The Arbiter 9.12.17 Vol 30 Issue5

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

VOL. 30 ISSUE 5 I N D E P E N D E N T

Helping deaf students Page 10

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

O F

B O I S E

Art in the Park returns Page 13

S T A T E

S I N C E

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Air quality concerns

Page 18

EVENTS

Events this week Workshop: Inclusive Excellence Sept. 13 | ELD Lab | 2 p.m.

Students gather to explore how inclusivity plays a role in our university.

Boise State vs. New Mexico Sept. 14 | Albertsons Stadium | 6 p.m.

Boise State Broncos will on the New Mexico Lobos in our second home game of the season.

Telling America’s Stories in the National Parks Sept. 15 | Bergquist Room | 12 p.m.

Experts and scholars lead a discussion about our national parks.

Splatter Party Sept. 15 | The Quad | 9 p.m.

A dance party where students can socialize as colors rain down on them from above.

Be sure to wear white!

Run for Heroes 5k Sept. 16 | Greenbelt | 9 a.m.

Boiseans run on the Greenbelt around campus in support of military veterans in Idaho.

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SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

INSIDE

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Photo of the week

Editor-In-Chief Brandon Rasmussen editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Taylor Munson onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Jacob Palmer opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Jordan Erb news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Ximena Bustillo news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Savannah Willits culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Daniel Gardner sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Peter Huguenin sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise is illuminated by the glowing sun on a warm, summer evening. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

Digital Content Manager Axel Quartarone digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editors Evan Fishburn Harbor Neher

Visit us on social media

Design Manager Selina Ceballos

The Arbiter

Arbiter Online

@arbiteronline

www.arbiteronline.com

Hundreds of Boiseans gather on the steps of the Idaho Capitol to encourage congress to reinstate DACA and push for immigration reform that will support dreamers living in the U.S. Photo by Axel Quartarone, Cover designed by Selina Ceballos.

Graphic Designer Nabil Rahman Contact us The Arbiter is located at 1910 University Dr., Mail Stop 1340 Phone: (208) 426-6300 Website: www.arbiteronline.com Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

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NEWS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

DACA rescindment elicits support of recipients from Boiseans

Boise State students and faculty begin discussing implications of Trump’s DACA action

Jordan Erb | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Idaho Representative Ilana Rubel (right) rallies alongside Boise State students at an event in support of DACA on Saturday, Sept. 9. Photo by Axel Quartarone

Bright posters juxtaposed the scintillating sandstone of the Capitol building on Saturday, Sept. 9, as Boiseans rallied in support of over 3,000 recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in Idaho.

The rally was Boise’s first movement in the wake of a statement issued by President Trump on Tuesday, Sept. 5 declaring the end of DACA. Initiated in 2012 by the Obama Administration, DACA allows children who entered the country illegally under the will of their parents to live without fear of deportation. The objective of the rescindment, according to Trump’s official statement, is to create immigration reform that prioritizes American jobs and security.

The end of DACA will not be immediate, as the president is seeking to subtly phase out the program, rather than cut it off at its base. Though new applications for work permits will be denied, any permits currently in effect will be honored until

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their expiration dates–up to two years from Sept. 5, 2017.

Trump’s action gives Congress an opportunity to take DACA under its wing and push forward immigration reform. In light of these events, some Boiseans are calling the community into action.

Fructoso Basaldua, a senior sociology major and DACA advocate, believes a movement is needed to show recipients they are valued at Boise State, in the aftermath of a decision that could give an alternative impression.

“I would hope more Boise State students would become more politically active in support of ‘DACA-mented’ students here on campus. They deserve just as much freedom, liberty and rights as the students who are citizens,” Basaldua said.

The political initiative sought by Basaldua was partially satisfied by a statement made by President Bob Kustra on Tuesday. The issuance, sent to students mere hours after Trump’s, was a promise to

support DACA students and a declaration of cultural acceptance in higher education.

“Boise State will always stand as a beacon of greater cultural understanding through education and be a place of respect for others,” Kustra wrote, in what seems to be an unambiguous show of assistance for DACA recipients at the university.

“For me to be satisfied–and to symbolize to undocumented students that Boise State is their university and this is a place for them and a community that accepts them–I would hope to see Kustra’s words from that letter translated into actions,” Basaldua said.

A parallel statement was released by Boise State’s Inclusive Excellence Student Council (IESC) and the Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU), announcing their solidarity with DACA recipients.

“We believe in a world where everyone is able to access education, employment, and

basic human needs that include healthcare, safe(r) communities, a united family, and food regardless of their documentation status,” the statement said.

The words of support from Kustra, ASBSU and the IESC are a step in the right direction, according to Francisco Salinas, director of Student Diversity and Inclusion. Speaking unequivocally about social issues is the role of society’s leaders, Salinas claims.

“I was very proud our president issued that statement,” Salinas said. “It is an unqualified statement of support for our students, regardless of their circumstances and it is a commitment to be proactive in prioritizing the educational opportunities for these kinds of students.”

While both Basaldua and Salinas have shown their support for DACA recipients, the two share an openness to the reform this turn of events may bring. According to Salinas, DACA did not fulfill an important underlying need–a comprehensive immigration reform.

“It’s been 30 years since any form of immigration reform was enacted, and that was in 1986. It doesn’t work. It’s flawed,” Basaldua said.

If Congress is able to find a solution that preserves the opportunities given to DACA recipients, instead of closing the doors that had been opened to them when they entered the United States, Basaldua and Salinas could be satisfied.

According to each of them, the power to generate social change lies not only in the hands of Congress, but in the hands of the American people as well–speaking out and getting involved in political discourse and petitions can make an impact.

“One of the things we’re seeing out of reactions and movements in and around the political climate is that people organizing has an effect,” Salinas said. “If we allow somebody else to create our vision of justice for us, it’s because we’re not doing enough to create our own.”

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Boise Film Festival puts spotlight on local talent

Weekend event draws filmmakers and enthusiasts alike Evan Fishburn | Copy Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise Film Festival hosts a showing of “Neverending Story at Rediscovered Bookshop. Photo courtesy of Boise Film Festival’s Facebook page.

Melinda Quick is organizing this year’s festival. Photo by Evan Fishburn.

The third annual Boise Film Festival, scheduled to take place at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP), brings professional and aspiring filmmakers to downtown Boise for a four-day event, Sept. 21 to 24.

Like the building in which it is hosted, the festival offers a little bit of everything for attendees, including a range of local, national and international films.

“It is open to everyone to enjoy, but with a focus on Idaho,” said Melinda Quick, filmmaker and executive director of the festival.

This year 42 films were selected from over 100 submissions. The central location at JUMP means people will not have to choose between films they wish to see, as they had to do in the past.

The event includes awards, shorts and feature screenings, panels, Q&A with attending filmmakers, as well as various breakout sessions with local production

of knowledge, vulnerability and experience outside the classroom.

“Get out there, don’t make excuses.

Reach out and do what you want to do,” Quick said.

The festival encourages collaboration, education and networking, while bringing attention to the growing film community in Idaho and the Treasure Valley. In this light, the festival hopes to raise funding for film projects in the future. “[I am] excited to see it happen – all these people coming together because we have a shared interest,” Quick said. “You can feel the energy.”

There are three types of passes to the event and anyone can purchase tickets for individual screenings and panels. Details can be found on the festival website, boisefilmfestival.org.

Student film screenings are free for

teams. The panels will explore virtual reality, Idaho, youth and women in film. “[The panel] is a great way to show how strong the community here is,“ Quick said, with regard to Idaho in film. “It is a tradition, it’s what we’re known for and it’s starting a lot of dialogue about where we’re going.”

Among the attendees is Bonnie Bruckheimer, a well-known producer and advocate for women in film and Meredith Richardson, a stunt double with an impressive list of appearances.

“More women are getting in front of the camera,” Quick said, referencing Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Gal Gadot and more. “It inspires people to speak up and its important that people think film is a way to address issues and inspire change.”

Recognizing that breaking into the film industry can be challenging, Quick encourages students to acquire a combination

students with their IDs. Quick also said volunteers for the event are still needed and are offered a free pass in return.

Quick described the local film community as “a pot of flowers – everything is growing and thriving in different ways, but now we all need to grow toward the sunlight.”

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NEWS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Traveling flag passes through campus Runners make their way to Caldwell for 9/11

I CHOSE SOCIAL WORK

Ximena Bustillo | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

A Boise runner carries the American flag down Boise State’s University Street. Photo by Brandon Rasmussen

On the 16th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 multiple Boise veteran-associated groups, including Red, White and Blue, Higher Heros USA, Team Rubicon and Guilde Education collaborated on a tribute to commemorate the date.

“This is done through Mission 43 which is an initiative to help veterans,” said Coordinator of Veterans Services at Boise State, Lori Sprague. Starting at 8:46 a.m., teams and individuals ran from Lucky Peak, through Boise and onto Caldwell.

Sprague explained this is an event that takes place in the Treasure Valley every year, although there are differences this year.

“We expect about 40-60 people running by themselves, in pairs and in groups,” Sprague said.

The flag will be carried through nine

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main checkpoints: Lucky Peak, Kristen Armstrong Municipal Park, Broadway Ave., Boise State University, Friendship Bridge, State Capitol and Veterans Memorial Park.

There were also four time slots that carried significant meaning. At 8:46 a.m., the runners began at Lucky Peak–this is equated to the moment Flight 11 hit the North Tower in New York. There was a moment of silence at 9:03 a.m. for when Flight 175 hit the South Tower and at 9:36 a.m. for when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon.

Finally, at 10:07a.m., the runners were set to arrive at Kristen Armstrong Park for when Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

“We are just trying to bring this on campus to show that we are all united and we will never forget that day,” Sprague said.

Contact us to learn how you can start changing lives. Offering in-person bachelor’s and master’s programs near you.

hs.boisestate.edu/socialwork Bachelor’s program application deadline October 6 Master’s program application deadline December 1

NEWS

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Students turn to alternative options for buying textbooks

School of Public Service creates certificate program to honor Idaho activist Marilyn Shuler Kate Johnston | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

High prices of college textbooks are causing students to look for alternative options. Photo by Taylor Humby

Textbooks are a necessity for college, however, students could do without the high prices. While the Boise State Bookstore is a conveniently-located resource for buying supplies, students may turn to alternative routes for purchasing textbooks.

According to sophomore nursing major Maddy Thibadeau and sophomore social work major Hailey Arnold, buying and selling textbooks can be more of a hassle than it’s worth. “(Textbook) prices are way too high, so I hate buying them,” Thibadeau said.

Jonny Fisher, part-owner of the Text-

book Exchange, claims the reason for such high prices lies primarily in the hands of publishers, who inflate the prices in order to compensate for decreasing revenues.

As a result of the cost, some students have turned to illegal actions such as buying counterfeit textbooks or downloading pirated copies. This has also raised textbook prices. Fisher also claims bookstores have not adapted well to the needs of their customers, which has caused inefficiencies in the system and consequently increased prices.

“Textbook prices are way too high,”

Fisher said. “If a book is expensive in store, it is because it was expensive to source.”

Highly priced textbooks may be an issue for campus bookstores, but there are in fact cheaper options. Many websites offer cheaper ways to get textbooks either online or sent to your doorstep. These websites also include the ability to sell previously purchased textbooks once they are no longer needed. For students looking for ways to save on textbooks, check out the following options: Addall.com is a great place to start. Here students can search and compare among

over 40 websites, 20,000 sellers and millions of books. New or used books can be found by searching the title and entering shipping information.

Bigwords.com is an app for textbooks, with a desktop version also available. All students have to do is search to buy, rent or sell textbooks through the app.

Cheapesttextbooks.com is a site for new, used, rentals and e-Textbooks. Here students can compare hundreds of sellers.

The website also will show who is offering the highest amount of money for them.

On top of that, the app is free.

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OPINION

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Private schools and voucher programs should be encouraged

Parents should have the choice of where they want their kids to attend school

BLUE VIEW

Peter Huegenin | Sports and Rec Reporter | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu The state of Idaho should encourage private education as an alternative to state schools and public universities. Idaho could create long term plans to slowly transition to a private based system, in which parents choose where to send their kids and schools have to compete and try to offer the best product in order to attract students. In this system, schools no longer have a base of students that are required to attend, and now have to compete with other schools to maintain students. If students are forced to attend one school, then the school has no reason to try to improve.

Better for grades In a Time Magazine article entitled, “Are Private Schools Really Better?” writer John Cloud makes an argument regarding the improved intellectual development of kids in private schools.

“SAT scores are the best predictor of how kids will do in their freshman year of college. And the data in the new study shows that private-school students outperform public-school students on the SAT,” Cloud said. “It appears private schools do more to develop students’ critical-thinking abilities. In short...sending your kid to private school is still a better way to ensure that he or she will get into college.”

Better for the budget All public school systems are supported by taxpayers dollars. A predictable effect of this fact is the average cost per school is more expensive than that of private schools according to Hewellyn H. Rockwell, the founder and chairman of Mises Institute.

Currently many think private schooling is too expensive, because parents have to pay taxes along with additional fees for private schools. But if parents could choose which school they send their money to, then private schooling becomes much more affordable. People who can’t afford school would be given more opportunities to receive help. Private schools also offer scholarships, which will allow them to go to schools where they could receive a better education than they would otherwise.

Private school and voucher programs can also save the state money. An article in the Journal Sentinel by Erin Richards explains how Milwaukee’s voucher program has saved the state millions of dollars.

“Milwaukee’s long-running school voucher program that allows certain children to attend private and religious schools at taxpayer expense has saved Wisconsin more than $238 million since its inception in 1990, according to a new study by a national voucher advocacy group,” Richards writes.

Better for free thought In Murray N. Rothbard’s book Education: Free and Compulsory, Rothbard states the real reason that the “civic elite”

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are so worried about private school and home schooling isn’t that the children will not receive an education that is up to standard, but that they are unable to control exactly what they learn.”

This element of political bias is further explored in an article by Stanley Rothman, S. Robert Lichter, and Neil Nevitte titled The Forum. Their research found that 72 percent of all college faculty reported themselves as liberal while only 15 percent reported themselves as conservative.

This political bias extends to more than just universities. The Plainfield Patch newspaper reported on a vocabulary quiz given to eighth grade students which contained political attacks against president Trump.

Multiple teachers of the year released a letter stating they could no longer remain neutral in the 2016 election and had to attack Trump as teachers. And all students in the Chicago public school system were sent home with letters to their parents attacking president Trump and Illinois’ republican governor Bruce Rauner.

While everyone has the right to share their political opinion, parents should have the right to choose where their kids go if they feel their kids are being indoctrinated.

John Stossel is a journalist who has worked for NBC, ABC, and FOX. In an article for Fox News, Stossel summed up the shortcomings of public schools and their lack of options for students.

“I know that public school -- government school is a better name -- is one of the worst parts of America. It’s a stultified government monopoly. It never improves.

Government schools are rigid, boring, expensive and more segregated than private schools,” Stossel said.

Every child should have the ability to go to a school that is best fit for him. Privatizing education is the most efficient way to allow children to go wherever is best for them.

BLUE VS. ORANGE

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Programs such as school vouchers hurt vulnerable students

Private schools and vouncher programs would be discriminatory

OPINION ORANGE VIEW

Daniel Gardner | Sports and Rec Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The privatization of the school system certainly isn’t new. The push of charter schools and other private institutions’ popularity is on the incline. It’s been about 20 years that the Devos’ family has been investing in the charter school system in Michigan. Only about 5 years ago Vice President Pence started investing into massive school choice voucher programs while the governor of Indiana. The increase of all school choice has negative effects on students within the public school system, some of which still do not have access to other options.

Idaho should not invest into the privatization of the public school system.

The systematic problems of vouchers and privatization hurts the students who are already the least advocated for, and actually perpetuates the problem on inequality.

Worse for grades A study done by the CREDO institute in 2009 took 70% of students enrolled in charter schools nationwide and discovered that 46% of students posted the same math scores as their public school counterparts, and 37% of them had worse math scores than students from the same peer groups and school performance in public institutions. More recent CREDO studies are less conclusive.

Furthermore, a study done in 2017 by Mark Berends of the University of Notre Dame and R. Joseph Waddington of the University of Kentucky has the most recent research on the topic. The study shows that students who transfer to a private school experience backslides in improvement for the first two years of their schooling. After that students started to see increases in their learning. If a student doesn’t stay in the school for two years they essentially only have a negative experience. If we are going to have school choice, then at the very least it should give students a better educational experience.

DUELING OPINIONS

Lack of equal opportunity The idea of vouchers originally is to help students who come from low income families to have more access to schools.

This does not solve the overall problem of systematic marginalization that exists in the recruiting process that increases segregation. Some charter schools get their funding through results of the students; they are incentivized to not accept students who they do not think will perform.

Though the idea of vouchers is to help the marginalized the recruiting process is efficient at blocking students with disabilities or behavioral issues from getting new experiences.

This happens because these schools make a blanket decision that these students cannot perform to their set expectations to profit. Privatization is directly related to a for-profit model that looks to measure the success of the school. The force for schools to make money creates marginalization. In Indiana, where Pence governed since 2013, there has been a decrease in vouchers used for low income public school students trying to get into private schools and instead a significant increase in middle class students who have never been to a public school getting vouchers to go to expensive religious institutions. This erases the original intention of the voucher program.

close due to a lack of funding. In Chicago, students who are the most marginalized stay in schools that eventually close and then they are forced to leave their school and find a different location out of their district. In some cases the schools closing are ones that are handicapped accessible and support students with various needs. Moving students around gives them a larger risk of gang violence.

This is why it is crucial for Idaho to not get on the train or privatization of the school system that is currently becoming a part of the American way. Private schools for the most part only help the already privileged, vouchers discriminate based on too many things to help the marginalized and the losing of other public school students hurts the students at risk. By advocating for a stronger and more invested public school system we are helping all students to have a brighter and more informed future.

Budget problems Depending on the state each student receives a certain amount of dollars a year that follow him or her to whichever institution he or she chooses. Once a school loses a large enough amount of its students to charters, it starts to not have enough money that the schools can not keep up with basic building maintenance. This has led to one of the largest groups of school closures in recent history.

What’s happening is students from low income areas are targeted by biases that prevent them from getting into schools, then these students’ public school has to

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FEATURE

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Improving Equal Access

Boise State graduate course addresses challenges faced by deaf students

Taylor Munson | Online Editor | onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Educational Access Center provides services for students with disabilities. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

Imagine sitting in a silent classroom surrounded by college students feverishly taking notes. The professor is talking quickly, and you are unable to hear anything. You intently watch the interpreter assigned to you for that day.

Today’s interpreter is using a type of sign language you are not fluent in, making it difficult for you to follow. Certain concepts or words come up that the interpreter doesn’t know how to sign, leaving you confused and unable to grasp the material.

This difficult experience is something commonly faced by deaf students at Boise State.

At least, that’s what Elyse Taylor identified in her research for the Needs Assessment course in Boise State’s Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning

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(OPWL) program. About two years ago, Taylor chose to pursue this issue for a project in this graduate course.

Taylor works as the Accommodated Testing Coordinator in the Educational Access Center (EAC), as well as the campus coordinator for the Workforce Recruitment Program for students with disabilities.

After she noticed this gap in learning for deaf students, she decided to do something about it.

“I was noticing the students using interpreting services—specifically deaf students—had GPAs that were at risk of having some bad consequences, such as being put on probation,” Taylor said. “They just weren’t keeping up with the parameters the University sets.”

The professor of this course, Donald Win-

iecki, helps graduate students identify an issue preventing a workplace from reaching its goals, and then helps them work toward a recommended solution.

“Boise State’s goal is to make sure all students have equal access to content and succeed–and to do wonderful things,” Winiecki said. “The data from the (Educational Access Center) indicated that deaf students were not succeeding at all.”

After identifying the specific concern with deaf students and their GPAs and conducting interviews and research, Taylor and her teammates came up with a report analyzing all the potential issues. From this report they created recommendations they felt would create an adequate path toward improvement for deaf students.

“The common denominator between

all the deaf students was the interpreting accommodation,” Taylor said.

Currently, the EAC contracts with an outside interpreting agency called Network Interpreting Service. Taylor and her team discovered two primary frustrations from deaf students using this interpreting service.

One issue was found in the scheduling.

According to Allison Gonzalez—Lead Accommodation Coordinator for the EAC—in order to schedule an interpreter, the deaf student had to submit a request, followed by the EAC submitting a request to the agency, then the agency had to approve and schedule an interpreter. This lengthy process made it difficult to secure consistent interpreters for a student’s courses.

FEATURE

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

The other issue was the lack of sign language consistency. Gonzalez explained how there isn’t one universal sign language. In fact, there are many different categories of sign language—including American Sign Language (ASL), Pidgin Signed English (PSE) and Signing Exact English (SEE).

Therefore, if an interpreter proficient in one of these languages is assigned to a deaf student who is proficient in a different language, a clear hindrance to learning occurs.

In addition, some deaf students may not even be familiar with sign language.

“There is a misconception that all deaf people know sign language, and that’s not true,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of parents will choose to go the oral route, where they don’t sign with their kids. Then, when these students get to college—or in bigger settings—it’s difficult to hear.”

Taylor feels passionately about implementing the recommended solutions from this project—beginning by hiring two Boise State staff interpreters.

The project raised an important question of how to best serve the disability community at Boise State, according to Winiecki.

Through assessments such as these, the EAC can pinpoint where their accommodation services can be improved.

Winiecki has a special interest in those with sensory disabilities, as he transcribes braille—mostly for math and science subjects within the engineering department.

“We’ve lost some (blind) students because we couldn’t provide the content for them quickly enough,” Winiecki said.

According to Taylor, a very small subset of the disability population go on to hold permanent jobs. However, she feels by

searching for solutions such as these ones, and creating the most inclusive environment possible, there will be movement in a positive direction.

“School is hard—very hard. So when you see somebody work through that—in addition to figuring out how to cope with their disability and fully utilize their accommodations—it’s fantastic,” Taylor said.

Gonzalez also feels that optimizing accessible resources and creating an inclusive environment for deaf students will help to improve their overall college experience and ability to learn.

“Deaf culture is very rich and very unique. It really is an amazing culture,” Gonzalez said. “They have their own cultural norms and it’s really interesting to be allowed to observe that world and try to enter it. Sign language is what ties that

culture together,” One way students can work to become a part of this culture is through learning sign language. There is also an ASL club on campus that hosts weekly silent lunches, which anyone is invited to attend and participate in.

Taylor, Gonzalez and Winiecki hope that solutions and improvements will continue to be made when it comes to deaf students, as well as the entire disability population at Boise State and beyond.

“That’s exactly what we look for in social justice. We want to make sure that people have the resources they require to succeed.

We’re not favoring them, we’re just giving them what the institution should provide to fulfill its own mission,” Winiecki said.

Members of Boise State’s American Sign Language Club show off their shirts and favoriate signs. Photos courtesy of the ASL Club at BSU Facebook page.

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BUCKING AROUND

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.86)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Fri Sep 8 20:41:11 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

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CULTURE

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Art in the Park returns again

Artists show off and sell their work at Julia Davis Park Savannah Willits | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Patrons wander Julia Davis Park observing the multitude of local talent.

Photo by Axel Quartarone.

As the smoke cleared, numerous white tents appeared in Julia Davis Park over the weekend for the annual Art in the Park.

From minimalist fruit illustrations to recycled metal sculptures, Art in the Park offers a diverse range of art, entertainment, and food. This past weekend marked the 63rd year of the Boise Art Museum’s largest fundraiser. The event presents over 260 art vendors from around the United States to sell goods like ceramics, decorative home crafts, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, and photography to name a few.

A staple of the art culture in Boise, many have come to believe Art in the Park has come to represent the importance of arts and culture in the Treasure Valley.

“Art and music, really all arts, define our culture, so it’s important to have events like this so we have a culture,” said Peter Taylor, a sophomore social work major.

It is clear by walking around the park there is a certain culture of elan and idyllicism among artists, which is then shared with and promoted by the public.

“I love coming to Art in the Park, for the art and to be inspired by other artists. I

believe that we all have the potential to be creators,” said Payton Elsey, a sophomore computer science major.

“Artists make us think about our culture, they define it, they make us question-at times. Artists are the embodiment of culture. When you talk about a culture, you don’t necessarily look at what they do for work. You look at their art, what their language and music sounds like-all of that is what really defines a culture,” Taylor said.

Not only do these artists come to Boise every year to sell their work, but also to demonstrate how they have morphed and fine tuned their style over time.

“One of my favorite things to do at Art in the Park is to see how artists are changing and expanding their vision,” Elsey said.

“Art in the Park is enrichment. I see things someone else created which makes we think in different ways just looking at it,” Taylor said. “I like the illustrators, because they take well known cartoon characters or their own original characters and place them in situation they aren’t normally. It makes me smile and think

One of the many pieces of local art available for purchase. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

about life differently.”

Information such as the type of art and food vendors, general information, and

lost and found number for this year’s and next year’s Art in the Park can be found at www.boiseartmuseum.org/art-in-the-park/.

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CULTURE

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Sweetest things in life

The Stil sees immense student traffic

Veronlica Lemaster | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

With temperatures reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the Boise area, people are searching high and low for ways to cool down. Although most buildings are supplied with air conditioning, Downtown Boise has a great alternative to help keep cool: The Stil, which opened for business earlier this summer on July 16.

The Stil, an acronym for the Sweetest Things in Life, lives in Downtown Boise’s BoDo between Caffe D’arte and Edwards 9 Cinemas. Along with the family friendly and vegan options The Stil provides, they also have alcohol incorporated flavors for those over 21, and a wine and beer menu.

Only a few months old, the unique shop is already making a name for itself in the community.

“I heard about (The Stil) from my coworker because of the alcohol infused flavors,” said Camille Jones, a sophomore at Boise State. Her friend, Geena Colburn, also heard about The Stil from classmates at Boise State.

How The Stil came to be is no ordinary story, according to owner Kasey Allen.

He described the journey he and co-owner Dan Sell took to get the shop off the ground.

“It started off as a joke, but the more we talked about it and came up with a concept of what we’d want it to be and how we wanted it to feel like, we were thinking maybe we should actually do this.”

With unique flavors that change out continuously, wine and beer flights and the near proximity to Boise State and downtown, The Stil can be the perfect hangout spot for any group of friends, or stressedout student.

Friends and Boise State students Geena Colburn, Camille Jones and Alanah Knutsen sat down for a chilled treat and to forget about the stress of school.

“I mentioned going to Goodies to a friend, and they told me to go to The Stil, so we tried it out,” Colburn said,“We love it!” The friends tried out Summer Hike,

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which is a strawberry sorbet, and the Dia En La Playa, their play on the churro. The first-timers have plans on coming back for the unique flavors, and the hangout spot.

“It seems since school has kicked back

“

We try to encourage people to think about what the sweetest things in their lives are.

”

- Kasey Allen, owner of The Stil up that we’ve gotten a lot of [Boise State] students in here,” Allen confirmed. “Over the weekend before school started we had a lot of parents in here either with or without their students. We also had the entire Honors College come in,” Bronco football fans also found their way to the delicious shop after the first home game. With their slogan, ‘what’s it to you?,’ the shop is all about finding the sweetest things in life.

“We try to encourage people to think about what the sweetest things in their lives are,” Allen said. “All of our flavors are named after various sweetest things in life, such as the Fresh Powder, which is our vanilla, or Easy Like Sunday Morning, which is our coffee caramel.”

A popular wine infused flavor is the Purple Rain, which combines raspberry wine and sweet sorbet for a light dessert. Beer and ice cream flights are also a must have, with a flight of three or four beers paired alongside half scoops of ice cream. The shop also offers beer floats, port shakes, even dessert wine shakes, making it a sweet spot for everyone.

The Stil can be found next to Cafe d’Art and Edwards theater. Photo by Veronia Lemaster

Boise State students enjoy The Stil’s diverse flavors of ice cream. Photo by Veronica Lemaster

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

First Thursday presents an opportunity to connect with Boise culture

CULTURE

Food, retailers, music and more contribute to the monthly event Hannah Schliep | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

a great way to get involved with the city outside of campus events,” Elizabeth said.

Drawn to good food at low prices, Elizabeth was impressed with the Weekend BBQ Store.

“I was pleasantly surprised because the wine was tasty plus super cheap,” Elizabeth said.

“

First Thursday is a great way to meet new people and get a feel for Boise...

”

- Estefani, owner of Go Out Local Owner of Weekend BBQ Store Anne Leibow is a local business participant in First Thursday and provides samples of her hand-chosen–yet affordable–wines.

Leibow’s business has been open since

2015 and sells barbeque grills, rubs and accessories to pair with specialty wines.

“I love that I get to meet new people all of the time,” Leibow said. “Seeing my customers leave with a smile makes me know I did the best I could do to give them a fun experience.”

Weekend BBQ Store caters well to college students that enjoy grilling and tailgating with affordable barbeque supplies that pair well with any hand-picked wine for students over the age of 21.

If students are looking for a new scene to get connected with the Boise downtown family, they should mark their calendars for Boise’s next First Thursday. This is a fun and free event that students won’t want to miss. For more information on locations, events and times, head to downtownboise.org.

A local band plays during First Thursday activities. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

Each First Thursday of the month, Boise comes alive to celebrate the local community with free food, wine tasting and discounts on merchandise, catered by Boise’s own local businesses. Taking place in the heart of Boise, friends and family can come out and join the festivities from 5-9 p.m.

With a vast selection of entertainment spread throughout downtown, one can find live music, rock wall climbing and even corn hole tournaments. As a Boise State student, attending First Thursday can be a golden opportunity to connect with

the downtown lifestyle.

Estefani, owner of Go Out Local, explained her company’s role in First Thursday as a mechanism to spread the word about local businesses.

“First Thursday is a great way to meet new people and get a feel for Boise while giving exposure to Boise businesses,” Estefani said.

According to Boise State student and First Thursday attendee Hannah Elizabeth, First Thursday can be a great way to connect with the city.

“I’m from California and I feel like it’s

Boise artists and business come together. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

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SPORTS & REC

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Boise State launches esports program

Faculty and students form esports teams to compete on and off campus Daniel Gardner | Sports and Rec Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Games Center in the SUB offers a place for students to take a break and place a few games on various consoles. Photo by Alec Foege.

Boise State announced on August 30th they would be adding a varsity Esports program to the school’s competitive repertoire. Esports is a growing trend that has reached competitive popularity in colleges within the last few years. The games currently available to play at the college level are League of Legends, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm, Overwatch, and Rocket League.

Boise State’s announcement makes them one of the four Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools to have an organized official varsity team. Boise State’s push to be on the forefront of Esports is a product of the vision of two professors on campus who have been working on the project for six months.

Education Technology Department Head Brett Shelton, and Education Technology Professor Chris Haskell started this project in the belief that this up-andcoming trend would be an excellent way to help educate students in new ways at Boise State.

Among the five games being offered on campus, League of Legends has the largest

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following. League of Legends is normally played with two teams competing against each other in teams of five.

“Boise State’s League of Legends Facebook group currently has around 215 people,” said the current Acting

“

We’re planning to compete this fall in competitive tournaments. We’re initiating what we call blue turf thinking—not only just to participate, but to win.

”

- Brett Shelton, department head of Education Technology Department President of the League of Legends team Paul Vaughan. “Applicants for the team are flying in.” Though there are many students interested in the Esport, “People in the club want the best possible team,

and understand that not everyone will be chosen.” Though Vaughan, an information technology management major, was happy with the list of games announced, he sees some games with plenty of campus interest missing from the list. “I was surprised that Super Smash Brothers isn’t an eSport.”

According to Vaughan, one thing that makes Super Smash Brothers different than the games on the tournament platforms is its lack of a PC version, which makes the others more accessible.

The starting of an intensive program like this demands having faculty coordinators to be a liaison between the university and the outside world.

In the case of Boise State, this started as an idea between Haskell and Shelton.

The team has gone to the administration to pitch their idea, going to PAX Sports West—the Penny arcade exhibit to do guest panels about e-sports on college campuses—and lastly working on a published book discussing the incorporation of eSports within academia. The two professors have just begun working out all of the ideas they have envisioned.

Student enjoys a video game. Photo by Alec Foege.

“We’re planning to compete this fall in competitive tournaments,” said Shelton.

“We’re initiating what we call blue turf thinking, not only just to participate, but to win. Good performances could help supply and fund scholarships for athletes.”

Though winning is admirable, the coordinators see other ways to foster a good environment.

“We hope to support students at all levels. We could see even making a push to have intramural teams on campus,” Shelton said. Shelton looks to a college campus like UC Irvine and admires the astonishing E-sports complex they have, that’s one of his long-term goals.

“What Boise State does well is foster and develop programs that are interesting and important to the community,” Shelton said. Currently the program is supported by the College of Education and the College of Innovation and Design.

As of the time this article was published, the program had received over 160 applications of students wanting to participate in various forms such as playing, sports casting and making podcasts charting the process.

SPORTS & REC

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Cross country looks ahead to new season

Both men’s and women’s teams looking to have an impressive season

Joshua Arace | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Cross country season is approaching, and Boise State is primed to have an excellent season, entering the year with both its men’s and women’s teams ranked nationally. For Boise State sports fans, it could be something to look forward to.

The Broncos cross country teams were scheduled to debut Sept. 7 at the Oregon XC Preview, but the event was cancelled due to due to poor air quality. Instead, the teams will have to wait until Sept. 30 at the Greater Louisville Classic.

In pre-season polls, the Boise State men’s team is ranked second in the Mountain West, receiving 45 points and 3 first place votes, just a point shy of first place Mountain West rivals Colorado State. Boise State’s Mountain West competitors include Air Force, New Mexico and Utah State.

In terms of national ranking, Boise State is currently No. 24 in the nation, and will look to improve their standing throughout the season.

There is much reason for optimism on

the team. Following a 19th place finish at the NCAA Division One Cross Country Championships last season, the team lost none of its players to graduation and is set to take a big step forward after a full offseason of training and preparation as a team. Some of the notable runners on the team include senior Yusuke Uchikoshi, who was named the 2016 Mountain West Champion, and senior Michael Vennard, who was named to the All-Mountain West First Team last season.

“The team should be going in [the season] with lots of confidence, and thinking of competing at a higher level than last year,” said Melika Ghali, runner and senior kinesiology major.

As for the women’s team, they too are entering the season ranked second in the Mountain West, receiving 89, 11 points behind first place team New Mexico.

The women’s primary competition in the Mountain West outside New Mexico will be Air Force, Colorado State, and Utah

Boise State’s men’s team is ranked second in the Mountain West. Photo courtesy of Boise State Cross Country’s Facebook page.

State. Nationally, the women’s team enters the season ranked No. 19 in this season’s

“

The team should be going in (the season) with lots of confidence, and thinking of competing at a higher level than last year.

”

- Melika Ghali, runner and senior kinesiology major pre-season polls.

The women’s team also has a lot of reason for optimism on the season, losing just two seniors from last year’s team. Included in the list of star runners is sophomore Clare O’Brien, who was the Mountain West’s 2016 Cross Country Freshman of the Year. O’Brien will look to progress on

her stellar performance last season with another great year. Junior Brenna Peloquin will also look to add to her cross country resume, after an extremely impressive sixth place individual performance at the NCAA National Championships last season, and also being named to the All-NCAA Cross Country.

“We are moving towards the team culture I had my freshman and sophomore year at Stanford,” said current Bronco and former Stanford Cardinal runner Megan Lacy. “That’s when we did special things.”

Lacy and the Cardinals placed third at the 2012 NCAA Cross Country Championships, showing the high confidence she has in this Broncos team. Lacy is a graduate student at Boise State, working on her master’s degree in athletic leadership.

Boise State’s women’s team is also ranked second in the Mountain West, with many seasoned runners in position this season. Photo courtesy of Boise State Cross Country’s Facebook Page.

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SPORTS & REC

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Pacific-Northwest fires force Boise State to make changes

Safety officials warn students to keep activities inside for now

Addison Dehaven | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise is blankete in a smokey haze, leading to health concerns for its residents. Photo courtesy of Idaho Statesman.

Most people in the Northwest are accustomed to dealing with wildfires in late summer, referred to sometimes as “wildfire season.” Rarely, though, does “wildfire season” stretch into September, making this large amount of active fires especially concerning.

According to NASA, there are 28 fires burning in Oregon, Washington and Idaho combined, each fire burning at least 1,000 acres with the largest fire in each state burning at least 150,000 acres.

A combination of a hot, dry summer and improper fireworks use has set the Pacific Northwest ablaze, blanketing much of the region in smoke.

Boise has avoided all major wildfires (so far), but has been suffocated by smoke, creating a thick haze throughout the city.

The air quality in Boise has been the greatest repercussion with the fire, as it has been labeled as “unhealthy” since Sept. 5.

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“People with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should

“

Even if you cover your mouth with something, avoiding activity outside is really the only way to stop the smoke particles from getting in your lungs.

”

- Tyler Smith, associate athletic trainer avoid prolonged or heavy exertion,” said the Department of Public Safety about the levels reaching “very unhealthy” on Sept.

6.

The “very unhealthy” air levels have caused Boise State Athletics to move all activities indoors and cancel the first meet of the cross country season.

But just how dangerous is it to exercise outdoors during this smoke-pocalypse?

“Well in terms of long-term damage, there isn’t really much that will happen,” said Tyler Smith, Associate Athletic Trainer at Boise State. “If someone were to exercise day in and day out in ‘unhealthy’ air quality levels, then I could see some long-term damage, but that would have to be after weeks of dealing with this level of smoke.”

In the short-term, according to Smith, there isn’t much permanent damage that will happen.

“The biggest effect of prolonged exercise in this level of smoke is really just mild irritation of the throat and maybe a cough, both of which will go away after a few days. People with asthma will have more

problems than everyone else, however,” Smith said.

People have tried to make use of surgical masks and bandanas to avoid the smoke, but according to Smith, they do little to help.

“Even if you cover your mouth with something like a mask or bandana, air can still get into your mouth, meaning that smoke can also get in,” Smith said. “Avoiding activity outside is really the only way to stop the smoke particles from getting in your lungs.”

Try to breathe easy though Boise State students, as rain is in the forecast for the Pacific Northwest, which will hopefully release Boise from this chokehold of smoke and allow everyone to enjoy the start of fall.

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SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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