Issue no.
44
Volume 23
First Issue
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February 22, 2011
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The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933
glenn landberg/THE ARBITER
In the center of the photo you’re looking deep into the x-ray photoelectron spectrometer, simply called “The Machine” by it’s users. A nano particle is of course too small to be seen with a human eye, so the machine uses differences in atmostpheric pressure to get a better look into the nature of nanoparticles.
Physics vs. Cancer
Using the strength of small, researchers investigate the potential of zinc oxide Suzanne Craig
Assistant News Editor Physics, the bane of many students, has been connected with cancer, one of the banes of humanity. It’s bizarre to think that what starts with math, number crunching and kinematics equations can produce a potential cure for cancer in the form of nanoparticles. Boise State professor Alex Punnoose, Ph.D., is leading a research team along with professor Denise Wingett that is looking into the potential uses for zinc oxide nanoparticles as a cure for cancer. Nanoparticles are, as the name implies, extremely small. A nanometer is defined as one billionth of a meter -- that’s the length of a few hundred atoms lined up at the most. There are two ways to make these
extremely small samples of materials. One way is to take a relatively large piece (usually in crystalized form) and break it. This produces many flaws and lots of them in the resulting nanoparticle. The other way is through chemical synthesis. “We make a solution and grow the crystals in it in a bottom-up approach, using other materials to halt the growth of the material when it is at the size we want,” Punnoose said. That growing of the nanoparticles is part of the undergraduate researchers jobs. There are nine at work on this project, each working on different types of nanoparticles. Some students have worked in the lab for more than two years, though not necessarily on this project. Josh Anghel, a senior physics major began doing research the summer after his freshman year when there were only two
projects being researched. “The one Doctor Punnoose was running seemed more interesting,” he said. Despite the production of multiple types of nanoparticles, the one that is receiving the most hype as a potential new form of treatment for cancer is zinc oxide. It’s a semiconductor usually used in the production of electronics but has been found to be toxic to certain cells and toxic bacteria. What started as a simple test on zinc oxide’s reaction to organic substances by Punnoose and Kevin Feris, Ph.D. an assistant professor for the department of biological sciences, became a lot more when it was found that zinc oxide killed harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and the bacteria responsible for staph infection. Moving onto human cells, the zinc oxide nanoparticles were tested on
jurkat cells, which are a type of cancerous immune system cell, as well as normal healthy immune system cells, with the help of Denise Wingett, cell biologist, Ph.D. and chair of the biology department. “We found that all cancer cells (that were tested) can be killed at a concentration where normal cells of the same family are not affected,” Punnoose said. These findings have already been published. The students who helped with the project were honored as co-authors. The next step is testing the zinc oxide on different types of cancerous cells, to be handled in Wingett’s lab with the help of her own student researchers. “We branched into testing breast and prostate cancer, and I am now looking at types of lung cancer,” said Janet Layne, a biology graduate student.
Another cool thing about the zinc oxide nanoparticles is that they aren’t all the same for each type of cancer. Surface charge and other characteristics of the nanoparticles are altered for each type and certain alterations produce higher toxicity for different kinds of cells. “We can tailor the properties of these nanoparticles to increase toxicity ... this is why other labs testing zinc oxide don’t necessarily get the same results, as it is not plain zinc oxide,” Punnoose said. The next step in the research process is animal testing. Permission for this has recently been obtained and is expected to begin soon with funding being partially supplied by the National Institute of Health. Efforts to obtain more funds in order to make zinc oxide nanoparticles a promising candidate for cancer therapy are underway.
Photos by glenn landberg/THE ARBITER
Left: Boone Beausoleil, a senior physics major, sets up a solution to be mixed in the lab. Right: is Aaron Thurber, lab manager and alumnus with a masters in physics, works with the x-ray photoelectron spectrometer.
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2 News
February 22, 2011
Get a job, you bum Career fair presents opportunity for alumni, degree-seeking students Tasha Adams Journalist
Robby Milo/THE ARBITER
If the 2011 constitution is passed it’ll become effective during this semester’s April election. If it doesn’t pass, the 2010 constitution will become active after the election.
ASBSU introduces one more new constitution to increase representation Stephanie Casanova Journalist
Last year’s Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) proposed a new constitution they felt better represented the student body. Though the new constitution prioritized club funding, it still wasn’t enough. This led to the creation of the 2011 constitution which would replace vicepresident positions with an Executive Council of three or more secretaries and directors. The secretaries would focus on student affairs outside of ASBSU while directors would specialize in administrative, budgetary and marketing duties, as well as election planning. The 2011 constitution would replace the judiciary system with a funding board which would cost less. Students in the funding board would be responsible for funding student clubs and organizations. A student ethics officer would also be appointed under the new constitution to overlook other officers and ensure they comply with the Boise State
The Arbiter
statement of shared values. This officer would fill the duties of a traditional judiciary system. The council believes the 2011 constitution provides the structure to better represent and facilitate students. Officers of the 2011 constitution will increase or change their services but receive the same pay, meaning student fees won’t increase. The Associated Students are gathering petition signatures from students. Signing the petition doesn’t mean a student is voting for the new constitution to be ratified, it only means they’re asking for the opportunity to vote for the new constitution. If enough signatures are gathered, a special election will be held March 1-3. If the 2011 constitution is passed it will become effective during this semester’s general election held in April. If it doesn’t pass, the 2010 constitution will become effective during the general election. The 2010 constitution was ratified by the majority of student votes April 7-8 in the spring 2010 general elections. After its ratification, the 2010 constitution was once again revised by student government officials who
then produced version 2011 of the constitution. Their main focus for this new revision was to create a student government that can represent all students. The 2010 constitution includes an executive council of one president and seven vice presidents. Each vicepresident would be responsible for the representation of students with regards to their specific job title (i.e., vice president of Service and Equity would be Director of the Volunteer Service board, and representative to the Women’s Center, Cultural Center and Service Learning along with other responsibilities). The Associated Students thought this to be an inconvenient system because some of these positions wouldn’t be lined up with their goals. Student representation in the 2011 constitution will be the job of a Student Assembly. This assembly will include an appointed official from each Boise State department. The 2010 constitution also has a judiciary system consisting of a board of paid students without responsibilities. “Judiciary is kind of this empty body that is there just in case somebody asks
them to do something specific,” ASBSU President Stephen Heleker said. The new constitution moves the club funding system from a matching funds system to a grant system. In previous years, clubs and organizations would raise funds and the student government funding board would match them. Clubs could then take these funds and use them as necessary. Sometimes though, funds were used long after being collected, if ever. The new grant system works differently by having a club request funds from ASBSU, with a specific plan on how they’ll spend that money promptly. The clubs would then fund raise on top of having received a grant. What this means for students is that paid fees will be used the year they were paid, not years later. The grant system would also benefit smaller clubs that may not be able to fund raise. If you are interested in signing the petition to bring the 2011 constitution to vote, you can go to the Student Involvement and Leadership Center upstairs in the Student Union Building or sign it online: https://sites.google. com/site/wikiasbsu/constitutionelection-petition
With unemployment rates fluttering around nine percent, there is an abundance of job seekers scouring the Treasure Valley for openings. Some are under-qualified, some are over-qualified but most are met with the same dilemma -- a shortage of opportunities. For students in the midst of a dreaded job hunt, Boise State is offering help. The Career Fair is Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom of the Student Union Building. This is a chance for students to meet representatives from several companies that are currently recruiting. Originally developed for companies to come to collect resumes and meet with applicants in one room, the 23rd Semi-Annual Career Fair now aims to give students, alumni and other community members a chance to network with businesses. As many as 50 companies will be present, looking for students from all majors and alumni with a wide variety of degrees. Donna Blakley of Boise, Inc. (formerly Boise Cascade) said, as a corporation attending the fair for the first time this year, the business is excited to have the opportunity to present the company to Boise State students. The event is open to the public so students and alumni are encouraged to invite friends and family members. Jennifer Ross, event coordinator at the Career Center, said in the past companies have conducted interviews with candidates met at the Career Fair as soon as the day after the event. Lisa Keyes, alumnus of Economics and Business Management, landed her first job after graduation with a small local business that attended the Career Fair. She said it was a great opportunity to network with employers who knew the demographic they were looking for -- in this case, it was new grads. Ross advises that students planning to attend should go to the Career Center website, http://Career.BoiseState.edu and research the companies that will be recruiting. Many of them have the job openings posted on their websites and prefer applicants to submit resumes and applications online before meeting with company representatives at the fair. She also encourages attendees to dress professionally, be pro-active and willing to socialize, and have a 30 second introduction planned when meeting new recruiters.
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February 22, 2011
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The Vagina Monologues
JOhn Shinn/THE ARBITER
Preaches sex, hatred Rebecca De Leon Culture Editor
CUNT! PUSSY! Do those words make you feel uncomfortable? If so, it’s not because they are derogatory words referring to genitalia. It’s because you’re a sexist pig, according to the Vagina Monologues (VM). I am a woman and I consider myself a feminist. VM addresses the semantics of “dirty” words such as pussy and vagina, and how the amount of offense taken by them is directly correlated with the degree of women’s oppression. This is true to an extent; I would indeed be offended if someone called me a pussy. However, I’d also be offended if he or she called me a dick. Merriam-Webster defines feminism as “the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.” So how did VM author Eve Ensler use a stage to strive for equality of the sexes? By getting women to scream in orgasmic pleasure and shout derogative words to the audience. Somehow, I’m not sure how getting women to release their sexual tigress in front of an audience of people liberates them from sexual oppression. In fact, it’s quite counterproductive, and it’s astounding how so many people fail to see the irony in the situation. In the show, there are various skits about everything from rape to discovering a woman’s clitoris (remember,
that’s not bedroom talk unless you’re a sexist). There is one skit wherein a man makes a woman feel good about her vagina, but other than that, men are beasts who think only of raping and beating women. There is a lot of attention given to women who get sexual and emotional pleasure from other women, including one 13-yearold (later modified to a 16-year-old) who is sexually abused by a woman. Except it’s not rape, because the young girl liked it. There is a blatant anti-male bias in the show. Being proud to be a woman does not mean you must hate men. Renowned feminist Betty Dodson, Ph.D, spoke out against VM. “Ending violence is a worthy cause and I’m all for it. But consistently equating sex with violence offers no solution,” she said. And amidst all this vagina talk, the audience is supposed to come to a better understanding of the economic, political and social obstacles women face in society? Perhaps the show would be more successful by taking out the scene where women talk about what their vaginas would wear (think that’s a stupid topic? Sexist!) and replace it with a scene in which a woman discusses why she feels she deserves to earn more than $.75 for every $1 a man makes. The lack of sex might make it productive.
V.M. A little history
Author Eve Ensler first wrote The Vagina Monologues in 1994. The play has gone through several revisions since then based off new information Ensler obtained from conducting interviews with dozens of women. According to their website, “The play addressed women’s sexuality and the social stigma surrounding rape and abuse.”
Empowers the community Lizzy Naughton Courtesy
V-A-G-I-N-A I grew up in a household where the word vagina was never used. My parents had numerous baby-like nicknames, as I’m sure most families resort to as well. Cutsie names like, “peepee,” or “vajayjay,” or “girl parts” are common American pet names that my parents followed. This concerned a woman named Eve Ensler, “we were worried what we think about vaginas, and even more worried that we don’t think about them,” she wrote in the introduction for The Vagina Monologues. By not calling the vagina what it actually is, we are repressing women’s sexuality. People see the vagina, and women, as something insignificant -- and that’s where the violence begins. Men (and I point to men because nearly all violence against women is committed by men) don’t see women as human, and thus their vaginas are used in the most violent of ways. The Vagina Monologues were designed to educate the viewers on these kinds of horrific statistics, point out the bizarre social norms associated with vaginas and share women’s stories -Ensler did this to open up a Vagina Community. These monologues were based on vagina interviews from more than 200 women around the world. Ensler traveled around asking questions most people don’t even think of:
“If your vagina could talk, what would it say?” or “If your vagina could wear something, what would it wear?” The interviews started something beautiful: women started thinking about their vaginas! And in a whole new way. They started embracing them and becoming proud to have a vagina. The Vagina Monologues have spread worldwide in cities and on college campuses. Ensler said that after the monologues were first performed, women would come up to her and explain their stories of violence, which they had never felt empowered to tell anyone before. Women felt empowered. Take a moment to think about what that could mean for a woman who has been abused based purely on her sex; a woman who has been living in fear. This is the core reason The Vagina Monologues are so important. If we don’t start a dialogue about violence against women, who will? If we don’t point out that, yes, it’s called a VAGINA, who will? And mostly, if we don’t empower women, who will? I encourage everyone: men, women, teenagers, older folks, children -everyone to take a chance and listen to what The Vagina Monologues have to say. You might be surprised.
Lizzy Naughton is a senior majoring in English with a creative writing emphasis.
T h e w a y w e see it
Departments should think hard, smart before shifting more classes online We love our gadgets. Most of us clutch our smartphones closer to us than family, but frankly, we’re scared of technology, especially in the use of online classes. Last year more than 8,000 students, almost half of the student population, took at least one online course. More than 200 instructors taught courses accounting for more than 10 percent of Boise State credits. Online instruction is becoming a big slice of the academic pie. While we know technology can be used to slash through barriers and connect zillions of students all over the world, we think there are some pretty big dangers too. You don’t have to go past the first floor of the library to see the power of online distractions at play. We know it’s a little creepy, but walk into the first floor of Albertsons Library and gaze at any of the students pecking fiercely away at their keyboards. More often then not, you’ll find them producing not just pithy English papers, but clicking through fragmented thoughts in the forms of Facebook posts, messages and e-mails. We’re not anti-internet, we are anti trying to do 10
things at once. When classes shift from the classroom to online, you find students dividing their attention between not just an instructor and their best looking peers, but between hundreds of games, social networking sites and videos begging to be cycled through. These distractions leave concepts fragmented and our concentrations spliced. If we’re going increasingly deeper into this education realm, we’ve got to know what we’re doing. Which brings us to our next point. Right now, no one knows what the heck or how the heck students learn online. We’ve deployed armies of online classrooms to combat increasing tuition costs (which looks all but guaranteed to spill into high schools across the state) but there isn’t nearly enough research on how learning online works to push for more. The university has an unquenchable thirst for technology, but doesn’t understand how to use it. Maybe online classes could be great. But right now most of the classes we’ve taken have been a ton of reading with little instructor input. We’ve used message boards to communicate
about chapters or readings, but do we even have to begin to explain the incredible learning disparity between forced communication through message boards and genuine dialogue between students in a classroom? If we, as eager high school students, anticipated debates between professors and students in college, we fear the next generation is being geared to fantasize about the quality of YouTube video links that professors aggregate. No thanks. We sat through the university fee hearing and we know budgets are tight and the state is cutting back every year, but let’s not go Tom Luna and assume online courses are a be-all, end-all effective budgetary or academic shortcut to providing students an education. “The way we see it” is based on the majority opinions of The Arbiter’s editorial board. Members of the board are Bob Beers, editor-in-chief; Kirk Bell, managing editor; Haley Robinson, opinion editor; Karey Hoke, assistant opinion editor; Andrew Ford, news editor; Suzanne Craig, assistant news editor; Rebecca De León, culture editor; Lauren Hooker, assistant culture editor; and Jessica Swider, assistant online editor.
E ditorial S taff E ditor - in -C hief Bob Beers
M anaging E ditor Kirk Bell
M edia M anager Zach Ganschow
P hoto E ditor
N ews
Andrew Ford Suzanne Craig
Editor Ast. ed
S ports Editor Ast. ed
O pinion
Robby Milo
Editor Ast. ed
O nline E ditor
C ulture
Megan Lloyd
V ideo E ditor Gray Battson
E ditorial A dvisor James Kelly
Editor Ast. ed
Trent Lootens Brittney Johnson Haley Robinson Karey Hoke Rebecca De León Lauren Hooker
C opy E ditors
Eden Engberg Stephanie Scheibe Rachel Huffaker
Three big tips for online instructors:
1. Give us documents we can read offline. We’re more efficient when we’re not connected and we know it. Let us read PDF’s and doc’s offline, skip the myriad of links to other websites and readings. 2. Say no to allowing great in-person courses being financially trimmed into online-only courses. 3. Develop ways for students to meet outside of class. Create and develop groups that have to meet (eek) in real life. While there are a handful of students studying away sociology in South America, most are just taking online classes because it saved us a drive or we couldn’t find an on-campus course.
B usiness J ournalists Christine Ritchie, Eva Heart, Megan Bronder, Tyler Kirkham, Tony Madonna, Jana Hoffman, Tony Rogers, Natalie Craig, Trevor Villagrana, Eden Engberg, David Gasch, Lindsey Hileman, Edina Macic, Sherry Horton, Tasha Adams, Stephanie Casanova, Kimberley O’Bryan, Wyatt Martin, Genevieve Nutting, Justin Dalme, Nikki Hanson, John Garretson, Ty Hawkins
D esign
D irector
P roduction M anager
B usiness /A d M anager
P roduction T eam
B ookkeeper
D esigner
Brad Arendt
Matthew Summers
Ashley Ackers
A ccount E xecutives Miguel Varela
O nline A st . O nline E ditor Jessica Swider
Bree Jones
Brendan Healy
Glenn Rummler Kelly Ward
V isuals P roducers
Cody Finney Nik Bjurstrom Glenn Landberg Joey McCoullough
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The Arbiter
Guest opinions (500 word limit) and Letters to the Editor (300 word limit) can be e-mailed to letters@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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February 22, 2011
Sports
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Assistant Sports Editor
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White boys can jump Long jumper Eetu Viitala eyeing Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championship
Vancouver native shines as women’s starting point guard John Garretson
Justin Dalme
Journalist
Journalist
Courtesy Boise state Athletics
Junior Eetu Viitala has dominated the Western Athletic Conference this year and is on the verge of qualifying for the NCAA National Track and Field Championships. they are stricter. Back home, when we take a test, we can take a re-test, and even another re-test. So, school is a lot looser. You can get grades easier, and here you really have to study.”
“
Twenty five feet four inches. It is roughly the same length as two cars or four and a half people lined up head to toe. It is also the career-best mark for long jumper Eetu Viitala. The common myth is that white boys can’t jump, but the junior long jumper from Finland has dispelled that rumor. This year, Viitala has dominated the long jump. He has jumped almost a foot farther than anyone else in the Western Athletic Conference and is riding five-straight event wins into this week’s WAC championships. Viitala is excited at the prospect of winning the WAC title, but he also has other goals in mind. “I am only two inches away from getting into nationals, and I know I can jump that distance,” Viitala said. “We also have a really good team on the men’s side this year. Last year, we were second in the WAC. This year, since we have a better team, I am confident that we can win the title.” If Viitala wants to qualify for nationals, he will need to have a near-perfect jump and improve upon his career-best. But what goes into jumping so far? “I just try to think of all the technical aspects,” Viitala said. “What I am going to do on my approach, what I am going to do once I get closer to the board. I try to think about what the right technique is for a good jump. I just try to remember all of those things I have done in training, and just go for it.” This year, to improve his jumping, Viitala has been focused on his running technique, saying that in the past, his technique was pretty bad. But whatever he’s done it is working, as he is jumping about a foot farther than last year. “I think his growth has really come by really paying attention to the details. And as he’s done that, he has continued to get better,” said head coach J.W. Hardy. “He is really big on being a technician and wanting to be coached and he feeds off of that. That is mostly what you see of Eetu. When he is on the track, he is all business.” Viitala is also all business off the track, as he is currently studying international business, a degree he plans to take back home to Finland. Going to college can be a big transition for most students, but because he’s from another country, Viitala has experienced different challenges. “It’s been different. It’s been a bit more demanding than I thought,” Viitala said. “School back home was a little easier, and here it’s more demanding;
“
Oh Canada!
He is really big on being a technician and wanting to be coached and he feeds off of that. That is mostly what you see of Eetu. When he is on the track, he is all business —Head Coach, J.W. Hardy
But, the transition has come with a chance to better himself as a jumper. In Finland, Viitala trained by himself and didn’t have a coach. “I felt like there would be a better place for me to train. I started looking for schools in the states, and I ended up in Boise,” Viitala said. “I heard they had a good jump team over here and they had some European athletes as well. That was the biggest reason.” Even with the differences, Viitala has continued to soar above the rest. Something he’ll look to do this weekend as he goes for his first WAC title.
Broncos bitten by Wolf Pack Women lose 74-57 on senior night finale
Cody Finney/the arbiter
Janie Bos pumps up her fellow teammates on her senior night last Saturday against Nevada. The Broncos fell to the Nevada Wolf Pack 57-74.
Basketball was always in the blood of freshman point guard Diana Lee, so learning how to play was simply inevitable. “Well, my dad played in high school and I have four older siblings and they played it (basketball), so I kind of just got into it from watching them play and I really liked it and it kind of just went from there,” Lee said. It would seem like any other cliche start to a sports career, but in Lee’s case, it’s a bit different. Lee is from the country of Canada, where hockey reigns supreme and a sport like basketball generates only a small portion of the population’s interest. Lee took on the sport in full force, practicing daily at her hometown gym, attending different camps and just living by her father’s motto, ‘you can do anything through hard work’. As Lee entered her freshman year (which starts at eighth grade) at Handsworth High School, her skills really started to shine. Her 8th grade team ended up going undefeated for the 2005-06 season and eventually went on to win the pronvincianal championship, the US equivalent to states. Lee’s leadership and ball handling skills had coaches impressed, which is why it came as no surprise that Lee took the starting point guard role for the senior (varsity) team in ninths grade. The transition to a higher level of play seemed smooth for Lee, as she brought back to back provincianal championships to Handsworth her junior and senior year, simply dominating the playing field of women’s high school basketball. “It (winning the pronvinicianl championship)s had always been a goal for our team and once it happened we decided we have one more year let’s do it again,” Lee said. “It’s hard to repeat, it takes some persistence and character. We had to stick together as a team. We did it and it was a great feeling.” Lee’s goal ever since she started playing the game of basketball in 3rd grade was to play it at the highest level, and that level was Division I basketball in the states. Boise State noticed her game play from highlight reels and local tournaments. BSU invited Lee to visit the campus in October of her senior year and it took Lee all of two days to call the Broncos and accept their scholarship offer. “I didn’t want to go to the states if it wasn’t a right fit for me. Although it was my goal, if it didn’t work out the way I saw it then I wasn’t going to go,” Lee said. “I came on my visit here and really, really enjoyed it. I love the team, the coaches, the style of play, everything. It was a good fit for me.”
See Oh Canada! I page 5
Wyatt Martin Journalist
Saturday, the Boise State women’s basketball team played host to conference rival Nevada on an emotional senior night. While the Broncos kept it close for much of the first half, Nevada’s star seniors stole the show. Three of the Wolf Pack’s starters combined for 59 points, while Boise State as a team was only able to muster 57 total points. “We could have executed better tonight and that probably would have helped us,” senior Janie Bos said. “We knew who the shooters were, we knew that we couldn’t give them an inch or they were going to take a mile and that’s what happened.” Bos’s performance was one of the few highlights on the night for Boise State. Bos finished with 13 points and a team-high five rebounds, while shooting 5-9 from the floor and a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line. The other highlight for BSU was fellow post player Lauren Lenhardt, who had 14 points in only 16 minutes of play. “I thought our post play was pretty good,” head coach Gordy Presnell said. “It’s missed catches and bad passes, all those little things. Wide-open shots that you need to hit, and don’t hit. Those are the things that create breaks for you, and then they (Nevada) go down and capitalize off those mistakes.”
See Broncos bitten by Wolf Pack I page 5
Daniel Patchin/THE ARBITER
Freshman point guard Diana Lee pulls up for a jumper over a University of Idaho defender earlier this season. Idaho won the game 61-46 at Taco Bell Arena Feb. 12.
Men’s tennis preps for Blue Gray Tournament in Alabama Brittney Johnson
Assistant Sports Editor The No. 36 Boise State men’s tennis team hit a skid in its schedule when it went 1-6 in seven-consecutive matches. The Broncos finally broke the streak with a win at No. 50 San Diego State -- a future Mountain West Conference opponent. Because the teams the Broncos have fallen to have been high of quality, their ranking hasn’t taken much of a hit.
The Arbiter
Thanks to the 280 Division I men’s tennis programs, the NCAA ranks the Top 70 each week during the season. “That’s a lot of schools, our strength of schedule is probably one of the strongest in the country. I don’t think anyone plays a tougher schedule at the beginning of the season than we do, but it’s for a reason it has a purpose. To become a warrior you have to go to war, to play the best you’ve got to be the nik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER
See Blue Gray I page 5 Boise State head coach Greg Patton (right) prides his team on playing the best nationally ranked opponents. arbiteronline.com
5
Sports
February 22, 2011
Broncos bitten by Wolf Pack
[Sports page 4]
Cody finney/THE ARBITER
Head coach Gordy Presnell instructs the BSU women’s basketball team during a time out against Nevada.
Turnovers and lack of rebounding led to 32 of Nevada’s 74 points. While the Broncos were only out-rebounded by four, the crucial offensive rebounds that the Wolf Pack kept getting were the back-breaker for Boise State. Nevada’s Tahnee Robinson had the Broncos’ number, finishing with a game-high 27 points, 18 of which came in the first half. Robinson was 10-21 shooting, 4-9 behind the three point line and also grabbed eight rebounds. “We didn’t want Tahnee Robinson to get off, obviously she’s one of the premier players in the league. She was feeling it. I thought we did a pretty nice job in the first half, except for guarding her,” Presnell said. The loss drops Boise State to 11-16 overall, and 2-11 in Western Athletic Conference play. It also marks the Broncos’ ninth loss in a row, a streak that the women will try and snap next Saturday at San Jose State. The Broncos will also face off against Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State to wrap up the season and try to dig their
way out of last place in the conference. While things haven’t exactly gone as planned this season for the women, the future looks bright ahead. With only two seniors leaving after this season, the youth that seemed to hurt this team at times throughout the year could be what turns the program around next season. “We got a lot of girls that are willing to work hard. We’re going to go hard all spring, we’re going hard all summer, and we’re going to be ready next year. And we’re going to be a lot better,” sophomore Lauren Lenhardt said. With a variety of sophomore and junior talent returning next season, Boise State will be a team to be reckoned with in the Mountain West Conference.
Blue Gray Tournament [Sports page 4] best. There’s no greater way to improve than to compete,” head coach Greg Patton said. That competitive spirit has led to one major upset at No. 30 Wisconsin and several close matches on the road. Last weekend the Broncos went through a gauntlet in the state of California, facing No. 20 Pepperdine and No. 6 UCLA on the road before heading south to San Diego, Calif., to take on the San Diego State Aztecs. The Broncos lost 1-6 to Pepperdine and failed to get a point versus UCLA, suffering a 0-7 loss. “It was a trip through purgatory, but there’s always heaven up there. It was great playing two of the best teams in the country at their place. It was a lot of adversity, but it’s the best way to learn. To be a great athlete you can’t
make things easy, we are playing a bunch of the top teams in the country, so getting that win out of San Diego State was icing on the cake, it’s kind of redeemed us,” Patton said. With the will to win and compete the Broncos will have another chance to slay some goliaths when they head to Alabama this week for the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic. The draw will not be announced until Feb. 24, but the teams competing are all ranked including heavy home favorites No. 22 Auburn and No. 32 Alabama. “We know what we are going to bring to the table. We are going to compete and fight harder than any other team and we are going to see were it takes us,” freshman Andy Bettles said.
Oh Canada [Sports page 4] Even though she was hundreds of miles away from home, coming to Boise this past summer for preseason was not an issue for Lee, as she instantly fell in love with her team, coach and the City of Boise. Lee accommodated rather well to the higher playing style of Division I, averaging
“
The caliber of play in the US to the play in Canada is not even a comparison. The girls are a lot stronger, better and more skilled. That’s why I can tell I made the right decision.
“
—Diana Lee, freshman
6.5 points, 3.0 assists and 24 minutes per game. This year, the freshman point guard was selected to play for her home country under the U19 national team, which will partake in the FIBA world championship this summer. “I thought she was kind of clever with the ball. I thought she played with confidence. I thought it was good to have a player on the team who has played for a national team,” head coach Gordy Presnell said. While recognizing the toughness here, she has not turned back on her decision for one second. “The caliber of play in the US to the play in Canada is not even a comparison,” Lee said. “ The girls are a lot stronger, better and more skilled. That’s why I can tell I made the right decision.”
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February 22, 2011
Classifieds Sudoku
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Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (02/22/11) vThe year’s full of possibilities. Learn to manage all the activity, spending more time on productive behavior. Avoid distractions, and you’ll be rewarded. Nevertheless, don’t forget to have fun. The trick is to make your work as fun as play. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 -- It’s a day of action and adventure. Your future looks clear. Time to reexamine your goals. Your relationships evolve to new levels with gentle care. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6 -- If you don’t adapt, you could feel trapped at work. Practical ideas take over, so save an inspired plan for later, after the dust has settled. Go with the flow. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 7 -- You handle lots of activity with overall confidence. Allow your childish self to shine. Your creative solutions surprise everyone, especially yourself. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6 -- Love works in mysterious ways. You may not be able to figure it out, but you can always enjoy it. Be willing and generous, and take what you get. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8 -- You crave home. A conversation with a family member opens up something you didn’t know about yourself or your past. Practice kindness. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6 -- Be careful with spending today. Your overconfidence may translate to unnecessary expenditures. Practice window-shopping, and enjoy without buying. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 9 -- A whirlwind of activity rushes in to your day. You handle it professionally and gracefully. Keep your communications clear and to the point. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7 -- You’re in a chirpy mood, and ready for action. Use your flourishing creativity for inspired conversation, to write letters or to compose a song. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 -- Today you’re full of confidence, and you can take on the biggest challenges with ease. Follow your big plans and adapt them as necessary. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9 -- Everything goes according to plan. Work flows unusually well. Don’t take it for granted or get too comfortable. Learn from mistakes, and keep your foot on the gas. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8 -- Work seems more than you can handle. Take advantage, and get support. Just because you bring in more income, don’t start spending more than you need. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 -- The next five weeks will go by very quickly, with plenty of frantic activity. Today’s a good day to meditate and get grounded before the productive storm.
Club Organization Contact classifieds@stumedia.boisestate.edu to place your club’s ad
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Culture
7
Culture Editor
culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Assistant Culture Editor
February 22, 2011
laurenhooker@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Arbiter Asks Are you smart enough to be a Quiz Bowl champ?
1 Mount Marcy is the highest peak of what range west of Lake Champlain in upstate New York? A) Catskill B) Adirondack
C) Azure D) Seymour
53% of people who took this online got it wrong.
2 Name the element found in ethers, ketones, and water. A) hydrogen B) oxygen
C) carbon D) nitrogen
72% of people who took this online got it wrong.
glenn landberg/THE ARBITER
Scott Lee prepares to pounce on a question during Quiz Bowl practice Thursday afternoon. Boise State’s fledgling club has been invited to compete in the national tournament with big name universities such as Harvard, Oxford and Stanford.
Quiz Bowl Tony Rogers Journalist
Three years ago, a band of students underwent a journey to Seattle. The circumstances of their trip were proud, to say the least; they had just won an intramural tournament at Boise State. Now, they were endowed with the chance to represent the school at a regional competition. Even though they didn’t win the regional, these students decided to continue their trek, and make their experience worthwhile. Thus, Boise State Quiz Bowl was born, and from that original group of four started an evolution through trials into a national contender. “National contender” sits well with co-founder Scott Lee, a senior majoring in Chemistry. “It’s a great feeling to be play-
ing against such big name schools as Oxford, Yale, Harvard, and Brown. We’ve come far,” Lee said. The invitation to the Intercollegiate Tournament (ICT) in Chicago came just two weeks after the Boise State Quiz Bowl team pulled off an upset in the finals of the National Academic Quiz Tournament’s (NAQT) sectional tournament held at Portland State University on February 5th. The team finished the tournament in second place with a record of 7-3, one game behind the University of Washington. NAQT rules state that if there is a one game difference in score, the two top teams enter into an advantaged playoff of two games. Boise State took control of the situation, and demolished University of Washington in both games to win the Sectional Title. The invitation came as a surprise, as the
Pacific Northwest is considered by most veteran quiz bowl players to be one of the weakest NAQT sectionals in the United States. However, the Boise State team is leaving doubters behind as they push forward toward their April 9 competition date. This victory is one that comes at a crucial time in the club’s history. Last year was thought to be a benchmark, with Boise State coming in a close second at the same sectional competition to the same school. “I’ve been very surprised at how much our team has improved over time. We transformed from a novice team struggling with questions to an experienced competitor that takes advantage of situations,” said Joe Tamasonis, junior majoring in math and economics. The club, which has been practicing three times a week in
BSU students prepare for national championship against Ivy Leagues the SUB, has devoted its time to making sure they are ready for the competition at hand. The team itself goes through six 26 question packets every week, a stark contrast of how the club started out. The task of building this club was not simple; in fact, the setbacks were large and numerous. The year after the club’s formation came news of a bankruptcy that threatened to disestablish the club itself. Prior to the club’s formation, a yearly intramural tournament took place on campus. Organized by the nationwide College Bowl Corporation, the tournament at BSU would send the winning team to the Pacific Northwest Regional in the fall. The tournament was held on campus every year, and became a sort of tradition among some academically focused students.
3 What tracking system with a 4-letter abbreviation uses embedded microchips that transmit identifying signals via radio frequencies? A) BLOB B) BIOS
C) RFID D) HTML
17% of people who took this online got it wrong. Find the answers to these questions on page 8.
“We formed the club after we went to Seattle for the competition over Thanksgiving Break,” said Colin McNamara, co-founder and current coach and advisor. “By the fall, College Bowl no longer existed, and with it went our method of recruitment.” It was then that innovative thinking took over, and the club found ways to cope with the sudden loss. On the plus side, there were small independent organizations popping up to replace the now-defunct quiz bowl giant. On the other side, most circuits had to be re-established -- a process that is still happening today. “We usually play schools such as Portland State and University of Washington,” McNamara said. “However, just recently we have seen teams arise from schools such as College of Idaho and Western Oregon University.”
Even with the bankruptcy of College Bowl, Boise State Quiz Bowl has kept it’s eye on the prize. Even after achieving the remarkable feat of an invitation to the national tournament after such a short period of existence, there is no telling what could happen in the next three years. “I’d like to see a secondary team form,” McNamara said. “Also, it would be good to see some newer faces. We know there are some bright people on campus, and hope to see them at our practices soon.” Lee is positive about the coming challenge. “I believe competing will show the nation, as this school has done in many ways already, that Boise State University is not just a ‘football school.’ We are capable of matching wits with the big dogs.”Lee said.
Persistent preacher spreads ‘the word’ to passings students Trevor Villagrana Journalist
You’ve heard him on campus. You’ve seen him and his signs.: the guy begging you to repent for your sins as you walk to class. Shawn “The Baptist” Holes is known by Boise State students as the man who stands in the Quad and shouts to passersby about belief, sin, repentance and giving your soul to Jesus Christ. Holes aligns himself with the grander scheme of Christianity, but more loosely as a Baptist. He believes that all Christians should participate in the spreading of the gospel. “If the Bible is true, which I believe it is, shouldn’t we share our
belongings, and love each other, and go out to share this good news? Or should we just horde our belongings and get comfortable living in sin? No, that’s why I say to repent and to turn from your sins,” said Holes. A firm believer in the words of the Bible, Holes has encountered much opposition on his quest to save the world. Past arrests, physical and verbal assaults, and harassment have come at the cost of his preaching style in places such as the UK and even at Boise State. “When I first started preaching here there was a lot of debate and discussion and argument,” Holes said. “Now, not a lot of people stop but that’s OK, I don’t do it to get big crowds and get in the newspaper, I do it because I believe I need to share the gospel.”
Students remain divided on Holes’ presence on campus, citing discomfort and unease with the surge of religious activity in the Quad. Signs bearing controversial imagery and words such as “EVILUTION (sic)” have been known to cause disruption in the areas where Holes has solidified his position. Sophomore psychology major Marisa Wood considers herself a spiritual person but is turned off by Holes’ approach to Christianity. “I don’t think his method is effective at all because nobody wants to be yelled at and nobody wants to be told that what they’re doing is wrong,” she said. “If it were me I would be loving, not condescending and scary.” For freshman visual art major Selina Duangkaew, Holes does have
Cody finney/THE ARBITER
Shawn Holes and the Volunteer Boise Police talk about past preaching on campus issues. Holes comes to campus every Tuesday and Thursday for a few hours, rain or snow, to “spread the word of God” from the Quad. The Arbiter
his place on campus despite previous complaints from students. “Typically I avoid conversation with those projecting sermons and telling me I’m not going to be saved,” Duangkaew said. “He has a right to be here as he chooses to, but I don’t like how ostentatious he is to the public. I understand it’s his method of attracting attention, but it is offensive to those that don’t share his beliefs.” Dissention and diversity don’t worry Holes as he welcomes people to sit down and discuss the struggles of modern life, personal demons, temptation, and other topics outside of Christianity. “We don’t have to hate each other because we disagree,” said Holes. “We can argue and still love each other.” As a college dropout himself, Holes is the first to admit he has behaved in wicked ways. The steps he took in walking with the Lord didn’t come to fruition until his early forties when a youth pastor half his age shared the gospel with him. “No one had ever shared it with me before,” said. “My conscious was bearing witness but I ultimately knew that I needed a savior.” Holes, once a member of the US Ski Team and professional coach, would begin publicly proclaiming the gospel, otherwise known as “open-air-preaching,” in downtown Burlington, Vt. after his time spent in the south. After selling everything he owned, Holes was drawn to the southern part of the country -- primarily Texas -- to open his first ministry. With nothing but a van, a popup trailer, and barely $400 to his name, Holes headed steadfast to his promised land. Traveling virtually free of debt has given Holes the opportunity to
Cody finney/THE ARBITER
Shawn Holes explains the importance of creation. Holes said he wants student pedestrians to “just consider his message.” embark on a journey that has lead him to seven countries and three continents. This almost Epicurean lifestyle, with help from selfless donations from altruistic followers, has helped Holes span over 48,000 miles in the United States in this year alone. His wife, 15-year-old daughter, and 12-year-old son followed Holes along this parchment cloth trail for three years until finding sanctuary here in Boise after his daughter met her future husband. Boise, a more prominently religious area according to Holes, has been home now for about 10 weeks. “This is the first time in three
years that I’ve stopped going, going, going, and it’s been great,” Holes said. “The nice thing about living here is that there’s lot of opportunities to share the gospel and plenty of people that want to talk about Jesus.” Although camped and domesticated for now, there is still much adventure in the future as Holes plans to continue traveling and preaching around the world. Holes encourages students to contact him via e-mail, text message, phone call, or personal visit. He may seem elusive, but he is truly hard to miss. His website, LukeTenTwo. com, offers advice and contact info if anyone wants to discuss religion.
arbiteronline.com
8 Culture pop! shots
February 22, 2011
Voice with an alterego David Gasch Journalist
photo courtesy international student alliance
Officers of the International Student Alliance enjoy a leadership retreat in Garden Valley with ISA Advisor Christie Babcock (center).
This week’s award shot: Best Male and Female Vocals By The Same Person. You read right. I’m not talking about some weird out-of-body, gender-swapping incident. In accordance with his growing popu-
larity, I’m sure many already know of Nick Pitera. Whether you like him or not, he’s impressive. I sat at home one day doing homework, or possibly wasting time, when my roommate yelled to me about a video I needed to see. Despite my skepticism, his excitement interested me. For the first minute I watched a guy sing “A Whole New World” from the Disney movie Aladdin. I’ll be honest, though his voice was quite good, I felt like the guy was trying to stare into my soul or hit on me and I was a bit creeped out. On top of that, I couldn’t help but question my roommate’s motivation for showing me. Then, without losing a breath, he busted out the part of Princess Jasmine and my jaw dropped like in the cartoons. He switched back and forth between his voices, and the second round singing the female role proved more impressive than the first. I could even disregard the extreme discomfort he appeared to be in. I watched it a couple times trying to figure out how in the hell he did it. I’m pretty sure it’s unnatu-
ral, but the guy is making a living with it so more power to him. Many of his songs are duets -- with himself, of course. In some songs, he digitally overlaps his voice. He released his EP, which among other songs can be found on iTunes. He’s even been featured on talk shows such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show. His YouTube channel has received more than 4.5 million views and has nearly 68 million upload views. He’s currently recording a cover of “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, for which a preview of the music video productions can be found on his channel. Needless to say, the guy is going places. I tried it. The whole “singing the male and female parts of the song” thing. It didn’t sound very good. OK, it sounded like a cat with its tail caught in a rolled up window of a car that’s spinning cookies in a parking lot. So, have two shots, Nick Pitera. Have one for each of your voice’s egos. You win the award for Best Male and Female Vocals by the Same Person, and I’ll leave it up to you from now on.
Boise State, from an international student’s eye adil bentahar
Guest Writer I am pleased to share my gratitude and those of all the international students to Boise State’s contribution to the successful integration of international students. This has been accomplished through BSU’s International Student Services (ISS) and International Student Association (ISA). The students feel that BSU is putting forth much effort to integrate foreign students into the American culture. The ISS and the ISA are sponsoring different and interesting events for international and American students such as assigning international students to partner families, the Thanksgiving Dinner, the welcoming receptions, the potluck gatherings, ice skating, snow tubing in McCall, movies and community service in Boise. Because they are so appealing, these activities help students develop a better idea about the hospitality of Americans and definitely encourage students to learn from, and share their cultures
with, other students. The occasions provide avenues for chatting and dining together, and provide insights into what the world looks like within BSU walls. Most importantly, all ISA’s officers are wholeheartedly committed to making our biggest event, “Food, Song and Dance Festival” on March 19 a big success. We have already received positive feedback about the productivity of ISA this year and we hope to expand by involving more international and local students in the coming events. In truth, both ISS and ISA, as representatives of the international students, are working hard to meet the students’ expectations. As president of ISA, I’ve worked closely with the ISS and the Student Involvement and Leadership Center (SILC). These entities of BSU have supported ISA on many levels. Whenever we plan an event both give us a ready helping hand, assisting with such things as paperwork, catering and reservations. We at the ISA are proud of such a fruitful collaboration, because events such as weekly conversation meet-
ings, regular workshops regarding immigration or advice on housing are meeting international students’ needs. In fact, ISS and ISA are determined to promote a more crosscultural atmosphere that serves both domestic and international students. Last November’s International Education Week, for example, was an informative, educational experience that gathered students from diverse backgrounds and languages. We were united under the auspices of Boise State University for the purpose of sharing our culture with American friends. I was thrilled to share a poster and Powerpoint presentation on my home country, Morocco. As a student and an ISA officer, I have no doubt the future of the international students is in good hands, Boise State’s hands. When BSU’s decision makers frequently meet with international student’s representatives (ISS and ISA) to discuss international students’ issues, this only reflects the care, concern and compassion for minority students who are already proud to be Broncos.
Online Have you forgotten? There are two columns published online each week. Go to arbiteronline.com to check out The Saucy Misadventures and The Swede Life.
Answers to Quiz Bowl questions: 3. C) RFID 2. B) Oxygen 1. B) Adirondack
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