April 8, 2010

WHAT’S INSIDE

NEWS 1–2

SPORTS 4–5

OPINION 3

CULTURE 7–8 I SSU E

53

The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933

Volume 22

First Issue

F R E E APRIL 08, 2010

BSU is home to a national champion!

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3

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Chatroulette: Obscene or not?

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ARBITERONLINE.COM

Non-traditional student profile

8

Remember to vote for ASBSU elections on BroncoWeb! The deadline is midnight tonight.

State Board of Education approves BSU tuition increase

MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER

Advertisements for the Beat Pete scholarship run can be found at several local businesses.

Get ready to BEAT PETE BRENDAN SHERRY Journalist

Football coach and local icon Chris Petersen will lace up his running shoes this Saturday for the third annual Beat Coach Pete Scholarship Run. The Race will start at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Campus Recreation Center and end at Bronco Stadium. The course winds its way through campus and along the Boise city greenbelt. Participants will race up to Ann Morrison Park, coming back through Julia Davis Park and cross the Friendship Bridge, completing a nearly three mile circle.

Proceeds from the race will benefit Boise State’s General Scholarship fund. In addition to the proceeds, Petersen will donate $5 for every person who beats him across the finish line.

Early registration for the

NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER

Students gather on the steps of the Idaho Capitol. On Monday, the State Board of Education approved a nine percent tuition hike for Boise State students.

REBECCA DELEON Journalist

After deliberating for nine hours, the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) approved the nine percent tuition increase Boise State requested for the next fiscal year.

The SBOE approval of the budget BSU proposed means they also approved the funding cut for Boise State radio and the student lecture series in addition to raising fulltime tuition by nine percent while decreasing part-time tuition by eight percent.

There were few areas that budget committee members could cut, so deciding where to reduce expenditures was a lengthy process.

Boise State President Bob Kustra, the SBOE and representatives from other universities at the meeting praised

ASBSU President Trevor Grigg for constructing a budget that allowed funding cuts for student activity fees -- a nearly unprecedented feat no other university was able to do.

“I’m not in favor of tuition increases,” Grigg said in front of the SBOE concerning funding approval. “But we’re thankful for the money we do get.”

Kustra expressed the need for the increase in tuition.

“The fact of the matter is that there are 49 other states that are also suffering in this fashion,” he said to the board. “It’s been very difficult for them to find funding when the mindset is that there will be no new revenue enhancements.”

Boise State asked for a nine percent increase in full-time student fees, the equivalent of $5,300 and it was granted

by a four-vote majority.

Idaho State University asked for a 9.5 percent increase, and was awarded nine percent. Lewis-Clark State College proposed an 8.7 percent increase, and was awarded the full amount. The University of Idaho requested a 12 percent increase and it was awarded 9.5 percent instead. Eastern Idaho Technical College was given its requested 5.1 percent increase.

SBOE President Paul C. Agidius said the matter boiled down to finding a balance between the needs of the institutions and the ability of the students to absorb additional costs.

“Students and their families, Idahoans, are struggling in this economy,” he said.

“Education is the life line they’re clinging to in many cases. We have to keep that

access to higher education affordable.”

Last year, BSU proposed a five percent increase in state funding; Kustra lamented that this year, they were forced to request more.

“When you look at the fact that the $19 million loss over three years compounded by no enrollment workload adjustment…the consequence of that is a larger tuition increase,” he said.

The SBOE asked Vice President of finance and administration Stacy Pearson why Boise State had not used some of the “substantial” amount of reserve funds it has.

“Reserves are very important to maintain,” Pearson said. “There are other reasons for those reserves.

The university has been re-

race is $10 for students and $20 for non-students. Early registration ends Friday, after which registration will jump to $15 for students and $30 for non-students. The registration fee guarantees participants a T-Shirt and inclusion in a post-race party.

After the race, sponsors and Campus Recreation will provide food, music, prizes and an awards ceremony.

Petersen and other Bronco players will also be on hand to provide autographs following the race.

Registration forms can be found on Campus Recreations' Web site, rec.boisestate.edu. On-site registration will also be available the day of the race from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. Participants will be able to pick up their race packet on the front plaza of Campus Recreation on Friday from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. or before the race Saturday.

Can't make it to the event?

Go to arbiteronline.com to watch the event as it unfolds live in addition to other coverage!

If you are running Saturday, check out our Web site for a video tutorial explaining how to beat Pete.

See TUITION I page 2

'Global Fiesta' this Saturday BENJAMIN MACK News Editor

The International Student Association and International Programs Office is inviting the community to take part in the 31st annual International Food, Song and Dance Festival. “Global Fiesta” begins at 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 10 in the Student Union’s Jordan Ballroom.

The evening will begin with a buffet-style dinner with dishes from around the world. Both vegetarian

and non-vegetarian choices will be available, and dessert will also be served.

After-dinner international entertainment will include a flag parade, a fashion show displaying clothing from several countries and ethnic dancing featuring current international students at Boise State.

Individual tickets for the event are available at Select-a-Seat outlets and cost $16 for adults, and $12 for students with ID and children ages 6-18. Tickets for children 5 and

under are free. A reserved table for eight can be purchased for $150 from the International Programs Office.

For more information, call Christy Babcock at (208) 426-3652.

According to their Web site, the International Programs Office (IPO) is BSU’s “centralized division for international education, developing and managing quality international initiatives, programs, support services, and international partnerships for Boise State University” that

integrates “international education, global perspectives, and cross-cultural knowledge into the university’s academic programs and the community at large.”

Several hundred international students attend Boise State each year, from dozens of different countries, such as France, Germany, India, Ghana, Denmark, Sweden, South Korea, and Japan.

Many BSU students also study abroad through the International Programs Office.

MCT CAMPUS

Spanikopita is a Greek dish that combines spinach and feta cheese in a crispy phyllo crust.

Saturday’s International Food, Song and Dance Festival in the Jordan Ballroom will feature food from around the world.

Boise State’s Student Lecture Series

Where: Morrison Center When: April 15, 6:30 p.m.

Presents:

Cost: Free to students & the community

An Evening with Author & Leadership Expert

Stephen R. Covey Author of the No. 1 most influential business book of the 20th century according to CEO magazine

Watch Covey's lecture streamed live on arbiteronline.com

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com

2

NEWS

April 08, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Geothermal system replaces local fossil fuels use SARAH MURPHY Journalist

Boise State University continues to go green through a partnership with the city of Boise that expands a geothermal system throughout campus.

"The Boise geothermal system is a utility run by the city," said John Gardner, associate vice president for energy research, policy and campus sustainability. "We (BSU) will become a paying customer of the city for that resource."

The planning process started almost 30-years-ago.

“The system was originally designed to go to BSU when it was built in the early '80s,” said Boise’s Geothermal program coordinator, Kent Johnson.

“There were some prob-

lems with the system when it first came online," Johnson said. “Water levels started to drop so that kind of scared everyone off. There was a moratorium issued for any further development so the extension across the river to BSU never happened.”

Local interest in the expansion diminished even when water levels rose back to the original state.

“It’s really been since the early 2000s when we put an injection well in and water levels have been recovering, so we can consider further expansion,” Johnson said.

Community relations supervisor, Vince Trimboli explained the injection well process.

“Injection well means that the water that goes through the system, 100 percent is

injected back into the geothermal aquifer. Whereas before we put the water into the river,” Trimboli said.

According to Johnson, interest increased when a BSU student intern working with him at public works asked him to speak at an engineering club meeting. Another student seeking election for student body president was in attendance and began the process of applying geothermal heating to campus. He sought support for geothermal heating by speaking with representatives from the university and the city to get the ball rolling once more.

For four years, Boise State and the city jointly applied for congressional appropriations but did not receive funds until recently.

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-

Idaho), designated $250,000 for the project in the fiscal year 2008 in a bill that was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“About two years ago we got a small grant through the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) to do some planning and then the next year we got a combination of HUD and DOE (Department of Education) money to construct what we’re calling 'phase one,'” Johnson said.

Phase one includes continuing pipelines across the Boise River up Capitol Avenue toward campus to six buildings: the Morrison Center, the Interactive Learning Center, the Multipurpose Classroom Facility, the Mathematics and Geosciences building, the Administration building and the Student Union building. The projected cost is $3.4 million.

Boise State President Bob Kustra voiced his support and enthusiasm in a statement to the faculty newsletter.

“This initial appropriation is an important step forward in the installation of geothermal heating on the Boise State campus,” Kustra said.

“When the overall project is completed, it will provide a significant benefit to Boise State for heating our expanding infrastructure in a locally available, sustainable manner. The availability of geothermal heating also offers our faculty and students new research opportunities.”

Although it may sound as if everything is being paid for by government grant money, it’s not. To have a DOE grant, the DOE requires 50 percent in local shares.

“Boise State is going to come up with money to help pay for the conversion of the buildings ($800,000) and the city is going to come up with the other money to pay for the pipelines ($400,000),” said Johnson. “To a certain

COURTESY CITY OF BOISE

A map of Boise’s geothermal energy plan. extent, it was money that was going to have to be spent anyway to work on the conversion of the buildings. We thought we had all the money we needed, we kind of had to change the scope of the project. That means now that the DOE grant with local shares is $2.8 million. The HUD grant was $665,000. That not only covers getting the pipe but also the conversion of the buildings.

"Since February, we (were) notified we got phase two, which is basically going to start at the Student Union building and run back over to Broadway Avenue and then connect the system,” Johnson added.

According to Johnson, phase two would also include connecting the Center for Environmental Science and Economic Development building (CESED) as well as possibly the Norco building.

The time frame is as long as the project is big.

“Because of the federal funding we have to go through the federal environmental review process," Johnson said. "We might be able to start the environmental review process in the next couple of weeks, which may take a year. For actually heating buildings, the earliest would be fall 2011."

The education of geother-

mal heating holds a lot of potential. Some residents of Boise generally don’t think of geothermal heating as an option. The interest in the benefits and possibilities of geothermal heating will continue to rise as the idea of going green takes a tighter grasp on the community.

“The fact (is), any time we’re heating with geothermal then we’re probably displacing, in most cases, the burning of fossil fuel. It will be able to provide more renewable energy for community and bring a benefit to the air quality,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, approximately one out of 10 buildings in downtown Boise is heated using geothermal energy.

“It’s still a little bit unusual, different, maybe university students get excited about that but sometimes building holders don’t," Johnson said. "They want to do it the way they’ve done it the last 50 years. That’s why it’s exciting to go over to the university where we have more people interested in looking at the leading edge of stuff."

For more susainability or environmental coverage, visit arbiteronline.com

Tuition [from Front] quired to build most of the new buildings for the addition to academic space using our strategic facility fee system, private funds, and our bonding capacity. In order to maintain good ratings, certainly reserves are something the rating agencies consider

very carefully.”

After presenting the budget proposal and pleading the university's case, she was very relieved to find that the SBOE approved the full funding increase.

“Our reaction is that we were pleased that we could

make a compelling case to the State Board about the need for the tuition increase to help us continue our programs to provide quality education to our students and most importantly to provide programs to help achieve a timely graduation.” Pearson said. “While we struggle with steep reductions in State support, we believe that it is our job to provide the classes and services to help students obtain their degrees so that they are qualified to meet the demands of a recovering economy.”

Board member Milford Terrell is the first BSU alumni member to be appointed since the 1980s.

“I want what’s best for our students,” he said. “I want our students today to have better opportunities than what we had in past generations.

I believe in what we are doing and I believe we are the people that have to make that happen.”

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OPINION

3 Listen to students discuss sex and relationships with the Lights On podcast at arbiteronline.com

April 08, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

CHATROULETTE Amusing or indecent?

JESSICA SWIDER Journalist

After being on Chatroulette for 10 minutes, I witnessed 10 gaspworthy pictures of male genitalia, talked to four seemingly normal people (including the owner of a medical marijuana pharmacy), interrupted one couple's private time, and saw one topless girl. I also came to the conclusion that Chatroulette should prompt users with an honest warning before they enter the site.

Chatroulette is an undeniably entertaining -- although vulgar -- giant chat room of sorts. Users enable their webcam and microphone, and the Web site instantly pairs them with a random user from somewhere in the world.

You can start a conversation or click "next" to get paired with a new stranger. This simple system seems to attract two types of people: those who are looking for a laugh (and are bored, usually while intoxicated) or those who are looking to expose themselves to previously mentioned users.

However, as with anything else, there are exceptions to every generalization. Sophomore from University of Idaho Montanna Hutley said, "My roommate told me that [a girl in another sorority] got Ashton Kutcher and she recorded it on her computer. I guess that's fun."

Another Chatroulette user, a Boise State student who asked to remain anonymous, said, " It's one of the most pointless websites ever.

You don't even get to pick who you want to talk to... it's just a bunch

LIGHTS ON:

Safe sex support

of people wasting time, but, when you're drunk -- it is awesome."

They recalled a story involving a conversation with several Australians who had a fascination with green duck puppets.

According to a Spiegel Online International article, Chatroulette was created in November 2009 by Andrey Ternovskiy, a 17-year-old high school student in Moscow, Russia. The Web site started out with 500 users a day and expanded to 50,000 a month later. The underage creator wrote the software for Chatroulette in two days and two nights.

Chatroulette has also spawned a plethora of memorable "moments," if you will, including The 24 Best Chatroulette Screenshots,

by Buzzfeed, an article by the New York Times entitled 'The Surreal World of Chatroulette' and a video of a very talented man, entitled "Chatroulette Piano" on Todays BIG Thing. Chatroulette even has its own blog of funny encounters, which can be found at chatroulette.tumblr.com.

So, if Chatroulette is so obviously largely inappropriate, why do people flock to it? After asking every (clothed) person I encountered on Chatroulette why they were on it, all the answers were variations of a frank statement: "I was bored, and it looked entertaining." We've all done stupid things out of desperation for amusement. The Internet is usually the first place we all turn to when bored, so it only makes sense that Chatroulette would have such instantaneous success, distasteful or not.

HALEY ROBINSON Columnist

RYAN JOHNSON/THE ARBITER

Let us choose where fees go TATE FEGLEY Columnist

As you probably know, Boise State has been proposing an increase in what they charge students to go to school here.

A few weeks ago, they held a hearing of the proposed increases, the first half hour of which I was able to attend (although I am not suggesting an intention of non-transparency, it seems strange that it was held at 1 p.m. on a Friday, which is when many have class, and before a three-day weekend, when many decide to start their weekend early).

Through this process, I learned some interesting things about where our fees go.

Part of the reasoning for the increases is that the state is decreasing its contributions. Some have suggested that students should urge policy makers to reinstate the previous level of funding.

What I have not heard suggested, however, is attempting to lower the costs that students have to bear by giving them options for where their fees should go.

I believe the most obvious place to start giving students options is to allow them to opt-out of activities they do not use or for which they do not want to pay.

The amount that full-time students currently pay in activity fees per semester is $325.95. Though about 14 percent of the total tuition and fees, for most students it is not a trivial amount of money.

Looking at the 16 categories listed for where student activity fees go (which can be found at http://finad. boisestate.edu/budget/ pdf/feesfy10.pdf ) I feel as though I only use about five of them (six if you count seeing and hearing the marching band).

For some categories that I use, I do not get out of it what I pay for it (such as $101 for the athletics program). Being that Boise State has a large amount of non-traditional students and students who don’t live close to campus, I would speculate that there are

many students who only use a few, if any, of the activities they pay for.

As a remedy to this, students should be given choices of where they want their activity fees to go, either through user fees or the option to keep the money in their own pocket. This would lower the cost of

going to college for every student.

Might fewer activities then be offered? Probably.

But is it fair that one student who is either unable or uninterested in using Campus Recreation facilities, or what have you, be forced to subsidize someone who does? Those who want to

NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER

Students await the State Board of Education's decision on fee increases Monday.

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

utilize campus activities should be willing to bear their costs without subsidization. This same consideration should be applied to other non-educational related expenses. Allowing students to control more of their own dollars will lead to lower costs, less waste, and greater efficiency.

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

College students have been lectured many times on the importance of condom use. They have heard what it protects them from, that they should use one every time, and so forth.

Although this information has been stressed to me for years, I am concerned about the lack of free sexual protection available at Boise State. Free condoms are not as attainable as I would like or expect from a state school.

Occasionally there are days where condoms are given away at the Student Union Building. Aside from that, the Health and Wellness Center is the only place they seem to be on hand. For those who do not visit Health and Wellness Center, however, the availability and convenience is even bleaker. It is unacceptable for a public university not to have readily available, free birth control for all students who need it.

Since campaigning for ASBSU elections began in March, however, a new force has begun spreading the message of safe sex and providing students with free birth control. Lindsey Matson and Lizzy Naughton, running for ASBSU president and vice president respectively, have taken up the distribution of condoms as part of their campaign.

When these student leaders were asked why they decided to use condoms in their campaign, both candidates were fervent advocates for safe sex.

"The fact of the matter is college students have sex," Naughton said.

"Safe sex should be a platform of any student leader. Lindsey and I take it very seriously, and if we can promote it in any way, we will."

Her running mate, Matson, agrees.

"I feel that since we are all adults, condoms on campus are a fun, healthy way to campaign," Matson said. "We also have candy, pins, and other goodies available for students who choose to abstain from sex."

The candidates did receive some negative feedback from their condom campaign. One woman even claimed that seeing the "free condoms" sign ruined her day.

It is preposterous that at a public university, people are offended by condom distribution. The passing out of free birth control does not cause students to do anything they wouldn’t otherwise be doing. It only encourages them to do it safely. In addition, those who choose to abstain are certainly not required to use, or even take, the condoms.

I applaud Naughton and Matson for taking the initiative to support free birth control and provide it to students all over campus. Boise State needs to worry less about offending select few parents and worry more about the safety of their students. It is great to know that there are candidates who put sexual safety at the top of their priority list.

Editor

Jennifer Spencer

Producer

Zach Ganschow

Journalists Tony Rogers Nikki Houston Margaret Reimer Matt Dalley

D ESIGN

GENERAL MANAGER Brad Arendt

PRODUCTION MANAGER Jeremy Oliver

BUSINESS/AD MANAGER Dwight Murphy

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The Arbiter cannot verify the accuracy of statements made in guest submissions. Opinions expressed by guest and staff columnists reflect the diversity of opinion in the academic community and often will be controversial, but they do not represent the institutional opinion of The Arbiter or any organization the author may be affiliated with unless it is labeled as such.

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SPORTS

Test your Boise State sports trivia knowledge! Go to arbiteronline.com for a chance to win Stephen Covey's best-selling book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," by correctly responding to our trivia question.

April 08, 2010

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Athletics Calendar 4/09 - 4/15 Home Events*

Thursday, April 8 Women’s Tennis – Hawai’i 11 a.m. – Ruston, La

Friday, April 9 Track and Field – Sun Angel Classic All day – Tempe, Ariz.

Women’s Tennis – San Jose State 9 a.m. – Ruston, La. Women’s Tennis – Louisiana Tech NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER

BSU sophomore Jim Penske wows onlookers as the top footbagger in the U.S. and No. 2 in the world.

1 p.m. – Ruston, La. Softball – Hawai’i 3 p.m. – Mountain Cove Softball Field*

Saturday, April 10 Track and Field – Sun Angel Classic All day – Tempe, Ariz.

Men’s Tennis – New Mexico St. 9:30 a.m. – Appleton Tennis Center* Softball – Hawai’i 1 p.m. – Mountain Cove Softball Field* Softball – Hawai’i 3 p.m. – Mountain Cove Softball Field* Men’s Tennis – Nevada 5 p.m. – Appleton Tennis Center*

No 'hack' as a footbagger DANIEL PRIDDY Journalist

In an age of instant visual information, Boise State sophomore Jim Penske has become an underground internet phenomenon. Through YouTube and other internet outlets, Penske has earned an international reputation as one of the most dazzling and innovative footbaggers on the world stage.

“Footbagging” is the proper term for what Americans commonly refer to as playing “hacky sack.” Penske embraces the status he has earned on the internet, but his ambition to be the world’s best leads him to not take YouTube very seriously.

“Anybody can post a video of themselves messing around with the footbag,” Penske said. “I think the in-

ternet doesn’t do a good job of showing how hard this sport is. I am a professional.”

Though Penske doesn’t compete in a stadium, he is as much an athlete as those that do. Jim Penske is a three time U.S. Champion, a winner of numerous regional competitions, and has earned second place in a world competition. He is currently one of the highest ranked and most famous footbaggers in the world.

Though Jim doesn’t compete under the banner of Boise State, he always wears Boise State gear during runs.

As he puts it, “I like to represent Boise State.”

Penske is an athlete in the truest sense of the word.

While growing up, he played basketball and competed in wrestling. He adheres to a strict physical regiment. He

runs, lifts weights, swims, refuses to smoke cigarettes, and practices constantly on his routine. He also practices martial arts to improve his quickness and core training.

Though the sport of footbagging does not lend itself to the kind of fame more established sport’s stars receive, he is as good at his chosen passion as any other professional athlete in the world. If footbagging was an Olympic sport, Penske would unquestionably be chosen to represent the US. A sponsored footbagger, Jim is flown around the world to advertise gear that is specifically designed for the sport. He has talked with Red Bull as a new potential sponsor when he competes at the 2010 IFPA Footbagging Championship in July.

“I want to change the per-

Gymnastics – NCAA Regional 6 p.m. – Salt Lake City, Utah

Monday, April 12 Women’s Golf – Baylor Invitational All Day – Waco, Texas

Tuesday, April 13 Women’s Golf – Baylor Invitational All Day – Waco, Texas

TIGER'S BACK

Softball – Idaho State (DH) 2 p.m. – Pocatello, Idaho

TOM DOMINICK/MCT

Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during a practice round for the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA., Monday. Woods returns to golf today following a leave of absence due to admitted sexual addiction.

ception of the sport as something that a bunch of stoners and hippies do barefoot in a drum circle. This is an actual dedicated sport that takes patience and determination,” Penske said.

Penske feels that in many ways the sport is more difficult to master than other more established sports.

“Any body can dribble a basketball on their first try, but nobody can hack right off.”

Penke’s love affair with footbagging began nine years ago when he attended his first footbag completion in Twin Falls with his brother when he was 15-years-old. Though he had messed around with the bag before, it was there where he first caught a glimpse of one of the pioneers of the sport, Steve Howllenze.

“The tricks he was doing were amazing," Penske said.

"I saw all the attention he was getting and I realized that this sport was meant for me.”

Jim went right out and bought his first footbag and hasn’t looked back sense.

What Jim did not know at the time, and what few people know to this day, is that the Northwest is the epicenter of footbagging in America.

The game was the brain child of Portland native Jon Stalberger and the passion for the sport has enveloped the Northwest. As a rule, the best of the best that America has to offer operate, for the most part, in cities such as Boise, Eugene, Ore., Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash.

Though Penske is as hard a worker as you will find, he has no interest in being profes-

See 'Hack' I page 5

to you: Mid-majors no more DANIEL PRIDDY Journalist

The term mid-major is an outdated and insulting term. It ought to be removed from the lexicon of college sports altogether.

The term mid-major applies to schools like Boise State, and any other colligate athletic program that operate in conferences that are not apart of the major big six conferences (SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East and Pac-10). It’s not so much an issue of classification but rather it is one of respect. The level of disrespect that is heaped upon the so called mid-majors is a form of prejudice -- granted it’s a minor form of prejudice.

After all nobody is being discounted because of race, religion or gender. But when you take into consideration what they word prejudice constitutes, prejudice most certainly applies in this instance.

Prejudice occurs when a person, group or organization of any kind considers themselves a natural and inherent superior to others based simply on who they are, who they belong to or where there from. With these criteria in mind, it is impossible to deny that prejudice has dominated NCAA athletics for decades and shows no signs of changing any time soon. No matter how successful a given program has been, the mid-major label continues to slur their worth and accomplishments.

The Butler Bulldogs, like Boise State, have just struck another blow to the established mentality with their unbelievable success in the NCAA Final Four tournament.

Despite being one of the top basketball programs in the nation, the term mid-major gives people the wrong impression of what they are all about. Like Boise State, they may be a mid-major but they are a big time program. Butler competes in

the obscure Horizon conference and enrollment at that university is less than 6,000.

They may be a small school but they are the real deal.

It’s beyond doubt that Butler is a first rate program. Well it should be beyond doubt.

Butler entered into the season ranked in the top 10 and has only four recorded losses on the season.

And in spite of the fact that they systematically dismantled Kansas State, Syracuse and Michigan State, all renowned and storied programs, the press -- in their infinite wisdom -- insists that they are a Cinderella story. Going into the championship game against Duke, Butler had to endure the assertion that this was a David and Goliath affair. Have you taken a look at Butler Star forward Gordon Hayworth? If he is David then he is a lot taller than he is portrayed in Sunday school.

It is true that Duke is one of the

most storied and successful programs in basketball history, but to call Butler a Cinderella story is a diminishment of there program that has more to offer than the majority of teams who come from the majors. The reason this is significant to us is that Boise State deals with the same exact issue year in and year out. No matter how many games Boise State or Butler win, no matter how many powerhouses they knock off, it’s still never enough. There are always the naysayers, the people who swear it was luck, not skill that brought them too where they are.

This has happened time after time to Boise State.

Butler came within an inch of a national championship. They battled Duke like there very lives were hanging in the balance. The Butler Bulldogs were three seconds removed from a national title. The little dog doesn’t seem so small now does it?

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April 08, 2010

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The road back part 2:

A series on athletic injuries

KAYLA BARTLING

Petlichkoff, BSU sports psychologist in kinesiology, said. “You don't want to be self-defeating."

Having a serious injury that requires rehabilitation can throw an athlete's goals haywire, but if an athlete is willing to stay motivated and go through rehabilitation they are able to continue playing once again. According to The University of Virginia Health System, "Most sports injuries are due to either trauma or overuse of the muscle and joints."

For junior, D.J. Harper, running back for the Broncos

football team, an ACL tear during the third game of the 2009 season against Fresno State caused him to refocus his goals on rehabilitating his knee before he could start thinking about playing for the Broncos again.

"The injury itself wasn't that painful. It was just not being able to be out there with your team mates and the process can be tough," Harper said.

One of the major problems that comes with serious injuries that require rehabilitation is atrophy. According to the University of Virginia "Atrophy is the shrinkage of

muscle and nerve tissue."

Having a serious injury can often result in a limb having atrophy because you are not able to use it and therefore it loses its ability to perform at a normal level.

After he had recuperated enough from surgery to start training, Harper had to combat atrophy and begin gaining normal function of his knee.

"It is just getting to know the basic things, the things you wouldn't think you would have to focus on,” Harper said.

“Your strength, your range of motion, being able to bend

your knee, to walk the right way because you have a limp.

By starting with the basics, athletes undergoing rehabilitation react in many different ways to the new lifestyle they are confined to. Most athletes, such as Harper, enter the rehabilitation process willing to do everything it takes to gain back normal function.

Some athletes have a hard time adapting to the new challenges that face them.

“Some athletes can get into a self doubt mode, others just see a beginning and an end.

They forget all of the steps in between,” Petlichkoff said.

An important factor in rehabilitating is setting smaller goals to reach the long term goal of being able to play again. By building strength and agility back into an injured part of the body, an athlete with a serious injury will eventually develop the ability to perform at the level they aimed to be at again.

“It is just a process and depends on how your body takes the training and on how the therapist wants to go in a certain direction, such as starting you on agilities,” Harper said about starting the long process he has taken so he can get back on the field. “I can’t wait to strap back on the pads and start doing camp and just be ready to go.”

Rehabilitation can take many months for an athlete to start functioning at a level where they are able to feel normally again.

“It just depends on how hard you work and the process,” Harper said.

With dedication and more time many athletes who were able to come back from a serious injury will be able to compete again.

personal level.

Penske is nothing short of a prodigy. Within two years, he was already surpassing established pros on the footbagging circuit and, though he was as talented as anybody, it was his mind that set him apart.

“I began to research the sport," Penske said. "Most baggers hack their whole life without doing research.”

Penske utilizes creativity and mental preparation before all else. He describes that before each competition he goes into what baggers refer

to as “Tora” mode -- a kind of Zen where the mind and the body operate seamlessly as one.

“It’s one thing to practice your routine at home, but when you get in front of 5,000 people you’ve got to learn to block all that out,” said Penske.

In 2002, only a few short years after his career had begun, Jim became a member of the internationally renowned Big Add Posse. The Posse is an association of the elite world wide footbaggers that only a select few can enter. In

basketball terms, it’s like being drafted into the NBA. It was through this association where Jim began to make a name for himself, and it was on the world circuit where he came into contact with Vasek Klouda, the current world champion from Prague.

Though the two have become friends, Penske’s stated

goal is to steal the world title from Klonda. This is no small task because, even though footbag is an international sport, the best often come from Europe.

“They all grew up playing soccer,” explained Penske.

Though Penske is proud of his accomplishments thus far, he has his sights fixed

on only one goal: a world championship.

“I have been a U.S. Champion twice. I have a bunch of Idaho state championships.

All that matters is being the world’s best.”

Penske is expected to make a Cameo in Spiderman 3 slotted to come out between 2011 and 2012.

Journalist

The prospect of spending a season out of the game and rehabilitating may not seem the option many student-athletes would choose to spend their time, but due to varying types of injuries many athletes have to endure the rehabilitation process.

To some athletes, sports injuries are termed career-ending, such as the case of senior Kevin Sapien, who dealt with painful stingers and shoulder problems.

"It wasn't like it hit me like a train,” Sapien said. “I didn't just break my neck, it was like a pile of injuries.”

Sapien, previously an offensive lineman for the Broncos, now works as a coach and continues to be productive for the team.

A career ending injury can greatly affect a studentathlete's identity and mental mindset, but many athletes who do not suffer careerending injuries are also being affected.

“It is important for an athlete to maintain the belief that you can return,” Linda

'Hack' [Sports pg 4] sionally coached or handled.

It’s about him and the spontaneous creativity of footbagging that has made him a master. Footbaggers have a lot in common with snowboarders and skateboarders in respect to individualism-it’s a sport done on one’s own terms. There is, however, a lot of camaraderie in the sport. The best footbaggers in the world are a tight knit group, eager to share insight with one another and to connect with each other on a

NIK BJUSTROM/THE ARBITER

D.J. Harper rushes against Miami (Ohio) during the 2009 football season. Harper tore his ACL during the third game of the season against Fresno St. in Fresno, Calif.

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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

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The Future

By Nancy Black and Stephanie Clement Tribune Media Services

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday (4/5/10).

Expect the coming year to allow for more imaginative activities.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible to go down a side track where you apply faulty logic. More likely, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll allow for whimsical brainstorming and then sort through ideas to identify what works and what doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

To get the advantage, check the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 8 -- Group interactions prove profitable when you state your feelings early and then sit back and listen. Body language speaks volumes. Pay attention.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6 -- You find yourself in the comfort zone today. Advertisements suggest clever ways to turn ideas into cash.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 6 -- The stars align for people you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen for a long time. Share their joy, and bring a memento home with you. Leave them with your blessings.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6 -- A close friend or partner does exactly the right thing to make you comfortable. Accept help today and be thankful. Gather strength and recuperate.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 -- A personal relationship benefits from an active imagination. This is no time to depend on practical measures.

Instead, make an extravagant speech or gesture.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8 -- Magic happens.

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re surprised by how willingly everyone comes together to create what you need. Success blossoms.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8 -- Pull out all the stops to inject glamour into an otherwise dull experience. Bring souvenirs and memories for the scrapbook at home.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 6 -- Somebody is a bit depressed today. You can help by suggesting a variety of activities to get out of the house and do something physical.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 -- Think carefully before pulling out your wallet.

The moneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there, but is this really how you want to spend it?

Reconsider your priorities.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 -- Take a break from stress. Walking outdoors could really hit the spot. So would a relaxed meal shared with interesting company.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8 -- Use all of your powers to make yourself look like the person you most want to be.

Appearance matters today. Dress for success.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6 -- Get up early if you have to in order to meditate in solitude. You need the balance this brings, as today is filled with interesting people and possibilities.

___ (c) 2009, Tribune Media Services Inc.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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Save hundreds, make friends

Find a room to live while traveling abroad ANDREW FORD Journalist

The first step to making travel abroad affordable is to get out of hotels and hostels and get into the rooms the locals share. I've made my trip through South America possible through taking a few risks and avoiding expensive housing, even hostels, whenever I can. In Argentina, a nice hostel will set you back $15 dollars a night.

Sure, this includes clean sheets and a lousy breakfast, but it also includes sharing a room with eight people and a frequently in-use toilet. Most importantly for a travel on a tight budget, that $15 adds up to $465 a month, while a decently furnished room in the same city will set you back about $200. Follow these steps to live with the locals, forget about morning check out time and save a ton of money.

First, be a person worth living with.

Even if you're not looking for an apartment in Prague or Buenos Aires right now, you can make yourself into a better roommate. One of my biggest roommate voids is my inability to cook a decent meal from scratch. If there is one thing you can count on while traveling, it's incredible food.

While prices in the U.S. generally make the cost of boxed food cheaper than it would be to cook from scratch, in many parts of the world you'll find it's quite the opposite. When you can buy two pounds of av-

ocados for a dollar and change, buying sour cream with green food coloring doesn't really make sense anymore.

Before you travel abroad, brush up on your "from scratch" cooking skills so you can offer something back to your roommates after they blow your mind with spicy Ecuadorian soup and authentic Italian pasta. Once you've dialed in your cooking, think about any other American culture you can share cheaply. Hopefully we've got more than just incredible drinking games, but those would be a start. Can you give a fantastic, Northwestern back massage?

Whatever you have, polish it while thinking of new ways to deliver fun and laughs with your new, potential roommates.

Decide what you're looking for, before the cows come home.

It's a good idea to know what you want before you start browsing through your available options. For instance, do you want a place to study or a place to party? How many people do you want to live with?

How much can you afford each month?

Do they speak the same language as you? Do you want them to? Need them to?

The situation inside the house you live in will have a huge impact on your experience as you explore a city. It's not just where you'll sleep, but where you'll eat, hang out and bring friends to. Yesterday, was looking on Craigslist.com

at a room for rent that was on a farm.

You would have your own big room, but there would be cattle and no Internet. Seriously.

I think it would be fun for me, but I know many people couldn't do it. Decide what you need and what you want first and it will make the whole process easier.

Try finding stuff through locals.

Once you're the best bacon burger chef and you've decided where and how you want to live, meet some locals. In tourist cities, it might be tough to be seen as anything other then customer No. 8153, but once you get a bit off the beaten path it's easier to talk to people, even in service industry jobs.

Outside of that, meet people that like the same things or activities as you'd do at home. If you like camping, go camping.

If you like bars, go to bars.

Meeting people at hostels is a great way to meet people quickly, though friendships there tend to start and end quickly due to the nature of hostels. Still, many know or have met locals that they can introduce you to.

Once you have met a local or two, let them know you're looking for a place and about how much you're looking to spend.

For the most part, most South American countries would be pumped to have an American roommate for a while. You really don't understand how powerful our culture is until you leave it. They'll have lots of questions about the U.S. and

ANDREWFORD/THEARBITER

A real bed, a place for your keys and privacy highlight the reasons why you might think about skipping the hostels and living with locals for a while. As long as you plan to stay in one place for two weeks to a month, it’s worth checking out. hopefully you'll have the same for their country.

Use all your options.

While finding a friend that's local is your best bet, look through Craigslist.com or the local classifieds isn't always a bad bet either. Foreigners will often be expected to pay double or triple what a local would, so if you can have a local call leads for you saying they're for a friend. Even if you do speak the language, a native tongue will vouch you're a cool guy and keep prices low.

Say what you want.

While I've found this strategy has worked better at home then abroad, try posting what

Non-traditional student profile

Nancy Harris is on the 43-year-plan

you want in a classified, then have people respond to you.

Say what your situation is and what you're looking for, then post what you can pay.

Look for what locals are paying and then add a 15-20 percent premium on top of that.

As a reference, I paid $180 a month for a good sized room in a working class neighborhood of Santiago and $220 a month for a tiny room downtown.

Still, it will vary from city to city and time of the year.

Be patient and compromise if you can.

Finding a room to rent abroad can feel a lot like finding one at home: stressful and

MARGARET REIMER

Full-time student and part-time clown, Nancy Harris has experienced much more than the average Bronco.

While many students try to finish their undergraduate studies in four years, Harris took a more scenic route through education.

“I’m finally finishing my degree this summer on the 43-year-plan,” Harris said.

Harris, 62, has had a colorful college experience starting with the infamous anti-war protest, the Dow riot. During her first year at the University of Wisconsin in 1967, protesters blocked recruiters from Dow Chemical -- a napalm manufacturer -- from entering a university building. This act of disobedience prompted local police to use force and tear gas to suppress the protest.

“My father immediately (thought) it was way too much for his little Idaho girl to be back there in the thick with all those hippie radicals -- so that ended,” Harris said.

In 1974, Harris began a short stint at Portland State University that didn’t end in a degree. She decided to give college another go in 1983 by enrolling at the University of Maryland.

Harris planned on graduating with a degree in botany.

“My senior research project was just a horrible experience and I decided that I really didn’t want to be working out in the field and doing that kind of research,” Harris said. “Even in my late 30's, early 40's, I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up.”

In 1993, Harris founded and acted

If we had a local award ceremony for plays, “Metamorphoses” would get one for Best Set. Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” has been brought to campus by the Boise State Theater Department with sets that are unique, as well as challenging to the designers.

Imagine a pool in the middle of the Danny Peterson Theater with gold and blue facades reminiscent of Tuscan villas or movies set in California during the 1980s.

Imagine a montage of Greek myths having to do with love and transformation. The water of the pool works as a baptismal font, a womb and as an abstract representation of seeds amongst many other forms. Characters such as Bacchus and Aphrodite have a charming contemporary edge. Bacchus appears onstage in vinyl pants, a leopard print shirt and a lopsided crown of laurels. Aphrodite struts into a scene wearing a red satin cocktail gown and a smirk.

Zimmerman is known for her tendency to take old plays and revive them, giving them a contemporary uplift. Her unique vision of Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” involves constructing a pool onstage. The pool is used to represent the transformations that occur as the characters evolve.

Mike Baltzell, associate pro-

Journalist

COURTESY NANCY HARRIS

Nancy Harris (left) as Bubbleducks with Midget, Eddy & Buttons as CEO of a Treasure Valley based company called Wooded River. The company sold bedding, furniture and other household accessories designed

by Harris.

“I grew that up to a couple million dollars in sales. I sold the company in 2003 to a (firm) in Nampa and the product line is still being made.”

Harris left the company to care for her aging parents. Although the situation was emotionally trying, the experience inspired Harris to go into social work.

“It’s a pretty remarkable transition to go through as your parents’ age.

There’s a lot of need there to help.

It was rewarding to help people in that time.”

Rather than pursue a bachelors degree in social work, Harris found that it would be more time efficient to put her collection of credits toward an undergraduate degree in general studies.

Harris will pursue a masters degree in social work in September.

Harris’s willingness to help others, along with her infectious sense of hu-

mor, qualify her for another endeavor: professional clowning.

After completing a summer of clown training school at the University of Wisconsin, Harris learned the skills to make others laugh. “(We learned) face painting, balloon blowing, doing shtick, magic tricks and how to set up different clown routines so you could time your comedy just right so that all your little gags would flow together right,” Harris said.

Now as a member of Gem Jesters, a clown collective, Harris volunteers her comedic talents to benefit Habitat for Humanity, Make a Wish Foundation, and a variety of other local charities.

“It’s about keeping your sense of humor too and having a patter that keeps people entertained,” Harris said.

Speaking from experience, Harris has the following advice to young, traditional students: “Don’t quit and don’t change your mind too much because it doesn’t really matter what you get your undergraduate degree in...”

Harris said. “Read current journals, read fiction, non-fiction, just read.”

Andrew Ford is a 22-yearold mass communication and journalism major from Eagle traveling through South America. He’s currently living in Santiago, Chile. You can follow him on Twitter, @barefootford, or you can visit his Web site, BarefootFord.com.

Danny Peterson Theater gets indoor pool for 'Metamorphoses'

MATT DALLEY Journalist

time-consuming. Still, the costs of living with others instead of at a hostel can reap big savings that will extend your trip. Additionally, the cultural experience of living with locals versus Americans in hostels and hotels is an experience you can't buy.

fessor and technical director for the Theatre Department, discussed some of the problems associated with putting together a pool onstage: “First and foremost is the challenge of creating a pool of water on stage. Water is very difficult to work with -- it has a mind of its own. It weighs a lot and goes wherever it wants. So we needed to engineer a structure that would support the actors and retain the water -- it's over 580 cubic feet of water, if I remember my estimates correctly. Within the water is the contrivance of making people come and go on stage through the pool, and to disguise that entrance. Next is the need to heat and keep the water clean.

And on top of all that I needed to design a 'world' that fits the ideas the director has about the script. We chose a -- California casual style -- that also suggests a simple traditional Greek stage -- with the water being the orchestra or acting area.

We were also inspired by some of David Hockney's paintings.”

Performances of Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” will be conducted April 8-10 and April 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. with matinees on April 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. in the Danny Peterson Theater. Tickets are available for $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors, military and alumni. This performance is free for students.

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