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March
2012
Volume 24
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Check out the winners and the best dressed of the awards.
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Teach your children well
Gender identity is not something to push on your child.
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Pins and Needles
Broncos takin’ it to the mats in the Pac-12 tournament.
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Christina Marfice Journalist
Armed with only a friend and a flashlight app on her iPhone KaliKai DeClements, a 19-yearold freshman, navigated the pitch dark of Julia Davis Park on her way from WinCo back to campus. DeClements said she walks through Julia Davis after dark about once a week. “The bridge is a little scary,” she said and admits the entire walk makes her nervous. She said she always brings a friend or two and would never make the walk by herself after dark. Posted signs state park hours are from sunrise until midnight, making Julia Davis the only area park that stays open after sunset. According to Toby Norton, project manager with Idaho Parks and Recreation, Julia Davis extended its hours to accommodate Boise State students and events. “(The) issue we kept running into was events on campus that do not close at dusk,” Norton said. He said people in attendance at campus events often use the extra parking available in Julia Davis. However, parking tickets and towed vehicles led patrons to push for extended park hours. According to Norton, the extended park hours have only been in place for the last few years and have provided convenient parking near campus for students with classes after sunset. Julia Davis also offers a direct route for students who walk or bike to their off-campus homes after classes. However, many of the park’s paths lack any sort of lighting, and some students—such as DeClements—are nervous to use those walkways after night classes. Despite students’ concerns, information provided by the Boise Police Department (BPD) shows most crimes that occur in Julia Davis are of a nonviolent nature. Only one violent crime has been reported in the park in the last two years. “I think the big message here is that crimes that occur there are crimes of opportunity,” said Lynn Hightower, communications director for BPD. According to Hightower, officers receive many reports of bike theft and car burglary, but few reports of any sort of violence. The most recent violent crime reported in Julia Davis was a domestic dispute in August 2010. However, DeClements still has her doubts about the park’s safety. She still won’t walk there alone at night and wishes the walkways could be made safer for students. “Lights would be the only thing they could do to make it less scary,” she said. Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER
Students use lasers to study fractures
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Thomas Blum, a geophysics Ph.D. student, has been working with a high-intensity laser to study fractures roughly the size of a penny. He is studying the properties of fractures themselves, but the research is so new that it hasn’t been applied outside the lab. The laser causes the fracture to vibrate and a study of the waves recorded enables Blum to look at the mechanical properties of the fracture. Although the realization that the laser could be focused inside the fracture didn’t happen accidentally, it wasn’t completely on purpose either. “We just realized we could focus it inside and we saw something when we looked at our data that told us it was the fracture inside vibrating because it was getting excited by the laser directly,” Blum said.
“This is a very interesting, exciting project so I’m pretty happy to be a part of it.” The fractures are encased in plastic cylinders smaller than a bottle of wine. However, the technique cannot be transferred from a laboratory setting to a larger, nontransparent, fault or fracture in the physical world. “Since we’re using light … (and) the piece of plastic is transparent, it’s not that straightforward to use the same technique, say, on rocks because they are not transparent, it wouldn’t work,” Blum explained. That is not to say the technique is without merit. The use of a laser to study fractures helps create lab experiments that mimic what can be found in the real world. Blum explained he can better understand how fractures work by studying small-scale fractures in a lab setting. There is also the possibility
of finding new ideas of how to use the data to understand properties of the fracture. Although the same applications can’t be made with rocks, it offers opportunites for similar data to be achieved in different ways. “It’s a single fracture in a very nice, controlled environment. It’s much easier to do experiments and test new ideas than you would be able to do in the real world,” Blum said. The use of lasers for the generation and detection of elastic waves is by no means new to the science world. Blum estimates lasers have been used for 20 or 30 years. However, the application usually varies. Other researchers have used a laser to create a small source somewhat similar to an earthquake. “But here we are focusing the laser inside of the fracture and it has a different effect,” Blum said.
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Studying small fractures in a lab setting could lend data to real world application, such as earthquakes. arbiteronline.com
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March 01, 2012
World
National
Wounded photographer smuggled out of Syria, makes it to Lebanon
High school shooter confesses
HOMS, SYRIA — British photographer Paul Conroy was wounded in a shelling attack last week, which killed two others in the same building and wounded another person. According to rebel forces, 35 volunteered to get Conroy and Edith Bouvier, a French reporter injured during the same attack, out of Syria. Thirteen died in the operation. It is unclear if Bouvier made it to Lebanon, despite a statement made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, according to the Associated Press. An emergency session of the United Nations was called early this week to try to negotiate with the Syrian ambassador to at least get humanitarian aid to the people in Homs. The city has quickly become the
focal point of the resistance against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and has been besieged by shelling for more than three weeks. It is estimated there are well over 7,500 dead as a result of the uprisings against Assad. Similar sources put the death toll of the past two days at 250 or more. Syria’s United Nations ambassador stormed out of the meeting while calls were being made for an emergency cease-fire. The ambassador, Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui, shouted about how the other nations needed to stop providing arms to the rebels and “inciting sectarianism,” according to the National Post. United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton suggested Assad might be worth considering as a war criminal.
Correction Goodbye, Camp Occupy In the Feb. 27 issue of The Arbiter, the article titled “Goodbye, Camp Occupy,” incorrectly listed Director of Idaho Department of Administration Teresa Luna as Tom Luna.
E ditor - in -C hief
CHARDON, OHIO—The 17-yearold boy held for the shooting at Chardon High School in Ohio confessed to opening fire at random. This shooting resulted in three student deaths and other injuries. Prosecutors identified T.J. Lane as the shooter. Lane brought a .22 caliber pistol to school on Monday. Witnesses said Lane appeared to target a certain cluster of stu-
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dents, but Lane denies these claims, saying he didn’t know any of the victims. All three of the deceased were students. Daniel Parmertor, 16, died on Monday. Demetrius Hewlin and Russell King Jr., 17, were declared dead on Tuesday from wounds suffered during the attack. Two other students were injured in the attack. One was released from the hospital on
Tuesday while another is still hospitalized. It is likely Lane will be tried as an adult. Though Ohio does have the death penalty Lane will not face that even if tried as an adult. Due to the Supreme Court’s limitation on the death penalty, anyone being tried for murders committed while the individual is under the age of 18 cannot be sentenced to death, according to CBS.
WTF
Judge rules Witness handed gun, in Occupy’s told to shoot lawyer favor, partly L U M P K I N , wasn’t shocked at all BOISE, IDAHO —Occupy Boise will continue to occupy the Capitol Mall. U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill granted the restraining order to keep their belongings from being seized. Winmill sided with Occupy Boise, declaring that HB404—the law to evict them— was unconstitutional. Occupy Boise did not win entirely, however. Winmill held up the state’s right to make camping illegal on its own grounds. The new law doesn’t allow sleeping or cooking on state grounds. As long as Occupiers don’t sleep there, the tents can serve as symbols of their movement.
GEORGIA—Exasperated with a witness’s testimony and claiming she was “killing her (own) case,” County Superior Court Judge David Barrett handed the witness his revolver and told her to just shoot her lawyer. The courtroom was stunned by the move. Barrett explained he was trying to make a point—the victim’s testimony in the sexual assault case was backtracking and contradicting all over the place, so he wanted to shock her into sense. It didn’t work. The witness, whose name is being withheld since she may be the victim of a sexual crime,
and thought it was a test, according to Huffington Post. The lawyer who Barrett told her to shoot, Jeff Langley, was shocked by the sudden appearance of the firearm and approached the bench immediately to ask Barrett to put the piece away and calm down. Barrett is currently under investigation by the Judicial Qualifications Commission, according to The Associated Press. Georgia does allow judges to carry concealed weapons in the courtroom, but it is illegal to draw it without a legitimate reason. Annoyance apparently doesn’t count.
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Clubs & Orgs Contact Nick Rolison (President) nickrolison@u.boisestate.edu Davy Karkason (Instructor) davykarkason@u.boisestate.edu
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DOWN 1 Pickle 2 “Psych” airer 3 Fallen orbiter 4 Layered Turkish pastries 5 Five Nations tribe 6 Patch, as a lawn 7 Show to a seat, slangily
By Jack McInturff
8 Class-conscious org.? 9 Musket end 10 Poetic preposition 11 Discussion venue 12 Really mad 13 Masterpieces 18 “Untouchable” feds 21 Signs of resistance 22 Chinese green tea 23 Ode’s counterpart 24 Only mo. that can begin and end on the same day 25 Like universal blood donors 26 Bait-and-switch, e.g. 27 Word on a boondocks towel? 28 Tony winner Thompson 31 Decorate 32 Double-time dance 33 Nitrogen compound 34 Heredity unit 36 Dorm room accessory 37 Morlock prey 39 “Piece of cake”
Health and Human Performance Club Join us in the Human Performance Lab of the Kinesiology Department On October 5th at 4pm
“Kinesthetically Driven” For more info contact Gloria Garber at gloriagarber@u.boisestate.edu
Baseball Club
Practices at Fort Boise Field behind St. Lukes on Broadway Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays
5:30-8:00 pm If you are interested in playing, Ben Halverson at benhalverson@u.boisestate.edu.
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Adventures of a crazy sports fan/Alyssa Cumpton
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Jessica Swider Troy Hatfield onlineeditor@ arbiteronline.com
3/1/12 Monday’s Puzzle Solved Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
42 Green table divider 44 First or financial follower 45 Barbados, e.g. 46 Stopped gradually, with “out” 47 Kept in touch 48 Core 49 Havens 50 Patio parties, briefly 53 Word of
3/1/12
annoyance 54 Game with Reverse cards 55 “Her name was Magill, and she called herself __”: Beatles lyric 56 It’s illegal to drop it 57 Sitter’s handful 58 Düsseldorf direction 59 High degree
The Future BY LINDA C. BLACK Tribune Media Services
Today’s Birthday (03/01/12). Saturn spends most of 2012 in Libra, your Eighth House of joint resources. Target debt reduction this year, and then build savings and retirement funds. Saturn’s about learning and responsibility. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6 - Wait until later to discuss an upcoming purchase the timing’s not right. When choosing, consider the impacts on your health.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
L ifestyles E ditor Lindsey Hileman culture@ arbiteronline.com
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Huge 6 Capital of India 11 Source of some Genesis attire? 14 __ flu 15 Aromatic compound 16 Wash. neighbor 17 *Competitive business concern 19 Farm butter? 20 Big wheel’s wheels 21 Crunchy candy components 22 *Done with one’s stint, maybe 28 Woody 29 Fancy cases 30 Circumnavigating, perhaps 31 Deep chasm 32 Bit of horseplay 35 *Arctic racer 38 *Lewis Carroll, for one 40 Whatever 41 Isolated 43 Ken of “thirtysomething” 44 Leonardo’s love 45 Notable 2007 communications release 47 *Make fit 50 Raised 51 Sigh of regret 52 Striking scarf 53 Informal chat, and based on the starts of the starred answers, this puzzle’s title 60 Part of a yr. 61 Licorice-flavored seed 62 Horror film locale: Abbr. 63 Part of a match 64 Storage areas 65 Emotional substance
Today is a 6 - Impulsiveness can cause accidents, so slow down a bit. Check your footing, and play strong. Refuse to be suppressed.
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Gemini (May 21-June 21)
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Crossword
Today is a 6 - A solution to an old problem becomes apparent, and reviewing the cards again reveals new strategies that weren’t obvious before.
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Wyatt Martin sports@ arbiteronline.com
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Today is a 7 - Think it over a little longer. It should be ready to go later. Traffic’s blocked for now. Stick close to home, and take care of some lingering responsibility.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 - Belt it out: You’ve got something to say, and they’re listening. You have some wonderful friends. The best things in life are free. Enjoy them with gusto.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8 - Don’t jump the gun; listen for the timing. Step carefully, and watch where you’re going. You’ll master the dance.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 - Imagine the finished product, and you can spot potential problems before they arise. If you get stuck, take a walk and think it over.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 6 - Stay close to home, but make sure to recharge with a stroll outdoors. Don’t miss the forest for the trees.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 7 - At first, the task may seem impossible. Create teamwork to make it happen, and exceed expectations. Don’t forget to give thanks.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 - Keep working on it with as few distractions as possible. But don’t cut corners to get the job done. Pay attention to detail.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7 - Don’t throw your money away; be creative with what you’ve got. Open windows and let a romantic breeze fill your heart.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6 - Your family helps you to overcome a difficult situation. Lean on them more than you might normally. Thank them. ___ (c) 2012, Tribune Media Services Inc.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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March 03, 2012
3
‘The Artist’ shines at Oscars Amy Howarth
And the winners are:
Journalist
“The Artist,” the Frenchproduced, black and white silent film about the rise of early Hollywood, triumphed at the Oscars, winning three of the top awards. “They must be going nuts in France right now, or whatever the French have in place of joy,” host Billy Crystal said. “The Artist” earned a total of five awards: best picture, best actor in a lead role, best directing, costume design and music (original score). It’s the first silent film to receive a nomination since 1928, the first year the awards ceremony was held. The film’s director, Michel Hazanavicius, who received the Oscar for directing said, “I am the happiest director in the world right now.” French actor, Jean Dujardin, received an Oscar for best actor in a lead role for “The Artist.” “I love your country!” Dujardin said as he took the stage to accept the award. Dujardin’s fellow nominees included Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Gary Oldman. Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” won Oscars for sound mixing, sound editing, visual effects, cinematography and art direction. Meryl Streep took home the Oscar for best actress in a leading role for her portrayal
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“The Artist” leading man Jean Dujardin accepts the award for actor in a lead role at the 84th annual Oscars. of Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” Christopher Plummer won best actor in a supporting role for “Beginners.” This was the 82-year-old’s first Oscar and the win elicited a standing ovation from the audience. “You’re only two years older than me, darling. Where have you been all my life?” Plummer
The Oscars A night of unforgettable fashion Natalie Craig Journalist
There are always high expectations for the leading ladies of the Oscars. Whether they come from behind or in front of the camera, they are always dressed to the nines. This year at the 84th annual Oscars there was an abundance of glam with almost every dress sparkling in some way, from intricate jewel detailing to full-on sequin ensembles. The most popular colors of the night were white and red,
Angelina Jolie
Cameron Diaz
said to the gold statue upon acceptance. Most people know Plummer from the classic film, “The Sound of Music.” Best actress in a supporting role went to Octavia Spencer in “The Help.” In a tearful speech she thanked her family and her home state of Alabama. Host Billy Crystal’s jokes were safe—funny enough to
elicit chuckles—but nothing offensive or off-putting. But that doesn’t mean the Oscars went without a little drama (it is Hollywood, after all). On the red carpet, Sacha Baron Cohen arrived in costume from his upcoming film “The Dictator,” carrying an urn he claimed held the ashes of Kim Jong Il and dumped the
contents on Ryan Seacrest. Jennifer Lopez denies suffering a wardrobe malfunction as the result of her tight, ultra-low dress. But of course, there were the f-bombs: one in French from Dujardin, and one in English from the winners from best documentary, “Undefeated.”
colors which accompanied the Old Hollywood theme beautifully. Milla Jovovich’s one shouldered, fully embellished, white gown from Elie Saab Couture was breathtaking and put a modern touch on Old Hollywood. She chose a red lip and kept her accessories minimal, but overall created a very glamorous look. Gwyneth Paltrow was a classic beauty in her white Tom Ford gown. This dress was the showstopper of the night. It was simple yet chic and fit perfectly with the Old Hollywood theme. This gown was paired with a long white cape for a modern touch that still showcased her stunning figure. A large diamond bangle and subtle ring paired with her nude lip were the perfect final touches.
Octavia Spencer wore a custom-made gown designed by Tadashi Shoji that fit her curves in all the right places and the starbust-patterned beading in the center of the dress accentuated her hourglass shape beautifully. Angelina Jolie was stunning in Atelier Versace. The black velvet gown was rich with detail and a high slit showed off most of her leg. It was a classic dress with a touch of sexy paired with a classic red lip. Rooney Mara was dressed in a white mermaid gown designed by Givenchy Couture. The plunging neckline and red lip added sexiness to the classic gown. Her character, Lisbeth, in “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” was extremely edgy, so it was shocking to see her in such a chic gown.
Michelle Williams sported a classy, but playful coral dress designed by Louis Vuitton. This dress had midsection ruffles with a tiny bow embellishment to the right side of her waist and the rest of the dress flowed with intricate patterns leading the eyes smoothly through the whole ensemble. Many fashion bloggers are not sure whether they love or hate Cameron Diaz’s Gucci gown. The crème-colored gown fit her figure in all the right places and tiered down into loose and sparkly fabric. It was a gorgeous yet simple gown paired with Tiffany & Co. jewelry and undone hair. Emma Stone’s long, red Giambattista Valli gown was a great choice for the Oscars’ Old Hollywood theme. However, the oversized bow
Milla Jovovich
Emma Stone
Stacy Keibler
Motion Picture: “The Artist” Directing: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist” Actor in a Lead Role: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist” Actress in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady” Actor in a Supporting Role: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners” Actress in a Supporting Role: Octavia Spencer, “The Help” Documentary (Feature): “Undefeated” Animated Feature Film: “Rango” Art Direction: “Hugo” Cinematography: “Hugo” Original Screenplay: “Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
around her neck, hanging off to the right shoulder was a touch too much. This flowing gown looked great on Stone’s figure but it was a little over the top. Stacy Keibler, George Clooney’s date, wore a luminous gold lamé Marchesa gown. The gown had a rose-like embellishment on the right hip and was so long it completely hid her shoes. The gown looked like it was being walked on constantly and the rose embellishment made Keibler’s figure look distorted. It was a night of classic beauty among the stars when the leading ladies embraced Old Hollywood in their ensembles. From long, sleek gowns to ruffles and tiers, these ladies didn’t disappoint their fans, co-stars or fashion bloggers.
Gwyneth Paltrow
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2 a.m. antics at IHOP Alx Stickel Journalist
Alx Stickel/THE ARBITER
Customers sit outside IHOP on Federal Way at 3 a.m. on a Saturday.
If you’re still in the mood to socialize after the bars have closed at 2 a.m., there is a popular place with the open sign still aglow: IHOP. Located just a short drive from campus and downtown, it’s no wonder IHOP is often packed with hungry, energetic people—even at two o’clock in the morning. Known for its pancakes and being open 24/7, IHOP attracts a variety of people. Some just eat their food. Some come to socialize with friends. Others come to continue partying once the bars have closed. So there are plenty of wild stories about what goes down at IHOP at 2 a.m. on Friday or Saturday. On this particular Friday night, all appears calm and controlled. Travis, one of the servers, said this shift is pretty laid back compared to his usual day shifts. The kitchen is quiet, though food and beverages arrive at a consistent pace. The servers and dishwashers chat among themselves while tending to their designated tasks. Lexy, the allnight manager, maintains an organized team, while keeping a watchful eye for diners dashing out on their checks. Patrons chat animatedly, resulting in occasional bursts of tipsy laughter. They appear to be very comfortable here, greeting staff members they are familiar with and making themselves at home. A table across from ours is occupied by a group of what seem like college students. One of the guys, bald and wearing a red sweatshirt, feels the need to get up and walk around frequently. Some his friends are a bit more low key, wearily resting their heads on the table top. During our wait, a young man in a top hat, cape and vampire fangs, approaches
our table. He says he has a friend who would love my shirt because it’s pink and sequined. He informs us that this friend just bought a pink sparkled fedora. On the other side of the restaurant, a group of dressed-up girls cackle throughout their conversation. They are easily the loudest group in the restaurant, though no one seems to mind. While this particular night is uneventful, rumor has it this is not always the case. Lexy confirms this rumor. She lists incidents of flashing, fights, vomit sessions and celebratory birthday table dancing. She has also, in the past, notified the police of violence and drunk driving. Lexy describes a particular fight that one of her staff tried to control. “There were two tables… that started fighting. One of the dishwashers at the time, he was a bouncer at his other job, got in the middle of it, and he ended up getting knocked out—like punchedin-the-face knocked out,” Lexy said. “I got involved, I had to tear people apart. It’s a madhouse. You never know what’s going to happen on Saturday nights.” However, this wasn’t the only time Lexy had to deal with shenanigans. “One time, this huge group of drunk guys came in and they all went outside to smoke a cigarette…they started play fighting. Well it turned into a real fight. One of them cracked his head open on the rocks; he was bleeding everywhere and the other guy had him in a choke hold (and was throwing up) while he was bleeding.” Despite these events, Lexy still comes to work and people still come to IHOP because at 2 a.m. they’ll serve you—as long as you behave.
Making the grade may not be enough Tabitha Bower Journalist
As graduation approaches, many students are compiling resumés and applying to graduate programs. Unfortunately, some are realizing they have not attained enough significant experience during their undergraduate career to become desirable applicants. Fulfilling course requirements and getting good grades may not be enough. Employers and graduate schools are looking for experience, as well as specific skills, in competitive applicants and are finding applicants are of-
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ten lacking. Desirable skills can include ability to communicate, write and listen effectively, network, manage projects, interview and work as part of team. “I hear people call them soft skills. They are not soft skills—they are professional skills,” said Debbie Kaylor, Career Center director. According to Alfred Dufty, Ph.D., associate dean of Boise State Graduate College, most students applying for graduate programs have high GPAs, so grades alone are not enough to distinguish applicants from one another. “Think of them as nec-
essary, but not sufficient, for admission to graduate school,” he said. Admissions representatives desire candidates with experience within specific fields of study. Such experience can be gained through internships as well as campus and community involvement. Letters of recommendation are another important component to employment and graduate program applications. Recommendations from faculty intern supervisors are preferred, as they speak to a student’s work ethic and reliability. While experience is
degree-program specific, good communication skills are valued across all graduate programs. “(A) personal statement is very important because it is where the admissions committee can see the communication skills, grammar and technical skills and personality of the applicant,” said Kendra Miller, admissions coordinator at Concordia University School of Law. The number one complaint Kaylor hears from employers is college graduates lack of interview skills. Applicants need to be able to take transferable skills from experiences
and communicate those effectively. “If you are going to talk about how you flipped a burger in fast food, employers won’t care,” Kaylor said. “What they do care about is customer service, attention to detail, conflict resolution, those transferable skills.” Although classroom learning is important, involvement outside the classroom is beneficial to master gaining experience employers look for. “Internships are the biggest because it’s practical experience right in your field of study,” Kaylor said. Involvement also enables students to create
networking opportunities. Networking has become an important asset in gaining employment. “You need to target your search and send your resumés out, but then you are going to network your way into that organization,” Kaylor said. Today’s employers and graduate programs seek well-rounded candidates equipped with skills and experience to set them apart from other applicants. “While GPA is always important, it is not the end-all-be-all. It is not everything—every student has a story to tell,” Kaylor said.
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Opinion
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March 01, 2012
5
Put it in Print
Bills of lunacy Bryce Dunham-Zemberi Columnist
Parents should be less worried about gender identity and focus more on helping the child find his or her own way.
Parents: Raise kids gender neutral Mallory Barker Journalist
Jessica Kempe, a 26-year-old mother and ballet instructor, recently signed her 6-year-old daughter up for ballet and soccer. She decided it would be best to allow her daughter to choose her own path, while she was secretly hoping her daughter would choose ballet. “We have signed her up for soccer and ballet giving her the choice between the two,” Kempe said. “She picked soccer, while I would have preferred her to pick ballet, but that is what she enjoys and that’s fine.” Kempe doesn’t feel strongly about gender neutrality, but does believe that it is important to allow children to choose their own path. “It is important to allow your kids to choose. I’m not going to force
her to play with Barbies, but I’ll buy her a Barbie if she wants it. I’m also not going to hide her gender from her. I don’t want to go to either extreme,” she said. Choosing your children’s path for them takes away their free will and hinders their individuality. Actively trying to raise children in a manner that would promote free will and expression can help the child grow up away from the bigotry of society. Elizabeth Morgan, Ph.D., assistant professor in the psychology department said raising a child in gender neutrality does not need to be extreme— no need to raise a child without telling anyone its sex—but rather it can be handled in a more delicate manner. Morgan said that all humans, with the exception of intersex individuals, are born gender-specific.
A person’s biological sex is not a choice, but rather a physical trait. It is gender expression that is subjective. Children are vulnerable and easily swayed to conform to the gender identities assigned to them by their parents and society. Because of this, many experts like Morgan would like to encourage parents to use the nonconventional idea of gender neutrality while doing so in a way that is safe and healthy for their child. “Raising a child with some gender neutrality— allowing boys to participate in feminine activities and girls participate in masculine activities … and consciously making an effort to let your child choose their gender expression will help your child to not be forced to conform to the ideals that society pushes on them,” Morgan said. Society as a whole
tends to frown on a child who chooses to express themselves outside of the norm. Because of this, parents often try to force conformity on their children. Rebecca Burke, a 21-year-old junior and mother of a 13-monthold girl said she wants to raise her child in a way that will help her daughter have an open mind and hopefully enable her daughter to decide her gender identity on her own, without pressures from the outside world. “I let her be open-minded and decide for herself who she is,” Burke said. She agreed with Morgan that both genders are equal and should be treated as such. She explained her daughter enjoys playing with some “boy” toys and she, herself, loved playing in the mud. She finds nothing wrong with girls participating in those kinds of “masculine”
activities. “Sometimes, people worry and say, ‘I have a little boy and I am treating him in a feminine way, is he going to think he is a woman?’ No. Their sex is biological, their gender identity is based on their brain, but their gender expression is the social thing,” Morgan said. She then went on to say that society has tried to confine gender expression into separate boxes which can hinder a child’s ability to choose their own gender identity. There are parts of gender that can be chosen and parts of gender that are strictly physical. Many experts, such as Morgan, would suggest for the sake of societal progression, we should try to raise our children in a manner that would promote an open mind toward all people and the gender expression with which they choose to identify themselves.
L e tt e r t o t h e e d i t o r Felycia Itza is a junior political science major. This is a response to February 27th’s letter to the editor: We have a serious problem with saying no? It sounds to me like we have a serious problem with ignorance and you, my friend, are the perfect example. Maybe we can blame it on your youth or the fact that you’re a history major and because of that are not familiar with the “current times.” Either way, your letter to the editor is why courageous movements like “Add the Words” have failed. A close friend of mine and I were discussing his
homosexuality one night and this is how he put it to me: “It kills me when people think I have chosen to be this way. Why would I choose a life of discrimination, hatred from some of my own family, and unequal treatment even under the law? That doesn’t even make sense!” Sadly though, to some people it does make sense. Some people like to believe it is a choice, and if their mommies and daddies had just told them “no” from the start, there wouldn’t even be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or questioning people. If the solution to homo-
sexuality is truly “just saying no”, then how could it be that multiple children raised exactly the same way by the same parents can have different sexual orientations? It almost seems as if maybe people have minds and biological make-ups of their own and no matter what kind of environmental influences they may have, they will still hold certain values—a personality of their own, and even control of their own sexual identity. I know this concept seems too bizarre to be true, but I assure you it happens all the time. Lastly, what is your basis for suggesting that
“psychological problems” will befall from young children if they dress up in the opposite sex’s clothing? When I was as old as 11, I dressed up as Harry Potter for Halloween, and my entire wardrobe could have easily been mistaken for a boy’s. Yeah, I got made fun of, but I have suffered no psychological harm whatsoever. Seeing me today, you would have never guessed that I dressed as a boy everyday all those years ago. Why? I was born heterosexual and dressing as a boy did not change my sexual orientation or identity. However, here is something that does cause “psychological
problems”: the immense fear of not being accepted because you aren’t what people consider “normal”. In conclusion, Phil, next time you want to publicly display your ignorance maybe you should think about people that aren’t like you, people that just need to be told “no” more often. They have already been told “no” enough. I believe we have the exact opposite problem in this country: a problem with not saying “yes” enough—yes to those who are still human beings, regardless of sexual orientation, and deserve every bit as much respect and equality as me and you.
L e tt e r t o t h e e d i t o r Diane Donald is a Boise State faculty member To Whom it May Concern: The letter published in the February 27 edition of the Arbiter is a potent illustration of what is wrong with most people’s understanding of what it means to be transgendered. I was surprised that such an ignorant piece of writing was allowed into the public forum in an institution of higher education, and I believe it
will only serve to encourage discrimination and misunderstanding about what it means to be transgendered. The condition of being transgendered or transsexual (often abbreviated as “trans”) is a medical condition caused by chemical and hormonal conditions in utero which impact the growth and development of the brain. The brains of trans individuals typically display characteristics of the genders with which they
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identify, rather than their chromosomal sex. Numerous studies have been done on this subject, including work by the Karolinska Institute of Stockholm and the University of Texas. One of the reasons opinions such as those of Mr. Teichert’s are so harmful is that trans individuals have an incredibly high suicide rate (estimated between 31% to 50% per) due to the discrimination and abuse they receive as well as their own nists reflect the diversity of opinion in the academic community and often will be controversial, but they do not represent the institution-
unhappiness with their physical appearance. Many transgender individuals are told that they should just snap out of it or that they are making a choice, which is patently untrue and abusive, and only compounds the problems they face. The parent on the Today Show was courageous and wise for allowing her child to be the person she feels she is inside. The mother is doing no harm to her child, and the child will have many al opinion of The Arbiter or any organization the author may be affiliated with unless it is labeled as such. The Arbiter cannot guarantee
years to decide how she feels most comfortable and safe. It is an illusion to believe that gender is a black and white dichotomy. It is, in fact, a spectrum, and very few people fall at either extreme end. It is amazing that in a culture like ours, built on individual freedom of speech and expression, that anyone should be told how they should behave, dress, or speak. Sincerely, Diane Donald 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.
We must not place our primary education into incapable hands. We must be cautious when our government wants to benefit the collective sovereignty. The bill, titled Students Come First, hardly respects its name and is truly a tool to reduce teacher’s unions’ power to bargain and allows the degeneration of traditional teaching methods. A simple allegory may explain its negative appeal. If a farmer has a bad apple, it reflects the tree which matured it and not the orchard as a whole. Similarly, we should blame the conditions and institutions which advance bad teachers, not teachers and unions as a whole. Only selective personalities commit to a life of unruly students, sometimes fluctuating pay and underdone respect. Tom Luna’s bill eliminates unions’ collective bargaining powers for teachers. If a collective bargaining unit and the board of trustees fail to reach an agreement, compromise is not mandatory. According to the bill, “The recommendation or recommendations of the mediator, if any, shall not be construed as having any force or effect. The board of trustees shall establish compensation for professional employees for the ensuing school year as it deems appropriate.” Under this law, the board of trustees has legal rights to undermine all aspects of employee contracts. Sole uncheckable power seldom induces multiple winners. Unreasonable union demands can be reduced, whereas unreasonable state demands go unchallenged. Teachers’ only strength against governmental labor abuse is the bargaining of benefits. Educators of 2020 will visit cyber-schools and resent online education’s original appeal. We cannot be ignorant to the fact that governments acquire an inch to run a mile. Today, laptops can coexist with whiteboards and books alike. But books and whiteboards will be replaced with more laptops and larger LCD screens, much like Expo pens replaced slate. The only difference is, this new technology will erode teacher-student interaction. Creative discourse will be retained to the confines of electronic use, where students focus on a screen instead of the people or objects around them. Students should not be left to their own devices because actual teaching will eventually disappear into the dust. Luna’s bill effectively ends collective bargaining and starts the first generation of quasi-cyborg academia. We must remain suspicious any time the government declares a piece of legislation to be in our best interest. The people who meddle with these affairs must be approached cautiously and watched very carefully.
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Pac-12 tourney
2012 Pac-12 wrestling tournament results
Broncos earn three titles at conference championships
H
ere are the individual results of Sunday’s Pac-12 wrestling tournament by weight class:
Ryan Mango
125 lb
Ryan Mango of Stanford defeated Pat Rollins of Oregon State, in a 14-3 major decision. Boise State freshman Landon Hartley finished sixth.
Brian Owen
133 lb
Boise State redshirt junior Brian Owen defeated Frank Lomas of Cal State Bakersfield in a 4-2 decision.
Michael Mangrum 141 lb Michael Mangrum of Oregon State defeated Borislav Novachkov of Cal Poly in a 5-4 decision. Boise State redshirt junior Josh Strait finished fourth.
Scott Sakaguchi
149 lb
Scott Sakaguchi of Oregon State defeated Timmy Boone of Stanford in a 12-4 major decision. Boise State redshirt freshman Steven Hernandez finished third.
Roger Pena
157 lb
Roger Pena of Oregon State defeated Boise State junior Georgi Ivanov in a 5-2 decision.
Dominic Kastl
165 lb
Dominic Kastl of Cal Poly defeated Bret Baumbach of Stanford in a 8-1 decision. Boise State freshman Holden Packard finished third.
Nick Amuchastegui 174 lb Nick Amuchastegui of Stanford defeated Ryan DesRoches of Cal Poly in a 5-4 decision. Boise State freshman Scotty Bacon finished fourth.
Jake Swartz
184 lb
Boise State redshirt sophomore Jake Swartz defeated Spence Patrick of Stanford in a 5-1 decision.
Brent Chriswell
197 lb
Boise State redshirt junior Brent Chriswell defeated Taylor Meeks of Oregon State in a 5-2 decision.
Clayton Jack
285 lb
Clayton Jack of Oregon State defeated Levi Cooper of Arizona State in a 3-0 decision; Boise State sophomore J.T. Felix finished fourth.
Leading Swartz triumphs in Pac-12 tournament John Garretson
I
Online Sports Editor
t’s a Sunday afternoon in the overly air-conditioned Taco Bell Arena. Boise State is hosting the Pac-12 Wrestling Championships—the only sport the university has in the conference—and the Broncos, with six other universities, are looking to send their wrestlers to the NCAA tournament in a few weeks. No sporting event is quite as daunting and intense as wrestling. The audience, representing the likes of Stanford, Oklahoma State, Cal Poly, Arizona State, Cal State Bakersfield and Boise State, concentrate their energy, support and razz on the two wrestlers squaring off on the mat. It takes a lot more than just mental blinders to beat the metaphoric heat. It takes determination. Enter Jake Swartz, the redshirt sophomore out of Auburn, Wash., and the lone Bronco representative in the 184-lb weight class. It’s a different feel for Swartz, who is taking over the role previously held by prized 184-lb wrestler Kirk Smith—the one who trained Swartz. It’s a new look for most of the Boise State wrestlers, poising an already young wrestling team with the departure of seven seniors from the previous season. But for Swartz, an up-and-coming wrestler, it was his fate to prevail and head to the national championships alongside teammate Brian Owen, who, moments before, had won the 133-lb Pac-12 weight title.
by Swartz swiftly made his way into the final round for his weight class as he entered with a bye and then conquered Ty Vinson of Oregon State in a brief technical fall. The glaring lights above shined on the blue-and-orange clad mat as Swartz faced Stanford’s Spence Patrick, an unfamiliar opponent. On one end of the area sat Bronco supporters. At the other end were the Cardinal fans, hoping Swartz would fall to the underdog Patrick. Minutes turned to moments and within a blink of an eye, the referee held Swartz’s left hand in the air, standing victorious and proud among the Bronco crowd. “Feels pretty good knowing I’m on the right track of reaching my goals,” Swartz said humbly, after his win. Just 15 minutes later, his teammate, Brent Chriswell, won the 197-lb weight class. Even though Boise State fell to Oregon State by nine points in the team standings, three Bronco wrestlers won the Pac-12 gold. Swartz one of them. Chriswell had a good feeling he and Swartz were going to
Overall Team Standings (points) 1. Oregon State 138.0 2. Boise State 129.0 3. Stanford 125.0 4. Arizona State 102.5 5. Cal Poly 98.0 6. CSU Bakersfield 78.5
example come home big that afternoon. “Right before (Swartz) went out, he said, ‘back-to-back champs.’ That felt really good to accomplish,” the redshirt junior said. He may not be the most vocalic or ideal leader for the wrestling squad, but Swartz leads by the very actions that got him there: hard work. “I don’t think Jake is quite the leader, I don’t know if he wants to take that role, but he leads by example,” Head Coach Greg Randal said. “No matter what season, the kid is always training, on a diet, lifting weights. He’s tough to beat.” For this youthful wrestling team, Jake Swartz will continue to be the name and the leader to remember, whether he sees it or not. “I’m not much of a speaker, but I lead by example. The guys will see that,” Swartz said. Bryan Talbot/THE ARBITER
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March 01, 2012
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Engel’s Angle Not guilty does not mean innocent John Engel Journalist
In modern-day America, athletes are some of the most influential people in society. Whether they are taking political stands, fighting for religious rights or hitting home runs, we stand beside them even in their most idiotic moments. So, the question must be asked: if we value our professional athletes, why don’t we hold them to higher standards? Most recently, 28-year-old Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and was on the verge of receiving a 50-game suspension from Major League Baseball. The test revealed that Braun’s testosterone to estrogen levels were 20:1, four times the normal amount. Braun filed for an appeal, claiming he had never taken PED’s and the court would find him innocent. Remember that word. During the court preceding, it was found that the collector of Braun’s urine, Dino Laurenzi, Jr., did not, in fact, FedEx the sample on the same night for testing because the nearest FedEx office was more than 50 miles away. Instead, he was instructed, as he had been before, to keep the sample at his home overnight until it could be mailed the next day. In a statement on Feb. 28, following Braun’s successful appeal, Laurenzi Jr. stated neither him nor his wife did anything to the sealed sample and it stayed dormant in his basement the entire night. Nobody had access to the sample and Laurenzi Jr. was never told who the sample belonged to. Despite the meticulous nature of Laurenzi Jr. to keep the sample safe for testing, Braun was found not guilty by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das and was granted his appeal. There is no way to truly know if Braun was telling the truth, but the MLB is using all of their resources to get the ruling overturned. Even if the appeal is reversed, it will take an unofficial average of 45.8 home runs to fall back into the public’s good graces. Braun isn’t the first player, or the last, to slide past the arm of the law, however. Just eight years ago in Denver, Colo. Los Angeles Laker superstar Kobe Bryant was accused of raping a resort employee by the name of Katelyn Faber. Bryant claimed the intercourse was consensual, but had this to say after the two decided to settle before the court trial: “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.” ….Says every rapist. The following year, Bryant signed a seven-year, $136 million contract with the Lakers and resumed endorsements from Nike, Coca-Cola and Spalding. In 2008 he was awarded the National Basketball Association’s highest honor with the Most Valuable Player trophy and followed that season with back-to-back championships. Clearly Braun and Bryant aren’t the only American athletes to use slime to escape punishment from the law (i.e. O.J. Simpson, Donte Stallworth, etc.), but they serve as prime examples to explain how we as a society evaluate character. In my opinion, it isn’t fair to separate the athlete from the man with an explanation of “Well, I like him as an athlete, not a person.” What’s the difference? Follow @BSU_Engel The Arbiter
Jake Essman/THE ARBITER
Buster Bronco attempts to get the crowd going with the cheer squad during a Boise State basketball game at Taco Bell Arena.
Who is Buster Bronco? A student among us Nikki Hanson
Assistaint Sports Editor
Buster Bronco, the mascot of Boise State, has a very important job: to give the fans the best possible experience at sporting events. But who is really behind the mask? How does one become Buster Bronco? It was matter of chance for our Buster Bronco to don the prestigious uniform. A little over two years ago, after walking into the Taco Bell Arena to watch Boise State take on Utah State in basketball, our current Buster was approached by a friend. This friend happened to
be on the cheer team and was looking for a person who could take on the position of Buster Bronco. “He introduced me to the boss and I have been doing it ever since,” Buster Bronco said. Many of us may have wished at some point or another we could show our true selves without the risk of embarrassment. The perfect way to do this— put on a mascot uniform that completely hides your identity. “It’s actually awesome because no one knows who I am,” Buster said. “I get to go and do whatever I want. I walk in as a nobody, become
a celebrity and then walk out as a nobody. It’s really awesome. I am the undercover celebrity.” Taking on the responsibility of being the mascot is a commitment. Buster Bronco is present at all of the football games. The fans are also wellaware of the number of push-ups Buster Bronco does during these games. “During football games I lose two to three pounds of water weight per game. Even when it is extremely cold I lose a pound or two,” Buster Bronco said. The marketing department is responsible for helping Buster Bronco rally
Design by cassie harris/THE ARBITER
the crowds. Recently, Buster did a one-on-one basketball game with different kids from the crowd. The question, I’m sure, on all of your minds is: Who is Buster Bronco? In our question-and-answer session I was able to gain a couple clues to help fans better understand the individual behind the mask. Who is your favorite superhero? “I am going to have to go with Superman.” If you could have any superpower what would it be? “I would love to be able to move things with my mind.” What is your favorite
Jake Essman/THE ARBITER
movie? “The Lord of the Rings series and the Pursuit of Happiness.” What is your major? “I am a business management major.” When will you graduate? “Next May, I have a year left.” The unmasking of Buster Bronco would result in a loss of magic for the fans, the students and Buster Bronco himself. Buster Bronco is a figurehead for Boise State University and will remain so for many years to come, as new students come to the front and offer to take on the sacred position.
David Wuerth/THE ARBITER
Men’s tennis goes 0-3 against top-25 teams Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic proves rough for the No. 44 ranked Broncos Scott Thornton Arbiter Staff
The Bronco Men’s Tennis team took to the road over the weekend to participate in the Blue-Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala. The team moved up one spot to No. 44 in the most recent college tennis polls and was coming off dominating performances against Montana State, Idaho State and Idaho the previous weekend. The competition proved to be tough as they faced
No. 14 Auburn and No. 15 Mississippi State on Saturday, followed by No. 21 Tennessee on Sunday. The tournament started wet and uneventful, as the poor weather resulted in postponement of the matches scheduled for Friday. This forced the teams involved to play double headers on Saturday. Boise State started the day strong, claiming four of six first sets, putting pressure on Auburn. The Tigers could not be held down forever as they came back and won all six of the
second sets. The Broncos would fall 4-1 with the only victory being claimed by sophomore Nathan Sereke, who defeated his opponent in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. This allowed Sereke to stay undefeated for the season at 8-0. The second match proved to be just as difficult as they fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs 4-0. They had a chance for one win when Sereke won the first set of his match and was leading the second 6-5 but the match was called. The team put up a good fight
even though three of the four wins for the Bulldogs were by nationally ranked individuals. After a tough day on Saturday the team didn’t have much time to recover as they faced Tennessee on Sunday. The result, however, was too familiar as they fell 4-1. The Volunteers claimed the doubles point winning the first two of the three matches. All three of the defeats in the singles matches were in straight sets. The one highlight came from Damain Hume (ranked 51st nationally)
who defeated his opponent in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. Overall you could say it was a good way for the Broncos to measure their progress against three of the best teams in the country. With the three straight losses they fell to 7-4. Their next three matches will all be on the road as they face Utah State, BYU and Utah. Their next home match will be March 7 against Radford University at the Appleton Tennis Center at 1:30 p.m. It will be the first of six straight home matches.
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Unforeseen passion An unconventional outdoors journal: Winter blues Nikki Hanson
Assistant Sports Editor
I wish I could say I have been extremely active in the last couple of weeks, but like Abraham Lincoln, I can never tell a lie (at least most of the time). Now that does not mean I have not been hitting the gym, where I mainly stake out a treadmill and run my little heart out. At this point you may be asking yourself how this could even be pertinent with the outdoors, but despite what appears to be mindless rambling, I do have a purpose in
Hawks Nest
Broncos travel to Indy for combine Ty Hawkins
Senior Journalist
Over the last week, the Boise State Broncos football team has had a school record with seven seniors representing it at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ind. The NFL combine is like going out downtown in Boise on a weekend, a bunch of guys on the prowl observing people in tights who may help their team. Like the crowd downtown, the scouts are look-
mind. I believe, especially being from southern California, all too often I use the colder weather as an excuse to avoid being outside. As you are all aware, winter is here and therefore temperatures have dropped. I am far from a recluse who sits at home all day munching on potato chips in front of the television, but lately my outdoor activities seem to have dramatically curtailed. However, that will no longer be an issue as I am determined to not use the cold weather as my fallback excuse. Instead I plan to get pumped
about skiing and snowboarding (insert sarcasm here)! It has become clear to me, based on past events, that it is unwise to tell people I am an intermediate snowboarder when I am clearly a beginner. Yes, that was a mistake I made last season and I ended up on a hard slope sliding all the way down on my rear, or dragging my board behind me. Therefore, I am embracing the fact that I am a beginner in both snowboarding and skiing, but it is about time I improve my skills in these winter sports. I am attending Boise State after all and with that
ing for the next sleeper who may have slipped through the cracks, a new face that can make a play. Doug Martin, RB: Size doesn’t matter as the so-called experts say, (see Ray Rice, Priest Holmes). The 5-foot-9, 223-pound Martin ran a 4.55 40yard dash and benched 225-pounds 28 times— tied for first among running backs. Like his career at BSU, coaches at the next level will find a way to get him on the field. Shea Mclellin, DE: His draft stock is skyrocketing because of the numbers he put up. A 4.63 40-yd dash—the second fastest among defensive linemen—and a 31.5-inch vertical jump are only going to make him more coveted. My answer (like many in the sports media who have been following this circus) is go look at the film—the guy is a playmaker. Tyrone Crawford, DE: Crawford may not have the same football experience as the others, but his raw ability and potential could make him the biggest sleeper of the bunch. His 4.89 40-yard dash and 33-inch vertical jump were respectable, but it’s his room for growth as a player that will earn him a shot. Billy Winn, DT: With his size and ability, Winn shouldn’t have a problem finding work in the trenches. His num-
bers weren’t mind-blowing 5.00 40-yard dash and 27-inch vertical jump, but scouts know what he is capable of and in the game of risks that is the draft, bet a few organizations will be willing to take the gamble. Nate Potter, T: It doesn’t matter that he ran a 5.36 40-yard dash; he’ll make his money— like Winn—upfront. The powers that are constantly looking for athletic big men who can protect their quarterback’s blind side. He measures in at a legit 6-foot-6, 303-pounds, can move well and fits the mold. Kellen Moore, QB: Floppy haired kid, coach’s son, played on the blue and he’s too small. Blah blah blah, we’ve heard it all over the past two years. Two major components go into drafting a QB; the ability to lead and win. His accuracy and timing could help make up for his lack of down field arm strength and athleticism. George Iloka, S: At 6-foot-4, 225, Iloka has the ability to cover ground as well the versatiliy to play multiple positions as a second level defender. At 6-foot-4, 225. He had the top time for safeties in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.03 seconds and benched 225-pounds 20 times. Of the group, he could be the first Bronco picked. Boise State will hold their Pro Day March 22. Follow Ty Hawkins on twitter @ty_hawkins
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Nikki enjoys the sunshine and warmth of summer on a hike in Mammoth, Calif. comes snow and Bogus Basin as a conveniently close location to begin working toward improving my skills. Watch out ladies and gentleman, I could be moving from beginner status to inter-
mediate status after this winter. It will be a long process involving bruises (mainly on the backside), sore wrists and shoulders from the repeated face plants, as well as being able to endure the cold when
I still seem to be lacking the proper gear. But is sounds like an adventure to me! Nikki Hanson is the Assistant Sports Editor, a nature enthusiast, and fond of all things sarcastic.
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Online Pole Which Bronco had teh best showing at the combine? D. Martin S. McCellin T. Crawfod K. Moore
G. Iloka B. Winn N. Potter
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