The Arbiter 8/23/2010 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

WHAT’S INSIDE

NEWS 1–2

OPINION 3–4

CULTURE 5–8

SPORTS 10–14 I SSU E

The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933

Volume 23

First Issue

F R E E August 23, 2010

University Swells 19,682 students enrolled for fall Gabrielle Brandini Arbiter Staff

This semester, current enrollment numbers are the highest ever recorded. According to Boise State University President Bob Kustra, 19,682 students are enrolled at the university for the fall term, an increase of more than 6 percent compared to last year. The number of freshmen coming straight from high school is more than 80 percent of all incoming students, a 10 percent increase compared to last year. There has also been a 51 percent increase of graduate enrollment over the past four years, making Boise State the second largest graduate school in Idaho, after Idaho State University. More incoming freshmen are also coming from outside of Idaho. About 14 percent hail from other states, where as in 2005, nine percent of freshmen were outof-state. There has also been a 27.2 percent increase in admitted transfer students due to the success of the College of Western Idaho, Kustra said. Kustra said academic merit is on the rise too. More than 76 percent of incoming freshmen have a 3.0 GPA or higher and 40 percent have a 3.5 GPA or higher. Ten National Merit Scholars have declared Boise State their school of choice for fall 2010 and 35 National Merit Scholars have attended the university since 2005.

SPB calendar

The WAC gets separated, broken up

Pole dancing for fun and charity!

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Do women need gay, male friends

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What's next for Boise State?

Kustra asks for new business model at State of the University Address Wednesday Andrew Ford News Editor

Boise State President Bob Kustra dropped hints of increased independence from the state and a push toward increasing forms of teaching through technology at the State of the University address Wednesday. Kustra cited several educational leaders, including the president of Ohio State University that view state-funded higher education as a dying breed. "While I still haven't given up on state government's role in supporting public higher education," he said, "with each passing year I see more clearly that the funding of higher education as we experienced it in the past will not be replicated in future years." Boise State needs to reexamine the business model universities use and construct a new one, according to Kustra. He did not say what that new business model would be or how it would operate, but it's likely to be formed around an increase of private funds and student fees. Kustra said the university returned more than $6 million to the state in holdbacks for fiscal year 2010, with those reductions becoming permanent in 2011. The state board of education recently reviewed a proposal to create a differential fee policy that would allow charging higher fees for undergraduate programs that have higher costs. BSU will continue to research new technologies on-campus to help bolster the ways students educate themselves. According to Kustra, students are becoming more tech savvy, prompt-

nik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER

Boise State University President Bob Kustra harangues a crowd during the State of the University Address Wednesday. Kustra talked about the budget, new technology and innovation. ing faculty to innovate to with the reshaping of the learning process. Kustra cited a book, "Rethinking Education in The Age of Technology," by Allan Collins and Richard Halverson. He said the book raises questions for the university as they map out an "agenda for innovation." "Should the social networks now employed in large part to keep in touch and be hip," he said, "be used to advise students and provide a more structured learning agenda through cyberspace?"

According to Kustra, Collins and Halverson said people are taking education out of school and into homes, libraries, cafes and workplaces. More than 8,000 students enrolled in at least one online course last year at Boise State. "Fortunately we are not sitting by in the development of new learning technologies," he said. Faculty are using the iPad, software simulations, gaming strategies and interactive 3-D representatives of data. "We may have a few years

to wait it out and see who's right," Kustra said, "but the private and proprietary sectors of higher education are not standing still... " Kustra announced that the university has raised $145 million for the Destination Distinction campaign, about 83 percent of their goal. He praised the 35 percent of all faculty and staff who donated $1.8 million toward the campaign, despite the current economic situation. BSU sponsored research funding jumped almost $13 million in the fiscal year 2010 to more than $50 million.

Capping the grants, a $4.9 million grant was donated to establish a national geothermal data system. Biology professor Kristen Mitchell received a $400,000 grant for novel research on liver regeneration while Cheryl Jorcyk received a grant worth $720,000 from the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research. The engineering team of Don Plumlee, Jim Browning, Amy Moll, Sin Ming Loo and Inanc Senocak were awarded more than $600,000 to develop novel propulsion systems for the NASA.

Monday: ASBSU/SPB/VSB/Sorority & Fraternity Life Open House 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Student Involvement & Leadership Offices (SUB second floor) Meet ASBSU, the Student Programs Board, the Volunteer Services Board, and representatives of Sorority and Fraternity Life. See who they are, what they do, where they work, and what they have to offer. SPB Special Event: Hypnotist 7 p.m. at the Special Events Center. Free for students. Check out the comedy and magical weirdness of a great hypnotist.

Friday: Old School @ Your New School 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.: SUB Patio and Games Center Free for students, $5 for guests. This arcadethemed event is a tribute to old school fun and will feature food, games, prizes. Sponsored by the Student Involvement & Leadership Center, Student Programs Board, and University Health Services.

Stimulus money is still in the bank

Idaho officials are satisfied with slow, conservative spending a one and a half years later McClatchy News Despite a national unemployment rate of 9.5 percent, less than half the stimulus money slated for infrastructure development and job creation has actually been spent. It's been 18 months since Congress approved the $787 billion stimulus package, hoping to buffer the worst economic conditions in several decades. The funding was divided into three main categories -- job creation, tax benefits and social programs like extended unemployment benefits, or a higher Medicaid match. Most of the money for tax benefits and social programs has already been spent. However, the latest figures from the recovery.gov Web site indicate payments for various job creation-retention efforts have yet to hit the midway point. Through the second quarter of 2010, state agencies and private contractors have spent just $86 billion of the $219 billion they've were

awarded. The money paid for everything from propping up state budgets to highway construction and environmental cleanup. Much of the remaining funds have been obligated -contracts have been let, projects begun -- but rather than hire more people up front, the work is being spread out over months and years. Mark Dunham, executive director of the Idaho Associated General Contractors of America, said he hasn't heard complaints from his members about the pace of spending. "The initial round of stimulus money was focused on transportation projects, and I think our members were very pleased with the efficiency and speed at which projects were identified and executed," Dunham said. "For the other stimulus, I think they're all eager to have projects get out faster, but it takes a while to get these things going. Overall, I think they're patient." Idaho officials say they're equally content with the way

things have gone. Even Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter, who opposed the stimulus effort from day one, said the state is doing its part to get the money out into the economy as quickly and responsibly as possible. "As far as getting the money out, we're close to the bottom of the checking account," he said. "We thought that's what the stimulus was all about -creating jobs." Paul Kjellander, administrator of Idaho's Office of Energy Resources, said it's not about spending money as fast as possible so much as spending it appropriately. "Our intent was, if this were our money, how could we spend it to get the biggest bang for the buck," he said. "We wanted it to be cost-effective for taxpayers." The largest share of the $40 million awarded to his office will go toward energy efficiency in public schools, he said. Energy audits are being completed for every school district in the state. They'll identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce

energy costs. There isn't enough money to actually do all the projects, Kjellander said, but about $9 million in grants will be awarded in November to help schools that have the greatest potential for savings. "For every dollar we save through energy efficiency, that's a dollar we save in state general fund money," he said. Although his office has only spent about a quarter of its stimulus funding through June 30, Kjellander said Idaho has been praised by the U.S. Department of Energy for how fast its programs were put in place. "You can't just flood the economy with this money, or there won't be any accountability," he said. "It's like building a house: You give the contractor some money up front, but you don't give him everything until the work is done. You have to establish appropriate procedures or you're going to end up with waste, fraud and abuse. I think we've done a good job of avoiding that." The state also received

$30.3 million for low-income home weatherizations. Program manager Genie Sue Weppner with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare said that was a "huge boost" compared to past funding. "We had a tremendous ramp-up and lots of training to do," she said. "The money was supposed to cover two years. There was no advantage to ramping up faster." So far almost 2,700 home weatherizations have been completed, she said. That's more than double the number in a typical year, and it puts the state well on the way to its target of 3,113 by next April. More than 340 jobs were created or retained just in the second quarter, according to stimulus reports filed by the state. That includes certified inspectors who visit the homes and determine what weatherization procedures are needed. Certified technicians then do the work, after which inspectors go back and make sure everything was done.

The Arbiter • arbiteronline.com

news

August 23, 2010

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First Android tablet: Cheap Andrew Ford News Editor

Mitch Esplin

It's rare when a $150 gadget from Kmart can be the start of the industry, but in the case of the Augen GenTouch78, that's really what it is: The first mainstream tablet that uses Google's Android mobile operating system. The Augen GenTouch78 could have been great. It really should have, but a few things tripped it up. Out of sync hardware, the sometimes clunky Android 2.1 and a touchscreen that lacks the crispness we've seen on other Android phones and Apple's iPad, highlight the reasons Android has a way to go before taking down the iPad.

News Producer

Why the Augen is a big deal: It's the first Android tablet available on the market and we're already seeing how the market can benefit from increased operating systems, Android, and increased competition. Nearly every analyst expects tablet PC's to carve away the market that netbooks have created in the last four years. Some, including Steve Jobs expect tablets to not just replace netbooks, but to be the next PC for the average person. Jobs said at the Everything Digital Conference he sees tablets like the invention of the automobile: While initially most cars sold were actually trucks -- to help make work easier -- eventually people started buying less trucks and more cars. Now, the majority of cars sold aren't work trucks, but passenger cars. The desktop and laptop aren't dead, yet, but they'll become increasingly more of a niche field while tablets will take up the majority of "PCs" sold.

How will tablets take over? While the PC can be used for a lot of tasks, it's mainly used for browsing the internet and consuming information. While ten years ago if you wanted to browse the internet, complete with high resolution video and multimedia, you needed a powerful PC with a great graphics card and a big monitor, now it's not the case. Android and Apple's iOS helped streamline the operating system by minimizing multitasking, leaving hardware to generally work on just one app at a time. While some writing would be easier with a keyboard, namely big research papers, short emails are tolerable and even longer pieces of writing will get easier as software keyboards improve and people get more used to typing on a

At $200, Augen is a good value

MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER

flat surface.

The design lacks the sheen of the iPad, but is good enough The GenTouch lacks the zing that you'd see when you open up an iPad, but so do most laptops that aren't made by Apple. I think people will look past aesthetics when the price is less then a third of an iPad's $500 base price tag. The Gentouch uses plastic for it's casing, it but doesn't feel worse then most laptops or netbooks on the market for under a $1,000. The tablet feels a little over branded with both the model and the brand printed on the front of the screen, but it's in line with most netbooks and laptops. At least we don't have to deal with a half dozen Intel and Windows stickers. For simplicity's sake, no keyboard or buttons are sticking out, I'd rather carry the GenTouch with me instead of the average netbook.

The GenTouch pushes clunky, vanilla Android The Augen runs a vanilla version of Android 2.1 "Eclair," named by Google through their tasty, if a little tacky, desert progression naming system. The recent version of Android is welcome compared to some smartphones, -- the phone and tablet hybrid Dell Streak that shipped with ancient Android 1.6 comes to mind -- but I think Android is going to need some tweaking before it will be running smooth on a tablet. Sizing up the font on the contexual

menu's throughout Android would be a start (brought up by pressing the more options key on the back of the device) but it looks like everything from the browser toolbar to the slouchy, slow keyboard could be reworked. On smart phones generally the consensus now is that Android is ready as-is without big software overlays like HTC's Sense and Motorola's Motoblur. On a tablet, with a screen double the average smartphone's, I'm not sure some tweaking wouldn't be beneficial. The Augen uses the same resolution as most upper-tier Android phones, 800 x 480, but for the price we don't complain. The biggest knock is it's resistive, non-multitouch nature. This means no pinch to zoom, no games that require tapping the screen with more then one key at once and generally lots of fumbling around while browsing. It was built cheap and it runs cheap. It's also worth noting the tablet doesn't have an accelerometer, so the display doesn't rotate, ever, and is permanently stuck on horizon mode. Bottom line: If you'll tolerate being frustrated without multitouch, super speedy hardware and the occaional glitch, you might be able to stomach using the GenTouch. Most won't. This isn't the tablet that will make you throw away your laptop just yet, but it's basic build and buy-on-a-whim price of $169 make it a peak into the future of computing.

In July, Augen took a bold step when it introduced the first affordable tablet PC running Google’s Android operating system called the GenTouch78. According to the Web site, their goal is to “bring the latest innovations in digital technology to the consumer at competitive prices.” I had the opportunity to tinker with one of these tablets for the first time and here is the down and dirty on how this tablet stacks up to its maker's mission. The first thing which caught my attention was the $170 price tag. Having worked in the consumer electronics industry for some time now, I have learned one cardinal rule: you get what you pay for. The price told me not to expect anything spectacular. While holding it in my hands, the device felt like a children’s toy. Durability is definitely absent, one small drop could seemingly damage it beyond repair. I pressed the power button and the unit booted up in just under a minute -- about twice the amount of time for the iPad, which boots up in roughly 25 seconds. When you consider the GenTouch has almost the same amount of processing power and the same amount of RAM as the iPad, a minute boot up time can be frustrating. Once the device came alive, I was impressed by its bright and colorful screen. The resolution however is slightly lower than the iPad's at 800 by 480 pixels. Viewing smaller text and pictures strained my eyes a bit. The GenTouch comes with two gigabyes of internal memory that is expandable to up to 16 with a micro SD card. The biggest criticism I have about the device was its painfully unresponsive touch screen. You have to apply a considerable amount of pressure with your fingers while it is slow to respond to your inputs. This flaw is most apparent when scrolling through web pages or email. The GenTouch does however include a stylus that makes interaction much easier and it tucks neatly away behind the unit when not in use. The GenTouch was surprisingly quick to open apps and web pages. Even web pages with heavy multimedia content opened easily. For the money the GenTouch is a good value with a versatile operating system, a good amount of built in memory and a large touch screen. Just don't expect to be wowed by the device for $170. It feels very primitive compared to its more expensive competition, the iPad. But for the money, I consider it a solid buy.

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Opinion

AUGUST 23, 2010

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Do you have the new ‘it’ accessory? Jessica Swider Opinion Producer

Everyone has a best friend, but is yours considered the newest 'it' accessory for fall? According the the July issue of Teen Vogue magazine, the two may intersect. Apparently, a 'GBF' or Gay Best Friend, is the hottest accessory on the market. Yes, you read that right. According to the article, "He's fun, trust-worthy and supportive, plus you don't have to compete with him. He's your gay best friend -- and he's in demand." Yes ladies and gentlemen, gay men are now reduced to accessories. To add insult to injury, an editors note attached to the recent Teen Vogue article stated, "We girls compare ourselves to one another, and it can just get a bit... intense. Thank goodness for gay best friends." Granted, Hollywood has glamorized the idea of having a gay man at your sidethink Sex and The City, Clueless and Glee, but that isn't an excuse, or justification. Boise State sophomore

He's fun, trust-worthy and supportive, plus you don't have to compete with him. He's your gay best friend -- and he's in demand. -Teen Vogue and communications major, Andrew Hildebrand said, "I think it's demeaning because now people do look at us (gay men) like accessories, not as actual people, we aren't something you can bring with you just for attention. If you want an accessory that will catch someone's eye, go shopping, don't make your gay friend tag along with you. We are people and do have feelings. Just because we are gay doesn't mean we are different. Not all of us are out there to get attention." Ann Olson, from Associated Content, commented on the backlash that followed the article. "Claiming all straight women or gay men act a certain way is called stereotyping," Olson said. "And this particular case is poten-

tially damaging for the gay population, a population still negatively stereotyped and mocked openly in most parts of the world.... As for straight women, which the Teen Vogue article villainies as "frenemies," it's undermining to their intelligence as well. Is there something ingrained into what makes us female -- a set of reproductive organs --that makes us unable to have healthy, loving friendships with other females?" A persons sexuality, gender or race should never be a determining factor in their worthiness as a friend, and more importantly, does not determine how 'trendy' a person is. Trendy should never be a word used to describe a person. The fact that Teen Vogue has the audacity to claim such things

is so preposterous and degrading that it's almost unbelievable. Rest assured that Teen Vogue editor Amy Astley reminded readers in her editors note that it's important to, "...remember to fight for his rights to be treated equally in our society." Unfortunately, it was a halfhearted attempt to exert damage control on an article that was written in (very) poor taste and did not compensate for the stereotyping and derogatory nature of her comments. Claiming that gay men are an accessory is highly detrimental to both society and homosexual rights. There is no part of saying such a thing that is acceptable, or innocent. An apology by Teen Vogue should be issued and perhaps a hefty donation to a homosexual rights foundation should be made, to smooth things over.

Illustration by Ryan Johnson/THE ARBITER

: A Q&

The Arbiter:

Teen Vogue wrote an article about how GBFs, or gay best friends, are the hottest new accessories on the market. How do you feel about the comments?

Matthew VanKirk:

k r i K n a V w e with Matth

e AD vic s L G B s d discu rviewe er inte VanKirk, to of Teen t i b r A The ssue tthew nt, Ma bout the July ifor gay rights. e d i s e r p ghts a t battle his thound the curren Vogue a

I guess I’m nonchalant about the comments, personally. I think some people would take offense to it because it stereotypes the typical gay male. Me personally, I’m more laid back and I don’t take offense to everything that everyone says.

What do you think currently is the biggest hurdle for gay rights?

MV:

I think the biggest hurdle is more the legal aspect of it. (In Idaho) sexual orientation is not protected versus other states where it is... we can be discriminated against for almost anything in Idaho and its perfectly legal.

Do you feel like the gay community is often objectified?

MV:

I think we are stereotyped. The people that make news usually follow the stereotypes, but there’s a whole gay community out there that is completely different than the stereotypes that you see in the media, movies and stuff like that. We’re not all wedding planners or hairdressers.

How do you feel about the “gay best friend" archetype?

MV:

I mean like I said, that’s what’s portrayed in the media usually -- the whole stereotype of the gay best friend and how they act and how they dress and everything. There are some pluses to it. A lot of gay guys do have style. I don’t know

Kirk w Van atthe

/Courtes

NEWS Editor

Andrew Ford

Editor

Trent Lootens

Managing editor Kirk Bell

Producer

Mitch Esplin

Producer

Joey McCullough

online editor Josh Gamble Video editor Gray Battson Editorial advisor James Kelly

Do you think it would have been different they had said something along the lines of a Jewish best friend or a black best friend is the newest accessory?

MV:

Yeah there would have been a completely different reaction. They would have been labeled as racist, bigots you know any of those negative terms that describe people that stereotype someone based on their cultural background or their ethnicity. It would have been completely different but that goes back to a human rights issue how we’re not treated exactly the same and we don’t have similar rights that heterosexual people have. You know, you should have a best friend based on their personality and whether or not you get along with them, not based on their sexual orientation.

Do you think it's detrimental to the gay community to portray them that way in Hollywood and print articles like this one?

MV:

I think it is. There are negative aspects to it because when (people) come out and meet a gay guy they have this whole ideology behind it of how the gay guys going to act or how the gay guys going to dress and stuff like that. It’s just not true.

Do your homosexual friends treat you differently then your heterosexual friends?

MV:

No, no. I get treated the same because they know me as a person. They don’t know me as a stereotype. I would just say instead of taking somebody else's word for how somebody might be, go up and actually talk to somebody. Every single person has their own personality. Don’t make judgment calls based on somebody's sexual orientation.

b usiness

Editor-In-Chief Bob Beers

Photo Editor Nik Bjurstrom

e ditorial S taff

Media manager Zach Ganschow

why, it just comes with it. I think it’s the whole rightbrained thing. We’re more right-brain tuned. I’m very left-brained myself.

sports

Journalists Samantha Royce

Journalists Wyatt Martin

opinion

Justin Dalme

culture Haley Robinson

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Rebecca De Leon

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Jessica Swider

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production team Brendan Healy Bree Jones Audrey Swift Illustrator Ryan Johnson

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o nline t eam Assistant online editor Iko Vannoy

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Guest opinions (500 word limit) and Letters to the Editor (300 word limit) can be e-mailed to managingeditor@arbiteronline.com

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.

Distributed Mondays & Thursdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University and a designated public forum, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 apiece at The Arbiter offices.

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opinion

AUGUST 23, 2010

Tweeting it like it is

Google-Verizon meeting threatens open access to the Web

Jana Hoffman Columnist

Tweet that prompted this week's column: freepress SaveTheInternet: In Minnesota, Hundreds Urge FCC to Protect Net Neutrality http://bit.ly/bLCyYt An ominous cloud hangs in the airwaves, threatening citizen access to unregulated online content. Currently, people living in the United States can download, upload and reload any content available on the Web at the same delivery speeds. For those individuals who can’t remember life before the Internet, this kind of free access, or “network neutrality,” is an entitlement built into the very nature of the World Wide Web. Most don’t realize the open Internet known today is under serious threat as U.S. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other giant stakeholders meet to discuss its future. Recent closed-door meetings between Internet giants Verizon and Google regarding network neutrality bring the issue to a head. The two corporations have proposed a policy framework they hope the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will adopt and apply in lieu of regulation. It would allow wireless ISPs, such as Verizon, to offer bet-

ter content delivery speeds for those with money to pay for them. Additionally, companies could restrict access to applications and sites not aligned with corporate ambition. The U.S. faced a similar media pulverization in the 1980s when the Regan administration implemented a deregulatory stance on communications issues. So began the huge conglomeration of television and radio news stations across the country and the near-extinction of investigative reporting. Unless action is taken the Internet will suffer the same terrible fate. The FCC should respond immediately to protect the best interests of Americans and the market. Plain and simple- the peoples’ right to free, unencumbered Internet access is a most paramount issue of the 21st century. In order to do so, the FCC must start calling the Internet what it is -- the most powerful telecommunications tool ever known. The Federal Communications Commission defines the Internet as an "information service," of which it has no regulatory power. To protect net neutrality, the commission must begin by reclassifying the Web as a "telecommunications service." In doing so, the FCC would have the ability to hold ISPs to the same standards as cable and satellite providers. The FCC could hinder efforts made by ISPs to impede content delivered to the public. The Google-Verizon meetings prove that the FCC action must be taken now. On Aug. 12, Google responded to prevalent criticism of the meetings. On its public policy blog the company points to the fact that the proposed policy would only allow for wireless ISPs

to implement two-tiered content delivery while keeping wire line service at status quo. The reasoning behind their desire is clear. The truth is that as wireless broadband speeds increase, so does demand for its convenience. In the near future, wireless broadband will be the sole means for Web access. If left unrestricted, companies like Google and Verizon will already dictate which content is most accessible to the public. Tiered Internet service threatens Americans’ freedom of speech and access to raw information. The United States government has the responsibility to protect its citizens’ rights to net neutrality. If Americans sit back on this issue, they will forfeit unprecedented access to the most powerful free-speech tool known to mankind. Network neutrality should be defended and protected by the FCC. U.S. citizens must stand up and conserve open Internet. Threats to net neutrality are a threat to the free speech upon which our country was founded. Citizens can start by taking part in the Free Press’ online petition.

Online *Watch the August 19, 2010 FCC Net Neutrality HearingMinneapolis at theuptake.org *Follow Jana on Twitter and she will follow you back!

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The way we see it

Our own private Boise State

Change abounds in the United States. It's a concept so ubiquitous there isn't a politician alive who cannot help but let the word burp from his or her lips. Change is a word kicked around more than a mudsoaked hackey sac at a hippy convention. It's a pop culture, kitsch-drenched fumble of a word at this point. But what happens when Boise State University President Bob Kustra invokes "change?" In his State of the University Address Wednesday, Kustra hinted that change could mean Boise State becoming a private university. The Arbiter supports the idea of a privately owned and operated Boise State. Because of budget constraints and bureaucratic quagmires, Kustra's motivation to cut the state from the university's financial endeavors is simple to understand. According to Kustra, for the 2010 fiscal year, Idaho finished a lethargic 15 percent below predictions for revenue generated. The state's struggles to assist higher education were compounded by a 70 percent reduction in federal stimulus funds. As a result, Boise State suffered reductions of $28.9 million over the past two fiscal years in total. "It may take a leap of faith to believe that our destiny could be in our hands when the budget challenges we face are due to circumstances and decisions largely beyond our control -- namely, significant cutbacks in funding by state government," Kustra said in his speech.

If Boise State were to become a private university -- and thereby eliminate the state's involvement -making determinations for the budget could be made significantly more simple. Without waving predictions and grim financial forecasts, Boise State's administration could move more nimbly around budget problems given that all of the information it needs could be addressed internally. "The old business model is well known to all of us," Kustra said. "Everyone in this room educated at a public university benefited from the priority that state governments placed on funding public universities and that allowed tuition to remain low for over a century. That model worked fine until funding for corrections, Medicaid and elementary education and secondary education overwhelmed state governments in recent years and state revenues took a dive." Privatization of the university could also mean freedom from state bureaucratic headaches. For the university to purchase equipment for research, it's required to mull through stacks of paperwork and endure a system that moves more slowly than molasses. "Even though it may not appear to be cost savings, our recent legislative victory in seeking statutory authorization to process our own purchasing orders for scientific instrumentation will save our researchers significant time and eliminate the hassle of reporting to two purchasing depart-

ments," Kustra said. Self-reliance toward purchasing could be just one step in Boise State's transition from a public university to a private university. Another benefit of privatization allows Boise State to determine its own curriculum and what colleges to fund. Currently, Boise State doesn't have a law school, medical school or journalism school. Part of the reason why these colleges are not present is because other Idaho universities already offer education in these fields. The result is a university that doesn't produce lawyers despite being within a few miles of the state court house. The same thing applies to having a university that can't produce doctors even though it's located in the state's most densely populated area. In order for Boise State to continue to progress and to potentially become "the metropolitan research university of distinction" it seeks to be, changes will be necessary. For Kustra, change might not be just a catch phrase to plug in to his speech. Privatization looks to be a coherent, viable opportunity to change that could yield positive benefits. "The way we see it" is based on the majority opinions of The Arbiter editorial board. Members of the board are Bob Beers, editorin-chief; Kirk Bell, managing editor; Josh Gamble, online editor; Haley Robinson, opinion editor; Andrew Ford, news editor; Rebecca De Leon, culture editor; and Gray Battson, video editor.

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Culture

AUGUST 23, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Bringing sexy back

The Swede Life

Pole dancers host event for good cause Lauren Hooker Journalist

People eagerly walked through the doors of Ophidia Studio on Chinden Blvd. last Saturday to help raise money for the Chrissy Cataract Fund and enjoy a night of fun, socializing and exotic dancing. The itinerary for the evening consisted of a silent auction, raffle, drinks and demonstrations which included Zumba, chair dancing and pole dancing. The benefit was held in honor of 29-year-old Christina Morris, a senior at Boise State majoring in psychology. Morris, who came to Boise from a small town in northern Idaho, was 15-years-old when doctors found a 12-pound malignant tumor in her chest. After nine extensive chemotherapy treatments over a year, the tumor was finally put into remission. However, because of the radiation in the chemotherapy, Morris began developing cataracts, which in turn caused her to begin to lose her eyesight. “I went in to renew my license in February and had to take the vision test,” Morris said. “But I couldn’t see the test! You don’t really expect to have cataracts in your 20s.” After checking with a doctor, Morris was officially diagnosed with cataracts. However, due to her pre-existing medical condition -- cancer -- she is not eligible for health insurance. Surgery for both eyes has been estimated at $6,000. Jessica Scales, a senior at Boise State majoring in health information management, is a student at Ophidia’s and Morris’s close friend. Scales helped organize the fundraiser to help pay for the surgery. She considers organizing fundraisers and benefits a hobby. “I started doing events to bring the community together,” Scales said. “But so many people started com-

Death by dialogue Ben Mack Columnist

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Ophidia Studios Instructor Emily Carpenter performs for the audience during the demonstration. ing, that I decided to host them for people (in need).” “She does so much for everyone else,” Morris said, “I think she’s paid for an entire eye.” The event was initially conceived when Allison Holley, owner of Ophidia Studios, sent out a call on Facebook to those in need. “I wanted it to be someone in our community,” Holley said. Pole-a-Palooza will be an annual fundraising event. Although it was primarily teachers and students performing, guests were encouraged to join in the festivities by donning costumes to accompany the theme: Vegas Nights. The ladies kicked off the evening with several poledancing performances. Feats included flips around the pole, climbing to the top and upside-down suspension using only their arms or legs while spinning. But

there is more to pole dancing than twirling and doing tricks; it’s a serious workout. According to CalorieCount.com, a 130-pound woman can expect to burn up to 400 calories in a onehour session and tone nearly every muscle group. But pole dancing isn’t just a workout -- it’s also a sport. Katherine Reardon, an apprentice pole dancer at Ophidia Studios, began pole dancing for the Brown University pole dancing team -- the Poler Bears -her freshman year in college. “No other form of exercise captivates me this way,” Reardon said with a smile. “It tones your entire body.” Chair dancing, another form of exotic dance, is just as physically taxing and demands as much confidence. “It’s not about what you’ve got,” explained chair dancing instructor Kelly

glenn landberg/THE ARBITER

The New Heart Congolese Choir performs at a Congo benefit concert Thursday.

A night for the Congo Lance Moore Journalist

The power of music and its effect upon the enigmatic capacity to promote compassion has yet again influenced the human heart. On Thursday evening, the World Relief Organization (WRO) of Boise threw a benefit concert, Cry Out For

the Congo, at the Egyptian Theater in downtown Boise. Up-and-coming musicians ranging from Los Angeles to Chicago performed songs compiled on a CD-DVD set by the group, Project Congo, with the purpose of fundraising to support work being done in the Congo assisting refugees of genocide, civil war, famine and disease.

The concert was the first of its kind to be thrown by the WRO of Boise in cooperation with sponsors Residence Inn hotel chain and nonprofit organizations such as Gates of Hope. The concert shed light on the atrocities occurring within the Congo and what Boise citizens could do to help. Ironically, the majority of staff and volun-

“Absinthia” Green. “It’s how you use it!” Erin Leonardson, a guest and occasional student of Green’s gave information about the class. “(Kelly Green’s) chair classes are spunky, a good work out; she does a good job at making you feel comfortable.” Exotic dancing isn’t just for the ladies, guys are also welcome to attend. “There was one guy who came in with his girlfriend,” Green said. “He was in shorts and heels and did the whole class.” Cabana boy Max Head, a junior at the University of Idaho, can attest to the fact that guys are welcome. “I just clean the poles,” he said. “But I think it’s entertaining. It’s a different slice of life.” Zumba, a form of Latin dance cardio, is another class offered at Ophidia Studios.

“It’s like a party! It really impacts those without a lot of self confidence,” Instructor Ann McLeod said. “It teaches you how to move, and it gives you a lot of energy.” The evening was accompanied by drinks and music, such as songs by Michael Jackson and Usher. Adults ranging from college-age to senior citizens were in attendance. “This experience taught me that people can be unbelievably kind,” Morris said. Although the event was cut short due to a power outage in the area, the benefit’s aid will keep going; the proof is in Chrissy Morris’ eyes. If you are interested in taking a class or donating to the Chrissy Cataract Fund, contact Allison Holley at 409-2403 or visit ophidiastudio.com.

teers had no idea of the severity of the situation within the Congo. Zach Lewis, a student from the Boise Bible College and event volunteer, found that events such as the benefit concert brought awareness of how people, through human kindness, want to “meet the needs, even if not religiously, of their fellow man.” “You fall in love with the refugee,” Beth Williams, a WRO staff worker at the event, said. She enumerated when such despair and pain is brought to people’s attention, even from half a world away, through the art of music and fidelity to the compassion within the human soul, the Congo benefit concert brought about a spark that called people to action to aide those less fortunate. As Larry Jones, the WRO field office director concluded when addressing the crowd, “Once you receive the knowledge, you are accountable.” “This generation, my generation, wants to see change,” Weston Humphries, an event volunteer from the College of Western Idaho, said. When asked if this event

were held on a university campus such as Boise State’s could the result be as influential, Humphries responded, “So if it were pitched the right way and the people who needed our help were what was mainly emphasized, yes. I think it could be just as successful of an event as tonight.” The WRO’s main goal is to provide care, transportation, educational aid, medical needs and friendship, as small an act as that may seem, as it is beneficial to the arriving refugee’s culture shock when they arrive to the United States. Proceeds from CD-DVD and ticket sales were sent to benefit the Congo relief effort.

Ever have a love-hate relationship? You know, the kind where you just can’t stand something about someone, but don’t see how you’d survive without them? That’s how I feel about my student buddy in Sweden, Sara. In short, all exchange students at Linnaeus University’s Växjö campus are assigned a “buddy” to help orient them to the university, the surrounding area, and help them adjust to life in Sweden. While this sounds like a great concept in theory, the fact that the buddy is also basically attached to the student more than the French are to cheese is about as bizarre as Terrell Owens joining the Bengals. In the case of my buddy, it means telling me every minute detail of her life, and those of her friends and family, before even meeting face-to-face. Granted, she’s been able to answer a lot of questions for me so far, and will undoubtedly be an indispensible resource once I’m finally in Sweden by Wednesday morning, but do I really need to know that you think sailing is actually a sport, or that Twilight is great literature? That’s as interesting and philosophical as saying Lindsay Lohan is a role model for young girls around the world. Maybe talking people to death is a cultural thing. When I drove to Seattle to get my student visa in June, the woman I met with at the Swedish consulate talked for over an hour, literally covering every topic from Christmas traditions to Boy Scouts – though she turned out to be more engaging than Jay Leno’s been in years. But there are some pretty cool things about my buddy, too. She's an avid horseback rider, has been to four continents, and has visited just about every Caribbean island. Do you know how many bikinis that is? This girl has more stories than Lady Gaga has outfits. Better yet, without any prompting whatsoever, she’ll start telling them. “You will think I joke,” she says. “But traveling sometimes gets old. Getting up early on a plane, not having enough time to do stuff… I’m like, OK, another trip somewhere with a pretty beach.”

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CULTURE

AUGUST 23, 2010

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Eat my shorts, but not the shoes, they're new Jessica Swider Opinion Producer

Photos by glenn landberg/THE ARBITER

An announcer entertains a rowdy crowd at the center stage of Tour de Fat at Ann Morrison Park Saturday.

Tour de Fat

The reason behind tutus, bikes, beer, costumes Jess Copeland Journalist

Top hats and tutus dominated Ann Morrison Park as Tour de Fat made Boise its backdrop for a whirlwind circus spectacle Aug. 21. A clamorous blur of iridescent wings, neon wigs and sequined polyester commenced as a whimsical crowd seemed to cling to beer and one word: alternative. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the event rocked Boise citizens with a bike ride, live music, beer and outlandish costumes. The bike ride promoted a green lifestyle, while the tutus and leotards promoted wackiness and good times. “The reason behind Tour de Fat is to praise alternative energy by means of reusing, recycling, and riding bikes rather than driving,” said Jason Gnauff, a stage performer for Tour de Fat. “It’s celebrating and creating awareness about becoming a good person of the Earth, and of the community. All the money raised here actually goes toward the Southwest Mountain Bike Association.” Tour de Fat launched with a bicycle parade that included circus bikes, trick bikes, cruisers and everything in between. Two-wheel fanatics gathered in masses to watch as the bikes rolled through the heart of Boise, then fol-

lowed the parade back to Americana Blvd. where kickstands were dropped and kegs were opened. “This was our first time, and we heard about cheap beer and money being donated to bike shops,” shouted various members of a small crowd of Boise State students dressed as pink fairies. “We came for beer and bikes -- the ‘B and B.’” March Fourth kicked off the music festival. New Belgium Brewery Company provided alcohol for the event, but didn’t stand a chance at quenching the thirsty carnie crowd as people hoarded the stage and rocked out. However, Tour de Fat proved to be more than just a booze cruise as New Belgium Brewery Company made sure tents were raised in order to provide recycling and composting buckets. Water stations were also established in hopes that the event would promote community, safety and environmental awareness. All of the proceeds generated by Tour de Fat were donated to the Southwest Mountain Bike Association with the focus of generating a safer and cleaner community by cycling. “This is my third year coming to this event and I would recommend it to other people because it is the most fun event in Boise,” said Michelle

Anderson, a Boise State senior. “I get to dress in a tutu, show up and drink beer all the while I’m here for a cause. Plus it’s just a ton of fun. Who doesn’t like bikes and beer?”

10 Commandments of Tour de Fat 1.) Put no means of transport before thy bike 2.) Honor all other bikes; all bikes are good bikes, and all those who ride them are good people 3.) May every generation come forth 4.) Thou shalt come as a participant not a spectator; it's a costumed celebration of human-powered transportation 5.) Thou shalt not bring booze, but enjoy the supplied malted adult refreshments responsibly 6.) New Belgium shalt not profit; the goal is to raise money for bicycle and environmental charities 7.) Remember the purpose, and bring not your pooches 8.) Keep the day true with thy good juju; the ride is free, but a suggested $5 donation to the good bike advocates who are putting it on for thee is encouraged 9.) Thou shalt rise early ... once full, we will handle overflow like a restaurant or bar: one in, one out 10.) Thou shalt not steal thy neighbors' bike

I love the end of summer. I love a new school year, and all that comes with it. Especially the notoriously juicy September issues of magazines. I'm Jessica and I love fashion. Say what you will about them, but I think clothes are awesome. I love a good buy, new trends make me squeal delightedly and the mall is practically my second home. Shopping is one of my favorite hobbies and I'm quite good at it, if I do say so myself. I've been given the wonderfully entertaining opportunity to write a column about just that: fashion, trends and my thoughts on them. So why should you care what I have to say? Well, hopefully because you'll like what I have to say and be able to relate, but I suppose I'll just have to prove myself. As fall is impending and we're all preparing for the inevitable, let me suggest some primary guild lines to keep in mind when you're deciding what to wear to the first day of class, and in everyday of your life. 1. Less is more. Please use discretion ladies and gentleman. Leaving something to the imagination is so much more sexy. 2. Tights are not pants. Please, just stop. 3. When in doubt, buy a size bigger. Trust me, it's so much more flattering to have a piece of clothing be slightly larger than skin tight. Ladies, you're in denial about your size. Please come to terms with things. 4. Crocs should never, EVER leave the garden. The only thing I hate more than Crocs, are those heinous Five Finger toe shoe things. These two footwear trends should burn, no exceptions or excuses. 5. Ugg boots with mini skirts -please pick a season.

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Today's birthday (8/23/2010) Passions drive all your actions this Today is a 7 -- Exchange of ideas year. Romance is definitely part of www.sudoku.org.uk and emotional energy makes the picture, and so are intuition © 2010 The Mepham Group. Distributed by a lot more fun. Don't today's work and just plain good Media luck. Your mindAll rights Tribune Services. reserved. hold back. Even a silly idea is worth bounces from one idea to the next, listening to. sometimes without direction, but often you see subtle connections Scorpio (Oct. 23--Nov. 21) you'd missed before. 8/24/10 SOLUTION TO MONDAY’S PUZZLE Today is a 7 -- Spread the work To get the advantage, check the around creating a priority list day's rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 Complete thebygrid and allowing someone else to asthe most challenging. so each row, sign the tasks. That way, you play column and the good Aries (March 21-April 19) 3-by-3 box cop. Today is a 6 -- The frantic pace (in bold borders) Sagittarius continues today. All your insight contains every (Nov. 22--Dec. 21) Today is a 7 -- By day's end, someis required if you're to manage the digit, 1 to 9. does get done. Early on, you needs of all the crew. Take care of For thing strategies on others first. howwonder to solveif the ideas will end off flying around Sudoku, visit and come to roost. Trust the process. Taurus (April 20--May 20) www.sudoku.org.uk Today is a©62010 -- The direct path The Mepham Group. Distributed by Capricorn (Dec. 22--Jan. 19) Tribune Services. All rights reserved. at work gets youMedia nowhere now. Change your focus by five or ten de- Today is a 6 -- You're in and out of your own workspace throughout grees and a new direction emerges. the day. You're preparing a surprise Be patient. that's not ready to be revealed. Gemini (May 21--June 21) -- Today Make sure it's well hidden. is a 6 -- Everyone's bouncing off the walls with radical ideas. How Aquarius (Jan. 20--Feb. 18) much change can you incorporate Today is a 7 -- Imagination runs and still remain on schedule? Keep away with you today. Your passion on task. places you on a South Sea island or some other exotic locale. Take notes Cancer (June 22--July 22) for a future trip. Today is a 5 -- Everyone in your household joins together to resolve Pisces (Feb. 19--March 20) a persistent issue. In fact, no Today is a 7 -- Brighten everyone's one leaves until an agreement's day with jokes that focus on human achieved. Peace reigns. foibles. People love to laugh out loud. Choose unusual topics, and Leo (July 23--Aug. 22) find the humor there. Today is a 7 -- Wherever you find yourself today, dig deep and express your passions to others. You (c) 2009, Tribune Media Services Inc. meet someone unusual who incites Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. enthusiasm. Go with the flow.

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Sports

WACked

AUGUST 23, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Fresno State and Nevada accept invitations to Mountain West Conference, Western Athletic Conference left in shambles

Trent Lootens Sports Editor

BYU’s attempt to stab the Mountain West Conference in the back missed severely last week, and in turn, drove a dagger straight into the heart of the Western Athletic Conference. When news got out last Wednesday of BYU’s plans to go independent in football and send its remaining sports to the WAC the MWC went into survival mode. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson moved quickly when he received the news and immediately invited WAC members Fresno State and Nevada to join his conference. The move crippled the WAC and forced commissioner Karl Benson into a dark corner with limited options. Benson’s plan to add BYU’s sports flew off the table and the WAC was left with only six guaranteed teams going into 2012. Those teams are: Utah State, Idaho, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech and Hawai’i. Apparently, BYU also wanted all WAC members, excluding Boise State, to sign a $5 million dollar exiting fee that would be enforced if any of the schools were to leave the WAC in the next five years. Benson said every team signed the contract. Turns out, every school did except Nevada, who apparently only gave a verbal commitment. Fresno State and Nevada accepted the MWC invites anyway. When the carnage settled on Thursday morning, Benson held a teleconference, and made it very clear he was not happy with the way FSU and UNR abandoned the WAC and left the conference in shambles. “Yesterday was a very difficult day for us in the WAC and for me personally. During the course of the day I watched what was expected

STANLEY BREWSTER/THE ARBITER

Nevada and Fresno State join Boise State as the next two teams to leave the Western Athletic Conference for the Mountain West Conference. to be a very beneficial relationship with BYU degenerate through the selfish acts of two WAC schools: Fresno State and Nevada,” Benson said obviously furious with the schools. “In a 12 hour period, the WAC went from having a secure and prosperous future to once again not knowing what the future will hold.” Benson said he fully expects the $5 million from each school and would’ve made it $20 million if he knew this was going to happen. He then said the WAC had been in discussions with BYU for

weeks and a plan was devised which would’ve allowed BYU to play all of its sports in the WAC, besides football. Boise State says it had no knowledge of any of it. It’s clear the conference cannibalism stems from the idea of getting an automatic bid into the BCS. The MWC moved closer to that by adding FSU and UNR to go along with BSU and TCU. If BYU decides to keep all of its sports in the MWC the chances of getting the automatic bid will be increased, but nothing is guaranteed. BYU wants more television

exposure because it feels the current TV contracts through the MWC are limiting the university’s visibility on the national stage. BSU president Bob Kustra said this is the driving force behind all of BYU’s plans. As for BSU, it couldn’t be more happy to have two of its best rivals join the MWC. Not only do the existing rivalries with FSU and UNR get to continue, but the move strengthens an already competitive conference, thus, giving the MWC more national respect. “Boise State University

is firmly committed to the Mountain West Conference and looks forward to officially joining the league in 2011," Kustra said in a statement released Thursday. “We welcome Fresno State and Nevada Reno into the fold as members. We have enjoyed these athletic competitions and university partnerships in the past and are delighted these relationships will continue.” It’s unclear whether FSU and UNR will be able to join the MWC next season or if they’ll have to wait until 2012, but Benson says the WAC

will survive no matter the outcome. “We will begin immediately a process to target prospective members to the WAC, which include current FBS 1A schools, as well as the FCS 1AA schools who have expressed interest in moving into the FBS and the WAC. As you all know, the WAC has had a very successful history of providing an opportunity for FCS schools. It has been devastated many times by teams who join the WAC, they get better and I’m expecting that happen again for the WAC.”

Defense dominates final fall scrimmage Trent Lootens & Kirk Bell Sports

The Boise State offense waited until most of the Bronco Stadium crowd had left before it decided to score a touchdown on Saturday night during the Broncos’ final fall scrimmage on the blue. Playing without senior wide receiver Titus Young and having fellow senior Austin Pettis playing a limited role, the younger receivers were able to showcase their talents. “We have the experienced crew and we have the young crew who shows flashes, but its got to be more than flashes if we’re going to rely on them,” BSU head coach Chris Petersen of his upcoming receiving core. Freshman wide receiver Geraldo Hiwat led the team with four catches for 48 yards and missed scoring a touchdown by less than a yard after a catch during redzone drills. Sophomore wide receiver Chris Potter had 4 catches for 35 yards and freshman Aaron Burks had one catch for 33 yards. Freshman quarterback Joe Southwick looked impressive completing 9-of-15 passes for 112 yards and junior Kellen Moore went 8-of-12 with 44 yards through the air.

Southwick and senior quarterback Michael Coughlin scored the only touchdowns for the Bronco offense on short runs inside the fiveyard-line. Junior runningback D.J. Harper led all rushers with five carries for 25 yards. "Fortunately, we’ve got two weeks now to keep grinding and getting better. It (offense) will look much better come two weeks from now," Moore said.

Defense dominates

got his head down in the corner. He gets on that field and that cape comes on and he’s a good player.” With his senior teammate and defensive end Ryan Winterswyk out recovering from a minor injury, McClellin made the most of his opportunity to capitalize on key situations. “Our defense, we’re just trying to be dominant,” McClellin said. “Taking steps at that each practice, each scrimmage. Tonight we kind of showed that.” A swift defensive attack will be a concern for the Broncos going into game planning mode over the next couple weeks. Virginia Tech’s senior quarterback Tyrod

Taylor has been among the nation’s most mobile quarterbacks and will be a major focus during preparation. “You never can get the speed of a Tyrod Taylor type speed,” Petersen said.

Led by junior defensive end Shea McClellin, the Bronco defense had little difficulty stymieing the first, second and third string offense during the final scrimmage before preparing for Virginia Tech in Landover, M.D. Sept. 6. McClellin caused problems for BSU quartbacks all night. McClellin recorded four sacks and a forced fumble to lead the defensive pressure on the offensive unit. “He’s a nightmare,” Coughlin said. “He’s a great player. He’s going to be great for us this year.” “That guy’s like Clark Kent,” BSU head coach Petersnik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER en said. “You don’t Boise State junior defensive end Shea McClellin wraps up senior quarterback Michael Coughlin for one of his four sacks even see him. He’s during BSU's fall scrimmage. McClellin led the team in sacks and forced a fumble.

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C SPORTS ULTURE

11 B

AUGUST 23, 2010

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Who's in, who's out Trent Lootens Sports Editor

June 11, 2010 Boise State leaves the Western Athletic Conference for the more lucrative Mountain West Conference. For BSU, the MWC provides better competition and easier travel due to the MWC school’s geographic locations. June 17, 2010 The MWC loses its most successful football team when Utah officially accepts an invitation to join the Pacific-10 as its 12th member. Automatic-qualification into the BCS for the MWC takes a big hit as Utah takes its two BCS bowl wins with it. August 17, 2010 After much speculation, official news is leaked that BYU is intending to become independent in football and move the rest of its sports to the WAC.

August 18, 2010 In fear of losing BYU, MWC commissioner Craig Thompson lowers the boom on WAC commissioner Karl Benson by inviting Fresno State and Nevada. Losing FSU and UNR puts Benson in a very hard spot and throws the WAC into a land of uncertainty. Only Idaho, Utah State, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, Hawai’i and New Mexico State remain members of the WAC.

August 19, 2010 Benson lashes out at FSU and UNR in a teleconference calling the two schools’ acts “selfish” and openly says the status of the WAC is uncertain. The search for new members to join the WAC and save the conference begins. BYU, backs out of WAC deal and remains in the MWC despite admitting it still wants to become independent in football. BYU has until September 1, to decide if it wants to stay in the MWC or leave after this year.

Rumors The MWC and Conference USA have both acknowledged they met in Colorado Springs, Colo, to discuss a possible merger. Also being discussed is the possibility of having both conference’s champions play each other for the BCS bid. CUSA called the reports “premature,” and the MWC said a merger at this time is unlikely. BYU has several decisions to make between now and Sept. 1. The possibility of BYU going independent in football seems to be moving forward. As for their other sports, the West Coast Conference has been mentioned along with the idea of just keeping BYU’s remaining sports in the MWC. Utah State was approached by the MWC to join the conference before Fresno State and Nevada were invited. USU has acknowledged this, but says it turned down the MWC invite because it wanted to uphold the promise it made to Benson and BYU. The $5 million penalty probably played a large role in the decision, too. Both the MWC and USU say negotiations are still open between the two about USU joining the conference.

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BSU volleyball team on a mission Justin Dalme Journalist

nik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER

The women's volleyball team will begin the 2010 season with a chip on its shoulder.

Boise State's volleyball team starts the season ranked No. 5 in the Western Athletic Conference coaches' poll, but coming off a third place finish in last year’s WAC tournament, the girls have higher goals than ever before. Last year’s third place finish was the best BSU’s volleyball team had ever done in the tournament, and believe they deserve the respect of a higher ranking to start the 2010 season. “We feel under-ranked, and I think that we are all trying to push to be recognized as a force,” junior co-captain Amanda Remy said.

The momentum the Lady Broncos gathered at the end of last season has carried over to spring and summer practices. Now, BSU must put all of its off-season's hard work to use and to compete for a WAC championship. “The girls worked harder than ever in the weight room, and they feel physically ready to get back and compete with the top teams in our conference,” volleyball head coach Shawn Garus said. Competing with the WAC volleyball powerhouses is a reality for BSU. The girls are ready to hang with teams like Hawai'i -- last year’s WAC tournament champs. “We should definitely compete with them. We can hang

with them, compete with them and take games off of them,” Remy said. The returning girls are pushing the freshmen to be on the same page and to set the same goals. According to Garus, that goal is to be the best team Boise State has ever had in women’s volleyball. BSU returns three AllConference players in Breann Nesselhuff, Alisha Young and Sadie Maughan. “We ended the season ranked third, we are still on that high and we finally have confidence as a team,” said Nesselhuff, who also shares co-captain duties. That confidence has given the girls a sense of swagger. “We can beat New Mexico State. Last

year that was not a big expectation, this year it is. We should definitely be third or second in the conference,” said Remy. In order to achieve their goal, the Lady Broncos are going to continue to implement their style of play. It's a fast and aggressive style of offense and defense, which coach Garus says, “is something that gives (the team) confidence and creates stress for opponents.” But to play aggressively, the girls have to stay healthy. “We are not really deep,” Garus said. “We have to work hard in the gym, but we also have to value our rest time. That could mean less reps in practice, or shutting it down early on the weekends so (the girls) can recover.” While their head coach may be concerned about staying healthy, the girls are only thinking about one thing: working harder in the gym than ever before. “We compete in here every day, just like it is a game,” Nesselhuff said. Co-captain Amanda Remy agrees. “It is way more competitive here now, than it was ever before. We are getting started early, and we are getting it done this year.”

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Aquatic center ready to make a splash Wyatt Martin Journalist

After nine months of construction, the new aquatic center is ready to open its doors to students. The $8 million, 17,000 square foot facility will hold its grand opening this Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All students and members of the student recreation facility are welcome and lifeguards will be on duty for those who want to take a dip.

“We see the pool, and we're just so excited,” Director of Campus Recreation Lisa Stuppy said. “The opening of the facility represents the completion of the original project that started 15 years ago, with students advocating for more student services.” This marks a historic day for the Rec after originally planning to include a pool in the late '90s. Unfortunately, the funding was not available at the time, forcing a two phase construction process. The opening of the facility is

the final step in the construction of the rec center as it was originally intended. With the Rec's completion, students will no longer need to go across campus for a swim. The Kinesiology Building's pool will remain the home of the Bronco swimming and diving team, leaving the new pool area open for full-time student use. The aquatic center is located on the southwest corner of the Rec. It includes a six lane lap pool, a recreational pool and a spa. Both pools

are heated by solar panels to help maintain power costs. The center is also home to a state of the art dehumidifier system that circulates water from the air back into the pool. The pool also includes a series of jets that help to simulate current for kayaking and other fitness programs. During the warmer weather months, the surrounding windows can open to allow patrons to dry off in the sun on the patio area. The facilities annual cost for upkeep and maintenance

is projected at $350,000. A substantial portion of that money will be used to pay for student lifeguards. It is currently uncertain whether student and member costs will be effected in the near future. The pool will be home to a multitude of activities including Aquafit fitness, water polo, wellness classes and kayaking roll sessions through the outdoor program. Other activities currently in the works include basketball, volleyball and

even some club and intramural sports. Aquatics coordinator, Sarah Litowich, also hopes for starting a learn-to-swim program, master swim program and lifeguard training courses. The facility is open to all members of the Rec. Regular hours will be Monday through Thursday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday noon to 9 p.m. Family hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

nik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER

The aquatic center will serve as the new recreation pool for Boise State students starting Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010.

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