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Treefort Music Festival takes over Boise.
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March 31, 2014 • Issue no. 51 Volume 26
Boise, Idaho
First issue free
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Bill to make revenge porn a felony Proposed Idaho bill aims to make sharing private and/or explicit photos illegal Eryn Johnson Staff writer
Jilted lovers wishing to take revenge should wait to serve that cold dish, as Idaho legislation has approved and passed a new bill that will make extorting an expartner a felony. Recently passed bill H0563 will now protect individuals from post breakup extortion by extending the laws of video voyeurism. The bill changed the terms of voyeurism to include not only sexual gratification but also any other damaging aspects such as extortion or humiliation. Video voyeurism is also known as ‘revenge porn.’ “Revenge porn is the
street name for the behavior people undertook,” said Rep. Luke Malek. “The bill revolves around revenge extortion, driven by criminal action.” Revenge porn is the sharing of private photos or videos in the attempt to gain sexual gratification or extort an individual. Previous to the bill the ‘revenge’ was difficult to prove, mainly because of the legal gray area of who owned the videos or photographs and whether or not the person knew they had been disseminated and when the photos were aired. Malek saw this as an opportunity to change Idaho for the better as more states considered the video
voyeurism act in the 2014 session. Malek brought the bill to the house early February. Its first round was dismissed but after a collaborative effort brought back for a redemption. Despite well—received support, the bill was under scrutiny for possibly violating the First Amendment, freedom of speech. “When (the couple) was together they were having a private relationship, but once you send (pictures) out it becomes that person’s property,” said Kathleen Cockerham, senior communication major. “It’s definitely not a black and white thing. I think people need to realize that when they send those out into
the world it’s not going to stay private.” Malek believes that the Idaho version steers clear of First Amendment violations. “I do think that we have a better law and steer clear of the First Amendment issues that other states addressing revenge porn have run into,” Malek said. The bill states that an individual is guilty of video voyeurism when photographing, videoing and/ or disseminating private content “with the intent of arousing, appealing to or gratifying the lust or passions or sexual desires of such person or another person, or for his own or another person’s lascivious
entertainment or satisfaction of prurient interest, or for the purpose of sexually degrading or abusing any other person.” Previous to holding an office in the legislation, Malek was a prosecutor and dealt with acts of extortion. Sponsoring the bill hit home for him. Revenge porn mainly targets women. Former lovers will take private photos and post them on pornography websites or sell them through a third party. But in some cases it goes the other way. Malek believes that anyone is at risk. “Wherever you have people where there are
cellphones, individuals are at risk,” he said. According to Malek, even sharing photos in the locker room is considered an act of video voyeurism. He stated that sharing or swapping photos “just isn’t worth it to ruin someone’s (or your own) life over.” Private is meant to be kept private. “If someone shares intimate photos with someone that are meant to be private then they need to realize they could be facing a felony if they don’t respect that privacy,” Malek added. H0563 was signed into law by Gov. Butch Otter March 19 and goes into effect July 1 of this year.
Staff Writer
There will be no need for Boise State to begin a search to replace its second major head coach this year after the university reached an agreement with head coach Leon Rice to remain at the school for the next five seasons. Sunday afternoon Rice made the decision to remove his name from the coaching search at his alma mater Washington State and stay with Boise State. Rice recently interviewed with the Cougars earlier this week to replace Ken Bone who was fired following a 10-21 record this past season. Washington State director of athletics Bill Moos was willing to pay Rice the average Pac-12 salary of $1
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million annually, a vast increase of Rice’s former contract of just over $480,000 per year. Rice’s new five year contract with Boise State will feature a $100,000 pay increase to $596,573 for the 2015 fiscal year according to a release from the Boise State Athletic Department. Rice’s salary will also increase by 3 percent over the remaining four years of the deal. Boise State will automatically extend Rice’s contract by one year every season the Broncos win 18 or more games and earn a berth in the NCAA tournament under another new revision in the contract. The new contract must still be approved by the Idaho State Board of Education before the deal becomes official.
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Boise State athletic director Mark Coyle is excited to have retained the fastest coach in Bronco history to reach the 50 win mark. “Leon Rice has done an outstanding job directing our men’s basketball program and we look forward to many more successful seasons,” Coyle said in a release from Boise State. “We feel the best years of this program are ahead of us and we are very excited Leon will be leading our men’s team.” Rice has gone 77-54 in his four—year tenure as the Broncos head coach after previously serving as an assistant at Gonzaga for 12 years. The Broncos went 21-13 this past season and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament despite high
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After interviewing for Washington State, Leon Rice elected to stay in Boise. expectations for a team that returned all five starters from the previous seasons. Despite the struggles, Rice spoke highly of the direction the program is headed through a press release. “I am really excited for the future of Bronco basketball,” Rice commented. “There has been a great
commitment to grow this program. There’s a commitment from our administration, our student-athletes
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and our fans. That’s what has me looking forward to continuing to build what we have here at Boise State.”
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Nate Lowery
Robbie Milo/Arbiter Archives
Leon Rice turns down alma mater
There has been a great commitment to grow this program. There’s a commitment from our administration, our student-athletes and our fans.
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—Leon Rice
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