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. Additional copies can be picked up for free at The Arbiter offices.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
ON THE COVER:
The 2024 presidential election is a tight race and students have mixed feelings going into election day. While some students are eager to vote, others are frustrated with American politics and feel voiceless. As the country faces key decisions, get an inside look into voting culture.
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Photo from an Indian Students Association event.
Photo by Omar Saucedo
Make room for everyone, park to the side.
N EWS
November 7, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Streamlined advising is on the horizon with a
new Student Success Hub
BSU is rolling out a new Student Success Hub to improve the advising for students and advisors
Kaeden Lincoln | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Boise State is rolling out a new Student Success Hub that aims to function as an all-inclusive platform that allows students to schedule advising appointments and share files and advising notes with their advisors. Boise State has future plans to include financial aid on the platform as well.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Susan Shadle, a co-sponsor for the project, visited an ASBSU meeting on Oct. 28, 2024, to present the new platform to the ASBSU students.
Shadle explained that the Provost’s Office and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) are working together to roll out the new platform.
“Student Success Hub is a platform to support advising on campus,” Shadle said in the presentation. “I’m really excited about this because we have not had a really good system to support advising on campus.”
“There’s lots of little things that advisors do, many of you probably have had an advisor who gave you an Excel spreadsheet that showed your schedule,” Shadle said.
Shadle explained that due to a lack of consistency among advising resources, such as the use of Excel spreadsheets, emails and PeopleSoft, it can leave advising in “kind of a clunky place”.
The Arbiter asked students on campus what they thought about the advising process at present. Most students were frustrated with the current advising system.
Calvin Baldwin, a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Boise State said he appreciates the new platform.
“I know they have a new process of doing [advising] and it makes it really nice and easy to line up, but just going through the emails has been easy for me,” said Baldwin, who had met with his advisor the day prior.
“I really appreciate it,” said Savanna Philpo, a Criminal Justice major who transferred to Boise State her sophomore year.
“My first year here was last year and I had no idea what I was doing, so I found it really helpful that they just have an entire list for you and they check it for you and tell you how many more credits you have,” Philpo said.
Freshman Wyatt Trask is a Health Studies major and said the only thing that confused him about the advising and enrollment process is the shopping cart function in PeopleSoft.
“You can add stuff to your shopping
cart, but you’re not actually guaranteed to get into those classes, so I feel like it adds an extra level of stress,” said Trask.
Shadle told The Arbiter in an email that the new platform is part of a larger effort to adopt a Customer Relationship Management model.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a practice that uses data collection and analysis from interaction with customers or students in Boise State’s case. The goal of CRM software like the Student Success Hub is to create a centralized platform to consolidate a variety of customer-related information on a single database for faster, more streamlined access and analysis, according to a Forbes Advisor article.
“We started a several months-long process of building the system with advisor input in Spring 2023,” Shadle said in an email to The Arbiter.
The following semester, some advisors in the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS), College of Health Studies (COHS) and Extended Studies, began using the Student Success Hub to help advise students.
“Not surprisingly, we learned a lot along the way, as you would expect with any new, complex system. In Summer 2024, we onboarded two more colleges, who started advising in the system this fall: College of Engineering and the College of Education,” Shadle said.
Shadle said the remaining colleges will be onboarded over the next 6-8 months.
“In a few years, we expect students to be able to log into the system and easily get connected not only to their advisor but also to other support (e.g., Financial Aid, Career Center, etc.). One way to think of it is as a ‘one stop shop’ for student support.”
Photo of the Student Sucess Hub.
Courtesy of Boise State
Idaho EMS are struggling amidst a lack of resources and staffing shortages
Medical personnel describe what the future could look like without proper funding
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) across Idaho are struggling to acquire funding and are experiencing staffing shortages.
East Boise County
East Boise County Ambulance District (EBCAB) is attempting to establish a new EMS district that would allow the district to have agency instead of relying on county commissioners. The proposed tax increase would mean, annually, $13 for every $100,000 value of assessed property. If this was increased to the maximum amount it would be $40 for every $100,000 in property value and $27 in taxes.
Before the levy rate can be set, the new board must be established. If the levy rate were to go through, taxpayers would not witness the increase until as late as 2026.
Despite having four ambulances, East Boise County EMS doesn’t have enough medical personnel to staff them.
EBCAB Director of Operations, Mari Adams stated in an interview with KTVB that since 2020 the district has been “running on cash reserves” and doesn’t have the funds to continue that method.
In an interview with The Arbiter, Adams explained that the county commissioners called for the establishment of a new district.
“We [will] have our own EMS board that understands EMS instead of going through the county commissioners,” Adams said. “This was pushed by the county commissioners … because they know the importance of having people that understand what we do.”
While this tax increase may be a step in the right direction for East Boise EMS, Adams said more action is needed.
“Other courses of action are going to be needed. It will get us to a place where we can get more sustained, but it is definitely something that we need more money than what the max will allow us to have — but it’s a start,” Adams said.
As she is not on the board of commissioners, Adams wasn’t able to give exact details as to what East Boise EMS will do in the meantime. However, she explained some potential strategies moving forward.
“For a few people that I’ve talked to that are interested in being on the board there’s a chance that we could get an intergovernmental loan … but that’s kind of the only route that we can go, because we don’t have enough money to sustain for the next year,” Adams said.
While East Boise EMS is also looking into grants, Adams explained they often don’t cover vehicle maintenance and employee wages. Adams is hopeful that fundraising opportunities could be established in the future as well.
To help drive the ambulances, volunteers only need to be CPR certified and receive some “behind the wheel training”.
“If this does pass, it will allow us to hire a few more employees,” Adams said.
“That way we can get pretty close to having 24 hours, seven days a week coverage for one of our ambulances — we have four ambulances in different areas.”
Valley County
Amanda Keaveny started volunteering with McCall Fire in 2016 as a firefighter and EMT and serves a dual role as a Firefighter and EMT, as well as the McCall
Fire District Administrator.
Keaveny shared via email with The Arbiter the effects Valley County EMS District has experienced due to a lack of funding and staff.
“The staffing shortages have a direct and adverse effect on response times. When there are insufficient personnel to staff ambulances and fire engines simultaneously, response times lag, which can be critical in emergencies,” Keaveny said. “This delay can impede the delivery of timely medical interventions, compromising community safety especially in time-sensitive situations like cardiac events or severe injuries.”
Keaveny went on to share an example from McCall Fire Protection District Fire Chief Garrett de Jong.
“‘We got dispatched to a fully involved structure fire with a propane explosion on the North end of town,’ de Jong recalls. “So, the ambulance crew loaded the patient up into the ambulance. On their way to the hospital, they dropped the fire captain off at the station to respond to the engine by himself. I came in from home and responded at tender, and we had a 15-minute delayed response time to that incident. It took about seven minutes, seven or eight minutes from the hotel to the station to get on the engine to respond to the fire.”
Keaveny noted that Chief de Jong explained that if a whole crew had been on the engine the response time would have been six minutes, while the reaction time would have been merely 30 seconds.
Keaveny also shared a statement from Valley County Fire Chief Steve Hull.
“If the levy fails, EMS services will face severe cutbacks, potentially reverting to pre-2018 staffing models,” Chief Hull said. “This would mean longer response times, decreased quality of care, and the possible loss of Advanced Life Support capabilities, which are crucial for handling severe medical emergencies.”
Graphic of the Valley County EMS logo and the East Boise County EMS logo. Graphic by Naomi Brown
Amid record enrollment at Boise State, where are students coming from?
Boise State saw a steady increase for both in and out-of-state enrollment over the years
Kaeden
Lincoln and Spencer Rentfro | News Team | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
On Oct. 17, 2024, Boise State announced that the school’s enrollment increased by 11.5% for first-time undergraduate students from Idaho, becoming the largest incoming class of Idaho students in the university’s history. The university’s number of enrolled students in the 2024 fall semester totaled 27,250 students. In the face of a national decline in college enrollment, Idaho colleges and universities defied the trend. Instead, Boise State set a record.
Boise State’s Executive Director of Admissions Kelly Talbert highlighted in an email to The Arbiter the admissions choices in recruitment and scholarship programs since 2020 have helped with making Boise State more “accessible” to Idaho residents.
“These efforts are paying off, resulting in incoming classes of first-year students that are more resident-heavy, compared with the years leading up to the pandemic,” Talbert said. “We still value the rich experience that comes from having a geographically diverse student body. However, we have specific strategic plans that prioritize access and success of our Idahoans — especially those who may not have as much family experience with higher
education.”
One of the strategies Talbert mentioned was Idaho’s LAUNCH grant scholarship program that went into effect this fall 2024 semester. The grant can pay up to 80% of students’ tuition and fees if they attend one of the 12 institutions in Idaho, including Boise State University.
“Those scholarship funds helped make Idaho’s two and four-year institutions more accessible to residents this fall and Boise State saw the impact of that this fall with the largest class of Idahoans we’ve ever enrolled,” Talbert said.
Idaho Education News reporter
Kevin Richert attributed the sharp rise in enrollment to Idaho Launch, which assisted 1,285 first-year students in enrolling at Boise State.
“You’ve seen this kind of surge in first-year students from in-state, which clearly has a lot to do with LAUNCH,” Richert said.”They’re 2024 high school grads going straight to college, they’re a group that [Idaho universities] have had a hard time getting for a long time. LAUNCH has obviously had a big impact on the numbers we saw this fall.”
But LAUNCH isn’t guaranteed for the high school class of 2025.
“LAUNCH’s future is really interesting politically, I don’t know if the numbers are going to change many minds one way or the other about Launch, because legislators are pretty dug in right now about Launch,” Richert said. “It’s kind of taken this social aspect of ‘we’re giving financial aid to [students].’ I mean, that’s not really new, but this has created really hard, almost dogmatic positions either for or against it.”
Jeremiah Shinn, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment shared in a statement to The Arbiter the impact this enrollment record will have on the university’s future.
“We’re honored to have gained the trust of students and parents from across our state, as shown by this year’s record Idaho enrollment,” Jeremiah Shinn, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management said in a statement to The Arbiter. “This success reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, who create an exceptional college experience both in and out of the classroom.
Shinn added that as the university’s enrollment numbers grow, it’ll lead the university to “groundbreaking” research opportunities that’ll benefit Idaho and the world.
About two-thirds of Boise State students come from within Idaho. California follows behind, providing a substantial 17% of newly enrolled freshmen, according to statistics from Renee Rehder, Boise State’s director of Strategic Enrollment Initiatives.
17% only reflects the newly enrolled freshmen from California, meaning the total number of students from California is presumably larger.
The statistics measuring total number of students from out-of-state can become skewed when students from out-of-state list their new Idaho resi -
dence as their home address. The result is statistics that are not perfectly exact, but a good estimation.
Regardless, the increase of students from California is perceptible. Some faculty at Boise State even attributed much of the out-of-state growth directly to Orange County, California and San Diego, California.
“From a faculty member and department chair perspective, I would be pretty confident saying we do have a lot of out-of-state students from California, especially Orange County,” Media Department Chair Rick Moore said. “It seemed to me that the majority of the students came from the Boise, Treasure Valley area. But with quite a few also coming from places like Washington, Oregon and California,” History Department Chair Lisa Brady said.
Although the department chairs gave their anecdotal testimony, what they said largely aligned with the data.
“Boise State University has been an attractive option for students in California, Washington and Oregon for many years now,” Rehder said in an email to The Arbiter.
“When it comes to California specifically, we see families appreciating Boise State’s balance of academic offerings, affordability with competitor institutions they’re considering, and our ‘just right’ sized campus,” Rehder wrote. “Most of these students would like to graduate in four years and this can be tough at some of the California universities in their areas, due to capacity issues.”
Data from the United States Census Bureau shows over 17,000 California residents moved to Idaho in the last year.
Alongside the increasing number of Idahoans coming to Boise State, enrollment is on an upward trend.
Illustration of the U.S. map on a bronco. Illustration by Sydney Smith
PSA: How to stay safe on campus
In light of recent suspicious activity on campus, here’s how you can stay safe
Kaeden Lincoln | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
October brought a slew of suspicious activity to neighborhoods near Boise State’s campus. The Arbiter reached out to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at Boise State for advice on how residents and commuters can stay safe on campus.
Students living on campus
Tana Monroe, associated vice president of the DPS offered comprehensive advice to students on how they could stay safe. Here are the tips she wants students to know.
Lock your doors and windows. When walking, stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid using your phone
excessively and stick to well-lit paths. Boise State’s website has a night map that displays the well lit paths on campus.
Monroe advised using the Rave Guardian app. The app allows users to share their location with trusted friends or DPS. It also allows direct communication with DPS, anonymous tip submission and other emergency resources.
Boise State’s campus is dotted with blue light emergency phones, and Monroe advised becoming familiar with this resource and campus safety protocols like “run, hide, fight” for active threats.
If students witness suspicious activity, Monroe said students shouldn’t hesitate to report it. They can do so using the Rave Guardian app, calling DPS or filling out the silent witness form.
Ary Carpenter is a freshman from Washington. Carpenter, who lives on campus, said she was initially apprehensive about attending BSU for safety reasons.
“Looking at colleges, I was going to go to [Grand Canyon University] because they have a fenced-in campus,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter noted the University of Idaho murders in 2022 as the driving reason for her apprehension.
“But living on campus here, they do have a lot of areas where they have the [blue light phones] which is nice. But I have walked on the Greenbelt and seen sketchy people. I always carry [pepper spray] and I try not to walk alone,” Carpenter said.
Commuter Students
Commuter students should follow many of the same safety tips as students living on campus, with a few additional considerations.
Monroe advised parking in well-lit areas and keeping a buddy system for late-night commutes, a function the Rave app has, similar to Life360. Monroe said staying alert while walking to and from your vehicle and avoiding distractions like your phone. When parking, Monroe said locking your car and hiding valuables can help prevent theft.
Emmy Johnston, a freshman who lives on-campus, said she heard of the suspicious activity occurring on campus.
“It’s definitely scary, and kind of makes me uncomfortable,” Johnston said. “It might not be safe to walk on campus where it should be safe.”
Johnston said that she takes a variety of precautions like never going out alone at night and avoiding night classes on her schedule so she can avoid walking around campus at night.
The Boise State DPS said students should take advantage of the security escort service they offer, which can be requested through Rave Guardian or by calling DPS. The escort will walk with students from one location to another to ensure their safety.
DPS suggested that if a student ever gets a gut feeling that makes them uncomfortable, they should seek safety immediately and not take risks.
Photo of students walking by.
Photo by Omar Saucedo
OPINION
Olivia Brandon | News Editor
There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are falling and suddenly that guy in your math class you’ve never looked twice at is looking really cute. Of course, this has nothing to do with Thanksgiving right around the corner, which will feature choruses of “Are you dating anyone?” from well-meaning relatives you only see twice a year. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with Christmas and the idea of snuggling up with someone by the fire on a brutally cold Idaho night… right?
Experts and students seem to think otherwise. In an article from the Cleveland Clinic, psychologist Susan Albers explained that seasonal depression or SAD — Seasonal Affective Disorder — is a driving force for many people seeking relationships in the colder months.
“SAD intensifies feelings of being alone or blue and dating is often a healthier strategy of coping than pulling the covers over your head,” Albers said.
Albers went on to say that while this may be a healthy coping mechanism in some situations, the desire to get into a relationship often causes people to focus less on compatibility than they would otherwise. Making sure that person is the right fit feels significantly less important with the incoming holidays and dreary weather.
“The downside is that needing to be in a relationship right now often makes people lower their standards or expectations in a relationship. They are willing to be with people who are convenient and available versus those who truly match them,” Albers said.
Karyna Meiner, a junior at Boise State majoring in Business, believes there is a higher likelihood that
individuals will enter into relationships in fall or winter.
“I feel like it’s the season of love, and then also it’s all the holidays coming up, so everyone kind of forces their way into one [a relationship],” Meiner said.
This concept of having more fun with someone because of external factors like season, activities or other forces is what I call ‘The Bachelor/Bachelorette effect.’ If your dates consist of inherently romantic activities, looking at Christmas lights, Valentine-centered dates, or couples costumes for Halloween parties, of course you’re going to think you hit it off.
But if all of that pomp and circumstance was stripped away… would that person still be a top contender for a partner?
Meiner suggests a need for body heat could be to blame for these festive flings.
“Especially here, it gets really cold, and everyone just wants that someone to cuddle up with,” Meiner said. “I’ve been hearing [about] cuffing season since I was in elementary school.”
Alondra Padilla, a junior majoring in Accounting at Boise State says she has been guilty of entering into a relationship around the holidays.
“My birthday lands in the fall, so yes, I have,” Padilla said. “And there’s a reason why, and that reason is because [of] the presents.”
Padilla shared some parting words of wisdom by stating: “Don’t go out with someone ugly just because it’s the holiday season.”
Gillian Ernest, a junior majoring in Nursing at Boise State agrees with the sentiment that cuffing season exists but isn’t so sure that it’s a successful endeavor for everyone.
“I think people want to [find someone],” Ernest said. “But I honestly don’t think it happens.”
Ernest said that gift-giving and quality time could be two factors that motivate people to find their Halloween costume partner or date for Valentine’s Day.
“I think it’s honestly because of the holidays and as Alondra was saying [the] presents,” Ernest said. “Also the holiday activities that you don’t want to do by yourself.”
Aiden Thayer, a sophomore at Boise State majoring in Kinesiology believes that family pressure or expectations are a major reason why people force relationships around the holidays.
“Depending on if your family expects you to be with someone, or if your family is like ‘Hey do you have a boyfriend or do you have a girlfriend yet?’” Thayer said. “Then you kind of feel pressure[d] to. If you get together with them at Thanksgiving or Christmas … you kind of want to bring someone.”
While the pressure from relatives to show up with a partner around the holidays can be intense, consider that it’s mostly coming from generations who fast-track relationships. Gen Z has been notable as a generation for the way its members take their time in love — and that’s a good thing.
The moral of the story: an impending holiday doesn’t make someone automatically right for you. If you happen to find your person in the coming months, may we all be so lucky. But if you don’t, host a “Friendsgiving”, spend some time with your loved ones and don’t fall prey to the cuffing season propaganda — or maybe do if you want those presents.
Illustration
Illustration by Kelsey Mason
Three female coming-of-age albums that you should revisit Something was clearly in the late 2010s and early 2020s indie-pop girl air
Emily Carmela Nelson | Culture Reporter | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Music has always been the way to my heart — especially if said music is made by a melancholic singer-songwriter.
Listed below are three albums that defined my girlhood, all containing themes of love, loss and self-discovery.
Lorde: Melodrama (2017)
“I hate the headlines and the weather / I’m nineteen and I’m on fire / But when we’re dancing, I’m alright / It’s just another graceless night.”
Whether you’re looking for pure pop or heart-wrenching lyricism, this album has it all.
On “Melodrama’, Lorde captures the end of adolescence. The mixture of Lorde’s fluorescent writing and Jack Antonoff’s production work tells the story of a young woman navigating the adult world through heartache.
Since the album’s 2017 release, I’ve been endlessly in love with this record.
On “Green Light”, Lorde is following her usual routine without her lover. “We order different drinks at the same bars”, she sings, signifying the proximity they once shared. Lorde, stuck in gloom and angst, dreams of receiving the “green light” to move on from her heartbreak.
On “Homemade Dynamite”, Lorde falls in love at a house party. “I’ll give you my best side, tell you all my best lies,” she tells the stranger as she compares the newfound spark they share to “homemade dynamite”.
“Writer in The Dark” explores Lorde’s identity as a lover, immortalizing her love within her songwriting and heart.
“I am my mother’s child / I’ll love you ‘til my breathing stops / I’ll love you ‘til you call the cops on me”
If I could hang any album in “The Louvre”, there’s no doubt this would be the one.
Soccer Mommy: Clean (2018)
“‘Cause I don’t wanna be your baby girl / that you show off to the world / When you decide you want to feel / Like you’re living something real.”
“Clean” is an album about wanting to feel wanted. The record follows Soccer Mommy pining after someone and feeling insecure within her own skin.
On the track “Cool”, Soccer Mommy obsesses over another girl, jealous of her “criminal” and “stoner girl” reputation.
“I wanna to know her like you — I want to be that cool,” she sings as she fantasizes about who she believes is her crush’s fantasy.
On “Skin”, Soccer Mommy begs to be “the one”, in any way her lover sees fit.
“I wanna be the one you miss when you’re alone / I wanna be the one you’re kissing when you’re stoned / Back in the alleyway behind your father’s home / I’m clawing at your skin, trying to see your bones”
“I want to be who I wasn’t, I want to dance and not feel the gloom”, she sings on “Wildflowers”, the album’s final track. On the track, Soccer Mommy realizes she needs to be honest with herself and not allow ideations of love to consume her.
With an only 34-minute-runtime, “Clean” is both sonically beautiful and introspective from start to finish. Whether you’re a longtime Soccer Mommy fan
or new to her music, this album is a clear standout in her discography.
Lucy Dacus: Home Video (2021)
“You called me cerebral / I didn’t know what you meant / But now I do / Would it have killed you to call me pretty instead?”
It would be impossible to create this list without including my all-time favorite artist, Lucy Dacus. If you’re a fan of concept albums, you’ll love “Home Video”. On “Home Video”, Dacus invites the listener into her world and heart, with each diaristic track telling a different story about her upbringing as a young woman in Richmond, Virginia.
On “Hot and Heavy”, Dacus returns to her hometown and sings of the way time has changed her. “Being back here makes me hot in the face,” she sings as she re-
calls memories of spending time at an old friend’s family basement.
On “First Time”, Dacus is “sneaking out of the house [and] out of [her] mind”, losing her innocence and wondering if anything will ever feel the same again. “Has my face changed, baby?” she questions.
“Cartwheel” takes on the loss of innocence in a way most young girls can relate to. “Betrayal like I’d never felt before” is how Dacus describes the feeling of falling behind a friend growing up too fast.
“Triple Dog Dare” tells the story of Dacus struggling with her queer identity after a friend’s mother “read [her] palm”, preventing her from spending time with her closest friend.
“I’m staring at my hands / Red, ruddy skin, I don’t understand / How did they betray me? / What did I do? / I never touched you how I wanted to.”
“Home Video” is an earnest piece of work that not only honors Dacus’ past selves, but welcomes them.
Through both heartache and healing, these records remain timeless.
Graphic of person laying on a bed with a CD player. Graphic by Naomi Brown
ELECTION DAY 2024: REAL STUDENTS, REAL VOICES
How are students on Boise State University’s campus feeling about the presidential election?
Emily Carmela Nelson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Graphics by Naomi Brown
Like many other students at Boise State University, Brandon Udager, a 20-year-old Applied Math major, made the choice to vote for the first time in the 2024 presidential election. While he believes that voting is important to advocate for what he believes in, he understands why some of his peers don’t feel the same way.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity but it’s dulled by lackluster candidates. I’m really not passionate about either candidate here,” Udager said. “The way the environment is around the election these days makes it really unexciting. It’s hostile. In a way, that makes it scary to even talk about or be proud of anything related to the
On Nov. 5, 2024, College students around the country were asked to place their vote during one of the most divisive election cycles the United States has seen.
“I think that older generations make assumptions that our generation is uneducated in politics,” Mac Cochrane, an 18-year-old Political Science major, said. “The events that our generation has experienced [such as] COVID-19 and the Jan. 6 insurrection have resulted in our generation wanting to be more involved and educated in politics.”
Over the span of two weeks leading up to General Election Day, The Arbiter set out to ask students how they were really feeling about the political divide.
The role of social pressures and political polarization
Christian Linkde is an adjunct professor at Boise State University in the Political Science Department. As a scholar of political behavior and psychology, Linkde finds passion in working with and educating young voices.
“I worked for a long time in civic engagement, and there’s always been the view that young people don’t care. That they’re apathetic and that they don't know anything. I think those are misconceptions,” Linkde said. “Young people are thoughtful. They’re engaged and they’re participating. Like every young generation, they’re filled with hope and optimism.”
Some students on Boise State University’s campus consider voting to be a decision larger than themselves. Manny Monreal, a 19-year-old Film and Television major, was a first time-voter at the polls.
Monreal believes that his vote holds considerable weight, as he and his family are of Hispanic descent.
“To be honest, I am unsure who to vote for,” Monreal said. “Voting for Trump seems [like] an easy answer, but I want to give Kamala Harris a fair chance to know what she wants for the country with her policies as well.”
While Monreal was uncertain how he would cast his ballot, he said that he hopes his choice will positively impact current and future generations. Similar to many other students, Monreal has fears that sharing his political beliefs with his friends may lead to debate or even lost friendships.
“The majority of my peers do not talk about voting often,” Monreal said. “I believe that young people have a lot of information about the election, the candidates and their policies. The problem is that people on the internet are extremely divided, making people afraid to share their opinions because of the potential outburst of arguments.”
According to a voluntary study previously conducted by The Arbiter, students at Boise State are more likely to consume political content and news via social media than traditional media outlets, such as print and television news.
Syd Lochridge, a 20-year-old undeclared major, believes there are misconceptions about her generation’s media consumption habits.
“I believe that older generations think we are less engaged, or at least less informed, with politics. With older people, I get the impression that they think I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Lochridge said. “These assumptions are wrong. I think they could stem from the fact that younger generations don’t rely on traditional media to get their news anymore, but instead use the internet and social media. Older generations may not see this as a valid source of information.”
Lochridge notes that while there is an excitement about voting amongst her peers, a sense of cynicism still lingers.
“In a Republican state with gerrymandered districts, it does feel like my vote has been rendered useless. Additionally, I am disappointed with
the Democrat’s response to the situation in Palestine, and feel my vote will go towards someone who will continue to fund the violence. I will still vote based on other issues and wanting to do my part as a citizen,” Lochridge said. “I am still hopeful that I will get to see positive changes in the world within my lifetime. There are a lot of issues that, if they aren’t resolved now, will cause future generations to suffer greatly.”
The last time Idaho voted blue in a presidential election was in 1964, with Democratic candidate Lyndon B. Johnson winning 50.92% of the vote against Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, with 49.08%.
Women’s reproductive health at a state and national level
The 2024 presidential election marks the first since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Idaho currently has a total abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. The only current exception to this law is in the case of rape or incest — with the requirement that it is documented and reported to law enforcement within the first trimester of pregnancy.
In a statewide survey conducted by Boise State University’s School of Public Service, 57.9% of Idahoans would prefer if this policy was reworked.
In regards to the reasons young voters in Idaho lean towards specific candidates, Linkde notes that policy and identity have proven to play a large factor in decision making each election cycle.
“It’s rare, historically rare, that candidates are the thing that drives young voters. I’m not going to say all discussions [surrounding the elections] are about policy, but they’re definitely about political identity,” Linkde said. “This [election season], I think abortion has been a big factor for a number of voters. Certainly since Trump’s election, women have been activated on a number of issues.”
Aspen Scarlotte, a 21-year-old Sociology and Criminal Justice major at Boise State University, feels discouraged by the state of politics in Idaho. Scarlotte considers women’s repro -
ductive health to be a dominant issue that guided the way she navigated this election cycle.
Despite being registered as an unaffiliated voter, Scarolette works with the Democratic Party and has experience canvassing for various Democratic candidates in Blaine County.
“As I get older, there are a lot of issues that hit a little bit harder than they used to. I love our state, so I will be voting nationally and locally,” Scarolette said. “I’m very excited to vote and very proud to say that I’m part of a change; or at least trying to be. I’m proud that [in my role] I can inform people, which is the most exciting part of my job.”
According to the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare, Idaho is struggling to retain and recruit new obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYN) due to recent abortion bans that took effect throughout the state. With an estimat ed ratio of about 2.22 OBGYNs per 10,000 women, Idaho ranks as one of the lowest states in the country for women’s healthcare access.
Idaho’s near-total abortion ban puts doctors at risk of being charged with a felony or imprisoned when put in the position of providing or recommending life-saving medical care to a patient.
“A lot of people think of [women’s reproductive health] as only abortion rights. We only have about six high risk pregnancy specialists in Idaho. Everything is so restrictive,” Scarlotte said. “People aren’t moving here because it’s scary. I do think women should have the right to choose — and I know that’s very controversial. I think we should keep religion out of our laws and policies.”
Former President Trump currently does not support a federal abortion ban and believes that states should be able to determine their individual views on abortion, by vote or legislation.
shared via social media in April.
Meanwhile, Harris has made reproductive rights a central point of her campaign. According to Harris’ campaign website “when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, [Harris] will sign it.”
“The ability to vote is a hard won privilege that should not be shied away from. My wife’s, and all women’s, rights are at stake. I took an oath to support and defend the constitution,”
Scott Schmick, a 37-year-old Criminal Justice major at Boise State University, said. “[The political climate at Boise State University] is diverse and active. I’m glad to see all the young students who eagerly engage, whatever their
constantly surrounded by political conversation.
“There’s not enough of a party to make a big push in the direction I would want it to go,” Kwan said. “I’m in my mid twenties. I don’t even know what I want at this point of my life, so it’s just an overwhelming thing to think about. I have to pick between two people that I don’t necessarily agree with.”
The word Kwan described this election cycle as “divisive”.
Luke Sterward, a 23-year-old Illustration major, shared a similar sentiment. As an out-of-state student and registered voter in Oregon, Steward believes his vote would not impact the election, as Oregon has a history of voting blue since 1988.
Accessibility challenges and indifference
Cory Kwan, a 25-year-old Integrated Media and Strategic Communications major, made the choice to not to vote in the election. When Kwan moved from Caldwell, Idaho to Boise, he found complications in accessing his assigned polling station.
“I would vote Harris if I was [going to vote]. I wish I had the energy to participate. [It’s] hard to work for future generations when I’m struggling with just myself, much less those who come after me,” Steward said. “I think everyone is just tired and wants the madness to be over with. We’ve all got enough on our plates without worrying about the state of the country.”
Julianne Ellis, a 20-year-old Integrated Media and Strategic Communications major, had a difficult time receiving her absentee ballot as an out-of-state student. Despite these frustrations, she believes her vote is important.
“I had to wait a really long time for it to get here and I just wish I could have an easier way to vote like the students that live here do,” Ellis said. “My ballot got mailed to the wrong address and I had to call a bunch of people to make sure I could still be able to vote.”
“My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state,” Trump said in a video
“I’ve had too many experiences of driving thirty to forty-five minutes to Caldwell from Boise and not being able to vote,” Kwan said. “That’s a small part of it. The other part of it is that I don’t feel adequately represented by either candidate. I don’t feel like my choice really has much impact on my life.”
Kwan grew up in a Republican family and considers himself fairly conservative. As a college student and broadcast producer, he finds himself
“I think the world is filled with a bunch of amazing young people who will change the world in amazing ways, some for the better, some for the worst.” Linkde said. “That’s the nature of the beast. I think we are unfair to young people when we are dismissive of them.”
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Nell Shipman: A filmmaker’s legacy on display at Albertsons Library
How Nell Shipman’s domineering spirit and cinematic legacy resurface at Boise State University
Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Nell Shipman, a pioneering filmmaker and animal rights advocate, once roamed the wilderness of Idaho with a camera in hand and a dog by her side. Shipman’s trailblazing spirit is now showcased in a new exhibit in Albertsons Library at Boise State University.
Visitors can explore her contributions to early cinema and her deep connection to nature as well as take part in the rich archives of the BSU library, showcasing rare documents, photographs and films that bring Shipman’s adventurous legacy to life for a new generation.
Kate Howk, a Boise State master of history student, crafted an exhibit titled “The Story Girl of Priest Lake: Nell Shipman’s Idaho Movieland, 1922-1925” that reveals Shipman’s unique journey as a filmmaker and her enduring love for the natural world. Drawing from Boise State’s extensive archives, Shipmans story as a domineering female filmmaker in Idaho is brought back to life.
“When she [Shipman] is starting her career as an actor is also around the same time that moving pictures are getting more and more popular in the United States,” Howk said. “So in a lot of ways she’s of that first generation of filmmakers who were really making it up as they went.”
Shipman is a Canadian-born silent film actress who set up camp within Northern Idaho’s Priest Lake; it was there that Shipmans hidden history was made.
“She wasn’t just an actress, I feel like that’s important. She wrote her own films and she directed them and she produced them, she was wearing all of the hats,” Howk said. “But I think she was
a really talented actress, and she kind of liked being the center of attention so that worked out well for her.”
In the 1970s, Boise State professor Tom Trusky discovered Shipmans work. He then spent decades studying her and eventually publishing an autobiography about the filmmaker’s life.
“He [Trusky] took her films to international film festivals … 60 years after she went bankrupt and fled the scene and was heartbroken, she was devastated about how things ended in Idaho,” Howk said. “Because she died in 1970 he kind of resurrected her and brought her back to everything.”
The Boise State archives bring forgotten corners of history to life. These archival resources are available to any
and all students on campus.
Cheryl Oestreicher, professor and head of Special Collections and Archives as well as University Archivist, oversees Boise State University’s archives and offers students a unique resource for exploring history and conducting research.
The Boise State archives house a variety of rare documents and materials, giving students the opportunity to engage with original sources and uncover lesser-known stories such as Nell Shipman’s.
“We’re an area of the library, where we keep the non circulating items, because they’re rare and unique items, which often are one of a kind,” Oestreicher said. “And we have materials in three areas. We collect books about Idaho by Idaho
authors, and that can run just about any topic.”
The archives carry old local yearbooks, literature, newspapers, city plans and hundreds of other rare and original documents, all available to students.
“We collect local and regional and state history, so we have papers and records from people or organizations who have a connection to Idaho or made significant contributions to Idaho, a lot of the people have lived here or from here,” Oetricher said.
Students are encouraged to visit the exhibit and explore the archives starting Oct. 29, where they can discover the fascinating story of Nell Shipman and the rich resources available at Boise State University.
Photo of Boise State archives.
Photo by Omar Saucedo
Boise State’s creative writing program
does things the ‘write’ way
Both the undergraduate and graduate programs encourage young writers to grow
Zero Six Coffee Fix sits off Parkcenter Blvd. Inside, shiny, plastic streamers and star shaped balloons hang from the ceiling. Zero Six Coffee Fix is the home for Platypus Poetry nights where students and members of the Boise community can come, drop a poem they wrote into a hat and have it read aloud by someone else.
Zero Six Coffee Fix and Platypus Poetry nights symbolize what many students in Boise State’s creative writing program appreciate the most — community and creativity.
Boise State offers a competitive MFA program that only accepts 2-3 students a year in each section — fiction and poetry. One of those students, Adam Wagner, founded Platypus Poetry nights.
“On a very practical level, I go to Zero Six a lot,” Wagner joked when asked how Platypus Poetry came to be.
The manager of Zero Six, Kenna Mann, asked Wagner to start a poetry series. Wagner had been interested in starting a series so with Meredith Higgins, Platypus Poetry was born.
“Our idea with platypus poetry was always that it’s open mic style. It’s just, if you want to read, come up and read and you know, you don’t even have to have written the thing that you are reading to us, right?” Wagner said. “It’s a chance for anyone to have the experience, to get up and to read a poem aloud, which is kind of the ultimate way to experience a poem.”
While Platypus Poetry isn’t affiliated with the university, Wagner said the members of the MFA program helped spread the word about Platypus Poetry. Wagner praised the opportunities he’s been given through the MFA program, and the culture.
“There are plenty of opportunities to be had. And then equally, the faculty has been super supportive in crafting our own
opportunities … I have a great interest in audio archives. And Boise State had one, and then that died in 2013 or so, I think they just stopped recording readings,” Wagner said. “So when I got here, I saw that and worked with the faculty to kind of revive that … So we helped form kind of a whole new opportunity that I could be a part of, and that will sort of extend beyond me.”
Even before the students get to the MFA program, Boise State offers a thriving undergraduate creative writing program.
Some well-known authors taught at Boise State in the past, and this year is no different. Cynthia Hand, co-author of the “My Lady Jane” series that was recently adapted to an Amazon Prime original T.V. show, the “Unearthly” trilogy and more teaches creative writing classes at Boise State.
Hand was one of the first MFA students to graduate from Boise State when the program first began. While working on her MFA, she discovered a love for teaching.
“I think at the time, I feel like the people in charge of the program were very concerned that teaching was going to take away writing, time or energy away from their students,” Hand said. “But for me, it really inspired me and taught me a lot to try to have to teach fiction writing. [It] really helped me to learn how to do it myself. So that was incredibly informative.”
While Hand moved back to Boise for her family, she said she felt like she could give back to the program.
“It feels a little bit like a full circle, and in that way and it’s really nice to be back and seeing how the program has grown and and the way that it’s changed, the way that it’s the same, it’s been fun to see it blossom into something when it was just a tiny, little bud at the beginning,” Hand said.
Elanor Spring, a senior double majoring in Creative Writing and French, switched into the undergraduate creative writing program after realizing she was “more passionate about poetry than politics”.
“My experience with the creative writing program has been wonderful. Because of it, I’ve made my dearest friends and fondest memories. I’ve been very lucky to work with the incredibly generous professors who have given me the chance to explore a wide variety of poetry,” Spring wrote in an email to The Arbiter.
Spring recently got the opportunity to travel with other students to a conference with the American Literary Translators Association conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin alongside other MFA students, a recent graduate, and Boise State professor Clyde Moneyhun.
“It was the perfect marriage for me
between my majors and interests. It was so much fun to represent Boise State and talk with translators from all over about their work,” Spring wrote.
In addition to opportunities such as the conference and MFA readings, Spring treasures the culture and community built into the creative program.
“Despite my professed ability to write, it’s impossible to articulate all that this program has meant to me, all that it has done for me, and all that it continues to do for me and many students at Boise State,” Spring wrote. “The sense of community and warm, sincere friendship between everyone involved in creative writing is rare and unique. There are so many people that have had a hand in helping me, encouraging me and supporting me in my years here, and because of them, my life has become more vibrant with every semester.”
Photo of the Hemingway Center. Courtesy of Boise Daily Photo
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Watch out Academy Awards: ‘We Live in Time’ is here to steal the show “We Live in Time” is an emotional rollercoaster — buckle up and grab your tissues!
Kelly
Ann
Asker | Managing Editor | onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Whether you’re a movie buff excited to dive into A24’s latest release with stellar leads, or a casual viewer looking to fill a vacant evening with a new film — “We Live in Time” is an absolute must-see.
Set in the United Kingdom, Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) meet by chance after Almut hits Tobias with her car, sending him to the hospital where their chemistry blooms instantly.
An emotional story spanning multiple years, “We Live in Time” follows Almut and Tobias as they explore their relationship, careers and the inevitable hardships one must face in the real world.
Almut, an up-and-coming chef must navigate motherhood, her career and her relationship after facing a difficult diagnosis that changes everything. The audience is along for every high and every low as we watch Almut and her partner, Tobias navigate life together.
Think of the saddest romance movie you have ever seen. “The Notebook” often comes to mind as well as “Titanic”, but nothing comes close to “We Live in Time”. For the entire 104-minute runtime, there was not a single dry eye in the theater.
However, not all tears stem from sadness. This movie has plenty of moments so joyous, you couldn’t help but shed a tear with a smile on your face.
In what can only be described as the biggest emotional rollercoaster, “We Live in Time” hits every emotion you could think of — and that’s what this film does best. While you can tell from the trailer that “We Live in Time” will be a touching movie, nothing can prepare you for the heartbreak, joy, laughter and stress you will experience over and over again.
“We Live in Time” does not follow a linear timeline, and instead bounces from moment to moment throughout the rela-
tionship of Almut and Tobias. Although the switches can be confusing at first, rest assured that the haze will clear and things will make sense if you trust the film.
Director John Crowley takes his time in developing Almut’s and Tobias’ story to its full potential, making you feel like you’re falling in love right beside our leads —- and fall in love we do.
The chemistry between Pugh and Garfield is so strong, there is no room for doubt in the relationship between their characters, which makes “We Live in Time” all the more engaging. Each of their performances are incredibly moving and the pair effortlessly complement each other on screen.
From fuming fights to the most intimate of moments, Pugh and Garfield give every scene their all and deliver some of the best moments seen on the screen in a long time. It truly is akin to films like “The Notebook” that keep audiences invested and weepy from start to finish.
The connection between Almut and Tobias is so raw and real that it doesn’t
doesn’t feel fabricated. Instead it mirrors real life experiences that women and couples face, which makes the audience sympathize with the characters through their struggles rather than just watch them.
The performances given by Pugh and Garlfield make one thing clear: These two are coming for their Academy Awards. This duo did not come to play this time around and here to get their long awaited and highly deserved praise from The Academy.
Considering neither of these seasoned actors have won an Oscar before, “We Live in Time” is the perfect film for these two to receive the recognition they deserve.
Great acting is easier to achieve when you have good content to pull from, which brings us to the screenplay. “We Live in Time” isn’t groundbreaking by any means, but it delivers one thing that makes it stand out: dialogue and scenes that don’t feel perfect.
In many romance movies, everything seems painted through rose colored
glasses. At the end, the guy will get the girl and they will live happily ever after — but not in “We Live in Time”.
The love we see in the film is more mirrored to real life circumstances. We see real life arguments, real life highs and lows and real life dynamics. There are no rose colored glasses and that’s what makes it so emotional.
Because the characters, scenes and dialogue are so realistic, we can easily see ourselves in Almut and Tobias — which is scary. “We Live in Time” will help you believe in love, but also make you terrified to experience the hurt that can come with it.
“We Live in Time” is a masterpiece all the way around and a film to rival classic romances for years to come. Pugh and Garfield’s performances should be cemented into history as the best display of raw and real intimacy.
Discover how precious and limited time really is and see “We Live in Time”, in theaters now.
Photo from the movie “We Live in Time”. Courtesy of A24
The cast of ‘Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe’ brings Poe’s writing to life “Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe” allows audiences to experience Poe’s words like never before
Olivia Brandon and Emily Gordon | News Editor and Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
“Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe” is an immersive show that captivates audiences from start to finish. Whether you’re a Poe fanatic or this is your introduction to his work, this play brings the author’s words to life in a striking way.
Adorned in costumes akin to Haunted Mansion-style garb, the theater department utilized cast members standing behind nearly see-through walls to create a striking ghostly effect.
Accompanied by his ghoulish counterpart (played by Karter Spoklie), Edgar Allen Poe (played by Trevor Ferguson) takes us on a journey through the inner workings of his mind, communicated through performances of his most famous works. “The Raven”, “The Fall of
the House of Usher” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” are just a few of the iconic works performed by Poe and the rest of the cast of spooky spectators.
The play is based on a 2004 novel published by Eric Coble. The Director of the production, Gordon Reinhart, explains the process of bringing a novel to life
“It is just words on a page, and how do we render it with human beings in front of other human beings as an audience. What does it look like? Sound like? How does it feel?” said Reinhart. “What would serve the words on the page best, and it moves at its own pace, but it moves briskly.”
Trevor Ferguson, a junior Theater Arts major plays the role of “Poe”, the central character tied directly to the romantic style poet, Edgar Allen Poe. Ferguson
offers insight regarding the difficulty of becoming the poet himself.
“I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t easy. We went through a lot of script changes, and we added characters, and we did a bunch of stuff that wasn’t what normally the script was. And so it was just difficult, like marching that territory,” said Ferguson.
“So it was weird trying to figure out what the line is between the person and the character, and trying to find the humor in this macabre play that was very difficult, but I think we found a nice balance in the end.”
The acting alone solidifies this performance as a strong start to the Danny Peterson Theatre’s season but the lighting and sound take it to the next level.
From the eerie lighting that envelops the stage to the beating heart that booms
in the background as Poe desperately tries to ease his murderous guilt, these components take “Nightfall” to the next level.
Performing such a culturally rich and macabre story takes commitment and work, Ferguson sheds light on the moment stage lights turn on and the audience watches.
“As soon as the lights are on and you’re there, that’s the pain, that’s the anxiety-ridden moment,” said Ferguson. “And then the first word gets spoken, you’re like, ‘Okay, we can do this. It’s fine.’” One of the show’s most creative aspects was characters playing multiple roles or representing various people. Sophia Jaros began the play as the raven, dressed in a beautiful black gown adorned with lace, but shifted to represent death in later renditions. As characters would near their death, the figure would drape her veil across their face — representing a literal “brush” with death.
Madeline Usher, played by Natalie Kimery, was a standout performance. From her perfectly chilling laugh to her captivating stage presence Kimery commanded the audience’s attention from the moment she stepped on stage.
It is no surprise that bringing a play to life is no simple feat, it is only the direction and cast collaboration that this play breathes life in front of a live audience.
“It’s a myth that great art gets created amidst chaos. There’s always a bit of chaos, but you want it to be structured and organized,” said Reinhart. “And every minute that we have, we have a goal that we’re pursuing while we work through that minute.”
The Boise State theater department will perform “They Promised Her the Moon”, based on a 2022 novel about the first American woman to test a space flight. As well as a rendition of “The Little Prince”, a timeless classic about a young prince and his planetary expedition.
Photo of the Morrison Center.
Photo by Jocelyn Browne
SP O RTS & REC
November 7, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Ashton Jeanty launches scholarship for future Boise State student-athletes
The new scholarship helps Boise State future football student-athletes pursue “their dreams”
Week in and week out, junior running back Ashton Jeanty continues to thrive on the football stage, garnering national media attention. Jeanty is using his platform to positively impact the educational future of Boise State Football student-athletes.
On Oct. 21, 2024, Jeanty announced on his Instagram the launch of the “Rushing Towards Legacy” campaign. Jeanty is conducting the campaign through Boise State’s PonyUp crowdfunding platform with the goal of raising $200,000 for the Ashton Jeanty Endowed Scholarship for Football.
“This is a really special time at Boise State and Ashton is a phenomenal representative of our institution,” Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey said in a press release. “What a privilege it is to support a once-in-a-lifetime athlete, person and leader like Ashton. It is humbling to see him use his platform and story to further
improve the lives of others.”
The purpose of the endowed scholarship is to raise money for future Boise State football student-athletes. Boise State’s Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs Cody Gougler said that the process of this scholarship originated roughly a month ago in collaboration with both the Boise State Athletic Department and university foundation’s program.
“We’ve [Boise State Athletic Department and university foundation’s program] worked with Ashton since that initial conversation to get this scholarship to a point where it was ready for market and ready to launch,” Gougler said. “It’s been really cool to see Bronco Nation’s response.”
According to Gougler, an endowed scholarship is set as a permanent fund that provides financial aid to future Boise State football student-athletes.
Gougler added that the campaign re -
ceived world-wide recognition, recently collecting a donation from a donor in Iceland.
“That’s the reach Ashton has right now,” Gougler said. “What a wonderful way to leave a legacy beyond just what’s happening on the field.”
As of now, the scholarship isn’t tailored towards a specific group of athletes, such as a walk-on or starter. It’s intention is to support all Boise State Football Student-Athletes.
On Oct. 23, 2024, Jeanty explained in a Zoom press conference his reasoning for launching the scholarship.
“Being able to give that opportunity to other students and realizing how expensive life is and college, I know so many people with student debt,” Jeanty said. “To be able to help the young generation, my generation right now to go to school and get a degree, not on their own dime, it’s just a blessing.”
Jeanty added that with this scholarship, it’ll contribute to his goal of leaving a legacy in the football program.
“I think on the field I’ve been able to do a lot, but I think off the field I’ve also been able to do a lot, I’m not finished yet, I still got a lot more work to do,” Jeanty said. “I think the scholarship was just another step off the field in continuing my legacy.”
Jeanty leads all NCAA Division I athletes in rushing yards per game at 196.6 and all-purpose yards at 203.7 yards per game. According to USA Today, Jeanty currently has the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy award at +200 odds.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, Running Backs Coach James Montgomery acknowledged Jeanty’s impact on the Boise community
and his character off the field.
“He’s going to have a whole impact on the whole community, this whole area,” Montgomery said. “You guys don’t get to see him every day, but you guys get to see him on Saturdays and on the field. As good as he is on the field, he’s a better person.”
As an athlete, Montgomery credited Jeanty’s leadership role with Freshman Running Backs Sire Gaines and Dylan Riley.
“He’s brought him [Gaines] along, all the way through,” Montgomery said. “They’ve [Gaines and Riley] had such a great example with him, whatever he does, they do.”
Montgomery added that Jeanty’s work ethic “sets the temperature” for the running back room.
Later in the press conference, Boise State Head Coach Spencer Danielson mentioned that he had no involvement in the idea of the scholarship, saying it was “all Ashton”.
“That’s just a small testament to who he is as a young man,” Danielson said. “It’s not about Ashton if you talk to him, it’s about other people, it’s about the team. It’s about the legacy he’s going to leave now and for years to come.”
According to the campaign details, donors who donate $1,000 or more will receive a limited-edition signed poster by Jeanty.
The scholarship campaign raised almost $100,000 since its launch. Donations towards Jeanty’s endowed scholarship campaign can be made until 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 13, 2024.
Photo of Alexander Mattison (left) and Ashton Jeanty (right). Courtesy of Bronco Sports
From the Blue to the Gridiron: Former Broncos in the NFL
Boise State football has produced an immense amount of NFL talent, with 31 Broncos getting drafted since the 2009 draft. Boise State looks to add many more in the coming years under Head Coach Spencer Danielson.
These Broncos were stars on the blue, helping the Boise State program become one of the most successful in the country (fifth highest win percentage at the Division I level).
Eleven former Broncos will represent Boise State in the NFL this Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024.
Brett Rypien: Minnesota Vikings
Rypien started on the blue from 20152018 as quarterback. Through his time at Boise State, he received numerous titles such as two time Walter Camp Award Watch List, three time Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, three time Maxwell Award Watch List, three time All-Mountain West First Team, two time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week and more.
Rypien signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie in 2019 and stayed for four seasons. He then spent an offseason with the Los Angeles Rams (2023), Seattle Seahawks (2023), New York Jets
(2023) and Chicago Bears (2024). Rypien is now playing his sixth NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings.
Avery Williams: Atlanta Falcons
Williams redshirted his first year with the Broncos and started the next four seasons as running back (2016-2020).
Williams earned five time Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week, four time All-Mountain West First Team, two time Paul Hornung Award Preseason Watch List and Burlsworth Trophy Nominee.
The Atlanta Falcons selected Williams in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Ezra Cleveland: Jacksonville Jaguars
Cleveland redshirted his freshman season at Boise State in 2016 and played with the Broncos until 2019. In his three years starting on the blue, Cleveland earned two time All-Mountain West First Team, All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and two time Academic All-Mountain West.
The Minnesota Vikings selected Cleveland in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In 2023 the Vikings traded Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cedrick Wilson Jr.: New Orleans Saints
Wilson spent his first two years playing
football at Coffeyville Community College and transferred to Boise State to play for the 2016 and 2017 season. The wide receiver was named to the Biletnikoff and Paul Hornung Award Watch List.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Wilson in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft.
After six seasons with the Cowboys, Wilson transferred to the Miami Dolphins for the 2022-2023 season and now plays for the New Orleans Saints.
Scott Matlock: Los Angeles Chargers
Matlock redshirted his freshman year at Boise State and started the next four years as defensive tackle (2018-2022). Matlock was two time All-Mountain West Second Team, All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and added to the Bednarik and Outland Trophy Award Watch List. In round six of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Matlock.
Khalil Shakir: Buffalo Bills
The wide receiver played at Boise State from 2018-2021 where he earned two time All-Mountain West First Team, Reese’s Senior Bowl Invitee, PFF Preseason Third Team All-American and more.
The Buffalo Bills selected Shakir in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Alexander Mattison: Las Vegas Raiders
Mattison played in every game at Boise State from 2016-2018 as running back. He received numerous titles during these three years such as All-Mountain West First Team, All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and Doak Walker Award Watch List.
Mattison left the Broncos senior year when the Minnesota Vikings selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Vikings, Mattison signed with the Las Vegas Raiders for the 2024 season.
JL Skinner: Denver Broncos Skinner spent four years (2019-2022) with the Boise State Broncos as a safety.
He was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award Watch List, All-Mountain West First Team and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.
In 2023 the Denver Broncos selected Skinner in the sixth round of the NFL Draft.
John Bates and Jeremy McNichols: Washington Commanders
Bates spent five years with the Broncos (redshirted first season) from 20162020. The tight end received two time All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and three time John Mackey Award Watch List.
In 2021, the Washington Commanders selected Bates in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
McNichols spent 2014-2016 playing at Boise State where he earned countless awards: five time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, two time All-Mountain West Second Team and Maxwell Award Watch List and Doak Walker Award Semifinalist.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected McNichols in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. McNichols hopped around many teams: San Francisco 49ers (2017 and 2023), Indianapolis Colts (2018), Jacksonville Jaguars (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020-2021) and currently plays for the Washington Commanders.
John Ojukwu: Tennessee Titans
Ojukwu redshirted his first year at Boise State, spending a total of six years with the Broncos (2017-2022). From sophomore year on, Ojukwu started in every game as an offensive lineman earning two time All-Mountain West First Team, All-Mountain West Second Team and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl Invitee.
Following the 2023 NFL Draft, the Titans signed Ojukwu as a rookie free agent. He started the final three games of his rookie season at tight end.
Photo of Khalil Shakir, #10 for the Buffalo Bills. Courtesy of Steven Senne
SPORTS & REC
Boise State climbs to No. 12/14 after dominating San Diego State
Boise State rises in the ranks following the last game
Last Friday Boise State defeated San Diego State 56-24, moving the Broncos up to No. 12 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 14 in the Coaches Poll. This is Boise State’s highest ranking in the AP Poll since 2011.
Maddux Madsen and Latrell Caples stood as the dynamic duo of the game. Madsen hit a career high 24 pass completion throwing 307 yards, three of which wide receiver Caples took to the endzone.
“Maddux played elite tonight and I still believe there’s a lot more in the tank for him,” Head Coach Spencer Danielson said. “He makes great decisions. He knows what decisions we need to make to win football games. I’m very proud of him.”
The Broncos dominated early on in the game, scoring three touchdowns within the first quarter.
On the opening drive Madsen threw an 18 yard touchdown pass to Caples. The duo then doubled that score with another touchdown. Just eight seconds later (the shortest amount of time between touchdowns the Broncos have scored since 1996) cornerback A’Marion McCoy intercepted the ball and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown upping the score to 21-0. This marked Boise State’s first pick six since 2022.
In quarter two, Madsen threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to Prince Strachan. The Aztecs responded with a six yard rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 28-10.
With 20 seconds left in the second quarter, Madsen threw a third touchdown pass to Caples.
Caples three touchdowns this game marked his first since coming back from an offseason due to an achilles injury. The redshirt senior also recorded a career-high 90 receiving yards and matched his career-best with six recep -
tions.
“It is a long time coming,” Danielsen said. “Who he is as a teammate, who he is as a leader. I think the absolute world of Latrell. He impacts me every single day. He makes all the hard blocks. He can do anything in the route tree. He had some injuries and had to keep fighting, battling back, that’s who he is.”
Defensively, Boise State held the Aztecs to 256 total yards, the lowest yardage the Broncos allowed all season. Alexander Teubner netted his second career interception and led the team with six tackles while Jayden Virgin-Morgan finished with one and a half sacks.
On the other hand, the Broncos only let up one sack against the Aztecs edge rusher, Trey White who is currently
leading the nation in sacks (11.5 sacks in just seven games).
Ashton Jeanty got off to a slow start as San Diego State stacked the box to contain him allowing Madsen to take advantage of the Aztecs vulnerability on the backend.
Once the third quarter hit, Jeanty broke out with two four yard touchdowns and totaled 149 rushing yards continuing the hype around the Jeanty Heisman campaign.
The Aztecs scored their second touchdown of the game after a 30-yard pass in the fourth quarter. The Broncos responded with one last touchdown from fullback Tyler Crowe.
With 30 seconds left in the game Boise State gave up a touchdown to San
Diego State ending the game with a 5624 win.
BSU stat leaders:
Maddux Madsen: 307 passing yards, 25 rushing yards and four touchdown passes
Ashton Jeanty: 31 carries, 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns
Latrell Caples: six catches for 90 yards and three touchdowns
SDSU stat leaders:
Danny O’Neil: 155 passing yards, two interceptions and two touchdowns
Marquez Cooper: 16 carries for 19 yards and one touchdown
Jordan Napier: 79 rushing yards, eight catches and one touchdown
Up next the Broncos host University of Nevada on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.
Photo of Boise State playing agianst San Diego State.
Courtesy of BSU
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