March 15, 2010

WHAT’S INSIDE

NEWS 1–2

OPINION 3

SPORTS 4–5

CULTURE 7–8 I SSU E

48

The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933

Volume 22

First Issue

F R E E MARCH 15, 2010

Men's head basketball coach fired

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'They're only trying to stay alive' Homelessness makes its presence known on campus

Rail Jam!

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Boise State professor pleads guilty to battery against student SARAH MURPHY Journalist

A Boise State professor has been sentenced to one year of probation for misdemeanor battery against a BSU student.

SARAH MURPHY Journalist

Ben Andersen is like many other Boise State students.

He attends classes, is present on campus, and has an opinion on Bronco football.

However, Andersen has a secret -- he has been homeless.

Andersen was homeless while still attending classes at BSU. But before becoming homeless, his job laid him off.

A typical day for Andersen included going to class and doing “homework in the library like normal,” he said.

“After it closed, I would head to find someplace to keep warm downtown.”

He would make his way to the Student Union Building at 6 a.m. because, “it was the only place open that I could sleep at an early hour.”

Andersen received sympathy when people found out but, “no one really knew,” Andersen said. “I guess actually being a student helped out with people not judging me, or ridiculing me.”

Now, Andersen has found a part-time job, received help from his grandmother and “was able to find a place to live.”

But Andersen is unlike

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Allen goes 'homeless' for a day!

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

Most of the homeless on campus can be found either in the SUB or Library. many other individuals on campus who have experienced homelessness. Every winter, transients make an impression on campus life, often seen roaming the SUB. Unlike Andersen, some homeless or transients that frequent the SUB can cause disturbances. On Jan. 27, a transient in the SUB was arrested for intoxication.

“Whenever we have anyone (transient or student) who is intoxicated we call the police,” said Student Union director Jack Rahmann.

If there is an issue of a homeless or transient person, “taking too much time in an area, we ask them to leave,” Rahmann said.

But, in the nine years Rahmann has been at the SUB, “it is remarkable how little vandalism and harassment has occurred,” he said.

“We take situations on

a case by case basis,” Rahmann added. “We’re always aware of the situation of trying to manage our transient population. We consider the students.”

A fifth year student, Alyssa Dunlap has had a few experiences with homeless individuals. A couple of years ago, Dunlap was sitting in the SUB when she saw a homeless man set his things down in a chair and left. When he returned he found a second homeless man had taken his seat. A verbal confrontation took place.

“I remember thinking, I don’t want to be here because I don’t feel safe,” Dunlap said.

“One thing to remember is they, (the homeless), have a tendency to be territorial.”

But Dunlap’s opinion changed. Last year, Dunlap and some friends continually saw a transient sitting in

the new expansion area of the SUB. “Since the girls had extra meals, we started inviting him to eat in the BRC (Boise River Café) with us,” Dunlap said.

She said she enjoyed the experience of helping someone. “He was very grateful for the meals and we still talk to him sometimes when we see him,” Dunlap said.

“The only time I haven’t felt safe is during their (the homeless mens') arguments,” Dunlap said. “If they’re keeping to themselves, there’s nothing to worry about, they’re people too.”

Andersen has one piece of advice for those who encounter the homeless on campus. “Please don’t look down on them,” Andersen said. “They’re only trying to stay alive, (and) if you were in that situation, how would you want people to treat you?”

Professor Charles M. Odahl, who pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge, was also given a 30 day suspended jail term and a $337.50 fine by judge Theresea Gardunia in Ada County Court March 8.

The incident for which Odahl was convicted occurred Feb. 10 at around 2 p.m. in the Library parking lot on campus. The Boise Police Department responded to a report concerning a verbal argument between the 65-year-old Odahl and a female student in her early 30's. The victim, whose name is being withheld, is a resident of Eagle.

Odahl attempted to “knock a cigarette out of her hand, when he missed and struck the victim on the left side of her body,” Boise Police communications director, Lynn Hightower said. Next, Odahl pushed the victim back using his forearm in her upper chest and neck area.

Odahl faced maximum penalties of up to 3 months in county jail, a $1,000 fine, or a combination of a fine and imprisonment.

Sanctions from BSU could be issued for Odahl.

Odahl is a professor in the history department whose research specialty is Cicero and the Late Republic, Early Christianity, and Constantine and Late Antiquity. Odahl has both traveled and taught extensively in Europe and the Mediterranean, and he holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from California State University, Fresno. He holds a Ph.D degree in Greek, Roman, and Medieval History from the University of California, San Diego.

Classes taught by Odahl at Boise State include Western Civilization, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Cicero and the Late Republic and Latin, among others.

Embedded with the ROTC

Aquatic combat

ZACH GANSCHOW Producer

At 06:00 on a brisk, dark morning, the ROTC class stands at full attention under the bright interior fluorescent lights for the its upcoming task.

From atop a diving board, a cadet is lead "walking-theplank" style to the end of the platform. A black ski mask is pulled over his head, obscuring his vision, while he holds a decoy M-4 carbine rifle.

“Bronco Battalion!” is shouted from behind the

P

mask that reverberates off the tile surfaces of the Kinesiology Annex, followed by a splash as the cadet plummets to the water, wearing his full camouflage fatigues.

He resurfaces with the rifle as the next cadet mounts the platform.

This aquatic training is called the Combat Water Survival Test (CWST), a lab in the ROTC program at Boise State.

“This is testing their confidence in the water and their ability to dawn, or ditch, their equipment when they enter

the water,” said Major Rick Storm, assistant professor of military science. “It’s a warrior ethos based event.”

The CWST consists of three different trials. First, the cadets must swim unassisted for 15 meters.

“They have their load carrying equipment (LCE), which is their magazine pouches, canteens, compass, first aid pouch, full uniform, minus the boots and their M-4 carbine,” Major Storm described.

The second event is the

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

A cadet swims with his decoy M-4 carbine rifle as part of the Combat Water Survival See ROTC I page 2 Test that occurred in the Kinesiology annex pool.

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NEWS

March 15, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

‘Fight for Idaho, fight for us'

Students protest cuts to education outside Capitol

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

About 40 students rallied on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol Thursday to protest cuts to Idaho’s public universities.

SHANNON MORGAN Editor in Cheif

Dozens of students from state universities decided to rally on the Capitol steps Thursday to protest budget cuts and “skyrocketing tuition.”

One picket sign read, “I need my higher edumication.” Student’s chanted phrases such as, “No more

budget cuts."

According to the Idaho Statesman, higher education will receive about $68 million less in tax revenue than it did two years ago if the budget proposed by the Legislature's budget-writing committee is passed for next school year.

“Spending from the state general fund will fall 14 percent from this year, and overall funding will fall 8

percent. As a result, the universities are seeking tuition and fee increases between 9.9 percent and 12.4 percent next school year,” the Statesman reported.

Idaho State University student David Scott wanted the Legislature to know how that impacts students.

“Eighty percent of students at ISU are on financial aid, accruing thousands and thousands of dollars in debt,” Scott said. “That is not acceptable.”

ISU student body president, Ross Knight was one of the students who spoke to the small crowd of students and media on the steps of the Capitol. “It’s important we fight for our education,” Knight said.

“Higher costs are forcing us out of the system or into a higher debt load. It’s in Idaho’s best interest to invest in the future.”

ISU student Max Pond said most students realize these are difficult economic times for everyone, but worries about the impact cuts to education will have on the future of Idaho’s economy and feels Idaho has its priorities wrong.

“We’re not trying to be unrealistic. We know times are hard. But I don’t think cuts need to be this steep. It’s a priority issue,” Pond said.

When The Arbiter asked what things the Legislature should cut instead of education, Pond replied, “I haven’t

looked at the budget. I don’t know specifically. But I’m taking 21 credits; it’s not my job to come up with a solution for this. It's their job.”

Other students in attendance worried about the impact the rising cost of higher education will have on American society in general.

“Education is the great equalizer,” ISU graduate student Tom Briggs said. “It should not be something only the rich can afford.”

A majority of students in attendance at Thursday's rally were from ISU and made the three and a half hour drive to Boise, despite it being their midterm week.

“Rescheduling a midterm is hard to do. But showing a united front is part of the process,” Briggs said.

ISU students wondered why not many BSU students had attended the rally.

“Where is Boise State’s presence,” Pond asked.

Knight said Boise State Associated Student Body President, Trevor Grigg, was extended the invitation for Boise State students to attend Thursday’s protest.

The Arbiter was only able to locate one Boise State student at the rally, political science major Jason Denizak.

He wanted to hear what the ISU students had to say and what response they would get from the Legislature.

“The fact that they’re out here at all is an indicator of how serious the situation

PRSSA proposes expense approval changes DAVID GASCH Journalist

A recent but failed attempt to support the Haiti relief has created a call for change.

The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) at Boise State requested the ability to make and sell stickers to support Haiti, but after lost paperwork and an untimely processing procedure, the urgency no longer exists. They sent a memo to the Student Leadership and Involvement Center and AS-

BSU to request a change from the current four-week preapproval period to a shorter one-week interval.

“If the process is one week, submitting paperwork a week prior would not be leaving it until the last minute,” ASBSU Secretary of Personnel Recruitment, Gloria Miller, said. “It would be following appropriate procedure for approval.”

The PRSSA submitted a proposal on Jan. 20 to create stickers for Haiti relief. When they followed up on Jan. 22,

the paperwork had been lost.

They resubmitted the proposal on Jan. 26. The PRSSA is currently still waiting for approval.

They feel that the fundraiser would no longer be timely and that this process is unacceptable.

As Boise State semesters last 15 weeks, its students, including the PRSSA, believe that four weeks is too much time to fit in other activities throughout the semester.

Also, major concern is that funds for trips, events, fundraisers and expenses that are contingent on timely matters (such as Haiti relief ) should not be missed because of the approval process. And although the time frame is currently four weeks, events and trips could be pushed back even longer.

“Approval is the first step that takes place when planning events, fundraisers, or travel," Miller said. "Student groups are actually on hold for up to six weeks while waiting for approval."

Though the student senate does not control the approval process, they can work to persuade a change from those who can at Boise State. In

the past, the PRSSA has had to follow up with assistant director of Student Activities, Charlie Varland, to receive funds. PRSSA hopes to make the process more efficient to better the experience for students involved with campus organizations.

Varland responded to their request.

"After receiving this letter from PRSSA, I reached out to them immediately and I look forward to working with them to improve processes and procedures for all student organizations," Varland said.

The PRSSA hopes that the shortened time period will increase student creativity and participation, as well as streamline the process. They believe that many of the 177 official student organizations on campus feel similarly and have experienced the same issues.

Still, the PRSSA thinks that the suggested reform would prove better for all involved.

As they said, being able to explore ideas and engage in activities that prepare us for the future is a vital part of what Boise State University student organizations are all about.

we’re dealing with is,” Denizak said.

When asked how he felt about the proposed 9.9 percent tuition increase for Boise State students, Denizak said, “It’s needed to keep classes and services intact.

Every dollar cut from State funding means it’s transferred to us. It’s a really interesting way to balance the budget.

They shift the cost burden from the states budget to ours, the students debt.”

After several students spoke on the steps of the Capitol building, the group went inside to offer testimony to the Senate’s Education Committee.

Members of the committee commended students for coming to speak to them.

Committee Vice Chairman Dean Mortimer complimented them for being professional and courteous, and for removing their hats.

The Committee seemed to share the concern of the students.

“You are speaking to the choir here,” Senator Chuck Winder said.

Members of the committee assured students that

they too were anxious about the future of education in Idaho.

Senator Edgar Malepeai said, “There is not a person here who does not support K-12 and higher education.”

“The research component of our Universities must be maintained. We know that,” Malepeai said.

ISU student Mathew Bloxam asked the committee to have vision.

“Managers see the now.

Leaders see 10 years down the road. Education is the only way the state will have a future," Bloxam said.

“Fight for Idaho, fight for us.”

Senator Winder agreed.

“We need to have a vision for education in Idaho for 10 to 20 years out, Winder said. “The young students here today give me hope for the future.”

Senator Monty Pearce assured the students the Legislature was doing the best it could to navigate the budget shortfalls and said, “I wish I could tell you it will be better next year but I don’t believe it."

“It’s going to be a slow crawl out of this.”

Go to arbiteronline.com to watch a video of the Thursday rally and to place your vote on The Arbiter's tuition increase poll.

Submerged

To see the underwater video that details the tasks of the CWST, look for the ROTC article at arbiteronline.com

ROTC [News page 1] five meter drop where the cadets are blindfolded and then jump into the pool.

“Its like simulating being in the water in unknown circumstances, kind of a shock. (Cadets) must retain control of the weapon and swim to the side of the pool," Storm said.

The final CWST test is the 'unexpected water entry', where cadets are fully submerged with their LCEs. They must completely remove their vests and drop their weapon to resurface clear of their equipment.

The canteens remain empty, increasing their buoyancy to force the cadets to stay submerged longer.

"I can float if I need to and I can sink if I need to, so I am kinda lucky to have that body type," said Cadet Joel Kloseer, a third year trainee. "Some people can't sink or float to save their lives, which can make CWST difficult."

To complete the morning's training, all the cadets entered the deep end for a five minute session of treading water.

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OPINION

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March 15, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Homeless for a day

THE BUZZKILL

JFAC

ALLEN SPURGEON Journalist

At 6 a.m. last Tuesday, I stepped out my front door armed with nothing but a pad of paper and a pen.

Dressed in an old flannel shirt and a pair of ratty cargo pants, I was ready to be homeless for a day. After scrounging up some cardboard from a dumpster, I made my way to the Albertsons on Broadway.

Unfortunately, I started too late in the morning. Sitting on a grassy knoll outside the Albertsons parking lot, I witnessed a plethora of shoppers driving in and out. But by the time I finished making my sign, “Anything will help God bless,” the stream of cars had slowed to a trickle. My sign complete, I staked my spot on the corner and begged for my breakfast.

After five and a half hours passed, I had received more insults than donations. “Get a job,” followed by some type of profanity was the most popular remark, and the least original. The most hateful comment came from a middleaged white guy, who, I believe, had not taken kindly to the "God bless" appendix on my sign. He informed me, “You are cursed to the hell YOU brought on yourself.” Then he quickly drove off, which didn’t bother me in the slightest because who wants to be in the company of someone like that? Initially I found the rude comments humorous, but their abasing nature soon began to wear me down.

While negative slurs and derision were more commonplace, donations also trickled in. One kindly old lady wouldn’t roll her window down the entire way, but was willing to stick a dollar bill out of the slit for me to run over and retrieve.

Small pocket change was the usual donation, but like my sign said, “Anything will help.”

By 2:30 p.m., when the lunch time rush died down, I had managed to raise $3.23, one button, several Albertsons receipts, and one peppermint candy (which had served as my breakfast and lunch) and I was ready for a meal. After

Thanks for screwing us JOSH GAMBLE Columnist

This week, the Weekly Buzz Kill is going local -- right here in little ol' Boise. I’m taking a break from whining about society as a whole and focusing in on the Idaho State Legislature. More specifically, I’m looking at the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (JFAC).

Congratulations, JFAC, you’ve managed to do something irritating enough to tear my gaze away from pissing off conservatives and onto you. It’s like you just slipped on Sauron’s ring and now the Buzz Kill Nazgul are on your tail. But enough with my redundant lead -- what the hell are you guys thinking?

Last week, JFAC decided that higher education doesn’t really need all of the state funding it has to work with, so they proposed cutting an extra $32 million out of the budget. In response, a group of students from various Idaho colleges marched on the Capitol Building on Mar. 10, carrying signs with slogans like “We’re already poor,” “Don’t price us out of education” and “Us Idahoans need our higher edumacation.”

Thanks to budget cuts, students from BSU and ISU are both facing tuition increases at around 10 percent.

For the record, that’s more than I make per paycheck. Seriously, JFAC, college kids are one of the poorest groups of people. Don’t you watch television? We’re struggling to make ends meet, pay the rent, and afford text books (which are a total racket, but that’s a rant for another day) all the while taking on debt before we even have a career. It’s like pumping a dry-docked ship full of water and then tossing into the sea.

Look, I know times are tough and we’re all tightening our belts. I know you’re making some hard decisions.

However, being able to afford college is hard enough as-is. The more expensive you make it, the fewer people who will start showing up. A college education is becoming increasingly essential to make a decent living in America or when trying to get a job outside of the service sector.

So here’s my solution (and I know it’s nowhere near this simple): let loose all the potheads. You’ll reduce the number of inmates in Idaho prisons, and if you impose a fine for possession, instead of jail time, you’ll make money off of them. Then, take that money saved and put it towards colleges. You’re spending money on potheads either way, but at least this way you’re doing something productive with them.

We’re broke, you’re broke. That’s just the way it is right now. It’s cliché, but students are the future of America, and we need a hand up to get there. It takes state funding to keep higher education affordable. American universities, including Idaho’s universities, represent golden opportunities for both the individual and the nation. Isn’t that what America stands for? Don’t take that opportunity away from America. Don’t take it away from us.

Want to contact me directly? Find me at www.twitter.com/arbitergamble or send me an e-mail to onlinecoordinator@arbiteronline.com.

MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER

Arbiter journalist Allen Spurgeon panhandles as he tries to walk in another man's shoes for a day.

You are cursed to the hell YOU brought on yourself. purchasing exactly $3.23 worth of deli meat, and getting a few weird looks in the process, I went outside and found a quiet corner behind Albertsons to eat. I was getting tired of all the abrasive comments and disapproving looks and needed a break.

Behind the store I met a harmless looking gentleman who called himself Rex. After comparing signs and exchanging pleasantries, I told him that I was writing an article about being homeless for a day, and asked if he had any input. After bribing him with most of my recently acquired meal, he was more than happy to answer my questions.

His most interesting comment was, “Too bad you weren’t out here the other day.”

“You mean the day it was raining?” I inquired slightly perplexed.

He seemed like a nice enough guy,

but maybe he was angry that I was just a ‘fair weather’ homeless person.

“Yeah,” he replied, “big bucks on rainy days. You get use to the wet and the cold but people feel more sorry for you when it rains and it snows.” And with over 15 years of experience, he should know.

I talked with Rex for a while longer then we went and "hit the evening rush." Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. I made almost double my morning income, $6.15, and with far fewer insults. At 6 p.m. I said a parting farewell to Rex, left him with the contents of my cup, and trudged home. Tired, hungry, and very cold, I arrived home a short time later, glad that my day of being homeless was over.

My 12-hour stint of being homeless gave me a small glimpse of the truly desperate world these people live in. Considering they live this

life day in and day out, the pain and degradation must be almost unbearable. On Nov. 18, Bethann Stewart of the Idaho Statesman reported that in October, there were anywhere between 2,000 and 4,500 homeless people in Boise on any given night.

That is an increase from 2007 where it was estimated that anywhere between 2,020 and 3,078 people experienced homelessness in Ada County over the course of the year.

Next time you see someone sitting on a street corner try to put yourself in their shoes. Then realize their situation is probably significantly worse, so have a little compassion.

Maybe it means that you will have to forgo a soda the next time you pass a vending machine, but you can be happy knowing that you helped someone survive.

State funding cuts mean higher student fees

GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER

Concerned students from Idaho universities protest proposed budget cuts to higher education Thursday.

JASON DENIZAC Guest Opinion

Okay, I get it: students in Idaho aren't much for protest. We are too busy with our lives to harbor much discontent. Worse still, we take it for granted that tuition will keep

going up every year by leaps and bounds. As a result, we as students let the legislature walk all over us.

It's no secret tuition has been rising, and fast. Faster than inflation, faster even than healthcare costs.

Fulltime resident student fees for one semester in fall 2003 were

$1,625. This past fall, they had risen 50 percent to $2,432. Inflation for the same period was just 17 percent.

In 2003, the earliest data available from the Boise State Budget Web site (http://finaid.boisestate. edu/budget), Boise State University received $72.7 million in state funding. Student fees brought in $50.7 million. By the current 2010 budget, state funding remained stagnant at $78.8 million, while student fees climbed to $84.5 million. For too long, the prevailing argument has been that universities have other funding sources, so it's easier to cut state funding. Other funding sources? That means our tuition.

The state is balancing its budget on our backs. And since most students at Boise State depend on financial aid, much of that tuition is in the form of debt.

Not only is the state cutting the quality of our education through decreased funding, it is setting up our generation to graduate with

thousands of dollars in student debt all while in an uncertain job market.

It's no secret that many of our best and brightest leave Idaho after high school. Many are enticed to stay in-state due to the affordability of our universities. If Idaho is to keep its most talented and productive citizens, it must show a commitment to fully funding our public universities.

Very few of my fellow students were with me at the Capitol on Thursday. But if we want to make sure the legislature knows it can't treat university budgets as its personal piggy bank, we students must make a statement.

The Idaho Student Association is a new group formed for the sake of uniting students from institutions statewide to send a clear message to the state legislature to stop balancing the budget on the backs of students. For more information, check out www.idstudents.org.

Jason Denizac is a senior studying political science.

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Editor

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SPORTS

Journalists Patrick Trujillo David Gasch Chris Bodovinitz Sarah Murphy

OPINION Editor

Journalists Daniel Priddy Brenden Sherry Kayla Bartling Drew Vatchel

CULTURE Nate Green

Journalists Evan Bashir Josh Gamble Ashley Harshbarger Haley Robinson Allen Spurgeon Jessica Swider

Editor

Jennifer Spencer

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SPORTS

Go to arbiteronline.com for spring football coverage, photos, video, Arbiter Sports Talk every Wednesday and Sunday, and Sports Talk with D-Vac

March 15, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

BSU Weekend Round-up:

March 11-14 Courtesy Bronco Sports

Gymnastics place second to Cougars, beat Sun Devils

The No. 22-ranked Boise State gymnastics team competed in their final regular season road competition on Friday night (March 12) in the Brigham Young Triangular at the Smith Fieldhouse.

The Broncos (12-2, 4-0 WAC) were surprised by host team and No. 35-ranked BYU, placing second to the Cougars by .425 points. BYU earned the top spot with a team total of 195.725, a season-high, while Boise State placed second with a score of 195.30 and No. 26-ranked Arizona State placed third with a 193.625 score.

Boise State was able to post a season-best mark of 49.30 on bars, also tying for the fourth-best score on the apparatus in school history. They earned a team score of 49.250, good for No. 6 in the record books while also posting marks of 48.0 on beam and 48.750 on floor as a team.

The Broncos were led by junior Hannah Redmon, senior Taylor Jacob and redshirt sophomore Amy Glass who all captured event wins.

Redmon led the competition on vault, earning a 9.875 score to win her 14th career title on vault as well as her fifth victory this season on the event. She currently holds the No. 4 spot in the career vault wins at Boise State, moving within one of tying for third place (held by Cherianne Calkins, 1988-90, 15 wins) with Friday night’s win. Her fifth win of the season moves her to a tie for No. 7 in single season vault titles at Boise State.

Women’s tennis continues unblemished home record The No. 46 Boise State women’s tennis team earned its’ fifth consecutive win as the Broncos also managed to keep their recordperfect at home (5-0) this spring with a 5-2 win over Brigham Young University, Saturday (March 13) afternoon, at the BOAS Indoor Tennis Center.

The Broncos (8-4) were able to gain an early advantage over the Cougars (4-7) by winning the doubles point, which proved to be important as BYU gave Boise State all it could handle in singles competition.

Boise State earned doubles wins at No. 2 and No. 3 to secure the first point of the dual. Elyse Edwards and Bianca Jochimsen beat Elle Carney and Chie Hayasaka, 8-2, in the No. 3 match, giving the Broncos a split of the first two doubles matches. With the doubles point hanging in the balance, Stephanie Jasper and Marlena Pietzuch recorded a big 8-6 win over Kristina Doerr and Romina Nedakovic to give Boise State the advantage heading into singles action.

The Broncos quickly extended their lead in the dual as Jasper beat Hayasaka, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 4 and Jochimsen took down Nedakovic, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 3. That meant the Broncos needed just one more win in the final four singles matches to secure the victory.

After dropping the No. 1 singles match, Boise State was finally able to seal the win as Pietzuch beat Carney, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 6. The Broncos would extend their lead to 5-1 as Lauren Megale completed an exciting 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 comeback win over Doerr in the No. 2 match.

BYU would narrow the final score with a win at No. 5, in the final match of the dual. The score was simply too late to matter, however.

Men’s tennis upset in San Diego

The No. 66 ranked Boise State men’s tennis team suffered a surprising upset, Saturday (March 13) afternoon, as the Broncos’ overall record dropped to 5-5 with a 5-2 loss against San Diego State (2-7) in San Diego, Calif.

Boise State fell behind early, losing the doubles point after dropping the first two doubles matches of the day.

The Broncos did score one doubles win as Alex Bothe and James Meredith beat Juan Gomez and Luis Rattenhuber, 9-8 (7), at No. 1. SDSU would head into singles with the early advantage, however, forcing Boise State to win four of six singles matches to win the dual.

In the first singles match of the day, Harry Skinner pulled the Broncos even with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Rattenhuber in the No. 3 singles match. After falling behind again, Filipp Pogostkin recorded another point for the Broncos with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Giovanni Vaglietti at No. 4 to even the score once again at 2-2.

Unfortunately for head coach Greg Patton, that is where the Broncos run would end on the day as SDSU scored wins at No. 1, No. 5 and No. 6 to complete the upset.

N O S T A L G I A A look back at the best of WAC football DANIEL PRIDDY Journalist

T

he legions of fans who compose the fabric that is “Bronco Nation” are a passionate and opinionated set of individuals who are never shy about expressing viewpoints on the football program they hold so dear.

From the most popular sports pubs on Broadway Avenue, to the most obscure bars in the outskirts of Nampa, the most frequent topic of conversation revolves around one question: When is Boise State going to leave the Western Athletic Conference (WAC)?

These words have echoed across the Treasure Valley ever since Boise State defeated Oklahoma in the famous Fiesta Bowl of 2007.

It is a question born from BSU fans' unwavering belief that the Broncos can compete at the nation’s highest level.

The achievements that the Broncos have enjoyed over the decade are so monumental that it is only natural for Bronco fans to want their team to take a place as the “real deal” in one of the major BCS conferences.

BSU fans are eager to see their team remove the mask of the perpetual underdog and take its place as crowned royalty in college football.

However, what they sometimes forget is that the WAC has been the central basis of BSU’s athletic operation -- the main source of all the Bronco’s glory and achievement.

BSU’s place in the WAC is something we ought to embrace, not turn away from.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson stated that while he feels it is true that “Boise State is the most dominate team in WAC

history,” he was very quick to point out that long before BSU was a D1 team, “the WAC was making greatness a part its tradition.”

Although it is true the WAC is a so-called “mid-major” conference, we must not forget that it has a grand history of its own. For more than 30 years, the teams the WAC has fielded have been a jagged thorn in the side of the giants of college football.

The WAC has been home to numerous top-15 teams, a national championship, a Heisman trophy winner and is a conference where more than one NFL legend got his start.

Steve Young and LaDainian Tomlinson are just a couple of the many professionals who once called the WAC home.

“The WAC is a maverick league,” said Benson, referring to the unorthodox but effective style that has come to epitomize WAC football.

Deception, trickeration and innovation have always been key components of the WAC. In the 1970s and 1980s, the majority of the big name teams utilized what is now an obsolete offensive formation known as the “Wishbone.”

The basics of the wishbone formation entailed running the ball on nearly every play, utilizing running backs as bulldozers, smashing their way through the middle or breaking hard to the outside, forcing defenses into one-onone match ups.

In the late 1970s BYU coach, LaVell Edwards, defied convention with the implementation of the “Dropback” offense.

Rather than attempting to force his spry team into becoming bruisers, the Cougars took to the air, throwing larger opponents into confusion with a dazzling aerial

attack. The development emphasized speed over power, precision over brute strength and innovation over convention. The Cougars used their opponent’s size against them, out thinking them at every turn and forcing them to adjust to a style of play they were unprepared for.

This approach worked wonders for the Cougars. They ended up establishing their own decade of dominance in the late 1970s and 1980s.

The Cougar’s unorthodox style of play reached its zenith in 1984. The Cougars kicked off their 1984 season by defeating the No. 3 Pitt, and finished it with an upset victory over Michigan in the Holiday Bowl.

This led to a national championship and a Heisman trophy award for quarterback Ty Detmer.

The Cougars were not as prone to “gadget” plays as the Broncos, but they had to endure assertions that it was their tricky form of play (as opposed to raw talent) that led to the Cougar’s success.

This is similar to the accusations that Boise State would not have beaten Oklahoma without "trick" plays.

Benson put it best when he said, “I always tell people that those trick plays worked against one of the best defenses in the country. Deception is a part of football.”

Under the WAC banner, the Utah Utes had their own moments of excellence. While in the WAC, the Utes defeated Arizona in the 1994 Freedom Bowl and climbed as high as No. 8 in the college football rankings.

Other WAC teams, including the TCU Horned Frogs, Hawai'i Warriors and Fresno State Bulldogs, have all recorded highly publi-

cized victories against bigtime opponents.

In the 1990s, the WAC endured a tremendous amount of upheaval and Commissioner Benson deserves a lot of credit for holding the conference together. Previously the WAC had a 16-team membership, but the conference began to splinter when top notch programs such as BYU, Utah and TCU left for the Mountain West Conference.

“It looked like the rug had been pulled out from under the WAC,” Benson said.

It was at this crucial juncture the Fresno State Bulldogs stepped up with a couple big years, nearly making a run at a BCS bowl berth with a string of big wins. Benson has not forgotten those years.

“I give Fresno State and head coach Pat Hill a lot of credit for carrying the water for the WAC,” Benson said.

It was this success BSU built on, allowing them to begin its decade of dominance.

The term “mid-major” is a vulgar expression. It implies the mid-majors are minor league teams in a sport where the BCS conference teams are in the major leagues.

Division I football is a league unto itself. The Broncos may have to live with the term “mid-major,” but it is obvious that there is a wide gap between the WAC and other smaller midmajor conferences.

According to Benson, “what clearly separates the WAC from the Sun Belt or MAC conferences is that in a two year period, starting in 2006, we had back-to-back BCS berths with Boise State and Hawaii, and in 2008 Boise State deserved a BCS berth but did not get it. We very easily could of and should have had four straight BCS years.”

Arnos places eighth at nationals

Boise State track and field senior Zacharias Arnos gave a lifetime best effort on Saturday afternoon (March 13) at the 2010 NCAA Division I National Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Arkansas. Arnos improved his career-best mark in the triple jump to 52-feet, 7.50-inches (16.04-meters) to help him to an eighth-place finish and earn his first AllAmerican honor.

Arnos, who was one of 16 competitors in the event, recorded a jump of 52-feet, 4-inches (15.95-meters) in the first round of jumps. In the second and third rounds of the preliminary jumps, Arnos recorded fouls and had to wait through the second flight of preliminary jumps to affirm his advancement to the finals.

Including Arnos, four jumpers from the first flight advanced to the nine-man finals while five more were added from the second flight. Arnos opened up his final three jumps with a foul, but went on to post his careerbest mark in his second jump of the finals. His third jump of finals and sixth jump of the day was a mark of 52-feet, 3.75-inches (15.94-meters).

Arnos is a two-time qualifier for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but participated in his first-ever indoor championships on Saturday. His highest finish at any NCAA national meet prior to this season was a 22nd-place finish.

Arnos was the only competitor for Boise State at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

Florida sophomore Christian Taylor won the men’s triple jump with a mark of 56-feet, 4.50-inches (17.18-meters).

BUCK OFF

NIK BJUSTROM/THE ARBITER

The Buck Off Climbing Competition held Saturday in the Campus Recreation Center had a good turnout of about 50 people to climb and watch. The event had categories for those of all ages and abilities making it possible for anyone to participate.

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C SPORTS ULTURE

5 B

March 15, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Life away from the field KIRK BELL

Sports Editor

MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER

The Boise State football team warms up during the first week of spring practice.

Spring vocational for veterans TRENT LOOTENS Producer

The amount of time a player spends within Boise State’s football program doesn’t translate exactly to playing time. It must be earned.

Boise State head coach Chris Petersen expects his veteran players to use the knowledge they’ve acquired over the years within the program to help make themselves, and everyone else around them, better this spring.

Even if it potentially means making a younger player better who could possibly take your spot later in the year.

“The number one way guys can learn how to do things is through modeling,” Petersen said. “When you’ve got guys out there doing it the right way it accelerates the process for the younger (inexperienced) guys.”

As we’ve seen in past years, BSU’s coaching staff

isn’t afraid to give young players chances when they deserve them. That continues to reverberate in each player's mind, no matter how safe they think their position may be.

These reasons, along with many others, are why even the most experienced Broncos must continue to get better every spring and show the coaches how much work they’ve put in during the off-season.

“Everyday I’m going out there like I’m a freshman,” junior safety, George Iloka, said. “Coach (Marcel) Yates is on me more now because I’m older. He expects more things from me now, and I like that. He wants me to improve everyday.”

The Broncos do not have a shortage of experience or leadership going into spring ball. BSU returns 22-of-24 starters from the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, along with several other experienced players at just about every position.

Petersen hopes hav-

ing players with game experience in pressure situations will allow the coaches to focus more on the details rather than the X’s and O’s during early season practices.

“It makes it a lot easier when you can put guys out there who know how it’s supposed to look, and other guys can follow through with it,” Petersen said.

What Petersen doesn’t want to see are players feeling like they’ve "been there done that" and not going full speed.

Some of the players even admit it’s hard not to loaf around at the beginning of spring drills because of the repetition over the years and the slow pace.

Spring practices are meant to be basic so the players can get used to contact and proper technique. The veterans are considered the tone setters during practices and the new guys focus on the speed of the game and how to adjust accordingly. The

older players assist in making the transition as easy as possible for the freshmen.

“Our older guys will help those young guys and know that it could hurt them a little bit, but I think when you’re truly a team and are in it for the right reasons those are the things they will do,” Petersen said.

With only three practices in the books the team is extremely pleased with its status. Nearly a dozen players are out with injuries, and that number can change from day to day. Some of them are still battling injuries they’ve had since last season, but it’s not stopping them from participating and contributing.

“I feel like my body is still affected by Jan. 4 (the Fiesta Bowl) a little bit, but that’s what you get for playing football,” senior nickel back, Winston Venable, said.

“You’re body’s always going to be a little dinged up, but there’s time to rest later in life.”

It has been 70 days since the Broncos last played a football game -- that game of course being the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

Football players have earned a well-deserved separation from life and football to relieve their minds and their bodies.

Now the Broncos are back at it, just one week into the spring practices where players have the chance to separate themselves from the good and great performers and to place an emphasis on the most fundamental aspects of football.

But what about those 63-orso days the BSU football team has been away from the field?

There are a variety of ways BSU football players stay committed to their competitive and physical edge. Whether it be friendly rivalry or extra time in the weight room, individual Broncos found ways to make good use of their two months away from the gridiron.

Junior wide receiver Tyler Shoemaker found a couple avenues for off-field activities. He picked up an old love, basketball, as an opportunity to compete with high school friends.

Shoemaker, a Mountain View High School graduate, came to realization that despite being a regular on the field during the 2009-10 season it didn’t quite translate into honed skills on the court.

“As much as it is a break mentally, it’s still fun keeping your body in shape,” Shoemaker said of basketball. “You’re just doing new things that you used to be good at, you thought, and now you think ‘Dang. I’m kind of rusty. I need to practice.’”

Shoemaker looks to other avenues for fitness during the off-season: yoga.

Not just any yoga. The type that picks up the intensity a little called hot yoga.

Shoemaker wanted to work on his flexibility and core strength, both of which are gained through yoga.

Senior linebacker Derrell

Acrey chose to help coach intramural basketball for a competitive outlet. Though he wouldn’t expound on why he didn’t play, he did say it had to do with his aggressive nature on the court.

Acrey also mentioned other activities like bowling that might seem innocent enough but carry some level of spirited and competitive nature.

“It’s very important to stay competitive,” Acrey said. “It’s easy to fall out of that because you just came off the season.

Right now the coach wants you to concentrate on school…”

Junior defensive tackle Billy Winn takes time to shoot pool and bowl with friends but his competitive focus tends to be strictly focused on football.

“I’m all about football,” Winn said. “Off-season’s all about getting better and just learning the system. I’m not into all that intramural stuff.”

“I’m a different person away from the stadium,” Winn said.

“I’m not a competitive person. I’m all about just having fun and hanging out with friends when I’m away from the stadium.”

Winn sees a need for himself and other athletes to step away from competition to avoid burnout.

“You’re having fun when you’re competing but it’s a different kind of fun when you’re with really close friends,” Winn said. “It is fun just to get away from it sometimes and get a little down time…”

With things set aside, BSU football still comes down to the plain and simple concept of business. Most athletes, despite appreciating their down time, are trying to improve on their on-field abilities and find a way to compete with one another whether it be watching film or going head-to-head on the blue.

“When I’m here (I’m) always competing with something whether it be in the meeting rooms competing for the smallest things like who takes better notes,” Winn said.

Greg Graham fired Courtesy Bronco Sports

Greg Graham, the head men’s basketball coach at Boise State University the past eight seasons, has been relieved of his duties and put on administrative leave.

Boise State Director of Athletics Gene Bleymaier made the announcement today (March 12).

Graham took over the helm of the men’s program prior to the 2002-03 season and guided the Broncos to an overall record of 142-112 during his tenure at Boise State.

This past season (2009-10) Boise State completed the seaNIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER son with an overall record of Greg Graham was an 15-17 and a record of 5-11 in the assistant coach at the Western Athletic Conference.

University of Oregon The Broncos were knocked out before coming to BSU. of the first round of the league

11

$

postseason tournament this past Thursday (March 11) when regular season champion Utah State handed the team an 84-60 loss.

“We appreciate everything that Coach Graham and his staff have contributed to Boise State the past eight years,” Bleymaier stated. “We felt that in the best interest of the program we needed to make a change.”

Prior to joining the Bronco program, Graham was an assistant coach at the University of Oregon (1997-02 & 1982-83), St. Mary’s (1992-97), San Diego State (198992), San Jose State (1985-89) and the University of New Mexico (1983-84). He also served as the head coach for one season (198485) at Western New Mexico.

Boise State has started a national search to replace Graham.

Ticket

Present your valid BSU student ID at the Qwest Arena Box Office to recieve your $11 ticket and free small beer or soda coupon.

Limit two per ID.

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

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The Future

BY NANCY BLACK & STEPHANIE CLEMENT Tribune Media Services

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8 -- You may not have a PowerPoint presentation, but you have a powerful message to deliver.

Add sugar to make the medicine go down.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7 -- Although harmony is in the ear of the beholder, you choose to power your way to gratification. They put a soft pedal on the piano for a reason. Use it to tone it down.

Today is a 7 -- The office despot arrives early and stays late. Create a diversion with a female associate or friend. Chatter abounds. Distract with chocolate.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6 -- Prepare for the drill sergeant to run everyone ragged.

Extra effort is needed to please a powerful female. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to get creative today.

Today is a 6 -- Redirecting your mind to the task at hand takes some doing today. Get practical, and get going on necessary changes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be worth it.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 6 -- Share your weekend experiences with the female who set you on the right path. Notice how much more relaxed you are?

Today is a 5 -- Add feminine touches to your home (even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a home full of guys). Water the plants and check supplies. Everyone benefits today from a softer touch.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Today is a 7 -- Your partner puts everything into perspective. The new view includes more harmonious furnishings in a room the two of you will share.

Today is a 5 -- To love your neighbor, you must take care of yourself first. Work out a win-win agreement, then fulfill your end of the bargain.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Today is a 7 -- Break out of a dull pattern at work and bring in some new data to shake things up. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take long for people to get the picture.

Today is a 7 -- Your associates believe they have the final say, yet an older person has reserved veto power. Focus your persuasion on that person.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

___

Today is an 8 -- Clear the decks in order to do all your work as quickly as possible. Order in your work environment goes a long way.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

(c) 2009, Tribune Media Services Inc.

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CULTURE

Go to arbiteronline.com to listen to The Arbiter's interview with Biffy Clyro's James Johnston and video coverage of Rail Jam 2010

March 15, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Rail Jam brings out the

BOARDERS

MARGARET REIMER Journalist

Snow during March isn't unusual in Boise, but several tons of it is.

The Campus Rail Jam Tour drew hundreds of students last Thursday to the east Stadium parking lot. The tour tows snow to campuses across the country so snowboarders have the chance to savor the last of winter.

The white stuff cascaded down a sloped platform as snow bums

grinded down two parallel rails during the event.

However, the sunny weather began to cause problems.

“You’re gonna run out of snow pretty soon!,” shouted someone in the crowd.

Despite mother nature's crashing of the party, prize giveaways and a DJ tent kept the crowd energized.

“I think it’s a fun thing to bring to campus,” said Elyse Ballweber, a junior communication major. “I ski, but I’d never do this.”

7

Some marveled at the dangerousness of the sport.

“I would probably break bones if I tried that,” said Yhindi Struthers, a sophomore sociology major.

The tour’s next destinations include college campuses in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Washington, Nevada, California and Oregon.

To learn more about the Campus Rail Jam Tour, visit their Web site at campusrailjamtour.com.

Jennifer Spencer contributed to this article.

An adventure seeking snowboarder grinds down an icy rail during Thursday's Rail Jam Tour.

NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER

PHOTO COURTESY BIFFY CLYRO

Biffy Clyro will play their set Monday, March 15, at the Knitting Factory.

Scotland's Biffy Clyro invades Boise MATT DALLEY Journalist

Steadily gaining a colossal fan base in their native Scotland, Biffy Clyro have now set their sights on America. “Only Revolutions,” the group’s fifth and most recent release, has sold over 100,000 copies and was subsequently certified gold in the U.K. The album leans towards the more poppy end of rock music and emphasizes big, anthemesque choruses.

The trio will make a stop at The Knitting Factory on Monday, March 15 while supporting Manchester Orchestra. Calling-in from San Francisco, bassist James Johnston gave The Arbiter the low-down.

Arbiter: How has this tour been so far?

Johnston: It’s been great. We’ve done four shows.

We started in Tempe, Ariz. and we had a couple of shows in L.A. the last couple of nights... The crowds seem to come out pretty early for these shows… so we’re getting a pretty big audience every night. Everybody seems to be enjoying it, so we’re having a great time.

A: What do you think of the other bands you’re playing with?

J: They’re good. They’re really interesting. I think it’s boring when you get a whole bunch of bands that sound exactly the same and I think there’s a little bit of variety here -- which is good. The first band going on is a band called O' Brother. They give the crowd a lot of instrumental sections and really nice, kind of soundscapes. And then The Features, who I’m sure you’ve heard of. We only heard them for the first time on this tour, but they get some really beautiful songs with a bit of a zany twist to them. They’re all great bands and it’s nice to be a part of it.

A: Do you get very much time to interact with fans at concerts?

J: Yeah, I think so. When we’re playing in the states, we’re playing smaller shows. It’s a little bit tough back home, the shows are kind of getting bigger. I think we’re playing to 5,000 people in London and Glasgow and stuff. It’s a little bit difficult to go out and meet people. But having said that, people are really nice, there’s just too many of them in one go. But we do like to come out and meet the people and see what they thought about the show and see what they think. I think it’s important to definitely try and meet the fans if you get the chance.

A: The big shows you mentioned in Europe, are you headlining those?

J: Yes, they’re headlines. We have not spent a lot of time in the states, so we don’t expect to be playing for a lot of people immediately. We’re prepared to be spending our time working our way up. That’s what we did in the U.K. and Europe. You obviously don’t start out playing to thousands of people so we just build things up slowly over five records. We’re lucky enough to play to a lot of people now. But it’s not all about numbers, its about how much you enjoy it and we enjoy every part of it. If it were only about playing huge shows, then we would be in the U.K., doing shows there. We want to kind of spread our wings and explore the horizon a bit.

It’s murder calling Gaga: the debut of 'Telephone'

JENNIFER SPENCER Culture Editor

What do Diet Coke can hairdos, Kill Bill throwbacks, poisoned waffles and scandalous patriotic attire have in common? One word: Gaga.

Lady Gaga and Beyonce debuted their nine-minute cinematic vision, “Telephone,” Thursday. The video racked up 500,000 Internet views in 12 hours, according to New Musical Express.

The homicidal, “Thelma and Louise” style romp begins where the “Paparazzi” video left off. Gaga is in jail following the murder of her psychotic, fame-hungry boyfriend. However, this is no ordinary prison, it’s a prison for bitches. Thus scantily clad, heavily tattooed, bi-curious women line up to witness Gaga getting marched to her cell. However, she is soon ripped out of her broadshouldered, zebra-striped prison ensemble by the hefty female guards.

One of the beefy women remarks on Gaga’s surprising lack of male genitalia as Gaga leaps onto the cell bars with only electrical tape and a trans-

parent thong covering her nono parts.

Gaga rebounds in the prison yard with a pair of sunglasses studded with lit cigarettes and heavy chains circling her torso.

Most of the “bitches” outwardly shun her, but she naughtily befriends a genderless James Dean wannabe, stealing her (his?) cell phone.

Now in the prison “common area,” a ruthless fight breaks out between two women.

However, Gaga, sporting curlers made of Diet Coke cans, remains unconcerned. Suddenly, Beyonce calls her on the prison phone and here is where the music part of the music video kicks in.

Gaga and her troupe of promiscuous fellow inmates gyrate to the beat in fishnets and leather lingerie. However, Gaga soon returns to her normal style attire (an oversized floppy hat and tourniquet style blouse) as she is bailed out of the slammer by Honey B (Beyonce). “You’ve been a bad girl. A very, very bad, bad girl, Gaga,” Beyonce scolds.

After biting into a 711 style Honey Bun, the two speed off in the P*ssy Wagon from “Kill

Bill” fame.

“You sure you wanna do this, Honey B?” Gaga inquires.

“What do you mean, am I sure?” Beyonce replies.

“You know what they say, once you kill a cow, you gotta make a burger.”

After this curious exchange, the pair stops at a diner in the middle of the desert. Beyonce, complete with a school-busyellow dress and cowboy hat, greets her man (played by model/actor, Tyrese Gibson).

While he starts a fight with a Harley Davidson riding, mustached Latino and slaps a random girl’s booty, Beyonce slips a little blue poison into his coffee.

Unexpectedly, we see Gaga in the kitchen, a mangled aqua marine old fashion telephone on her head. She sings while heavily eye lined and well toned male dancers prance around with heads of lettuce and loafs of French bread.

“Let’s make a sandwich!” a graphic onscreen declares as Gaga slathers mayonnaise on rows of white bread.

Next, we see Beyonce’s boytoy coughing after sipping his tainted beverage and Gaga in

the kitchen on Poison TV. She sprinkles various kinds of poison in the food a la Julia Child.

Gaga, with a yellow telephone handset strapped to her face, delivers the food to the unsuspecting chauvinist. He sputters and dies on the table while the rest of the patrons soon follow suit. After all this murder, what to do now? If you’re Beyonce and Gaga, you break out the red, white and blue bathing suits and dance in the middle of the slaughter.

A news report flashes the faces of the recording stars as wanted criminals as they screech out of town. Being on the run from the law doesn’t stop the girls from shakin’ it as they dance, draped in billowy satin from head to toe.

Sirens sound as the women clasp hands, vowing to never come back to the scene of the crime. “To be continued…” pops on the screen, confirming the inevitable sequel.The genius of Gaga lies in her abundant and somewhat disturbing creativity. “Telephone” epitomizes the Gaga trademark: outrageous, outlandish and over the top. To view the video, visit ladygaga.com/telephone.

MCT CAMPUS

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