The Arbiter 12.9.21 Volume 34 Issue 7 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

December 9, 2021

Vol. 34, Issue 7

I NDEP EN D E N T

STUD E N T

VO I C E

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BOISE STATE & BOISE POLICE

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW CAMPUS SAFETY CONTRACT NEWS

Students, leaders and community members gathered in response to Yenor’s misogynistic speech.

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OPINION

Abortion is a reproductive health right; bodily autonomy should not be a political issue. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

New faculty-led Anti-Racism Collective seeks to educate and provide space for community. @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

Reflecting on the women’s volleyball season after Mountain West championship and bitter NCAA loss.

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Editor-In-Chief Blake Hunter editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Ashley L. Clark onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Andrea Teres - Martinez news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Fenix Dietz news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Amanda Niess culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Julianne Gee culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Editor Lexi Almeido sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Reporter Adam Bridges sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Paige Wirta opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Kelby Andrew copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Becky Wilson Digital Content Manager Claire Keener digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Corissa Campbell Graphic Design Manager Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Cassie McGarty Illustrator Alieha Dryden Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

Students, faculty and community members gathered in demonstration on Dec. 4 in the Boise State Quad in response to political science professor Dr. Scott Yenor’s misogynistic speech at the National Conservatism Conference. Claire Keener | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

After months of evaluation, Boise State signed a new contract with the Boise Police Department. Like previous contracts, six officers and one lieutenant will be assigned to the university for $2 million, with gradual annual increases. Front page: Graphics by Alieha Dr yden, Cassie McGar t y | The Arbiter

HOW TO REACH US: CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites

MISSION:

As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-par tisan and socially responsible media.

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

NEWS

December 9, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

BOISE COMMUNITY RALLIES IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Following Yenor’s anti-woman speech, students, faculty, and community members show up and speak out Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

n Saturday, Dec. 4, two events were held on the Boise State campus in support of women in STEM and in higher education, both of which came as a response to the misogynistic comments of Boise State professor Dr. Scott Yenor. The first event, organized by Rep. Brooke Green, asked women and those supporting women to gather around the “B” on the Boise State campus wearing their lab coats, uniforms and sporting their achievements in their career field. “The message I want to send is ‘we are present,’” Rep. Green said. “We’re your doctors; we’re your attorneys; we’re your stay-at-home moms; we’re your engineers.” Many of the people in attendance came with their families and displayed signs with statements such as “proud husband of a quarrelsome woman” and “the 1950s called, they want their opinions back.” Among the attendees were several policymakers and government leaders, including Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, Idaho Sen. Melissa Wintrow, Rep. Ilana Rubel and Boise city council members Holli Woodings and Lisa Sanchez. One highlight of the event was the announcement of a brand new scholarship meant to support women pursuing an education in STEM. The scholarship was created by senior marketing major Ally Orr, who got the idea from a tweet under Yenor’s initial response video. “When Scott made his comments I felt like we needed to do something and channel our energy into something productive,” Orr said. Instead of their initial $10,000 goal, Orr hopes that by raising $25,000 the money will go towards an endowed scholarship, encouraging women to pursue

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their chosen career fields for many years to come. So far, Orr has managed to raise over $31,000. “I feel very dissatisfied that the university hasn’t supported us more and sent out more things to tell us that we do belong here,” Orr said. “In a perfect world, professors like Scott who make their students feel little wouldn’t be teaching at their universities.” According to Orr, events like the one held by Rep. Green are always a step in the right direction. The second event was a student-run community space hosted by The Anti-Racism Collective, a community recently established by Boise State’s Sociology Department. Held in the Boise State Quad, this event featured several guest speakers including Boise State students, alumni, professors and Boise residents unaffiliated with the university. According to one of their Instagram posts, this alternate event was meant to function closer to a traditional protest and substitute the lack of speakers at the neighboring event. “We will be on the quad … for those that do want to speak out, connect with community, be in solidarity, and call for accountability,” the Instagram post read. Many of the speakers called for Boise State to take administrative action against Yenor, either through an investigation or a termination of his contract with the university. “I encourage Boise State to please investigate and fire [Yenor] unless you want a bunch of pissed-off alumni who do not want to donate to this university anymore,” one speaker said. “If he’s not fired by the spring commencement, I’m not walking.”

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Community member in the Quad advocated for women’s rights generally, and also called for various punishments for Yenor. Claire Keener | The Arbiter Katie Cikaitoga, a 2020 Boise State graduate with a degree in political science, echoed the students’ calls for an investigation. “I believe that certain people, now that they’re thinking about this man, probably can attribute a lot of their lower grades to progressive ideas in papers and homework,” Cikaitoga said. “This is not pre-civil rights. We have a right to be here. Everybody has a right to be here.” While the majority of comments made during the speeches were focused on the gravity of Yenor’s comments and called for his termination, many of the speakers also focused on the bigger picture of inequality and mistreatment that women face in the state of Idaho. One such speaker criticized the university’s inaction when it comes to reporting stalking, sexual abuse and other dangerous behavior on campus.

“BSU needs to commit to real viable action rather than just continuous damage control via emails,” the student said. “We deserve to feel safe on this campus.” The protest ended with a chant led by one of the students, in which the crowd echoed back the phrase, “Say it loud, say it clear. Yenor is not welcome here.” As Boise State continues to face pressure from multiple sides of the Yenor debate, the Anti-Racism Collective encourages students to speak out about their experiences and seek help if they need it. Lists of resources were provided to students following the protest. “What a lot of people don’t get is that First Amendment rights means freedom of speech, but it doesn’t mean freedom from consequences of your actions,” said first-year sociology major Morgan Cardoza, one of the speakers at the protest. “Anyone that’s pro-freedom has to be pro-‘women in STEM.’”

NEWS

BOISE HIGH SCHOOLERS DRAFT GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION

Idaho has some of the most lax gun laws in the nation, and that is not likely to change Alaina Uhlenhof f | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“I think it’s farcical to say that having all these guns everywhere has no effect on our safety,” Hampikian said. John Koenig, president of the College Republicans and a senior studying computer science at Boise State, says that, since Idaho is a constitutional carry state and Boise State is public property, the on-campus restrictions are too intense. “I think it’s quite outlandish that you’re allowed to concealed carry inside the Capitol building, but you can’t concealed carry on campus,” Koenig said. Idaho had 255 gun injury deaths in 2019, at a rate of 14.2 per capita, according to data compiled by the CDC.

Firearms are more restricted on campus than in other areas, but individuals are still allowed to carry with enhanced concealed carry permits. Claire Keener | The Arbiter

oise High students are currently drafting legislation that would change the process for minors to possess firearms in Idaho, as reported by the Idaho Statesman. Kate Stevens, a senior at Boise High, told the Statesman that high schoolers should be worried about their education when they go to school, not losing their lives. In a country with regular school shootings, most recently the Oxford High shooting that left four students dead, safety in schools is a national concern that centers the polarizing issue of gun control. State Sen. Melissa Wintrow is advising the high schoolers in their efforts, but thinks that any kind of gun law increasing limitations or requirements are not likely to pass in the state. “There’s a group of folks around that are paranoid, in my estimation, that somebody’s going to take their guns,” Wintrow said.

The students’ goal is to require minors to complete an in-person training with an approved instructor and submit an application to the sheriff’s office before they can purchase a firearm. Their aim is to reduce suicides and incidents of gun violence. While both sides of gun debates want to reduce violence, arguments generally fall in two camps. Some believe conceal-carrying your firearm in public offers protection, others argue with fewer guns there would be less escalation and violence in volatile situations. “The presence of a gun in a chaotic situation demands that someone use it,” said Greg Hampikian, a professor of biology and criminal justice at Boise State and director of the Idaho Innocence Project. Wintrow says in her time serving on the state Senate, gun laws have continued to loosen. In 2019, the Idaho Legislature expanded concealed carry, removing the requirement for a permit after 21 years of age.

“I think the legislature has gotten radically conservative towards guns, and so they basically moved us to a constitutional carry state,” Wintrow said. The term ‘constitutional carry’ essentially means that individuals with or without permits can legally concealed carry a handgun. Wintrow tried to pass a bill in 2018 that would prevent Idahoans with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions from owning guns, which would align Idaho with existing federal law, but the bill did not pass the House. Boise State allowed persons with enhanced concealed carry permits to carry guns on campus in 2014, which prompted Hampikian to write an Op-Ed in The New York Times entitled, “When May I Shoot a Student,” illustrating the morally complicated situations that might arise if guns are brought to campus by students, faculty or staff.

“I think it’s farcical to say that having all these guns everywhere has no effect on our safety.” - Greg Hampikian, biology and criminal justice professor

Where and how guns can legally be carried remains a divisive national issue. The Kyle Rittenhouse acquittal has centered debate around self-defense laws that allow the use of deadly force, some of which allow gun violence as a first-resort measure, like Idaho’s current laws. According to Wintrow, the extreme politicization of gun control has also contributed to the difficulties in passing any restrictive legislation in Idaho, with moderate Senate members potentially feeling like they can’t vote for bills that may restrict access to guns without risking their seats in the next election. “I think part of the fight is trying to find people that can walk towards you, so I try to negotiate and collaborate all the time,” Wintrow said.

DECEMBER 9, 2021

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NEWS

BOISE STATE SEES INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT DESPITE NATIONAL DECLINES

Student population rises 7.2% compared to last fall, bolstered by out-of-state influx Jaelyn Quisel | Staf f Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Officials credit innovation, Boise’s climate and growth and extracurricular opportunities for growth. Claire Keener | The Arbiter

s universities across the U.S. experience continued declines in enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Boise State has reported an increase in fall enrollment compared to last spring. According to numbers provided by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC), Idaho is one of seven states in the country to have seen an increase in university enrollment within the past year, with an overall growth of 0.4% enrollment state-wide. Boise State’s fall census reports a total of 25,829 students enrolling in the fall term, which shows a 7.2% increase from last fall. Enrollment is up 7.9% from last year for undergraduate students and 2.5% for graduate students. Boise State also saw a 2.2% bump in enrollment for online degree programs. Boise State’s Director of Admissions Kelly Talbert attributed some of Boise State’s growth to out-of-state students. “Many students have been coming from the West Coast for many years now. I think we’ve increased our non-resident population [by] 27% in the last five years,” Talbert said. Idaho Ed News reported this past month that out-of-state students make up the majority of first-year undergraduate students at Boise State. The university accepted 1,686 nonresidents as first-time

DECEMBER 9, 2021

undergraduate students this fall compared to 1,517 resident students. Additionally, out-of-state students had a higher percentage increase in enrollment among both undergraduate and graduate enrollment, surpassing nonresident enrollment from years before the pandemic. Meanwhile, resident numbers have yet to reach pre-pandemic numbers. Talbert also credited enrollment increases to the popularity of Boise as a place to live, in addition to unique programs and internship opportunities available at Boise State. “I think it really helps that we’re in a capital city and we have lots of internships and great experiences at hand,” Talbert said. With the growth of Boise, there are more factors that pull students to Boise State. The university saw a 1.2% increase in transfer students, with just under half of them being nonresidents. Aurelia Lencioni, a sophomore kinesiology major, transferred to Boise State in the fall of 2021 after having attended a university in Montana. Lencioni was attracted to Boise State’s kinesiology department, including the Kinesiology Club. “It was really important to me to find a university that really supported my major,” Lencioni said. Lencioni also felt that Boise State had better opportunities for involvement that she wasn’t able to experience at her previ-

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ous university. “I already have a leadership position for planning social events for the Honors College. I never got that opportunity at [my previous university],” Lencioni said. “I felt welcomed a little bit more at Boise State just in the social aspect.” Boise State has also managed to maintain levels of enrollment for international students, despite challenges like travel restrictions and visa issues. The director of international admissions, Brian Stelbotsky, also credited specialty programs as draws for international students. “We offer some really unique programs and particularly at the graduate level, there’s a lot of interesting research going on that draws many of those students,” Stelbotsky said. International enrollment is up 7.3%

from last year among undergraduate students, and up 13% for graduate students. International enrollment in graduate programs has been on the rise for the past five years at Boise State, with only a slight decline in 2020, and current international graduate enrollment surpassing numbers from 2019. Talbert emphasized the pandemic’s impact on college admissions, and how admissions offices are adjusting to recruiting and admitting students in the midst of a pandemic. “The pandemic has shaken quite a few things up,” Talbert said. “It’s caused us to revisit what we do and how we do it and how we serve students. We’re really trying to take these past 18 months and hold on to some of the things that seemed to be valuable.”

Graphic by Sasha White | The Arbiter

HOW THE PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM HAS MANAGED CONTACT TRACING

NEWS

The university’s contact tracing guidelines have changed over time according to CDC recommendations Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The university utilized the Public Health Office for contract tracing in lieu of overrun local health services. Claire Keener | The Arbiter

he Boise State Public Health Office is tasked with managing the university’s COVID-19 contact tracing, a service that is constantly changing to fit student needs. Contact tracing efforts by the Public Health Office began back in the summer of 2020 in anticipation for the new academic year. Back then, the City of Boise had already enacted contact tracing efforts through its local health department. However, the department was soon overrun with an overwhelming amount of work. In response to the growing need for accessible contact tracing guidance for students, Public Health launched its own contact tracing team for the university. According to Maureen Welcker, senior public health officer for Boise State Public Health, the university recognized the need to expand contact tracing beyond the local level as early as early as the summer of 2020. “Our campus community was having

questions about what to do when they did test positive or what to do if they thought they may have been exposed to COVID-19 ... We noticed that there was a need to be able to provide that resource for our campus community,” Welcker said. The university’s contact tracing team works with Central District Health to closely follow CDC guidelines, which define who and when someone should be contacted once a positive COVID test has been reported. When a Boise State student reports a positive COVID test, the Public Health Office contacts the student and guides them through specific tracing procedures. Haidyn Jones, a sophomore double majoring in media arts and business, received a call from Public Health after testing positive for COVID earlier in the 2021 fall semester. “The way that they informed me is they just called me and they told me that I tested positive, and they immediately asked for anyone I had been in contact with in the past week,” Jones said. The goal of contact tracing is to iden-

tify which individuals the student has been in close proximity to during their infectious period, which is considered to start two days prior to either the start of symptoms or a positive COVID test. However, determining who exactly is considered “exposed” to the virus can be a complicated process. In order to be contacted by Public Health, a student must have been in close proximity to a COVID-positive student during their infectious period and have also been less than 6 feet apart in distance for more than 15 minutes. “This is sort of why we exist because it really is challenging to figure out a lot of these dates and times and whatnot,” Welcker said. Fortunately, more straightforward ways of determining who to contact have been implemented by the university since the summer of 2020. To further aid in the process of contact tracing, Public Health designed a way to keep track of student seating. This approach was meant to reduce the number of people needing to self-isolate and help the contact tracing team determine who might have been exposed to COVID. “Our students, and even our employees, don’t always know the person they’re sitting next to,” Welcker said. “They don’t necessarily know that person’s last name, or how to spell their name, or any of the details that we might need in order to be able to reach out to those individuals.” Their first attempt at tracking seating in the classroom required students to log in their seat number daily for every class, which Welcker said was not very effective. “We stopped doing that because we were finding that that was a pretty big burden to students, in the sense that we were finding that students were forgetting to do it every time,” Welcker said. The solution was to set up mandatory seating in classrooms so that once seating was logged at the start of the semester,

the contact tracing team would have an accurate estimate of who each student interacted with on a regular basis. Aside from figuring out who to contact, there are also guidelines in place for who exactly is asked to quarantine or get tested for COVID. “They emailed my roommates, and the ones who were vaccinated didn’t have to go in for a COVID test, but the ones that were unvaccinated had to get tested,” Jones said. The contact tracing guidelines state that students who are fully vaccinated are not required to test nor quarantine even if exposed to COVID. “I didn’t think that people who were vaccinated wouldn’t be required to test. I thought they would make everyone test. So that was something that surprised me,” Jones said. According to Jones, part of Public Health’s efforts to contact her included checking in on her through email twice per day while in isolation housing. They also sent a daily health survey asking about temperature, symptoms and other concerns. “They were calling and emailing super frequently,” Jones said. “I definitely felt supported.” As COVID numbers decline among the Boise State community, Welcker emphasized the importance of continuing contact tracing efforts to maximize student health and safety. Planning for next year’s contact tracing efforts requires Public Health to keep a close eye on Boise State’s COVID numbers and also Ada County’s as a whole. “We’re constantly looking at numbers, constantly evaluating where things are at because you know, we want COVID to be gone just like everybody else,” Welcker said. “We are moving in a very good direction, and we will adjust our protocols as soon as we feel that we’re in a place where we can do so.”

DECEMBER 9, 2021

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OPINION December 9, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

ABORTION SHOULDN’T BE A POLITICAL ISSUE Reproductive rights have been under attack for too long Paige Wir ta | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Pro-abortion rights protestors chant outside the Supreme Court as it hears arguments on “Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,” which may overturn Roe v. Wade. Photo courtesy of Yuri Gripas, Abaca Press

t’s beyond time for women’s issues to stop being attacked and politicized to the extremes. As the Supreme Court seems to lean on the side of upholding Mississippi’s restrictive 15-week abortion ban, the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned seems increasingly probable. There has been a longstanding war against women, and it all seems to be coming to a head right now. At its core, state and national governments are trying to dictate control over people’s bodies, taking away one’s right to personal choice. Anti-abortion extremists are selfishly putting their own opinions and values over the bodily autonomy that everyone rightfully deserves. Taking that choice away is

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cruel, unjust and painfully misogynistic. The decision on whether or not to have an abortion should be left up to one person and one person only, that person being the pregnant individual. Sure, everyone else can have their opinions, including partners, family members and healthcare professionals. However, there is something terrifying about the prospect of a law forcing people into carrying out a pregnancy and taking away any kind of choice in the matter. To put it in terms that may appeal more to these extremists, consider the COVID-19 vaccine or any other inoculation. There are many reasons why someone may or may not receive

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the COVID vaccine, and the decision ultimately comes down to the individual considering the matter for themself. However, one major distinction between abortion and vaccination is that an abortion affects only the person getting the procedure, while a vaccination — or a lack of one — will affect everyone around the individual. If someone does not get the vaccine and contracts COVID-19, they then risk endangering every person they come into contact with, especially if that person is also choosing not to wear a mask. If someone chooses to get an abortion, that has no effect on the people around them. So if people are putting up a fight against getting a vaccine, which will

put others’ lives at risk, how can they then take away the choice of getting an abortion from those who need it? What so many of these abortion bans seem to overlook is that sometimes, an abortion is in the pregnant person’s best interest, possibly for a multitude of reasons. According to a 2013 study, people terminate their pregnancies for financial reasons, partner-related issues, timing and health. In some instances, the birth of a child may be detrimental to their health, or even the child’s health. Perhaps they don’t have the capabilities to care for themself during pregnancy or for the child after birth; maybe the person who impregnated them is abusive, a rapist or someone who is related to them. Or maybe they just do not want to have a child. Any and all of these reasons, and reasons unlisted, are valid reasons to terminate a pregnancy. A pregnant individual must put their own health and wellbeing before everything else. If they cannot or do not want a child, then there should be nothing stopping them from having an abortion, especially not a law banning it from happening and criminalizing it entirely.

“What so many of these abortion bans seem to overlook is that sometimes, an abortion is in the pregnant person’s best interest.”

OPINION

BOISE STATE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING MORE ABOUT SCOTT YENOR

An email praising women is not enough of a response to Yenor’s misogynistic claims Paige Wir ta & Alaina Uhlenhof f | Opinion Editor & News Repor ter | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

eing a student on Boise State’s campus is not without the few yet shockingly large controversies that arise. A lot of the time, it’s an external figure like Keith Darrell or Big City Coffee that spurs monumental headlines. However, this week we’ve seen one of Boise State’s own political science professors, Dr. Scott Yenor, in the spotlight for his unapologetically hurtful misogynistic comments and beliefs. Among many other claims, Yenor stated that women should be kept out of medicine, engineering and law so that they can focus on “feminine goals,” like “homemaking and having children.” For those watching this controversy unfold on their social media feeds, there should be a few clear takeaways. When women express discomfort or concern that they are being treated differently in the workplace, listen. Boise State’s response to Yenor’s blatant misogyny has been to issue statements in support of free speech, academic freedom and also support for women on their campus. Lots of words, but not a single one actually addresses Yenor or the concerns that onlookers may be experiencing. No hint of any action to review Yenor’s behavior, nor any rebuttals of his statements in a consensus from university administrators. The lackadaisical response from Boise State is, however, unsurprising. The Idaho Legislature has continued to put pressure on Boise State, threatening to defund the university if free speech isn’t protected on campus. After the arrest of traveling preacher Keith Darrell, Boise State reacted similarly, releasing a statement in support of free speech. So yes, the response is unsurprising and perhaps the safest decision for the university—however, that doesn’t make it less hurtful to the women on campus. The lack of a response is a response on it’s own, a loud one at that.

Boise State has work to do. The university must launch a full investigation into Yenor’s grading, interactions with women students and his choices when evaluating peers for tenure. In spring of 2021, an undocumented complaint from a single student brought all University Foundations (UF) 200 courses to a halt for an outside law firm to investigate. But less than a year later, a tenured professor says women shouldn’t be in academia or the workforce, and Boise State is suddenly the righteous defender of free speech. Is this response politicized? Almost undoubtedly. Apparently, Boise State fears the conservative lawmakers who keep taking away their funding more than they fear the backlash of associating with Yenor and his remarks. Only time will tell if their risk assessment was well thought out. There is no telling how many students or faculty members have felt belittled or condescended by Yenor. Worse, there is no telling how much bias has informed his evaluation of students and peers, because how can it not? Not only that, but Dr. Julie VanDusky-Allen, an assistant professor of political science, asked “How I am supposed to go back to work knowing that someone who is directly responsible for evaluating my tenure profile thinks women shouldn’t be working and thinks working women are meddlesome and quarrelsome?” Even if Yenor somehow manages to keep his incredibly misogynistic bias out of the workplace (which, frankly, seems impossible), his comments are a clear violation of Boise State’s Standard of Conduct in regards to workplace conduct. “Each employee is expected to do [their] utmost to promote a respectful workplace culture that is free from harassment, intimidation, bias or discrimination of any kind,” the standard reads. How can Yenor abide by this conduct when he has openly expressed his extreme

Community members gathered in two separate events on Saturday, Dec. 4, to protest against Yenor’s speech. Claire Keener | The Arbiter bias against women in the workplace? Even if it doesn’t arise in workplace conversations, and though his comments weren’t expressed in the workplace, there is no way that this bias is just set to the side. Yenor’s comments are also a clear violation of Title IX, which protects women and minority groups from discrimination in education, including harassment and bullying. Yenor called women “medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome”; is that not something only a bully would say? A bully who has a clear discriminatory belief against women in education? These kinds of ignorant beliefs are not ones that can be overlooked whenever Yenor feels like it. Yenor believes women have no place in academia; as a professor in academia, he is actively rooting against a large

number of his colleagues and students. If Boise State is not going to stand up for women and make a show of support, then they need to prepare for the consequences. We are already seeing the negative effects of the legislature’s threats, and being forced to remain silent on this matter has the potential to create a dangerous environment on campus for women. Yenor knew what he was doing when he made these claims openly. He knows Boise State can’t directly speak out against him. But there is still one problem. When a man steps forward and claims women have no place in this world, that is not free speech—that is hate speech. That is discriminatory speech against women. Boise State, investigate Yenor. Support women.

DECEMBER 9, 2021

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Campus, contracts and committees: How the new BPD contract came to be

Fenix Dietz | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphics by Sasha White | The Arbiter

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n addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 also sparked an immense wave of social justice movements and discussions about policing all over the world, prompted by the death of George Floyd and other Black lives lost at the hands of law enforcement. On a more local level, Boise State’s campus safety contract with the Boise Police Department (BPD) was on its last year. With the national political climate and community demands for student representation and police accountability, Boise State president Dr. Marlene Tromp established a committee to re-evaluate the university’s contract with BPD and explore other options for campus security. A year later, the decision to sign a new contract with BPD was announced. Some students within the student government, the Associated Students of Boise State (ASBSU) and the Inclusive

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to evaluate its future relationship with BPD. Tromp then formed a second committee that would look at other future options for campus safety, known as the Law Enforcement Services Advisory Committee (LESAC). The search for public safety options LESAC was broken down into three subcommittees: research, campus engagement and survey. According to the final report published by LESAC, the research subcommittee reviewed “campus information, demographics and public safety profiles for all Mountain West Conference Schools in addition to select institutions including peer institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).” They also conducted surveys

Excellence Student Council (IESC), have both expressed a sense of disappointment in the lack of student involvement in this decision. Upon the announcement of the new contract, IESC vice president Grace Burgert initially told The Arbiter that the news was “extremely disappointing and upsetting.” Reevaluating campus safety According to former ASBSU president Angel Cantu, who was on the committee during the summer of 2020, the committee was made specifically to “focus on evaluating our relationship with BPD.” “[Tromp] and her team hand-selected certain people that she thought would make the most sense to have on the committee, like the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other individuals that are related to that side of the university operations,” Cantu said.

with university stakeholders and evaluated research papers from the Police Executive Research Forum. According to the report, most internal university stakeholders and partners “emphasized the importance of information sharing with law enforcement, which has aided the university in Title IX cases, threat assessments, event preparation and security, traffic control, Clery and CARE Team response.” The time and energy put into building a relationship between the university and BPD was also emphasized within these findings. The campus engagement subcommittee addressed “the concerns and hopes of the Boise State community.” The subcommittee achieved this by holding town halls and listening sessions over Zoom with the campus community to discuss campus safety, along with current events. Surveys were also sent to ASBSU, As-

Cantu went on to explain that since he was one of the only student representatives available for that summer after his election, he was the primary student who served on the committee to represent the student body. In September 2020, the committee recommended that the university continue the final year of its contract with BPD. This decision was made due to a consensus that certain issues might occur pertaining to support services that Boise police provide to university staff. This included “responding to calls on campus 24/7, [manning] the emergency blue light stations, dispatch[ing] campus security and building maintenance teams.” After this first committee’s recommendation, which was ultimately accepted by the university administration, the university had more time

sociation of Classified Employees (ACE), Professional Staff Association (PSA) and Faculty Senate. The information gathered from this subcommittee was largely mixed, with some feeling that more accountability was needed from the police and others saying that they felt safe with police present. The final subcommittee, survey, worked to extract specific data from the Boise State population. The subcommittee sent a survey to a random sample of 3,358 members of the Boise State population in October 2020. The final report states that “the goal of the survey was to gauge the perceptions of the campus community regarding Boise State DPS personnel as well as Boise State-assigned BPD officers. Survey questions also gauged perceptions of campus safety and willingness to contact DPS.”

In terms of respondent demographics, the report points out that a “great majority of respondents were white (78% students; 86% faculty; 80% staff)”, reflecting demographics as a whole at the university. Most respondents indicated that they grew up in rural or urban areas, and almost half said that “they consider the area they grew up in as ‘diverse,’ where people represent multiple races, cultures, genders, social classes and religions.” A majority of respondents “reported feeling a sense of safety on the Boise State campus” and that Campus Safety Officers and BPD Officers had met expectations in regards to campus safety. Some respondents also reported that they mainly felt unsafe in certain campus locations at night. This trend is also seen when looking at respondents who identified as Black, Hispanic and two-races or ethnicities. Using this data and information, LESAC ultimately provided several recommendations. This included the

creation of a Campus Safety Advisory Committee (CSAC) to be composed of students, faculty, staff members and at least one designee from BPD, all appointed by the president of the university. The exact role of CSAC would be to “address quality of life and public safety issues on campus.” Specifically, this includes “identifying training initiatives for campus security officers and contracted law enforcement, recommending proactive practices and communications and ensuring transparency and/or involvement in the selection of contracted law enforcement officers assigned to campus.” Two contract recommendations were given to President Tromp’s office: to establish a new contract with BPD or to have several law enforcement agencies competitively bid for a contract with the university, with an emphasis towards the first option, due to the amount of time, money and effort required to integrate a new agency into the university. The new contract

However, a difference between this contract and the previous was a budget increase to $2 million, with an incremental increase each year of the contract, ultimately ending in a $2.2 million budget by 2026. The previous contract had a budget of $1.4 million. According to Boise State Director of Media Relations Mike Sharp, this budget increase was based on a cost analysis made by the City of Boise and BPD, which they found to be insufficient in covering the resources needed to properly serve the university. Shortly after the email sent by Dr. Tromp, some concerns were raised regarding the notion that student representation on LESAC seemed to be lacking in its final months. “ASBSU and [IESC] both had representatives on the committees evaluating options for the university,” Sharp said in an email. “Four students occupied these

After months of negotiations, the university and BPD signed a new contract in October 2021. This contract is not too dissimilar from previous iterations of the contract. It will last for five years and two months. It establishes six-officer positions and a rotating four-year lieutenant position. CSAC will also be formed, with the lieutenant serving on the committee as the representative for BPD. Officers will also be subject to the typical university training, such as Title IX and the Clery Act.

“... a diff tween t erence be and the his contract a b u d g e p r ev i o u s w a s million, t increase to $ increasewith an increm 2 contract each year of ental th ,u in a $2.2ltimately endine by 2026 million budgeg contrac.t The previoust ha d a b u o f $1 . 4 m illion.” dget

positions as follows: Angel Cantu (ASBSU Sept. - Nov. 2020), Em McNay (IESC Sept. - Oct. 2020), Cambree Kanala (ASBSU Nov. 2020 - end), and Jaxon Pryor (IESC Assembly Representative Nov. 2020 - end).” Angel Cantu stopped serving on LESAC after his impeachment in fall 2020, with Cambree Kanala replacing him as the interim president of ASBSU. Despite this, LESAC documents indicate that the committee would have submitted its report by Feb. 2021. One current IESC officer explained that IESC had felt an overall sense of frustration and disappointment with the university’s decision. “It’s one of the things that seems to keep happening with Boise State, especially with administration and higher-ups, is they tend to make decisions, and not a lot of us [students] know

about those decisions. We didn’t know anything about it until it had been finalized, and the papers were signed.” With the newest contract being approved by both the university, BPD, the City of Boise and the Idaho State Board of Education, BPD presence on campus will remain for at least another five years. However, this does not mean that the discourse surrounding police will come to an end.

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December 9, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

A SEMESTER THROUGH THE SCREEN, DISRUPTED

Professors reflect on how this semester has differed from others and the reliance on hybrid spaces

Amanda Niess | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

his semester has been anything but ordinary for both returning and incoming students at Boise State. It has also been a significant adjustment for professors and faculty alike who made the transition back into the classroom, if they chose to do so. Professors welcomed back their students both in person and online via Zoom this fall 2021 semester, which contributed to a large shift in the learning environments. American Sign Language (ASL) adjunct instructor Kristi Dorris expressed many positive feelings towards being able to teach in person again. As a member of the Deaf community, Dorris faced many challenges teaching over Zoom when the university moved to an online learning environment last year. Now, Dorris, along with many other professors, have been given the opportunity to teach in person once again. “I do prefer teaching face-to-face because I feel connected with the students versus teaching an online class because American Sign Language is a visual language,” Dorris said. “It’s just better to be visual and face-to-face with the students because it’s a lot of body language and facial expressions.” According to Dorris, during the fall 2020 semester, students had felt more comfortable in a Zoom learning environment because of the freedom they were permitted when attending class, but that wasn’t always beneficial for professors. Since then, she’s seen a change in attitude among students. “There was a major difference and Zoom was really hard for the students,” Dorris said. “It was really hard because in American Sign Language you don’t use your voice so there’s no sound. It’s really demanding

DECEMBER 9, 2021

for them to focus because you’re on Zoom, compared to in person where you can interact and you can move around.” With a course that teaches American Sign Language, there are many factors that contribute to running a successful class. For Dorris and her students, the introduction of clear masks completely changed the dynamics of the in-person classes this semester. “One challenge with the fall of 2020 was that there were no clear masks so it was very difficult to try and learn a visual language with a [cloth] mask,” Dorris said. “With the spring semester, they provided a clear mask and that was very helpful.” Assistant professor of drawing and painting, Astri Snodgrass, teaches visual As the semester draws to a close, professors weigh their decisions to teach virtualart in person at Boise State and has ly, hybrid or in person. Claire Keener | The Arbiter expressed the benefits of returning to a “Even though we’re all in person in the cation, her situation differed in compariface-to-face classroom. studio, students are submitting images of son to Dorris’ and Snodgrass’ courses. She However, before the return to in-pertheir finished work,’’ Snodgrass said. “So chose to teach her class using Zoom. son classes, the online environment this in a normal semester, we would have all “I conducted the course synchronously, past year challenged Snodgrass and her their work up on the wall and then we so I was still able to see my students each students greatly. would move through the room and talk week,” Rosetto wrote in an email. “I also as“It was extremely difficult because you about piece by piece, student by student’s signed students to small groups, with whom just had to reimagine entirely how you work. Then we’ll look up at the screen they met throughout the semester so that teach,” Snodgrass said. “I wasn’t able to while everyone’s at their respective spaces they would have the opportunity to meet be in the studio with the students and throughout the classroom.” each other and engage in more discussion.” see things such as how they set up their For both Dorris and Snodgrass, their Zoom seemed to be the easier option palette or how they’re applying paint to students who partake in these visufor Rosetto and her students this semesthe surface of the canvas.” al learning styles seem to thrive in an ter. Canvas worked for her students and For Snodgrass, teaching over Zoom in-person environment rather than being kept the class organized. often meant talking about art or theories confined to a screen. The last time she taught this specific generally rather than practicing them. “It depends on the student and their interpersonal communication class, it was Similar to what Dorris explained about learning ability, their learning styles and in person, but Rosetto has taught courses learning a visual language, Snodgrass’ if there are good online classes or not,” on Zoom in the past. courses exhibit a similar visual aspect but Dorris said. “So it varies from individuals “For me, teaching online makes it more in an art form. Being in person again, and I’ve seen some be successful at online difficult to get to know students individSnodgrass has found ways to showcase her classes and for some, you know, it’s just ually (especially with videos turned off),” student’s work for grades while simultanenot their thing.” Rosetto wrote. “It can also be more difficult ously including a majority of the students For associate professor Dr. Kelly Roset- for students to make friends, which is imto critique and leave feedback on each to, who teaches interpersonal communiportant to creating a sense of belonging.” other’s submissions.

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A VEGAN’S GUIDE TO BOISE

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ENJOY DINNER OUT, CRAFTED AT HOME

Vegan restaurant and grocery options in Boise

Liven up winter with recipes from around the world

Ollie Branson | Staf f Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Patrick R. Kaufmann | Staf f Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

oise is home to a growing number of restaurants and stores that adhere to the vegan lifestyle. Ranging from cafes to barbecue, Boise has it all. High Note Cafe is a locally owned and operated vegan restaurant that focuses on providing 100% fresh, never frozen plant-based meals. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with weekend brunch specials from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and $1.50 Taco Tuesdays! If you’re looking for a healthier lunch spot where non-vegan friends can find something they like too, Wild Root Cafe is the place. Offering avocado toast, breakfast scrambles and great lunch options that can be made vegan anytime, this quaint restaurant is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Boise. Head downtown to Even Stevens Sandwiches for a hearty breakfast burrito or their “Hummazing Vegan” veggie sandwich, or try the Funky Taco for some cauliflower tacos with house-made “bomb sauce,” vegan nachos and more.

Ollie Branson | The Arbiter

Other great lunch spots include BBQ4Life located on South Vista, which provides vegan barbecue options at great prices, or head to the North End to 208 Pho and Vegan for some hot pho to keep warm on those cold winter days.

“As Boise continues to grow, more and more vegan options for both shopping and restaurants are becoming available.” If you’re looking for some late-night grub, Pie Hole Pizza always has one vegan pizza option available and is open until 2 a.m. with two locations, one across from campus on Broadway and one downtown on 8th Street. Many other restaurants around town offer great vegan and vegetarian options like The Wylder, Fork and Barbacoa. If you’re looking for vegan and plantbased groceries, the Boise Co-Op and Roots Zero Waste Market are two great local options. Roots Zero Waste Market is Boise’s first ever 100% zero-waste store with great prices for the average college student, offering locally grown and ethically sourced fresh produce, groceries, all natural vegan products and a vegan cafe with decadent vegan treats, salads and sandwiches. Bring in your own containers, fill them with whatever product you need, then weigh, label and checkout. The Boise Co-Op is located in the center of North End Boise, while a little on the pricey side, their fresh deli is a great place to pick up a veggie burrito and a few of those specialty vegan groceries. As Boise continues to grow, more and more vegan options for both shopping and restaurants are becoming available.

t can be difficult to raise spirits during an Idaho winter, but a little creativity and a sense of adventure in the kitchen can brighten any evening. Preparing a meal that could be served over tables on the other side of the world can be one way to counter seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Research conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit medical research center, suggests that some meals can help neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine to aid memory retention and improve your mood. On cold days with limited sunlight, getting these boosts anyway you can is helpful. Moroccan chicken is a fun and keto-friendly recipe that alludes to far-away lands and new flavors for many Idahoans. Several versions of this dish are available on the internet. I use a recipe from Divalicious Recipes that starts with a few chicken breasts, some minced onion, olives and artichoke hearts along with spices that will lend a delicious cinnamon and citrus aroma to your stovetop. The most difficult bit for me was learning how to zest a lemon, but after that, it’s just a matter of timing. Be quick with the spices and leave lots of time for the ingredients to simmer, and you’ll present a dish that might have your company licking their plates. When the nights grow truly cold it can be a great opportunity to raise the heat. Doro Wat, an Ethiopian chicken stew, is a recipe with lots of room for adaptability to taste buds that might not be ready for the spoonful of berbere spice in each bite. Again, there are a variety of recipes to browse through, and I’ve found success with a few alterations to the directions at All Recipes. The trick with this dish is to adjust the amount of berbere to find the desired level of heat, and then countering that with the inclusion of palette-cooling hard-boiled eggs. Finding berbere on local

store shelves can be difficult, but stores like World Market or online vendors are generally a good source. For a quick gluten-free dish, one-skillet Thai chicken coconut curry is a colorful jumble of flavors that is low in carbohydrate and calories, but tastes like comfort food. Several recipes are available, and over the years I’ve begun mixing and matching to see which suits me best. I would recommend chilling the coconut milk for an hour before cooking, to separate the cream from the oil, and don’t stifle your creativity when choosing vegetables. A side serving of rice makes a fine bottom layer for the sauce to seep into for added texture. Dessert can be a crucial ingredient for a fun meal. One holiday favorite is homemade Tiramisù cake. It’s not so sweet that younger guests will be clamoring for a bite, and not nearly as complicated as you might suspect. Grocery shortages gave me an opportunity to learn how easy it is to make ladyfingers, even though my first batch of the sponge-like cookies might come out somewhat misshapen. I’ll drizzle cold coffee over each cookie to get that espresso flavor before layering them between sweetened egg-yolks, mascarpone and whipped cream topped with cocoa powder. Walking into your kitchen might seem daunting after a long day out in the chill, but pushing through seasonal malaise and putting together a fun meal can contribute to a sense of accomplishment, a fun group activity or a great first impression from new visitors. In particular, working with fresh ingredients and trying a new recipe can especially boost your health and mood. Instead of pulling up Grubhub or Doordash on your phone, consider giving the cooks and the delivery drivers a break and offer something that no food service can provide: your own taste of the world on a plate.

DECEMBER 9, 2021

| ARBITERONLINE.COM

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NEW ANTI-RACISM COLLECTIVE WORKS TO CREATE DISCUSSION AND ACTIVISM

Rep. Chris Mathias shares insight from inside Idaho’s legislature Alaina Uhlenhoff | News Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

he Anti-Racism Collective at Boise State was created in August of 2021 with the goal of making space for difficult conversations, sharing resources and supporting anti-racism education and activism in the Treasure Valley. Housed in the Boise State Department of Sociology, the collective is run by Director of Ethnic Studies Dr. Dora Ramirez with the assistance of intern Tessa Valero.

“I think it’s going to become increasingly important for college students to put themselves in intellectually challenging and uncomfortable conversations.”

- Rep. Chris Mathias (D), District 19 in Boise House Seat B

Since opening, they have hosted a series of online webinars with the theme “Activism and Anti-Racism” to educate the community and provide a platform for local activists to share their experiences. “I hope that we really can begin to explore how we, the antiracists in Idaho, or those that are aspiring anti-racists, can advance our political discourse to be productive and result in a more just community,” said Rep. Chris Mathias (D) from District 19, in his presentation with the Anti-Racism Collective during their Oct. 27 webinar. Mathias is Idaho’s only current Black legislator, and is the former chief academic officer for the Idaho State Board of Education. He shared about an anti-racist approach to legislation in Idaho. “When I offer criticism I’m doing so to provide constructive feedback, not to tear down and suggest displeasure,” Mathias said. “Please know that whatever I’m say-

DECEMBER 9, 2021

ing is with love for you all, for this town, city, state and nation.” Mathias analyzed House Bill 377, a controversial Idaho education bill aimed at keeping Critical Race Theory (CRT) out of schools, from an anti-racist perspective. “I think it’s going to become increasingly important for college students to put themselves in intellectually challenging and uncomfortable conversations, so they can figure out how to keep people who have different political ideas from drifting further to the wings where violence is most inclined and antisocial behavior is ripest,” Mathias said. Dr. Ramirez’s goal with the collective is to highlight work being done locally, and to focus on researched-based activism rather than politicized opinions. The collective hosted Melanie Fillmore on Wednesday, Nov. 17, through the “Activism and Anti-Racism” series, in which she discussed her research on missing and murdered indigenous persons. “Because [November was] Indigenous Awareness month, we want to make sure that we speak to that [issue],” Ramirez said. The collective also assisted A.R.C. with their winter gear drive in early December, supplying gently used winter clothing to Boise Mutual Aid. “We have some workshops we’re trying to plan that will help students take some of the learning and engagement that we’ve had over this fall and mobilize that into some direct action,” Valero said. Students, faculty and the community have shown support by offering money, time, speaking opportunities and partnerships, according to Dr. Ramirez. Ramirez recommended following the collective on Instagram to get involved and stay up to date on speakers and events. Past Zoom events are linked on Instagram to view at any time. “I really think that people are eager and wanting to have these conversations,” Ramirez said. “It’s really exciting work to do.”

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Rep. Chris Mathias is currently the only Black legislator in the state. Screenshot from Idaho House Education Budget meeting, May 3, 2021

Dr. Dora Ramirez, director of the Ethnic Studies program, began the Anti-Racism Collective in the Sociology Department. Claire Keener | The Arbiter

THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CLUB Take a peek into a community club’s revival Beck y Wilson | Staf f Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

oise State’s American Sign Language (ASL) Club was started by a group of students about three years ago according to the club’s president, Jahaira Faber. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the club’s activity remained stagnant and eventually went inactive without a host. Faber, a sociology major, has played a key role in getting the club up and running again with the help of ASL Section Head Davina Snow, and Vice President and psychology major Megan Haith. “[ASL Club] is open for deaf community members as well as students with varying skill levels in their ASL or American Sign Language,” Faber said. Haith, who is also minoring in sign language, expresses her gratitude for the sense of community that ASL has brought her. “You get to connect with people that you never thought you would talk to before,” Haith said. “You have this one thing in common and it’s the same time, same place every week and it’s a lot of

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THE ARBITER PICKS HOLIDAY TUNES

Mix classics with new renditions this holiday season

Julianne Gee | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

fun. I look forward to it every week.” The ASL Club has hosted many events for those who want to take part in this community. Through the last couple of years, officers — both old and new — have been working to build the club back to what it once was. Every Wednesday, they have “silent lunches” in the Student Union Building (SUB), which allows people to get together for conversation. Other activities include deaf movie nights and game nights. Since the Deaf community in Boise is small, Haith and Faber feel that having spaces like the ASL Club helps to provide a family. The club has a Facebook page that they use to reach out to other clubs in the Boise area. One of their goals for the club is to make it a place for people to come together and communicate while spreading awareness about the Deaf community. “Even if you’re just learning [ASL], you’re welcome to join,” Faber said. “We have a grander vision of having a very diverse and very inclusive background.”

The ASL Club meets for “silent lunches” weekly and hosts many other activities including movie and game nights. Photo courtesy of Jahaira Faber DECEMBER 9, 2021

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SPORTS & REC December 9, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL COMES TO AN END WITH A LOSS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT After winning the Mountain West for the first time in program history, BSU fell to BYU in the first round of nationals Lexi Almeido | Sports & Rec Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

For just the second time in program history, the Broncos made it to the NCAA tournament, and ended the season with a 24-11 record. Corissa Campbell | The Arbiter

he Boise State women’s volleyball season has officially come to an end with a loss in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Broncos rallied their way through the Mountain West (MW) Conference tournament as the No. 6 seed to win the championship title. After a 21-10 overall and 10-8 conference record, this was the lowest seed in MW history to win the championship, and the first conference championship in program history. The MW Champions received a bid to the NCAA tournament, where they faced fifth-ranked Brigham Young University (BYU). After a 3-0 loss to the Cougars, the Broncos returned home to Boise, wrapping up the 2021 season.

hitting at a conference tournament school record of .833 percent, with 10 kills, no errors on 12 attacks, five block assists and finishing with 12.5 points. Freshman middle blocker Paige Bartsch — the 2021 MW Freshman of the year — trailed behind O’Harra with a hitting percentage of .368 for nine kills, three service aces, three digs and seven block assists to finish with a team best of 15.5 points. Senior setter Danielle Boss — a 2021 All-MW Member — recorded her 14th double-double of the season with a team high of 31 assists and 10 digs. Junior libero Allison Casillas matched Boss’ dig total to tie for the team high on defense. With this win, the Broncos headed to the semi-finals to take on the Aggies.

Game One: San Jose State Boise State opened the MW conference tournament against San Jose State on Nov. 24. The Broncos lost to the Spartans twice in the regular season, but during this matchup, Boise State swept all three sets to advance to the semi-finals against Utah State. Graduate student middle blocker Alli O’Harra led the charge for the Broncos

Game Two: Utah State Boise State rallied from a set down to beat Utah State in four sets and earn a spot in the championship. The Broncos picked up the match with a balanced offensive attack with five players recording seven or more kills. Down one set, the Broncos dominated the next two, beating Utah State by eight

DECEMBER 9, 2021

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points in the second set and 15 in the third. Junior outside hitter Lauren Ohlinger — a 2021 All-MW Honoree — led the Broncos with a team high of 20.5 points. She recorded a double-double of 18 kills, 10 digs, two solo blocks and one block assist all while hitting at .302 percent. Bartsch followed with 16.5 points on 11 kills, three service aces, two solo blocks and one block assist. Finishing out on offense was freshman outside hitter Jordan Miller with nine kills and hitting at .381 percent, redshirt junior middle blocker Alyssa Wissinger with seven kills and three blocks and O’Harra adding seven kills and four blocks. Boss recorded her second double-double of the tournament with 44 assists and 15 digs. She also tallied three kills, one service ace and a team best of five blocks, one solo. Casillas tied Boss for the team high on digs. Next, Boise State took on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) for the championship title on Friday, Nov. 26. Game Three: UNLV Boise State clinched their way to the NCAA tournament with a four-set victory over the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After losing the first set, the Broncos fought their way back to win the second, third and fourth sets. This championship is also the first conference tournament title in program history. The victory improved the Broncos to 24-10 overall, tied for the third-most all-time. Four Broncos earned MW All-Tournament Team honors. These athletes included Boss, Casillas, Bartsch and Ohlinger, who was also named the championship MVP. Bartsch led the Broncos with a team high of 17 points and 14 kills, both of which were career highs. She also had one service ace, one solo block and two block assists.

O’Harra followed with 15.5 points on 11 kills, team-high three service aces and three block assists. After Boise State lost the first set, the Broncos regrouped heading into the second. The third set was a battle with 17 ties and 10 lead changes. With the score tied at 22, the Broncos finished the set off with a 3-1 run over the Rebels. Boise State took full charge in the fourth set, securing their win over the reigning Mountain West Champions of UNLV. “I am just excited how our team played all week here in Las Vegas,” said head coach Shawn Garus. “After we dropped the opening set there was no panic, no stress, just leadership from our side. I’m so proud. So proud of the upperclassmen for building the confidence in this group.” NCAA Tournament: BYU Boise State women’s volleyball fell 3-0 to BYU in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, Dec. 3. BYU was ranked fifth during the regular season and went 28-1 overall. Their only loss was against No. 3 ranked Pittsburgh. This was the Broncos’ second appearance in the NCAA tournament, and their lack of experience showed against the Cougars, falling 25-6, 25-19 and 25-10 in three sets. BYU outhit Boise State .388 percent to -.012 percent. The Cougars came out aggressive in the first set, and after holding the Broncos to only six points, they never looked back. Wissinger led Boise State with five kills and one block assist. Behind her trailed O’Harra with four kills and a solo block. Miller and Bartsch each had three kills. The Broncos’ season comes to an end with an unfortunate loss, but they remain Mountain West Conference champions, making history within the program.

SPORTS & REC

STAFF PREPS FOR GRAND CANYON TRIP INTRODUCING BRONCOS UNITED

The Outdoor Program’s next backpacking trip

Boise State Athletic’s newest internal initiative

Ceirra Williams | Staf f Writer | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Adam Bridges | Spor ts & Rec Repor ter | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

n Dec. 30, a group of Boise State students will pack their bags for a five-day, four-night trip to the Grand Canyon. According to Grace Beltramo, trip leader and staff member at the Rec Center, the price of the trip was $395. This includes transportation, food, gear, backpacks, sleeping bags and water filtration systems. Reservations for this trip have already been filled, so students looking to join future trips need to do so in advance. Jordan Frank, coordinator of the outdoor program, mentioned that students are also paying for instruction from trip leaders. “This trip in particular will have three trip leaders on that side: knowledge base, risk management .. and wilderness medicine,” Frank said. All trip leaders are also trained in first aid. On this trip students will be driving down as a group from Boise, giving them time to form connections with one another. According to Frank, the group will stop in Moab, Utah, for a day trip where they will explore Arches National Park. The day trip will help students prepare and familiarize themselves on what the rest of the trip will look like as they head to the Grand Canyon. This trip is all about honing in on the group experience. “We’re all working together, we’re not

really a guide service. We like to educate, and we like to instruct,” Frank said. “We are teaching people how to cook food, filter water and make decisions of the day. It’s just a part of the group process.” Senior computer science major Carson Thompson has signed up for every trip this semester that the Rec has put together. “I really enjoy being out in the world and seeing beautiful places, being in them and participat[ing] in moving through them with other people,” Thompson said. “It’s a really nice experience to have some discomfort and physically exert yourself.” According to Thompson, the number one thing he is looking forward to on this trip is the sense of community it will bring. “It’s really nice being out in the wilderness with other people and having to set up camp and cook together. It’s really special,” Thompson said. Although this Grand Canyon trip has no open spots, students can sign up for future trips at myrec.boisestate.edu. The next extended trip available is to the California coast. “Something we really value at the outdoor program is no experience necessary. This isn’t just for outdoorsy people already,” Frand said. “We really do want to educate and pass this information along.”

Students on the Grand Canyon trip will visit multiple national parks and spend five days backpacking in the canyon. Photo courtesy of Jordan Frank

Graphic courtesy of Boise State Athletics

oise State Athletics announced the launch of Broncos United on Friday, Dec. 3. It’s the newest set of programs and developments in the department as it takes shape under the new leadership of Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey. Broncos United is an internal initiative with the purpose of supporting Boise State’s “most important asset — our people,” according to a Boise State Athletics press release. The initiative includes various programs and branches to grow the department’s support network. “Broncos United focuses equally on student-athletes and staff, and is designed to be used as a roadmap to guide us as we evolve and grow as individuals and as a department,” Boise State Athletics said in the press release. “The interconnectedness of the circles [in our graphic] is purposeful, because just as no area stands alone, neither should any person.” The initiative addresses the following six key areas.

Mental Health and Wellness All athletes, coaches and staff members have been given suicide prevention training.

Physical Health and Wellness Boise State Athletics hired a new fulltime sports dietician in order to help maintain the health of athletes and staff.

Equality/Belonging Boise State Athletics launched a podcast series named “My Voice, My Story” to help every student-athlete, coach and staff member feel a sense of belonging.

Personal Growth and Development In order for senior student-athletes to be prepared for life after their sporting careers, Bronco Athletics created the Personal Growth and Development branch. Professional Development Professional development includes providing support for, empowering, developing and assisting student athletes as they pursue their professional career. Members of Boise State Athletics also participated in the Women Leaders in Collegiate Sports summit. Community This was put in place for student-athletes, coaches and staff to give back to their community. Boise State Athletics hosted the #BroncosGiveBack event where Bronco athletes helped rake leaves for community members.

DECEMBER 9, 2021

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SPORTS & REC

A REVIEW OF BOISE STATE LACROSSE’S FALL SEASON

Both the men’s and women’s teams posted successful seasons and begin their spring seasons in January Desmond Ordoñez | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Both the men’s and women’s lacross teams have finished their fall seasons, with spring practice set to begin mid-January.

he Boise State men’s and women’s lacrosse teams enjoyed great success this fall. Both teams were given a first look into what the future might be like going forward. The men’s team concluded their fall season in late October. It was a successful season, and the team as a whole made big leaps of improvement. The team was also able to enjoy a more relaxed fall season and were not hindered by COVID-19 like the last few seasons. The majority of the team’s players were fully vaccinated, and those who were not were required to get tested frequently. “Overall we have put forth an effort to get back to as much normalcy … as we can, and so far, we have done a great job at it,” said senior attack and team captain Andrew Walker. At the start of the season, the team hosted a “Blue and Orange” scrimmage between the upperclassman and the new players on the team. It was an exhibition-style game that displayed what the team would look like prior to the season beginning. Following these scrimmages, the players

DECEMBER 9, 2021

continued to grow closer, and they started to see how much potential this team had. “The relationships that we built with each other early on in the season made it easier for us to learn quicker and be successful throughout all of our fall matches,” Walker said. “Usually getting younger players up to speed can be challenging, but with our group it is a great atmosphere to learn in.” Quick learning shown by the new players proved to be beneficial, and it seems the men’s lacrosse program is in good hands for years to come. In mid-October, the men’s team traveled to Montana for a weekend slate of exhibition games featuring schools such as the University of Montana, Montana State and Washington State. The games were split up, with each teams’ upperclassmen playing head to head and the younger players playing each other. After a handful of scrimmages between and the exhibition games in Montana, the Boise State mens’ lacrosse team gets set to make a statement this spring. The team will resume practicing Jan. 10.

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The Boise State women’s lacrosse team has also enjoyed a successful fall season. The team had an early start, practicing and scrimmaging beginning in late July. They also took proper precautions and tried to go through their fall season with little to no setbacks from COVID-19 protocols. As a team, they have 100% of their players fully vaccinated. As a result, the team was able to travel out of state for matches again. Over the last few months, they were able to take two road trips for matchups with quality competition. Their first trip was to Montana, where they were matched up with teams such as the University of Montana, Montana State and Portland State. In this invitational, however, teams were not split up between the veteran and new players. There was a mixture of both, playing together. The team was able to go 2-1 during their trip to Montana. Weeks later, the team packed up and headed to Orem, Utah, to play in the Utah Invitational against Weber State, Air Force

Photo courtesy of Andrew Walker and Utah Valley. This particular trip was the one that the team was looking forward to for months. “We made it a point to make sure we were playing at the highest level before going to Orem because we were going up against talented teams,” said senior midfielder and team captain Peyton Brueher. There, the team was able to beat three out of the four teams at the invitational. “Our Utah invitational in early October was the biggest moment of growth for us during the year,” Brueher said. “Our morale as a team and overall connection on the field started to show, and it gave us a sigh of relief because oftentimes connecting and playing with new players takes time to adjust.” The women’s team wrapped up their season just weeks ago following a couple more scrimmages, posting a 5-3 overall record. Now, the team looks ahead to what they hope is a successful spring season. Practice will begin just before the week of Jan. 17.

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