I n d e p e n d e nt
Issue no.
S tu d e nt
V oic e
of
B ois e
S tat e
S inc e
1933
44
February 2012
Volume 24
w w w.arbiteronline.com
Boise, Idaho
Top Stories
Fair Trade
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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%
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Saturday
Rain & Snow
42º high
30%
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The Arbiter
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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