A LETTER FROM THE EDITORS OF "OUT OF THE BLUE" If you’re thinking that you’ve never seen a paper like this at Boise State before, you’re correct! This is the first attempt at a magazine that focuses on Boise State students and life, brought to you by the managers at Student Media, which encompasses The Arbiter, University Pulse Radio, and The Creative Hive Group. We say “attempt” because none of us have ever done this before. But as this school year came to an end, we felt like something was missing at Boise State. For the past two years, a metaphorical rug has been pulled out from under all of our feet – the pandemic disrupted our education in ways we could never have imagined, but even more importantly, it altered our social lives and culture forever. We’re officially settling into a “new normal,” as they say, and we felt like the thing that was missing was the most important thing at a university: student voices. This magazine is a celebration of all the things that make Boise State unique, as we try to make the most of our time here and improve it where we can. This isn’t quite a yearbook, but we do want to commemorate the
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tumultuous and incredible year we’ve had together. It’s also not quite a guide, but we do have recommendations for newer students, and resources for those who are leaving campus as alumni (sourced from other students, of course). More than anything, we hope to capture the voices of boise state, in all their multitudes and complexities. Within these pages, you’ll find the photos and stories that capture this school year. You’ll find some of the work that we at student media have been doing, and some of our previous work that encapsulates this year. So grab a couple of copies for your friends, and offer it as a congratulations on whatever milestone they’re reaching. (And congratulations to you, too). We’re glad you’re here. Without further ado, we hope you enjoy this inaugural edition of “Out of the Blue.”
Creative Directors: Sasha White, Claire Keener, Preston Valley, Blake Hunter, Ashley L. Clark Contributors & Artists: Cassie McGarty, Alieha Dryden, Kelby Andrew, Andrea Teres-Martinez, Sam Woodhouse, Fenix Dietz
TABLE OF CONTENTS WALKABLE BOISE
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EVENTS TIMELINE
SPORTS RECAP
TREEFORT FEATURE
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHTS
PULSE BLOG POSTS
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WHAT'S NEW BSU
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SENIOR ARTWORK
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PULSE SHOW SCHEDULE
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19
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Idaho State Capitol
WALKABLE BOISE
Favorite Venue in town? Knitting Factory
Your bestie just turned 21. What bar are you taking them to?
Hannah's
Zoo Boise 8th Street
It's time to cram for your exam. What study spot are you camping out at?
Your family is coming to town. What cool thing on campus are you showing them first? The river/ Greenbelt
4th story of Albertsons Library
Favorite spot to get coffee on campus? Starbucks in the SUB
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The blue turf at Albertsons Stadium
You need a new outfit for an event. What store are you going to first? Uptown Cheapskate
CT THOMAS: Wide receiver CT Thomas goes for the ball at a home game against University of Nevada, Reno.
Tromp: Boise State president Dr. Marlene Tromp at a home football game.
MBB MW: The men’s basketball team celebrates their first outright Mountain West regular-season championship since 1988.
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Humble Doug and The Influence of Built To Spill
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By Kaige Hawker | Photos by Preston Valles
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Doug Martsch has been a big name in the Pacific Northwest for the past 30 years and continues to lead his band through it all. Built to Spill keeps the indie and alternative sound right at home and has never lost sight of its roots in the state of Idaho. As the Treefort festival moves from its 9th to 10th operation, so too does the group headlining the bill. Every year, the indie rockers will always be at the festival’s helm to show how important local music is for the City of Trees. I am always looking forward to spending five days surrounded by music, food, and people. We all can share in at least one of these things given the right circumstances. Treefort 9 was no different in these factors. Everything you could expect was present. Venues with a welcoming atmosphere and smiling faces were always providing a good experience for those going to a show or two. Grove Street was busy with food trucks and vendors that kept the atmosphere alive into the late evenings. I saw Built to Spill on Thursday evening at the Main Stage. The line up was terrific with Melanie Radford on bass, Teresa Cruces on drums, and Martsch on guitar. They all carried their own energy that filled its own space while also being entertaining as a whole band. The shows were incredible, as was the band, but it was what happened on a Friday night that really made my experience something special. After a
few late night shows that included the names of Joshy Soul and Charlie Purr, I then made my way to the Matador for a snack with my brother and his girlfriend. I was hungry and quite frankly unsure if I had the energy to continue with more shows at midnight. I went to the restaurant to meet my brother for nachos late one night and was surprised to see Doug seated by himself in the front patio area. I quickly ran inside to tell my brother who was out front and ran back out. I introduced myself and told him I was doing coverage for University Pulse at Boise State and that I was shocked he was still out so late (everyone was tired by 10pm every night). He warmly said hello and asked my name before telling me that he was having a bite before a show. I was curious who else was performing and he said that he was. Where would he be playing at midnight? Doug said that he would be picking up a few tracks for a late night Neil Young cover band – the Ragged Hounds. Uh. Of course. That would ROCK. I was able to contain myself during this conversation but I couldn’t help but get excited that I was going to hear Cortez the Killer with guys that were trying to sound like Crazy Horse. In contrast, Built to Spill now has only three members, two of which are guitars whereas Ragged Hounds had 3 (minus Doug). This show was going to be loud.
Scan here to continue reading
THE BAND FROM THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT By Preston Valles Treefort Music Fest 2021 went by in a blink of an eye yet the memories the Pulse team and Student Media in general gained from it will last us forever. One memory that will stick with me was seeing the band, Prism Bitch, perform at the El Korah Shrine on the final day of the festival. Prism Bitch is a group hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico. It features Lilah Rose (Vocals, Keys, Guitar), Lauren Poole (Bass, Vocals), Chris Walsh (Guitar), and Teresa Cruces (Drums, Vocals). They made their debut in the music world with their first EP, The Getaway, in 2017. Just this year in March, they released their first full length album, Perla, which is full of fun and upbeat tracks!
" I HAD TO SEE THEM AGAIN. AND GUESS WHAT? I DID SEE THEM AGAIN. " I saw Prism Bitch for the very first time performing on the Main Stage during the second day. I had just gotten downtown at around 4:20 PM, exhausted from the first day of shooting photos. Upon waltzing into the Main Stage gate I was greeted with the band all wearing matching outfits and covered in performance makeup. I jumped straight into the photo pit to get some good shots and found myself getting distracted and enjoying the vibe that the whole band put forth. My best description for their sound is Paramore but on steroids. I was in love at first sight (and at the first listen I suppose). I had to see them again. And guess what? I did see them again. They had two more additional performances after their first set and I got to catch them at The Korah Shrine for the finale of Treefort. I got to sit front and center for their performance (and got
some freaking amazing shots of the band) and, I have to say, it was an otherworldly experience. Teresa was tearing up her kit, Lauren was hopping all over the place, and Chris was SHREDDING his guitar up. Lilah was another story though. She was all over the place, doing somersaults, running up and down the stage, and even at one point, gave her guitar to one of the audience members in the middle of a song! After one song I made a heart with my hands and she walked up to me and started punching through it, almost hitting my face a few times. To sum it up, the performance was absolutely crazy. The cherry on top for me was meeting the whole band. I mustered up the courage and went up to Lauren at the merch table. I introduced myself and told her how I’ve lived in Rio Rancho, New Mexico for half my life. She welcomed me with open arms and we had such an amazing conversation with one another. She showed me such hospitality in just that short time we chatted. After chatting, she led me back stage to meet the rest of the band! Lilah ran in to give me a hug while Chris and Teresa both sat back and greeted me. I felt so accepted by a band I had just met for the first time. We got pictures together and a killer station ID that we have linked below to listen to.
Scan here FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND A KILLER STATION LINE-UP
" THE CHERRY ON TOP FOR ME WAS MEETING THE WHOLE BAND. "
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10 Hamilton
Theater productions at the Morrison Center returned in full force, including Broadway season favorite "Hamilton".
December
Nov. 2
ASBSU Condemns Aramark
Treefort 9
The Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) unanimously condemned Aramark, the food service vendor used by the university, for the closure of restaurant locations on campus.
September
Aug. 31
Dia De Los Muertos
Luminary opens
"Campus Preacher" Keith Darrel arrested
2021
Oct. 25 Sept. 15th
Dec. 4
Mall Shooting
Robert Padilla Arguelles (49, Rupert) and Jo Acker (26, Caldwell) were killed in the Boise Towne Square Mall by shooter Jacob Bergquist (27), who also later died.
Oct. 2
Bronco Night
Aug. 19
August
Rally against Yenor
Homecoming
Guru opening
Spring Fling
Abortion Bill SB 1309
The Idaho Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1309, a Texas-style abortion bill that restricts access to abortion after six weeks and allows family members to sue abortion providers, on Thursday, March 3, along party lines. Treefort 10 (photo)
MBB Mountain West Championship
Commencement
April
Treefort 10
March
March 23
March 14
March 1
Jan. 14-20
Mask Mandate lifted
COVID peak
The omicron COVID-19 surge brought campus cases and positivity rates to all-pandemic highs, reaching a positivity rate of 17.9%. As quickly as cases rose, they also declined in the following weeks.
May
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Adam Jones and Ryan Bernard inaugurated as new Pres. and V.P.
April
April
February
ASBSU Inauguration
Pulsefest
Unhoused protest
WHAT'S NEW BSU Created in August 2021, the Anti-Racism Collective makes space for difficult conversations and shares educational resources. This year they hosted a webinar series to platform local activists.
Three new coffee and cafe style vendors opened on campus this year: Guru Donuts, Poppyseed Cafe, and Urban Fox Coffee & Boba.
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The Sustainability Club has revamped the campus community garden on Juanita Street. They are now partnering with the Food Pantry to bring fresh produce to students struggling with food insecurity.
Around the World" is a podcast hosted by international students for international students that serves as a resource for campus events and tips on navigating the community.
The Boise State Vaccination Clinic opened in early 2021 and has supported the campus community throughout the pandemic, even offering booster shots as soon as they were available.
BSU alum and adjunct professor Erin Cunningham was commissioned for the unconventional presidential portrait of Dr. Marlene Tromp, revealed on Nov. 4, 2021.
Boise State Athletics launched its new app in August 2021. Fans and students can use it to fine game schedules, buy tickets, and even earn reward points for attending sporting events. The newly established Students For Labor Club seeks to educate students about labor right and issues. Club members also stood in solidarity with the unhoused protest in Boise in early 2022.
Boise State's American Sign Language Club hosted several "silent lunches" this semester. ASL became a campus conversation point after the impressive performance by interpreters at Hamilton. After widespread controversy regarding a sexist professor on campus, Ally Orr took initiative to start the Women in STEM, Medicine and Law Scholarship, which has since raised over $200k.
MEN'S BASKE TBALL t In a season filled with the highes ise Bo the highs and the lowest lows, ned State men’s basketball team tur o the int son sea s a seemingly hopeles ain unt Mo t university’s first outrigh s, it yer West title. After losing key pla would was uncertain how Boise State ately im ult is Th perform this season. to ted led to the team being projec West befinish fourth in the Mountain State, hind Colorado State, San Diego ied, rall m tea and Nevada, though the g nin pulling off a huge 14-game win in the streak midseason before losing ss. dne first round of March Ma
WOMEN'S SOCCER
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In a heartbreakin g end to an exhila rating conference tournament run, the women’s soccer te am ended their se ason with a loss in the Mountain W es t championship. Th e team clinched th e sixth and final sp ot in the tournam ent after being ranked 11th just weeks prior, then beat th e second and third ranked teams. Te am members cred it their unique lead ership team "Infor mation Highway ,” designed to brid ge the coach-player gap, for their team coordination and success.
VOLLEYBALL The volleyball team, like the women’s soccer team, came into their Mountain West championship tournament as underdogs, ranked sixth in the conference. However, the Broncos defeated San Jose State, Utah State, and UNLV to win the championship and make it to the NCAA tournament. Although their tournament trip was short, falling to 11th-ranked BYU in the first round, their season was a memorable one, starting with a 12-2 run and including a victory over the 10th-ranked University of Utah, the highest ranking team the Broncos have beaten in program history.
CLASS OF SPRING 22'
OJ JOHNSON
CLASS OF FALL 22'
ALIEHA DRYDEN
CLASS OF FALL 22'
"I’m a graphic design major and this was created as a calendar page for a project on typographic layouts. It captures a certain feeling I get during spring semester. After working hard all semester the flowers begin to turn and the sun comes out. Schedules start to relax and I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a while. I think of all the things I have planned for summer and I just know it will fly by. Summer’s gonna be a blur."
"For this piece, I wanted to create a ring that strays away from the conventional diamond ring and bring attention to the beauty of raw, uncut rocks. This green calcite rock stands for making a positive change and encourages forgiveness. In many ways, I think this is what the world needs more of. I kept the ring band simple to emphasize the intricacy of this layered gem."
Alieha Dryden is a Boise State Senior majoring in illustration, with a focus on comics and sequential art. She enjoys telling fantastical stories and drawing creatures. "This piece was made as an exploration of a character design I created a few months ago. The creature's name is Tubs, and I wanted to go about placing them in different scenarios."
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
LUKAS ROBERTSON
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THE EVOLUTION OF TREEFORT BY KELBY ANDREW
In March 2012, Treefort made its debut in Boise, Idaho, a community in recovery from an economic recession, and in the following years, the music festival became a cultural cornerstone for the city with resounding economic impact, funneling millions into the local economy before coming to an unexpected halt in 2020 at the height of the festival’s growth. The legacy of Treefort is one deeply intertwined with the local community. Just as Treefort played a role in the revitalization of Boise after the 2008 recession, so did Boise in the revitalization of Treefort during the pandemic. The 2008 economic recession wasn’t kind to Boise, but in its aftermath, Boise saw the first inklings of an incoming artistic and cultural revolution. The inaugural Treefort Music Fest took root in March 2012, hosting 137 bands across 13 venues. The festival was so popular that the first batch of tickets for Treefort 2013 sold out in 17 minutes. In the years following, the festival established itself as a pervasive cultural force in the Boise community and demonstrated sustained success. However, despite the festival’s long-standing popularity, the COVID-19 pandemic left Treefort with an uncertain future after the festival’s ninth installment was postponed. But when Treefort needed it most, the community paid it forward and raised $337,000 for the festival. Fast forward to March 2022, and Treefort was in full swing once again, welcoming over 520 artists across 37 states and 19 countries. Through the highs and lows of the festival, one principle has held true: Treefort is for everyone, and everyone is for Treefort. With the continued support of the community, the festival that Boise has come to know and love can expect to endure, both in sickness and in health.
"WE KNOW HOW TO ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES AND IT'S A PROBLEM-SOLVING ORIENTED SPACE." - ERIC GILBERT, CO-FOUNDER OF TREEFORT
READ MORE ABOUT TREEFORT
Nonprofit row at Treefort is a place where many different non-profit organizations from around the Boise area come together in one place at the festival. All of the non-profits have tents and interact with the festival-goers. These organizations range anywhere from advocating for inclusivity to human rights to sustainability and more. Nonprofit row is an essential part of integrating the local Boise community into the festival, according to Celeste Giordani, the community engagement director at Treefort. “Treefort Music Fest is committed to fostering positive community engagement in Idaho and beyond. We strive to create a space where attendees, artists, staff and passersby can connect with local, regional and national organizations to create access to advocacy,” Giordani said.
"PRIOR TO THE RECESSION, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE MOVING TO OTHER BIGGER CITIES TO PURSUE MUSIC, BUT A LOT OF US HAD RECOMMITTED TO BOISE, THAT MAYBE IT'S A PLACE WE COULD BUILD THE TYPE OF MUSIC SCENE THAT WE WANT. "
NONPROFIT ROW
- ERIC GILBERT, CO-FOUNDER OF TREEFORT
BY LACY O'DELL
TREEFORT MUSIC HALL BY LACY O'DELL
TREEFORT 10 PHOTO GALLERY
With Boise’s rapidly expanding music scene, Treefort Music Festival is creating a new venue for both the local community as well as touring artists to enjoy. Treefort Music Hall will be open all year to the public and will continue to provide what the festival caters like live music and a place to hang out and connect with friends. The music hall is expected to open in the fall of 2022 with promises of live music and a rooftop patio and space.
PULSE SHOW TUNE IN ONLINE OR FIND OUR PODCASTS ON SPOTIFY.
SCAN FOR SHOW SCHEDULE
SPOTLIGHT
SARA LLAMAS HOST OF WALKING WITH HISTORY Where is your hometown and what is it like? I am a native of Boise. Boise is centered around everything local from independent coffee shops, restaurants, and food sourced locally. It is outdoors oriented with the greenbelt, trails, river, and even a ski hill. What is an unpopular music opinion you hold and what is your defense for this opinion? I don’t like ABBA, enough said. Who is your favorite musical artist and why? Mark Oliver Everret and his alternative/rock/ indie band the Eels. He plays multiple instruments: keyboard, harmonica, guitar, drums, bass, programming, piano, melodica and of course his vocals. Not only is he able to play many instruments, he writes his own songs that can cover tough topics such as death, divorce and depression but he also plays music about love and innocence. What is your favorite song and why? Shocker, my favorite song is by the Eels. I Like Birds
from their album Daisies of the Galaxy. Because yeah!, I like birds. What is your favorite food and why? Chile Relleno is my absolute favorite dish. It’s a poblano pepper stuffed with salty cheese that is fried in egg and flour mixture. But wait there’s more. The sauce that covers it is sauteed salsa mixed with refried beans. What is your favorite memory through your involvement at University Pulse? This one is hard for me to choose because I’ve been to a bunch of Pulse events and had a great time at every single one. But I’ll put down the event that happened before spring break. It was a nice way to begin a break with free pizza and music played by an awesome DJ. And getting to tie dye and paint on coasters was super fun. Why did you join University Pulse Radio? It was recommended to me that I should join the radio club by one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Ar-
nold, my history teacher. Will say it was great advice. I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Pulse and am excited for next year with them.
CARSON BENZINGER HOST OF UNDERRATED Where is your hometown and what is it like? I was born and raised in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where I spent much of my time skateboarding and record collecting at my local record store, The Long Ear! What is an unpopular music opinion you hold and what is your defense for this opinion? Y’all… I hate to say it, but Apple Music is better than Spotify. I much prefer the layout of Apple Music in comparison to Spotify, as well as the comparatively better streaming quality and music recommendation features. Who is your favorite musical artist and why? No doubt in my mind, The Rolling Stones. Each era of the Stones is a definitive timepiece that offers such a unique sound. Also, how can you go wrong with the best frontman and guitar player of all time in the same band?
What is your favorite song and why? Under My Thumb by the Rolling Stones. Whether it’s Mick’s smooth yet rugged vocals, Brian Jones’ amazing instrumentation, or Charlie Watts’ snappy drums, this song is perfection. What is your favorite food and why? Philly cheese steaks. They’re made of chopped up steak with cheese and onions between two pieces of bread. Enough said. What is your favorite memory through your involvement at University Pulse? I remember my first time meeting Scott Wilson and discussing our favorite hip pop artists. He recommended I listen to Binary Star (and you should too). Why did you join University Pulse Radio? I began discovering countless amazing artists and felt that they were criminally under-appreciated in their genre of music. So I decided to join a platform that
allowed me to give these artists the credit they deserve!
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