Arbiter 3-22-12 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

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March

2012

Volume 24

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Boise, Idaho

Top Stories

Foam fighter

Belagarth storms Julia Davis Park every Wednesday to battle.

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Mission Statement changes BSU offering providing

Spring Break

the university

31 Whether going away or staying here, we got tips for you.

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Slacking

Want a great workout while having fun? Try being a slacker.

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Mallory Barker Journalist

Earlier this month, the Board of Higher Education reviewed the mission statements of Idaho universities, which resulted in good news for Boise State, as the University of Idaho changed its language, validating BSU as a more legitimate university. The University of Idaho’s proposed mission statement referred to itself as, “the state’s flagship and land-grant research university.” The board did not approve of the word “flagship” and required that it be taken out of the statement, in spite of university President Duane Nellis’ insistence that the removal could have “negative connotations” for the university. University of Idaho’s mission statement had never before included “flagship.” Board Vice President Ken Edmunds said he was sorry the change “is being interpreted that way.” He said the board was attempting to create a statewide system that could compete with other states throughout the nation. Boise State took the revisions in stride, whereas University of Idaho felt slighted by the board’s decision. Boise State Provost Martin Schimpf, Ph.D., said he believes the board made these edits in order to “avoid elitist language.” “I’ve seen a steady progression of improvement in the credentials of the students and faculty that are entering our university,” Schimpf said. “Clearly University of Idaho is a quality institution, but over the 20 years, we have risen into those considerate ranks. ... I think it’s about recognizing that there are three universities (in Idaho) with three different missions and the mission of a metropolitan university like Boise State is different than the ‘landgrant’ university like University of Idaho, but still every bit as important.” Boise State’s proposed statement referred to itself as, “providing leadership in academics, research and civic engagement.” The Board required Boise State to remove the word “leadership” from its mission statement. Boise State’s mission statement now says it provides “an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees and experiences that foster student success, lifelong learning, community engagement, innovation and creativity.” Chris Radford, freshman chemistry major, stated that he was proud of Boise States’ efforts in improving academic programs and its attempts to become a nationally more prestigious university and believes that Boise State has succeeded in that endeavor. Boise State has grown in the last 20 years. Enrollment has reached 19,664 in 2011, up from 17,600 in 2002. University of Idaho has shrunk in those years by about 100 to12,312. Boise State is now not only a contender to the Vandals athletically, but academically as well.

Boise State University is a public, metropolitan research university offering an array of undergraduate and graduate degrees and experiences that foster student success, lifelong learning, community engagement, innovation and creativity. Research and creative activity advance new knowledge and benefit students, the community, the state and the nation. As an integral part of its metropolitan environment, the university is engaged in professional and continuing education programming, policy issues, and promoting the regions economic vitality and cultural enrichment.

U of I flagship and

The University of Idaho is the state’s land-grant research university. From this distinctive origin and identity comes our commitment to enhance the scientific, economic, social, legal, and cultural assets of our state, and to develop solutions for complex problems facing society. We deliver on this commitment through focused excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and engagement in a collaborative environment at our residential main campus, regional centers, extension offices, and research facilities throughout the state. Consistent with the land-grant ideal, our outreach activities serve the state at the same time they strengthen our teaching and scholarly and creative capacities. Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER

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The Arbiter

2 3 7 8

The inaugural Treefort Music Fest kicks off tonight at 6 p.m. and runs through Sunday. Be sure to check out The Arbiter’s coverage of the four days of music in the Monday, April 2 issue. Visit TreefortMusicFest.com for a full schedule.

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March 22, 2012

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March 22, 2012

World

National

No deaths in noon Romney wins Illinois, Santorum next quake in Mexico City CHICAGO—Mitt tives and Republicans become a contest MEXICO CITY— A powerful earthquake shook buildings in this megacity Tuesday, sending objects tumbling from shelves, cracking walls and emptying buildings of millions of frightened residents. There were no reports of fatalities and only seven people were injured nationwide in what officials said was the strongest quake to hit this city since a 1985 quake killed as many as 10,000 people. Six aftershocks rocked the capital. The quake hit at 12:02 p.m. local time and lasted for more than a minute. Communication networks were jammed in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. “The hospitals and clinics are operating normally, with some broken glass, a big fright, some panic, it is true. But they are all right,” President Felipe Calderon said. Five people were injured in Oaxaca, according to Laura Gurza, the chief of Mexico’s civil defense system. Two people were injured in Mexico City, she added. In addition to the capital, jolts from the temblor were felt in the states of Oaxaca, Michoacan, Tabasco, Veracruz, Puebla, Guerrero and

E ditor - in -C hief

the state of Mexico. In light of the chaos caused by the quake, the lack of fatalities seemed miraculous. A pedestrian overpass fell on a small bus in Mexico City, but caused no injuries. An electrical transformer plunged from a pole, crushing a taxi, also without injuries. Buildings in the historic district of Mexico City shook, shedding dust as people watched from the street, waiting for them to collapse. Many never did. Local radio stations said some people were injured as they evacuated buildings. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said cracks opened in walls, and buildings subject to tilting leaned farther. Power went off in many districts, but there were no cuts to water or other “strategic services,” he said. “Right now, we don’t have major damage, that is to say collapsed buildings,” Ebrard said, noting that disaster personnel had flown over the city to assess the damage. Mexico City’s international airport continued to operate, turning back only one flight from Houston, according to Milenio television. In Oaxaca, where the quake was strongest, buildings shook fiercely but damage was limited.

Romney scored a decisive victory over Rick Santorum in the Illinois primary on Tuesday, tightening his grip on the Republican front-runner’s slot. Romney carried Cook County, the second most populous in the country, by 30 percentage points. Santorum still professed satisfaction with the Illinois results. “We won in the areas that conserva-

populate. We’re happy about that, and we’re happy about the delegates that we’re going to get, too,” he said. The former Pennsylvania senator forecast “a big win and a big delegate sweep” in his home state, five weeks from now, adding that he is “feeling very, very good about winning Louisiana on Saturday.” Increasingly, the Republican race has

between the monied interests, which back Romney, and the grassroots base, which has favored Santorum. One of the biggest challenges facing Romney, if he becomes the presumptive nominee, will be bridging this divide. Romney has more than twice as many delegates as Santorum, according to the latest Associate Press projection.

Local

WTF

HB404, take two, presented in legislature

Smugglers’ license plate betrays their occupation

BOISE —Legis lators introduced a bill to increase their ability to control the Capitol Mall area, but were careful to point out they were not targeting Occupy Boise. Instead, the bill was described as a long-term solution to the loophole Occupy Boise exploited until they were evicted from the camp by the Old Courthouse. Teresa Luna, director of the Department of Administration, introduced this bill. It is supported strictly on party lines, with Republican representatives supporting it and Democrats against it, just like the original HB404 bill.

BELLINGHAM, WA S H . — P o l i c e received an anonymous tip on a drug smuggling operation that was about to go down, so they called in the feds. When they spotted an SUV with a specialized license plate which read “SMUGGLER,” heading to the Smuggler’s Inn, a mere 150 feet from the border, they had to check it out. Good thing, too. In the car were nine bricks of cocaine, adding up to nearly 25 pounds of powder. Passenger Jasmin Klair, 24, admitted the drugs were hers and she was going to the Smuggler’s Inn to set up a deal arranged

via text message. While the agents were interviewing her, she started receiving texts from her contacts that the agents set up a sting to catch them. One of them, Narminder Kaler, desperately needed the $2,000 he’d been promised for this delivery. He was already in debt for more than $100,000 for losing a marijuana shipment earlier this year. It appears the dealers’ reverse psychology had a doubly reverse affect this time around, leading the agents directly to the crime rather than misdirecting them. If only all license plates were so honest.

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ACROSS 1 Altar vestments 5 Not back down 11 Screw up 14 Boor 15 Shortening name 16 __ Paulo 17 A falsehood in every respect 19 Basinger of “Batman” 20 Congo River beast 21 Arsoninvestigating org. 22 Three-time WNBA MVP __ Leslie 23 Beast of burden 24 Chuck Connors title role 28 Condemn 29 Passable 30 Common crossword clue ending 33 Piper’s followers 36 D.C. hearings broadcaster 39 Risky activity, and what certain four-letter sequences in 17-, 24-, 49- and 61-Across are doing? 42 Badly cooked 43 Reasonable 44 Pilot’s prefix 45 Summoning gesture 47 Plenty 49 “Scream” or “Halloween” 53 Sis, say 56 They’re mostly fours 57 Tijuana relative 58 “Three inches is such a wretched height to be” speaker 60 Sí, in Paris 61 Actor’s liability 64 __ pro nobis: pray for us 65 Mid-size Nissan 66 Latin 101 verb 67 Athlete’s supporter 68 Have it in mind 69 Ad amount

By Ed Sessa

DOWN 1 Top dog 2 Joe the boxer 3 Baby’s achievements? 4 Baby book first 5 Here, on the Seine 6 Atomic energy org. 7 Solo instrument in “Norwegian Wood” 8 Last Supper question 9 Jeers (at) 10 Heavy weight 11 Ice cream treat since the 1920s 12 Mrs. Gorbachev 13 __ numeral 18 Snapshot, commercially 22 Heart-healthy food claim 25 Rhino feature 26 Webzines 27 Scot’s sailing site 28 Wine quality 30 LAPD alert 31 Primary colore 32 Neanderthal type 34 Former carrier with a JFK hub

BY LINDA C. BLACK Tribune Media Service

Today’s Birthday (03/22/12) The New Moon in your sign today provides an auspicious spotlight to launch your next solar year. The Sun and Uranus are in your sign, too, illuminating your purpose, your deepest desires, what makes you happy. Use these insights to make plans, but think them out well, changes may be irreversible. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7 -- Plot out the plan, and clarify direction. Conserve resources. Don’t worry about the money. Back up computers. Today is an 8 -- Your friends are really there for you, just like you are for them. Social networking buzzes about fun and profit. Encourage another’s creativity.

A non-partisan organization dedicated toward empowering students M eetings are held Fridays in the SUB from 12:30 to 1:30 For more information, contact gusvoss@u.boisestate.edu

Cancer (June 22-July 22) “LIKE” US Boise State College Republicans Page

John Garretson sports@ arbiteronline.com

Today is a 9 -- New opportunities develop ... go for the most realistic. Go over the instructions one more time. Completions bring new beginnings.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

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O nline T eam

Jessica Swider Troy Hatfield onlineeditor@ arbiteronline.com

3/22/12

Monday’s Puzzle Solved Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

35 Historic peninsula 37 JFK posting 38 “The Matrix” hero 40 Reason to scratch 41 Archer of note 46 Boiling point? 48 Bridge master Sharif 49 Parody 50 Dr. with advice 51 Cowboy’s rope

3/22/12

52 “Oliver Twist” villain 53 S, as in Socrates 54 Mac messaging program 55 Actress Davis 59 One to whom you might say, “I doubt that” 61 Wanted poster uncle? 62 CPR expert 63 __ Schwarz

The Future

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

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FOR RELEASE MARCH 22, 2012

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Today is a 7 -- Decisions you make now will last, possibly for generations. Consider all options. Get inspired by another.

For more information contact MIGUEL VARELA

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Crossword

Aries (March 21-April 19)

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Today is a 9 -- Your view expands beyond your own neighborhood now, and travel sounds good. Plan it and go. You know how much to spend, so double-check reservations. No gambling.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9 -- With the New Moon (and the Sun) in Aries, get into making money. Play by the rules, and find out what your clients need. Expand your influence.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today is an 8 -- Your brainpower increases exponentially when working as part of a team. Upgrade technology, but don’t forget to keep a record.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 9 -- Entering two days of very satisfying, intense work. Delegate what you’re not passionate about to someone who cares. New career opportunities open up.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today is an 8 -- Complete your obligations down to the tiniest detail so that you have time to relax later. Entering a two-day romantic phase. Listen intently.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7 -- Get into your roots for the next few days. Reviewing your past gives a new perspective on the future with your family.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7 -- There’s so much to learn and so little time, or so it seems. Get organized to get it all done on schedule and have extra time to play. You can do it.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9 -- Use the next couple of days to increase profits, but beware of burning bridges. Let go of those things you don’t want or need. Simplify your outlook. ___ (c) 2012, Tribune Media Services Inc.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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decisions and bear responsibility for those 2010 Arbiter’s The Mepham Group. Distr decisions.© The Tribune Media Services. All rights 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.

‘ rock!

“Airplanes rock!” Phil Rodman, mechanical engineering sophomore, said. That was the sentiment across the board for VooDoo Designs’ members as they got their plane ready for an international competition. Sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the Aero-Design West competition took place in Van Nuys this year. The competition started March 16 with oral presentations and quality inspections to ensure the planes were safe to fly on Saturday. Saturday is when the teams took to the skies. Boise State’s VooDoo Designs Aero Club is in the advanced class. “There are three classes: micro, regular and advanced,” club President Mallory Yates explained. Yates, a senior in the mechanical engineering program, is one of the people going to the competition. “The majority of the club is coming—it depends on if they

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can miss classes,” she said. They set out for California late Wednesday, March 14, planning to arrive Thursday. The plane was pulled behind them on a trailer to get there. In advanced class there are some extra challenges in addition to the standard payload lift challenge where weight is inserted into the wings of the plane before flight in the form of bars of metal. The aircraft is also required to have a data acquisition system, which collects things like speed and distance traveled, as well as taking off within a certain distance. The design this year is very similar to last year’s. The only visible difference is the fuselage (main body of the plane), which is extended. A lot of the other changes are small, detail based. According to Yates, there were a lot of issues with the landing gear last year and they wanted to fix that. The design this plane used took two and a half years to develop. It was designed by Boise State alumn Alex Miller, who graduated with a materials science degree in 2009. “I’ve always been fascinated by aeronautics, so I guess I

joined up and never quit,” Miller said. He has been involved in the aero-design club since it first formed. This is the seventh year the club has gone to the competition—the first four in the regular class and the last two in advanced. The micro class never interested them, as those really were “just models,” Brendan Healy, senior member and junior in the mechanical engineering program, said. With six competitions under its belt, the club had a strategy in mind. Ideally there would be test flights before leaving for the competition, but not this year. “Not for this plane—this one’s an all for one, we’ll just go for it,” Yates said. Their reward for all their hard work? Well, there was prize money on the table with $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. The team got to meet other plane-minded students from around the world because the competition included teams from India and even some from Germany. But when all is said and done, the real reward is being able to build planes.

Some have been members for years, joining the club when they heard about it at events like Engineering Extravaganza. Others are dragged in by their well-meaning roommates. “One day they (Nate Phillips and Brendan Healy) were just like, ‘You’re coming with us,’ and I didn’t really have anything else to do on Friday nights,” Michael Large, mechanical engineering sophomore, said. Large helped work on the fuel system for the new engine, hoping to get it and the back-up engine ready in time to run a few tests on them. “Mallory invited me and I’ve been coming ever since. I wish I’d gotten into it sooner,” Kelci Parrish, mechanical engineering senior, said. This is her first and last year in the club. “I came here in high school with my cousin. I’ve been coming as much as I can off and on for a year and a half,” Nate Phillips, a junior in mechanical engineering, said. After driving home on Monday, the club isn’t going to rest on their laurels for very long. Instead they’ll be trying to make the plane even better, fixing problems and fiddling. Then they get to do the fun stuff.

ith terms such as optimization algorithms and stress calculations on composites flying around, one wouldn’t guess the eight-foot-long carbon composite shell was destined to become a remote controlled plane for a competition in Van Nuys, Calif. The Boise State Mechanical Engineering Club’s subsidary, VooDoo Designs Aero Club, put its plane through the paces last weekend; the aircraft took first place overall and second place in payload lifted.

‘Airplanes

Boise State club conquered the skies in Van Nuys

14-foot wingspan 8-foot body 23 pounds “See this plane? It’s cool, two-engine plane. Not even a competition plane. They just made it over the summer for fun,” Healy said, pointing at one of the many aircraft hanging in the Harry W. Morrison Civil Engineering Building. “We get to play and make weird planes—just see if we can make things fly,” Yates said. The club is a way to turn passion for flight into a reality, giving students a chance to see what works (or doesn’t), meet current members of the aerospace industry and figure out if they enjoy making things fly. “This is all brand new and I didn’t think I was into it before, but after this—it’s interesting,” Thomas Green, sophomore mechanical engineering major and first-year member of the VooDoo Designs Aero Club, said. “This is one of the coolest things that happens in college,” Dick Sevier, research support engineer and safety liasion for the College of Engineering, said on seeing the plane. There was an open house for professors and administrators to see the plane on March 14 while the team got ready to leave.

*Boise State Graduate

Senior Member Senior Member 2nd year member 2nd year member 1st year member 1st year member 1st year member 1st year member 1st year member 1st year member

Captain Pilot

Jordan Anderson Kelci Parrish Brendan Healy Nathaniel Phillips Zachary Harris Mike Large James Carrillo Phil Rodman Thomas Green Joshua Brookshire

Mallory E. Yates Matt McCrink*

VooDoo Members

build their first-place plane. ers mb me b clu of s oto ph w Go online to vie

Feature March 22, 2012

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March 22, 2012

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Interdisciplinary explorations engage students Alx Stickel Journalist

English assistant professor Samantha Harvey, Ph.D., created a course The Idea of Nature: 1660-1860 which offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to learn about how various disciplines discuss the idea of nature in the long 18th century. The is an example of the shift to the new Foundational Studies Program, which involves combining disciplines in classes. The goal of this program is to give students a more enriched understanding of a particular subject. Harvey hopes the course will provide a framework for future courses in other disciplines. Anthropology professor Christopher Hill, Ph.D., intends to provide a foundations class in environmental studies next year called People and Nature that will be modeled like The Idea of Nature. Harvey invited 13 guest lecturers from seven different departments to provide a “snapshot” of how their disciplines view nature. This idea for an interdisciplinary exploration came from a previous job interview at St. John’s College of Liberal Arts. “When I went there, it was actually kind of an epiphany for me that a professor could not only profess and deliver content, but a professor could be a kind of model learner and basically guide the discussion and learn along with the students,” Harvey said. The second component

of the course is the lecture series, which allows the community to get involved in the discussion of nature. Harvey invited three distinguished speakers—Rochelle Johnson, Ph.D., James Engell, Ph.D., and Kevin Hutchings, Ph.D.—to conduct public lectures at Boise State about their ideas on the subject. According to Harvey, there are many benefits of having interdisciplinary courses offered at Boise State. “The main benefit is that it really engages students in a different kind of analytical thinking,” Harvey said. “They’re coming to different disciplines with actually not that much preconceived notion or maybe not even that much knowledge about what’s going on in that discipline.” Hill is one of the guest lecturers and also feels this type of instruction offers students a treat in their higher education. “The idea of interdisciplinary explorations is a really important opportunity at a university. A university is a place where the universe is available,” Hill said. “This is a good way of connecting with a particular topic.” So far, this course has been successful and Harvey is excited about how well it has been received. “I’ve been pleased with the response of the students and certainly the response of the community as well (supporting the lecture series),” Harvey said. Daniel Clausen, who will receive his master’s in English literature this May, is one of the first students to sign

Alx Stickel/THE ARBITER

English professor Samantha Harvey prepares for a lecture in the new course, The Idea of Nature:1660-1860. up for this interdisciplinary exploration. He said he has found it enjoyable and beneficial. “I like that we get a wider variety of texts and we also get to look at the whole range of issues that are beyond just texts but obviously influence texts, like we looked at landscape paintings, we had someone bring in fossils. That wide range has been exciting,” Clausen said. Laura Roghaar, who will also receive her master’s in English literature this May, finds this course to be valuable to her education. “It’s really different than

other courses that are usually offered in the English Department,” Roghaar said. “I think it gives us a chance to encounter other primary texts that we really wouldn’t see.” While this course does have many benefits, it does not come without difficulties. Harvey and Hill advise students to only take this course if they are excited about the new format and are willing to put in the hard work required. “One of the disadvantages might be that it might take quite a bit of effort and com-

mitment by the students because they have to know, basically, a little bit about each one of these topics,” Hill said. “That way, they can think about it, and so they probably have to work a little bit harder.” Clausen agrees that this type of course can be challenging. “Sometimes we have to kind of go outside of our comfort zone as far as our discipline, what we’re used to,” Clausen said. “So that’s been challenging now and then, but I think it’s good for us probably.” Overall, this introduction

of an interdisciplinary course has been well received by students and faculty. Harvey hopes to continue this course each spring, and might make some alterations to allow for a more contemporary discussion on the topic. Harvey encourages all students—even non-English majors—interested in the course to email her at samanthaharvey@boisestate. edu for more information or to discuss reserving a spot in the class. She also encourages any staff interested in lecturing to contact her before Spring 2013.

Students present original research at conference Ellie Parton Journalist

The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) has selected 27 Boise State undergraduate students to present original research. The conference will be held March 29 to 31 at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Each student has conducted his or her own research within various fields—including social work, biology and political science—and

will be presenting the research at the conference either through an oral or poster presentation. Three of those students, Shwaye Eibensteiner, Max Greenlee and Shandra Jeffries, talked to The Arbiter about preparing for it. Shwaye Eibensteiner, senior social work major, will be attending the conference through the McNair Scholars Program. “Students submit a research abstract to the Weber State committee and they

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will select you based upon your abstract,” she said. Eibensteiner said she has worked extensively in the social work field. “I worked with orphans for a long time, I volunteered in Africa for two years in an orphanage working with kids whose parents have died from HIV,” she said. Eibensteiner also spent a year with Idaho Health and Welfare in the child protection and adoptions unit. “I worked with foster kids then and I saw the real need of transitioning them better,” Eibensteiner said. Eibensteiner spent about a year on her research. She has studied what happens to youth after they age out of the foster care system. “They have no resources and no support and how that has a negative impact on our society,” she said. Eibensteiner looks forward to the experiences she will gain at the NCUR conference. “There will be a lot of graduate schools showcas-

ing their graduate programs,” Eibensteiner said. Not only will the NCUR conference be beneficial to the participants, but to the participants’ school as well. “It helps BSU become a more research-oriented school,” Eibensteiner said. Shandra Jeffries, senior biology major, will be attending the NCUR conference as well. “I got an internship through the STEM program and starting working in the biology lab that I work in now. I presented at a couple conferences and the NCUR sent out an email, I applied, and they picked me,” she said. Jeffries will be giving a poster presentation on her research in biology. “I study plants and phylogenetics, so basically I look at how plants are related to each other using their DNA,” Jeffries said. “My project was to find rapidly evolving genes, and that will show mutations that occur and which species are more closely re-

lated to each other than other species.” Jeffries has presented her research at other conferences in the past. She has discovered the many networking opportunities that research conferences like the NCUR conference offer. “I like it. It’s fun to get to go meet people,” Jefferies said. “Seeing what else everybody is presenting, I think that will be really interesting because this conference is national, so it’s things people have been doing all over the nation in every subject.” Jefferies plans on utilizing the NCUR conference to talk to people in her field that can help her find out more about graduate programs and future opportunities. Max Greenlee is a senior political science major who presented his thesis to the Honors College last spring and was recommended to apply to the NCUR conference by the director of the Honors College. Greenlee will be presenting his research on Serbian Municipal elec-

tion participation; he will be discussing political participation in Kosovo. This will be Greenlee’s first experience presenting at a conference. “The only research I have done so far has been for a research paper or project and for the Honors College,” Greenlee said. Greenlee also looks forward to the chance to hear from fellow researchers. “It’s a really broad-based undergraduate research conference, so it should be interesting to hear from other disciplines,” Greenlee said. Greenlee is hoping to get other people’s opinions on his research. “It’s always nice to get different perspectives on your research. That’s part of the reason I chose to do an oral defense of my thesis because I had the opportunity to have different professors rate the same paper and then talk about it. It was a great experience so I’m hoping to get a piece of that again at this conference,” Greenlee said.

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Members of Belegarth prepare for a battle royale with their foam weaponry. The group, members of the Rath realm, battles in Julia Davis Park on Wednesdays.

Medieval battles fought with foam Amy Merrill

Assistant News Editor

Belegarth (pronounced BEL-a-garth) is a term taken from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sindarin language meaning “great realms.” Belegarth itself is, “a medieval sword fighting sport where foam padding is used on the weapons to prevent serious physical injury to participants,” according to the Belegarth website. Students may have noticed that on Wednesday evenings, across from campus in Julia Davis Park, a group gathers around 5 p.m. dressed in medieval- or fantasy-themed garb with an assortment of foampadded weapons. These individuals are members of the Rath realm (Boise), but Belegarth itself is a world-

wide organization with groups in a variety of countries. The organization is complete with a Book of War detaling the rules, adjudication (or marshaling), weapons classification, an extensive section on combat, weapons (what is and is not suitable weapon material), garb, armor and shields. This is no hodge-podge, rambling, unorganized assembly. These individuals take their sport seriously, but also have a lot of fun. Current member Seth Curran, or Plithut as he is known in the Rath community, is a senior communication major who has been involved in Belegarth since he was 15 years old. Curran said he originally got involved in Belegarth to escape from real life and assume a new identity.

“Not only could I hit my friends, but parents encouraged us because it kept us outdoors,” he said. Now, however, after nearly 11 years of foam fighting, Curran is involved for different reasons, “Now-a-days ... I am in it for the community and the hard fighting,” Curran said. About three years ago, Belegarth’s Boise realm lost its status as a Boise State club when the then-president graduated and the club wasn’t renewed. This has not been a negative change for the realm and the unofficial status of the club made member retention easier Curran said. Dane Johns, or His Majesty Sir Par Ohmsford the King of Rath, is president of the Boise chapter and president of all the realms. He is responsible for teach-

ing new members the rules as well setting up practices, collecting dues and a slew of other responsibilities. “Belegarth is a place where all manner of people come together and enjoy each other’s company,” Johns said. Curran also stressed the importance of the relationships he has made through Belegarth. “Belegarth participants will take care of their own, if you need a place to crash, eat, sleep, whatever, these are the people that I turn to,” said Curran. “Not to mention there is something undeniably enjoyable about dressing up in funny clothing, calling myself by a fake name, running around hitting each other with padded sticks, only to come together later to drink and share stories around the fire.”

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The Arbiter

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Local

March 22, 2012

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March

Check out our top five international spring break destinations at Arbiter Online

Spring Break Calendar 22-25 Treefort Music Fest Discover new and emerging artists at the Treefort Music Fest from March 22 – 25 in downtown Boise. Some of the featured artists include: Built To Spill, WHY?, Ema, Typhoon, k.flay and The Hive Dwellers. Treefort will also be offering free panel discussions on music journalism, marketing music, keeping personal music legal and D.I.Y. touring. For more information on tickets and panel discussions, visit treefortmusicfest.com.

The Boise Centre welcomes spring with the Boise Flower and Garden Show March 23-25. Shop for landscape design and attend gardening classes. Visit gardenshowboise.com. Boise Astronomical Society Messier Marathon Camp under the stars with the Boise Astronomical Society at the Eagle Cove Campground in the Bruneau Dunes State Park March 23 at 5 p.m. For more information and State Park fees, email Treasurer@boiseastro.org.

Boise Flower and Garden Show

Music For The Cure Join Miss Idaho USA 2012, Nightology Entertainment and Idaho Central Credit Union at the Knitting Factory Concert House to battle against breast cancer. Hosted by Rick Moorten of Wild 101 with performances by Shwayze, Cisco Adler and Dunson, Silver Medallion. The concert starts at 6 p.m. and goes until 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. For more information call 367-1212.

Oasis Dreams 2012 Dive into African culture and enjoy a weekend full of belly dancing, sponsored by Mearah at the El Korah Shrine Center at 6 p.m. Professional belly dancers will showcase their talents on Friday and Saturday. Personal workshops will be held on Saturday and Sunday. Visit mearah.com for more information or email hennadancer@msn.com.

Spring break safety tips for travel Amy Merrill

Assistant News Editor

In most cases, spring break is associated with too much drinking, an avoidance of school work and crazy vacation stories. This year should be no different as long as students heed warnings to avoid dangerous vacation locations, utilize the buddy system and keep in mind the fact that there are predators looking to prey on innocent spring breakers. Depending on specific vacation destinations, the precautions students need to take can vary. For students visiting Mexico, it’s important to note the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning concerning Mexico. “Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major trafficking routes,” the U.S. Department of State said. However, it is important to be aware

of the violent ongoing struggle between the Mexican government and the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). The Department of State warns that U.S. citizens fall victim to a variety of narcotic-related violence including kidnapping, carjacking and murder. To avoid becoming a victim of any crime-related violence, the Department of State advises travelers to keep a low profile and not to display any signs of wealth. To see specific travel warnings and adviseries broken down by location in Mexico, visit the State Department website. For students engaging in international travel, some additional tips for safe travel include: be cautious when packing, limit the number of valuables and try to leave most or all at home. Bring travelers checks or credit cards, leaving cash at home. Pack a photocopy of passport photos and the passport itself just in case it is stolen or lost and social security cards should always be left at home.

Not all students are able to travel abroad and instead opt for a location within the States. For students traveling to major metropolitan areas, it’s still important to be aware of some safety precautions. When alcohol is involved, students are never too old to utilize the buddy system. Never walk around alone and avoid shortcuts such as alleys, or streets devoid of other people. Be wary of strangers. Don’t discuss travel plans with anyone, even the most innocent-looking strangers; even attractive ladies (or men) can have sinister motives. Hotel room safety is equally important. Students should be careful about inviting strangers to their hotel. Never give out hotel information and always meet up with people in the lobby. Most hotels have safes for guest use and it is wise to utilize this service instead of leaving valuables unattended in hotel rooms. The most important tip for safe travel can be the tips that come from instinct.

Students should always go with their instincts when it comes to safety. Trust that gut feeling if something doesn’t feel right about any situation or individual met while traveling. This could be something as casual as entering an elevator. If there is one other individual in the elevator and the gut says don’t get in, trust that feeling. Avoid stairwells in the dark and when alone, or any place dark enough to conceal a predator. And finally, for students partying over the break, when the party becomes too much or the level of inebriation becomes excessive—go home. By staying in public under high levels of intoxication, students are turning themselves into walking targets for predators and may not even know when they are putting themselves into dangerous positions. Students who have partied too hard should never go home alone or wander off alone. If all of these tips fall to the wayside while having a good time, remember to keep each other safe and travel together. Bryan Talbot/the Arbiter

The Arbiter

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Opinion

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March 22, 2012

Put it in Print

True health reform Bryce DunhamZemberi Columnist

l e tt e r t o t h e e d i t o r Peter Wollheim, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Communication. In response to The Arbiter editorial of March 5th titled “Professors should trust students to use technology responsibly,” I’d love to extent that trust but can’t and probably shouldn’t. This isn’t just on account of the number of students who have barefaced lied to me about how they’re using their laptops, Blackberries, iPads, iPhones, MP3 players, while some of their classmates are presenting, let alone during one of my own lectures. It’s also because, and let’s be frank about it, I have to join with the society at large which dings folks your age with higher automobile insurance premiums, to cite one example. You may also notice that we are willing to train you to risk your lives in hazardous occupations such as the military, fire fighting and law enforcement,

but don’t recruit too many of you into command positions until later on. In general, we adults don’t really trust you. The reasons are at once biological, psychological and cultural. It used to be assumed that adolescent brain development ended around age 13 or 14. Today, we know that it continues dynamically on until 24 or 25. Your young adult brains function differently than those of us seemingly futzy professors. For starters your frontal cortex — the part of the brain accountable for tasks such as symbolic logic — isn’t completely wired to the other parts responsible for social impulses and skills, as well as physical pleasure and pain. On the one hand, this neuroplasticity allows you to function as fierce learners, so now’s the best time to acquire a second or third language, embark on the mastery of a musical instrument, or figure out complicated foot-

ball plays. At the same time, because you’re relatively poor at executive decision-making, you’re far more at risk for getting into trouble with sex, booze, drugs, money, driving, scheduling, and other tasks requiring patient analysis and impulse control. Psychologically, your brains are understandably preoccupied with sociability. You’re busy figuring out how to differentiate from your parents, what peer group to hang with, who to date or marry. The existential reality behind this: all the adults you know will die out, leaving your age cohort to figure out how to run a society on your own. And you tend to operate out of a sense of personal invulnerability, with relatively few of you having dealt with death, disease or disfigurement. This preserves your optimism about the future but insulates you against realizing what’s really at stake. To cite only one instance, most of you way

l e tt e r t o t h e e d i t o r Jason Barlow is a sophomore theater major. I strongly disagree with the article about sweatshops that was posted in The Arbiter on March 8th. First of all, in reference to the opening sentence of the article, I must emphasize that activists fighting against sweatshops are not ignorant. In fact, they are the exact opposite of ignorant. They are trying to convince Apple, as well as other companies who use sweatshops to manufacture their goods, to pay the people working at the sweatshops a decent wage, in addition to providing them with better working conditions and more decent hours, particularly those companies that have made significant profits in recent years. If that is ignorant, then I simply do not know what is not ignorant. Don’t get me wrong; I commend the fact that these companies are providing jobs to citizens of third world countries to begin with, and I feel great sympathy for the people of the world who are forced to work at sweatshops to make ends meet. In fact, that is the precise reason why I am writing today. I just want the people being employed by these companies to be treated fairly. The bottom line is that these companies are mainly hiring workers in third world counGuest opinions and Letters to the Editor (300 to 500 word limit each) can be emailed to letters@ arbiteronline.com

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tries for the sake of making bigger profits than they would by providing the same jobs to the American workforce. If we want to help these people in the third world, then we should no longer allow these companies to exploit these innocent people in order to just make a few extra bucks. Instead, we should be helping them further by giving them the same jobs, but with more pay and safer, more tolerable working conditions, the likes of which we take for granted here at home. Then maybe, just maybe, we can help the third world become economically competitive and bring these people out of poverty once and for all. But then again, I am merely thinking positively, since I know for a fact that no big shot corporate CEO would ever listen to the ideas of a normal American citizen, such as myself. However, I do find it reasonable to ask that the next time you listen to your iPods or buy Nike shoes, please think about where the products in question are actually coming from, and then try to do everything in your power to fight for what is basically the rights of workers all over the world, because after all, we are all human, and therefore we are all entitled to reasonable pay and working conditions, regardless of where we live. Thank you for your consideration.

The Arbiter cannot verify the accuracy of statements made in guest submissions. Opinions expressed by guest and staff colum-

over-estimate your ability to multi-task. Finally a number of relatively new cultural developments have oversupported the natural tendency towards selfabsorption characteristic of your developmental stage. Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell, authors of The Narcissism Epidemic (2009), have identified some of these as the rise of instant media celebrity, cheap and therefore unearned credit, selfesteem based curricula and advertising, and the proliferation of personal electronics that facilitate the creation of personal cognitive bubbles. Empirical studies indicate not only an increase in narcissistic personality traits in your generation, but also a marked rise in the number of you suffering from full-fledged Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Almost by definition, narcissists are rendered incapable of focusing beyond themselves, which places them at enormous disadvan-

tage in the classroom, in relationships, and in the workplace. This isn’t to minimize the many altruistic, courageous and even inspiring acts that young people perform on a daily basis. Nor is it to gainsay the use of electronics as valuable tools for higher education. But it does identify the reality that students generally shouldn’t be trusted with free access to instruments of such intense, self-absorbing distractibility. And this also recalls a statement by the great choreographer, Martha Graham: “The stage can be a magical place, but only if you allow it.” Dear students, the college classroom can also offer a magical place, only if you — and your teachers — allow it. How about putting away those diverting electronics, for just a bit, so as to give the potential magic of ideas and intellects a special, defined and respected place and time to happen?

l e tt e r t o t h e e d i t o r Casey Jones is a senior business major. Although I understand the argument made by the author in “Sweatshops Save Lives,” I feel like she misrepresented the issue at hand. To suggest that sweatshop conditions in third-world countries should be lauded because they are better than some other (simply awful) alternatives presents a false dichotomy. In fact, the entire article is laden with logical fallacies. For example, it is ridiculous to think that working in sweatshops under their current conditions and becoming a prostitute are the only two options. The idea excludes the possibility of Apple demanding condition improvement in the sweatshops that they contract. This concept is not that abstract considering Tim Cook, Apple’s new CEO, has expressed deep concern with the issue and Apple is one of the largest market-cap firms in the world. Another false dichotomy presented in the article is that investing in dangerous, laborious sweatshops and giving “mindless foreign aid” are the only two ways to improve the lives of children and other people working under terrible conditions. In fact, I have a hard time drawing a logical link between the two. Just because working in a sweatshop is better than being a child prostitute, does not mean that either alternative is acceptable. That is much like saying, “sure you were mugged, but it’s ok, because you

nists reflect the diversity of opinion in the academic community and often will be controversial, but they do not represent the institution-

could have been mugged and then beaten to death.” We only have to look back to Nike in the late 90s to see that deplorable factory conditions do not have to be accepted. Nike was pressed by their stakeholders to improve conditions overseas and Nike quickly responded; the possible damage to Nike’s brand equity all but forced them to. After Nike made sincere efforts to improve conditions in the factories where their garments were made—believe it or not—people actually bought MORE Nike Apparel. Apparently when people see companies acting responsibly, they appreciate it and are willing to fork out the extra couple of cents per garment to show their appreciation. Considering the fact that Apple is sitting on over 10 billion dollars in cash, I doubt that reducing productivity or demanding laborers be paid a living wage is going to crush this electronics giant. That would be a true case of doing something that is “beneficial and constructive for all parties involved” as the article states it. I find it ironic that the author calls- people that are protesting Apple ignorant, smug, and rabid, when she is writing about a topic that she, herself, has given very little thought to. To gain some journalistic perspective, I propose that she give away all of her money and work in one of these Chinese factories. Perhaps someday she can earn enough money to buy a plane ticket back home, where she can sit in her plush office chair and reconsider her position.

al opinion of The Arbiter or any organization the author may be affiliated with unless it is labeled as such. The Arbiter cannot guarantee

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.

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It’s disgusting our nation is folding into its own fat. We need to use the food market to change what options are available to the public. True market-based reform will decrease the cost of health care and will make our work force more competitive in the manufacturing market. It’s a fact that there is a need for better health habits. According to the 2011 National College Health Assessment Summary, 43 percent of Boise State students are obese. The Center for Disease Control reported 35 percent of American adults and 17 percent of American children are considered obese. Eric Finkelstein, Duke University Health Services Research deputy director, said in a medical article titled, “The Costs of Obesity Among Full-time Employees” 50 percent of the weighted population reported missing at least one week or more of work to weight-related illness or injuries. America is one of the few societies in the world that miss work for being too fat. A healthier society has lower health costs. Tony Yang, a Health Policy and Law Professor at George Mason University, said in his medical article, “Obesity and Health System Reform,” annual medical costs associated with obesity may be as high as $147 billion per year, with private insurers footing the bill for nearly half of this total. My solution—tax three percent of all profitable food corporations’ stock. These taxes will pay for privately run, government-contracted health education classes. According to Michael Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food,” people select food by taste, cost, convenience and health. If consumers attend health education classes, they will likely understand the value of healthy food and a healthy lifestyle. Then the market will respond by creating tastier, cheaper, faster health food options. This will complete the primary goal of the tax—fewer unhealthy options. These health-education classes would promote understanding by giving certificates to students who are above the satisfactory grade level. This would earn lower health insurance premiums and yearly government awards provided from the health tax itself. Certifications would have to be re-certified every nine months. The benefits to this plan are four-fold: (1) In response to its consumers’ demands, the food industry will produce healthier eating options. (2) The increased productivity would also increase the U.S. workforce’s industrial competitiveness. (3) Our population will pay less for health care. (4) This tax will make a healthier country encouraged by monetary rewards. Current dietary options must be altered. If we do not fix this, we will collapse into our own fat. Read unprinted opinions online.

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Sports

March 22, 2012

I apologize if you’re not Twitter-savvy, but follow along, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two: “In other sporting news, the news we’ve been waiting for: PeytonGate is over, coveted NFL free agent Hillis finally x found his third home in x x x four years! #bashtag” x x The Game “In other sporting - - - - - - - - - - - news, Brittany Griner o f G a r r e t s o n of the Baylor’s women’s o team has been offered a o contract for the Charlotte o Bobcats #bashtag” “In other sporting news, it was also discovered Griner was listed in the Mitchell Report #bashtag” “In other sporting news, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has offered to ‘hug it out, bro’ with Alex Smith as Harbaugh was John Garretson dumped by Peyton on the Online Sports Editor first date #bashtag” Twitter has clearly “In other sporting come to surface in our news, four teams from daily lives, especially with Ohio advanced to the the lapse of MySpace. Sweet Sixteen, the state’s Seriously, our Tweets biggest celebration since have turned into legiti- ... ever #bashtag” mate news feeds for poli“In other sporting tics, sports, music, en- news, the Yankees have tertainment and the list signed retired pitcher goes on. Andy Pettite to a one year However, it takes the deal. The Bronx Senior First Amendment and Citizen Center released runs marathons with it. him to free up roster People become self- space #bashtag” entitled critics and ev“In other sporting erything between G- news, God has officially rated and XXX can be found the miracle he found within the couldn’t come through 140-character limit. on: Tim Tebow #bashtag” This week’s column is “In other sporting motivated by ESPN’s col- news, Lebron James has umnist Rick Reilly, an in- been banned from drivspiration for my writing, ing manual cars, sources who started a trending say it’s from his shytopic called #Cashtag on ness of the clutch pedal his Twitter feed, which #bashtag” promptly replaced the “In other sporting commonly used hashtag news, the 2012 Summer with a sarcastic statement Olympics are months regarding a recent sport- away. 90 percent of peoing event. ple reading this just reFor every #Cashtag membered #bashtag” Reilly would donate “In other sporting $7.93 to the Nothing But news, Barcelona’s Lionel Nets charity. Messi netted his franchise For example, his re- record 234th goal. David cent #Cashtag began with Beckham was on set for a #SportsWouldBeBetterIf Calvin Klein shoot” and left his fans to fill in the blanks. Let’s just say quite a few had to deal with Rex Ryan’s weight and Lebron James’s inability to be Shoot me your clutch. best #bashtag at I’m going to take a spin @j ohn_gar retson of my own: this hashtag on Twitter and we will be titled #bashtag in will compile the which I politely (that’s a loose term) poke fun at best. Bash on, evcurrent sporting ongoeryone. ings, with the theme of “In other sporting news.”

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The inaugural #bashtag launch

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Now is the time of year when students pull out their nylon webbing, take off their shoes and slack.

Unforeseen Passion

An unconventional outdoor journal to being a slacker Nikki Hanson

Assistant Sports Editor

What have you done lately? Slacklining—a practice in balance that typically uses one inch nylon webbing tensioned between two anchor points is a pastime that I knew nothing about before coming to college. College is a great time in a student’s life. It gives all students the opportunity to try new things, meet new people and essentially

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become a completely different person. Unforgettable memories define my freshman year. One of those memories happens to center around slacklining. I was first introduced to slacklining by one of my floor mates. He always has the craziest ideas and extremely fun pastimes. I, of course, thought he was off his rocker when I saw him balancing on a oneinch rope. Slacklining reminded me very much of tight rope walking the first time I saw it. Now, the first time I actually saw my friends slacklining, my interest in participating came gradually. I was very hesitant at first to try slacklining. I am very competitive by nature and the thought of initially struggling at slacklining was a discouraging thought. I did not want to put the time in to become successful, but after watching everyone enjoying them-

selves and remaining injury free, I decided it was time to get on the rope. Normally, I do not consider myself the type of person who underestimates the difficulty of a task. However, slacklining proved me wrong. Initially, it was extremely difficult to get up onto the rope and I needed the assistance from my friends, as well as the tree that the rope was anchored too. Then I spent most of the time with a person to my left and right holding my hand as I tried to figure out how to balance on the thin rope. Eventually, I was able to trust myself enough to balance on the slackline without assistance, but getting up on my own was a completely different story. The first time I tried to step up on the rope, I ended up on my backside before I even realized what had happened. Slacklining engages your core muscle, as well as your leg muscles, specifically when getting

up on the rope. I spent two hours working on the motion of getting up on the line and then balancing. The act of actually taking steps on the slackline would have to come after I could learn how to simply get up on the line. After learning the basics of slacklining, which really came from practice and muscle memory, I became an addict. I bought my own slackline to practice in the summer and persuaded many of my friends to try and get better with me. I enjoyed slacklining in my backyard, as long as our puppy was not attempting to eat the line, but overall it was fun and workout in disguise. I am no expert. I cannot perform a back flip, jump on the line, or even make it all the way across the line for long distances, but I do recommend slacklining to everyone. It is an interactive outdoor activity that really tests your endurance and patience.

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Sports

March 22, 2012

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Bronco sports during the break Staying in town for the break? Check out the Boise State teams that are in action while you’re here. Women’s Golf: Idaho State Dual, Saturday, March 31 all day in Meridian.

photo courtesy boise state athletics

Track and Field: Idaho Cup vs. Idaho & Idaho State, March 30 and 31 all day in Nampa at the Jackson Track. CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER

Men’s Tennis: Boise State Spring Classic, Friday-Sunday all day. March 29 vs. San Diego State 1:30 p.m., March 31 vs. Fresno State 11 a.m. Appleton Tennis Center.

Softball: SpringHill Suites Invitational #2, today vs. Seattle 2 & 4 p.m., tomorrow vs. UTSA 4 p.m., Saturday vs. Weber State at 4 p.m. and Sunday vs. Weber State at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Cove Softball Field.

Jake Essman/THE ARBITER

Self-paced study. Anytime. Anywhere! Gymnastics: March 23 vs. BYU, 7 p.m. at Taco Bell Arena. ROBBY MILO/THE ARBITER

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