December 2, 2023
Vol. 36, Issue 8
I NDEP END E N T
STUD E N T
VO I C E
O F
B O I SE
STATE
S I N C E
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Miracle Season: Boise State Football turns turmoil into triumph NEWS
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Gender Equity Center and ASBSU respond to the LGBTQ+ hate crime that occurred on campus.
VISIT US ONLINE:
OPINION
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The student population at BSU is growing rapidly, leaving many students struggling to find housing.
arbiteronline.com
CULTURE
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Music has powerful effects on people, providing human connections, stress relief and more. @arbiteronline
SPORTS & REC
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The Rec. Center on campus provides cheap and easy snowboarding and ski rentals.
@arbiteronline
@arbiteronline
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Editor-In-Chief Hanalei Potempa editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Adam Bridges onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Kiryn Willett news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Kaylie Hilliker news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Joel Hroma news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Emily Gordon culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Olivia Brandon culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Editor Marlei Soderquist sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Reporter Alec Simeone sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Ella Van Leuven opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Kelly Ann Asker copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Naomi Priddy Digital Content Manager Taya Thornton digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu
BSU tree lit up in the quad.
This was not the season Boise State football expected. The season seemed to be a lost cause af ter firing their head coac, battling multiple injuries and losing "must-win" games. Despite all the struggles, the Broncos flipped the script and won the Mountain West Championship.
HOW TO REACH US:
Graphic Design Manager Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Kelsey Mason
MISSION:
Illustrator Sydney Smith Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.
Photo by Niamh Brennan
ON THE COVER:
CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites
Digital Content Producer Niamh Brennan
As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-par tisan and socially responsible media.
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NEWS
DECEMBER 7, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
A new FAFSA form projects a 40% increase of Pell Grant eligible students at BSU
The ‘better’ FAFSA will be accessible for students to fill out Dec. 31 Kaylie Hilliker | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Illustration of a FAFSA Application on a laptop.
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he FAFSA Simplification Act was passed by Congress in December 2020 under the title of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Finally, in the 2023 academic year, college-bound individuals and active students can fill out the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) with the new and improved system. The new and “better” FAFSA should be ready for the public around late December, while the old FAFSA opened on the regular Oct 1. date. Updates to the FAFSA include the option for students to list up to 20 colleges to apply, rather than the previous limit of 10. The “better” FAFSA has an option for
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Illustration by Sydney Smith
individuals without social security card numbers to acquire a FAFSA ID, and revamped policies for prospective students who are in foster care or are unhoused. Plus, the form only has 36 questions instead of 108; resulting in a less time-consuming process to fill out. The National College Attainment Network describes the other noteworthy updates, such as the FAFSA switching to a role-based form with separate student, parent and spouse log-in and questions. Demographic survey questions based on race, gender and ethnicity will be private to the student form and not available for any spouse or parent to view. “Answers to these questions will not be
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used in any way to determine aid eligibility and these responses will not be sent to the state agency or any colleges listed on the form,” as stated on the National College Attainment Network website. Changes to the FAFSA project are to be completed around the 2024-25 award year. Jenni Kimball, the Idaho State Board of Education’s College and Career Advising Program Manager, discussed the “better” FAFSA also giving more opportunities for Federal Pell Grants. “Looking at the new FAFSA formula, they predict about 900,000 more students nationwide, so not just in Idaho, but 900,000 students nationwide, will be eligible for those Federal Pell grants that don’t have to be paid back and help students pay for their education,” Kimball said. “Just knowing that there’s going to be more access to Pell Grants and more students are going to be eligible for that money really makes me excited for Idaho students.” In an interview with Associate Director of Client Services Financial Aid and Scholarships, Jordyn Creighton mentioned the steps students can take to prepare for the new FAFSA by keeping an eye out for updates and emails, creating an FAFSA ID and working on scholarship applications through the Boise State scholarship portal. “Completing the FAFSA will be more important than ever,” Creighton said. “Because at Boise State, we are predicting an upward or up to a 40% increase in Pell Grant eligible students.” Other major changes to the system are that parents or guardians without social security numbers can create a FAFSA ID and financial aid contributors have to answer a set of questions outside of the student’s account. “Now the parent will actually have to log
in and answer questions. So that’s going to look a little bit different for the students,” Creighton said. Students will also have access to a new tool allowing them to keep record of who in their support system has completed or signed their parts of the FAFSA. “The students will have access to something that’s called a student center (not to be confused with their my Boise State students center) where they can actually track whether everyone who needs to find the FAFSA has actually signed that. So that will be helpful so they can at least see where it is to make sure that their family members are doing their part,” Creighton said. The Federal Student Aid Estimator on the FAFSA website calculates how much aid an individual might receive for an academic year. It is recommended to use the estimator before applying for federal aid to clarify the options of an individual for funding. “Anyone who’s in college right now, who’s planning on being in college again next year, would want to fill out the 24-25 FAFSA, and it is not open yet because they’re still finalizing all the details for that new FAFSA,” Kimball said. “So, those students are most likely going to want to start filling out that 24-25 FAFSA in January. So students might go to the FAFSA website right now and they’ll see that the 23-24 FAFSA is open, but they don’t want to do that because that’s the year that they’re currently in. They want to do the 24-25 to get money for next year.” Creighton mentioned if students have questions or concerns about the FAFSA, to contact the Financial Aid Office for help.
NEWS
New financial aid program makes college more accessible to Idaho residents
Idaho’s LAUNCH program provides new funding to students who graduate in the State of Idaho Joel Hroma | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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he choice to go to college can be a difficult one, and one of the biggest concerns for potential students is the cost. A majority of people who have not completed college say the reason is because they “couldn’t afford to get a four-year degree,” according to a Pew Research poll from 2021. Scholarship applications can be intimidating, or individuals might not think they are qualified for certain funding.
With Governor Brad Little putting a high focus and emphasis on education, post-secondary education might become more attainable to students in the state of Idaho. Working with the state’s Department of Education as well as Next Steps Idaho, LAUNCH is a new program that aims to address the issue of college attendance and degree attainment. “With this grant, the Governor aims to help more Idaho students start on the
Illustration of a college acceptance letter and graduation cap.
pathway to success by removing barriers to higher education and in-demand career training,” said Madison Hardy, the Press Secretary to Governor Brad Little. Idaho has made a substantial leap in education ranking throughout the years. In 2016, Idaho was ranked 31 in the nation for student achievement, but the most recent Ed Week study from Oct. 27, 2021, puts Idaho at 17 The grant has five requirements to apply. Students must graduate from an Idaho
Illustration by Sydney Smith
high school or equivalent, such as public school, charter school, private school, homeschool or GED. Students must also be an Idaho resident, as well as apply to an eligible Idaho institution. These institutions include Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University, College of Idaho, as well as College of Western Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University and Lewis and Clark State College. Although the opportunity is open to a lot of students looking to pursue college for the first time, it is not available retroactively. “It is not able to pay for high school students that graduated prior to the class of 2024,” said Dr. Sherawn Reberry, the program manager of Idaho LAUNCH in a statement to The Arbiter. This program may not only lead to an increase in admission and attendance, but it could lead to an increase in first generation students. “I think it is a really fantastic opportunity to attract some first generation students who may not have seen themselves as going to college or having the resources to do so,” said Dr. Sherry Dismuke, the assistant dean for teacher education at Boise State University. “I think it’s going to open doors for a lot of first generation students and provide a vision to see themselves as a college student,” said Dr. Dismuke. Dr. Dismuke also highlighted the benefit of this program to bring new teachers into the field. “I applaud [Governor] Brad Little for coming at it from the side of how do we attract high school students into the field of teaching,” said Dr. Dismuke. The program opened up its applications Oct. 3, and initial applications are due Nov. 30. LAUNCH officially closes its applications April 15, 2024. To learn more about how to apply to the program you can visit Next Steps Idaho.
DECEMBER 7, 2023
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NEWS
ASBSU and Gender Equity Center respond to LGBTQ+ hate crime on campus
A bias motivated assault took place against presumed LGBTQ+ student near Chaffee hall Kaylie Hilliker | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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he Department of Public Safety at Boise State released a hate crime timely warning Tuesday, Nov. 14. The report cited that a victim was physically assaulted and verbally harassed by a group of males on Sunday Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m. in the West Stadium Parking Lot located by Chaffee Hall, according to the campus crime log. The victim was grabbed by her bicep and pulled down to the ground. Her perpetrator, a stranger sporting Boise State gear, a blue “Bronco” beanie and a gray sweatshirt with a blue “Bronco’’ t-shirt over it, yelled “Die [anti-LGBTQ slur]” at her before running off.
Since the motivation of the assault was fueled by violence of an assumed or perceived sexual orientation, the crime classifies as a hate crime. The University’s policy 1060 Non-Discrimination and Harassment was violated by the attacker, and once the attacker is identified they will face sanctions such as expulsion or termination. On Nov. 16, during a joint meeting with the Senate and Assembly, ASBSU had a Declaration of Support for LGBTQA+ students at Boise State in response to the hate crime. Ameila Jobe, an underserved population representative, introduced the statement to the joint meeting. The rationale behind the statement concluded that, “ASBSU also declares
Photo of the Gender Equity Center, located in the Student Union Building.
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a firm stance against any bias-driven hate crimes and any person who holds prejudiced, degrading, and unfair views on LGBTQIA+ persons” and that, “LGBTQA+ students at Boise State University should feel welcomed and supported in pursuing their educational and professional goals.” The Declaration of Support passed unanimously and had the most co-signers in all of ASBSU history. The Gender Equity Center addressed the timely warning with posts on their Instagram and Facebook on the same day. “We recognize folks in our community often have their own experiences of harm, and reading or hearing about situations like this can cause us to
reflect on our own safety. We want you to know we are here for you, and care deeply for your safety and well-being,” the post stated. “The Gender Equity Center offers a lounge space where you can find community; speak with a Licensed Master Social Worker for confidential support; and receive referrals to campus and community resources. We are open Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM in the Student Union Building (SUB, 2nd floor).” Confidential resources for students who experience harassment or discrimination can reach the Gender Equity Center at (208) 426-4259, University Health Services (208) 426-1459 or University Counseling Services (208)
Photo by Niamh Brennan
NEWS
Idaho combats online scams with new PSA campaign
‘Don’t Click December’ aims to raise awareness for online fraud around the holidays Joel Hroma | News Repor ter | news@stumediastumedia.boisestate.edu
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he holidays are a time for giving, but they can also be a time for taking. Online fraud and scams reach high numbers around the holidays, specifically in the month of December. The United States Attorney in the District of Idaho has partnered with multiple organizations and agencies to bring forward a new campaign called “Don’t Click December”, which aims to address these issues of fraud and scams. Partners on this project include the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI on the federal level, and the Idaho State, Boise, Meridian, Garden City, Star and Canyon County Police Departments, the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, AARP of Idaho and the Better Business Bureau on the local level. This campaign will release a series of four PSAs throughout the month. The first PSA was released Dec. 1, 2023. “A common element in fraud schemes is that individuals receive unsolicited emails or text messages that provide some sort of hook or offer or even a threat to try to get folks to click on suspicious links,” said Josh Hurwit, U.S. Attorney of the District of Idaho, during a press conference on Dec. 1. Common scams that arise are what is called the “package can’t be delivered” scam, “account subscription” scam and the “phantom hacker” scam. All of these aim to get the victims to click on links in their emails that give the scammers access to your data and information. There are many different resources available to individuals who have fallen victim to online scams. These include the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the AARP Fraud Watch Network and the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker. “Last year, IC3 received a staggering 800,000 complaints about suspected internet crimes. That’s an average of about
Graphic of the “Don’t Click December” campaign. 2200 complaints every day,” said Supervisory Special Agent David Bodily with the Salt Lake City, Utah FBI field office during a press conference on Dec. 1. Total amount of losses exceeded over $10 billion in 2022 alone. That is almost a 40 percent increase from the previous year. Online scams affect everyone regardless of age. While the amount of losses is significantly higher among older groups, the amount of people targeted is independent of age. Although older generations are impacted financially more than younger individuals, there has been more suicides due
Graphic courtesy of The United States Attorney’s Office - Idaho District
to “the shame of being scammed,” said Detective Brad Thorne of the Boise Police Department. Thorne also said that the age groups of 13-25 and 35-45 have seen significant increases in scam attempts and reports. “I really encourage you to ensure that you do report those crimes. Then you know that you have a team of people working in partnership to ensure that we did everything we can to hold people accountable for these scams,” said Jan Bennetts from the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office. These agencies really took the time to highlight that individuals should not feel
ashamed to report the scam attempts or report it if they have fallen victim to a scam. “Even if someone falls victim, we want people to make sure they don’t feel ashamed,” said Hurwit. While this campaign is called “Don’t Click December” with a focus on the holiday season being prime time for scammers to take advantage of individuals, the organizations would like to emphasize that this is a year round issue that people should be aware of.
DECEMBER 7, 2023
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OPINION DECEMBER 7, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Growing pains: Boise struggles to accommodate expanding student population
The housing crisis in Boise is affecting students at Boise State, making on-campus housing more necessary Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ollege students in Boise aren’t just worrying about getting good grades and preparing for their future careers. Students at Boise State, as well as young people across the nation, are facing a substantial housing crisis that may be financially detrimental or even leave them unhoused. In a Housing Needs Analysis, the City of Boise tells residents of the Treasure Valley that “The city of Boise is facing an unprecedented housing crisis. Rapidly rising rents and appreciating home values have led to renewed conversations among city leadership on the right actions to take to address these issues…” This crisis isn’t limited to off-campus housing. Boise State has recently been unable to meet the needs of students who need to live in on-campus housing, particularly first-year students. Having sufficient housing available on campus is
critical for a variety of students. Out-of-state students come to Boise and might end up sleeping in their cars because they have no place to live. If instate students are not able to get housing, they’re forced to live at home with their parents and might have to commute from as far as Caldwell or Emmett every day for class. This housing crisis, on Boise State’s campus as well as in Boise as a whole, is occurring for several reasons, namely the lack of construction in Idaho – which has been perpetuated by COVID-19 – and the influx of college students and other adults who have relocated to Idaho. As discussed by Construct Connect, the 2008 recession decimated the construction industry, and many workers who left the industry after the stock market crash never returned. Lynda Tieck, Executive Director of Housing & Residence Life at Boise State, discussed how COVID-19
Illustration of houses and buildings in a village.
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Illustration by Sydney Smith
furthered this issue. “For a number of years, there was no building that was happening in the Boise area. The state wasn’t building anything, it was hard to get permits,” said Tieck. “With COVID there was especially a lack of construction. Now it’s incredibly expensive to build anything, so many people can’t afford the cost of housing in a post-pandemic world.” Due to the lack of construction in and around the Boise area, the prices of existing properties have increased significantly. Nicki Hellenkamp, Housing Advisor to the Mayor, discussed how fewer people can now afford to be homeowners. “There are far fewer people who can get into home ownership, so renters are now going to be scrambling for shrinking inventory,” said Hellenkamp. “People who would have been able to save up enough, move into home ownership and free up a rental unit are now still in rental housing, meaning now you have increased competition.” Because the competition for rental housing has increased significantly, many college students do not have off-campus housing available to them. In a situation such as Boise’s where housing is in high demand and the supply is incredibly limited, college students depend on the availability of on-campus housing. Unfortunately, as the student body has steadily increased over recent years, Boise State has not been able to keep up and ensure that housing is available for all students, a problem that Tieck has witnessed many students encounter. “We’ve had a number of situations where I get word that a student is living in their car because they can’t find a place to live,” said Tieck. “They really don’t
know how to navigate it. It’s happened too many times, I hear about someone who’s couch-surfing because they can’t figure out how to secure housing or they have barriers like not having a guarantor for their lease. If they can’t get an apartment on campus, they have nowhere to go.” In an effort to counter this issue, Boise State is currently building a new residence hall. The cost will be comparable to Honors College and Sawtooth Hall, which will likely free up space in the more affordable housing options like Chaffee and Towers. The university also recommends that students use Boise State’s off-campus housing marketplace, which includes listings for off-campus housing, sublets and roommates. Listings on the marketplace are vetted and background checked by BSU to ensure students won’t be scammed and the companies are legitimate. The City of Boise is also working to alleviate the housing crisis with a zoning code update that will allow for more homes to be built in a way that is denser and more walkable. Hellenkamp discussed the benefits of the new zoning code policy, mentioning that “One of the goals is to allow more housing production, and as a result have the cost of housing go down.” Even after these changes from Boise State University and The City of Boise, college students in the area will likely continue to struggle to find housing. On-campus housing is more necessary than ever to ensure that Boise State students can stay in the city and at the college they love.
OPINION
Likes, lies and algorithms: why social media is not a truly reliable news source
The use of social media as a news source poses a challenge to a society that must be properly informed Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ocial media has begun to play a major role in modern journalism, particularly due to the number of people who get the majority of their information about current events and politics from the social media platforms they use. While social media provides a quick and accessible way to stay informed, there are several risks associated with relying solely on these platforms for news. According to Pew Research Center, approximately half of the adults in the U.S. get at least some of their news from social media. The same study reported that on six of the 11 most popular social media platforms, over 30 percent of users primarily get their news from social media, with the percentage of TikTok users even higher at 43 percent and X users as high as 53 percent. Relying on social media for news poses risks such as the spread of misinformation and disinformation, as well as the potential for algorithmic bias, all of which may undermine the accuracy, diversity and objectivity of information consumed. Seth Ashley, professor in the Department of Communication at Boise State, discussed some of the problems that arise from consuming news on social media. “It’s great that we opened up access to information and eliminated some of the traditional gatekeepers,” Ashley said. “On the other hand, you no longer have a filter to help you sort through what’s worth your time and what is either a distraction or outright disinformation.” One of the primary issues with getting news from social media is the fact that many people take the information they see on social media at face value. If people are not fact-checking, cross-referencing with multiple sources and truly examining the validity of the claims they are seeing, they are at risk of believing they are informed on a topic while having few or none of the actual facts.
This poses even more problems when the same people share the potentially inaccurate news they see on social media within their social circles, whether that be by sharing the post or bringing the topic up in conversation, which may lead to entire groups of people being uninformed on a topic. Another primary issue with the consumption of news from social media is the potential for algorithmic bias. Algorithms see the content that users interact with and continue to show them similar content. For example, if you consistently engage with left-leaning content, the algorithm will most likely continue to push left-leaning content to your feed. Jinho Joo, assistant professor in the Department of Media at Boise State, addressed the problems that algorithms pose to consumers of news. “Because of algorithms, public opinions are polarized, which can cause confirmation bias,” said Joo. “To avoid this, we need to get information from both or multiple sides, which is a key to media literacy.” This behavior from the algorithm means that people will not see a wide range of news and other content on their social media, which in turn often leads to the consumption of heavily biased content. While no source is completely unbiased, including journalists, most news organizations strive to put out content with as little bias as possible. “News” on social media is not held to the same standards or regulated in the way that an article from a reputable news source would be, meaning people may be consuming biased content without realizing it. Additionally, the vast majority of social media posts are often created with the intention of getting as much engagement as possible. This leads to yet another issue with clickbait and sensationalist content which paints stories in the way that gets the most attention and interaction.
Illustration of an older and younger woman reading from different types of media. Illustration by Sydney Smith Media literacy, defined by NAMLE as “The ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication”, is critical in today’s culture. Practicing media literacy allows social media users to be fully informed on a subject, aware of biases and intentional with the news and other content they consume. Applying media literacy to social media consumption, especially regarding news about current events and politics, can be done by every social media user using just a few steps. Verifying information can be done by cross-checking with multiple sources, particularly from reputable news organizations and fact-checking websites. Evaluating headlines is also critical, particularly considering whether they are misleading or sensationalized, as well as whether they are designed to provoke emotion.
Considering tone and language can help to reveal a lack of objectivity. If there is biased language or excessive emotional appeals in the content, the source is likely not working to remain objective on the story. The final step — to engage thoughtfully — can be practiced by being mindful of sharing any information, engaging in constructive discussions, and critically evaluating before taking anything at face value. While social media can be a valuable source of news, it is essential for individuals to approach it with a critical and informed mindset. Media literacy serves as a key tool in minimizing the risks associated with social media news consumption and helping individuals to be discerning consumers of information.
DECEMBER 7, 2023
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MIRACLE SEASON: BOISE STATE FOOTBALL TURNS TURMOIL INTO TRIUMPH
The broncos overcame a 0.1 percent chance of making the mwc game and take home the 2023 mountain west championship trophy MARLEI SODERQUIST | SPORTS & REC EDITOR | SPORTS@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU GRAPHICS BY SASHA WHITE
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he 2023 Boise State football season was a miracle season. This season was anything but seamless. Between a rocky start, players transferring mid-season, injuries plaguing the most formidable players, firing former head coach Andy Avalos and interim head coach Spencer Danielson stepping in, there seemed to be little hope for this Bronco squad. Granted, none of these things were on anyone’s bingo cards for the season. However, one thing most certainly wasn’t … being Mountain West Champions. The Broncos overcame a 0.1 percent chance of making the championship game to being 100 percent conference champions. In what was a rollercoaster of a season, the Boise State squad proved to everyone, never doubt the Broncos.
PRESEASON After a 2022 season where the then freshman quarterback Taylen Green was called to take over after the early transfer of former quarterback Hank Bachmeier, Green stepped in to lead the Broncos to the 2022 Mountain West Championship game. Although they lost to Fresno State in the championship game, the Broncos seemed to be in perfect shape for revenge in 2023. In the 2023 preseason poll, the Broncos were favored to win the 2023 Mountain West Championship, and for good reason. With head coach Andy Avalos settling into his role, a dynamic and athletic quarterback and a lineup of seniors that will be at the pinnacle of their success, the 2023 season was there for the Broncos to take. The excitement surrounding the
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team and season was undeniable, however with the slew of tough opponents to start out the season, the Broncos looked like anything but contenders for the MW Championship. ROUGH START To be fair, the first two matchups the Broncos saw during the 2023 season was University of Washington (UW) and University of Central Florida (UCF). One team (UW) a powerhouse, College Football Championship contenders and home to a possible Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, while the latter (UCF) was a defensive juggernaut in a Power Five conference. The 0-2 start was not the most desirable start for the Broncos, but the light was still on the horizon as the Mountain West Conference play had yet to start and the “best was still yet to come for this program”.
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REGULAR SEASON PLAY The regular season was a whirlwind to say the least. The Broncos either struggled on the defensive end or on the offensive side on any given night. The lack of consistency, chemistry and trustworthy coaching calls was indisputable. At one point, the only consistent players on the team were punter James Ferguson-Reynolds, kicker Jonah Dalmas and running back Ashton Jeanty. For the majority of the season, the Broncos ran a dual-quarterback system where redshirt freshman Maddux Madsen and Green split playing time and snaps for what seemed like no “real reason”. One of the biggest downfalls by far for the Broncos on the season was the loss at Colorado State. After having a 20 point lead with six minutes left to play, the Broncos allowed the Rams to storm back to beat them for the first time in history. The season went back and forth from that moment on, understandably so, it’s hard to bounce back from a loss like that. With a win against University of Wyoming and a loss to Fresno State, the Broncos season was hanging in the bounds. The Broncos found themselves holding on tightly to a 4-5 record. Their 27-year winning record streak was in jeopardy of being snapped and they had a 0.1 percent chance of making it to the Mountain West Conference championship game. TRANSFERS
To kick off a slew of shocking news for the Broncos, their lead wide receiver, Eric McAlister announced his transfer from Boise State on Nov. 6, following the loss to Fresno State. The announcement, coming as a shock to many, was just the start of a dramatic week for the team. Not only did they lose their star wide receiver, but they began losing future recruits. Decommits were being announced via twitter left and right. McAlister spoke out after his announcement to transfer from Boise State about the integrity of the coaching staff and the broken promises. Despite a series of unfortunate events and hardships for the team, there seemed to be a general consensus on the root cause of their problems: the coaching staff. ANDY AVALOS FIRED To add fuel to the fire, the Broncos found themselves without a head coach. On Nov. 12, just a day after a 42-14 win against New Mexico, head coach Andy Avalos was fired, while defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson found himself in one of the biggest challenges of his life, taking the role of interim head coach for Boise State football. Despite the five year, $7.75 million contract that Avalos signed back in 2020, the former Bronco defensive lineman was relieved of his duties and Danielson got a major promotion. MIRACLES ON MIRACLES The Broncos were given the choice to give up on the season, but they refused. Instead, Danielson had the players take out their notebooks and write “two weeks” on a page and circle it. “We got two games promised to us right now, let’s finish those,” Danielson said. “Whenever this season is done, I told them, ‘I will walk that path with you, if there’s a better opportunity because of X, Y and Z and we look at it and you need to.’ But finish this. Grown men finish what they started and we’re going to do this together.” They were not fazed by any com-
plaints or outside noise — and it paid off. With new interim head coach Danielson leading from the helm, the Broncos did the unimaginable. The idea of winning out seemed far-fetched considering how the season had gone up to that point. The Broncos showed up and showed out for one another in their 45-10 win against Utah State. This win was one of the first games in which the Broncos seemed to be firing on all cylinders. The defense and offense seemed unstoppable. Ahmed Hassanein cemented his name into the Boise State history books with 10 sacks on the season and the running back dynamic duo in George Holani and Ashton Jeanty was finally healthy and in full effect. Not only was the team putting together a collective stream of powerful and dynamic plays, but it was a game that demonstrated cohesion with one another, standing by one another’s sides as things got tough. The next week, the Broncos engulfed Air Force in a 27-19 win to keep their Mountain West Championship game hopes alive. THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME After a three-way tie for the top spot in the Mountain West, the Mountain West committee used the composite of four computer rankings to break the tie. After the dreaded decision, it turned out that University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and Boise State finished in the No. 1 and No. 2 slots respectively. The Broncos made it and achieved the impossible. The next stop was bringing home the hardware. In what was the most complete and well played game the Broncos had all year, the Broncos routed UNLV 4420. Green was named Offensive Player of the Game and safety Alex Teubner was Defensive Player of the Game. Bronco fans in attendance looked around with a face of shock, happiness and complete and utter surprise. The Broncos just did the impossible. The Gatorade was thrown on coach
Danielson, players jumped around, cried in one another’s arms, hoisted the trophy, danced on podiums and did snow angels in the purple and white confetti. It was a vision of emotion, excitement and relief. The Broncos had something to prove, and they did just that. They proved everyone wrong. All throughout the season, Green reflected on the loss in the 2022 MW Championship game. He tells of how he was given the game flip coin at the end of the matchup by a referee, and kept it in his backpack all season to remember the pain and hurt that loss caused him. “I would say this year has been really tough on me,” Green said. “I remember sitting in that seat on the Blue, losing [against Fresno State in the Mountain West Championship] and coach [Danielson] just said ‘Remember that feeling’...the ref gave me the coin and I kept that in my backpack the whole year just as a reminder. So before the game, I just looked at that and I just remembered how I felt.” Green, as a sophomore, has led the Broncos to back-to-back championship games and was able to bring home the hardware this season. NEW ERA EMERGES Just one day after winning the 2023 MW Championship, Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey announced Spencer Danielson as the newest head coach of the Boise State football program. Players were in full support of the new hire and jumped out of their seats with the tremendous news of their new leader. Danielson became the 12th head coach in program history and will lead the Broncos for the next five years after inking a 5-year $6.5M contract. As if the Broncos hadn’t already had a tough season, Green announced he entered the transfer portal on Dec. 4, although he is still looking at the possibility of returning to The Blue, Green will look to other schools to finish out his career.
BOISE 1. 0-2 START 2. GAVE UP A 20 POINT LEAD TO COLORADO STATE 3. .01% CHANCE OF MAKING IT TO THE MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 4. LEAD WIDE RECEIVER TRANSFERS 5. HEAD COACH ANDY AVALOS FIRED 6. WON LAST TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON WITH INTERIM HEAD COACH SPENCER DANIELSON 7. THE COMPUTER DECIDES CHAMPIONSHIP 8. SELECTED TO PLAY IN THE MW CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 9. DEFIED THE ODDS AND BEAT UNLV 44-20, EARNING THE BRONCOS THEIR FIFTH MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE 10. SPENCER DANIELSON NAMED HEAD COACH OF BOISE STATE FOOTBALL
STATE
C U LT U R E DECEMBER 7, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Britney Spears breaks her silence in her memoir ‘The Woman in Me’
Spears’s new book unveils her resilient journey to fame and freedom Spencer Rentfro | Staf f Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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or 13 years, the “Princess of Pop”, Britney Spears, was restrained from her rights to an adult life. Controlled by her father, Jamie Spears, Spears dealt with limitations to all aspects of her livelihood. Her new memoir, titled “The Woman in Me”, presents her life in a simplistic and straightforward writing style, properly illustrating her harrowing journey to where she is today. The memoir, released on Oct. 24, sold over one million copies in just the first week published. Britney Spears opens up with her humble beginnings in Kentwood, Louisiana. She recalls her relationship with music began as a young girl listening to the family’s housekeeper singing gospel. “Music stopped the noise, made me feel confident, and took me to a pure place of expressing myself exactly as I wanted to be seen and heard,” Spears writes. “Singing took me into the presence of the divine. As long as I was singing, I was half outside the world.” She characterizes her father as someone who had a battle with alcoholism. During those times, his businesses would fail, causing financial distress for the entire family. Spears described her father as someone who was “reckless, cold, and mean”, and ultimately never showed affection to Spears and her siblings. In her memoir, Spears sped up time, shifting from her early childhood days in rural Kentwood to auditioning for the Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 11, where she eventually won the role, working alongside actors Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling. Spears recounts her time on the Mickey Mouse Club in a positive
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manner, writing “performing on that show ignited me. From then I knew I wanted to do what I did there — singing and dancing.” Another example of Spears’s quick shift in time is her story of working on her hit song “... Baby One More Time”. Spears intentionally stayed up late the night before recording in order to have a more “mature” voice. Along with the vocals, Spears came up with the concept for the music video that involved a school setting, mixed with students in uniforms, as they began to dance at the sound of the school bell. Her debut album released on Jan. 12, 1999 sold over ten million copies and ranked on the Billboard 200 chart in the US. Spears recalled this moment writing, “I could feel my life start to open up. I didn’t have to perform in malls anymore.” Spears developed a deep relationship with Timberlake from their time on the Mickey Mouse Club, where at one point, Spears joined the NSYNC band on tour. Spears delved deep into their time as a couple, revealing that she became pregnant with Timberlake’s child when they shared a house together in Orlando. As Spears perceived the news as a happy opportunity to start a family, she stated that Timberlake wasn’t fond of the pregnancy due to their young age. Spears recounted the immense pain she went through during the at-home abortion process as she felt pressured by Timberlake to not have the child, writing, “I don’t remember how it ended, but I do, twenty years later, remember the pain of it, and the fear.” Spears added she felt pressured by Timberlake to not go through with the
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pregnancy, expressing her regret for undergoing the medical abortion at home in order to avoid the chances of the media or family from finding out. In response to the memoir being published, readers have found disdain for Timberlake. He has since come out and apologized for his actions toward Spears and has also canceled future concerts next year. Spears reflected in the memoir that their relationship went downhill, admitting that she knew of Timberlake’s “couple” affairs and that he eventually broke up with her over text. Throughout the memoir, Spears pointed out the double-standard that occurred between the media’s portrayal of male versus woman stars. Spears writes that the media focused on questions tailored to her physical looks and incited blame for “corrupting America’s youth.” Spears added that the media berated her for her role as a mother. As opposed to male figures, Spears wrote that male stars were allowed to show up late to events, drink alcohol, cheat, etc. Just over a year later, Spears was placed under a conservatorship by her father who deemed her incapable of living by herself. Spears makes a distinction in the memoir about how she was deemed “incapable” to do anything despite performing world tours to millions of people and acting in live television shows. Spears detailed that through the conservatorship, she couldn’t drive, spend her own money, drink alcohol, and at times, couldn’t be with her kids or close friends. Spears recalls her diet of “chicken and canned vegetables” and only allowed an allowance of $2,000 a week during the peak of her touring
Photo of the cover of Britney Spears’ new book. Photo courtesy of Audiobooks on Google Play career, a miniscule amount compared to how much she was making through her tours. “I wasn’t free under the conservatorship,” Spears writes. “I wanted to be a woman in the world. Under the conservatorship, I wasn’t able to be a woman at all.” Towards the end of the memoir, Spears expresses gratitude for her fans who stood up for her through the #FreeBritney movement during her tumultuous days in rehab. A captivating read, “The Woman In Me”, opens readers’ perspective to the world of Britney Spears, highlighting moments from her childhood and her journey to womanhood. “The Woman in Me” offers a universally great story, making it a must read for loyal fans and those discovering her story for the first time.
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The powerful effect of music on human beings
Music Professor and local musician discuss the positive way music has impacted their lives Olivia Brandon | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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steemed musician Billy Joel once called music “an explosive expression of humanity”, and that couldn’t be any more true. As human beings, we gravitate toward it because it often puts into words complex feelings or experiences we are trying to process or express. Kim Ganong, musician and adjunct professor in the music department at Boise State discussed the positive influence performing music on her oboe has had on her life, mentally and physically. “I do think a lot of people assume that music is a non-physical hobby,” Ganong said. “I know tons of musicians who train and do specific wrist exercises, especially string players like violinists. A lot of times, we’ll get into things like running or like I do CrossFit… But even if you do it just on its own, actually playing an instrument is a physical activity.” Ganong has participated in many incredible performances over the course of her career, including playing with Grammy award winner Gloria Stefan, and discussed the powerful unity she’s felt at shows. “Looking out over that big of a crowd is really intimidating,” Ganong said. “But then to feel that unity of everyone experiencing the same thing, it really doesn’t matter what language you speak.” Ganong discussed the physical connection many audience members feel to the music and to each other during a show. “A lot of pop music today, especially EDM and hip hop, is between 100 to 140 beats a minute, which is heartbeat tempo and they’ve even discovered that people will sync up their breathing,” Ganong said. “People’s heart rates will sync up at concerts, they’ve put trackers on people to see what happens. Which means music clearly does something to us physically.” Ganong noted the importance of lyrics
in establishing a connection amongst
Ganong said. “Definitively it was like
Madcap Laughs.
Illustration of a woman on the floor holding her favorite record. fans and artists alike. “People feel not alone,” Ganong said.” If you find a song that really you relate to, because either you’ve experienced the same thing, or they’re singing about some emotion that you’re feeling in the moment...Especially if you’re in a large group of people who are having that same reaction to it. You sort of are like, huh, like all of these people get it?” Not only does music help individuals cope emotionally, it also promotes memory and learning ability. Ganong discussed a three-year study she was a part of during her time studying for her doctorate at the University of Miami, which found that students who were a part of the Miami Music Project, “Showed greater enhancements over time in Character, Competence and Caring when compared to a group of youth who did not participate in music education.” “They did a survey a couple times a year I think, and they would come observe to see if playing and learning a musical instrument and playing music in a group improved various markers like behavior, social skills, memory, grades,”
Illustration by Kelsey Mason
playing a musical instrument improves literally everything across the board and they were shocked and it was hilarious because all of the music teachers were all like duh because we’ve all experienced it.” A study done by Northwestern University found that “Regions of the brain that are involved in musical memory and processing (e.g., the cerebellum) are not as affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia until much later in the disease course.” This allows individuals to connect with their loved ones at a time when this can be increasingly difficult. “My grandma… She passed away from Alzheimer’s a few years ago,” Ganong said. “She’s from a farm family in Indiana, and so a lot of the old-time country music like The Carter Family, old school Grand Ole Opry type stuff, if you would play any of that stuff for her, even up to the end where she literally wouldn’t talk, she would be able to sing it.” Luke Pearson, a Boise State freshman majoring in film discussed the ways music has positively impacted his life. Pearson plays drums in the local band
Pearson discussed the incredible connection he feels to his fellow bandmates. “It’s crazy how much you’ll be in sync with people. There might be an off day and you might be like beefing with the person and you’ll literally sync up,” Pearson said. “It’ll be the most insane experience you’ll ever have because it’s like ‘how did we even just do that’?” Regardless of being a part of a band, Pearson felt that music has provided him with friendships he wouldn’t have had otherwise. “Without music in general, I would have never made any of the friends I have,” Pearson said. “Boise is awesome because the scene is pretty small but if you show up and just talk to people… you’ll know everybody in the scene.” If you’re looking for a way into the music scene, take a class at Boise State, attend a local show or get the word out if you’re looking to jam. Living in a place like Boise, musical opportunities are in abundance — you just have to know where to look.
DECEMBER 7, 2023
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10 winter activities to do this December
Check out this list of activities to get in the spirit this holiday season Olivia Brandon | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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t’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially in Boise. With so many exciting winter activities to enjoy you’ll never be at a loss for a fun way to embrace the cold. Winter Garden aGlow Experience a Boise classic with The Botanical Garden’s Winter Garden aGlow which is running until Dec. 31. With dazzling lights, delicious treats and a visit to Santa this event will wow audiences of all ages. Enjoy a new feature of the event, the Gingerbread Village which will include magical art by artist Julia Green. Ice Skating If you want to make your holiday shopping infinitely more festive, stop by The Village at Meridian for some ice skating. With so many restaurants and shops,
this rink is the perfect addition to this bustling outdoor shopping center. Carriage Rides If you want to ride in style there’s no better way than a free carriage ride through downtown Boise. Riders will need to be at Bannock and 9th near the Washington Trust Bank and rides are first come first serve from 4-8 p.m. Rides are offered Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17. Hot Springs If you can convince your friends to do a mini road trip, the Idaho City hot springs are well worth the drive. Enjoy poolside snacks and drinks as well as free cold water in case you overheat while soaking in the relaxing natural spring water. The Springs charges $55 an hour for two adults with an option to add a third or
Graphic of a Boise winter postcard.
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fourth person for an extra $5. Movie Night If you want to spend a night out of the cold, take a trip down memory lane while watching classic holiday films at The Egyptian Theater. Home Alone will be playing Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m., Disney’s A Christmas Carol will be playing Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. and countless other Christmas classics will be featured throughout the month. Festival of Trees Saint Alphonsus’ Festival of Trees is a way to spend an afternoon out of the cold witnessing beautifully decorated Christmas trees and getting to watch performances from local performers. 100% of the proceeds from this event are donated to St. Al’s Cancer Institute and tickets are
Graphic by Sasha White
priced at $10 for adults. With a plethora of festive displays, attendees can purchase a decorated wreath or tree as well as shop in the festival’s gift shop. Bogus Basin If you’ve chosen to embrace the colder weather, there is no better place to spend a wintery day than Bogus Basin. Whether you want to try your hand at skiing or snowboarding, or would rather snowshoe and explore the trails, Bogus Basin offers something for everyone. Prices vary depending on the selected activity and time frame. Christmas in Color If you love driving around looking at Christmas lights, this winter wonderland will be a dream come true. Christmas in Color features an incredible drivethrough light show that drivers can sync up to their radio so that the lights correspond with the music. This event ends Dec. 30 and it is $35 per vehicle. Ceramica Featuring many festive pieces to paint, Ceramica is a great way to stay out of the cold and create a masterpiece. Enjoy painting a new holiday decor item for your home or come in on Dec. 16 to create a handmade Christmas piece. Prices vary depending on the piece and reservations are encouraged. The Potato Drop You’re not officially an Idahoan until you’ve attended the New Year’s Eve potato drop. Get a bite to eat downtown or enjoy vendors at the event and performances on the main stage beginning at 6 p.m. Then, secure your spot at the Capitol building to watch the spud-tacular potato drop. Although you may be tempted to spend the winter curled up under a blanket on the couch, Boise is filled with so many fun activities to enjoy and memories to make with friends and family.
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Boise State Sociology department creates workshop centered around Taylor Swift
The new workshop, ‘Sociology of a Popstar’, is dedicated entirely to the world of Taylor Swift Jackson Nishihira | Staf f Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Taylor Swift delivers the 2022 commencement speech for NYU.
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aylor Swift is arguably the most influential artist of the 21st century, which is why the Boise State Sociology Department has decided to implement a workshop-style class where Swift is the topic of discussion. According to sociology professor Sharon Paterson, what started out as a joke before a department meeting, would eventually begin to gain traction and become the workshop called “Sociology of a Pop Star”. Professor Paterson shared that she is excited about this workshop because she loves exposing people to sociology in their everyday lives. The workshop will discuss different sociological theories and how Taylor Swift is an example of those theories. “I mean, I think we’re all going to cover slightly different topics and try to bring them together,” Boise State senior Sophie Sederson said. “I think the topic that I
was most interested in that I wanted to talk about was symbolic interactionism, which is just like a branch of sociological theory. So we’re just gonna explore certain concepts within that framework.” “We’re gonna talk about Erving Goffman and front-stage backstage behavior. We are gonna do the I in me, George Herbert Mead, and looking glass self, which is Charles Cooley.” Sederson joined this project because she grew up loving Taylor Swift. Lauren Caulfield, who is a graduate student at Boise State, shares that she joined the project because she thought it was interesting to create a sociology workshop based on Taylor Swift. The class will focus on other factors that play a role in Swift’s career and how it relates to sociology. “We’re also going to talk about, gender, race and class, and how Taylor Swift uses
Photo courtesy of Dia Dipasupil that to her advantage to help her career and the way it’s been a barrier because she talks a lot about gender discrimination in the music industry and how that’s been a barrier to her,” Caulfield said. “But also part of her success, and her image is based on the fact that she’s white and has been able to use that white privilege, and she’s middle class or her family has money. So being able to use that class privilege also in her career.” The class is a workshop, so instead of your normal weekly class where you meet twice a week, it will be two different sessions. “It’s a workshop. So it’ll be two Saturdays, and the first time it will be a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the second time, 9 a.m. to noon,” Sederson said. “At this point, we’re talking about giving them a project to work on in the week break that they’ll come back and present on the second
Saturday.” Despite the massive fanbase of “Swifties” the workshop is going to start as a 20-person class. Students were surprised by the workshop being capped at 20 people because of the amount of uber passionate fans that follow Swift. Taylor Swift managed to become more popular in 2023 than she ever has before, which is why other universities have implemented similar courses. Some other universities that are teaching Taylor Swift-related courses are Harvard, UC Berkeley, Stanford, New York University and many more according to Entertainment Weekly. Boise State students are excited to hear that Boise State is introducing a course like this. “I think that it’s really exciting because we haven’t really had something like this at Boise State that I know of,” junior Emily Gossett said. “And with her and her fandom right now, I think that this would get a lot of good tips.” Gossett isa psychology major at Boise State. She shared that as she expands more into her sociology courses, she would love to see more classes like this one. Paterson explains that the main concern is staffing and students being able to find a special topic when looking for classes. The sociology department wants to continue doing workshops like this into next semester with plans of doing one with a focus on Britney Spears. The Boise State Honors College is also adding a course that focuses on Swift’s life as well as her lyrics. “Sociology of a Pop Star” is a refreshing class for students here at Boise State that gives them an interactive and engaging way to learn about sociology.
DECEMBER 7, 2023
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S PORTS & REC DECEMBER 7, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
Spencer Danielson named Head Coach of Boise State Football Program
After leading the Broncos to win the Mountain West Championship, Danielson is hired as Head Coach Marlei Soderquist | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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nterim head coach Spencer Danielson has been named the 12th head coach of the Boise State Football Program. “I am extremely confident,”athletic director Jeramiah Dickey said. “Spencer is an elite leader, a man of great substance and a rising star in the coaching profession who will lead Boise State football to a bright future.” Danielsosn deal will be a 5-year contract worth $6.5M. In his first year, Danielson will make $1.1M, and receive a $100K annual raise for the next four years. Depending on performance, he can receive about $200K in annual performance incentives. After what was one of the wildest seasons in Boise State history, Danielson led the team in the last three games of the season to conclude with a 3-0 record as interim head coach. With the 44-20 victory over University of Nevada Las Vegas in the Mountain West Championship game, Danielson wrote his name in the record books as the only interim head coach in college football history to lead the team to a win in their division title. Though he was entrusted with the role as interim head coach to finish out the 2023 season, Danielson made it clear, it was never his intention to prove himself. “This was never about me working my tail off to get the job,” Danielson said. “It’s about finishing what we started for the season.” Not only has Danielson proved himself worthy of the title, but he has done so in one of the most humble fashions. “I have complete trust in Dickey and [University President] Marlene [Tromp],” Danielson said after winning
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the Mountain West Championship title. “It’s a dream job for me, but I trust them … whatever happens I have full trust.” With complete and utter support flowing from his players, there seemed to be no other option than to hire the man that led this team in what was considered the impossible. “He’s a true servant leader … to us right now … he’s our head coach, there’s no interim,” Alex Teubner said after the MWC Championship game. “This is a guy who will deflect all praise, and he’s going to accept all blame. We looked at this man and there was no flinch, no hesitation … he’s building young men, and he’s building championships, there’s not enough I can say about this dude.” Players took to twitter to voice their opinion on Danielson being their head coach, and the hiring committee heard them loud and clear. When Dickey announced to the team the new hire of their beloved “Coach D”, players jumped out of their seats and showed their love for Danielson. “I value process over results. As exciting as it was to win the last three games and reclaim the conference championship,” Dickey said. “From the standpoint of hiring a head coach, it was more exciting to see Spencer‘s vision for the future and how he is going to approach the job full-time.” As Danielson will be taking over the throne at Boise State football, the program is in the best hands possible. “I am so honored and excited to be able to stay at home here at Boise State and to keep guiding these incredible young men,” Danielson said. “When you play together and you love each other you can accomplish amazing things, and
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Photo of new Head Coach, Spencer Danielson. we’re just getting started.” There is no doubt that the second head coaching hire by Dickey was one of the best moves he has made as the Athletic Director for Boise State thus far. Electing to select a coach that is respected and cherished by the student-athletes as well as a leader who loves his team so much he cries during nearly every press conference meeting. The Broncos will look towards the
Photo by Marlei Soderquist
future with bright eyes and hopes for the future. As the new and exciting changes that college football will be experiencing this offseason, including the college football playoff expansion, reconfiguration of conferences and the new Boise State Athletics Master Village. There is more excitement than ever before for this incredible coach to enter the program and lead the brigade.
SPORTS & REC
Boise State’s Rec. Center is providing rentals for anyone to hit the slopes this season
Renting skis and boards through the Rec. Center has never been so cheap or simple Jordan Craig | Staf f Writer | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Photo of two skiiers going down the mountain at Bogus Basin.
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s the temperature drops so does the amount of outdoor activities one can do. Summer is long gone, as is the warm weather. The days of going to the river, the park and playing outside are no longer with the cold times ahead. However, there are two winter exclusive sports that are more accessible than you may think — skiing and snowboarding. These snow riding activities are only available for a few months of the year, but you will be wanting more once it’s over. Having our own mountains and Bogus Basin so close, after just a short drive you and your friends are ready to spend a day at the mountain. From the anticipation riddled drive up, to hitting the slopes, watching your friends fall down and sitting in the lodge sipping on hot cocoa, you are sure to always enjoy your
trips to Bogus. For those who have never been before because you feel as if it is too expensive to rent or buy gear, or if you have no one to go with and learn from, all of these needs can be met through Boise State’s Recreation Center. The Boise State outdoor rental facility is able to loan out gear for a flat rate of $30 a trip. However, if you are a part of the gym, meaning you have done the free sign up with the Rec Center, you will get 20% off each time you rent. The rentals include skis or a snowboard, boots, a helmet and ski poles. With the discount, the cost comes out to roughly $25. If you were to rent from Bogus Basin, you would be paying twice as much for a day rental.. Student manager of the outdoor rental center, Cole Hathaway, has personally seen people fall in love with the sport.
Photo by Arianna Kharizz Mangubat Just last year, Hathway had a coworker at the rental center who used the rental center as a “cheap introduction” into the sport. He went snowboarding twice on a rental, [then] he bought his own board,” said Hathaway. This is just one of many examples of how quickly people can become infatuated with this sport, and The Rec Center provides a cheap way to try these new adventures. As of now, The Rec is only able to do rentals on a daily basis and do not have any long term rental options for the season. However, due to the increase in year long rental requests, Hathway is using his managerial position to pitch the idea of season long rentals to his higher ups in order to provide more opportunities for beginners. Not only does the facility do rentals,
they also have trips you can sign up for. This way you can go with a large group of people with a wide variety of experience. The trips tend to be catered to getting new people to get into the sport. They provide all the gear, transportation and have more experienced riders tag along in order to help people learn. But this doesn’t mean you need to have no experience to go on these trips. For those who already have experience, it is still a great opportunity to head up to the mountain and make friends who share this interest. In the past, The Rec Center has hosted trips to not just Bogus Basin, but also nearby mountains like Tamarack, and even all the way to Utah. While they might not be doing those trips for this season that doesn’t mean they are over. The center plans their trips based on how popular they were the previous year. This means everyone is encouraged to go this year, get familiar with the program, make some great friends and learn more about this great seasonal sport. That way this program will be able to flourish and give students these opportunities to go explore nearby mountains in the future. These trips don’t just pertain to skiing and snowboarding as well. They have backpacking trips in the snow and one of their most popular ones is their snowshoe hot springs trip — and these are just the winter trips. During other seasons they offer camping, white water rafting, mountain biking and rock climbing. While the facility itself might just be a small area tucked into a corner of The Rec Center, the experiences they provide are anything but. The rental facility is here to help people try these new experiences and to “Just go for it,” as Hathway says.
DECEMBER 7, 2023
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SPORTS & REC
Boise State volleyball’s record-breaking year ends in heartbreaking fashion
Paige Bartsch has a record-breaking season despite Boise State volleyball’s 14-15 overall record Marlei Soderquist | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Photo of BSU Women’s Volleyball player #21, Paige Bartsch celebrates with teammates.
T
he Boise State volleyball team wrapped up their 2023 season in heartbreaking fashion in the Mountain West tournament. A record breaking season for junior outside hitter Paige Bartsch ended as the Broncos were eliminated by San Jose State University 3-0 in the first round of the Mountain West Tournament. Though the Broncos had a lackluster season ending, it does not define the incredible season that the Broncos have had this year.
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DECEMBER 7, 2023
To conclude the 2023 season, two Broncos were awarded Mountain West postseason honors. Bartsch and redshirt senior middle Annie Kaminski were both awarded a spot on the all-conference team, while Bartsch was awarded the 2023 Mountain West Volleyball Co-Player of the Year award. In the 2023 season, Bartsch has not just been the most dominating player in the Mountain West, but also was top in the nation. Bartsch finished the season leading the
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Photo courtesy of BSU Athletics
Mountain West in eight statistical categories. She led in total kills (517), kills per set (5.07), total attacks (1,309), attacks per set (12.83), total service aces (49), service aces per set (0.48), total points (598.0) and points per set (5.86). The Helena, Montana native is the second Bronco in program history to receive player of the year accolades and the second during Boise State’s Mountain West era. After receiving honorable mention recognition in 2022, Kaminski earned her
first career All-Mountain West honor this season. The native of Bellevue, Idaho, finished the regular season ranked sixth for blocks per set (1.05), eighth in hitting percentage (.331), and ninth for total blocks (107). She started every match at middle blocker, tallying a team second-best 227 kills, 2.23 kills per set, 290 points and 2.84 points per set. The Broncos started off strong in their 2023 season but ended their season with a stretch of 10 games in which the Broncos went 4-6. Though the Broncos found themselves with a 14-15 overall record and 10-8 in conference play to conclude their season, the Broncos found their way into the Mountain West tournament. After falling in three sets (25-14, 26-24, 25-23) to Fresno State in the first round of the Mountain West Championship, the Broncos will look towards next season for a better outcome. “We struggled passing, which bled into all phases of our offense,” head coach Shawn Garus said. “We had leads and chances to win sets two and three but seemed to lose all the long rallies and big points. It’s sad to see our seniors’ careers come to an end.” The seniors that will no longer be playing for the Broncos are middle back Chey Day and Kaminski. Though the Broncos were able to garner a class of commits this last month, the Broncos will have a similar look with the young core of Broncos still set to return in 2024. In past seasons, the Broncos have been dominant in the Mountain West, however despite the absolute fire power of Bartsch, the Broncos failed to seal the deal in the tournament.
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