I n d ep en d en t
Issue no.
S t u d e nt
V o ic e
o f
B o is e
S tat e
Sin ce
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54
April
4
2013
Volume 25
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Boise, Idaho
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Top Stories
Zombies!
Students can’t get enough of The Walking Dead.
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Is tenure oudated?
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Professors should be evaluated yearly.
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Financial firms invest money from Boise State’s endowment fund. Some question whether the university makes responsible investments.
5 Boise State investments lack environmental responsibility Ryan Thorne Staff Writer
Davis Cup
Boise gets ready to host the Davis Cup at Taco Bell Arena.
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Weather Today
Last November, students at Harvard University voted to restructure the investments of the school’s financial endowment in an effort to fight climate change. 72 percent of students who voted asked Harvard officials to refrain from investments in fossil fuel companies, but were rejected. Harvard would continue to invest in diverse financial markets, many of which contain fossil-fuel-related shares. According to the university web site, Harvard’s endowment was recently ranked the largest in the country at over $30 billion. Like Harvard, Boise State holds an endowment—of $80 million—and also like Harvard, Boise State invests in petroleum companies. Profits from the investment are used by the university to spend as it sees fit. In a fashion similar to Harvard, Boise State endowment officials do not plan to change their investment practices in regards
to petroleum products. The Boise State endowment is comprised of donations from prominent community members and businesses that the university entrusts to a handful of financial firms for investment in global stock markets. "They (Boise State) have an external foundation committee. It’s made up of people from the community: business professionals, that sort of thing,” said Boise State finance professor Harry White. “Then inside the foundation board, they have an investment subgroup and they go through the process of choosing the professional investment management firms out there.” Boise State has taken initiatives to promote green energy through geothermal power and has built newer structures like the Micron Business Building with the most up-to-date energy saving technology. The university has not applied anti-fossil fuel initiatives to its endowment investments and officials cite the common-
ality and financial stability of fossil fuel stock on the market. According to Chris Anton, Chief Operating Officer of the Boise State Foundation, it is difficult to avoid dealing in petroleum products when attempting to achieve a profitable return on the school's investments. Most major financial strategies involve investment in a variety of markets and do not specifically exclude petroleum company stock. “Part of the challenge is most of the funds that are available on the market today don’t have those screens or filters,” Anton said. “We don’t really have, built into the policy, any provisions for any sort of green initiatives." Anton and his associates are concerned with obtaining a steady return for the university and do not see socially responsible investments achieving the long-term goal: securing a reliable profit for the university. According to Anton, financial strategies that exclude fossil fuel stock are not nearly as
profitable as investment plans that include them. “(Some) are available that do the screening that we’ve talked about. For one, their fees are considerably more and their performance to be honest, hasn’t been that great,” Anton said. Some students, like senior economics major Sebastion Lopez, feel Boise State is doing its best to fight climate change and should continue to focus on investments that can help the university grow. "I don't believe that it would be fair to say that Boise State is being hypocritical in any way because Boise State is doing (its) best to lessen (its) environmental impact by making sustainable buildings and things like that," Lopez said. "They are definitely trying to in no way contribute any further to their own footprint." Gregory Hahn is the associate vice president for Communication and Marketing and is responsible for public relations at Boise State. Hahn doesn’t feel the university is against the idea of socially
responsible investing; it's just that nobody is making any suggestions. “It is kind of a new topic here on campus with most people,” Hahn said. Unlike other universities, Boise State has not seen a large student interest in responsible investment practices. “After talking to most of my colleagues regarding the subject, many hadn’t even considered the idea or even fielded complaints from concerned students,” Hahn said. “I think the Board of Directors that oversees the endowment would be more than happy to hear ideas from students if they decide to voice any.” Freshman English major Malia Poole feels Boise State's investment practices may be hypocritical and worthy of criticism but Boise State endowment investments should not go green at the cost of losing green for students. "I mean, it's kind of a double standard, but then again, if we didn't have the money, we would complain that we have no money," Poole said.
“I hope that the students will gain a sense of history, and they will also see what a genius Langston Hughes was, and they will gain an appreciation for jazz music,” McCurdy said. But the poem, as is true with many poems, is more than just a concert. “One of the primary things,” McCurdy said. “This poem is Langston’s commentary on the struggle of Africans and African-Americans striving for equality, for civil rights and freedom.” “Ask Your Mama” makes several references, including some to Harlem, and to the giants of the jazz world. “I’m hoping (students) will walk away with a better
sense of tolerance for each other; that’s the whole idea of this poem,” McCurdy said. English professor Jeff Westover, Ph.D helped to bring “Ask Your Mama” to Boise State after having seen a performance of it while working at University of Nevada Reno 10 years ago. “It is exciting to hear how Dr. McCurdy interprets the musical cues in Hughes's poem, which is quite wonderful for its celebration of black culture all across the world, not just the U.S.,” Westover said. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the Special Events Center this Friday, April 5.
Cloudy
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The Langston Hughes Project coming to SPEC Zoe Colburn Staff Writer
Langston Hughes is one of the best-known American poets. His poetry is read and discussed by thousands of students, as well as by poetry lovers all over the world. After a performance in the Newport Jazz Festival in June 1960, Hughes wrote a 12-part poem and musical accompaniment entitled “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods
for Jazz.” On April 5, Ron McCurdy, Ph.D, will bring a multimedia performance of this poem suite to Boise State. This performance will be brought to campus in part by the Idaho Jazz Society. Fifteen years ago when McCurdy, the director and spoken word artist of the production, found the jazz-poetry suite after being asked to set up a performance at University of Min-
nesota, he only planned to perform it once. “The response was so positive, we decided to do it again and again,” he said. In true form with Hughes’ poetry, there is a strong sense of history and social justice behind the poem, and the multimedia aspect of projecting images along with the poetry and music adds context and helps to place the people and places referenced in the poems.
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April 4, 2013
Davis Cup parking Big Marketing Placement for Boise State is parking spaces are hosting the Davis available for $15 Boise State in Times Square Cup Quarterfinals at Taco Bell Arena April 5 to 7. The event is expected to draw 10,000 visitors to campus. Increased traffic congestion is expected on University Drive between Lincoln and Broadway. To minimize impact, temporary parking restrictions will be in effect on campus all three days. Visitors will be responsible for complying with all Boise State parking regulations. Additionally, exact change is welcome and speeds the process of parking for all. ON-CAMPUS EVENT PARKING East Stadium Lot – located East of Bronco Stadium and accessed from University Drive:
per space. Lincoln Avenue Garage – located between Lincoln and Michigan avenues, with the entrance off Belmont Street: parking spaces are available for $15 per space. R E L O C AT E D VEHICLES ON CAMPUS Vehicles parked in a manner that is deemed unsafe or in violation of parking rules (i.e., not displaying proper permit, parking in an incorrect location or abandoned vehicles) will be towed at the owner’s expense to the Lincoln Townhomes dirt lot located on the corner of Oakland Avenue and Belmont Street. Vehicles are not allowed to park along portions of University Drive from 2 to 5 a.m.
Computer science hosts Appathon Curious about how apps are made, but think it’s too technical for you? Explore how fun and easy apps can be at the Microsoft Appathon. The Department of Computer Science-hosted event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6 in MEC 106.
Artists, designers, gamers, storytellers and coders are invited to the free Microsoft Appathon. Participants will learn new skills and earn $100 for new apps published to the Windows Store. The fun-filled day will include prizes, contests and free food.
A 30-second video prominently displays the new Boise State “B” and the university signature mark in addition to images that show a wide range of university experiences and brand attributes in action. It also shows what makes Boise State such a unique place to live and learn as well
as the recreation and lifestyle options that students value. The 520-square-foot display is featured on the CBS “Super Screen” at 42nd St. between 7th and 8 Avenues. With an estimated 1.5-million people passing through Times Square each day, this marketing placement provides
new exposure for the Boise State brand and raises awareness for what makes our university experience unique, beyond the famous blue turf. The video tells the Boise State story with photos and video clips and does not have an audio track. It is on display through June 30.
Register now for Beat Pete The 2013 Beat Coach Pete Scholarship Run and Walk is coming up fast — Saturday, April 13 Cost is $15 for Boise State students and children 10 and under, $25 general and $60 for a family of five if you register by April 7. Late registration begins April 8 and increases to $20, $30 and $80 respectively. April 12
and 13 is on-site registration, if participation has not yet filled to capacity. Racers are challenged to beat Boise State head football coach Chris Petersen to the finish line while benefiting student scholarships. The family-friendly event begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Boise State Recreation Center. The three-
mile race winds through campus, along the Boise City Greenbelt and finishes outside Bronco Stadium. Participants are encouraged to sign up early and help raise funds for Boise State’s need-based scholarship fund. Proceeds from the race go to the Boise State General Scholarship Fund.
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Vicious with a bass 4 “That’s gotta hurt!” 8 It’s close to 90 13 XL piece: Abbr. 14 Visitor-friendly Indonesian island 15 __ Mama: rum drink 16 Voided 18 Woolly beasts 19 Kelly who voiced Nala in “The Lion King” 20 “Ooky” family name 22 Financial degs. 23 Prayer supports? 24 Its four-color logo no longer has overlapping letters 28 First name in jazz 29 Spotty coverage? 30 Canvasses 31 In medias __ 32 Re-entry request 33 Spot for many a curio 34 Solo 36 Hold fast 39 Twist in a gimlet 40 Giant slugger 43 Ebb 44 Latch (onto) 45 Letter-shaped brace 46 “__ vostra salute!”: Italian toast 47 Cigna rival 48 Fashion monthly 49 Takes the spread, e.g. 51 Ethiopia’s Selassie 52 Winter melon 55 Items that can open doors 57 “__ never know what hit ’em!” 58 1-Down unit 59 That, in Tijuana 60 Fresh 61 Boy scout’s handiwork 62 Additive sold at AutoZone
By Jeff Chen
4 Beatles song syllables 5 Delta rival: Abbr. 6 Freshly groomed 7 Diamond deception found in this grid nine times: eight in square four-letter clusters, the ninth formed by the clusters’ outline 8 Burt’s Bees product 9 Startup segment 10 Skedaddle 11 Actress Thurman 12 Stockholm flier 15 Hugo’s “Ruy __” 17 Nocturnal bear 21 Wallace of “E.T.” 23 In an arranged swap, she guesthosted “The Tonight Show” in 2003 on the same day Jay guest-hosted “The Today Show” 25 Tripart sandwich 26 Newcastle specialty 27 French designer’s inits.
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30 French door part 32 Nursing a grudge 33 Family nickname 34 Vacation spots 35 Prideful place? 36 Org. with towers 37 Two-bagger: Abbr. 38 Laurel & Hardy producer Roach 40 Accommodates 41 Guinness superlative
4/4/13
42 Syrup source 44 “Golly!” 45 Pb is its symbol 47 “(I’ve Got __ in) Kalamazoo” 50 With proficiency 51 “Red light!” 52 Nos. not on some restaurant menus 53 “Got it!” 54 His, in Honfleur 56 Rain-__: bubble gum brand
The Future Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Handle work issues today and tomorrow, and dig into empo, you’re dancing in a creative a big job. Changes to navigate whirl. Communication and group include a power shift. endeavors reach farther than imagined. The focus gets domesLibra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — tic; entertain friends and family at Today is a 9 — Do what you can to home. Renew your space. Review help the others stay relaxed and investments and insurance. calm. Celebrate with a homecooked meal and lots of couch To get the advantage, check the time. day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Today’s Birthday (04/04/13). Upbeat and upt-
— Today is an 8 — Your teams really deliver now. Committees and group projects are especially effective today and tomorrow, so schedule meetings.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Tasha Adams
managingeditor@ arbiteronline.com
A rts
FOR RELEASE APRIL 4, 2013
Aries (March 21-April 19)
E ditor - in -C hief editor@ arbiteronline.com
Crossword
DOWN 1 Clink 2 Not virtuous 3 Some kneejerk responses
Look
Haley Robinson
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— Today is a 9 — Assume more responsibility. Learn what’s missing, as you enter a service phase. Get into action, and advance your career.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Watch the big picture. You’re entering an intense two-day expansion phase. Rebellions could flare. You’d rather play than work.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 9 — Handle financial matters, and set long-term goals. Count wins and losses, and store provisions; you’re worth more than you thought. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Your thoughts turn to others. Strengthen a partnership or two. Let someone else drive or direct the show. Focus on peacemaking.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Enforce
household rules, as you focus on home and family. Domestic crafts are extra satisfying and produce tangible results.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — You’ll learn quickly, so pay attention. You’re sharp as a tack. Study and practice, and a solution to an old problem will become obvious.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — This phase is good for making money, which boosts morale. Start computing expenses and get practical with a financial plan.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Okay, now you can blast forward. Assert your wishes. You’re getting stronger and more impatient, as you enter a confident phase. You’re eager to go, and ready for your close-up. Smile.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Traveling isn’t as easy now. Don’t worry ineffectively (complain only to someone who can do something about it). Clean up old messes.
Sudoku
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2
3
4
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Taylor Newbold
P roduction M anager Bryan Talbot
P roduction / G raphics D pt . Chris Barfuss Dakota Wood
N otice :
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Share with Cher: Dorm dilemmas and Rec rules Share with Cher is a recurring feature taking student queries to a whole new level by publishing student concerns or questions about campus and going straight to the source. Contact Cher at culture@arbiteronline. com to get your answers.
wide power outages, or city water lines breaking. On occasion campus construction will even stir up a little havoc with the water lines. “Whenever something goes out, the important piece is how quickly housing gets that information,” Ortero said. “Sometimes if there’s a delay in the time when students report the issue, that can sometimes also cause delays.” According to Ortero, they get a lot of work orders and requests to check things so they have to prioritize based on safety and health issues. “Clean running water or heat would be a priority over say ‘I have a light bulb that went out on my desk,’” Ortero said. Ortero explained the heating issues by saying there are many different types of buildings on campus, all with different heating systems. “Sometimes the heat is actually working properly however in some of our suite style spaces, there are four individual bedrooms, but the way that the building was built there are only two heat controls for those four bedrooms plus the common area,” Ortero said. She went on to explain this causes some students to think the heat is not working when in fact it is. If someone turns the heat up, then someone else turns it down, the first person will still be expecting it to get warmer and will usually end up calling in a work order when it doesn’t. Ortero also explained what they did when a part went out on a heater during our extra-long, extracold spell we had this year. According to Ortero, they had to order the part, but
As we go on our tenacious venture to get answers to our Boise State questions, we’re bound to run into obstacles now and then; such as locating the applicable parties and common scheduling conflicts. But through sheer determination and what some might consider ‘a lot of pestering,’ I found answers to a few more questions that have been circling campus. What’s with the lack of heat in the dorm rooms and some students being offered space heaters as supplements? No hot water in the dorm showers (especially during the colder months) and bathrooms needing immediate maintenance for what some would consider long periods of time? Before I go into the answers for these specific queries, it’s important to note here; no matter where you live there will always be maintenance issues that come up from time to time. This is simply a fact of life which is unfortunate and inevitable. The important thing to consider here is if these issues are addressed and resolved in a timely manner. So, I posed these questions to our very own Felice Ortero, interim director of housing and residence life. Ortero said with any building, sometimes things just happen, and sometimes things happen on a much broader scale to Boise State, such as city-
CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
Some of the dorms had some heating issues this winter; Cher explores why. while they were waiting for it to arrive, they offered the students the opportunity to relocate to a building where the heat was working properly. For the students who didn’t want to move, she said they brought them extra blankets and space heaters.
What’s up with the Rec?
might want to attend on Sunday mornings, as well as family time. “Our student employees are very important and we want to be respectful of the time they want to dedicate to family as well as other extracurriculars,” Sielaff said. As for the bags being brought in and sat on the floor, Sielaff explained
This brings us to our next set of questions about the Recreation Center. Why doesn’t it open until noon on Sundays and what is with the newly-enforced “bag” rule? For this particular query I asked Cala Sielaff, assistant director for fitness and aquatics, who said that the hours on Sunday were put in place when the facility opened. This was meant to be respectful of engagements that people
that’s more of a safety issue, although she did add it also helps to eliminate small accessory equipment from walking off the floor. “Unfortunately it has occurred where bags have been present and the equipment is placed in bags and taken out of our facility which is really really unfortunate,”
Sielaff said. According to Sielaff, due to the sheer size of their facility, it is simply too small and usually too crowded to have bags lying around without people possibly tripping on them or without their handles or straps getting caught in the equipment. So lockers are provided to hopefully prevent this from occurring.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Zombies, gore and more Danielle Davidson Staff Writer
Zombies, blood, gore and apocalyptic settings make up The Walking Dead. The success of the show on AMC is all due to its horde of followers. According to fans it has something for everyone. The show has gotten so popular it even has its own talk show after the airing of each episode called The Talking Dead. Many fans watch The Walking Dead every week religiously. The reason differs from person to person, but for some the cliffhanger at the end of each episode keeps them coming back. “I want to find out what happens next,” said Ben Blake, sophomore history major. “It draws you in. It uses the plot (and) the characters. I think it’s something different. The world has a lot of cop shows, and even fire fighter shows. Zombies have been pretty low key. I think as far as the kind of horror creature genre goes people are tired of the vampires and some of those things, so it’s nice to get something a little different.”
It first aired in 2010 and just finished its third season. According to some fans, they try hard not to miss the airing of new episodes. “(I watch) all of them, every week, and probably too many of the season marathon reruns,” said Deb Jackson, junior history major. “I do now (watch The Talking Dead), bad habit, I try to turn it off, but I don’t turn it off. It’s so funny and it’s relevant because I care so much about the show. They usually have something good enough to talk about, especially when people die, because then you see the actor on the show.” Psychological factors may also play a part in why a lot of people are enthralled by it, said some fans. “Maybe it has a lot to do with the socioeconomic status of our nation right now,” said Nick Ferronato, sophomore geoscience major. “There’s a lot of people who are (dealing with) economic hardship and people might feel that its kind of representative in a more extreme way, but it’s kind of a way to live vicariously through a more difficult situation.” Even though there is vio-
mct campus
The Walking Dead mixes gruesome zombies, with an action-packed and emotional story line. lence, looking at zombies for an hour would put some people off. But to counteract the zombie effect, the characters in the show have appealing characteristics and many devoted fans. While some characters are disliked, others are adored.
‘Not your Grandma’s Bingo’ hits the BRC
Paige Eaglestone Staff Writer
One more reason to hang out with your friends who live on campus: Bingo. Members of Get Involved hosted
“Not your Grandma’s Bingo” on Monday, April 1 in the Boise River Café. Rather than the typical elderly ladies waiting for their number to be called, this Bingo game consisted of groups
of students eating their cafeteria dinners and using their dabo ink. Miss Connie as grandma, with her big white hair and bunny ears, sat in front of the hungry residents, spin-
“Carl’s in the in-between stage, and the reason why all the college people in my group don’t like him is because we don’t resonate any real feelings with him,” Jackson said. “I think it would be better if he could just grow up already, be-
cause he looks like a child, but he’s acting like an adult, it’s really awkward. Daryl by far is the best character, because he’s so good looking. He’s absolutely gorgeous and such a badass. There are a lot of Glen lovers too.”
With the season finale aired on Sunday night, the third season is over. But, the fans haven’t given any indication that they’ll stop watching anytime soon, and with the show being renewed, they won’t run out of new episodes to watch.
ning the wheel and calling out numbers. Amidst the comings and goings, students were actively involved in the game, some playing solo and others in large groups. Mark Bleuze, a senior environmental and occupational health major, said of the game, “When I was a freshman, we didn’t have anything like this. I like this a lot, its a lot of fun.” Students are encouraged to play from the time they walk into the entrance of the BRC since members of Get Involved are readily handing out paper Bingo sheets with three games on them. There are multiple rounds with different rules. However, Bleuze said the game is
“pretty straightforward.” The themes and tactics have varied through the season, in attempt to liven up the seemingly mundane. This particular game was the last of the season, right before homecoming. Sean Olmstead, a senior marketing major, said, “The overall goal was not just make an event where we can give prizes out but to have an event where students can have this shared experience.” This activity had a sense of community, allowing the residents to engage their minds during a period of socialization. Kannon Klahr, a sophomore criminal justice major, said, “A lot of people who
come here are RAs as well, so they come with their residents.” While joining in on the game and having fun, one can also gain a little more from the shared Bingo experience. “I won for the first time in my entire life, so I was pretty excited about it,” Klahr said. “I got a hammock.” Get Involved offered an array of prizes from hammocks to board games and also cross promoted other events occurring on campus from the film in the blockbuster movie series to leadership activities, thus encouraging students to not only participate in a traditional game but also to get involved with activities on campus.
Zak Porter/THE ARBITER
Get Involved advertises for ‘Not your Grandma’s Bingo’.
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Opinion
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April 4, 2013
5
Get going! Danielle Allsop Staff Writer
Better options than tenure Heidi Shanklin Staff Writer
Tenure: the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow where the educator can nestle into like a comfortable chair until death or retirement put paid to their years of professorship. The good old days, right? Tenures are going the way of the dinosaur, and that may just be a good thing. Professors, whether tenured or not, should be assessed yearly, by both students and administration, to see if their skills are valuable enough to remain in good standing with the college. The loss of tenure comes with alleged fear on both sides of the debate. The first, which is rooted in the academia mind-set, is without tenured professors there will be a loss of freedom of speech by those teaching in a temporary position (adjuncts). Those who are hired only temporarily are afraid to speak out since it may jeopardize their standing with the colleges, preventing them from rehire should they “rock the boat.” This
{STUDENT
reluctance is a fact as some of those interviewed requested their names not be revealed in case of reprisal. Many adjuncts feel tenured professors have a freedom to teach and speak what and how they feel. The second side sees it similar to term-limits in congress: non-tenure will bring fresh minds, more dialog in the classrooms and force instructors to work hard for their placement in colleges. A college moving to purely adjunct-driven teaching should not create a fear of job loss or alleviate the need for professors to continue stretching the bounds of their position, to reeducate themselves and never settle into an attitude of complacency. An adjunct professor of history at Boise State, who wishes to remain anonymous, said, “As far as tenured professors, I do believe in some way that a person that has made it through the rigors of a doctoral program should be compensated differently. To attract the type of professors the school needs to become a university of
distinction it seems that it would have to add more to their compensation package if tenure were eliminated. If you gain more research and development because of a more competitive environment it might be worth it but you would have to make sure you are able to attract and keep qualified and motivated professionals in the positions.” However, if a tenured professor heading a department drills said department into the ground, nests into their role like a pasha directing his subjects, then that reflects badly on the college, the department itself and finally the students who are witness to the lack of skills offered by the ineffective teacher. And those professors should not be able to hide behind a tenure-enabled academic mindset, which has gone on for ages. This attitude should also come as a relief to overstretched, over-budgeted colleges who are witnessing their usual financial resources drying up rapidly. Though, once a college dips its toe in hiring a glut
of adjuncts, they see the savings of doing so reflected on their bottom line. There is little academic freedom with tenured professors, especially those who have lost touch with education itself. When they are ineffective instructors disallowing controversy in their classes due to their “I am right, you are wrong” mentality, then there is a very large problem occurring. According to Jack Stripling in an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, “Tenure’s protections make it difficult to get rid of incompetent faculty and can promote a culture of complacency among those who have attained the status.” One of the best ways to run college faculties would allow the faculty to become contractual workers, beginning with a four to five year contract, giving the college those years to phase out programs which are not working, implement new ones and keep the academics alive. A tenured professor within the English department, who also wished to
remain anonymous, said, “Tenure is designed so that professors have the freedom and liberty to pursue their research. It exists to protect the freedom of thought of professors. That said, I think 5-year contracts for adjuncts would be great. This would provide them with job security.” President Richard K. Miller, in an article written for Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts, pointed out, “Nobody comes to Olin because they’re looking for job security. People come to Olin because they’re looking to make a difference.” Indeed, those who are no longer making a difference in a university environment should reevaluate their reasons for staying, as should the college administration for allowing them to stay. With each consecutive year at Boise State, the administration should reflect on shedding the college of its own complacent hangerson. Perhaps it is time to provide limited-issue contracts to educators rather than be shackled with them “till death do you part.”
Do you feel educators should have tenure?
VOICES}
Why or why not?
Yes I do. It helps them to get more funding for research that they do and other projects that they have that they would like to do to further their own field or their own interests which later on can contribute to whatever area they’re in so I think it’s a good thing to have.
No. I completely disagree with it. I think educators should be judged based on their performance. If a student is doing bad in that class, and they fail that class, and a majority of the class fails, why should the students be punished for the lack of an instructor’s teaching?
Mariah Jonas
Mallcom McKay
Junior English major
Guest opinions and Letters to the Editor (300 to 500 word limit each) can be emailed to letters@ arbiteronline.com
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I think it’d be better for teachers that have better ratings, so it would give them something to be better at instead of just having a horrible professor for 30 years. Instead make them be a better teacher. That’s when I think it should be applicable. Matt Dillon
Sophomore molecular biology major
Freshman criminal justice major
The Arbiter cannot verify the accuracy of statements made in guest submissions. Opinions expressed by guest and staff colum-
I believe so. I think it’s important to keep professors and educators here for a long period of time; that way there’s consistency with the academic scene and make sure the students are able to understand the material better. I think if the professor is here for 10 years and knows how the curriculum is changing it would be better than bringing in a new professor every two years.
Unless they do something wrong, I think that’s fair, that they have a stable place that they are welcome, not forced, to leave. Stephanie Skaggs
Sophomore health science major
Jason May
Freshman kinesiology major
nists reflect the diversity of opinion in the academic community and often will be controversial, but they do not represent the institution-
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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With tenure becoming a less prominant track for professors, the question is whether or not this is a good thing.
Breaking Expectations is staff writer Danielle Allsop’s first hand experiences and advice on dealing with mental illness. One of the things you learn quickly when you have anxiety is how unpredictable it can be. Sure, there are triggers and you learn to avoid anything that can cause more trouble. But there are also days when you may wake up to a full on panic attack brought on for no reason. They are difficult to get under control and, if you’re like me, determine the mood for the rest of the day. Fortunately, I’ve experienced this scenario enough times to know that I shouldn’t let it depict what kind of day I am going to have. Though there are days when I just want to give in and lie in bed all day, I know that it will only make it that much harder to get up and be productive the next day (not to mention how far behind I’d fall with homework). Here are some tips that I have learned along the way that might help students with anxiety get up and moving, when all you want to do is stay put in your comfort zone. First, actually getting up and moving is the quickest fix. I know from experience that the last thing you want to do is get up from your comfort zone and deal with it, but you probably don’t have the luxury of being able to skip class every time you’re feeling anxious. Get out of bed and stretch all the muscles in your body. Start from the tips of your toes and move up until you’ve reached your neck. This exercise focuses your brain on something other than the anxiety. Second, “breathing exercises.” I know, this sounds lame, but they really do work. Google ‘breathing exercises’ and find one that sounds doable. For me, I close my eyes and picture a lit candle and breathe in and when I exhale, I imagine I am blowing out the candle. I repeat this process until my breathing is regulated. You can also find some great breathing exercises on Itunes, but those can run up to 10 dollars a piece. Finally, and it seems like a no-brainer, getting dressed. The old adage, “when you look good, you feel good” truly applies here. Don’t get up and throw on your favorite pair of sweat pants and uggs. You’ll feel worse than if you had just stayed in bed. Show your peers that you put in effort into how you look and they’ll notice. By looking your best, you’ll feel better. Of course, there are other steps you can take to get up and moving on a particularly difficult morning, but just make sure that you’re doing it for you. Read unprinted opinions online.
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6
Sports
April 4, 2013
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Boise ready to serve up Davis Cup Michael Steen Staff Writer
For the first time in its 113year running, the Davis Cup will hold matches in Boise, Idaho. In one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions, a spot in the tournament’s semifinals is on the line. Idaho is the 34th different state to host a U.S. Davis Cup tie, as they host the quarterfinal matches this weekend between the United States and Serbia. The U.S. holds a 110-6 all-time home record in Davis Cup ties and specifically chose Boise in hopes of gaining an edge with the altitude. “Davis Cup is unlike any other tour event,” said U.S. doubles player Bob Bryan. “The fans have pompoms, their faces are painted, you’ll see the flags out everywhere.” Started in 1900 by four members of the Harvard University tennis team, the Davis Cup is sport’s largest annual international team competition in the world. What started out as a yearly rivalry between the United States and Great Britain has grown to a record 130 nations entering the 2013 competition. The matches between the
United States and Serbia will consist of two singles matches on Friday, one doubles match on Saturday, and two singles matches on Sunday. For the United States, they are represented by a group of experienced players who are removed from a 3-2 victory over Brazil back in February in Jacksonville, Flor. Friday’s matches will consist of each country’s number one ranked player taking on the opposing country’s second ranked player. Saturday will showcase the doubles match, and Sunday will feature the country’s number one players facing off, followed by the number two players. The United States will be represented by new U.S. number one, Sam Querrey, ranked number 20 in the world, John Isner, ranked number 23 in the world, and the world’s number one ranked doubles team, Mike and Bob Bryan. On the opposing side of the court, the Serbians are highlighted by the number one ranked player in the world, Novak Djokovic. “He’s the best player in the world right now,” Isner said. “He’s been the best player for the last few years.” Djokovic, the winner of six grand slam titles, including the most recent, the Aus-
My way-too early Major League Baseball predictions Corey Morgan CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
The U.S. Davis Cup team Tuesday afternoon at Taco Bell Arena. tralian Open, has held the number one ranking since Nov. 5, 2012. “He really doesn’t have any weaknesses, he’s solid all around,” Isner said. “There’s a reason he’s number one in the world.” The Serbian squad is rounded out by Viktor Troicki, ranked number 44 in the world, and the doubles team of Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic, although Troicki could potentially sub in as one of the doubles players on Saturday. Both the United States and Serbia have had suc-
And then there were four
A look inside the NCAA men’s Final Four Corey Morgan Staff Writer
As the NCAA basketball tournament rolls into the Final Four in Georgia, there have been many storylines and surprises leading up to this point. Whether that’s the No. 15 seeded Florida Golf Coast defeating the No.2
seed Georgetown and advancing all the way to the Elite Eight or the No.13 seed LaSalle (who defeated Boise State) fighting its way to the Elite Eight as well. But what may be the most impressive is the No.8 seed Wichita State’s journey to the Final Four. The Wichita State Shock-
ers, no pun intended, surprised the college basketball world with two major upsets victories over No.1 seed Gonzaga and No.2 seed Ohio State; many had the Buckeyes winning the whole tournament. The underdog seems to be the theme of this year’s tournament as only one No.1 seed (Louisville)
cessful histories in the Davis Cup. The United States, holds the best record of any country in Davis Cup history, holding a record of 213-60 all time and holds the longest uninterrupted run in the World Group, a streak that dates back to 1989. Serbia has only started to emerge as a power in the past decade. The Serbians claimed the Davis Cup title for the first time in 2010 and are back in position in 2013 following disappointing appearances in 2011 and 2012.
“We need to win the three points,” Djokovic said. “That’s what we came here for.” This will mark the second time the U.S. and Serbia have faced each other in the Davis Cup, the first being in the World Group first round in 2010, which Serbia took 3-2. “It’s a chance to see our nation’s best players battling the world’s best players,” said U.S. Captain Jim Courier. The matches commence on Friday morning at 1:30 p.m. in Taco Bell Arena. Single day tickets are going at $135 per day.
remains. Along with Wichita State and Louisville, No.4 seed Michigan and No.4 seed Syracuse have also made their way into the Final Four. Syracuse pushed its way in after being a strong defensive team through the duration of the tournament; holding all four of their opponents to under 60 points a game. The Syracuse Orangmen will have to be on point as they will match up against Michigan and it’s National Player of the Year candidate: sophomore guard Trey Burkes. Burkes carried his team into the Final Four after a 23-point second half against the No.1 Kansas, ultimately leading the Michigan Wolverines to advance. One of the obvious advantages to being the No.1 seed is having the “easiest” road to the national championship. Louisville has benefited from this greatly. In fact, the one challenge the Cardinals had faced in their last game was against the No.2 seed Duke, where they barely squeezed past in a close-win. If you were watching the game or on a social media site, surely you were made aware of one of the most gruesome injuries to ever happen in college basketball to Louisville guard Kevin Ware. Ware broke his leg in
two different places and exposed nearly five inches of bone poking nearly out of his skin. Needless to say, Louisville is inspired to win the championship for Ware. To Louisville’s opponent, Wichita State, they will need to continue the passion and energy they have been playing with throughout the whole tournament. The Shockers are always in attack mode, which leads them to dominating with offensive rebounds specifically, leading to second-chance opportunities. Wichita State will have to stay out of foul-trouble in order to compete with the Louisville Cardinals. It’s weird, all of it. The whole 2013 NCAA tournament has been a roller coaster full of emotions for all teams involved. The brackets had been busted for most in the early rounds and the teams in the Final Four were unpredictable, to say the least. Prediction: After a close defeat against the Cardinals, the Wichita State Shockers will advance to the national championship to face Michigan, after the Wolverines dominate Syracuse. Wichita State is set to “shock” the Michigan Wolverines and win the NCAA Championship. The Final Four games will be played on Saturday, April 6. Believe in the underdog.
Staff Writer
All can now sigh with relief. Major League Baseball is back. If you’re a diehard baseball enthusiast like myself, you’re already thinking about October and the post-season. Predicting the postseason is one of the most intriguing parts of the season. Will the aging Yankees be able to stay healthy throughout the year, will the Nationals allow pitcher Stephen Strasberg to roam free and not worry about inning limitations, will the Mariners win 85games, etc. So, here are my “way too early baseball predictions” for the 2013 MLB season. AL West: Angels. While the Rangers and A's could compete for the division title, as well as a new and improved Mariners team in the mix, the Angels just have too much firepower on both the offensive and defensive side of the field. AL East: Blue Jays. With a rejuvenated roster from additions of Jose Reyes and company, the Jays are in for a stellar year. The Jays have been the team that has always had a solid first half of the season, but ultimately crumbled apart in the second half. And with a young budding star in third baseman, Brett Lawrie, the Jays have a lot to look forward to. AL Central: Tigers. Detroit has arguably the most dominant pitcher in the game with Justin Verlander . In addition, the Tigers have one of the most talented offenses in the game with hitters like the Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, power-bat Prince Fielder and getting their starting catcher Victor Martinez back. The Tigers are legitimately dangerous. NL Central: Reds. Led by star first baseman Joey Votto, the Reds should have no problem wrapping up the division with their power bats.
For the rest of Corey’s predictions, head to arbiteronline.com/sports
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