September 8, 2015 Vol. 28 Issue 4
In d epe nd e nt
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Down to the wire
Boise State defeats Coach Pete, Washington 16-13
Abe Copeland/Courtesy
The Arbiter
St u d e nt
Justin Kirkham
editor@stumedia. boisestate.edu
MANAGING EDITOR Patty Bowen
managingeditor@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
NEWS EDITOR
Patrick Adcock news@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
IN THIS
Kerstin Hazelbaker/Courtesy
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ISSUE
REP gets involved p. 5
Shelly Bohorquez news@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
SPORTS EDITOR
Ali Roberts sports@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Rylan Kobre sports@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
CULTURE EDITOR
Brittany Lindstrom culture@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR Cheyene Austin culture@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
Jared Lewis/Courtesy
Idaho Smash Facebook/Courtesy
Jared Lewis digitalcontent@ stumedia.boisestate.edu
COPY EDITORS Andrea Batton Reba Rice
DESIGN MANAGER Ted Atwell
BUSINESS MANAGER Connor Jones business@ arbiteronline.com
Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University and a designated public forum, 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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Editors note
Spelling names correctly is widely important Justin Kirkham Editor-in-Chief
Names are difficult beasts to tackle, and, sometimes, we get them wrong. In our last Sept. 1 issue of The Arbiter, we published a feature entitled “Student firefighter tells stories from fires in the northwest.” This piece, though well crafted and reported by News Editor Patrick Adcock, slipped through our editing process with quite the misspelling. When our news team found the mistake, the paper had already been
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sent to the printer, leaving out quite a few missed Cs. Instead of “Fisher,” every mention of the profile’s main source should be spelled as “Fischer.” This is something we were able to fix in our online version of the story, but, unfortunately, our print version did not reflect this lastminute change. As you can read on page 12 of this issue, names are important, especially amongst differing cultures. Our Assistant Culture Editor, Cheyene Austin, did a great job of outlining the connection between iden-
tity and name spelling. In order to best define and acknowledge the individuals we come in contact with or describe, we need to be hyperaware of name spelling. Something as simple as a missed C can completely alter the perception that one receives. Luckily, Fischer, not Fisher, was completely fine with the misspelling. But, in the grand scheme of things, it is still important to us to acknowledge this mistake and move forward with a stronger attention to detail. As Austin wrote, names
can be incredibly important to some individuals, and it is important for us to reflect that in our work. Every staff member here at The Arbiter strives for professionalism and quality within their work. Attention to things as small as name spellings is a part of this mission. Every article in this publication should reflect that. But, sometimes we mess up. Keep in mind if we do, we will be the first to admit it. Thanks for keeping up with The Arbiter; we’ll keep moving forward alongside you all.
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NEWS
New app keeps students off their phones in class News Editor
Pocket Points is a new app designed to benefit the classroom environment by encouraging students to stay off their phones. The app was developed by two students from California State University, Chico; Mitch Gardner, a business and marketing major, and Rob Richardson, a computer science major. The duo met through their fraternity, Sigma Chi, and the idea developed from there. “We noticed it was such a pervasive problem that students were tied to their phones more than they should be in an environment where you should be paying attention to your teacher,” Gardner said. The two decided to do something about the trend they noticed. The result was an app called Pocket Points. “Students go to class and when they’re on campus, in an academic building, they can open up Pocket Points. It locates if you’re in one of the academic buildings, and if you are, you can lock your phone, put it in your pocket and start accruing points for how long your phone is locked,” Gardner said. “When you unlock your phone, that timer stops and you have your points accumulated and you can use those points to get discounts at local businesses.” Gardner and Richardson decided to start local and build a user base at Chico State with the first version of Pocket Points released in the fall of 2014. “We actually both took a leave of absence. I took mine in my senior year, which was
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a leap of faith,” Gardner said. “We were kind of a perfect partnership to get this thing started.” In their soft launch at Chico State, users had accrued over 100 years of time using the app. “That just speaks volumes as to what we’re trying to do,” Gardner said. According to Gardner, Pocket Points doesn’t just benefit students and teachers but local business as well. Pocket Points offered local businesses a trial subscription to offer discounts on the app in the hopes of converting them to a paying customer. “They’re paying to be on the platform and ultimately they just want to see traffic keep coming through the door,” Gardner said. “That’s the value we bring; getting small business in front of college students and getting them foot traffic.” Pocket Points has since made its way to Boise State along with 99 other schools across the country. “We started at Chico State, got some great traction, picked up some investment money, went to five other schools and then decided we wanted a real national push,” Gardner said. “This summer we took time to go to 100 different schools.” Gardner and Richardsson used their connections at Sigma Chi to expand their business to schools across the country. “Sigma Chi is a really great network. It’s one of the biggest fraternities in the country, so we were able to use that platform and get a lot of sales representatives through that,” Gardner said. “It’s been amazing how quickly we’ve been able to get these sales reps, and they’ve all been so good. It’s been really
awesome to watch this thing blossom into something.” Cameron Owen, sophomore at Boise State majoring in biology with a human emphasis, is one of those representatives contacted through Sigma Chi who became Pocket Points’ brand ambassador for Boise State. Owen is working to increase the number of students who download the app at Boise State. Owen reached out to the faculty at Boise State through email to promote the new app, as it also benefits teachers by rewarding students for staying off their phones during class. However Owen’s approach to the faculty was out of protocol. “I didn’t know and Pocket Points didn’t know there was any protocol, otherwise we would have followed it,” Owen said. “It was a harmless email.” Ultimately, Owen hopes to have the university support and promote Pocket Points. “If we could get the administration on board and supporting the app, that would be huge because that means they would be backing it and promoting it in classrooms,” Owen said. “Because it’s benefiting both parties; it’s doing good for the whole school.” Owen says Boise State students are downloading the app at good rate with over 400 downloads in the first two weeks. According to Gardner, Pocket Points, has around 80,000 total downloads. For those technophobes out there who are afraid of their phone tracking their every move, Gardner said that Pocket Points is no different from using Google Maps or any other app that uses your location. Pocket Points is without a doubt growing rapidly and
Gardner could not be happier with the team he has chosen. “It’s been nuts. The cool thing has been watching a business grow from an idea to something where we’re able to employ a bunch of people and bring a great product to the college community,” Gardner said. “It’s been really neat to watch that transpire and watch that grow from nothing to something special.” Currently the Pocket Points app is only iOS, but Gardner stated the Android users shouldn’t fret, as the Android version should be released in the next few weeks.
patrick adcock/The Arbiter
Patrick Adcock
earn points in class.
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NEWS
First year REP begins its freshman year News Editor
It’s a year of firsts for Housing and Residence Life as they launch the First Year Residential Engagement Program, also known as First Year REP. The program focuses on getting freshmen living on campus involved and connected at Boise State. “The intent behind it is to engage first year students that live on campus with other first-year students,” Roni Beck, coordinator for learning and leadership, said. “We found that a student that lives in Chaffee Hall might not connect with a student
that lives in Towers Hall, because they’re kind of spread out.” First Year REP has hosted several events since the start of the school year. “We kicked off with a first-year welcome, which was a picnic in Julia Davis Park,” Beck said. The program also hosted a river float trip, where the first 60 students received a free raft, a scavenger hunt to help new students find buildings on campus and a trip to the fair. “I imagine a lot of students find these avenues on their own, but the intent was ‘let’s guide them to it, let’s
take some students and have them do it together,’” Beck said. According to Beck, these activities are all part of an initiative to help students “gain a sense of belonging, find community and connect with their peers as well as resources around campus.” Much like the students she is connecting, it is Beck’s first year at Boise State as well. However, she is no stranger to campus involvement, having over eight years experience with student involvement at two other universities. To gain more insight into Boise State’s community,
Beck created a committee to help meet the needs of students living on campus. “We’ve pulled some resident assistants on the committee as well, who are super helpful and give tons of insight, because I’m not a student,” Beck said. According to Beck, the RAs on the committee have been a great help in planning dates for events as well as deciding what events students would want to attend. Sean Kierce, a sophomore secondary education major and resident assistant for Chaffee Hall, is one of those committee members. Kierce joined the com-
A SE R VICE OF
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Patrick Adcock
COntinued on Pg. 6.
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NEWS
Continued from page 5: First year REP program mittee because he loves all things outdoors and wants to help first-year students. “I had a really rough time adjusting my first year. I had no family and no friends out here. I just took a shot in the dark and said ‘I’m going for it,’” Kierce said. “I want to help guide these guys through their first year, but also be able to be a mentor and a friend.” Kierce has been very successful in his pursuit of connecting his residents to other students on campus. One of Kierce’s residents, Kerstin Hazelbaker, freshman studying pre-med and health sciences, said that the
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First Year REP has helped connect her to her peers. “For the first few days we didn’t even talk to each other,” Hazelbaker said. Hazelbaker says her fellow residents now feel like family. Another of Kierce’s residents, Raziel Martinez, a freshman in the pre-medical studies program, said that she has been able to meet a lot of people by going to events like the raft trip and the scavenger hunt. “Because of the outdoors stuff we did, we definitely got close,” Martinez said. “We call ourselves the “A squad.””
Beck has also been leading the charge to get new students connected to all of the resources Boise State has to offer. “We’re doing a workshop series that will bring in other campus departments and offices into the residential communities,” Beck said. “For example the Campus Recreation Center is going to come and do a mind, body and health yoga session in the living room of the first-year buildings to introduce them to fitness classes and talk about meditation and things to relieve stress.” Beck is also working with
the Career Center and Advising Academic and Enhancement, or AAE, to put on workshops to help students develop good study habits and become better prepared for the future. “The idea is to bring the resources to them and say ‘these exist, you should utilize them, here you go, right in your living room’,” Beck said. “This first year is highly social. Just getting them to engage in fun activities, come to different events, to get to know each other and help them feel welcome and a part of the Boise community.” Next year Beck plans to
expand the program to become more academic in nature. “We’re also going to implement study groups called study Sundays. The first Sunday of every month we’ll hold study groups in each of the first-year buildings,” Beck said. “We’ve worked with AAE, and we’re hiring some of their learning assistants to come into our communities and do a first hour of the study group.” Working with AAE is the first step toward making First Year REP more than just social and recreational activities. In the future, Beck plans to add more academic
aspects to the program “Next year we’ll actually be weaving in more academic pieces, working with Academic Affairs to talk about how we can incorporate this first-year engagement program into some classes,” Beck said. Beck said working at Boise State has been a great experience so far and that she’s pleased with student’s desire to be involved on campus. “I find that students are super involved,” Beck said. “They might not know exactly what avenue to go down quite yet, but they’re crazy passionate.”
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NEWS
Research partnership with Gorongosa begins Managing Editor
The roaming lions and elephants of picturesque horizons of safari Africa are exactly what students should think of when they consider a research opportunity in Gorongosa National Park. This Tuesday, Sept. 8, Bob Kustra will be shaking hands with Greg Carr, president of Gorongosa National Park, officially starting the partnership between Gorongosa National Park and Boise State. The partnership will open up Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, Africa for student and faculty research projects. “A lot of what we’re providing for Boise State is the research permit, the laboratory and the accommodations: The support you need to launch a science project 12 thousand miles away,” Carr said. “It’s a lot of basic research (that Gorongosa provides) which you don’t always get the opportunity to do. You couldn’t show up in an African country uninvited and say ‘I’m going to go into your wilderness and collect something.’” The partnership will focus on studying different parts of the park including the park’s ecology, wildlife biology, hydrology and geology. According to Carr, studying how the park’s ecosystem functions helps rangers keep the park “healthy or identify its problems.” Between 1977 and 1992, the wildlife in Gorongosa National Park was largely eliminated during a civil conflict between the Mozambican government and the Mozambique National Resistance. Carr feels that this adds more opportunities for students to
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find out more about how ecosystems are rebuilt. “It’s tremendous for basic research in biology and ecology but there are fundamental ecological questions that need to be answered,” Carr said. “We’re watching this ecosystem rebound from almost no animals to lots of animals and we can see how the plants react to that and if we are going to get the same ecolibrium of plants to animals.” Mark Rudin, vice president of the research department, will be in charge of sorting through and coordinating individual research projects in Gorongosa National Park. “There’s already some activity going on there so I think this agreement will help set the framework for how the research is conducted and access to obtaining permits to collect samples,” Rudin said. “You have to figure that the agreement will be put in place to help the researcher do research.” Some of this activity includes the work being done by several members of the Intermountain Bird Observatory. Faculty in the biology and geosciences are currently planning to visit the park and explore while doing doing “reconnaissance for some research strategies and research projects that can be conducted at Gorongosa.” “It’s my hope and expectation that this agreement and partnership with Gorongosa will lead to educational and research opportunities for our students and faculty,” Rudin said. “I think it will. That’s the most exciting part.” Between six and ten universities will join Boise State as partners with Gorongosa National Park. According to Carr, this will be a distinguishing factor in making
Boise State a nationally recognized research university. “Boise State University is making its spot in this nation and the other universities involved are Harvard, Oxford and Princeton so it’s a nice list,” Carr said. “Boise State is making this opportunity happen because they want to and because they have the skill. I happen to be a native Idahoan which makes me even more thrilled.” Boise State students and faculty who are granted opportunities to research in the park will be sharing a specifically Boise State-dedicated cabin living space. Although it is only currently confirmed that Boise State students and faculty will be traveling to work in Gorongosa, Rudin noted that Carr had interest in creating study abroad opportunities for Mozambican students at Boise State. “My hope is that it’s a longterm sustained effort,” Rudin said. “We’ll put a process in place to really take a look at proposed research projects and talk to the Gorongosa staff to make sure these projects are indeed worthy before we dispatch folks out to Gorongosa.” Students who are interested in hearing more about the opportunities they can pursue in Gorongosa National Park can attend a presentation by Carr on Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the Stueckle Sky Center Double R Ranch Club Room. “We as human beings need to understand that our own economies are connected to the economy of nature,” Carr said. “We get our water, food, clothing, medicine and fuel from nature so we have to protect the earth if we want to keep human well-being in place.”
Gorongosa National Park/Courtesy
Patty Bowen
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Opinion
Letter to the Editor: Otter’s nuclear decision The 1995 Nuclear Waste Deal was a deal that restricted the movement of nuclear waste in Idaho. In January Governor Butch Otter violated this deal by agreeing to allow the U.S. Department of Energy to dispose 50 spent nuclear fuel rods into the Idaho National Laboratory for Research. The laboratory is above the Snake River Aquifer, which stretches from the western edge of yellowstone to the Idaho-Oregon border and provides irrigation water to approximately 3 million acres of farmland. By allowing this deal to take place, Otter could be putting farmers and consumers of produce in the Northwest in danger of having their food polluted by nuclear waste. Peter Rickards Twin Falls Resident
It is painfully funny to see Governors Andrus and Batt try to take a stand on the weak 1995 nuclear waste deal. At least Batt and Andrus are truthful in their letter to Governor Otter, stating, “The danger of the waste accumulating at the Idaho National Laboratory is the risk it poses for the Snake River Aquifer directly under the repository site. If there was contamination in that water, it would cause our potato industry to fold
up. It would create all kinds of problems with municipal water.” That is true. The INL risks every family in Idaho. So, let’s look deeper at the hypocrisy of all our politicians, including Andrus and Batt. We can still protect Idaho if you care. Andrus and Batt lied to Idahoans about the main waste problem of the 88 acres of buried plutonium particles. Politicians all promised the deal would “Get the waste out” and claimed they won the infamous “All means All” lawsuit.
Remember INL declared it was leaving all the plutonium buried. Did you know all your politicians now agree to leave 90 percent of the plutonium buried in this flood zone? Do you know they opened a new plutonium dump for new projects they “all” endorse? It took me until 2011 to get Governor Otter to partially correct their revised new claim that “most” of the buried plutonium would be removed, as The Post-Register reported. “The original wording was incorrect because the rough-
Staff Responses:
Ali Roberts - sports & rec editor
For someone who grew up in the immediate area of the INL, the reality of this situation was obvious because it was always a looming danger that everyone living in Idaho Falls was well aware of. The current situation is far from ideal, but with the confidentiality that the INL maintains, it is difficult to know full details.
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ly 7,500 cubic meters of waste that must be removed represents only a small percentage of the disposal area’s buried waste. Susan Burke, the state’s INL oversight coordinator said, “It was a complete error on our part, and I’m happy (Rickards) pointed it out. There’s no intent to put any misinformation out.’” The plutonium waste they agreed to leave dwarfs the remaining waste they are bickering about now! Andrus and all politicians cheerlead for nuclear power research at INL, claiming it
is “safe.” While waste storage can turn deadly, it is like child’s play compared to the catastrophic dangers of nuclear research projects they endorse. It is like complaining about storing knives in a drawer but insisting we juggle them over the baby’s crib. We can learn from how Nevada stopped the nuclear dump that Idaho is foolishly counting on to take spent fuel rods, in 2035. Nevada simply denied the State permits required for projects in their state. I tried this in 1993 when I caught INL lying about a
nuclear criticality accident on their Idaho Air Quality Permit. Idaho required that accident analysis, but after I caught INL lying, Andrus actually removed that tough requirement. I can show you the hearing transcripts. Why did Andrus do that? Well, he got paid $92,500 from Lockheed later to endorse this lame deal. Now Andrus is mainly upset he “was not consulted.” The hypocritical politicians sold out Idaho families. This can still be corrected if you take a stand now.
Brittany Lindstrom - Culture Editor
For a politician who has billed himself as a candidate for the “people of Idaho,” he has consistently made questionable decisions. Typically, Governor Otter’s choices have benefited farmers and ranchers—a move that makes sense considering our economy. With this nuclear decision, I believe that citizens have the right to question who he represents anymore.
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opinion
Ashley Madison begs questions of ethics Arbiter Staff The editorial column is agreed upon by a panel of Arbiter staff members and reflects the stance The Arbiter is taking on different pressing issues. Follow up is encouraged; our desire is to start the conversation on campus, not dictate a campus opinion.
A pale woman holds her index finger to her brightly colored lips and purses her mouth. A gold band outlines the base of her ring finger while the woman’s pristine jawline is framed with auburn hair like a cascading waterfall. This is the iconic image of Ashley Madison, the dating website made specifically to help married men and women seek out affairs. Ashley Madison circled the headlines after hacker group Impact Team released the private details of the website’s 37 million users in August. Impact Team received widespread approval. They were seen as heroes who outed millions of cheaters worldwide; however, the release of names begs the question of whether
any of these names can be trusted. Because Ashley Madison did not require that users confirm their input emails and because a notable portion of Ashley Madison’s user base is single, names on the list should be treated on a case-by-case basis instead of being considered “outed as cheaters”. The Boise Weekly recently reported that the hack “reveals several idaho.gov addresses, including two from the Idaho Department of Lands and one each from the Central District Health District, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho Department of Correction and Idaho Transportation Department.” This still means that the leak has an impact on the innerworkings of our state, bringing the topic close to home. Even though the list is searchable, there is little to nothing to be gained from finding a person’s email because of the nature of Ashley Madison’s registration requirements. According to a report put out by Forbes, Ashley Madison users were not required to con-
firm their emails after registering, leading to Barack Obama having a dozen accounts and what could be assumed to be thousands of other nameless individuals with fake accounts under their name. Because of this, there is no actual proof that the creation of an account corresponds with the account belonging to the email address holder. This makes the validation of a person’s use of Ashley Madison nearly impossible. Not only that but, according to a report put out by The Independent, 14.5 million users on Ashley Madison were registered as single removing the whole cheating aspect of the site in general, at least from their side of the action. With that in mind, it makes the most sense for emails on the Ashley Madison website to be disregarded from the public eye. Because each account’s creation had different circumstances, it isn’t possible to making sweeping generalization for all of them. You don’t need to necessarily have an open relationship, just an open mind.
STUDENT VOICES:
Do you think Impact Team was right in releasing the names of the users of Ashley Madison? “I think any hacking group wants attention brought to a certain area. By bringing attention to that, they want to bring about change.”
Mike Young, Nursing, Junior
“Yes and no. It’s kind of an invasion of privacy, but they shouldn’t have been doing it anyway. Risky behavior like that is kind of asking for something to happen.”
AJ Semmens
Athletic Training, Junior
“It’s a violation of privacy. Do I think the website is morally right? No, but protection of privacy is technically ethically right.”
Lindsay Jordan, Social Work, Senior
Ashley Madison Facebook/Courtesy
“Yeah, nowaday it seems everybody wants to tell on everybody. No one can wait to point fingers.”
Marie Nathonson, Philosophy, Senior
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Feature
Helvetica Neue, 36 pt headline E-sports athletes spend hou Justin Kirkham Editor-in-Chief
Patty Bowen Managing Editor
Senior exercise science fitness evaluation major Dominic Ojinnaka spends 14 hours a week in personal training and just over seven hours in compiled training. It all takes place in front of a screen with a controller in his hand. Ojinnaka is one of many Boise State students participating in ranked Super Smash Brothers. “I’m trying to be a top competitor in this game, but that takes a lot of dedication on my part,” Ojinnaka said. “For one, I need to build a community that pushes out strong competitors so I have good people to practice.” Despite the negative stigma and lack of respect for e-sports by athletes in traditional fields, e-sports have exploded in popularity and are redefining their relationship with our competitive culture. “At this current juncture it’s kind of difficult for some people to see (e-sports being treated as sports), but when you’re looking at people who are looking at these tournaments on Twitch, we get second highest viewing rating on Vevo ever,” said Doug Kopec, freshman English major and admin of Idaho Smash. “(These players) are serious that they are athletes.” According to Kopec, the viewing and engagement habits of members of an e-sport are very similar to those in traditional
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sports. Kopec watches ranked esport matches with his friends in the same manner he watches the Super Bowl, studying the moves of the competitors like an athlete might study professional athletes’ techniques. “It’s starting to look like there is no real difference between an athlete that is playing an e-sport and an athlete playing an actual sport,” Kopec said. “The line is starting to blur at this point.” Kopec disagrees with the mainstream image of lazy video gamers, claiming that e-sports require just as much dedication and training as other athletic endeavors. “They have to really prepare for these events and you can’t equate that to someone who is sitting on the couch stuffing mouthfulls of chips over and over again and playing the same game.”
Redefining sports
In his article entitled “On the Scientific Relevance of e-ports,” Danube University interactive media and educational technology researcher Michael Wagner explores how e-sports influence and shape the culture wherein they are played. “‘Sport’ is a cultural field of activity in which people voluntarily engage with other people with the conscious intention to develop and train abilities of cultural importance,” Wagner writes. According to Wagner, sports are a byproduct of cultural sensation. In his study, he explains that mainstream athletic sports emphasize
culture’s focus on physical cond tion. Now that culture is shapin with new, younger audiences an the technology at their fingertip sports are also evolving to includ other measures of skill. “The mastery of multimod communication by means of syn chronous and asynchronous voic and text messaging has becom one of the most fundamental c pabilities to acquire high statu within a group,” Wagner wrote. “ is therefore expected that anybod participating in this culture—i particular individuals with hig achievement motivation—will fe the need to demonstrate this ma tery by succeeding in competitio One of the most obvious ways o doing so is by competing in com puter gaming events.”
Competition on summoner’s rif
After a few years of battling oth er summoner’s with spinning axe and gattling guns, one e-spor player agreed with the ideolog surrounding Wagner’s new defin tion for sports. Senior business major Dani May found that his own involv ment with competitive “League o Legends” play has required muc more research, premeditation an practice than what may be require of, say, football or basketball. “For two or three years, all of m free time went into it. It was bas cally my life,” May said. “But the I think Riot changed a champion liked, and I sort of fell out of it.” League of Legends is a mult player online battle arena gam
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Feature
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featuring two teams of five that race to destroy each other’s home base, or Nexus. The game features over 100 champions with unique skillsets and gameplay mechanics, as well as item slots to customize each champion and map-based bosses and objectives to constantly keep track of. The game is fairly complicated with what May calls a “huge learning curve.” “You have to keep on top of who are the best champs, who the other teams play, along with the game changing really every month,” May said.” That’s a lot more than football, which, for the most part, stays the same for years.” League of Legends is the most played computer game in the world, currently harboring over 27 million active players each day. And, while this crowd is large enough to merit the constant balance changes and game updates that May has to keep up with, it’s still a relatively small group of players compared to the fanbase of mainstream sports. “It’s more in the younger crowd. They are who play the game and respect the player base,” May said. “But then you hear someone say, ‘I play competitive League of Legends,’ and others will respond, ‘Well thats just a video game.’ I don’t think they realize the amount of work players put into the game.”
Mental concentration in esports
Kopec found that Smash is as high intensity a workout for his brain as it is for his controller hold-
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ing hands. “The negative image of ‘Oh, you’re wasting your time playing videogames’ is deteriorating,” Kopec said. “I use my brain so much in Smash.” According to Kopec, the parts of a Smash player’s skill that rely on their ability to win humbly, lose gracefully, focus and strategize is called their “mental game”. Kopec has found that the mental game is key to having a successful match because it dictates whether or not you’ll be able to use your motor skills in the most efficient way. “I would say Smash is 40 percent technical, pressing buttons really fast skill, and 60 percent mental game,” Kopec said. Kopec played tennis in high school and found the competitive spirit a great testing ground against his peers. Kopec believes Smash gives him a similar platform for testing his kill while being able to change his persona. “Smash is cool in the regard that I can (test myself),” Kopec said.
E-sports at Boise State
Even though this population is small, it is growing rather steadily. Just last year, ESPN President John Skipper said that e-sports are not “real sports.” But, apparently after some deliberation, ESPN 2 aired its first e-sports programming in April 2015 when Blizzard’s “Heroes of the Storm” Heroes of the Dorm championships aired. With this rise in viewership and participation in e-sports, including new mainstream channels like
ESPN, Boise State’s own League of Legends at Boise State club has seen a marked increase in their membership. “Our first tournament had like four teams,” May said. “We played in the Old Business Building on their computers, so we’ve come a long way.” The club has now registered 10 teams for its fall tournament at the university. Club President Karla Rogers hopes that this increase will be noticed in the future at a cross-university level with eventual tournaments, scholarships and promotion. “If chess and poker qualify as sports, so should League,” Rogers said. “The brain is a muscle, and even though you’re not physically picking up things and putting them down, there is a large competitive scene for e-sports.” Rogers believes scholarships for e-sports athletes is a feasible, incredible goal and hopes to potentially see Mountain West e-sports leagues in the future. But, with how much work and promotion would need to go into such an endeavor, she recognizes that is is “just the dream.” For now, Rogers and club officer Steven Lineses hope the club will simply gain more members and foster a fun and engaging community. “I only play two games,” Lineses said. “I play some ‘Streetfighter,’ but I keep coming back to League because it keeps getting better and better.”
Nintendo, turtle rock studios, riot games/Courtesy
ding nd ps. de
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Culture
Can you spell that?
International students connect name to identity Cheyene Austin Asst. Culture Editor
vidual choice and shouldn’t necessarily be expected. Pei-Ching Chang, a freshman Intensive English Program, or IEP, student from Taiwan, understands the difficulty Americans face when trying to remember and pronounce her name, so she goes by an English name—Mola. “I chose it by myself,” Chang said. “It’s a kind of fish. In English, it’s called an ocean sunfish. They also have a different name: Mola mola. I think Chinese names are difficult to remember and say, and I’m comfortable with my English name.” Freshman IEP student Songming Han agreed. “Americans can’t say Chinese names very well, so I
understand,” he said. “I say my name, Songming Han, but people cannot understand, so I tell them, ‘You can just call me Ming, or Han is fine.’” While students might not actively impose English-sounding names on international students, they may still struggle with pronunciation. In most cases, just the fact that a student attempts to say it correctly is noted and appreciated. “Personally, I’m not offended, but there are some people who really care about how to say their name, especially if they feel it’s a part of their personality,” junior pre-medical and biology major Wala Alzawad said. “Sometimes I feel sad when I hear some peo-
ple just change their name because somebody could not pronounce it.” In many cultures around the world, names often carry a significant meaning. Alzawad, who is from Saudi Arabia, said parents in Arabian countries always give their children names with meaning. “My name means familiarity, friendship and loving,” she said. “These are the three meanings I love most about my name.” Han also has a story behind his name. He explained he was named after the Songhua River in his hometown in Harbin, China. Native English-speaking students may wonder how to best approach this sub-
ject with their international classmates. “The easiest way is to just be open with people, and I think most people will be responsive to that and appreciate that you care about what their preference is,” International Student Services Management Assistant Merrilou Burris said. According to Salinas, if a little extra time and effort are spent, mastering pronunciation doesn’t have to be impossible. As long as the setting is appropriate, it’s fine to ask a student to repeat their name, spell it out or practice saying it together. The most important thing is to ask what the student prefers to be called and strive to follow their request.
International student services facebook/Courtesy
Boise State University warmly welcomes students of all nationalities. Many native English speakers, however, have difficulty remembering and pronouncing some of these foreign names, making this welcome a little less warm. A misconception among American students is that it doesn’t matter whether or not they can say names correctly—if it’s too difficult, they can just invent a nickname. Francisco Salinas, director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, said this seemingly good-natured gesture is actually a reflection of power relations.
“I think it’s a dominantto-subordinate group demonstration of the nature of that relationship,” Salinas said. “The power to name somebody or something is an important conceptual power. If I take something that is your name—a fundamental aspect of your identity—away from you, and I say, ‘You’re no longer called that; I’m going to call you this instead,’ that is a fundamental statement of disrespect and a display of dominance.” The process of making a name sound more “English” is called Anglicization. While it’s common among international students to adopt a name they feel is easier for Americans to pronounce, it is an indi-
international student services is comprised of various backgrounds.
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9/08/2015
Culture
Students can eat healthfully with easy tips
Brittany Lindstrom Culture Editor
increasing and spotlighting healthy food options.” A big part of the Bronco Fit program is observing consumer habits and listening to feedback. Choosing to buy healthier food affects what Dining Services serves, and students are encouraged to voice concerns or suggestions. When choosing what to eat, students should focus on eating a variety of foods to receive a plethora of nutrients. This means listening to your mother and including fruits and
vegetables in every meal. Harris points out that, in 2013, only three percent of Boise State students consumed the recommended five servings of these vital food groups daily. Both Harris and Eatright.org emphasize that the easiest way for students to add more good stuff into their diet is via simple substitutions. For example, instead of grabbing a candy bar, students can grab an apple or banana instead. If students are craving a crunchy
snack food, baby carrots, snap peas and green beans are great alternatives to chips and popcorn. Students can also include extra vegetables to splurge foods like pizza, burritos and pastas. Adding a side salad or frozen vegetables to any meal is a quick and cost-effective strategy. According to Harris, students should also be aware of their water intake. As tempting as 64 ounces of coffee may seem, it doesn’t keep you hydrated and
performing at your best. “Drink water throughout the day,” Harris suggests. “Consider investing in a water bottle which allows you to satisfy your thirst for free almost anywhere on campus.” Students should know they can reach out to University Health Services if they want to talk to someone about their dietary needs. To schedule an appointment, students may contact Health Services at 426-1459.
old farmers almanac facebook/Courtesy
Students lead busy lives. Classes, jobs and internships leave students with very little time or money to plan healthy meals. Add in the lure of fast food options and the eternal siren call of warm, gooey pizza and the mythical “freshman 15” can easily become reality. Before students resign to living their collegiate years in sweatpants, they should know that there are
plenty of easy tips and oncampus resources available to them. MarLee Harris, campus dietitian for Boise State, wants students to know they have a voice in what foods are offered on campus. “Boise State, through the Bronco Fit program, is working toward becoming the healthiest campus in the nation,” Harris said. “As a university, we are striving to create an environment that supports healthy choices, including
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Culture
Students enjoy Japanese fashion and tea Brittany Lindstrom Culture Editor
male Lolitas have to get a lot more creative to put together a proper set of cords. “The problem is that when you Google ‘male lolita,’ you tend to find a lot of men in dresses,” Johnson said. “So you have to branch out a bit more and find items associated with the Victorian era, then add in the frills.” With brand name Lolita outfits costing upwards of $600, obtaining a brand name dress brings a sense of personal accomplishment. Each Lolita I spoke with could recall the magical moment they received their first brand name dress. Students interested in Lolita fashion shouldn’t feel they need to don brand name clothing in order to fit in. Lolitas have a wonderful knack for making their tastes affordable. From swap groups, buying replica dresses and even a little DIY elbow grease. Of course, the best part about Lolita fashion is the excuse to look cute, meet new friends, have a relaxing tea party and talk about clothing.
Britany Cindstrom/Courtesy
As I enter Boise State Alumni Colleen Aurelia’s apartment, I am welcomed by the lovely embrace of aromatic teas accompanied by dainty teacups and saccharine snacks laid out on a lace tablecloth. Surrounding the tea table are lovely ladies and a gentleman dressed in their finest—with ample amounts of Victorian touches. My gracious hosts are a group of students and community members who are introducing me to the wonders of Lolita fashion and tea parties. Lolita fashion has nothing in common with Vladimir Nabokov’s novel “Lolita.” While “Lolita” is an ode to questionable morals, Lolita fashion began as a subculture of Japanese street fashion in the 1990s based on modesty. Junior creative writing major Tatijana Strange describes Lolita fashion as the union between modesty and cuteness, which pulls inspiration from a myriad of historical sources. “The goal is to be cute,” Strange said. “All while being
modest, and having fun with what you are doing.” Merrick Johnson, a freshman chemistry major and the only “Bro-lita” in the group, came across Lolita fashion through a healthy combination of steampunk aesthetic and anime like “Black Butler.” With rare exceptions, my hosts began their adventures in fashion thanks to anime, internet groups and the Japanese film “Kamikaze Girls.” Aurelia took an interest in the style after being chased at a local anime convention and drug into a Lolita fashion show. “The Lolita life chose me,” Aurelia recalls. “I was wearing my Halloween costume from the year before. A woman chased after me frantically, handed me a form and told me to be on stage in five minutes.” Within Lolita fashion, there’s a lot of freedom. Regardless of a student’s taste, be it more Gothic, cute or inspired by traditional Japanese attire, there’s a suitable style of Lolita fashion for everyone. According to Johnson,
Lolita: Frills and Thrills
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9/08/2015
Sports & Rec
Boise State finally beats Coach Pete at home Rylan Kobre
Asst. Sports & Rec Editor
resulted in a 6-0 lead. McNichols did most of the heavy lifting early on for the broncos, scoring his second touchdown with 10:26 left in the second quarter to put the broncos up 13-0. By halftime he had 14 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns with his experienced offensive line to thank for that. “They’re great. They get off the ball, they create holes for us and make it easier,” McNichols said. The broncos were able to score on a field goal to end the first half and take a 16-0 lead before heading to the locker room. The second half scoring was all huskies, starting
with a field goal with 3:10 left in the third quarter. Boise State went three and out, leading to a punt caught by sophomore Dante Pettis who found the outside lane and took it to the end zone for a 76-yard touchdown return. Suddenly the lead was cut to 16-10. A blocked punt with 11:52 left in the fourth quarter gave Washington the ball at the Boise State 27-yard line. Washington settled for another field goal to put the game within three points. Boise State saw multiple drives go nowhere, and the run-based offensive attack struggled in the second half. Harsin admitted his team “needed to be better
on early downs.” Washington had a chance to go down and win or tie the game with 1:59 left. True freshman quarterback Jake Browning made big play after big play to get the huskies a shot at a field goal. Husky Kicker Cameron Van Winkle had a kick from 46 yards out with 15 seconds left that he watched go wide right by less than six inches, a finish that the broncos scratched and clawed to earn. “We lost the turnover battle and we didn’t win in the special teams, so really you’re talking about your team having a lot of grit to win the game,” Harsin said. Redshirt sophomore-
Quarterback Ryan Finley finished the night 16/26, 129 yards and one interception, including 11 carries for 30 yards rushing. After it was all said and done, Harsin was complimentary of his quarterback. “I thought he played well tonight,” Harsin said. “For the most part his reads, what he went through, making decisions, his competitiveness on the sideline, his leadership—all those things were very good.” Finley and the broncos will play on the road in Provo, Utah next Saturday, Sept. 12 against Brigham Young University. The cougars are coming off a win against Nebraska that ended in Hail Mary fashion.
Jared Lewis/the arbiter
Chris Petersen lost only twice on the blue turf when he was the head coach at Boise State. Friday night, he lost for the third time, only this time as University of Washington’s head coach. The huskies fell 16-13 in a nailbiting finish. This was the first time Petersen lost as an opposing coach, but he was not treated like one. Petersen ran out of the tunnel before the game and was treated to a flurry of cheers for what he had done from 2006 to 2013. “The people are awesome. I appreciate them; it’s a great place to play college
football,” Petersen said in hispostgame press conference. In a game that saw Boise State score all 16 of their points in the first half and Washington score all 13 of their points in the second half, the broncos were happy to grind out a win despite a poor offensive attack. “We were able to find a way to win this game and that’s the most important thing,” head coach Bryan Harsin said. The broncos went 92 yards on 16 plays to get a seven yard touchdown run from sophomore running back Jeremy McNichols in the first quarter. The extra point was blocked, and it
Broncos win 16-13 in dramatic finish
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Sports & rec The student section at Boise State was abysmal. I don’t relish saying those words, but after sitting there Friday night it was clearly noticeable the students could not sit through a full game. Two common excuses that were used:“It was really windy and cold and I wasn’t prepared for that weather,” and “The games are so long and late, it is hard to sit for three hours.” How can anybody use an excuse when some students sat in line all night long to get a ticket? When the game started, the student section was almost
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full—not an easy accomplishment considering how large the student section is. By halftime, the section was a little more than half full— Embarassing. It was quite obvious Boise State students like to watch their players run out of the tunnel and then go home when the pregame hype is over. When the camera panned the stadium on ESPN after halftime, it looked like students had better things to do. The score was only 16-0 at half, but we made it look like the game was a blowout. The fans actually have a sig-
nificant impact on the gameespecially this one, when the opposing quarterback is a true freshman trying to lead his team down the field to win the game. A loud student section can make things extremely difficult on the opposing team. Unfortunately, we didn’t have many students to help with that. Not only was the attendance bad, but the fan conduct was poor too. Many students have a few drinks before entering the stadium, which is well known, but there is a line that cannot be crossed. If you can’t even function, you should probably stay home
in the first place. I watched a few students throw objects on the field for no apparent reason and light cigarettes up midgame. It may have only been two or three who acted poorly, but they represent us all. This demonstration hurt Boise State as a whole. It makes our student section and our fan base look horrible. If Boise State wants to hang with the so-called “top dogs” in college football their fan base has to be behind them. When that fan base can’t even sit through the first and most important game of the season, we lose our credibility.
Jared Lewis/the arbiter
Kobre’s Korner: What’s the deal student section?
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Sports & Rec Rylan Kobre
Asst. Sports & Rec Editor
Week one had its ups and downs, but after it was all said and done, here’s what we learned about our Boise State broncos.
Defense is stout
We already knew they were good, but they went out and changed the dictionary definition of the word stout. It now reads: Boise State’s defense. Twice they forced field goals on situations that could have easily been touchdowns. The only touchdown given up in the game was a kick return and they will try to continue that trend next week against BYU. The only cause of concern could be the defensive line, who had trouble getting to the quarterback until the last few plays of the game. Kamalei Correa was a bright spot on that line though, and he looked like the all-American player many project him to be this year. The defensive line has the potential to wreak havoc on quarterbacks all year long, this was just an off night. Expect the broncos to force more than one turnover like they did Friday night. They have the play-makers to turn defense into offense—something their offense will need after the way they played on Friday.
Offense needs work
We had our doubts and they came true. After the first quarter watching the offense felt like watching grass grow. The offense struggled to get places in part because they struggled on early downs-making it difficult
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for them to convert on long third down situations. It also didn’t help that they were put in tough spots on the field to start drives. The offense ran the ball, ran the ball, pretended to throw and then ran some more. Although quarterback, redshirt sophomore Ryan Finley was not bad in this game (16/26, 129 yds, 1 INT), every time he dropped back to pass, we held our breath. It is going to take some time for him to get comfortable in the pocket. He showed his athletic ability by running and scrambling for yards here and there, but overall the broncos tried to limit his deep throws by having him throw short passes and letting his receivers make plays in the open field. There is some potential there, and in spurts Finley showed us why he was named the starter, but unfortunately, he has to learn quickly with high expectations on him. At the end of the night, Finley was the only quarterback to beat a power five school in his first career start-not something to be taken lightly. Sophomore running backJeremy McNichols looked strong in his debut as the featured back, and he was fun to watch early on. He struggled in the second half, but he couldn’t be blamed. He carried the ball 27 times and it is hard to get places when the other team knows what you are going to do. The addition of redshirt senior running back Kelsey Young and redshirt junior Devin Demas, give the broncos a nice change of pace in the backfield. It’s always a
Jared Lewis/the arbiter
What I learned about the Broncos: Week 1
Defense looks strong in Week One. good sign when there are three strong running backs who can also catch the ball out of the back field. They were helped by the veteran offensive line who has the tools to really win the battle at the trenches all season long.
Looking to next week
After all of the hype surrounding last week’s game the broncos cannot afford a
setback heading into week two. This game has huge implications for the team’s bowl placement. There is no question every game is important, but this head-to-head matchup could determine whether the broncos get into a new year’s six bowl game or not. BYU is the other contender to be the top school from a non-Power Five conference to enter a
new year’s six bowl game. A win in week two helps fast track the broncos’ chances at a Fiesta Bowl date and also keeps their slim chances alive for a berth into the College Football Playoff. The cougars are coming off a 33-28 win in which they won on a Hail Mary as time expired. They lost their starting quarterback, Taysom Hill who was a possible
Heisman Trophy candidate, but backup freshman Tanner Mangum showed he can step right in. Boise State will need another strong defensive outing in a tough road game. The offense will need to be better and more poised for the broncos to win this one, a game that will have a monumental impact on the 2015 season.
9/08/2015
Sports & rec
Dance the night away with the tango club Ali Roberts
Sports & Rec Editor
For anyone looking for a creative, as well as athletic, outlet for their free time while here on campus at Boise State, Tango Club is one of the many options available for students, sporting a wide variety of dance and social opportunities.. The club welcomes anyone who wants to join regardless of background or previous experience with tango or dancing in general.
JOIN OUR TEAM!
“They (students) don’t need to know anything about dancing. When I started tango three years ago, I had never danced before, I never did martial arts or sport.” Club advisor Tommy Smith said. “I had no body awareness, and now I’m teaching it. So you don’t need any experience.” Most students who are currently in the club, like sophomore Erin Moore, learned of it through the Involvement Fair the Student Involvement and Leadership Center puts on
every year. “They originally got me through the Get Involved Fair last year and I’ve danced my entire freshman year,” Moore said. The club mainly focuses on Argentine Tango, which is slightly different from other forms of the dance, including ballroom tango and international tango. “What speaks to me about Argentine Tango is the fact that it’s more focused on connecting with your partner. It’s just you and your partner in the dance.” Smith said. “(It’s
about) making something really cool together that’s focused on creativity and improvisation.” The club doesn’t necessarily compete in the traditional sense. They have a festival that gives people the opportunity to showcase their hard work and their dancing skills in front of a larger group than usual. “Tango has competitions but they are a very minor part of it, where with ballroom dancing you think of competitions as the end all be all,” Smith said. “In tan-
go, it’s the festival where it’s a weekend-long dance party where we go and we socialize and dance.” The club has no required equipment that students need to bring. They only recommend that people who want to participate wear shoes that are able to pivot. “This club is really tailored to you. We are tailored to the person that doesn’t have a social outlet for something like this, so it’s like an instant group of friends that you get. We are all very friendly and
welcoming,” said Smith. “Some common excuses people use are, ‘oh I have my rhythm’ or ‘I’m bad at dancing,’ and everybody is when they start. Nobody plays baseball and expects to hit a home run on the first day. So you don’t need a partner, you don’t need experience, you can just bring yourself as you are and we will take care of you.” The club meets in the Hatch Ballroom every Wednesday and works on learning to dance from 6-7 p.m.
Looking for a great part-time job in the hospitality industry? Then we want you to be a part of our Food & Beverage or Operations Departments. Boise Centre is currently seeking part-time employees to be banquet servers, members of our culinary prep team or operations staff. Hours for each position vary, based on the number of events being held each month. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Human Resources, 850 W. Front Street, Boise, ID 83702, or e-mail to employment@boisecentre.com
Find a great job in the Centre of it all. Boise Centre, Idaho’s premier convention center for meetings, conferences, and social events, is an equal opportunity employer. Learn more at BoiseCentre.com
We invite you to join our team of professionals who believe: • Integrity is essential to our success • Demonstrating pride and professionalism brings excellence to our work • Trust, respect and accountability are critical to strong relationships and superior teamwork
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• Combining consistent quality with flexibility differentiates our service from others • Mixing passion, collaboration and creativity results in service excellence
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bucking around ACROSS 1 She’s a princess, knocking one out... (4) 4 ...without equal, a Lady captivating student (8) 11 To make things even worse, shortly told to leave Prague? (7) 12 Charterhouse gives this person hours working? (7) 13 Wonderful poet gets round America (10) 14 Relative married a scholar (4) 16 Stick around to run a cleric’s office (9) 18 One comes in to join later for free (5) 19 Artist has to make pop still? (5) 20 Plenty of rabbits doing the foxtrot? (9) 23 Extremely light (4) 24 Tart works on voice that’s alluring (10) 27 Funny article on Dynasty entertains us (7) 28 They say you need two for this business (7) 29 Giving barman gratuity, about a pound, when having a few drinks (8) 30 What you buy at auction can be a good deal (4)
DOWN 2 Turkey’s ready a second before salesman turns up (5) 3 In the most undesirable circumstances, hot water’s off and temperature’s lowest (2,3,5) 5 Make plastic tubing perhaps for export, with constant diameter inside (7) 6 Hearing several choirs could be bore (4) 7 Cheer England’s openers doubling up to take catch at start
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of Test
(9) 8 Superficial ruler of the waves? (7) 9 Using some telecom apparatus, it shows how families interact in the community
(6)
10 Speech problem displayed by a sovereign, inter alia (6) 15 Pair given medical training based on 12 (10) 17 Dancing fairy quietly descends – it’s sweet (5-4) 19 Innocent daughter’s upbring-
(7) 20 It triggers an immune response against dope (7) 21 Girl from college missing crucial broadcast (6) 22 Waugh, Steve, stumped out by a woman? (6) 25 It’s not appropriate to sleep during sex (5) 26 Drown perhaps in US river (4) ing initially tempted pervert
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