I n d e p e n d e nt
Issue no.
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of
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February 2012
Volume 24
w w w.arbiteronline.com
Boise, Idaho
Top Stories
Fair Trade
23
First issue free
Life is worth a 20minute phone call
Find out if your money is supporting ethical working conditions.
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Value of life
The media put too much emphasis on the deaths of stars.
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Bronco bobsledding
BSU grad Nick Cunningham is sliding into Olympic success.
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Weather Today
Amy Merrill
Assistant News Editor
During a speech at the Morrison Center last Thursday, Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret, said suicide is considered the most preventable cause of death. Additionally, suicide is listed as the second leading cause of death among Idahoans ages 15 to 34 according to executive order 201012 from the office of Governor C.L. Butch Otter. If suicide is preventable, why are the numbers so high in Idaho? The specific reasons for individual cases vary, but there are a few concrete steps everyone can take to save someone else’s life. Students know each other better than their professors, other university staff and often, even their parents do. Students, therefore, are the first people generally aware of another student struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts. Peter Wollheim, Ph.D., the cochair for the Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention, shared two common indicators a student or individual might need help. The first indicator could be the person talking about suicide.
“They may be indirect,(saying), ‘I want to fall asleep and never wake up again,’ but more often than not the person’s going to say ‘I’m thinking about suicide,’ ” said Wollheim. The second major indicator is people saying goodbye. When in doubt, it is always better to initiate conversation. The best way to approach the topic is to be direct. “(Say) ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’, (and) never ask why,” said Wollheim. Wolheim went on to discuss what he called a “no harm contract” in which the individual promises not to inflict any selfharm for the next two hours. The at-risk individual should be not be left alone druing that time. The contract ensures the individual’s safety for two hours and allows for the opportunity to reach out for professional help. The person assisting should program the suicide hotline number into his or her phone and get the at-risk individual to agree to talk to the hotline. “Your life is worth 20 minutes,” Wollheim said. It’s important to realize that frequently the person who is strug-
gling with depression may not ask for help. Students have to be the eyes and ears for each other and know what resources are available. “You need to know that it’s better to ask the question than not. ‘Are you thinking about suicide,’ and use those words,” Wollheim said. “It’s better to have the person alive and angry with you than to be polite and have them dead.” Unfortunately, Idaho doesn’t have a state suicide hotline,. However, there is a national hotline number that is toll free: 1-800-SUICIDE. Boise State’s University Health Services offers an online screening for depression. It is free and completely anonymous. Within a few minutes, the screening determines if a professional consultation could be helpful. A list of resources for dealing with depression and suicide prevention as well as contact information can be found at healthservices.boisestate.edu. University Health Services also offers counseling. Sessions can be scheduled by calling 426-1459.
Differentiating between sadness, depression as determined by psychologist, Gregory Jantz, Ph.D.
Arguing vs. anger Arguing is normal, constant anger is not.
Isolation from friends for an extended period is not normal. A change in social behavior or lack of interest in friends and activities can be one of the first indicators of depression.
Feeling constantly overwhelmed is not normal, but occasional anxiety is. If someone says they are constantly struggling with anxiety or that anxiety is affecting their ability to accomplish work, there could be cause for concern.
Being upset for extended periods of time. It’s normal to get upset and even remain upset for up to a week. If that period stretches over two weeks this could mean the individual is struggling with depression. Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER
Rain & Snow
45º high
20%
chance of precipitation
Tomorrow
Sigma Chi sets higher standards Nikki Hanson
Assistant Sports Editor
Rain & Snow
51º high
0%
chance of precipitation
Saturday
Rain & Snow
42º high
30%
chance of precipitation
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Blockbuster movies seem to skew the public’s perception of fraternities and sororities, portraying them primarily as party people. Many of us know what fraternities and sororities are, but may not have a realistic idea of what it means to be a member of this kind of organization. By definition, a fraternity is a group of people associated or formally organized for a common purpose. Sigma Chi, a fraternity at Boise State, embodies what it means to be true gentlemen. They have standards for their men and do not look to expand just for the sake of increasing their numbers. The three standards of Sigma Chi are friendship, justice and learning. The men of Sigma Chi apply these standards to their everyday lifestyle. But what does it mean to be a member of Sigma Chi? “We are a diverse group of men not only trying to improve and start
Nikki Hanson/THE ARBITER
The Sigma Chi fraternity completed the chartering process last semester. Sigma Chi at Boise State and work hand and hand with the university, the Greek Coordinator,and the IFC,” junior Jake Placido said. One aspect of Greek life many may not be aware of is community service. Every fraternity and sorority has a philanthropy they represent. Sigma Chi’s is Cancer Research. “Our goal this semester is to raise $5,000 over the semester and be able to donate that to the Huntsman
Cancer Institute,” junior Dustin Ayers said. Their goals are not just limited to raising this money, though. The men are also active community memebrs. “In the fall, we got in touch with the gentlemen that run the Dirty Dash,” sophomore Will Voytovich said. “We had the opportunity to go up there and set up the course that was used for Dirty Dash. As far as I know the Dirty Dash was a huge success so it was good to be part of that.”
Sigma Chi does not stop there. They are also working toward adopting a highway, as well as committing to every Service Saturday for the remainder of the semester. But what does it really mean to be a committed member not only to the fraternity, but to the community as well? “Our brother John, last year, got three hundred pounds of clothes and he and two other brothers went down to the Dominican Republic and helped build
a church. They are doing it again this year and John coordinates the group,” Ayres said. Sigma Chi is working toward bettering the community, finding men who will uphold the ideals and aims of their fraternity and, most importantly, setting in motion the process of attaining their charter at Boise State. “Sigma Chi started three years ago and this last fall semester we finished the chartering process,” Ayres said. “Over Christmas break we got everything into Nationals. April 22 is going to be the week of initiation and will be the weekend our last pledge class finishes.” Sigma Chi is not just a fraternity, but a unit working toward a common goal. More than 100 years ago, a Sigma Chi defined fraternity as an obligation, a necessity, an introduction, a requirement, a passport, a lesson, an influence, an opportunity, an investment, a peacemaker and a pleasure. “We are a group of men doing our best to better the world,” Voytovich said. arbiteronline.com
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February 23, 2012
World
National
Yemen’s new leader voted in on Tuesday
Texas case prompts Supreme Court to revisit affirmative action
SANA’A , YEMEN — The election for Yemen’s new leader took place on Tuesday, replacing a 34year dictatorship with election winner Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, former vice president. He faces putting a stop to a military crackdown that has cost hundreds of lives while addressing the grievances of the population that voted him in. Yemen is currently the Middle East’s poorest country. There is constant fighting in the southern part of Yemen between the military and factions of alQaida breaking up the infrastructure. Al-Qaida forces seized towns during the beginnings of the
chaos and have been working their way through the provinces, taking advantage of anti-government sentiment. North versus south ideological problems are severe, with the northern portion of the country being the home of the previous dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh. A main problem facing Hadi is what to do with the rivalry. The main options are to either let the south go as its own nation or set up a federal system of some sort, according to experts through USA Today. Despite gunmen attacking some of the polling stations, the election went relatively smoothly and there have been no accusations of fraud.
World
Megaupload founder out on restricted release bail AUCKL A ND, NEW ZEALAND — Kim Dotcom, founder of filesharing website Megaupload, was released Wednesday on bail. The courts put special restrictions on Dotcom in an effort to ensure extraditing him to the United States is still an option. Should he be ex-
E ditor - in -C hief Rebecca De León
editor@ arbiteronline.com
M anaging E ditor
Haley Robinson managingeditor@ arbiteronline.com
N ews E ditor
tradited, he would face charges regarding copyright infringement. There have been worries Dotcom would take the opportunity to flee. Due to the conditions of the bail, these have been relieved. The conditions include no helicopter use and no internet access in his home.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Supreme Court ruling in 2003 allowed colleges to take race into account for admissions. This decision was expected to last for at least 25 years. The Supreme Court recently agreed to hear a case concerning raceconscious admissions at the University of Texas, hinting that this 9-year-old decision might be changing. Members of both sides of the affirmative action argument view
the five new, more conservative justices as more likely to overturn the Grutter v. Bolinger ruling, which allowed race to be considered. According to the New York Times, the 2003 ruling stated vague racial concerns could be taken into account to ensure “academic diversity.” All sides agree that should this decision be overruled, it is likely the number of AfricanAmerican and Latino students would drop in colleges and uni-
Local
Appleton service streaming worldwide BOISE — Today’s service memorializing Steve Appleton is streaming to Micron installations around the world. Micron employs more than 15,000 people outside the United States. The 10 a.m. service will be recorded in most locations. Speakers include Gov. Butch Otter, University President Bob Kustra and new Micron CEO Mark Durcan. Friends who shared his enthusiasm for athletics, piloting and race car driving are expected to speak as well.
versities nationwide, while Asian-American and Caucasian student percentages would rise. Arguments for this case will be heard before the presidential elections in November. This may force candidates to address the issue, but it hasn’t been brought up yet. The case, Fisher v. University of Texas, was filed by white student Abigail Fisher, who claims she was denied admission based on her race.
WTF
Tightrope walker gets OK to cross Niagara CANADA — The Niagara Parks Commission reversed its decision and is allowing Nik Wallenda to cross the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope. Daredevil Nik Wallenda comes from a long line of high-walkers. The family, notorious for tight-rope circus acts such as the seven-man pyramid, set a Guinness world record in 2001. Stunts involving the falls were banned in the 19th century when a pair of daredevils went over the falls in barrels and died. The commission rejected Wallenda’s original
proposal, but reconsidered. They are also taking the opportunity to open Niagara for stunts every 20 years and only for truly seasoned “professional” stunt people according to USA Today. Wallenda was waiting on the Canadian commission’s goahead, having already gotten permission from all the relevant American agencies. The event is scheduled to take place in June, when tourism is down. The stunt will generate up to $20 million for the falls’ tourist industry.
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DOWN 1 Cleveland cagers 2 Contribute to, as a crime 3 Sound measure 4 Portable cooker 5 Site of an early exile 6 Space exploration org. 7 It’s hatched 8 Ja or da, stateside 9 Take off, as a discount 10 Malleable metal 11 Thieves’ group 12 Earl Grey et al. 14 Rice-__ 17 App downloader 18 Colleague of Clarence 22 Dick’s partner 23 Internet telephony provider 24 Jawbone of __: Samson’s weapon 25 Type of acid found in veggies 26 Mystic’s medium 27 Home to Maine’s Black Bears 28 Lowest card in klaberjass
BY LINDA C. BLACK Tribune Media Services
Today’s Birthday (02/23/12). Seriously consider advanced training or education this year. Learn a foreign language? Travel, reading, history, even developing friendships with folks from different cultures expand your horizons. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Today is a 7 - The expertise you need isn’t far away. Use it to tackle a difficult task that’s been eluding you. Your quick wit’s appreciated.
Today is an 8 - Encourage someone’s artistic work and be rewarded. Someone who seems dumb is actually brilliant. Opportunities arise.
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Cancer (June 22-July 22) “LIKE” US Boise State College Republicans Page
Contact Nick Rolison (President) nickrolison@u.boisestate.edu Davy Karkason (Instructor) davykarkason@u.boisestate.edu
John Garretson sports@ arbiteronline.com
Today is a 7 - You’re in a search for what’s next, and there’s nothing stopping you. Excessive attention to detail could annoy others, don’t take it personally.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
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The Funnies
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O nline T eam
Jessica Swider Troy Hatfield onlineeditor@ arbiteronline.com
2/23/12
Monday’s Puzzle Solved Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
29 Essential acid 30 Of a higher quality 31 Praise 36 Played, but not in the field, briefly 37 Ice cream truck offering 39 1992 Summer Olympics country 42 Roosters, at times 43 Lyre-playing Muse 44 Ladies’ court gp. 47 Stuck, after “in”
2/23/12
48 Major-__ 49 Rapper __ Fiasco 50 Pulitzer-winning WWII journalist 51 $150 Monopoly prop. 52 Carry 53 Gloomy 54 Present opening? 55 Asian flatbread 57 “The Purloined Letter” monogram
The Future
Gemini (May 21-June 21)
Suzanne Craig news@ arbiteronline.com
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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Payment option 5 The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage is one 9 Detergent target 13 Peek-__ 14 One-named singer of “Rolling in the Deep” 15 Creepy lake? 16 Joint Chevrolet/Kia vacation package? 19 Burns rubber 20 Sources of inspiration 21 Spy novelist Deighton 22 Pres. before RWR 23 Joint GMC/Hyundai vacation package? 32 Sheepshank, e.g. 33 Cleveland’s Quicken Loans __ 34 Blend 35 Elihu for whom an Ivy is named 36 Took the wheel 37 Colada fruit 38 Sidewall letters 39 Glistened 40 Feature of American paneling, but not British? 41 Joint Ford/Chrysler vacation package? 45 Chap 46 ICU workers 47 Two-time loser to Ike 50 Sought at auction 56 Joint Dodge/Toyota vacation package? 58 Clock radio letters 59 Colleague of Thomas 60 Pale-green moth 61 Homer’s tavern 62 Legendary Brazilian footballer 63 Celtic land
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
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FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 23, 2012
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Today is a 7 - A surprising development in a group setting inspires action. Changes above affect you positively.
Tasha Adams news@ arbiteronline.com
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Crossword
Aries (March 21-April 19)
• free parking at Lincoln Garage! • free pizza after the performance!
American Idol Finalist Brooke White performs at BSU Saturday, February 25 7 pm Jordan Ballroom, SUB
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Today is a 7 - The financial situation’s unstable today, so postpone gratification. Don’t let loved ones dig into the piggy bank, either.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8 - It’s okay to be a perfectionist, but don’t beat yourself up when you fail. It’s all part of the process. It could even be fun.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is an 8 - Better check your schedule again. With all the activity and intensity, you could forget small details. Try to be as clear in communication as possible.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 9 - Focus on making money today, but don’t be attached to the results. Money isn’t everything, and you know that. Leave room for a surprise.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6 - Focus on doing creative projects that you love. You’re becoming more passionate and more attractive. Let your sweetheart set the schedule.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7 - Time to clean up a mess. Figure out what you want, and then go for it. It may take some extra effort, but it will be worth it.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8 - Strained relationships improve greatly now. Spend some time in nature to stretch your legs and your ideas.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9 - Focus on the projects that you’re best at. Bring more buck for the bang by doing what you love. ___ (c) 2012, Tribune Media Services Inc.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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Fair trade informs buyers Lauren Jacob Journalist
All across the world, people are buying products without knowledge of where they come from or the conditions under which they are made. Often without knowing it almost everyone has supported slave labor and corrupt working conditions with purchases they have made. Selling millions of items per day, American Eagle, Nike, Hanes, Adidas, Eddie Bauer and other popular companies have been under investigation at least once in the past five years. They have been accused of partnering with factories, both international and domestic, that have been reported for unfair treatment of employees. Unfair treatment could range from providing insufficient wages, forms of discrimination, forced labor, sexual harassment and excessive work hours in violation of child labor laws. “It makes me wonder how many of my clothes are actually from that kind of thing,” said Krysia Rousseau, sophomore athletic training major. Boise State is part of the Collegiate Licensing Company which requires anything bearing the Boise State logo to comply with fair labor codes—meaning none of the merchandise is made in a sweatshop or under unfair labor conditions. However, there are certain brands associated with Boise State, such as Nike and Adidas that have been
in violation of the Fair Labor Association codes in the past few years and have scored poorly on audits. In September 2010, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010 in an attempt to raise awareness about social injustice. This act, effective in January of this year, has made it a law for all retailers and manufacturers doing business in California to disclose any efforts to eliminate slavery and human trafficking from supply chains on their websites. While this act doesn’t force companies to take action against the injustice in factories, it allows consumers to see if what they’re buying is from trustworthy vendors. Because many of the vendors in Idaho come from Californian companies, the impact of this act stretches much further than just the Golden State. Many retailers from California are the name brands here in Idaho such as Russell Athletic, Champion, American Apparel and Forever 21. Fair Trade USA and the Fair Labor Association are two outlets that guarantee the treatment of employees to be ethical and fair. Many companies partner with them to assure to customers their products are coming from socially just institutions. The Fair Labor Association audits factories across the world to make sure each is treating employees fairly and ethically. Merchandise with the Fair Trade Stamp has been made by farmers and work-
Local
ers who have been justly compensated and fairly treated from a disadvantaged community outside the United States. Part of every fair trade purchase goes back to the community in which it was made to improve its environment. The most common fair trade items are chocolate, coffee and body care. Tracking charts of each audit are kept to let consumers know what’s happening when their goods are produced. Because of the Fair Labor Association, many factories have been shut down or completely changed to improve the working conditions. Big companies across America are starting to jump on board with the cause. Hershey’s recently pledged $10 million to improve West African cocoa farming and fight child labor. Apple recently joined the Fair Labor Association, making it the first technology corporation to do so. “There’s becoming more awareness throughout corporate America in cleaning up supply chains,” said Kim Peake, president of the Idaho Coalition for Justice. “I’m hoping for a trickle-down effect that is both corporate and individual.” Peake said with the awareness of fair trade, the pressure it puts on corporate America will make things change for the better. It will force companies to reevaluate their supply chains. There are many local places that sell fair trade items or are part of the Fair Labor
February 23, 2012
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David Wuerth/THE ARBITER
Products with the Boise State logo must comply with fair trade laws. Association. The Body Shop, located at Boise Towne Square is one of the only places that has completely natural or fair trade ingredients in its products. Many coffee and specialty shops in the Treasure Valley sell fair trade coffee and other items such as clothing and accessories. Starbucks has a good portion of fair trade options as well. Looking for the Fair Trade Stamp or Logo is the
best way to know if what you are spending your money on is having an impact on people abroad. Many people are still in the dark about just how much they contribute to the process. Slaveryfootprint.org is a website that allows anyone to take a short survey, letting them know approximately how many slaves they’ve unknowingly had working on their behalf. Not many people are educated on where products
come from, but with the Transparency Act and Fair Labor Agreement website, it is easier to monitor the contributions that support unjust working conditions.
Online Take our poll about fair trade at arbiteronline.com.
Boise State students strive for sustainability Christina Marfice Journalist
Only a decade ago, questions of sustainability weren’t often asked. Today, green energy is becoming the standard. In January, Reuters reported global renewable energy contracts had climbed 40 percent to an all-time high in 2011 and for the first time, more growth was seen in solar and wind energy than in hydroelectric. Following this global example, Idaho is taking steps toward increasing its clean energy production and reducing its environmental impact. According to John Chatburn, interim administrator for the Office of Energy Resources, the 2012 state en-
ergy plan shows 52 percent of Idaho’s electricity coming from clean, renewable energy sources. This 2012 plan has been approved by an interim legislative committee, but is not yet approved by the full legislature. Chatburn also said new information he had received from the American Wind Energy Association showed an increase in 2011 from 353 megawatts of wind energy produced to 618 at the end of the year, a 75 percent increase. “That’s the largest increase in the western United States,” Chatburn said. Projects being constructed in the next year are expected to produce another 136 megawatts, which is another 22 per-
cent total increase. “We’ve seen a lot of development in Idaho,” Chatburn said. “(Among the western states) I think we had the fifth most wind (energy) that came online last year, and we are definitely not the fifth largest population. As we go forward, it’ll be interesting to see how much wind development occurs.” Boise State is following suit with a proposed future change in sustainability in its Campus Master Plan. The Green Building Club hopes to assist in making the Master Plan more green than it is now. “There is a great opportunity for (Boise State) to harness the power of green building and the passion that its
current student body has for green building,” said Remington Buyer, a graduate student in community and regional planning and a founding member of the Green Building Club. “Encompassing and framing sustainability and green building technologies within the Master Plan is a wonderful opportunity to improve upon the university.” Though many people feel improving campus sustainability is necessary, few actually take action. Buyer hopes the Green Building Club will give students a chance to be more active in facilitating changes in Boise State’s energy policy. “I think that a lot of people are passionate about sustainability, but I don’t know if it’s
a priority for them,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say that the urgency is not impressed upon everyone equally, and some people don’t even consider that (sustainability) has ben-
efits, so I think those who are passionate have to blaze the trail.” To get involved with sustainability efforts, visit bsgbc. wordpress.com.
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February 23, 2012
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Followers
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‘Iolanthe’ at SpEC
Melody English, Corey Rambough and Krista Nielsen rehearse their lines for the upcoming show “Iolanthe.”
Performers’ combined efforts create laughter by uniting talents, disciplines Journalist
There are British accents and politics. There is romantic drama. There’s singing, dancing and acting. Even more, there’s a conglomeration of student talents across a wide array of performance departments. The production of the operetta, “Iolanthe,” is a project of the music department in conjunction with the theater department, which assists with technical aspects. “It’s not what you consider opera, but it is opera,” stage director Christopher Raynes, Ph.D, said. “It has short periods of dialogue as well as singing. Most operas are pure singing.” As with any opera or large production, skills are required in addition to singing and acting. A large number of resources are utilized from the music and theater depart-
ments: the orchestra, lighting, choreography and dialect coaching. Aside from performing, student actors said working with different departments brought about challenges and rewards. “Getting to interact with (other majors) and see what they bring to the show and what I can get from them and what I can bring to help them,” Corey Rambough, freshman theater major, said. “Just the interaction with everyone is kind of neat—to see everyone come together in that way.” The story of “Iolanthe” is about the Peers (a group similar to parliament), the Peris (immortal fairies) and the politics that happen when their paths cross because of a beautiful woman. “It’s very funny and very fast and just witty and smart. It’s so dense and so packed with jokes so you’ve got to be on your toes,” Melody English, junior music and vocal perfor-
“
“
Amy Howarth
The interaction with everyone is kind of neat—to see everyone come together in that way. — Corey Rambough
mance major, said. Although it was first produced in 1882, the humor and relevance have not been lost over time. “Art is always making fun of culture and the happenings—the political happenings— and you have to poke fun at it because it’s so corrupt,” English said. “And so it’s extremely accurate today and I think that’s why it’s still so funny.” “Iolanthe” will be performed at the Special Events Center in the Student Union Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are free to students with ID.
Video To see a behind-thescenes video of the “Iolanthe” rehearsal, go to ArbiterOnline.
The Arbiter
The Party Trevor Villagrana
Assistant Lifestyles Editor
Cameron woke up nude and sprawled out on what he assumed was the bathroom floor. His costume was nowhere to be found and his wig was balled up behind the toilet, soaked and reeking of vomit. Part II: The Morning After He peeled himself up from the linoleum and raised his heavy, swollen eyelids. “Where the hell am I?” Stumbling toward the counter, half drunk, he caught his reflection in the mirror. There were thick black Xs drawn over his eyelids and crudely misshapen penises across the entirety of his torso. “Rise and shine sleeping beauty,” rasped a voice from behind the shower curtain. “Some party, huh?” Cameron spun to requite the whiskeydrenched whisper that had opened the curtain, exposing the silhouette of another man. “Nice junk, Columbine,” scoffed Collin. “Your mother must be very proud.” All Cameron could remember were empty shot glasses, the bottom of a red cup and pulling down a girl’s pantyhose. “Damn, some unlucky lady sure did a number on you, man.” Cameron turned his head to find claw marks drug across his shoulders from end to end. “Dude, what the hell happened last night? I don’t remember a damn thing. Where the hell were you? Where is my costume? Where’s Sally … oh God, Sally! I was with her last night!” Before Cameron had time to take another breath, Collin had slammed the bathroom door behind him, emerging five minutes later with clothes and a barrel full of laughs. “Mark my words, I am never drinking again.” “This is just the beginning, Columbine, the tip of the iceberg. Welcome to your first blackout, trust me there will be more. Let’s get you a burrito.” On the way to Los Betos, Collin filled in the gaps. It wasn’t pretty. Tequila, body shots, fights, guest room romps and broken windows were only the supporting characters in this drunken production of West Side Story. “So, that girl wasn’t Sally?” “Miss pantyhose? Not even slightly. Do you seriously not remember? I don’t see how you could forget such a foxy lady.” Slowly it started coming back to him: “Sally, I think that—I need another drink.” Her eyes went steely as she watched her affection drown in a sea of tequila salt and cheap margarita mix. Before Cameron could turn around, he heard the front door slam. “Which one of you fine, young vixens needs a drink? How about you, pantyhose? You look thirsty.” ‘Followers’ is a quasi auto-biographical miniseries about a college senior looking back on his freshman year at Boise State University.
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Opinion
arbiteronline.com
February 23, 2012
5
Put it in Print
We are not in control Bryce Dunham-Zemberi Columnist
Guest opinions and Letters to the Editor (300 to 500 word limit each) can be emailed to letters@ arbiteronline.com
The Arbiter
Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER
Media favor deaths of stars, lacks coverage of people who deserve recognition Kelsey Crow Journalist
What’s more valuable, a pencil or a Corvette? Easy, the Corvette. Now who’s more valuable, Michael Jackson or a victim of genocide in Darfur, Sudan? Easily Michael Jackson. Or at least that’s what the media would have the public think. With pop culture being covered far more than poignant global news, celebrities like Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston are portrayed as more valuable than victims of atrocity worldwide. After all, pop culture is human interest. Whitney Houston is human interest. But victims of genocide are humans, so shouldn’t the media and the public they serve be
interested in them? Comparing the media coverage of the genocide in Darfur, Sudan seven years ago (or lack thereof ) to that of Whitney Houston’s death today uncovers the sickening priorities of modern media. According to Nicholas Kristof from the New York Times, “CNN, Fox News, NBC, MSNBC, ABC and CBS collectively ran 55 times as many stories about Michael Jackson as they ran about genocide in Darfur” in June 2005. Kristof went on to say there was “about a minute of (television) coverage for every 100,000 deaths (in Darfur)” by major television networks such as ABC, NBC and CBS. This resulted in an educated public when
it came to Michael Jackson’s problems, but a very ignorant one on Darfur’s genocide. Lauren Albright, a freshman marketing major feels upset and betrayed by the media’s lapse of duty. “I have never heard of (Darfur’s genocide),” Albright said. Albright isn’t the only Boise State student in the dark on this issue. “It’s crazy that I’ve never even heard of it before,” said Anna Hunt, a sophomore marketing major. “It makes me think the media focuses on pop culture too much.” The media certainly has focused on the death of pop culture icon Whitney Houston. The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC, CBS, ABC and many
others covered Whitney Houston’s death far beyond the call of duty. One person’s death garnered infinitely more coverage than thousands of deaths did in Darfur seven years ago because she is an American celebrity. “It is ridiculous how much attention she has gotten,” Albright said. “If she wasn’t famous no one would care.” Nick London, a third year general business major, thinks the atrociously substandard coverage of Darfur speaks to American citizens’ general ignorance of the rest of the world’s happenings and the media’s money-driven agenda. Some say it’s not the media’s fault. After all, media primarily serve the public and covers what the
public wants to hear. Sure, that makes sense. It just means the public needs to scrutinize their priorities and encourage the media to do the same. Michael Jackson’s situation helped cover up Darfur’s genocide. What could Whitney Houston’s death be covering up today? Kristof recently reported “a great humanitarian catastrophe and vicious ethnic cleansing,” is currently unfolding in South Kordofan, Sudan, which reminds him of what happened in Darfur. Modern media need to stop prioritizing pop culture over human rights. Houston’s death shouldn’t have more coverage than the deaths of millions of others around the world.
l e tt e r t o t h e e d i t o r Dear Boise State University/ President Kustra, I am currently taking a class from a teacher that can barely speak English. I am in no way, any shape or form a racist but I feel as though classes, other than language courses, should be taught by someone who can communicate with their students in English. This teacher continuously asks if they are pronouncing a word right and more than half the time they aren’t. The other day, the teacher messed up on one of the simplest things in the English language… counting. My fellow classmates and I are constantly look-
The Arbiter cannot verify the accuracy of statements made in guest submissions. Opinions expressed by guest and staff colum-
ing at one another saying, “What was just said?”, “Did you catch that?”, and “WTF?” It just doesn’t seem fair that we pay 239$ per credit equaling out to 717$ just for this course to spend more than half the class period trying to figure out what the hell the teacher is saying. To add to the aggravation we have tests and quizzes that are on the lecture! How can I be tested on a lecture that I can’t even understand? Does is seem fair that my GPA could possibly and most likely suffer from this class because Boise State hired this teacher for the wrong position.
nists reflect the diversity of opinion in the academic community and often will be controversial, but they do not represent the institution-
This situation is similar to sending an American who can hardly speak Chinese to China to teach a math class. It wouldn’t be fair that the students can hardly understand the American teacher and fail the class due to the fact. The same applies to this situation. Not only does the teachers lack of communicating skills waste class time but it also takes a lot of energy to try and not only understand what the teacher is saying but to also understand the meaning and absorb it enough to take a test on it a few weeks later. The teacher seems like a very nice person and noth-
al opinion of The Arbiter or any organization the author may be affiliated with unless it is labeled as such. The Arbiter cannot guarantee
ing against them in that way but someone needs to take notice that students are suffering because there are teachers at BSU who can’t communicate with their students because of language barriers. It is seriously absurd that this teacher (and many other teachers for that matter) have made it through the hiring process to teach a class that is not a language course. President Kustra needs to take action in this because the students are paying to be here as in they are the customer and like in any business the customer needs to be satisfied and I know there are many students that aren’t
submissions will make it to print due to time and space constraints. The content of the opinion does not affect its eligibility to be printed.
satisfied with their courses that they are struggling in because of their teacher who can’t pronounce the English language. I know Kustra doesn’t personally do the hiring for teachers/ profs at BSU but he should have a hand in making decisions such as not hiring these teachers for lecture classes. As in the words of Tom Luna “Student’s come first”, and that’s exactly what BSU should do. Put us first and find positions elsewhere at the university for these select teachers that are causing students to struggle. Sincerely, A concerned student
Online
The problem with money’s influence in politics should be a national concern. Our constitution was established to avoid one concern, non-democratic power. Today’s quasi-democratic system leaves representatives with the power to direct the national agenda in favor of the largest contributor. Our system allows representatives to receive donations under the assumption that strings are not attached. To understand this problem, one must understand lobbying’s impact on each constituent’s life. According to Clyde Wilcox, profosser of goverment at Georgetown University and co-author of “Interests Groups in American Campaigns,” interest groups work within the limits of the law to represent specific causes such as oil drilling and union rights. “Interest groups’ strategies and tactics depend on two sets of factors: on the one hand, the legal regulations and common practices that govern electoral activity, and on the other, the goals and resources of the group,” Wilcox said. The most important regulatory decision for special interests groups is the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission decision. This decision does not allow corporations or unions to donate infinitely to individual candidates, but rather allows infinite donations from corporations and unions to special interest groups and political action committees (PACs) most sympathetic to the financiers. These entities have an undue influence in politics because they can afford a larger megaphone than the average citizen. According to CQ Press and Foundation for Public Affairs author of Public Interests Group Profiles 2006-2007, there are over 255 special interests groups that cover a broad range of views. These organizations influence politics by donating money to representatives for specific interests such as big oil. For example, ExxonMobile Corp. and its executives and sympathizers donate money to the ExxonMobile PAC in unlimited amounts, as allowed by the Citizens United decision. According to Opensecerts. org, ExxonMobile PAC spent $747,163 on 22 Democratic and 137 Republican representatives sympathetic to ExxonMobile. According to Opensecerts.org, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) received $10,000 dollars from ExxonMobile PAC. McConnell’s voting record coincidentally supports ExxonMobile’s interests such as the Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011, which allows access to offshore oil drilling. There is not just one McConnell who votes in the interest of the largest financiers. There are hundreds of representative across both party lines. Represenatives like McConnell consciously take money from special interest groups and PACs and then pass legislation that supports their priorities. This is a sickness of our democracy, and it should be temporary. Our constitution condones one logic—by the people for the people. Our current quasi-democratic system however leaves represenatives vulnerable to gifts that come with strings attached. We the voters have two options. We can vote out every representative who takes special interest donations and PAC money, or we can demand legislation that eliminates non-constituent donations entirely. The framers gave us the tools to correct all unforeseen problems. A 28th Amendment perhaps?
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6
Sports
February 23, 2012
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Smooth Sleddin’ By Wyatt Martin, Sports Editor “Bobsled drivers’ eyes are always huge in pictures because we’re going 80-90 mph and we’re looking quite a ways out in front of us. By the time you realize what’s happening, it’s already passed you,” U.S. Olympic bobsledder and former Boise State sprinter, Nick Cunningham, said. The idea of actually being able to think about your actions and movements is a luxury Cunningham cannot afford. “You’ll see drivers, before we go down the mountain, we all do what’s called a ‘mind run,’ where you go down the track and you mimic driving it. A good driver can do this pretty much in the same time as what his down time will be. We can see every inch of the track in our minds while we’re doing this,” Cunningham said. These “mind runs” are the best way for drivers and teams to visualize and plan for their runs, because once the sled is moving, drivers mainly have to rely on their instincts and reactions. The very idea a Boise State sprinter would be piloting a bobsled and hoping to represent his country in the 2014 winter Olympics may seem a bit strange, but once you find out the type of person Nick Cunningham truly is, this leap into sledding may not come as such a big surprise. The Monterey, Calif. native spent most days as a youth on a surfboard in the waters off the northern California Pacific Ocean. As a stand-out sprinter for the Broncos’ Track and Field team from 2005-07, Cunningham’s leadership qualities were recognized during his senior season, and he was named the team’s captain. After graduation, Cunningham wasn’t exactly planning on becoming a bobsledder. “I just went out there to have some fun for the tryout,” Cunningham said. “If that didn’t work out, I probably would’ve continued running. But I can’t play the ‘who knows?’ game, because now I’m a winter Olympian and I’m on my way. I can always go back to track if I want to.” The transition from runner to sledder didn’t seem to hinder Cunningham competitively as he was picked up as a brakeman for one of the U.S. teams. Over the next two years he trained and became acclimated with the new sport, resulting in the opportunity to represent his country in the 2010 winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia as a brakeman for the two-man bobsled event. “It’s the kind of experience I’ve wanted my entire life. And to have that as almost like a home game, right in my backyard was incredible. Walking in for the opening ceremonies hearing the United States of America and having USA on your back, that’s really what I’ve trained my whole life and given up and sacrificed a lot for—it made it all worth it,” Cunningham said. The Olympic experience would not extinguish Cunningham’s competitive desire though, as he has made the jump from brakeman to pilot. “Being a brakeman, you’re in charge of the power of the sled. You count the curves, at the bottom—you stop the sled,” Cunningham said. “A driver has to come in here and worry about the brakeman and the hit and the timing and the velocity of us getting into curve one.” Cunningham said he doesn’t get nervous before runs. He feels more eager to get going. He takes a football mentality when going into a run. Photo cOURTESY USBSF “You’ve got to hit a 300-pound sled and go at a full sprint, then all of a sudden Boise State graduate Nick Cunningham is a driver for the USA Bobsled Team. you got to jump in this thing and calm yourself down and realize what’s going on and be aware. You have to judge turns by inches—an inch can be the key to if you win a race or if you crash,” Cunningham said. With an aggressive attitude toward competition and a fearless approach to his given sport (at the time) this former Bronco plenty to be proud of. And with the Sochi Winter Olympics coming in less than two years, there could be a lot more to be proud of yet.
Career Highlights
• 2006-07: Elected captain of Boise State track team • 2009-10: Earned four gold medals at the America’s Cup • Placed 12th in the two-man competition at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Nick Cunningham
Info
Age: 26 From: Monterey, Calif. Graduated BSU in 2008 with COMM degree
Illustration by Cassie Harris/THE ARBITER
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February 23, 2012
7
Pac 12 Wrestling
CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
The Pacific 12 Conference will hold its conference championship tournament this Sunday at Taco Bell Arena. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 9 a.m., with the first session of wrestling beginning at 11 a.m. and the second beginning at 4 p.m. The championship round will start at 5:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony beginning two hours later. The Broncos currently have three wrestlers ranked in the Top 20; No. 10 Jake Swartz (184), No. 12 George Ivanov (157) and No. 20 Brent Chriswell (197).
Battle Royale Nikki Hanson
Assistant Sports Editor
photo courtesy Ben Blake
Nerf Club members prepare for an epic foam fight.
Nerf sports, Nerf blasters, Nerf N-force, super soaker, laser tag and video games, all make up the sport of Nerf. Did you know we have a Nerf Club on campus? The Nerf Club was established this year and has already made an impact as a student organization. Co-presidents Ben Blake and Dale Shanklin were the first to start the club. The club had an interesting beginning. “So the Fred Meyer night that BSU runs at the beginning of every year—we went out and we were looking for other stuff, but one of the things they were selling for dirt cheap happened to be Nerf guns that night,” freshman Ben Blake said. “A couple of us got them and got back to the dorms, started shooting each other with them, general good shenanigans all around. Then we thought wouldn’t it be cool if we had a club for this.” The club hosted its first event
of the spring semester as part of the Winter Welcome. They provided the information to encourage student attendance, but Dart Zone Meridian was responsible for fundraising for the event. Dart Zone Meridian offers fundraisers for schools, teams, leagues, churches, youth groups and charity events. They specialize in group functions for school and social events. Consistently, there are about
The Nerf Club packs some serious foam 20 people who stay active with the club. The easiest way to get involved is to get on Facebook and “like” the Boise State Nerf Club page or email Ben Blake: benblake@u.boisestate.edu. Many students may be wary of clubs because of club fees. Let’s face it—we are all struggling college students, however the Nerf Club is free. Its first event of the semester really helped to promote the club and spread the word on the fun events members have
planned. The second event will be held March 2, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Jordan Ballroom C. If the Nerf Club could tell the students of Boise State anything, they would want students to know: “It’s fun, it’s co-ed, it’s active. It lets you be a little kid again,” Blake said. Don’t we all say we wish we were a little kid again? Harness your inner child and get involved with the Boise State Nerf club.
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8
Sports
February 23, 2012
x x x x x x The Game
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o f G ar ret s o n o o o
A viewpoint on racial sensitivity John Garretson Online Sports Editor
The other day, I caught myself watching ESPN’s “First Take.” Skip Bayless, the king of spinning different arguments and acclaimed Tebow lover, vs. Stephen A. Smith, the boisterous, “let me enunciate my argument word-by-word” sports analyst. I was expecting some sort of loud, heated argument on the trendiest topics and gossip in sports, but I was wrong. It was a discussion of ethnic sensitivity. I’m all ears now. The debate sprung from a recent headline on ESPN mobile that read “A Chink in the Armor,” titled for the Knick’s first loss since the emergence of Asian-American point guard Jeremy Lin. To add on to it, ESPN anchor, Max Bretos used the phrase to describe the game on national television. The ESPN mobile employee was fired for the headline and Bretos was suspended for 30 days for repeating it. Let the fury of opinions commence. On the “First Take” segment, Stephen A. struck first with a valid point that every race, gender and sexual preference has terms they could
consider derogatory toward them and not everyone is familiar with every single one of these terms. Therefore, an immediate, yet, brief grace period should be given to allow the “offender” to sincerely apologize for what he/she said. Smith stated “if we’re not forgiving, then other people are not going to be so forgiving when something is said about them”. Well said, but the show continued. Skip Bayless stepped up to the plate, not necessarily disagreeing with Stephen A., but preferring to take over-sensitivity rather than under-sensitivity and “eradicate everything” deemed offensive. He argued instead of setting yourself up for failure by stating something that could be questionable, it would be best to not say it at all. Again, respected, but where to side? With an issue as pressing as racial sensitivity, which is criticized for even being brought up, the two should be commended for having a conversation about it. With our transformed generation that separates itself from the Baby Boomers (a generation associated with violent racism and evident bigotry) it seems as if the only solution is to remain ultra-delicate on the topic of race. But where are we as a nation able to grow from our intolerable past? We should not abandon each other, but learn, reflect and accept one another, even with slight errors in written or oral statements. We are human. Find me a flawless person and I’ll eat my words for the rest of my life and bestow you king or queen of all things right. Regarding the controversial ESPN headline, I acknowledge it can be seen as offensive to the Asian community. However, Bretos and, the fired employee, Anthony Federico immediately apologized for their actions. Lin himself even said in a Huffington Post article “They’ve apologized and so from my end I don’t care anymore. (You) have to learn to forgive.”
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photo Courtesy idaho Steelheads
Michael Gergen (20) has been doing his best to fit in with the Steelheads since his January trade.
From Austria to Idaho Lauren Horton
Courtesy to The Arbiter
The Idaho Steelheads new defenseman, Michael Gergen, was acquired via trade from the Bakersfield Condors early this January. Over the last month and a half, Gergen has been bonding with the team and is excited to be in Boise and a part of an excellent organization. Growing up in Hastings, Minn. it seemed every kid slipped on a pair of skates right after birth. For Gergen, he started playing at the young age of 6, where he instantly discovered his passion for hockey. As a high school senior, he was selected by the NHL’s Pittsburg Penguins as a second-round pick, 61 overall, in 2005. However, Gergen turned down the offer and decided to play college hockey for the University of MinnesotaDuluth (UMD), where he played all four years.
February 29, 2012
In addition to his team winning the WCHA Championship his senior year at UMD, he was also named WCHA All Academic Team. Gergens’ professional rookie season began overseas playing for a team in the elite Austrian league, the Salzburg Red Bulls. He said it was an excellent experience where he learned a lot about their culture and quickly found out nothing was convenient like it is in the U.S. The money was great, he adapted well as a defenseman for the Red Bulls, won a league championship and skated in the playoffs (contributing eight points in five games). After only one season in Austria, Gergen decided to try professional hockey in North America and started his career in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies. Time with the Grizzlies was brief and Gergen was
released Dec. 19, 2010. The down-time was short lived, as the Bakersfield Condors announced they signed him to a contract the following week. He enjoyed playing in California for almost a year. However, things weren’t going well with the team and in December, Gergen suffered a concussion and was unable to play for a couple of weeks. Once Gergen was cleared for play, he was traded to the Idaho Steelheads and now proudly wears the number 20 Idaho sweater (jersey). Gergen and the team have been extremely busy over the last couple months, always on the road with fierce competition. “It’s nice to get a fresh start and I’m excited to be in Boise,” Gergen said. He doesn’t have much down-time, but says he’s living a pretty simple life and enjoys going out for sushi in his spare time.
The preceding article was written by Lauren Horton, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Program presented by The Arbiter. For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/ boisestate.
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