, 2010 by 5pm to the Student Media offices. You must be a current Boise State student taking at least 6 credits to apply and maintain at least 12 credits during the

ARBITERONLINE.COM

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FRESHMEN AND SENIORS, YOUR RESPONSES ARE USED IN MANY WAYS TO MAKE BOISE STATE A BETTER PLACE TO LEARN. U U U U

Go to your Boise State email today Look for an email from Boise State’s President, Bob Kustra Look for a subject line of “Be Heard! Boise State wants your feedback!” Click on the link to take the survey

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

7 To view The Arbiter's exclusive interview with Steve Fairu, visit arbiteronline.com

February 18, 2010

Steve Fainaru

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Pultizer Prize-winner speaks of mercenaries, Iraq MARGARET REIMER Journalist

“Yes, many see the Washington Post as a liberal rag, but we don’t have an agenda. My agenda is to get the best story,” said Steve Fainaru, 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning international journalist. Fainaru spoke at the Morrison Center Tuesday evening as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series. At the "Post" since 2000, Fainaru covered the Iraq war during 2004, focusing on U.S. private security contractors or mercenaries who assisted the military. The seasoned reporter began his speech by recognizing the Idaho National Guard for their service in Iraq. He met many of them while in Kirkuk, Iraq. “... A fireman from NYC who had joined after 9/11 was wondering why they were there (Iraq) when bin Laden was in Afghanistan. One guy was saying ‘we are bringing these ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

Steve Fainaru signs copies of his book “Big Boy Rules” in the Morrison Center after his lecture Tuesday night.

people democracy’ another thought the strategy was all wrong. Then I asked if I could write this stuff down, and I said this is probably going to be on the front page of the Washington Post are you okay with that? One of them answered, 'We don’t give a crap what are they gonna do send us to Iraq?'" he said. According to Fainaru, very few journalists covered the war during his time in the country. “I could count the number of journalists covering Iraq on one hand,” he said. He explained this occured as a result of the huge expense of covering war. "The Washington Post", for example, spends 1 million dollars a year to run the Baghdad bureau, according to him. “I’m worried about the decline in revenue going to newspaper coverage. I think part of the problem is that people don’t trust the media anymore because of idiots like Jason Blair just making stuff up,” he said.

To read Fainaru’s articles on Iraq, Crescent Security and Mexican drug cartels visit the Washington Post Web site at: projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/articles/steve+fainaru/. Fainaru's book on American mercenaries in Iraq, "Big Boy Rules", is available now.

Ten things that make Boise musically unique

GUITAR IMAGES COURTESY BOLINGUITARS.COM

MATT DALLEY & STEPHEN FOSTER Journalists

COURTESY RECORD EXCHANGE

Record Exchange In-store performances

Boise residents have the luxury of experiencing worldclass live music from the comfort of the Record Exchange (RX). Patrons cram between the store's CD racks as acts including Smashing Pumpkins, Blind Pilot and the Frames grace the store's tiny stage. Not only is the atmosphere fun and friendly, Record Exchange “in-stores” are always free. On March 4, psychedelic rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will be adding their name to the RX’s long history of performers. For more information, visit the store's Web site at therecordexchange.com

Vinyl Preservation Society

sons to students ages six - 16. The young rockers make up 15 different bands that get the opportunity to perform at many local venues including the Record Exchange and the Knitting Factory. “A lot of folks go through life thinking, ‘I'm not a musician.’ We don't believe that," co-founder Ryan Peck said. “We believe everyone has music potential.” For more information, visit their Web site at boiserockschool. com

Ted Apel’s sound art

Boise Rock School

COURTESY GENE HARRIS JAZZ FESTIVAL

Doug Martsch

Boise’s very own indie rock icon and nominee for the 2008 “World’s Sexiest Vegetarian” competition, Doug Martsch is a man of the community. “Father Doug” -- as he’s referred too around town -- can be seen headlining local events, throwing benefit concerts, DJ-ing at local night clubs, and shopping at the Co-op on any given day. Seeing his highly influential

Bolin Guitars

COURTESY DOUG MARTSCH

band, Built to Spill, perform remains a rite of passage (and a treat) for any Boise State student. You can catch DJ Doug spinning his favorite records at the Visual Arts Collective Feb. 27. COURTESY BOLIN GUITARS

munity since the late 1970s. His North 36th Street facility has produced guitars played by ZZ Top, Lou Reed, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, members of the Rolling Stones and other A-list ax slingers. Name dropping aside, Bolin makes high-quality, interesting looking instruments that puts Boise on the maps of guitar collectors worldwide. Photos of his guitars and more information are available at bolinguitars.com.

COURTESY TED APEL

Since 2004, adjunct music professor Ted Apel has brought a unique form of expression to the Treasure Valley called sound art. "My work attempts to give a physical presence to abstract electronic sounds," Apel said. One of Apel’s recent installations, “5:5 6:5 7:5 8:5 9:5,” epitomizes the theme of his work. Apel and three of his students wrote software that generates sounds in a tuning system created by Apel. The sounds were sent from computers to various speakers with removed cones. The speaker cones were replaced with wood and metal panels that make the sounds even more unconventional. View his art on Thursday evening, March 4, at his 8th Street Marketplace studio.

ZACH GANSCHOW/THE ARBITER

scholarship opportunities for jazz students. This year’s event will be held April 22-24. For more information, visit their Web site at geneharris.org

Guitar maker to the stars John Bolin, founder of Bolin Guitars, has been making a name in the Boise music com-

Meeting on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Modern Hotel and Bar, members of Boise’s Vinyl Preservation Society celebrate the lost art of the vinyl record. Each meeting features listening sessions centered around changing themes ranging from Guitar Gods to PostHoliday Blues. The group now boasts 275 members and is in its second year running. COURTESY VINYL PRESERVATION SOCIETY “My brother and I are both avid record collectors, and we would often get together to listen to and talk about records. At some point, we started wondering how many other record geeks were out there,” co-founder Chad Dryden said. For more information, visit their Web site at vpsidaho.org

Boise School of Rock is doing just the same. The after school program provides guitar, drum, bass, keyboard, and vocal les-

In 2003, the hit movie “School of Rock” inspired many a youngster to pick up the guitar. In 2010, the locally owned

COURTESY ALIVE AFTER FIVE

Alive After Five

Starting in early June and ending in late Sept., the Alive After Five concert series is one of Boise’s favorite past times. The event, held by the Downtown Boise Association at the Grove Plaza, has been providing free music for the past 24 years. Whether you prefer grooving in front of the stage, getting wet in the fountain, enjoying a beverage, or just soaking in the music -- Alive After Five is a heck of a time for the whole family. Some of last year’s more notable artists were Blue Turtle Seduction, Head for the Hills, and Mother Hips.

Gene Harris Jazz Festival (GHJF)

Now in its thirteenth year, the festival remains a major attraction for jazz fans and students across the region, augmenting Boise’s rich diversity of culture and arts. In addition to their consistently excellent lineup of jazz artists (Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, and Kevin Eubanks, amongst others), the GHJF offers lectures and clinics on campus as well as

Eagle Island Experience Festival

With an emphasis on community, family, and global awareness, this yearly offering of music and art has been delighting residents for the past decade. Last year’s installment was the best yet with rousing performances by Built to Spill, Finn Riggins, and Polyphonic Pomegranate. There’s little doubt that this year’s event, held May 2123, will up the ante. InteracCOURTESY EAGLE ISLAND FESTIVAL tive art installations, a diverse selection of vendors, fire dancers, galleries, exhibits and belly dancers all add to the overall adventure. This year's event will be held May 21-23. For more information, visit Web site myspace.com/experiencefestival.

The Neurolux

Catering to the more hip side of Boise, this local lounge and venue consistently surprises with an eclectic mix of top-notch performers. Over the last year artists such as Por-

COURTESY THE NEUROLUX

tugal The Man, Vampire Weekend, Lyrics Born, and Billy Nershi have played there, as well as many of the best up-and-coming acts in the region. With the best DJ’s in town on Friday and Saturday nights, you’ll have a hard time finding a spot to park your bike. College students and local scenesters alike pack the dance floor, and the party doesn’t stop until last call. Forthcoming artists include Alec Ounsworth on Feb. 18 and Dr. Dog on April 22. For more information, visit the venue's Web site at neurolux.com

The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

February 18, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

The Slants bring Chinatown dancerock to the VAC STEPHEN FOSTER Journalist

Being in a self-proclaimed “Chinatown Dancerock” band is no easy feat -- you are bound to offend. The Slants are to perform Feb. 20 at the Visual Arts Collective (VAC). Bass player Simon Young is not sheepish when explaining the band's name. “We just tell them what they expected all along -- that Asians are attributed as having slanted eyes," Young said. When Young left his previous band, The Stivs, in 2005, he spent his time cultivating a fresh artistic vision by bringing together an eclectic group of like-minded musicians.

The collaboration produced a unique brand of synthesizer driven pop-rock. In 2007, the Portland based band released its first disc, “Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts.” The sound is often compared to acts from the '80s like Depeche Mode and New Order, with reference to modern synth-rock purveyors, The Killers. “We take our influences from all over the place. Our singer listens to a lot of hip-hop, we love

indie rock, '80s music. The biggest influence on The Slants

...Get it? "The Slants?" COURTESY ELLENOTE.COM

V DAY

BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY 2010

THE

VAGINA MONOLOGUES

10 Year ANNIVERSARY

FEBRUARY

19th 20th 21st

sound has to be 1980s synth pop," Young said. The band found a huge following in 2008 after performing during a massive anime convention in front of 10,000 fans. Since then they have booked a variety of fest iv a l s, events and conventions centering on “otaku” culture -- people obsessed with Japanese manga, anime and video games. “We love playing for the anime crowd, the kids are absolutely enthusiastic. Most of

them aren’t quite like your average music fan, they aren’t as jaded,” Young said. The crowd can relate to the sense of alienation contained in The Slants' lyrical themes. “Growing up as AsianAmerican offers a different perspective then what a lot of people experience. We grew up as outsiders, not quite American but not full Asian as well. A lot of our fans can relate to that, and have similar feelings," Young said. Anime fans are not the only ones paying attention. The Slants have been featured on National Public Radio (NPR) and headlined an event at the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference and

WHAT:

The Slants

WHEN:

Saturday, Feb 20 8 p.m.

WHERE:

Visual Arts Collective

COST: $5

Festival (SXSW). The new album, "Pageantry," features big name production from Brandon Eggleston who’s worked with Modest Mouse and The Mountain Goats. “The music is for anyone that likes to dance or catch a beat; it isn’t really considered anime music. We’re not in any anime theme songs, and the music is basically rock and pop, so it’s accessible to most," Young said. The live show features high energy sound coupled with bombastic production. “We make sure that even if people aren’t fans that they walk away very entertained; we do a lot to make the show stand out," Young said. Young heeded a warning to music lovers looking to get "slanted" at their performance at the VAC. "You might want to wear protective gear..." he said. “We’re going to melt their faces with rock.” To view The Arbiter's interview with Boise "ambient indie" artist James Orr, visit arbiteronline.com

Boise State University Women’s Center

womenscenter.boisestate.edu

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