Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.
ON THE COVER:
Boise Pride made history by hosting the first ever Idaho Trans March. Over the course of three days, groups from all over Boise and the Pacific Northwest came to show their love for Idaho's LGBTQ+ community.
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Boise State University offers first undergraduate neuroscience program
The new program includes coursework from three different majors and research opportunities
Housed in the School of Allied Health Sciences, Boise State is offering students’ a new program that explores the field of neuroscience through interdisciplinary research and lab work.
The Idaho State Board of Education approved the new neuroscience undergraduate program on June 13, 2024.
The new program’s curriculum includes coursework in biology, psychology, kinesiology and data science. The program provides students with research opportunities that focus on neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
The neuroscience program includes two areas of emphasis: Cellular/Molecular, that will focus on biological sciences and Cognitive/Behavioral that will focus on psychological studies.
Bob Wood, director of the School of Allied Health Sciences and assistant dean of research for the College of Health Sciences, says that the idea for the new program began when he first arrived at Boise State.
“When I arrived here about six years ago, it became very evident to me that we had most of the pieces in place that we needed for a neuroscience degree, between biology, psychology and kinesiology and a couple other areas,” Wood said. “It was really a question of getting those people together to talk about their interest in developing a program and then finding the resources to build in those new courses.”
As one of the faculty members, Wood played a role in developing the neuroscience program’s curriculum. This process took around three years with the help of faculty members from biology, psychology and kinesiology departments.
“You want everyone to have input, you want everyone to feel like their lens is important,” Wood said. “That’s not something that happens overnight.”
Wood explained that the program is expected to receive around $388,000 over the next four to five years in funding from the Idaho State Board of Education to support student credit hours and around $600,000 will go towards the program’s operating budget.
The program allows students to explore different research opportunities such as the Vertically Integrated Projects.
“The thing about the VIP [Vertically Integrated Project] that’s really great is that from the very get-go, from the student’s first day on campus, we can introduce them to the research environment,” Wood said. “The way the VIP is set up is it allows students with no research background [to ] get in.”
Currently, 15 students are pursuing a major in the program, and seven students are pursuing a minor.
Wood predicts that the neuroscience program will ultimately expand into a PhD program over time, attracting students for graduate study and possibly receive funding from sponsors like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“I think [the program is] attracting recognition from other scholars around the world, when they [say] ‘Oh you need to go to that program at Boise State,’” Wood said. “Their students may be coming here, setting up exchange programs for faculty and students in other countries. Those [are] things we want to do, whether we have a PhD program or not.”
Neuroscience Program Director and Professor Dr. Hwan Kim explained that the program’s lab work is conducting tests
on mice to study the pathological mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease.
Kim said Boise State being the first and only undergraduate neuroscience program in Idaho, it’ll help with recruiting.
“I believe that this is a great opportunity for us to recruit students from neighboring states as well and also even internally,” Kim said. “We can encourage that internal interaction for interdisciplinary studies, between biology, psychology, kinesiology.”
Dr. Kim’s laboratory on neurodegenerative disease research currently has four Boise State undergraduate students and four PhD students from Delaware State University where he previously worked developing a similar program on investigating Parkinson’s Disease.
One of Dr. Kim’s undergraduate laboratory students, freshman Brayden Parks, says the goal of the laboratory is to
“advance” the understanding of Parkinson’s disease by developing treatments to counteract the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease through models.
Parks, a double major in neuroscience and philosophy, says that he hopes to continue pursuing neuroscience after he graduates.
“My hope is to uncover as many of the possible mysteries regarding the brain as possible because I really do think that it’s the key to so many things, whether it’s disease-related pathologies like Parkinson’s [disease] or Alzheimer’s [disease],” Parks said. “It has everything to do with the nervous system in some way or another.”
Dr. Kim invites Boise State students who are interested in the program or have any questions to walk into his office or contact him yonghwankim@boisestate. edu.
Photo of the outside of the Norco Building.
Photo by Omar Saucedo
‘Dialogue for Democracy’ event encourages students to engage in politics
Club members and students alike sat down to watch and debrief the 2024 presidential debate
On Sept. 10, 2024, the Institute for Advancing American Values (IAAV), a club at Boise State that aims to create a space where individuals can “talk and listen to each other respectfully about the issues and values that have shaped America” hosted “Dialogue for Democracy”.
“Dialogue for Democracy” was described on the organization’s website as an event that “[supports] open inquiry and the freedom of expression, and [celebrates] the plurality of ideas.” The event went from 6:45 p.m. to roughly 8:30 p.m. and was structured by having students first watch the debate, and then discuss afterward.
Mia Hoetker, a senior at Boise State and a student fellow for the Institute for Advancing American Values described “Dialogue for Democracy” as a “club effort.”
“It’s open to anyone is really what we’re promoting,” Hoetker said. “The institute is all about respectful discussions and listening, talking to people in order to understand them and to listen and not necessarily to respond and offer your own perspectives, but really have a spot to share your values and have people listen to them .”
In an attempt to keep the event as non-partisan as possible, Hoetker said that student and faculty fellows are present at these events “to ensure that people are speaking respectfully and listening to each other in order to have these discussions.”
Student fellow Christian Ouzounian, who has been a part of the Institute for Advancing American Values for two semesters in total, said the institute’s “biggest goal” is to ”break down those fears [of judgment] and those preconceptions, and let people know that is a safe place for discussion.”
Ouzounian shared that he feels the institute is often judged by its name alone due to the inclusion of the phrase “American values”.
“People hear the phrase American values and think of traditional nuclear family Republican values when in reality, American values are what you make of them,” Ouzounian said. “It’s a very personal thing.”
While some of the organization’s events center around politics, Ouzonian says he is glad to see the club bringing in students from a range of majors.
“It’s nice because we’re attracting people who aren’t just political science majors, and that really is mainly the goal,” Ouzonian said. “This is something that should be open to everyone … We’ve got more members than we did freshman year, so I’m glad to see that it is growing.”
Sawyer Crenshaw, a junior at Boise State majoring in political science and the president of the Political Science Association shared his experience at the Dialogue for Democracy event.
From Bingo sheets that featured topical references to TikTok and brat to pizza and merch Crenshaw described the event as “laid back” and “comfortable.”
“Everybody was welcome, regardless of political ideology, I think everybody had a great time,” Crenshaw said. “I don’t think anybody even knew anyone else’s political ideology. That was the best part. It was just a bunch of students who were able to get together and laugh at some of the things that were said and get a little worried about some of the other things that were said.”
As president of the Political Science Association, Crenshaw witnessed the blending of the two clubs at the event.
“It got a lot of different people together,” Crenshaw said. “I actually just got elected as president of the Political Science Association, which is another
club … This was put on by the IAAV but we were able to plug ourselves in there a little bit.”
The Institute for Advancing American Values will be hosting “Boise State Listens,” an event that allows participants to speak on a variety of topics, in the Student Union’s Special Events Center from 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2024.
Photo of members of the Institute for Advancing American Values.
Photo courtesy of Victoria Zunich
Boise School District implements new restrictions on social media
Boise High School seeks positive results for student engagement as a result of new guidelines
With a new school year underway, The Boise School District introduced new guidelines to promote student success in school. In August 2024, The Boise School District implemented a new limitation on district-provided student devices such as Chromebooks, only allowing students to access two social platforms: YouTube and LinkedIn.
Boise High School Principal Deborah Watts shared that LinkedIn offers a useful networking opportunity for seniors as they prepare for college. Watts also explained the importance of YouTube to have as a resource in the classroom.
“YouTube has a ton of educational resources out there,” Watts said. “If we said that there was no YouTube access available on campus, that really limits a lot of what our teachers are able
to do as well in terms of educational resources.”
The Chromebooks are connected to the school’s Wi-Fi network, barring students from accessing other social media platforms. Students are also blocked from accessing social media from their Boise School District account.
According to a recent study conducted by Yale Medicine, teenagers between 12-15 years old who spend at least three hours a day on social media are more likely to experience mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
In addition, schools in the Boise School District like Boise High School are furthering their efforts to prevent cell phone usage from becoming a distraction for students in the classroom. Boise High School enforced a fourstep violation for cell phones. The first
violation is a verbal warning, second violation results in a student losing their cell phone for one day, third violation results in losing their cell phone for up to five days and fourth violation results in loss of phone for the semester.
In the first two weeks, 107 total violations were reported out of 1,600 total students.
Watts acknowledged the positive feedback she’s received from parents and teachers in response to this new cell phone policy.
“I have not received one negative piece of feedback, most of the feedback has just been ‘thank you so much for following through with this,’” Watts said. “From teachers, what we’re hearing is just they’re just so much more engaged and they’re not distracted.”
Jennifer McClain, an Advanced Placement (AP) literature English teacher at Boise High, expressed the “night and day” differences in classroom participation with her students just a couple weeks into the new school year.
“I don’t have to repeat myself 14 times over [during] instructions, the students are getting work submitted and it’s good,” McClain said. “[I] even had one parent on back to school night tell me that their kid was able to come home and explain what was going on for the day, because they were engaged.”
McClain mentioned that in previous years, students were constantly on social media. Now, she feels that she doesn’t have to work for students’ engagement.
“We always want to lean towards the things that are fun or interesting and kind of appeal to us,” McClain said. “[I’m] not having to compete and I’m not playing that game of ‘do you have your phone secretly?’ — it’s altered the
interactions between staff and students in a positive way and between students.”
Boise High School senior Lucy Russell says that she was initially hesitant of the new policy, posing questions if it could become a safety issue or if they would still be able to use their phones for certain classes.
“I think that it’s been really good for all students at Boise [High School],” Russell said. “I was definitely expecting a worse response from kids, but really everyone is super receptive to it.”
Russell says that in class, she’s noticed other students completing homework or connecting with their peers during freetime as opposed to being on their phones.
Russell noted that this policy has had a positive effect on her outside of school.
“I was having a conversation with a couple of my friends the other day. We were all talking about how outside of school, we’ve noticed ourselves being on our phones less,” Russell said. “Just because we kind of get in that habit after being at school for seven hours a day, not on our phones, then we go home and stay off of it and limit our social media time.”
According to a collection report by Boise High School Librarian Natasha Rush, library circulations have increased by 52% in the first month of school compared to this time last year.
“I was under the impression that these phones are becoming a public health crisis,” Rush said. “I’ve just seen major changes over the last decade in kids. So I’m hoping that this is a sign of good things to come, and I work really hard to develop a collection [of books] that’s diverse, speaks to all of our students and has lots of good, high interest reading.”
Photo of Instagram open on a laptop.
Photo by Jocelyn Browne
Boise schools recognized for their trailblazing environmental efforts
15 Boise schools have been declared 50001 Ready by the Department Of Education
Boise schools are going green — and it’s paying off. As of Aug. 16, 2024, 15 Boise schools are now considered 50001 Ready. Being 50001 Ready is defined as a global standard that EnMS (Energy Management Systems) strive to meet. To qualify, institutions must self-monitor their improvements in energy efficiency and overall performance. On the Boise School District website, the steps to receiving this recognition include “tracking electrici -
participate in energy-saving challenges during autumn and spring breaks.”
50001 Ready should not be confused with the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 50001 certificate. Acquiring verification from a third party is necessary to receive the ISO designation.
“We began seeking DOE (Department of Energy) 50001 recognition in 2019 with a handful of sites,” said Alison Ward, the sustainability supervisor for the Boise School District. “In 2023
add three additional schools so that all of our secondary schools are now DOE 50001 Ready recognized.”
Ward described the 25-step process to re-attestation in which schools have to “submit new data, proof of practice, update all the communications, who are the principals at each of the schools, who are the facility managers and [other] staff changes.”
In her two years as Sustainability Supervisor for the Boise School District, Ward helped to establish The Green Team — a program that encourages student involvement in environmental preservation efforts.
“... One of the things we did with that [sustainability supervisor position] is we created a Green Team leadership position at every school,” Ward said. “There’s a staff member who’s the Green Team lead at each school, including our facilities sites, our operations team. There’s now a way for this kind of work to move from the district level to the school level.”
Although Hawthorne Elementary has not currently received the 50001 Ready designation, Misha Smith, sixth-grade teacher and Green Team leader for her district said that she has been involved in creating environmental opportunities prior to the establishment of The Green Team.
“I led my own Green Team that was not district-sanctioned for years because I’m passionate about the environment and getting my students into doing action projects,” Smith said. “It’s always been just my sixth grade class doing green team activities — last year was the first year where I was able to include fifth-graders … we’ll be able to build off of projects we started last year, and also just build off that enthusiasm that was fostered last year.”
The Green Team leadership role is a stipend position that allows staff not
only to have an “active voice” within the club setting but “staff wise as well,” Smith said.
From garden cleanups to recycling relays, Smith explained that The Green Team is about promoting student interest and involvement in environmental affairs.
“The key is, if we develop that passion and love and protection for the environment, then these kids are going to grow up understanding what they can do to make a difference, and then be sharing that information with people that they know.”
Richard W. Stover, Administrator for Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) shared in an email to The Arbiter what the future of energy conservation looks like in Idaho.
“It is the state of Idaho’s policy to enable a broad range of cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation measures,” Stover said. “Energy demand is projected to increase significantly over the next 10-20 years. Accordingly, efforts by public entities that align with Idaho policy goals and objectives, lower costs and result in tax savings to Idaho citizens are important.”
While the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources is not involved in the 50001 Ready designation currently, Stover shared plans for future programs.
“OEMR has not participated in 50001 Ready but administers several other programs with the goal of increasing energy efficiency and conservation,” Stover said. “With respect to K-12 facilities specifically, OEMR will soon launch a funding program benefiting Idaho’s K-12 facilities needing demonstrable energy improvement investments. More details will be forthcoming on that program soon.”
OPINION
Behind the Hawaiian shirts: How Trader Joe’s built a cult following
Grocery
chain
Trader
Joe’s has set itself apart from competitors with unique tactics
Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Hawaiian shirts, handwritten signs, charming staff, Everything But the Bagel
Seasoning and a cult following — grocery chain Trader Joe’s has created a distinct brand and set themselves apart from competitors. Offering high quality products at affordable costs, it isn’t hard to imagine how the brand rose to popularity — but there’s more behind the success than the price point.
Established in 1967, the company describes itself on its website as “a national chain of neighborhood grocery stores”. Although 594 locations currently operate across the United States, Trader Joe’s has managed to maintain a similar energy and appeal to that of small, local businesses. Their unique brand philosophies and uncommon practices, such as their hiring process and marketing tactics, have played major roles in the company’s success.
Anne Hamby, a marketing professor at Boise State University and regular shopper at Trader Joe’s, outlined the qualities prioritized in candidates during the recruitment process.
“The people that they hire are screened based on personality,” Hamby said. “They have to be people who are friendly and adventurous, who want to engage with people. And rather than having store clerks stock the shelves at night when no one’s there, they intentionally have clerks out there stocking during the day so that they can interact with customers.”
Trader Joe’s prioritizes the customer’s experience, not just once the food is home and cooked but during the process of grocery shopping itself. Sourcers for Trader Joe’s are constantly searching the world for new dishes for their customers. While the store consistently stocks
a number of their staple products, new products that aren’t successful are removed from the shelves and replaced, offering clientele new and exciting options.
The company also sets itself apart from competitors with its promotional strategies. Hamby discussed Trader Joe’s unique approach to marketing — or lack thereof.
“They don’t pour a ton of ad dollars into promotions like many other stores do. In part because of this desire to keep to no-frills approaches to promotion and not spend money in that way, but also because they want to foster this feeling that they’re a small local business.”
Unlike many traditional grocery stores, Trader Joe’s runs no ad campaigns and offers no sales or coupons. Hamby spoke on how this approach has been effective for the company.
“The organic, consumer-driven word of mouth is not only a great way to save money, but it’s also a way to give consumers the reins,” Hamby said. “They’ve really leaned into this fierce advocacy that consumers have and let that do the talking for them, which is all the more compelling than if they were to go out and buy ads.”
Trader Joe’s also attracts their massive consumer base with, of course, their inventory. Their iconic products like mandarin orange chicken, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, cookie butter and cauliflower gnocchi don’t just taste good — the company utilizes psychological principles to create the ideal grocery shopping experience for their customers.
Choice overload is a common issue for the modern consumer. This phenomenon occurs “when an individual is overwhelmed by what appears to be similar options”, according to Psychology Today,
and the numbers of products the average grocery store offers can easily trigger this.
Hamby discussed how Trader Joe’s stores combat choice overload with the inventory they offer.
“It’s counterintuitive,” Hamby said. “You’d think that more choice is better, but actually, more choices can be paralyzing. By streamlining the number of options, it makes it easier for people to make choices and also helps them keep costs down.”
The company stocks minimal name brands in their stores, and primarily offers Trader Joe’s label products. This means that customers have far less options to choose from, eliminating the stress that often comes with grocery shopping and adding to the store’s appeal. In addition, this practice allows Trader Joe’s to make a larger margin on profits, meaning prices are in turn lower for customers. According to a Consumers’ Checkbook survey, Trader Joe’s prices are on average 10-20% lower than most competitors.
Trader Joe’s grocery stores themselves
are designed with psychological principles in mind. Not only are the buildings around a quarter of the size of the average grocery store, another factor in eliminating choice overload, the aisles are laid out in a way that allows for easy access and invites customers to interact with the products.
The freezer section, for instance, consists of rows of open top freezers, a very different sight than the average grocery store freezer aisle. Customers are more easily able to browse through and pick up products, meaning they are more likely to make a purchase.
Trader Joe’s success lies in more than just its low prices and beloved products. Through thoughtful hiring practices, a no-frills approach to marketing and strategic inventory choices, the grocery chain has cultivated an experience that feels personal, even on a national scale. The brand’s unusual practices continue to make Trader Joe’s the grocery store destination for lovers of whimsy, excitement, affordability and quality.
Illustration of Trader Joe’s.
Illustration by Sydney Smith
The skinny on Ozempic: Consequences of a culture obsessed with thinness
Ozempic has become a weight loss phenomenon fueled by
Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic is trending on social media and in Hollywood — but not for its original intent. Society is obsessed with being thin, and this phenomenon has driven many people to take extreme measures for weight loss.
Ozempic, or semaglutide, is a weekly pharmaceutical injection that promotes insulin production in the pancreas and lowers the blood sugar of patients. The drug was “approved in 2017 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults with type 2 diabetes”, according to UC Davis Health. Soon after its release, the medication’s common side effect of weight loss began to draw media attention.
Although Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic, states in fine print that “Ozempic is not a weight loss drug”, the larger print above it advertises that it “may help you lose some weight”. Regardless of the medication’s original purpose, a majority of the people current-
ly prescribed Ozempic do not have type 2 diabetes —they are on the medication to lose weight.
Ozempic’s massive boom in popularity can be linked to both the pharmaceutical industry and popular culture. Based on results from clinical testing of semaglutide for type 2 diabetes, scientists began to investigate its potential for weight loss.
In June of 2021, pharmaceutical injection Wegovy was approved by the FDA, a form of semaglutide licensed for use in chronic weight management in adults. With endorsements from celebrities like Elon Musk and Oprah Winfrey, the rise of weight loss medications was inevitable. Ozempic began trending on social media and #Ozempic on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter was soon overflowing with testimonies raving about quick and effortless weight loss.
Our cultural obsession with being skinny is rooted in fatphobia, defined by Within Health as “implicit bias of overweight individuals … often rooted in the misguided idea that attaining a thin
fatphobia and cultural pressures
or fit body type is the ultimate life goal, and presenting as overweight is a sign of moral failing.” Weight is frequently used as a direct, albeit subconscious, indicator of health, attractiveness and even personality.
A person might be very thin and incredibly unhealthy, yet they are often quickly perceived as “healthier” than a heavier individual who actually maintains sustainable eating and exercise habits. When people describe their weight loss goals, it is often referred to as “getting healthy”, but the two are not interchangeable.
Casey Burkett, a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in eating disorders, discussed how companies prey on people’s insecurities to create need for a product.
“If you’re in a culture that’s built on selling people things to solve all their problems, we have to manufacture a whole lot of problems to solve,” Burkett said. “Making people feel bad about themselves constantly is a great way to sell products that report to have a solution, and that’s where something like Ozempic comes in. People are paying a thousand dollars a month for this.”
Ozempic, as well as the rest of the weight loss industry, profits off of the way many people feel about their bodies. There is immense cultural pressure to be thin, and traditional weight loss routes can be challenging, making Ozempic an incredibly appealing option for the frustrated masses.
Society’s obsession with thinness and Ozempic’s place in health today has had clear consequences, both on the pharmaceutical industry and the average person.
The medication’s huge popularity has led to a shortage, particularly of low-dose versions. Novo Nordisk told the Therapeutic Goods Administration that “supply will remain limited for the rest of 2024”, citing the cause as “a rapid increase in
prescribing for ‘off-label’ use (prescriptions to treat conditions other than those approved by the TGA)”.
An Ozempic shortage means limited supply, not only for people seeking the medication for weight loss, but also for those hoping to treat their type 2 diabetes.
As well as consequences for the pharmaceutical industry, Ozempic poses risks and side effects to the people who are prescribed the drug. Side effects include but are not limited to: nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and vomiting, and a variety of issues may be present for patients even after they get off Ozempic.
Burkett discussed the problems that often arise when patients stop taking medications like Ozempic.
“If you look at any of the other trendy medications that have come around in the last five years, they show that they can do the job and people lose weight, but then as soon as they stop taking them or go back to their original lifestyle, they tend to actually bring on more weight,” Burkett said.
Ozempic and similar medications are “quick fixes” for people looking to lose weight. Although patients are likely to lose weight initially, more will likely come back as soon as they go off the medication unless other underlying problems are addressed first.
At its core, this trend reflects a deeper societal issue: Equating thinness with health and moral superiority. Until we challenge the underlying fatphobia and redefine what it means to be healthy, medications like Ozempic will continue to be misused, exacerbating eating disorders and promoting harmful cycles of weight gain and loss. Rather than quick fixes, we need to cultivate a culture that values sustainable health, body diversity and self-acceptance.
Read the full story @arbiteronline.com.
Graphic of a female figure losing weight. Graphic by Kelsey Mason
‘I’m not afraid of being who I am’:
A love letter to Boise Pride
Boise Pride Festival is a testament to the love, unity and spirit that Idaho’s LGBTQ+ community holds
Emily
Carmela Nelson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Grahics by kelsey mason |
According to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Idaho is in a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ individuals
In June of 2024, the Boise Police Department reported on three separate occasions that pride flags hanging along Harrison Boulevard were damaged or stolen.
This not only disheartened Idaho’s LGBTQ+ community, but shined an even brighter light on their never ending fight in the state of Idaho.
In an immediate response to the hate crimes, Boiseans chose to rally together in efforts to salvage the remaining flags and gather funds for replacing flags that had gone missing.
“It’s important to remember why pride exists,” said Elayne Wylie.
Wylie served as the Gender Justice League’s executive director for 10 years and is now a producer of Trans Pride Seattle, a major sponsor of a few Boise Pride events.
“It used to be illegal to express your gender or sexuality openly, and our community finally had enough,” Wylie said.
Boise, Idaho’s first Pride Parade took place in June of 1990. Coordi nated by Brian J. Berquist, the late assistant director and coordinator of conference services in the Boise State Student Union, approximately 350 community members marched in this parade.
In a November 1989 issue of “Out!”, Boise's discontinued queer newspaper, Berequist wrote, “The very idea of a Gay Pride Parade sends
chills down the back of many in Boise. It would create controversy. It would create interest. It would cry out to the greater Boise community that we are here and we exist and we deserve to be able to have our day in the sun.”
Boise’s Pride Festival takes place every September to celebrate the victories and culture of Boise’s LGBTQ+ community. This three day celebration gives the community a safe haven to express themselves.
Green Sonersen is one of the many young adults who attended the festival. Sonersen said they have attended Boise Pride every year since they were a child.
“My parents are lesbians, so Pride has always been really big in our family. It’s really nice, especially growing up in Idaho where it’s much redder
Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Boise Pride Festival kicked off with Idaho’s First Trans March on Eighth and Jefferson Street. Hundreds of community members marched through the streets of Boise, Idaho to show case their excitement and love for Idaho’s transgender and non-binary communities.
Marchers held homemade signs with messages reading “IT STARTS HERE!” and “Trans Joy is Revolutionary”. Around 6:30 p.m., the crowd gathered at the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial for a mini-showcase consisting of local trans speakers and performances.
munity. Even though America as a whole has shown overwhelming support for trans people of all ages, it’s often a very vocal minority that displays their opposition,” Wylie said. “An event like this generates hope and camaraderie, and a shared purpose of being able to live a life in community with others.”
Quintana noted that while this march has been deemed Idaho’s first Trans March, it is not the first time the community has come together to rally for their rights.
“Boise, this is our first of many, many more Trans Joy marches,” said Bonnie Violet Quintana, the lead organizer of the event, as she welcomed the
“We were hungry for it, we were ready for it. This should not be revolutionary, this should be everyday,” Quintana said.
Elayne Wylie is a producer of Trans Pride Seattle, a June pride event held in Seattle, Washington to celebrate the transgender community.
Trans Pride Seattle is a generous sponsor of Idaho’s March for Trans Joy. Wylie said that upon hearing word that Idaho residents were planning a Trans Pride March, Trans Pride Seattle organizers knew they wanted to help in any way they could.
“Being transgender, as a member of a tiny portion of the population, can sometimes feel isolating without com -
This was the first time a march was held with only one victory in mind — to spread joy and hope.
“I think joy is one of the most vulnerable emotions that somebody can have, it comes from within,” Quintana said. “So much of the time we’re put in a position to respond to what is happening for us, instead of just living, being and existing.”
“Give Us Our Flowers While We Are Here”
Despite Idaho’s first Trans March and Boise Pride Festival having a lively turn out, Quintana mentioned that returning back to the real world after a weekend filled with love and community can be overstimulating and emotionally draining for queer folk.
“We’re back to struggling to pay our bills or finding a place to pee, you know, basic life stuff,” Quintana said. “For many of us who are trans and
Photos by Omar Saucedo
non-binary, it feels like a daily task. We’re constantly coming out and we’re constantly being interrogated.”
Quintana knew she wanted to leave something for trans and non-binary people to take home and cherish after the event.
Idaho’s First Trans March introduced an evocative art installation titled “Give Us Our Flowers While We Are Here” after stellar performances by the girl group “DEMUR” with members Transjenifahs Gawdy, Frida Nightz and Kara-Mel and boy band “The Masc Street Boiz” with members Frank, Micah, Dev lyn and Dixon.
Participants were invited to write messages of hope for the trans and non-binary community on notes attached to carnations. The flowers were then marched to the Idaho State Capital to be added to a welded metal art structure built by Xanadu, Billy Edney and Kaden Sinclair.
plenty of trans and non-binary people cry when they received a flower,” Quintana said. “There was this one individual who asked ‘Is it okay if I write ‘don’t do it’?’’, which I think was a sentiment of don’t take your life. I think they were concerned it was morbid or dark. If it feels like something you need to say, say it, because who knows who’s gonna get that message, and maybe that is exactly what they
The creators of the rave said they were inspired by a need they felt in the community for exclusively queer and women event spaces.
Danielle Mitten is the co-creator and creative director of Grrl Rave.
“Boise has a vibrant queer and femme community, and it is important for the community not just to come together, but to come together in a space that is directly run and operated by women and queer folk,” Mitten said. “Grrl Rave events are spaces where women and people are not guests in the space. They own it.”
Love from Boise’s 35th Pride Festival
“For three days of the year, I’m not afraid of being who I am,” CJ Marlow, a pride attendee, said.
Grrl Rave’s priority is giving back to the community, especially in honor
“We are using a portion of the funds to purchase binders, breast forms, and emergency housing supplies for the trans community,” Mitten said.
For some, this was their first time attending Boise Pride.
“Oftentimes, you hear a lot about trans people after they die,” Quintana said. “They’re often murdered, commit suicide or have some sort of violent death. I’ve heard ‘give us our flowers while we’re here’, so let’s not wait until we die to give eachother our flowers.”
The “Give Us Our Flowers While We Are Here” project was a hit. The organizers of the March for Trans Joy purchased almost 1,600 flowers and gave out every single one to members
This is the sentiment that was felt throughout Cecil D. Andrus Park over Idaho’s three day long Pride festival.
CJ Marlow attended Boise Pride Festival 2024 radiating joy, with rainbows painted on their cheeks and a pin on their overalls stating “you are enough”.
“I feel so happy to see other people experience such a profound sense of joy,” Marlow said. “I’ve seen a lot of older couples holding hands. It’s so sweet to see people who have survived through everything. It’s truly inspira -
lovely where you are!’.
“One of the things I really loved about the flowers was just getting to hear what people would write. I saw
Lauren McClean, the mayor of Boise, proclaimed that Sept. 13-15 would be deemed ‘Boise Pride Week’, highlighting the event’s significance.
Hundreds of local businesses and vendors filled the park with food trucks, informational booths, art and laughter.
The Boise Pride Festival stage was filled with passion and charisma with nine headliners, including Grammy Award winner Daya and opera singer, drag queen and composer Sapphira Cristàl.
“Grrl Rave” created a safe space for women and queer folks during the weekend of Boise Pride.
“It’s amazing. It’s so freeing to just be here and be myself. That was my biggest fear in the past,” Eva Cresci said.
Cresci was hosting a booth with Van Knapp in honor of Canyon County Pride. This is her first year attending Boise Pride.
“I had this part of me that wanted to be here, to be a part of this, but I couldn’t because of that stigma. To be able to embrace that and be here is forever life changing,” Cresci said.
For others, Boise Pride is a testament to how far Boise has come as a community.
Graham McBride was working for Flying M at the Pride festival. It was their fourth year attending the festival.
“It’s pretty huge for me as a queer person growing up here in Idaho,” McBride said. “It’s been cool to see this particular festival grow and gain popularity. I feel really honored to be a little part of that.”
Boise Pride Festival not only showcases the resilience and solidarity of Idaho’s LGBTQ+ community, but reminds the community of the power that love and joy hold in the face of adversity.
CULTURE
Voting Guide: How Gen Z can influence the 2024 election with policy awareness
A guide for young voters on how to ensure
Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
As midterm and general elections approach, Gen Z is demonstrating that while young voters have not had many elections to vote in, they are now emerging as a powerful political force.
Christian Lindke, a political science professor at Boise State University explained that young voters are often excluded from campaign efforts.
“And when you really look at young politics, one of the things you’ll notice is nobody asks young people to vote,” Lindke said.
Requesting a ballot and ensuring a vote is cast by election day on Nov. 5 is not necessarily a simple task, yet with the right information any legal adult can vote.
“Students do need to be informed,” Martin Orr, a sociology professor at Boise State University said. “If students are from out of state, they need to be informed as to what their rights are with regard to can they vote in their home state, or can they vote in Idaho? What are the residency requirements there? You know if they’re going to be voting in a state other than Idaho?”
Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Cornel West, Jill Stein and Chase Oliver are the current Presidential candidates, each candidate has a campaign website that explains their goals and credentials.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz — Democratic Party
Vice President Kamala Harris is running with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her Vice President. The two candidates align closely with the democratic party. According to the Harris/Walz campaign website, the runners aim
their ballots count in the 2024 election
to “defend reproductive freedom and safeguard the privacy of patients and providers.”
Harriz and Walz also advocate for civil rights and opportunities for American citizens, such as proposing laws that will enshrine voting rights protections, expand vote-by-mail, early voting and more.
Harris’ administration will also continue to protect Americans from discrimination, building on her work to secure $2 billion in funding for Offices of Civil Rights across the federal government.
As for gun laws, Harris proposes to “ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks, and support red flag laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. She will also continue to invest in funding law enforcement, including the hiring and training of officers and people to support them.” Harris also wishes to continue her aid in climate change and enact regulations to ensure the health of our climate.
Donald Trump and J.D. Vance — Republican Party
Former President Donal Trump and Senator J.D. Vance align closely with the Republican party, both Vance and Trump deny any connection to “Project 2025”. Vance and Trump pledge to “Seal the border and stop the migrant invasion” and “Carry out the largest deportation operation in American history” as published in his 2024 campaign site.
Within the midst of American involvement in the Palestine/Israel conflict, Trump also wants to “Prevent World War Three, restore peace in Europe and in the Middle East, and build a great iron dome missile defense shield over
our entire country” with American sourced iron as well as “Deport prohamas radicals”.
Trump and Vance also aim to cut federal funding for any school pushing “critical race theory”, “radical gender ideology” and other “inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content” onto school children. There are no official plans regarding reproductive health or
climate change within the Trump and Vance campaign site.
An absentee ballot is a vote cast by a citizen that is unable to get to the physical polling booth on the day of the election. Out of state students can search their state voting guidelines and request an absentee ballot from there. All absentee ballots must be requested before Oct. 25 at 5 p.m.
Illustration of a ballot box with a voting slip. Illustration by Sydney Smith
You’re not ugly, you’re a profit: The modern obsession with appearance
Chasing unrealistic beauty trends comes at a cost
Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Baby botox, lip fillers, hair extensions and branded cups are all the rage. About 15.8 million injectable procedures were performed last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The pursuit of idealized beauty has become an ever-evolving race in a world where social media reigns. With rapid trend cycles like the latest skincare routines or the newest hair treatment, women are constantly bombarded with new fads that promise the next level of perfection.
Michael Kreiter, a Boise State University sociology professor emphasizes that the relentless trend cycle is less about self-ex-
pression but rather about upholding societal beauty standards that commercialize women’s insecurities. You’re not ugly, you’re a profit.
A Forbes article explains that the United States cosmetics market was valued at nearly $50 billion in 2022. Makeup reviews and tutorials rank among the top-three most watched categories on YouTube. The constant financial pursuit of beauty is not necessarily new, but it has taken on a life of its own in the age of social media
Michael Kreiter explains that the communal perception and inherent “chase” of idealized standards are built into the structure of the world.
“There’s cultural standards that are dominant, and people see and judge based on these hegemonic values without even knowing that they’re part of it,” said Kreiter. “But it is part of our socialization, and often it privileges some over others, for sure. And of course … the huge detriment is that we have widespread mental health issues.”
Frances Haugen, a whistleblower and former Facebook product manager, disclosed the “Facebook Papers” to the Securities and Exchange Commission with congress. The leaked documents reveal that Facebook and other Meta subsidiaries intentionally showcase harmful and cruel messages to incite engagement.
According to Mary Pritchard, a psychology professor at Boise State University, social media services are able to advertise based on advanced targeting by following and tracking user data. They know what is trending, what insecurities are prevalent and how to get your attention.
According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, almost 30 percent of cosmetic plastic surgeons’ businesses have doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“Algorithms are good at finding pain points and exploiting them,” said Pritchard. “Don’t compare yourself to something that is not even real.”
Pritchard also explained that social media platforms deliberately target younger audiences, by inflicting insecurities and appearance obsession, these platforms have “a customer for life”.
In the age of influencers and photo editing, younger generations are losing their grasp on what “beauty” is. Eye bags, frizzy hair and crooked teeth are simply side effects of being human, and profits are being made off targeting those insecurities.
“We’ve seen a rise in anxiety, depression, body satisfaction and eating
disorders, and it’s been directly tied to our increase in time that we are spending on social media,” said Pritchard. “Because during lockdown, college students screen time, pre-pandemic, was two to three hours a day. During the most severe part of the pandemic, it was eight to 10 plus hours a day, and it hasn’t come back down.”
Eye creams, hair extensions and lip filler are simply transactions. Social media platforms intentionally target fast paced trends and push them through your screen to capitalize on a generation of insecure users.
“People are spending a ton of money to achieve certain looks … even in cases where they don’t have that kind of money to spend, but it’s a way of passing almost,” said Kreiter. “It causes a lot of harm and stress as well as body issues.” Kreiter also suggests that this phenomenon is directly linked to long lasting patriarchal standards held to women.
“We can’t have these individual solutions when we have a systemic problem, like how ingrained patriarchy is and not valuing women enough,” said Kreiter. “Because there could be so many other ways that people should be spending their time and finding self worth, but it’s about shaping their body, because that’s how they feel judged in society.”
It is important to note that makeup, clothing and hair are important forms of self expression, there is no shame in taking part in trends and finding happiness in doing so. These trends become detrimental when they are used as a means to chase an image that is not realistic.
Social media users must understand that the race to the “ideal image” has no end. Pouring money and time into a fleeting trend is not a sustainable way of life. Owning the newest accessory and having botox filled cheeks does not constitute success, you must find that yourself.
Graphic of a Vitruvian-esque woman with price tags around her.
Graphic by Naomi Brown
CULTURE
Haley Heynderickx: A night to remember at the Shrine Social Club Ballroom
Heynderickx
returns to Boise with a dreamlike performance of her upcoming sophomore album
Emily Carmela Nelson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Indie folk singer-songwriter Haley Heynderickx is no stranger to the Boise area. Heynderickx played Treefort Music Festival in both 2018 and 2021 and opened for Lucy Dacus’ Home Video Tour at The Egyptian Theatre in 2022.
As an attendee of the 2022 Lucy Dacus show, I immediately fell in love with Haley Heynderickx’s work. Her music is cathartic, genuine and sonically introspective.
In anticipation of her newest album “Seed of a Seed”, Haley Heynderickx has returned to Boise, Idaho, once again to play El Korah Shrine’s Ballroom.
Heynderickx and her band entered the Korah Shrine stage with a bubbling energy. As Heynderickx introduced herself, she apologized for hosting a concert late on Monday night.
Boise, Idaho, is the sixth stop on Haley Heynderickx’s self-titled tour. “We just drove six hours directly from Sisters, Oregon, so I may be a bit loopy,” Heynderickx said to the crowd. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
This tour is unique compared to the typical album roll out. A little under a week before the show, Heynderickx posted an announcement on Instagram.
“Finally the time has come,” Heynderickx wrote on Instagram. “I am allowed to say it. Album is around the corner and will be released November 1st - but today I get to share a special tune with you.”
Heynderickx explained that despite her label delaying the album release, she was excited to share her new music from “Seed of a Seed” with the crowd. “It’s a great honor to play shows and do art in real life,” Heynderickx said.
Beginning with the opening track “Gemini”, Heynderickx opens up about her inner thought process and regrets.
“There’s a woman in my bathroom claiming she has all the answers to my bad news / Then she kissed me on the
forehead / And then she crawls into my mouth / She says ‘we’ll all just figure it out’ / She is me, if I am her, It’s just a process.”
After playing two more tracks, Heynderickx took a break to introduce her bandmates.
With Matthew Holmes on bass, Daniel Rossi on drums and William Marsh on guitar, there is an obvious chemistry between the band members and Heynderickx. The crew exchanged banter that kept the audience laughing all night.
Haley Heynderickx’s choice to work with a band for this album was striking. The addition of layered instrumentals alongside her varied vocals create a unique and interesting sonic landscape Track four, “Mouth of a Flower” was one of my favorite performances of the night. Heynderickx describes this song as coming from “a simple place of gratitude.”
With the repetition of the lyrics, “And we take / and we take / and we take,” Heynderickx explores the realities of nature and the impact we leave on our environment.
“Seed of a Seed” was another stand out performance. As the title track of the upcoming album, it perfectly captures the feelings of whimsy Haley Heynderickx is trying to create on this record.
On the track, Heynderickx questions what it means to “know better” than to make the wrong choices.
“If we don’t know better / Well, did my parents know better? / No, but they tried.”
“Swoop” was the final track Heynderickx played from the new album. The heartfelt song is dedicated to the women in her life — her mother and grandmother.
Before playing the track, Heynderickx described the song as “very dear” to her.
“There’s an artistry to going away,” Heynderickx sings in the chorus. “There’s an artistry in the day to day to day.”
To close out the show, Heynderickx played three tracks she liked to describe as “oldies” from her debut studio album “I Need to Start a Garden”: “The Bug Collector”, “No Face” and “Oom Sha La La”. Overall, this concert felt like one of the most intimate listening parties one could possibly attend. Haley Heynderickx’s show at El Korah Shrine’s ballroom is a testament to her capability as an artist to create brilliant and meaningful folk music.
After experiencing the record live, with fresh ears and a fresh heart, I am looking forward to Heynderickx’s upcoming sophomore album “Seed of a Seed”, and am confident it will be her best body of work yet.
Photo of Haley Heynderickx taken for her current tour.
Photo by courtesty of Evan Benally Atwood
‘Always… Patsy Cline’: A show so nice you’ll want to see it twice The musical delights viewers with stunning vocals and a focus on female friendship
Often referred to as the “dessert” of the season, this year’s closing show at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival is none other than the toe-tapping musical “Always… Patsy Cline”. Featuring 27 of Cline’s hits, the show details the real-life friendship between country superstar Patsy Cline and electrician and housewife Louise Seger.
Despite playing the role of Patsy Cline four times in the past 11 years, Christina Rose Hall is discovering new facets of the character while keeping one thing at the forefront of her mind: honoring Patsy Cline’s legacy.
“I do feel very much the honor, as well as the need, to try to emulate her sound,” Hall said. “There is no sounding just like
Patsy, because she’s one of a kind, truly. But I do take that job very seriously, I really try to honor what she originated.”
Hall said she fell in love with Cline’s music as a child due to the fact that the country star’s music was what her “family could agree to listen to multi-generationally when [they] all got together,” allowing her to understand “the emotional landscape that she’s [Patsy Cline] able to paint.”
Female friendship and the idea of finding a sort of sisterhood in a friend is at the heart of what “Always… Patsy Cline” is about — a message that is deeply impactful for Hall.
“The story we’re telling, it’s about her [Patsy’s] friendship with someone, a fan, who she met, and they connected, and
they remained friends the rest of Patsy’s life,” Hall said. “That’s the thing that I get most excited about, is this, this love story between platonic friends, between women who see themselves in each other.”
Featuring blinged-out cowgirl getups and 27 iconic songs such as “Crazy” and “Walkin After Midnight”, there are many standout moments from the show to choose from. However, for Hall, some of the most special parts of the show are the more intimate moments where Cline gets to just exist as a person — not necessarily a performer.
“What I really love is the moments where Patsy actually gets to sit down at the kitchen table with Louise and just be a person,” Hall said. “Even the moments where Patsy is in solitude, she’s singing,
but when she thinks she’s not being observed. Just toying with the difference of that sound, what she sounds like when it’s just for her, versus what she sounds like when it’s for a room full of wonderful people.”
The tight-knit bond between Patsy Cline and Louise Seger is mirrored by the friendship of Hall and co-star Harmony France whom Hall met in Chicago after being in multiple audition rooms together.
After establishing Firebrand Theater, a feminist musical theater company, France invited Hall to act alongside her in a 2019 production of “Always… Patsy Cline”.
“In the very wild style of true us, in the past, [we] would switch roles every night …We learned how to have each other’s backs in a very real way on stage, through that process,” Hall said. “The chance to get to step back into these boots and share this story of love and friendship with someone who I love and do indeed consider my dear friend is a true joy …”
As Patsy Cline’s life was cut tragically short when she was only 30 years old, Hall highlighted the significance of respecting and doing justice to Cline’s legacy on stage.
“When I started doing this [role] I was the age Patsy was when she passed,” Hall said. “Now I’ve had the opportunity, the gift, of living a decade longer than she has. I feel the importance and respect for bringing my own journey to the role. Patsy — she is the voice of heartbreak as far as my brain is concerned, the way she breaks her voice with a yodel is like the sound of a heart breaking.”
Don’t “fall to pieces” tickets for “Always… Patsy Cline” at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival will be available until Sept. 29. Dust off your cowgirl boots, hop on this “honky tonk merry-go-round” and witness some “crazy” vocal talent.
Photo of performers in the musical “Always... Patsy Cline.”
Photo courtesy of Two Bird Studio
SPORTS & REC
September 26, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Bring on the competition: Boise State Broncos enter the PAC-12 Conference
Predictions on how the PAC-12 will rebrand their conference
Before the 2024 season, the once renowned PAC-12 conference disbanded, leaving Oregon State University and Washington State University alone. Teams ran off to conferences all over the country, some joining the Big Ten, others joining the Big 12, while some even went all the way to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Despite being disbanded a year ago, the PAC-12 is now in full rebuild mode with new additions to the Power 5 conference.
Boise State joins three other schools in their transfer from the Mountain West Conference to the PAC-12 Conference for the 2026-2027 season. As of now, the rebranded conference will consist of Fresno State University, Colorado State University, San Diego State University, Washington State University, Oregon State University and Boise State University.
With the new conference realignment taking place two years from now, and with only six teams currently in the PAC-12, more schools are likely to be added to this conference.
“We have a seat at that table.We’re one of six and ultimately as a group we will determine what the future looks like,” Athletic Director Jeremiah Dickey said in a press release. “A lot goes into that process and I can’t speak specifically on who and what that timeline is, but we know we need to add at least two and everyone has a different preference and that’s where we’ll come together as a group and figure out what that looks like moving forward”
The idea that more teams are going to be joining the PAC-12 between now and the start of the new conference
realignment, the question that fans are asking now is: Which other schools will follow these teams into a new, power conference?
Here are some possible schools that the Broncos could see in their conference in the future:
Utah State University
Utah State University would make a great addition to the PAC-12 conference as a familiar face for the ex Mountain West schools would continue to carry on tradition amongst the teams. Along with their four ex Mountain West counterparts, the Utah State Aggies have been in constant competition in all sports across the board. With nine Mountain West championships since 2019 in all sports, the Aggies have been a problem for their opponents in the Mountain West. Utah State will not only continue rivalries among the old Mountain West schools, but would also create more competition amongst the other schools in the PAC12.
Tulane University
The Tulane Green Wave joined the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in 2014 and have won five conference championships since. The Green Wave is known to be one of the more feared football teams in the country. In the last two seasons, the team has a combined 23-5 record, also winning the Cotton Bowl in 2022. They ended the 2022 season ranked number #14 in the country, making the Green Wave a fantastic possible addition to the PAC-12 Conference.
University
of Memphis
The second AAC team on this list, the Memphis Tigers are an interesting program to look into for conference
realignment. For football, the Tigers have been to 10 straight bowl games, winning their previous three (2021 Hawaii Bowl canceled). In men’s basketball, the Tigers have one of the most storied programs, reaching the NCAA Tournament Championship game twice and appearing in the tournament 28 times. Memphis is bound to make a move to a Power 5 conference, which makes the PAC-12 a perfect fit for the Tigers.
University of South Florida (USF)
One of the most well rounded sports programs on this list, the USF Bulls have been a force in their years in the AAC. Despite being on the opposite side of the country, the USF Bulls are a program to keep an eye out on. In 2024, they won their first conference championship for Men’s Basketball in over 30 years, while also winning two conference champion -
ships in the past four years for women’s basketball. Though their football team is not nearly as good as the others on this list, or in the new PAC-12, their other sports programs can compete at a high level.
Realistically, it is impossible to predict exactly what the PAC-12 will look like for the 2026 season. No matter what the conference will look like, Boise State will be going against more competitive schools than the years prior.
“We’re bar raisers.We’re going to continue to raise this bar and I feel this decision impacts us for many years to come,” Dickey said in a press release. “It’s always a great day to be a Bronco, but today is special and it’s a day we’ll look back on and I’m excited for what’s next.”
Read the full story @arbiteronline. com.
Graphic of the Boise State logo and Pac-12 logo shaking hands.
Graphic by Naomi Brown
College Football Playoffs: Can Boise State claim a spot?
The selection process, predictions and fan favorites
Roszy McGeorge | Sport & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
For the first time, The Mountain West Conference has a clear path to the College Football Playoffs (CFP) after expanding to a 12-team bracket for the 2024-2025 season.
This new format will allow one team outside the power conferences to compete. The group of five conferences are the Mountain West, American, Sun Belt, Mid-American and Conference USA.
This leaves the Broncos with the opportunity to play for a national title.
Selection Process
Bids will be given to the top five ranked conference champions. The seven highest-ranked teams that follow will round out the remaining spots.
The top four teams will receive a firstround bye to the quarterfinals. Seeds 5-12 will compete in the first round.
Boise State
After a tight loss against the Oregon Ducks, the Broncos will need to go
undefeated the rest of the season in order to secure a place in the College Football Playoff.
Considering Boise State was four points shy of beating No. 7 ranked Oregon, the Broncos should be capable of winning the rest of their games and finishing off the season with an 11-1 record.
The Broncos offense features top rated running back Ashton Jeanty who is a contender for the Heisman Trophy. There is confidence Jeanty can lead the Broncos toward the 12 team playoff as he is already off to an incredible start with nine touchdowns off two games this season.
Boise State has the best betting odds to make the playoff among any Group of Five (G5) team. On top of that, they are the number one favored school to win the Mountain West Championship for the second year in a row.
“We know what we’re playing for,” Head Coach Danielson said. “The goal is always to win a Mountain West cham-
pionship but this year, our players know they have a shot at a national championship.”
Favored Teams
Southeastern Conference: University of Georgia
The University of Georgia remains the top team in the country following the first few weeks. They defeated Clemson University 34-3, Tennessee Tech University 48-3 and University of Kentucky 1312. Until proven otherwise, the Bulldogs are the team to beat as they compete toward their third title in four years.
The Big Ten Conference: Ohio State University
The Buckeyes had three dominating victories opening up their season with a 56-0 win against Western Michigan University followed by a 52-6 win against The University of Akron and a 49-14 win over Marshall University.
The Atlantic Coast Conference: University of Miami
The Hurricanes moved up a spot following a 56-9 win over Florida A&M University. They followed this with a 62-0 blowout against Ball State University and a 50-15 win against University of South Florida. Heisman candidate and quarterback Cam Ward was named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 after also earning ACC Player of the Week distinction and Maxwell Player of the Week recognition.
The Big 12 Conference: University of Utah
The University of Utah is projected to be the Big 12 Champions. The Utes have a 4-0 record so far going 23-12 against Baylor University, 49-0 against Utah Southern University, 38-21 against Utah State University and 22-19 against Oklahoma State University.
Other favored teams include University of Texas, Penn State University, University of Alabama, Kansas State University and Clemson University.
12 Team Prediction
1.University of Georgia
2.Ohio State University
3.University of Miami
4.University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)
5.University of Texas
6.Penn State University
7.University of Alabama
8.University of Oregon
9.University of Utah
10.Kansas State University
11.Clemson University
12.Boise State University
Top Group of Five Contenders
1.Boise State (2-1) Conference: Mountain West
Players to Watch: Ashton Jeanty (running back), Maddux Madsen (quarterback), Chris Marshall (wide receiver) and Ahmed Hassanein (defensive end)
2.University of Memphis (3-1) Conference: American
Players to Watch: Seth Henigan (quarterback), Roc Taylor (wide receiver), Chandler Martin (linebacker) and Kourtlan Marsh (safety)
3.Liberty University (4-0) Conference: Conference USA
Players to Watch: Kaidon Salter (quarterback), Brylan Green (safety), Quinton Cooley (running back) and Tyson Mobley (wide receiver)
4.University of Las Vegas Nevada (3-0) Conference: Mountain West
Players to Watch: Rickey White (wide receiver), Jai’Den Thomas (running back), Jackson Woodard (linebacker) and Melvin Laster (linebacker)
5.Appalachian State (2-2) Conference: Sun Belt
Players to Watch: Joey Aguilar (quarterback), Kanye Roberts (running back), Nate Johnson (linebacker) and Michael Hughes (kicker)
Honorary Mentions: Northern Illinois University, Tulane University, Fresno State University and University of Toledo.
Graphic of a potential bracket for the upcoming College Football Playoffs. Graphic by Naomi Brown
Eyes on the Prize: The Broncos chase the Club Baseball World Series
After a previous demotion, Baseball is looking to make a comeback on the Boise State Campus
In 2020, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, Boise State’s Division I baseball team was discontinued due to budget cuts in the athletic department. The discontinuation of the team led to the players creating a club in which the team can continue playing the sport that they love.
Fast forward to 2024 and the Boise State club baseball team is dominating, playing in the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA). The Broncos ended their 2023-2024 season with an impressive 16-7 record (11-4 in conference) and ended their season with a program best #11 rank in the Rawlings Top 20 Poll.
Despite this historic feat for the program, the team has its eyes set on something bigger.
“We are obviously looking to build on that,” first baseman Wyatt Brimhall said. “We’re looking to win our regionals this
year in order to go to the World Series [NCBA] … I feel like that’s the end goal, to make it to the World Series and win it.”
The Broncos have recently fallen short of playing in the world series, losing in the regionals in back to back years.
“Obviously getting past that point of losing regionals, last year and the year before is a major stepping stone that I think we can achieve,” Brimhall continued. “First focusing and winning regionals, then going to the World Series and winning.”
With their recent success, including Boise State joining the PAC-12, the club baseball team could potentially see themselves upgrading to the NCAA level. Though it is out of the players control for this decision, the team is still focused on building and growing the program.
“I’ve been here for the last two seasons,” Brimhall said. “And this season we
have had the most new guys come out. We have almost 30 guys on the roster, compared to years before where we had around 20. Everybody loves baseball as a sport, so why not add it (the team to Division I) eventually.”
There are many factors for a team to get upgraded to the Division I level that do not include team success, such as funding and fan support.
“It’s just like any sport. It’s just like going to a basketball game. It’s just like going to a football game,” Brimhall said. “The energy that the crowd brings means absolutely everything to us. The other teams in the league are not used to crowd support, so when we have a crowd behind our back, it means the world to us.”
Just like all sports, having crowd support can change the dynamic of how a team plays. Having a fan atmosphere at sporting events doesn’t just show on
the win/lose column, but can also help a team and program grow. With the growth that the Boise State Club Baseball team has seen, is it possible to see the Broncos return to the pitch?
The Broncos have already begun their fall season, starting the season off beating the University of Idaho Vandals three straight times. They hope to continue their strong start to the season, hosting the Washington State University Cougars on Oct. 12 and 13.
With the pressure of possible promotion looming, the team is ready to compete at a high level, as they have done in recent years.
“We’re trying to show the school that baseball can be a thing that can be brought back to Boise State,” Brimhall said. “And hopefully it can be something that stays at Boise State.”
Photo of the Boise State Club Baseball team.
Courtesy of Boise State Athletics
OUR BEST GUESS
THE ARBITER ALIGNS YOUR STARS
CAPRICORN
DEC 22 - JAN 19
PLANS WILL CHANGE AS TIME EBBS AND FLOWS, AND THAT’S OKAY.
AQUARIUS
JAN 20 - FEB 18
CHECK OUT THE THRIFT STORES — THERE’S A SLAY OUTFIT WAITING FOR YOU.
PISCES
FEB 19 - MAR 20
SWIM LITTLE FISHY! GET OUT THERE, THE WORLD AWAITS. YOU!
ARIES
MARCH 21 - APR 19
YOU DID NOT WIN THE ARGUMENT, YOU’RE JUST REALLY LOUD.
TAURUS
APR 20 - MAY 20
PRIORITIZE YOURSELF. HAVE A LITTLE DATE WITH YOURSELF, YOU DESERVE GOOD THINGS.
22
YOUR HEART WILL BE A GARDEN IN FULL BLOOM, FROLIC IN THE FIELDS BABE.
MAY 21 - JUN 20
NO NEED TO OVERTHINK, IT’S GIVING. SOAP OPERA. GEMINI
CANCER
JUN 21 - JUL 22
SLEEP IN THE MEADOWS AND WATER THE FLOWERS WITH YOUR TEARS, CRYING IS GOOD.
LEO JUL 23 - AUG 22
SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND (SANG IN RIHANNA VOICE).
VIRGO
AUG 23 - SEPT 22
SOMETIMES QUIET IS GOOD, LET’S MEDITATE ON THESE THOUGHTS.
YOUR HEART WILL BE A GARDEN IN FULL BLOOM, FROLIC IN THE FIELDS BABE. LIBRA SEPT 23 - OCT 22
