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 office.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
ON THE COVER:
Idaho authorities reported 75 active missing persons cases as of Sept. 27, 2024. Children often runaway to escape bad situations at home, but face a high risk for human trafficking. Organizations like the Hays House and the PNW Missing Persons Project seek to help.
While the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump had many memorable moments, viewers seemed to step away with more questions about the candidates’ policies than answers.
With both candidates interrupting one another, Americans felt that the nominees often discussed issues that had little to do with the questions being asked by moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis. Viewers watched with bated breath for the two candidates to acknowledge one another, which finally came through Harris crossing the stage and introducing herself to Trump.
In contrast, the vice presidential debate began with a cordial handshake and maintained that level of decorum throughout the majority of the debate.
Cayden Stone, a junior majoring in political science at Boise State, noted several key differences between the presidential and vice presidential debates.
“We had the Harris [and] Trump debate, I think that was maybe better than the first round of Biden versus Trump in 2020 but still, it did lack a lot of decorum in some areas,” Stone said. “The first presidential debate I ever watched was the 2012 one between Obama and Mitt Romney, and it began with Mitt Romney wishing Obama a happy anniversary and making a joke about how that was the most romantic way to spend his night, but we would never see something like that nowadays.”
According to Stone, who is enrolled in POLS 402: Campaigns and Elections, Gen Z is craving that sense of professionalism on the debate stage again.
“It’s something that we talk about [in class], how that informs voters,” Stone said. “I think what we’ve seen is usually voters, considering all the crazy debates that we’ve seen in previous years, they’re a lot more receptive and a lot more favorable to candidates or hopeful on debates like we saw at the vice presidential debate that are very cordial, very organized, very civil.”
Bridget Gibson, a sophomore at Boise State majoring in political science and a member of Boise State’s debate team “Talkin’ Broncos”, provided her take on the role shock value plays on the national debate stage.
“I think [the] national level is the kind of debate that draws the most attention, which I think has normalized a lot of shock value in debate because, at the end of the day, a debate is supposed to be educational for the people participating and the people watching it, it’s so you can learn about the candidates,” Gibson said.
The Trump versus Hilary Clinton debate in 2016 introduced Gibson to debate at the national level.
“My first introduction was Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and I think it’s kind of to me before I started doing debate and I was watching these, I was like, ‘Oh, maybe that’s just how it runs — they [the candidates] do personal attacks,” Gibson said. “Then as I got into speech and debate — I would never treat my opponent the way they’re treating their opponents.”
Gibson said she feels disheartened by the blatant lack of respect illustrated in past presidential debates.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to discuss issues. We’re not there to create enemies. We’re not there to destroy some-
body’s reputation. Slander them. It’s just to have discourse, to help educate people,” Gibson said. “It’s definitely disheartening knowing what I know now about debate, seeing the progression of debates just becoming more and more aggressive and personally attacking.”
Jaclyn Kettler, Associate Professor of Political Science at Boise State witnessed years of debates prior to the new era of political norms.
Although Kettler believes these debates had their faults, they still maintained a level of professionalism that has been absent in recent debates.
“I think at the state and local level, you’ll still see debates that can be more civil, where they engage more,” Kettler said. “I think it [the vice presidential debate] probably did seem really unique for members of Gen Z who are not used
to seeing the style of debate as much whereas for older generations … it’s not to say every single debate was like, super friendly, happy, but there was more agreement on different things or at least some sort of acknowledgment of some shared values.”
Kettler shared that she felt the vice presidential debate had a clearer focus on policy and more substance than the presidential debate.
“It [the presidential debate] did not feel like there was very much nuance or deep policy discussions. There were a lot of very general sorts of policy statements here and there, but it really wasn’t getting into substantive policy debates,” Kettler said. “It’s been a little hard to separate out what’s due to just general trends in American politics, things like polarization, and what is kind of the Trump element.”
Photo of the 2024 Vice Presidential candidates JD Vance (left) and Tim Walz (right). Photo courtesy of Getty Images - Chip Somodevilla
How the CHIPS Act is shaping education in Boise
Ways the Creating Helpful Incentives for Producing Semiconductors Act is influencing education
Kaeden Lincoln | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
The CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) Act of 2022, when signed into law by President Joe Biden, brought forth a flood of funding for semiconductor manufacture and its adjacent infrastructure. Part of the effort to Create Helpful Incentives for Producing Semiconductors included breaking ground on massive Micron fabrication facilities (fabs), creating tens of thousands of jobs in the process.
The CHIPS and Science Act prompted a new sister city relationship with Syracuse, New York. The findings in that article illustrated the effects in Syracuse — but it also provided a large amount of investment in Boise.
In the realm of education, the effects of the act are diverse: From creating Boise State’s “Semiconductors for All” initiative to expanding the Boise School District’s career technical education (CTE) programs.
The Dehryl A. Dennis Technical Education Center (DTEC) is the Boise School District’s CTE high school. Students from the four Boise high schools commute to the campus between their regular classes at their high school.
DTEC offers a wide range of classes including welding, machining, mechatronics, construction, Fire and EMT and many more. The mechatronics program supplies a handful of interns to Micron annually.
DTEC Principal Jeff Roberts said that while their mechatronics program has the closest parallels to semiconductor manufacturing, the welding program saw the most growth in order to meet demand created by CHIPS.
Roberts said that DTEC can host twice as many welding students as it could before receiving funding from a Micron grant, and that they’ve had no issue filling those spots.
“We have such a huge demand from students who want to be welders and now we have this gigantic need for welders,” Roberts said.
DTEC expanded their welding program in order to fulfill the needs of the new Micron fab, where construction could take around a decade, Roberts said.
“They are going to need welders and electricians and HVAC and construction and everything within that spectrum,” Roberts said. “So every one of our programs is indirectly affected.”
Boise State seeks to fulfill a different demand. The programs at Boise State educate students to become engineers who design the chips that technicians manufacture.
“I wouldn’t say that [our programs] are changing in super substantial ways,” said Eric Jankowski, president of the Micron School of Material Science and Engineering at Boise State. “But there’s a lot of opportunity associated with the CHIPS and Science Act.”
Jankowski said the $6.3 billion allocated to Micron and a further $81 billion to the National Science Foundation over the next three years benefit Boise State.
Jankowski explained that the value of such a degree at Boise State is incredible, offering students the opportunity to learn in a world-class facility at Boise State.
“A consequence of the sustained investment in the Micron School of Material Science and Engineering from Micron and a consequence of the opportunities
afforded by the CHIPS and Science Act is that we have some of the best material science facilities in the world downstairs,” Jankowski said in reference to the Micron School of Material Science and Engineering’s building.
“There’s an MOCVD device. This was one of the devices that was used to discover the blue LED that won the Nobel Prize. We are the first university in the US that has a tool of this kind,” Jankowski said.
Because of Boise State’s unique relationship with Micron, it stands elevated in the realm of semiconductor manufacturing workforce development. This includes membership in a network called UPWARDS for the future, a US-Japan university partnership that includes Hiroshima University, Purdue and the University of Washington.
“Boise State is kind of batting above our weight on that, we’re in there with a bunch of big-name universities like Purdue,” said Boise State Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Chair Neal Bangerter.
“Normally Purdue is a powerhouse in this kind of stuff, Boise State is not. But given our proximity to Micron and the fab going in, we’ve gotten to be involved in some things that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Bangerter referred to Boise State President Marlene Tromp’s attendance at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan in May of 2023, as a visible example of how Boise State has become a more prolific university on an international scale.
With the new Micron fabrication facility still years from completion, it’s likely these opportunities will evolve. But for the time being, the CHIPS and Science Act creates opportunities for thousands of Idahoans with increased funding for jobs, education and training.
Photo of the exterior of the Micron Center for Materials Research building.
Photo by Kaeden Lincoln
How Idaho’s ecosystem will recover from recent 10,000-acre wildfire
A desert that keeps getting drier: Wildfire smoke has become the largest pollutant in Idaho
After a smoke-filled summer, Boise citizens enjoyed a few weeks of recovery before the wildfire that burned 9,904 acres of land. Idaho Power admitted to accidentally starting the fire due to a low-hanging power line that was sweeping the dry ground.
During a board meeting, Department of Lands Fire Bureau Chief Josh Harvey noted the department will be working with its legal team to determine the best course of action moving forward, and whether or not the fire was caused by negligence.
After working alongside deputies to determine whether the fire was negligence or a willful act, Harvey explained that it is up to the attorneys to dictate what that definition of negligence entails.
Johnson noted that rain showers made the transportation of equipment
and vehicles difficult. While heavy showers could result in erosion issues, it is currently not a concern.
“There’s actually still smoke visible. We call them hot spots,” Johnson said. “They’re not considered a risk for expanding the acres of the fire or anything, they’re still addressing those hot spots and the rain is a good thing for that. It doesn’t really moisten everything enough, but it just kind of has the fire not as active.”
While the fire is mostly contained, Johnson wants people to know they should respect restricted areas and avoid outdoor spaces that still pose a safety threat.
Jennifer Pierce, a professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State explained the difference between a wildfire and a controlled burn.
An unplanned fire is categorized as a wildfire while something like a camp -
fire would be classified as a controlled fire. Pierce explained that the valley fire would be considered a rangeland fire.
“It’s burning through sagebrush steppe and an invasive grass called cheatgrass,” Pierce said. “Broadly speaking, we could have three different fire zones. One is our low elevation, which is what I’m talking about now — sagebrush steppe, invaded by cheatgrass. The dominant driver of that fire is a couple of things. First is that dry fuel, which is provided by that invasive, non-native cheatgrass that just carpets our foothills and that has been a game changer for fires.”
Pierce explained the other major factors that contributed to this fire, such as human fire ignitions and climate change.
“The third really important driver is climate change. Our summers are warmer and drier, and every year we’re into conditions that are unprecedented in the last 900 years to even 900,000 years,”
- Jennifer Pierce, Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State
“The third really important driver is climate change. Our summers are warmer and drier, and every year we’re into conditions that are unprecedented in at least the last 900 years to even
900,000 years,” Pierce said. “It is so warm and so dry so late in the season. This is October, it’s really supposed to be cooling off and then you have the dry, hot fuels for those fires. The final wild card is wind. Of course, when you have a wind event that will really be a game changer, we just got very lucky, honestly, with this fire.”
Cheatgrass is an invasive species from Asia that was utilized as a packing material that then flew out of packages and off of the cargo trains. It first appeared in Idaho in 1900 according to scholar George Stewart.
Dr. Ashley Bosa, who works with Brittany Brand HCRI (Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute) shared some safety tips and ways to prepare for a wildfire.
Bosa recommended signing up for Code Red alerts which will inform users about evacuation updates, and utilizing fire prevention websites like Firewise. Getting regular home assessments can also mitigate the risk of wildfires.
“It’s the embers that start something next to the house. Like a juniper bush, or the leaves in your gutter, and then that’s what starts your house on fire because you have all that fuel that’s just sitting around your house,” Bosa said. “So get the free assessment, and you don’t have to make all the changes upfront because some stuff will just take a lot longer [or] might need a little bit more money to try to do the low-hanging fruit.”
Bosa explained that establishing an emergency plan or kit is another way Boise citizens can better prepare themselves and their homes for wildfires. In the past, HCRI has held workshops with a focus on fire prevention and Bosa says she expects the department to hold similar events in the future.
Photo of the fires in the Boise foothills.
Photo by Kaeden Lincoln
Boise State Health Services cut counseling services for faculty and staff Faculty and staff must look outside Boise State University for mental health services
As of Oct. 14, 2024, Boise State Health Services terminated on-campus counseling resources for faculty and staff. Current clients have a soft deadline of Jan. 1 to seek counseling services elsewhere. Matthew Niece, interim executive director of Health Services and the director of counseling services for Boise State shared that this decision aims to make student mental health the priority.
“That is [prioritizing student mental health] the intent, absolutely,” Niece said. “We’re going to free up more availability … We’re now more available to students than we’ve ever been.”
Niece explained that Health Services discussed terminating the resource for a number of years, ultimately aiming to make Boise State more closely align with other university counseling practices.
“I think one of the things that is a little misleading is that it was a kneejerk decision,” Niece said. “I think that’s what a lot of folks are thinking and don’t know [is] that it’s a conversation that’s [been] going on for a number of years actually, and just with us working to align ourselves with best practice in the field of University Counseling Centers.”
After moving to the Division of Student Affairs, Niece said that Health Services felt motivated to make counseling student-centric in an effort to align with the values of Student Affairs.
Niece acknowledged that there are two categories of individuals; faculty members currently seeking counseling services and those who are already utilizing them. Niece emphasized that the Jan. 1 deadline is not a hard deadline and Health Services will work with individuals on a solution.
“How we’re doing this for employees who are clients, is to set that tentative end date of Jan. 1, which would give our clinicians plenty of time to either wrap up care or get them transitioned into the community in an appropriate amount of time,” Niece said. “I say tentative because the idea is to not leave anybody hanging. If there are instances that staff need to continue to be seen, that’ll be on a case-by-case basis, to extend it past that Jan. 1 end date.”
While Health Services may be removing this resource, Niece emphasized that the organization still wants to advocate for faculty mental health.
“I think it’s ultra important to highlight that we’re not getting out of the game of supporting faculty and staff and their mental health, that we will always be there for consultation purposes and cases of crisis and to help them get connected to resources,” Niece said.
Laurie Cavey, a member of the Faculty Senate at Boise State shared her perspective on the shift, as well as what future communication looks like between Health Services and the Faculty Senate.
“There’s always the potential that any big change like this could have a negative effect on an individuals’ well being. However, I had an opportunity to speak to Matt Niece last week, and he assures me that they’re committed to working with faculty and staff through this transition,” Cavey said. “HR as well, I was able to speak with Brian Ray at the same time I met with Matt Niece and HR has also developed a strategy that they’ve shared with their personnel that will, you know, help individuals identify providers in the area.”
Cavey explained that Niece and a
staff member from HR will be attending the next Faculty Senate meeting on Oct. 22 to answer questions or hear faculty concerns. These meetings are open to the public.
Cavey noted that the announcement was a surprise and disappointment for several individuals.
“I have heard from a few faculty that are disappointed and concerned about this shift and I heard from a faculty, one of the current senators, who had heard from one of their constituents about someone who felt like this was going to be a hardship for them,”
Cavey said. “I will say, from personal experience, it can be really hard to find good providers in this area. There are not enough providers really to meet the need for mental health services, so I can certainly relate to others’ concerns about this.”
Bailee Malyszek, a Boise State junior majoring in business and marketing, disagreed with the decision to remove
counseling services for faculty at Boise State.
“I think they [faculty] should get the counseling because they work here, and they deserve it too,” Malsyzek said. “They’re part of the community.”
Malyszek expressed that she doesn’t see how removing this service will help students or create a more student-centric experience.
As a business and marketing major, Malysezk shared that she doesn’t believe this is a smart publicity move for Boise State.
“I think it could show up as bad press because it shows that they don’t care about their workers,” Malyszek said.
While many aspects of this situation may be confusing or unclear for faculty members and students alike, currently Health Services is not accepting new faculty clients and current patients have a soft deadline of Jan. 1 to seek care off-campus.
Photo of the College of Health Sciences.
Photo by Omar Saucedo
OPINION
Homemade bread and existential dread: The trad wife phenomenon
The
wife” lifestyle sparks questions about changing gender roles
Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Baking your own bread, churning your own butter, maintaining a spotless household and effortlessly raising kids — the Nara Smith lifestyle appeals to many modern women, but it’s not as realistic or romantic as they might imagine.
Women’s participation in the labor force peaked in 1999 at 60.0%, according to the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and has declined since. The “trad wife” — short for traditional wife — phenomenon has garnered heavy media attention, particularly through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Characterized by women embracing 1950s-style domestic roles — where the husband is the breadwinner and the wife manages the house-
hold, cooks, cleans and raises the children — the movement has sparked debate over its implications for gender roles today.
At its core, the trad wife movement is a reaction to modern feminism and the pressure placed on women to “do it all” — succeed professionally, manage households, maintain social lives and more. For some women, the traditional homemaker role is seen as a way to regain control over their lives, particularly in a world where constant multitasking and the pursuit of career success can feel overwhelming.
By rejecting societal expectations around career ambitions and instead choosing to focus solely on family and domestic duties, some of these women see themselves as subverting modern feminist ideals in favor of what they view as a simpler, more fulfilling way of life.
This movement often glorifies mid-20th-century aesthetics, with trad wives embracing retro clothing, cooking traditional meals and documenting their lives through carefully curated photos of pristine homes and happy family scenes. For many, it is as much of a lifestyle choice as it is a visual and cultural revival.
Despite being framed as a personal choice by many participants, the trad wife phenomenon raised concerns over its deeper implications about gender roles. Critics argue that it idealizes a historical period marked by rigid patriarchy, where women’s identities were often limited to their roles as wives and mothers, with little room for independence and personal development. The trad wife movement has the potential to romanticize an era when women had fewer rights and were legally, socially and economically dependent on men.
Additionally, there is concern that the phenomenon is reinforcing outdated
gender norms that can pressure other women to conform to similar domestic expectations. Even when presented as a choice, the movement can make it seem as though those who don’t embrace traditional homemaking are failing their families or rejecting femininity.
While many trad wives present their decision as an empowered lifestyle choice, the movement’s message has drawn criticism for its exclusionary nature. Trad wife advocates are often from middle-to-upper-class backgrounds, such as popular trad wife influencers Nara Smith and Ballerina Farm, where a single income is enough to sustain a household and childcare is a financial option. This lifestyle isn’t feasible for many working-class women and lower-income families, who may not have the luxury of choosing between career and home life.
The trad wife movement also fails to address the racialized and class-based dynamics of domestic labor. Historically, white women in traditional homemaker roles relied on the labor of women of color for housework, child care and other domestic duties. While it claims to celebrate a return to “traditional” family values, the movement seems to overlook how that tradition has been maintained on the backs of marginalized women.
At the heart of the trad wife debate lies a fundamental question about gender roles in contemporary society: Can women truly make empowered choices if they’re choosing to embrace traditional roles, or are these choices shaped by a culture that still pressures women to find their value in their domestic contributions?
Read the full story online at arbiteronline.com
Illustration of a mother and a baby.
Illustration by Kelsey Mason
When accountability goes viral: The complexities of cancel culture
Cancel culture has the power to create both change and chaos
Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
In a society in which the internet can make or break reputations overnight, the practice of “canceling” someone has transformed into a powerful, polarizing tool of accountability. While cancel culture amplifies marginalized voices and sheds light on serious issues, it also raises questions about justice, free speech and the potential for harm.
Cancel culture refers to the practice of publicly calling out or shunning individuals, often on social media, for offensive or controversial behavior. The roots of public shaming can be traced back throughout history, as described by Jennifer Forestal in “Social Media, Social Control, and the Politics of Public Shaming”. The practice gained prominence with the rise of social media in the 2010s, as online communities began to push back against public figures, brands and private individuals for their problematic actions.
One of the first uses of the term “cancel” in popular culture was Lil Wayne’s 2010 song “I’m Single”, in the line “Yeah, I’m single / n***a had to cancel that b*tch like Nino.” To “cancel” someone became a common phrase, initially a generally humorous way to describe withdrawing support from a person or entity. As it became more widespread, it took on more serious connotations, particularly within the context of activism, including #MeToo and racial justice movements.
J.K. Rowling, for example, has faced significant backlash for her comments on transgender issues, which many have labeled as transphobic. A particularly viral tweet from the author in 2020 denounced the use of inclusive language like “people who menstruate”.
Rowling has expressed issues with gender identity debates, especially regarding the erosion of biological sex and its impact on cisgender women’s rights. Her statements led to widespread protests and boycotts by fans and former collaborators, though she maintains a significant influ-
ence within literature and entertainment. Serious issues such as racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and transphobia have deep social and cultural implications. Cancel culture results in significant repercussions for public figures who engage in this kind of harmful behavior. A notable example is Kanye West, who faced widespread backlash and calls for boycotts after making antisemitic remarks, leading to the termination of major partnerships including Adidas and Balenciaga.
The response from the internet prompted apologies from the creators and discussions about accountability for influencers with large platforms. Cancel culture’s original intent was a tool for marginalized voices to hold those in power accountable for harmful actions, which have often gone unchecked in the past.
Today, critics of the movement argue that it can lead to disproportionate consequences, stifling free expression or creating a mob mentality. While holding
individuals accountable for their actions is necessary for social change, cancel culture can escalate to public bullying, invasions of privacy, or harassment.
In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 51% of US adults said that cancel culture tends to hold people accountable for their actions, while 45% said that the phenomenon tends to harshly punish undeserving people. While many believe cancel culture serves a beneficial purpose in society, a number of people fear that the mentality and practice have gone too far.
Cancel culture can quickly spiral from legitimate criticism into harassment, where individuals are bombarded with online abuse. A notable example is content creator Golloria, who received relentless bullying, including death threats, for a TikTok post about a YSL blush.
The video featured her swatching a product that falsely claimed to be usable for all skin tones, including darker complexions. Her critique of the brand led to
such intense backlash from the internet that she temporarily stepped off the internet entirely. Golloria explained in an Instagram post that “the internet has become an increasingly violent space, particularly for dark-skinned Black women”.
The mob mentality that cancel culture creates can be dangerous when unchecked. As we work to develop communities that are safe for marginalized people, we must consider the benefits and the costs of the social environment we have created. Cancel culture has its place when used to hold individuals accountable for harmful actions. However, there must be a balance between accountability and bullying.
Cancel culture has succeeded in holding people accountable for harmful actions, but it can easily devolve into harassment. As society moves forward, we must balance the call for justice with the need to avoid creating a harmful, mob-driven environment.
Graphic of cancelled celeberty headlines.
Graphic by Naomi Brown
UNCOVERING AND UNDERSTANDING:
WHY IDAHOANS ARE GOING MISSING
An overview of the contributing factors towards disappearances among different age groups
in Idaho
Warning: This article contains information regarding self-harm, suicidal ideation, human trafficking, sex trafficking and domestic violence
The Idaho Statute defines a missing person as someone whose “whereabouts are unknown” to someone who has consistent contact with the person such as a parent, guardian or caretaker. At the time of the public records request received from the Idaho State
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Disability, endangered, involuntary, juvenile, catastrophe victim or other. This signifies that every person who goes missing may have a unique reason for their disappearance.
Teenage Runaways
In 2023, 1,582 teenagers ages 13-17 were reported missing in Idaho.
According to Idaho Statute, a person under the age of 18 who has run away from their parent or guardian is referred to as a “runaway child”.
Idaho Youth Ranch’s Hays House is a 24-hour shelter for children ages 9-17 who are runaways, homeless or victims of abuse or neglect. The Hays House currently shelters 11 children.
Outreach Specialist Janessa Stell explained the primary factors for teenage and children runaways in need of shelter. “The first things that come to my mind are we see a lot of youth who have experienced a lot of trauma inside the household,” Stell said. “Whether that’s domestic violence [or] assault.”
Stell highlighted that the Hays House works with “displaced youth”, referring to children that aren’t homeless but are instead living with a family friend or extended family.
Program Manager Amy Ornelas said an additional contributing factor for a child or teenager to run away is from experiencing “gender violence”, referring to someone who’s exploring their own sexual identity.
“A lot of times when they experience that in the home, they don’t feel that’s a safe place for them to be, so they run
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away,” Ornelas said. “They don’t feel like they belong at home, they don’t feel like they’re loved at home.”
Ornelas added that the term violence pertains to emotional, physical or verbal abuse one may receive.
Communications Director of Marketing Whitney Springston highlighted that some of the misconceptions about teenage and child runaways stem from adults’ perceiving them as “bad” kids.
“Kids in a healthy home situation don’t wake up one day and think ‘You know I think I’m going to sleep in the park tonight, that seems like a good idea,’” Springston said. “For whatever reason, I think adults have this perception that these are just bad willful kids who don’t want to listen to mom and dad.”
Stell said teenagers running away is pain based behavior. Pain based behavior refers to certain impulsive actions in response to any physical, mental or emotional pain. These actions can include from suicidal ideation, selfharm, isolation and drug usage.
An additional danger for missing children and teenagers is that they can become a victim of human trafficking. Ornelas explained how runaway teenagers often stay in various houses, but it can bring dangerous consequences
“[It] opens up an opportunity to be taken advantage of for a lot of the youth. All the youth that we serve have not experienced what healthy relationships look like, and so that actually could look like a normal thing for them to do, because they’ve seen mom do it, or a sibling and so to them, it’s not dangerous.” Ornelas said.
Runaway teenagers who stay in houses with people they don’t directly know are at a higher risk of being trafficked.
“They find opportunities for branching out their network,” Ornelas said. “When that happens, they end up trusting people they don’t know and staying at people’s houses that they don’t know very well.”
Another danger of children going missing is the risk of sex trafficking. In 2023, Idaho data from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) showed that there were around 29,000 missing children cases. The NCMEC received more than 18,400 reports relating to child sex trafficking.
With the struggles runaway youth endure, Springston emphasized the importance of understanding their circumstances.
“We don’t say that there are bad kids, we say there are kids who’ve experienced really bad things and they don’t have the right coping mechanisms or the right tools to deal with that,” Springston said.
Hays House offers support services for their youth, including dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a form of therapy for those dealing with mental and behavioral health issues. In addition, the Hays House uses equine therapy, which uses horses to help improve kids’ mental and physical well-being through a range of activities. Hays House also has an on-call 24-hour emergency helpline on their website for kids in the Treasure Valley.
Spencer Rentfro | News Reporter
news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Grahics by Naomi Brown
Investigative process for recent missing person and cold cases
On Oct. 4, 2024, Ada County Sheriff’s Office announced the closure of a 44 year-old cold case regarding Mary Tracy, who died from a stabbing to the neck and chest at the age of 25. Tracy’s body was found a couple days later near Highway 55 in Garden City, Idaho.
Tracy’s case was reopened in August 2023 after she was last seen in the summer of 1980. Public Information Officer for Ada County’s Sheriff’s Office Lauren Montague shared that one of Tracy’s daughters requested for the case to be reopened.
The case’s reopening process centered around Ada County Sheriffs Office detectives looking over the previous case file, the initial evidence as well as submitting DNA evidence from a sexual assault kit to the Idaho State Police Forensic Lab. Detectives also conducted various follow-up interviews. In the end, Detective Cooper identified a possible suspect, Charles Nicholas Strain, who died in 2007.
Montague explained that the main disparity between “fresh” missing persons cases and “cold” cases, is that cold cases usually have a lower priority of attention whereas missing persons
cases require immediate attention, especially for juveniles.
On Oct. 17, 2024, The Star Police Department declared a runaway juvenile missing in the Star, Idaho area. Montague added that because of shared information on social media and a Reverse 911 text, a system that sends automated messages notifying local residents on emergencies such as a missing person, the police found the missing juvenile later that same day.
With technological advancements today, Montague expressed gratitude for the use of social media as a tool to “broadcast information” to the public regarding missing people’s cases.
“I think social media is really huge,” Montague said. “We can’t always access people’s information depending on how locked down their accounts are, so if someone’s calling in, having that ability to have them show us what they posted recently [and] text messages. If someone’s going to call in a missing person, the more information that we have, the better.”
Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project
The Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project (PNMPP), a non-profit organization, focuses on the search and rescue for cold missing cases in rural
parts of states in the Pacific Northwest such as Idaho.
According to the PNMPP database, 43 Idaho individuals have gone missing since 1911, seven of which occurred in 2020 or later.
Tanner Hoskins, executive director for Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project, said that the organization originated as a Sasquatch research group, but later expanded into missing persons cases after a family friend in Washington reached out asking for help.
Hoskins said that the investigative process can range from a few days to a couple months depending on the information available. The team’s search process primarily occurs in the spring and summer seasons. The fall and winter months can make the search process increasingly more difficult due to the leaves and snow covering up the ground.
Hoskins mentioned that working with local law enforcement and adjusting to different terrains in states like Idaho are the biggest challenges in the search process for missing people. challenges regarding the search and recovery process.
“Most of the agencies that we’ve worked with so far have provided us with information. It’s all when we deploy out to an area, it’s the terrain that’s usually the hardest part of our job,” Hoskins said. “Whether law enforcement wants to assist us or not, we usually know what we’re looking for in the general area that the person was missing anyway. It’s more of us basically telling them, ‘Hey we’re going to be in this area doing this and if you want to assist us or provide us with information, great, otherwise, we’re going to be here.’”
Hoskins added that it’s important for him and his team to be knowledgeable of the terrain before traveling.
Hoskins advises people to be informed of local missing people cases in their area.
“Just gain the knowledge of who is missing in the area, what they were last seen in or with them,” Hoskins said. “Just keep your eye out when you’re out in that area because you really could just solve something for a family that’s been left to grieve.”
To report a missing person, contact the Idaho State Police dispatch at *ISP (*477).
CULTURE
How something as little as putting pen to paper can reduce stress
Journaling
serves as a creative outlet and offers mental health benefits
Sarah Courser | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Whether it’s used to explore everyday situations on a deeper level, process complex emotions or for creative expression, journaling offers a private space for self-reflection and healing.
For many, this daily habit has become a better way to understand themselves and the world around them.
Adrianna Monsivais, a Boise State student majoring in creative writing with a minor in film, began journaling two
years ago. Born in California and raised in Caldwell, Idaho, Adrianna reflects on how journaling influenced her creative writing.
“Journaling has allowed me to be more honest in my writing and to develop my own voice. It’s helped me differentiate my work from others,” Monsivais explains.
For Monsivais, journaling has done more than sharpen her craft, it also improved her mental health.
“Before I started journaling, I struggled with depression,” Monsivair shares. “Over time, those symptoms started to go away. Now, when I stop journaling, I notice an emotional build-up. My brain feels more organized when I journal regularly.”
Monsivais hopes everyone who wants to try this daily habit does not take it too seriously.
Journaling does not have to be done in one specific way, you can find what works for you.
Sophia Huebner, a Boise native, fulltime student, housekeeper and model, talks about how journaling serves a different purpose for her. It helps her exercise self-care and spend time processing her emotions.
“Sometimes it can feel like there are things you can’t even say to yourself, so with journaling, I find that really challenging myself to get anything and everything onto the page has helped me be more open with myself,” Huebner said. “Journaling also helps me feel more emotionally regulated.”
Journaling has not only helped Huebner practice self-care and process her emotions, but it has also helped her find a way to reset.
“Once I get my emotions out, I feel more ready to take on the day. I don’t force myself to journal every day, though as that would make it feel like a chore. I only do it when I need to, and that keeps it enjoyable,” Huebner said.
In life, people are not meant to handle everything on their own.
“It’s important to have a support system that you can fall back on in your time of need and that includes yourself, so for me journaling is one of the ways
in which I choose to show up for myself,” Huebner said.
Dr. April Masarik, an associate professor of psychology at Boise State University, sees journaling as both a personal and professional tool.
“Journaling has been a form of therapy for me,” Masarik said. “It helps me make sense of my thoughts and emotions. All humans want to create meaning in their lives, and journaling is a way to do that.”
Masarik has found that daily journaling contributes to emotional well-being and stress management.
“When you write about a struggle, it helps to name the problem, which can reduce its power. It’s like free therapy. After I lost my dad, journaling helped me process my grief and travel through it. It provided structure, but it was also something I could use sporadically depending on my needs,” Masarik said.
Masarik believes the biggest challenge people face with journaling is the pressure to get it right.
Masarik’s solution for those who want to journal is to set a timer, start small and take a deep breath. Masarik also recommends answering a prompt, not being rigid and exploring what works best.
Masarik also highlights that although journaling acts as a source of free therapy, it will not solve every problem. Journaling does allow people to explore themselves and their emotions.
Journaling offers a lot more than writing thoughts onto a piece of paper. It is a powerful tool to experience growth. In a world that often feels overwhelming, taking the time to reflect through writing can bring clarity, calm and a deeper understanding of what truly matters.
Illustration of a person journaling.
Illustration by Sydney Smith
20th annual Backcountry Film Festival calls viewers to embrace
the wild Embrace the snowy backcountry through film within the walls of The Egyptian Theater
Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Under the glowing marquee of Boise’s iconic Egyptian Theatre, the 20th annual Backcountry Film Festival draws in a crowd of adventurers and film lovers alike.
The film festival showcases a blend of environmental advocacy, tales from the wilderness and an overall love for nature. For nearly two decades, the festival has celebrated the spirit of exploration and conservation, becoming a beloved tradition with Boise’s community.
Emily Scott, operations manager for the Winter Wildlands Alliance has been one of the key coordinators within this film festival. Boise proudly hosts the first screening of this year’s film collection, kicking off the festival’s nationwide tour in the historic Egyptian Theatre with a collection of snowscape films.
“[Winter Wildlands Alliance] is working to inspire and empower people to protect America’s wild snowscapes … we have a group of members and local
grassroots groups and school education sites around the country that all do the same work,” Scott said. “And so one of the ways we do that is by putting on the backcountry Film Festival.”
The Backcountry Film Festival accepts open calls from any and all filmmakers, the only requirement is that all film submissions must take place in backcountry snowscapes.
“We put together a collection of films that we think inspire people to enjoy winter and all they have to have a winter focus and they have to be back country oriented,” said Scott.“So that means not supporting a ski resort or a big corporation of that kind, just human powered backcountry”
Connor Ryan, an Indigenous skier and filmmaker whose work captures the deep connection between outdoor adventure and his cultural heritage contributed to a film titled “Surviving our Story”.
Ryan and his film partner Ryan Mclure went viral in 2023 for surviving a snow
avalanche while skiing, a traumatic experience that was overtaken by news headlines. The duo decided to share their story with their own recorded footage.
“We definitely took the lens of showing it a little more than telling it when it comes to this story. But my hope is that it makes everybody think critically about the purpose of sharing your story,” Ryan said. “And I think for us, we realized our purpose was to find healing and to share something that was informative and unifying for the culture of the sport.”
Ryan shared that the virality of their clip stripped viewers of their ability to grasp the trauma and heroism that took place. Mclure received significant injuries in his pursuit to locate Ryan who experienced the first avalanche.
“It’s really easy to take sound bites or clips and run with them, and they generate views and comments and all these things. But do you really get to see the heart of the people who find themselves in a situation as traumatic?” said Ryan.
“It’s really easy to take sound bites or clips and run with them, and they generate views and comments and all these things. But do you really get to see the heart of the people who find themselves in a situation as traumatic? That was really my hope in telling this story, is for people to see Ryan’s heart and his courage, and for them to just observe, as opposed to being told [about] this person sprayed on the news.”
- Conner Ryan
“That was really my hope in telling this story, is for people to see Ryan’s heart and his courage, and for them to just observe, as opposed to being told [about] this person sprayed on the news.”
The 20th annual Backcountry Film Festival offers more than just stunning visuals, it is a celebration of nature, resilience and the stories that unite outdoor communities. The festival takes place at the Egyptian Theatre on Oct. 24, launching an experience that will inspire nature lovers across the country to embrace the wild.
Photo of The Egyptian Theatre.
Photo by Jocelyn Browne
CULTURE
More than a melody: Girl Jazz Society sets the rhythm for change
Girl Jazz Society addresses the lack of gender representation in Boise State University’s jazz scene
Emily
Carmela Nelson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
“Abundance”.
Abundance is the word vocalist Christine Nygard used to describe her experience jamming with Boise State University’s newest jazz club — Girl Jazz Society.
“You know when there’s too much that you want to say about something? It’s just such an abundant thing. Abundance — there’s just so much we can do with Girl Jazz,” Nygard said. “It’s created a really great community. We’re already pretty tight in the music department, but this just created even more creative flow for everyone.”
Christine Nygard is a sophomore at Boise State University, double majoring in music and business.
As a senior in high school, Nygard discovered her love for jazz at one of Boise State University’s Gene Harris Jam Sessions. The next year, she met bassist Sabrina Marie Thomas, the heart behind
Girl Jazz Society.
The two girls were neighbors in the dorms when Thomas began to open up to Nygard about her frustrations of being talked over within the Boise State Jazz band.
“She’s like, ‘It would be really cool if we did a girl jazz group, just girls playing jazz’. It took a second to get it approved as a club, but everyone was onboard.” Nygard said.
Sabrina Marie Thomas started Girl Jazz Society in response to the gender disparity she saw at both a university and professional level.
“I think it’s so cool because I feel like we’re getting to a point where we’re reaching equal opportunity. Being the one girl in the room is so hard. That’s what it feels like in the Boise State Jazz band right now,” Thomas said. “Sometimes you feel the weight on your shoulders of having to represent 51% of the population — and
that’s just insane.”
Dr. Derek Ganong, Boise State University’s director of jazz studies, said that he’s witnessed the lack of representation within the Boise State Jazz Band as well.
“I think it’s a really important and delicate conversation. Throughout middle school and highschool there’s a fairly good number of girls playing jazz, but that number changes when we get into college,” Ganong said. “So, as someone who runs a college jazz program, I absolutely see that. I look at my ensemble and say ‘How can I help? What can I do to address it?’ and I think supporting the Girl Jazz club is one way I can help do that.”
Girl Jazz Society meetings typically start with the group watching or listening to a performance from a woman in the jazz industry. Thomas notes that sharing music with one another not only allows the group to explore new music, but allows the group to see modern representation within the field.
As a second year music performance major at Boise State University, Thomas says her love for jazz began during childhood.
“I would watch my brother play [as a child] and I thought I have to do that, that looks so fun,” Thomas said. “Now, I’m realizing that this is what I want to do with my life. I just want to do this forever.”
In early October, The Record Exchange invited Babe Vote to host a voter registration party called “Vinyl and Votes” on their patio. The Record Exchange personally invited a variety of young DJs and musicians to perform at the event, including Girl Jazz Society.
“Babe Vote encourages young people to amplify their voices in the voting realm and political side of the world,” Nygard said. “It was cool because [the owner of The Record Exchange] said it would be really cool if [the event] had some Boise
State representation since we have the biggest new voter group. Like, we are the voting future. This is the generation that can make a change.”
Over 40 people registered to vote during Girl Jazz Society’s hour-long set. While Thomas is unsure if she considers Girl Jazz Society as a political group, she is interested in exploring the idea.
The evergrowing Girl Jazz Society now has over 25 members participating in both their jam sessions and performances. While they don’t have regularly scheduled meetups, the Girl Jazz Society welcomes anyone, regardless of gender identity, to come play or just listen in on their gigs. Information on events and jam sessions can be found on the Girl Jazz Society Instagram page.
“People all the time are telling us ‘Man, I wish I played jazz’, or like, ‘I wish I played an instrument so I could be a part of this’,” Thomas said. “And what I say is, ‘Just come be a part of it. You don’t have to play. You can just be in the room with us’. Seeing people really love what you’re doing is so fulfilling.”
You can listen to the Girl Jazz Society’s music recommendations by scanning the graphic below.
Graphic of jazz instruments.
Graphic by Kelsey Mason
Jordana captures the multitudes of love on ‘Lively Premonition’
A track by track look inside Jordana’s newest record, “Lively Premonition”
Emily Carmela Nelson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
“Lively Premonition” is an album all about emotions.
“It’s about the cycle of love, heartbreak, lust, party-going, self-acceptance, connections and rediscovering yourself over and over again,” Jordana told Paolo Ragusa from the culture blog Consequence.
As a casual listener of Jordana myself, I came across the album’s second single “Like a Dog” in August 2024 and immediately fell in love. The synth ballad is theatrical and almost feels like the antithesis of Soccer Mommy’s 2018 track, “Your Dog”.
On “Like a Dog”, Jordana puts a spin on a classic motif from the indie-pop girl playbook — comparing the love she receives and gives to that of a dog.
“To me you’re the only one / Even when you string me along / None of this feels wrong / Cause I love to be loved like a dog.”
Jordana’s lyricism is satirical and self-deprecating about the desperation she feels within the relationship.
Throughout the track, Jordana pleads for her lover to notice her unconditional loyalty. “Ooh, do you care that I’d stay for you? / Ooh, do you care that I’d lay with you?”
Another stand out single from “Lively Premonition” was track one, “We Get By”. The romantic acoustic atmosphere in “We Get By” pulls you in by your heart strings on the first chord.
The track begins with a one sided conversation that could only be described as loving pillow talk.
“Do you believe in love at first sight? / I still remember our first time / Now, what’s mine is yours / And what’s yours is mine.”
Throughout the track, Jordana details the way love can prevail throughout both hardship and mundanity.
“As long as I have you by my side / We don’t need a fancy car or bike / Yeah, on
the road we share the lines / And on the sea, we share the tides.”
On “This is How I Know”, Jordana touches on a similar theme.
“This is how I know you love me / Tell me, how can I be lonely with my thoughts of you?”
Nearing the middle of the tracklist, the album takes an experimental turn with “Multitudes of Mystery”.
“Multitudes of Mystery” begins with a conversation between Jordana and producer Emmett Kai, imitating a young boy inviting two girls to a party. The song explores a coming of age and first time substance use.
The track ends with a spoken and reverbed outro following a countdown to an electronic sound, likely an innuendo to the start of a drug trip.
“I can’t feel my face (Ten, nine) / How long is this gonna last? (Eight, seven) / Uh (Six, five) / I can’t move (Four) / Is it working? (Three) / I think it’s working? (Two, one)”
The next track, “Raver Girl” follows a similar adult theme. “Raver Girl” details the story about meeting a stranger at the club and falling in love without ever exchanging a single word.
“By the end of the night / You’re out of my sight / To realize I’m dancing alone / Honey, where have you gone? / There’s still one more song / It was over just as soon as it started, baby.”
Sonically, “Raver Girl” feels like a song you’d hear at the roller rink. It is as aesthetically expressive as it is vocally.
Track three, “Heart You Hold”, was my personal favorite track on the album.
On “Heart You Hold”, Jordana delicately asks the listener to think about the relationships in their life.
“Are you scared to be away from all the friends you’ve grown to know so well? / You could be mad at mom and dad for ripping you out from your comfy bed / And you might not have the mental
wherewithal to understand it quite just yet.”
The track is reminiscent of a lullaby. Jordana takes on the role of an older sibling or a guardian, caringly giving advice to the listener about personal growth.
“And don’t you doubt you’ve got all the seconds in the world to figure out / Who you are (la la, la la la)”
The final tracks on “Lively Premonition”, “Wrong Love”, “Anything For You”, “The One I Knew” and “Your Story’s End” are songs of heartache.
On “Anything For You”, Jordana searches for a new sense of self after realizing she put her partner before herself in their relationship.
“I would’ve moved mountains / And you knew all along / Should’ve guessed that after long / I would’ve been here writing this song”.
At the end of the track, grief transforms into anger and Jordana realizes she craves a change.
“Should’ve guessed that I’d be gone / I shouldn’t be here writing this song.”
“Lively Premonition” encapsulates loss, love and lust in only ten tracks. This album will keep you laughing, crying and dancing throughout its 40 minute run time.
Photo of the Jordana album cover.
Courtesy of Avia Rose Ramm
SPORTS & REC
October 24, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Nora Hayd: The power of embracing individuality
Meet Nora Hayd, the internet’s favorite “gothlete”
Boise State’s beach volleyball sophomore, Nora Hayd, gained thousands of admirers online for her unapologetic self expression as the first known goth athlete in NCAA history.
On Oct. 2, Hayd went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with multiple other social media platforms for her authentic team roster photo. She now serves as a national role model for those struggling to break out against societal norms.
From her hot pink hair to her bold makeup and piercings, Hayd, otherwise known as “gothlete”, expresses her creativity through her look.
“Don’t be afraid to be different. I know it was really hard for a really long time. Still, kind of is to just stand out,
especially as someone who’s super introverted and doesn’t like confrontation,” Hayd said. “This is a lot, but it’s definitely worth it. And I think when you’re true to yourself, you find your people and your purpose a lot easier.”
This is just the beginning for Hayd as she plans to grow her brand through NIL (Name, image and likeness) deals, sponsorships, merchandise and more.
The viral tweet by “College Sports Only” has 7.8 million views and counting. In addition, the Boise State Beach Volleyball X account grew 22% in followers and received 3.5 million views on a photo of Hayd and her sophomore class.
The Illinois native moved to Seattle, Washington in fourth grade where she fell in love with art.
“Both my parents are artists,” Hayd said. “So I think having my parents helped me explore different mediums and stretch my ideas. And then also being in the Seattle area, surrounded by all the other art and culture also helped.”
By senior year of high school, Hayd got into a routine of doing her iconic makeup look every morning. Unfortunately since getting to college, Hayd typically only has time for this look on days without classes or volleyball.
Hayd’s passion for art ultimately led to her decision to come play at Boise State.
“I went on three visits here just because I wanted to tour the art building, which is super nice. I did go to a lot of other schools to tour for indoor and beach and this by far had the best art program, the nicest facility, and just all the players here were immediately super friendly,” Hayd said. “And I think being from Seattle, it was shocking, and also, the program had so much promise, and I was just ready to grow with it.”
On top of her creative side, Hayd excelled at volleyball since childhood.
The 6’1” athlete began playing volleyball at six years old and immediately knew she wanted to play at a high level.
Hayd fully switched from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball during her junior year of high school, and she found the culture to be much more positive.
“Especially indoor, I feel like that’s a little less accepting,” Hayd said. “ Maybe it was just the club I was at, but being here at Boise, they’ve always encouraged it. I’ve never felt treated differently.”
Hayd did what many people are afraid to do; fully embraced her individuality. The most heartwarming part about her newfound fame is the immense amount
of love Hayd received nationwide.
Boise State’s Head Beach Volleyball Coach, Allison Voigt, added that the team dynamic is very supportive and everyone wants the best for each other.
“What she brings just to the court, and what we really loved about her was more just her confidence of how she plays,” Voigt said. “Her IQ for the game is very natural for her. And also her physicality was something that we were looking for and she had it.”
Hayd has exciting plans for her future in both volleyball and art.
“Just like Allison said, this fall is just working on technical process oriented stuff, and making it to conference in the spring, and then growing my brand with NIL deals,” Hayd said. “I’m super excited to work with Hot Topic and Liquid Death and to be ambassadors for both of them and travel.”
After Hayd’s emo fashion style was compared to that of Hot Topic, the clothing brand reached out to her for a sponsorship followed by the canned water company, Liquid Death.
Hayd’s sponsorship with Hot Topic flew her to Las Vegas for the “When We Were Young” Music Festival where Hayd took photos for the brand.
On top of everything else, Hayd released t-shirts and sweatshirts on Boise State’s NIL Store on Oct.10. The merchandise hit No.7 on the NIL store rankings last week. She plans on continuing to create designs for additional merchandise.
Considering the national praise Hayd has received, she could very well stand as the first of many “gothletes” in the NCAA to come.
Photo of Nora Hayd.
Courtesy of Boise State Athletics
Boise Run Club: A community built among runners of all levels
Join the fun along the greenbelt every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Boise Run Club is more than just a club. It’s a social community that welcomes people of all ages and abilities.
The club meets at 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at Payette Brewing Co. for a 1-4 mile walk, jog, run or rollerblade along the Boise River greenbelt.
“I think the social aspect is one of the biggest parts of it, and we want to encourage people to stick around,” said Mckenzie Halling, the club’s social media manager. “If we can start and end in the same place, and there’s a good general space for us to hang out, to talk, get a beer, if you want to get water, kombucha, whatever it is, it just opens the door for a lot of people to meet.”
A key aspect of this club is the connections built when everyone comes together after their workout to socialize and grab a drink.
Halling joined the club when it was first founded and helped it grow through managing its Instagram and creating merchandise.
Emily Hamlin and Carli Corpus founded Boise Run Club in June 2023 but have since moved away from Boise. They have passed on the leadership role to Chandler Underwood who joined last February.
“I’ve seen it grow a lot, especially in the summer,” Underwood said. “Which makes a lot of sense because it’s warm and people want to be outside and all that stuff. It’s been really fun to watch it blow up.”
The Boise Run Club started out with a group of 10 friends and within a couple months gained much more attraction.
In addition to the Tuesday weekly meetups, the Boise Run Club aims to participate in two or three organized races a year, as well as hold one monthly social event.
St. Luke’s FitOne, a popular race that members of Boise Run Club take part in,
draws people from all ages to run in a 5K, 10K or half marathon.
Now that Halloween is approaching, the club will next hold their yearly costume contest sponsored by Payette Brewing Co.
This club welcomes people of all running levels creating a special community for all.
“If you want to just show up and hang out here to meet people at the end, that's great too. People are just genuinely so happy that anyone's coming out. It doesn't matter how fast you're going or what you're doing.”
- Mckenzie Halling, Boise Run Club’s social media manager
“I’m always in the back and I think that’s one of the nice things about this club is people are just happy to see you here,” Halling said. “If you want to walk, that’s great. If you want to just show up and hang out here to meet people at the end, that’s great too. People are just genuinely so happy that anyone’s coming out. It doesn’t matter how fast you’re going or what you’re doing.”
Boise Run Club is filled with people of all abilities, showing that forming connections with people in the area is a major purpose of the club.
“We’re trying to get people into the sport of running but it’s really just a way to meet people,” Underwood said. “And connect over a shared interest by running.”
Photos of the Boise Run Club. Courtesy of the Boise Run Club Instagram
Boise State’s kicking king dominates the field
The rise of Boise State’s record-setting kicker,
Sarah Courser | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
When Jonah Dalmas steps onto the iconic blue turf at Albertsons Stadium, it’s more than just another game, it’s a chance to etch his name deeper into the record books of Boise State, the Mountain West Conference and perhaps college football history.
A proud Meridian, Idaho native, Dalmas’ journey from a walk-on hopeful to one of the nation’s most dependable kickers has been nothing short of remarkable.
His evolution is not just a testament to hard work but a source of inspiration for athletes everywhere.
In 2023, Dalmas further cemented his legendary status, going 24-for-27 on field goals.
Which included a jaw-dropping 56-yard strike against the University of Central Florida — a kick that tied the program record and left fans in awe of his range and precision.
After the 2023 season, Jonah Dalmas had every reason to declare for the NFL draft. With his talent and proven track record, he was more than ready for the next level. But for Jonah, there was unfinished business.
His decision to return marked a huge victory for new Head Coach Spencer Danielson and a Boise State squad currently ranked 15th in the AP Poll.
This season, Dalmas solidified his place in the program’s history, becoming Boise State’s all-time leading scorer.
The monumental moment came during the Broncos’ commanding 62-30 win over Utah State University on Oct. 5, when Dalmas reached 451 career points, surpassing every player who’s ever worn a Broncos uniform.
Though Boise State’s high-powered offense, masterminded by Dirk Koetter and fueled by Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty, has been thriving in the red zone which has been limiting Dalmas’ field
Jonah Dalmas
goal opportunities, Dalmas has made the most of his chances.
Dalmas is 7-for-8 on field goals this season, contributing 55 points to the Broncos’ success. In addition, he now holds the Mountain West record for career field goals, further cementing his legacy as one of college football’s most reliable kickers.
If that wasn’t enough, Dalmas is now tied for sixth in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history in made field goals, sitting just 10 field goals behind the all-time record held by former North Carolina State University kicker, Christopher Dunn.
Jonah’s background is as unique as it gets. Not only was he a standout football player at Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, but he was also Idaho’s Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year in the
2016-17 season.
Surprisingly enough, Dalmas did not arrive at Boise State as a scholarship athlete. His journey started with a 14-day tryout that quickly turned his dreams into a reality which helped him earn the right to be on scholarship.
Months later, he was the Broncos’ starting kicker as a true freshman.
His performance this season has been more than just impressive field goals, though.
On the year Dalmas is a perfect 34/34 on extra points, helping Boise State solidify its place as one of the highest-scoring teams in the country.
With Boise State’s offense scoring touchdowns at a dizzying pace, Dalmas may need every bit of the team’s remaining regular-season games, the potential for a Mountain West Championship
game, and postseason opportunities to put his name on the top of the the NCAA Field Goal’s Made record book. Dalmas’ story is one of perseverance, faith, and sheer determination.
With six guaranteed games left, including a marquee matchup on Oct. 25 against University of Las Vegas Nevada at Allegiant Stadium, there is still plenty of football to be played and plenty of opportunities for Jonah Dalmas to continue his record-breaking season.
Keep an eye out for this Boise State legend, because his story is far from finished.
Whether he’s booting 50-yarders or nailing extra points, Jonah Dalmas is leaving an indelible mark on college football.
If we know one thing for sure, it’s that Dalmas is not done making history yet.
Photo of Jonah Dalmas.
Courtesy of Tyler McFarland
OUR BEST GUESS
THE ARBITER ALIGNS YOUR STARS
CAPRICORN
DEC 22 - JAN 19
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER LETTING THINGS GO.
OCT 24 - NOV 21 ILLUSTRATIONS BY
SYDNEY SMITH
IT’S USUALLY BETTER TO JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY.
AQUARIUS
JAN 20 - FEB 18
BOISE STATE PARKING SERVICES ARE WATCHING YOU.
PISCES
FEB 19 - MAR 20
YOU SHOULD DECORATE YOUR WALLS, IT WON’T HURT.
ARIES
MARCH 21 - APR 19
YOUR SIBLINGS ARE MORE EXCITED FOR YOU THAN YOU ARE.
TAURUS
APR 20 - MAY 20
MAKE SURE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUME IS DANCE PROOF.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUN 20
JUGGLING A MILLION THINGS? AT LEAST YOUR CHARM KEEPS IT ALL TOGETHER.
CANCER
JUN 21 - JUL 22
MUSIC ISN’T THERAPY, THERAPY IS THERAPY.
LEO
JUL 23 - AUG 22
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO THINK WITH YOUR OWN BRAIN. IT IS ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED!
VIRGO
AUG 23 - SEPT 22
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND WATCH ANY MOVIE THAT CAME OUT BEFORE 2010.
LIBRA SEPT 23 - OCT 22
FETTUCCINE ALFREDO MAY BE YOUR TRUE CALLING. CONSIDER IT.
SCORPIO
OCT 23 - NOV 21
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER LETTING THINGS GO.
NOV 22 - DEC 21
TRY READING SOMETHING, LIKE LITERALLY ANYTHING. SAGITTARIUS
your campus . your classmates . your voice . Tune in today!
