The Arbiter 1.30.18 Vol. 30 Issue 20

JANUARY 30, 2018

VOL. 30 ISSUE 20 I N D E P E N D E N T

Changes coming to University Dr. Page 4

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

O F

B O I S E

S T A T E

Pokemon Club is super effective Page 12

S I N C E

1 9 3 3

BSU alum in Super Bowl Page 16

EVENTS

Events this week Film Screening, ‘La Noire de …’

Feb. 1 | Riverfront Hall, Room 105 | 6 pm

The film, presented by Mariah Devereux Herbeck, professor of French, is part of the Tournees Film Festival. Films are in French with English subtitles.

Brad Paisley Weekend Warrior World Tour Feb. 2 | Taco Bell Arena | 7 pm

Country music superstar Brad Paisley is visiting Boise with special guests Dustin Lynch, Chase Bryant and Lindsay Ell. For more information, please visit tacobellarena.com.

First Friday Astronomy Lecture and Stargazing Feb 2 | Multipurpose Building, Room 101 | 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Christy Tremonti, assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will present a talk, “Cosmic Chemistry: New Insights from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV.” Weather permitting, stargazing will follow the lecture.

Flappers and Dappers Feb. 12 | Student Union Building, Simplot Ballroom | 9 pm - 12 am

The Student Union will transform into a swanky Jazz Age casino scene where you can grab some free chow, and play games for a chance to win some keen prizes.

Come dolled up in your most dapper attire for a costume contest and photo booth.

Save your dough – it’s free and open to all Boise State students. General admission is $10.

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JANUARY 30, 2018

INSIDE

JANUARY 30, 2018

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 Shannon Brennan culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Logan Potter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Our graphic design manager managed to snap this photo while in Mexico: Cowboy does the “Paso de la Muerte.” Photo by Selina Ceballos.

What you missed online NEWS Boise State added a new shuttle route called the grey route, allowing quicker transportation to Downtown Boise.

M U LT I M E D I A VIDEO: University Drive will be removed to create a pedestrian-only quad, with construction starting around 2025.

SPORTS Boise State men’s basketball team defeated San Jose State 94-71 Wednesday night.

Visit us online The Arbiter

@arbiteronline

@arbiteronline

arbiteronline.com

On the cover: Bosie State’s center on CWI’s campus is a part of a University and state-wide initiative to provide more options for nontraditional students. Graphic design by Axel Quartarone.

Sports Editor Daniel Gardner sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Peter Huguenin sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Manager Axel Quartarone digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editors Evan Fishburn Harbor Neher Design Manager Selina Ceballos Graphic Designers Nabil Rahman Olivia Tocher Contact us The Arbiter’s mailing address is: 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

JANUARY 30, 2018

“A very positive change”: proposed executive officer may help Idaho higher ed The position would streamline operations for the State Board Jordan Erb | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu In his State of the State address on Jan. 8, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter spent time discussing his goals for higher education. Based on a recommendation from the Higher Education Task Force, Otter requested funds to hire an executive officer for the State Board of Education.

As one of twelve recommendations put forth by the Task Force, the executive officer would serve as a way to reach the 60 percent goal of young Idahoans having a postsecondary academic degree or professional-technical credential by the year 2025.

According to Linda Clark, president of the Idaho State Board of Education, hiring an executive officer would be “a very positive change.” Since the officer would be dealing strictly with higher education, Clark said Idahoans in higher education will see benefits.

“I think the entire system will benefit. Our ultimate goal would be that the students would benefit, because this isn’t about saving money to get out of a hole or something,” Clark said. “This is about identifying the duplications so we can re-assign the money to support students: More aid, more scholarships, to try to lower the cost of students’ education.”

Essentially, “identifying the duplications” means finding which jobs are being done twice and making them more effective. The officer would serve to centralize functions, which would free up resources.

Josh Scholer, the four-year university student representative on the Task Force, agreed the streamlining of operations within the State Board would help those in higher education.

“Everyone that is in higher ed, whether you’re a student, whether you’re a professor, is going to benefit on some level,” Scholer said. “I have full confidence that [the State Board]is going to bring in someone who knows what they’re doing and has a lot of experience in this area.”

Scholer also clarified the executive offi-

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Some members of the State Board believe an executive officer would be a welcomed change. Photo by Taylor Lippman.

cer will be working in tandem with the rest of the eight board members, not replacing them. The officer will work to streamline State Board operations.

“What we wanted to do is have someone who has experience in implementing system-wide change,” Scholer said. “The State Board has a lot on their plate already; let’s get someone in here who has experience in centralizing back-office functions, who has experience in implementing these big changes at a rate–hopefully–faster than government usually moves.”

When Governor Otter requested funds to hire an executive officer, he was sure to clarify that it would be markedly differ-

ent from a chancellor system. Explaining how different, though, proved somewhat difficult.

Clark admitted to not being sure of the difference, but said that a chancellor system would add another layer of bureaucracy to the board, which would be the biggest difference.

Having worked with the Task Force that recommended the hiring of an executive officer, Scholer better outlined the differences.

“Essentially, the difference is that a chancellor model is someone who would oversee all of the schools’ operations. This chief of education officer will have some of

that power, just because they need to have leeway to be able to help implement these recommendations at the higher ed level,” Scholer said. “They’re not controlling, they’re not setting rules, they’re not doing any of that for the schools–that will still be the State Board. It’s just bringing in someone who can consult and help the State Board move these recommendations along faster than probably the normal process would.”

The process for this request is just beginning, and it will be debated by the legislature during the session. If passed, it would go into effect as early as July 1, 2018.

NEWS

JANUARY 30, 2018

University Drive slowly becoming a university walk

The road is scheduled to be replaced by a pedestrian-only quad Blake Simony | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu In about 20 years, Boise State students may not have to look both ways before crossing from Sawtooth Hall to the the Student Union, and drivers may not have to yield to pedestrians. In 2015, the department of Capital Planning and Space Management released the Boise State campus master plan for the development of campus. One of the projects includes changes to University Drive, which have already started.

University Drive is planned to be removed between the administration building and Lincoln Garage to create a pedestrian-only quad during the second phase of the plan, with construction starting around 2025.

“

We would like to keep bus access to that area.

But that is something we will probably still need to work out some of those details on.

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- Karen Gallagher, city comprehensive planner

There is some unrest over this section of the road development because the Boise City bus stops along the road would have to be relocated. Karen Gallagher, a city comprehensive planner, expressed some concern over the public funds that were invested into the transit center on University Drive in front of the Student Union Building.

“We would like to keep bus access to that area,” Gallagher said. “But that is something we probably still need to work out some of those details on.”

Samuel Patterson, the director of Transportation, Parking, and Safety Systems at Boise State suggested those issues might

Construction to remove University Drive is expected to start in 2025. Graphic courtesy of Boise State’s Campus Master Plan.

be resolved by relocating bus stops to the streets that will likely take the majority of campus traffic in the future.

“As we get closer to implementation everything, it will be adjusted somewhat,” Patterson said. “Beacon Street, Boise Avenue and some of these other streets will be considered for transit. We’ll have to see how this develops.”

While further agreements have yet to be made, incremental changes have already been implemented on the other section of University Drive between Lincoln Garage

and Broadway Avenue. This section of the road won’t be removed, but rather minimized, which should be completed around 2025.

The vision for University Drive between Lincoln Garage and Broadway Avenue is a corridor that puts emphasis on the pedestrian and biker. Incremental renovations will encourage slower traffic over time.

This semester, bike lanes were added to the road and one side of the on-street parking was removed.

Drew Alexander, a capital planner with

Capital Planning and Space Management, worked on the finalization of the master plan–a 30 year-plan for campus construction–in 2015. “(University Drive between Lincoln and Broadway Avenue) still will be open for public access, but unless you’re using it to get to a destination, parking facility, or to drop of at an academic building, you’re likely going to have some other more efficient route around campus,” Alexander said.

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NEWS

JANUARY 30, 2018

As DACA heads to the Supreme Court, the future of amnesty remains uncertainTrump’s demands for immigration reform could upheave the entire system Agustin Martinez | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Northern California district court Judge William Alsup blocked the Trump administration’s cancellation of DACA on Jan. 9, arguing it was based on “a flawed legal premise.”

According to Alsup, the previous administration acted under constitutional authority to create the program, and its cancellation was arbitrarily conducted.

DACA (or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is an Obama-era executive decision that grants undocumented immigrants brought to the country before their 16th birthday work permits and protection from deportation. The permit also applies only to those who have lived in the United States since June 15, 2007 and were under the age of 31 on June 15, 2012. There are approximately 689,800 current recipients, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The Department of Homeland Security has since appealed to both the circuit court and the supreme court, a rare action influenced by the 9th circuit’s previous rulings on Trump’s “Muslim Ban.” The Supreme Court is expected to rule against the injunction in late June 2018, but until then current recipients can renew their permits.

Local immigration lawyer and advocate Benjamin Stein urges recipients to continue to renew, as applications are being processed if they’ve been expired anytime since Sept. 5, 2016.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up deportation proceedings, shifting from prioritizing perpetrators of violent or significant offenses to persecuting any person with unlawful status.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has also been trying to order immigration judges to expedite proceedings.

“It’s kind of an assault on people’s due process rights, to try and ram through their case without ensuring people have access to fair representation,” Stein said.

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President Trump’s cancellation of DACA was blocked on Jan. 9. Photo by Axel Quartarone

Trump’s demands for a bill to permanently replace DACA includes $25 billion funding for a border wall, ending the visa lottery system and replacing family based immigration with a “merit-based system.”

He has since released a memo outlining a plan to expand coverage to 1.8 million in exchange for these guidelines.

Although democrats have agreed to funding for the wall in past negotiations, restructuring the legal immigration process remains off the table.

“Republicans have taken a position to what they refer to as chain migration.

What immigration attorneys and I understand is that family migration is the immigration system. Family unity has historically been one of the principles underlying

the immigration system,” Stein said.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell had promised democrats an immigration bill will be brought to vote by Feb. 8 in exchange for Democrats voting on a temporary spending bill.

According to a Statesman article from Sept. 2017, a Boise State representative had said they knew of at least two dozen DACA students attending classes. However, the 2017 Boise State Census profile reveals there were 374 both non-US citizen and non-international students enrolled.

Hector Quiroz, junior year computer science major and a member of Movimiento Estaduiantil Chicanx De Aztlan (MEChA) said the “environment is not welcoming enough” for students to feel

comfortable speaking on their status. MEChA is a nationwide student organization which participates in community outreach programs aimed at the latinx population.

Another member, senior year sociology student Fructoso Basaldua, says Bob Kustra’s statement last September defending DACA students came as a surprise. However, “it has not been followed through.”

As Kustra’s retirement nears, his original promise to plead congress to protect undocumented students hasn’t been made public.

“He has nothing to lose,” Basaldua said.

“It wasn’t even a press release.”

JANUARY 30, 2018

Boise State partners with LeaderShape to bring yearly Catalyst workshop

NEWS

Catalyst is a leadership building workshop that caters to all types of students Ximena Bustillo | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Catalyst is a way for students of all backgrounds to explore leadership. Photo courtesy of the Catalyst Facebook Page.

For the fifth year, Boise State will continues to partner with the LeaderShape Institute to host over 60 students in the yearly one-day leadership development workshop, Catalyst.

The LeaderShape Institute is an organization that has been contracted by Boise State to facilitate leadership workshops for the campus community. Boise State takes part in two LeaderShape workshops each year: Catalyst and the LeaderShape weeklong retreat. This year’s Catalyst will take place Feb. 24 and applications are being accepted until Feb 4.

Student organization coordinator, America Yorita-Carrion, has always been in charge of putting Catalyst together.

“We want students to explore their current values, but to also be open to growth and new ideas. The organization is

intentionally ambiguous because they want to peak student interest,” Yorita-Carrion said.

Yorita-Carrion explained the curriculum of the leadership workshop was not put together by anyone at Boise State, but instead comes directly from the LeaderShape Institute.

Erin Mahn, Student Involvement and Leadership Center assistant director, explained that planning for the event still takes six to eight months of reviewing feedback, notes, budgeting, planning space and catering, and then marketing the opportunity to students.

A large variety of students participate in the workshop, with many different ages, majors and goals being represented by both traditional and non-traditional students, according to Yorita-Carrion.

“Student’s overwhelmingly positive feedback make it a program we are happy to support bringing back each year,” Mahn said.

Kelsea Donahue, senior environmental studies and english double major, went through the Catalyst workshop in spring of 2016.

“I had never taken a leadership class or even done student government in high school, so this was a new experience for me in terms of learning leadership abilities and what being a leader means,” Donahue said.

Yorita-Carrion explained the “leadership” title can be intimidating and often, students don’t consider themselves as leaders.

Students gain confidence as they learn that they don’t have to take complete charge, be a leader of an organization or

start a movement to consider themselves as a leader within their community according to Donahue.

“You gain confidence in the ideals you already have and it doesn’t require you to pursue what you want in any type of medium,” Donahue said. “I never considered myself a leader until I took that Catalyst workshop.”

All students are able to apply and partake in the experience.

“You don’t have to have any experience or prior knowledge to attend so this makes the program ideal for folks coming from a wide variety of backgrounds,” Mahn said.

“The transferable nature of the curriculum is great for anyone who is interested and willing to participate.”

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OPINION

JANUARY 30, 2018

Why you shouldn’t go to college

The costs outweigh the benefits of most four year degrees Shannon Brennan | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

As I look down the barrel of my impending future as a liberal arts graduate, I ask myself, was it worth it? Was the time, money, effort and mass amounts of stress worth the piece of paper telling the world I know a whole lot about Gothic Literature?

I have concluded that no, it has not been worth it, not by a long shot.

The expectations and financial cost of higher education has risen at an astounding rate, and for many it’s to decide if a degree is worth it. According to College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees alone was $9,970 for state residents at public colleges, and $25,620 for out-ofstate residents es in 2017-2018.

According to the Pew Research Center, “94 percent of parents expect their child to go to college.” Yet with all that expectation to get a degree, the study also showed that “57 percent of Americans say colleges fail to provide students with good value for money spent, and 75 percent of the public says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.”

So where is all that money and time being put into college actually going?

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Fewer than two in five hiring managers say the recent college graduates they have interviewed in the past two years were completely or very prepared for a job in

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their field.

- Chegg textbook company

What we are paying for A large portion of this profit is not going directly into educating students. Instead of hiring new professors and raising the bar

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in lecture halls; colleges are raising bureaucratic administration costs.

According to the Goldwater Institute, “Between 1993 and 2007, the number of full-time administrators per 100 students at America’s leading universities grew by 39 percent, while the number of employees engaged in teaching, research or service only grew by 18 percent. Inflation-adjusted spending on administration per student increased by 61 percent during the same period, while instructional spending per student rose 39 percent.”

With all of these price increases, one might assume that the final product of a degree is equally as beneficial as it is costly.

Studies have found that this is not the case.

Lack of skills gained According to the National Center for Education Statistics Literacy survey, the percentage of college graduates proficient in document reading was only 25 percent.

Additionally, according to a survey done

by Chegg, “Fewer than two in five hiring managers say the recent college graduates they have interviewed in the past two years were completely or very prepared for a job in their field.”

This means after at least four years of study and thousands of dollars of investment, 61 percent of college students are not prepared for their chosen field and 75 percent cannot comprehensively read and understand documental writings. Isn’t that preparation exactly what we are paying and working for?

A post-university marketplace Now, with these facts in place, one might begin to question what we are to do next. Students in college or preparing for college must make up their minds for the next steps in their futures. While radical reforms on university design, costs, teaching practices and more need to happen,

With the incredibly high cost of a college degree it is time to reevaluate our futures. Graphic by Nabil Rahman.

they have not yet, and students are still stuck dealing with the current reality of higher education.

While many can turn to vocational schools, not everyone is suited for those career paths. Barring professions in some of the STEM fields, most of the educational tracks within a four year liberal arts college are simply not worth the cost, and that the education level received at a university can also be achieved without a traditional school setting.The most commonly cited field for the benefit of self-teaching is computer science. This career path has a learning curve that continuously develops to the point that if you want to stay on top, then you will have to continuously self-teach for your whole career. By the time a college student completes his or her computer science degree, the information they learned will mostly likely be outdated.

While some might need the structure

of a university setting to learn, the people that excel within the college sphere would do so without the university. If applied outside of college, the resources put into a degree could be utilized to gain the same, and most likely more knowledge and skill, as within the schooling system. For their part, Universities are setting the bar pretty low anyways with a 25 percent document literacy average. If self-learning is so necessary and successful in computer sciences, why can’t we apply the same principles in other areas? Just because a traditional bachelor’s degree is the norm on which many judge potential and success, it doesn’t mean it is an accurate measure of skill.

While some might feel that they cannot succeed without a university, I encourage those with even the slightest doubt to stay away, apply yourself elsewhere and save the money and stress for something more useful.

OPINION

JANUARY 30, 2018

Political progress requires compromise

Recent government shutdown shines light on problem with gridlock Brandon Rasmussen| Editor-in-Chief | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Gridlock continues to plague the United States congress. Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service.

Just over a week ago, the nation watched as the United States government shut down for the first time since 2013. This latest shutdown was due mostly to a continued disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over the future of the children of illegal immigrants—or ‘dreamers,’ as they are often called. The shutdown was resolved two days later when Congress Democrats relented and voted the new budget through, settling for a confirmation from Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell that Republicans will address dreamers within the near future.

For many, this story sounds eerily similar to the 2013 shutdown, when Republicans refused to sign the budget unless it included a full defunding of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This stalemate lasted

from Oct. 1, 2013 to to Oct. 17., at which point Republicans conceded.

Gridlock, as it is often called , was and is a significant concern to the general public. Today, politicians and citizens alike have doubled down on the blame game.

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Indulging in the culture of manufactured staunchness is, at its core, a gamble.

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This hasn’t at all been helped by President Trump, who seems to relish any chance he gets to pander to his base at the blatant expense of the rest of his other constitu-

ents. While it would be easy to discuss the inadequacies of President Trump (of which there are many), the fact that Democrats have now utilized a government shutdown as a tool should be of much greater concern to everyone, as it signifies another milestone of political standstill from which it may be difficult to return.

According to the Pew Research Center, as of Oct. 2017, the gap between the political right and left in the United States has continued to widen to frightening levels, with no signs of stopping any time soon.

Our country is staunchly divided on local, state and national stages. Though it is easy to forget in high-stakes debates, political and societal progress is built on compromise—or at the very least, negotiation. In light of the recently-celebrated Martin Lu-

ther King Jr. Day, Dr. King had an acute understanding of this and went about promoting change with this in mind.

This is not to say people shouldn’t stick to their guns and insist on change, as that’s an integral part of the negotiation process.

That said, indulging in the culture of manufactured staunchness is, at its core, a gamble. Founder of Vox Ezra Klein discussed these risks in his article “Are Democrats becoming more like Republicans?” Rather than playing ball on the terms and details of the already-passed ACA—as moderate Republicans would do later on—conservatives in Congress made an unrealistic bargain in demanding that Democrats completely defund the ACA, the Obama administration’s proudest achievement.

This did nothing but keep government employees from receiving their paychecks for over two weeks.

Democrats were much more realistic (as it insisted upon the inclusion of a policy rather than the defunding of an entire program) with their demands during the most recent shutdown, but if prior political trends are anything to go off of, Democrats’ usage of the shutdown may have opened to door to more of this tactic in the future. If Democrats manage to take back the majority in Congress, we may have yet another shutdown on our hands next year, as Republicans take their turn in the game of political retaliation.

Meanwhile, the causes politicians are supposedly fighting for—access to healthcare, employment availability, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—are kept from making even marginal progress in any direction.

At this point, it’s difficult to determine a solution to get us out of this predicament.

We are dealing with an America split between two diametrically opposed value systems. But at the very least, it is up to us as citizens to express deep dissatisfaction in the partisan games of those we have elected.

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FEATURE

JANUARY 30, 2017

Boise State Outreach Centers work to expand access to nontraditional students

State-wide initiative pushes online and evening classes Brandon Rasmussenl | Editor-in-Chief | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

About a half an hour drive away from Boise State’s main campus, a plain building sporting a familiar name sits among the buildings on the College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) campus. Its orange and blue lettering, in stark contrast to the maroon of the other buildings, reveal it as one of Boise State’s Outreach Center. Though it seems small and unassuming, it served as a meeting place for over 300 students in the Fall 2017 semester, and houses another 231 students this semester.

Senior communication major Celeste Dimas is one of these students, as she has been taking evening classes there since last semester. Though a native to Boise, she regularly makes the commute out to Caldwell to work around her schedule as a clinic coordinator at the St. Luke’s Hospital in downtown Boise.

According to Dimas, for many working and otherwise nontraditional students, finding a school schedule that is compatible with the demands of a full-time job can be a challenge. As Boise State moves toward a more traditional metropolitan

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President Kustra’s recommendations made us realize Boise State could be a leader in Idaho in making these locations in Idaho about flexibility and reach these audiences who are otherwise a little left out of the mix.

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- Katelyn Taylor, communications coordinator research university model, several steps have been taken by Boise State’s administration to expand the options available to nontraditional students who want to get

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their degrees while maintaining their busy lives. According to Greg Hahn, associate vice president of Communications and Marketing at Boise State, Boise State’s Western Treasure Valley location is a part of that goal.

“That was one of the whole goals of launching the College of Western Idaho — to assure that Boise State could grow into the metropolitan doctoral research university that the high-tech economy in the state’s largest city demanded, while maintaining and even expanding the opportunities for folks who could benefit from the community college experience, or who needed to work, or who wanted to get back to their degrees after time off,” Hahn said.

Reaching out to these students was also made a priority by Idaho Governor Butch Otter, who set up a Higher Education Task Force in Feb. 2017 to make recommendations on Idaho’s educational system.

According to Katelyn Taylor, communications coordinator with Extended Studies, President Kustra’s involvement in this task force was a large part of how Boise State’s outreach centers (such as the CWI location) are structured.

“A lot of our vision stems from the recommendations that the task force made for creating these outreach locations. That’s even where we got the name,” Taylor said.

“President Kustra’s recommendations made us realize Boise State could be a leader in Idaho in making these locations in Idaho about flexibility and reach these audiences who are otherwise a little left out of the mix.”

This sentiment was echoed by Dimas, who mentioned the flexibility in scheduling is what made her able to come back to college to continue her degree.

“I know I wouldn’t be graduating in May if I wasn’t offered classes at these hours. I would probably have to come up with creative ways to go to school in the middle of the day and still have a full-time

Boise State’s efforts to reach out to nontraditional students includes the center on CWI’s campus. Photo courtesy of Boise State.

job, which would be a lot harder. So even though it’s a little bit of a drive, it’s worth it,” Dimas said. “It’s imperative that Boise State continues to offer these kinds of courses to nontraditional students, especially because I’ve noticed that most of the students at the Nampa center are working students. Many of them have parental responsibilities as well as work. “ While students in the Treasure Valley utilize the center and online resources of Boise State, other Outreach Centers exist as well under this program, including a location in Twin Falls on the College of Southern Idaho (SCI) campus and two locations on military bases—one in Mountain Home and another in Gowen Field.

“Those are a little more unique because their primary audience is military students,” Taylor said. “But we do work with members of those communities as well who perhaps just live in Mountain Home, giving them that access and a few resources closer to home and more on their schedule.”

While Boise State’s Master Plan for its main campus continues to develop,

departments on campus have also begun to expand their accessibility to nontraditional students. At the Albertsons Library, kits filled with educational toys and activities can be checked out by parents for their children. In addition, both Hahn and regional outreach coordinator Katie Price, confirmed online enrollment continues to climb for those who need a bit more flexibility in their schedule.

“Our goal and mission is to extend educational opportunities beyond traditional boundaries. The University has done a phenomenal job reaching and catering students who fall into that traditional category,” Taylor said. “Our mission is to build on those efforts and reach students with more nontraditional backgrounds—a little more work experience or life experience—to make sure they have those same opportunities. And if that means establishing more resources outside of the main campus and our traditional hours for them to have that access, that’s what we’re working on doing.”

JANUARY 30, 2017

FEATURE

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CULTURE

JANUARY 30, 2018

“Gotta catch ‘em all”

Boise State’s Pokemon Club brings fans together for more than just practice Logan Potter | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Students form friendships and have fun while perfecting pokemon skills. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Since the release of the original Pokemon game in 1996, a cult-like following ensued, fueling the manufacturing of several more games, television shows and films decades later. Boise State’s students are no exception to the fan rule thus the Pokemon Club was born.

President of the Boise State Pokemon Club, senior GIMM (Gaming, Interactive Media, and Mobile Technology) major Keegan Provo, started the club his freshman year, and it has grown to around ten active members.

“It’s open to everyone. We have some

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people that are really into the battles and can play at a super high level, and some people that just play for fun. You’ll get better either way,” Provo said.

Another member is sophomore pre-social work major Sasha Wilkins, who joined as a freshman looking for a place to call her niche during her time at Boise State.

Wilkins is from a smaller town in Idaho, so Boise was “culture shock” for her.

“I couldn’t even remember how to make friends, especially as an adult. Surely just asking people to be my friend was too simple for my new adult status, and I had

to find another way to fit my new life as a college student,” Wilkins said.

At Boise State, clubs are part of the “Get Involved” philosophy, and are made simple to research and participate in so students can feel at home on campus. Wilkins, like many students who come to the University, set out to find something to become part of on campus.

“I sought out the list of clubs on campus and tried to find some that seemed to fit my interests, and I soon stumbled onto Pokémon Club, which I was surprised to find at the collegiate level,” Wilkins said.

“I had only ever been a casual player of the games, but I took the chance and went to a meeting.”

Among the students who joined the club to make friends is senior Patrick Cullings, who joined the club during his second year at Boise State. Cullings credits the club for giving him a group of friends, but also for introducing him to his present girlfriend.

“Honestly, joining this club changed my life, for real. I joined in my second year at Boise State from out of state, and I didn’t make many friends in my freshman year. The ones that I did make had already grown distant over the summer break. I was super excited when I learned of the club, and I attended the first meeting I had the opportunity to. Over two years later and I’m still a regular member,” Cullings said.

The club is intended for those who want to get better at the games, but it is also a friendship-based tool to bring people together, according to Provo. He believes his club is unique to Boise State because unlike the larger community that supports the mobile game Pokemon Go!, the group focuses on the handheld games for Nintendo consoles, like the Nintendo DS. Sometimes, the group will just come together to play cards, but Provo says the club “all have fun just hanging out” with their one mutual interest at the core.

“Essentially, when I first started playing Pokémon in my free time as a child, I never thought it would lead to finding a place where I could be myself with no shame or find kind and reliable friends who I hope to have the rest of my life,” Wilkins said.

“The game is still a blast, but the best part of our club are the funny, sometimes ridiculous (in a good way), and most importantly accepting people who have all come together because of Pokémon. That’s just not something you can find anywhere.”

CULTURE

JANUARY 30, 2018

Giving blood and saving lives

The American Red Cross Club holds blood drive at Boise State David Collie | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Club members raise awareness and plan events to combat the constant need for blood donors. Photo courtesy of The American Red Cross Club.

The American Red Cross Club at Boise State, or the ARC, works to combat the constant need for blood through its monthly blood drive. This month’s drive— held in the Student Union Building today, Jan. 30, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.—will give students the opportunity to save lives.

A blood drive helps to ensure that there is a supply for those in need. This need does not disappear and, according to ARC club president Troy Salisbury, there is currently a “shortage of blood nationwide.”

“There is an urgent need for blood and platelet donors,” The Red Cross said. This has been brought about by a number of factors, such as seasonal illnesses, holidays and weather. Winter weather in 2018 has already seen more than 150 blood drives forced to cancel.

Together, this has contributed to “more

than 28,000 fewer donations than what was needed in November and December,” said The Red Cross website.

Despite the shortage, some people might not be too keen on needles. The Red Cross Club encourages people to overcome this fear and donate despite hesitations “The whole process takes about an hour, and only about 10 minutes of it involves needles. You save lives, and it’s probably one of the easiest ways to help people,” said club volunteer coordinator Tony Powell.

For those who wish to donate, the Red Cross recommends making an appointment ahead of time. This can be done on the Red Cross website or the mobile app.

Walk-ins are accepted, but busy times mean unscheduled donors might have to wait.

While there are many who wish to donate, some are not able. People are prevented from donating if they are not healthy enough to do so or if there is a possibility their blood might harm someone else. The American Red Cross website lists requirements which may exclude some prospective donors because of factors such as blood diseases, height and weight.

This, however, does not mean these community members do not have the opportunity to help. In addition to the shortage of blood, the ARC Club Boise State faces a shortage of members. With only about 25 volunteers, it can be difficult to make the donation process efficient.

This means those who are unable to donate blood can still save lives by donating their time to helping out with the drives.

Chief financial officer Kelly Krause dis-

cussed additional benefits students might gain from joining the club.

“Maybe you want to get an internship or just volunteer, it’s a good stepping stone to get involved more,” Krause said.

Krause got involved after her Freshman orientation leader told her about the club and, as a health science major who plans on attending physician assistant school, Krause stands to gain valuable experience with the Red Cross.

Even those not going into the medical field are welcome to join and can do so easily on the club’s Orgsync page. Donors are always needed, and the American Red Cross Club encourages all students to get involved and help save lives.

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CULTURE

JANUARY 30, 2018

French film festival comes to campus

Multicultural film festival brings a new cultural look film lovers in Boise Kyle McCroskey | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

grant from FACE Foundation in partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in order to bring French-language cinema to the Treasure Valley,” said Mariah Devereux Herbeck, organizer of the event and world language professor.

Six films were chosen for this festival, one classic and five contemporary. All of

“

I hoped to encourage audience members to look for the similarities that cross national and linguistic lines, to look at what unites humanity, not divides it.

”

- Mariah Devereux Herbeck, world language professor

The Tournées Film Festival brings learning opportunities to Boise State’s film community. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Tens of thousands of films are created, produced and developed outside of the United States every year, but most are seemingly unheard of until the Oscars. “The Lonely Subtitle” by Indiewire, explains why foreign films are no longer an interest for American audiences. The most prevalent reason the article lists for foreign film’s lack of representation, is the challenge of finding audiences within American culture that will pay to watch them. Because profit is a driving force, film productions companies have retreated from the foreign cinema.

“I feel like foreign cinema is good, but I think that Americans are probably too lazy

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to read subtitles and aren’t that interested,” said sophomore Sean Hall.

The lack of foreign films in theaters within the United States can inhibit audience members from seeing viewpoints of different cultures. Films have the ability to spur a specific emotional response. In this way, films from foreign countries can be a way to broaden one’s global view.

“I would absolutely go see foreign cinema if it were playing here, if I had the opportunity,” said senior Ben Wieland.

“And I think that any sharing that you can do with other countries towards the entertainment industry, is good to see and be

aware of everything that exists out there.

I think it would be great if more foreign cinema was here.”

It may seem hard to locate a theater or location that is currently screening a foreign language film, but worry no more for the Tournées Film Festival has arrived in Boise. The Tournées Film Festival is a french language film festival that is hosted

by Idaho Film Collection and the Boise State Department of World Languages.

“I’ve long wanted to bring this well-established and respected film festival to campus. Thus, I was thrilled when I learned we had been awarded a Tournées

these films will be screened in French with English subtitles. The screenings of these films will be located in Riverfront Hall, room 105. The goal of this festival is to screen films that depict specific themes that are both prevalent and relatable on an international level.

“Instead of presenting the festival as a collection of ‘foreign films,’ I hoped to encourage audience members to look for the similarities that cross national and linguistic lines, to look at what unites humanity, not divides it,” Devereux Herbeck said.

After the showing of these films a few hand-picked students will lead a discussion group, which will allow audience members to hear and understand the themes and nature of these films at both an academic and personal level. This festival has had events and screenings since Jan. 18, with the final two screenings this week on Thursday, Feb. 1and Friday, Feb. 2.

CULTURE

JANUARY 30, 2018

Column: An open letter to Amanda Bynes Because “The Amanda Show” just wasn’t enough

Shannon Brennan and Logan Potter | Culture Section | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Dear Amanda, You’re looking to start acting again this year, but before you do that, let’s address your ‘before and after’ set of actions.

We understand you want to star in your own TV show sometime soon, which is intriguing. Word of caution: while we love “The Amanda Show” for the 90’s nostalgia it provides, looking back we are reminded why sketch comedy was not originally written for children, and in-depth characterization is important.

Also, let’s not forget your Twitter history.

From threatening to press charges against your arresting police officers to sending relatively explicit content to popular rapper Drake, you haven’t exactly won over the hearts of many with your social media presence. In fact, one person in partic-

ular would have been especially unimpressed--former President Barack Obama, whom you tweeted to implore him to fire the cop who arrested you for a drunken hit-and-run. Did he ever get back to you on that?

Your rivalries have been some of the deepest--take Lindsay Lohan, for example.

Back in 2012, you both claimed there was “no feud,” but the receipts are telling us differently. Lindsay seemed a little upset when you weren’t immediately arrested on a DUI charge--citing the network differences between you as the cause of your lenient sentencing. Is this a rift between Lohan and Bynes, or Nickelodeon and Disney? These are the questions we need answered, Amanda. These are the questions that matter.

We get where the resentment is coming from, though. Lindsay moved on from her Disney roots with ease, and no one seems to be able to leave your Nickelodeon start in the past. You wanted different roles and you almost had it with “Hall Pass,” and that’s when it all changed, isn’t it Amanda?

Not long after you claim you coined the now-dictionary-esque phrases “ILY” (I love you) and “LOLOL” (laughing out loud... out loud), your image portrayed in the media started its downhill spiral. At the time, you may not have realized that you weren’t alone in the paparazzi’s eyes, but we do have to sympathize with you. While your decisions haven’t been the most sound this year (or the past eight), we can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to have every weight gain and arrest broad-

casted across the nation--and maybe that’s why you disappeared for almost five years before returning to the public eye. You got judged pretty harshly, and we are here to tell you, we accept your mistakes and are willing to look to the future.

In summary: Honestly, we’re happy you’re back and welcome you with open arms, if we can get anything as fantastic as “She’s the Man” out of you in the future, maybe 2018 really is looking up. We are with you Amanda; after all, who doesn’t like a good comeback underdog story.

With love, Shannon and Logan

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SPORTS & REC

JANUARY 30, 2018

Jay Ajayi takes on the Super Bowl

Boise State Football alumni playing on opposite sides at the Super Bowl

Autum Robertson | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

a good postseason. While at the the time Miami trading Ajayi to the Eagles seemed baffling, it turned out to be a blessing for not only Ajayi, but also for Bronco fans.

“

I think I speak for all Boise State Athletics when I say we couldn’t be more proud of Jay and what he has accomplished following his Boise State career.

”

- Joe Nickell, Boise State associate athletic director

Jay Ajayi will play in Super Bowl LII this Sunday. Photo courtesy of the EagleWire.

Boise State’s former running back Jay Ajayi is set to play in Super Bowl LII. The Eagles and Ajayi are now only days away from the biggest game of the year. Super Bowl LII is being hosted in the U.S. Bank Stadium where the Eagles will face five-time super bowl winner Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Super Bowl LII is the Eagles’ first Super Bowl appearance since 2004, when the Patriots outplayed them 24-21. The Eagles finished the season with the third most rushing yards in the NFL. The Eagles’ versatile backfield, which includes Ajayi and Legarrette Blount, should be a big advantage against the Patriots run defense, which ranked 20th overall.

“I think I speak for all of Boise State Athletics when I say we couldn’t be more proud of Jay (Ajayi) and what he has

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accomplished following his Boise State career,” said Boise State Associate Athletic Director Joe Nickell. “He was an amazing player while a Bronco, and it is not surprising to see the success that he is having in the NFL. We wish him the best of luck in the Super Bowl,” Just months after Ajayi was traded to Philadelphia, he was competing in the NFC championship game for a berth in Super Bowl LII The Minnesota Vikings possessed the league’s top defense. The Eagles had Ajayi handle more than half of their rushes; he finished with 73 yards with his longest rush being 16. Ajayi also led the team with 99 yards from scrimmage.

Ajayi’s big performance helped the Eagles earn a spot in the Super Bowl, shutting out

the Vikings 38-7.

“No one counted on us, We were the number one seed in our own house. We demanded the respect, and we earned it on the scoreboard tonight,” said Ajayi after the Eagles won the NFC championship.

Along with Ajayi, there is one other former Bronco who will be a part of Super Bowl LII; the New England Patriots Linebacker Shea McClellin. McClellin’s road to the Super Bowl was much different than Ajayi’s. McClellin was on the Patriots’ injured reserve for all of the 2017 season.

As of right now, McClellin is not active for the Super Bowl.

Bronco nation can revel in knowing Ajayi has been named the Philadelphia Eagles starting running back after having

“Boise State football fans take a lot of pride when Broncos go pro, especially when it’s a player with high visibility, like a running back, quarterback or wide receiver. Quintin Mikell and Daryn Colledge were ex-Broncos who did really good things in the NFL and both played for a long time,” said Boise State’s Dr. Mary E. Rohlfing. Ajayi, though, might be the flashiest ex-Bronco yet. You’re very likely to see him make some plays that are going to keep the Eagles in the game or even change it their way. And you get to say you saw this player develop from a kid to an adult and from a guy who sometimes was too confident and fumbled more than he needed to into a player who reliably found yards and hung on to the ball make it not just to the pros, but to the biggest game of all. How do you not feel some excitement about that and not take some pride in being a Broncos fan right now?”

Ajayi and the Eagles face the Patriots in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4. At 6:30 p.m.

ET on CBS

JANUARY 30, 2018

Broncos gymnastics perfect through three competitions

SPORTS & REC

Boise State gymnastics sits at 3-0 to begin season

Joshua Arace | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Boise State gymnastics opened the season ranked No. 13 in the nation pointing towards being viewed as one of the best squads in the nation. At this point in the season, the team has not disappointed, opening the season with a 3-0 record.

Despite the victory over a top seven team in their previous meet, Boise State dropped from No. 8 in the nation to No. 9 following their 2-0 start. Their next meet took to the road for the first time this season, as they traveled to Southern Utah in a rematch of their season opener. Much like the first time around, Boise State came away with a victory, posting a match score of 195.475 and defeating Southern Utah by an even two points. The Broncos came away with the victory, despite a rough start. They outscored in bars—the first event—while going on to sweep the rest of the categories.

“I am really proud of how the team battled back from an uncharacteristic bar rotation to get the win,” Head Coach Susan Bird said. “It’s nice to have that first away meet under our belt.”

Boise State’s season began at home on Jan. 11, where they hosted Southern Utah at the Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos proved their dominance in this one, winning with a score of 196.225, the highest score ever for Boise State in an opening meet and their highest score so far this season.

Junior Shani Remme was the standout for the Broncos in the meet, leading all individuals with a score of 39.425. Though Remme helped lead the team to victory, it was an all-around performance from the Broncos.

“Tonight was a testament to the depth of our team,” said Boise State assistant coach Patty Resnick. “It was amazing to know that our scores on each event could have come from eight or nine different athletes.”

Following their impressive start, the Broncos jumped in national rankings,

Courtney McGregor competing for Boise State. Photo by Kenzie Hudson.

moving up five spots to No. 8 in the nation. They stayed at home for their next meet as well, hosting a quad meet on Jan. 19 between themselves, University of Illinois-Chicago, Seattle Pacific and No.7 Denver. The Broncos came out with the upset victory in this one as well, winning with a score of 195.85 and a tight 0.8

point lead over runner-up Denver. While the meet was close, Boise State was placing second or higher in every category while leading in both bars and beam.

“As a team we made some progress forward this week, and that’s what we need to continue to do all season long, just keep improving,” Bird said.

Following their strong start, the No. 9 Broncos will look to build on their season in their next meet, which will be on the road this upcoming Friday, Feb. 2, against Utah State.

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SPORTS & REC

JANUARY 30, 2018

Women’s Basketball grinds through their season opposition Broncos progress through winter games

Delaney Brassil | Staff Writer| sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Ellie Woerner drives torwards the basket. Photo courtesy of Boise State Photography.

While most students were home relaxing, the women’s basketball team was hard at work, playing seven games over winter break. Over halfway into the season, the women’s basketball team is 13-8 (overall) and 7-3 (conference), claiming third place in the Mountain West. With nine regular season games left, the Broncos aim to continue improving every day.

“We had a rough preseason,” said head coach Gordy Presnell. “We don’t really have a legitimate back-to-the-basket post player anymore, so we’ve had to make some adjustments that we have executed pretty well.”

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From Dec. 18 to Jan. 24, the team went 7-5. They gained victories against Saint Francis University, Colorado State, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State and San Jose State. Their losses came from Washington State, California State, Bakersfield, University of New Mexico, University of Wyoming and University of Nevada, Reno.

“It’s just a grind right now, and they’ve really done a nice job,” Presnell said.

Their most recent victory, 112-80 over San Jose State on Jan. 24, showed a significant improvement from their 72-68 fall to Nevada four nights earlier. Riley Lupfer,

a sophomore guard averaging 16.1 points per game, scored 27 points and matched her career high of seven 3-pointers.

Lupfer also recently received NCAA. com honors, being named to the “starting five,” the nation’s top performers of the week, for Jan. 8-14. She was joined by members from California, Louisville, Georgia and Central Arkansas. Lupfer has also been named Mountain West Player of the Week twice this season.

“She’s a gifted shooter, but also she puts in the time,” Presnell said. “She has an amazing work ethic; she’s in the gym all the time and will work herself to fatigue

and then start shooting on her own.”

Last Wednesday’s game in San Jose proved to be impressive as the Broncos made shot after shot. With 35 points after just the first quarter, Boise State’s momentum was strong and steady throughout the game, keeping their lead for a total of 37:15 minutes. It was the fourth 100-point game in program history and broke the Mountain West record for the most points in a conference game.

“When we see our shots fall, that just gives us confidence,” Lupfer said. “No matter what the competition is, we have to bring our all, and that’s what we did tonight.”

Over the course of the 2017-18 season, the Broncos have had a tendency of winning three games in a row, then losing two in a row. Their victory over San Jose broke that trn.

“We play one game at a time, and the past is the past,” Lupfer said. “All we have is the moment we are in right now.”

Junior guard Marta Hermida barely missed her second triple-double of the season, with 16 points, eight rebounds and 14 assists. Those assists earned her a Boise State single-game record, and there is no sign of slowing down from the determined group.

“At the beginning (of the season) it was hard because we were trying to get all of the pieces together,” Hermida said. “We are competing much better now, and we are really comfortable playing together.”

The team also defeated Air Force at home on Saturday, Jan. 27, and will travel to University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 3. The next home game will take place on Feb.7 at the Taco Bell Arena versus New Mexico.

“The goal is to play as best as we can and just keep working hard,” Hermida said. “I think we are going to get big results if we keep doing what we are supposed to.”

BUCKING AROUND

JANUARY 30, 2018

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.78)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Mon Aug 28 19:17:16 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

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