The Arbiter 3.4.21 Vol. 33 Issue 7

March 4, 2021

Vol. 33 Issue 7

I N D EPEN DE NT S T UDE NT V O I CE O F B O I SE STAT E S I N C E 1 9 3 3

CREATING SPACE FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR IN STEM AND HIGHER EDUCATION NEWS

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COVID-19 safety protocols allow prospective students to continue campus tours of Boise State.

VISIT US ONLINE:

OPINION

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Supporting local Black-owned businesses helps the community and is a good way to be a Black ally. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

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The College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP) adapts to meet student needs during the pandemic. @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

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Sports fans and spectators have finally returned to ExtraMile Arena and other venues for games.

@arbiteronline

@boisestatearbiter

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Editor-In-Chief Taylor Rico-Pekerol editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Ashley Clark onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Marcos Guadarrama news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Madi Jones news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Blake Hunter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter McKenzie Heileman culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Brad Verbout sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Lexi Almeido sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Paige Wirta opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Delaney Beale copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Trisha Kangas Digital Content Manager Mackenzie Hudson digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Abbey Nimegeers Claire Keener Graphic Design Manager Sarah Schmid design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Jordan Barno Illustrator Alieha Dryden

Distributed monthly on Thursdays during the academic school year, 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.

It is week eight and time for students to start studying for midterms.

ON THE COVER:

Boise State coaches make up some of the highest-paid public employees in the state. Students' fees directly pay for some of the Boise State Athletics’ employees and programs. Cover design by Sarah Schmid and photo by Mackenzie Hudson.

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

Drew Marshall | The Arbiter

CREATIVE WRITING FEATURE PERSONAL POEM - "I KNOW WHAT I HATE"

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I know I hate spinach.

I know I hate tomatoes.

I know I hate bullies.

I know I hate racism.

I know I hateback to the spinach.

No doctor I will not

EMAIL US AT:

editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Editor-In-Chief: Taylor Rico-Pekerol don't know a lot.

I know a few things here and there.

I don't always try to know more.

I do know what I Hate.

HAVE A COMMENT OR SUBMISSION?

leave my anemic self alone.

I know, I know thank you.

I know I am no iron-woman.

I know it could happen.

I know I hate passing out.

I know, I hate spinach more.

Photo Courtesy of Mattia Ascenzo

BOISE’S PADDLING DESTINATION!

MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN ON THE GREENBELT

$5 OFF SUP & KAYAK POND RENTALS! WITH STUDENT ID  EXPIRES 06/30/2021

Check our calendar for special events

We offer private parties & classes

IDAHO RIVER SPORTS  601 N. WHITEWATER PARK BLVD. BOISE, ID 83702  WWW.IDAHORIVERSPORTS.COM  208.336.4844

NEWS

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BLUE LINE K9 DOG TRAINING INTRODUCES NEW INTERNSHIP AT BOISE STATE

Students in the Department of Criminal Justice will be able to partner with Blue Line K9 Dog Training for a summer internship Madi Jones | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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lue Line K9 Dog Training has partnered with Boise State’s Department of Criminal Justice to introduce K9 internships.

Jacob Fowler, owner and head trainer of Blue Line K9 Dog Training, introduced the internship to Boise State to help educate students about how to train K9 dogs and learn about how dogs are used in law enforcement.

“Students will get to pick my brain or pick other people’s brains about how dogs are used within the law enforcement capacity,” Fowler said. “What kind of details go into it, how they’re used, when they’re used, kind of the nuts and bolts of a K9 program. That way they can be better prepared for a career in criminal justice of some kind.”

Students will shadow Fowler the entire time through the internship, get hands-on experience and learn everything from the fundamentals of dog training to specific law enforcement dog training.

Blue Line K9 Dog Training will intern two students at a time during the internship period. Fowler is looking for students who are willing to learn, listen and apply their skills in the future.

“Obviously, we want somebody that’s interested in dogs, but I think, more importantly, we’re more interested in learning how and why to train a dog,” Fowler said.

“We’re looking for somebody who’s willing to get in front of people and offer them some advice after what I’ve taught them so they can serve as a resource.”

Fowler introduced this program to Boise State to give more opportunities to students and increase community involvement.

“It’s really more of an opportunity for community outreach than it is a business opportunity. I’m not necessarily generating

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any revenue from this. This is really just, ‘How can Blue Line K9 help the community and partner with a university such as BSU that can help bring students along?’,” Fowler said.

Jim Kerns, internship coordinator for Boise State’s Department of Criminal Justice, says he has several students interested in policing, and many of those students are interested in K9 training.

“When Blue Line reached out to us, I thought, ‘this is a magnificent opportunity for Boise State,’” Kerns said. “I’m a retired police officer myself, so I like the fact that we can get as much real-life experience for our students as possible.”

Available in the summer, the K9 internship will be a 15-week course where students will complete 150 hours of work and receive three academic credits toward upper-division criminal justice requirements, according to Kerns.

“Any of those [criminal justice] majors that decide that that’s what they want to do an internship in, it gives them a great opportunity,” Kerns said. “Especially during the time of COVID, we’ve been really limited in what has been available to us. Now, with Jacob being as proactive as he has, he has a facility, and it’s gonna work out great for us to get interns assigned to him and have them working with him and the K9s.”

Students who are interested in the K9 internship will submit applications to Kerns, who will then review all applications and send them to Blue Line K9 Dog Training, where they will select the students to participate in the program.

To be eligible for the internship, students must be pursuing a criminal justice major and have junior status. Before sending student applications to Blue Line K9,

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Jim Kerns (left), K9 Blue (center) and Jacob Fowler (right) in front of the “B”.

Photo courtesy of Marlon Orellana Kern reviews resumes and cover letters to look at leadership, problem-solving, time management and critical thinking skills to ultimately determine a student’s eligibility.

Overall, Kerns is excited about more community outreach opportunities for Boise State students in the future.

“The thing that I’m most excited about is that we now have the community reaching out to us and asking us to provide interns for them,” Kerns said. “I would

love for the community to reach out to us in any way possible because we’re always looking for opportunities to give our students the on-the-job training, so they have something to rely upon when it comes time to hit them in the job market.”

For more information about Boise State’s criminal justice internships and applications, visit Boise State’s criminal justice internships and field work website.

BOISE STATE EXTENDS INCOMING-STUDENT APPLICATION DEADLINE

NEWS

Low fall enrollment numbers lead Boise State to prolong some admission, scholarship and residential application timeframes Madi Jones | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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oise State University has announced its extension of residential applications and Boise State scholarship deadlines for incoming freshmen from Feb. 15, 2021, to May 1, 2021. These extensions are only available for Idaho residents.

Kris Collins, associate vice president for Enrollment Services, said the university decided to extend these deadlines due to unexpectedly low enrollment rates for the fall 2021 semester among in-state residents.

“Our numbers that we currently have at this time are low. We were hoping to provide students the most flexibility to kind of figure out what fall might look like with COVID and vaccinations and all of those things. Hopefully, [Boise State is] giving them enough time to decide whether or not they’re going to apply to Boise State,” Collins said.

The Idaho resident enrollment numbers are lower than usual because many Idaho high school students are not enjoying their online class experience and do not want to continue taking online classes in college, according to Collins.

“We found anecdotally, both from talking to high school counselors and high school students, that a lot of them are not enjoying their online high school experience,” Collins said. “They are having a hard time their senior year, either doing things remotely or hybrid, and they know they do not want to do that for college. A lot of them are waiting to find out what fall looks like at Boise State.”

Enrollment numbers for out-of-state students are higher compared to last year and the university has chosen to not extend deadlines for non-Idaho residents, according to Collins.

“Fortunately, our out-of-state numbers were already above where we were this time last year,” Collins said. “We didn’t feel the need to extend that deadline because we only have limited scholarships, and we didn’t want to open it up to more students and turn them down for scholarships for out-of-state.”

Boise State Admissions hopes to provide new students with “the most flexibility” to accommodate for potential COVID-19 setbacks.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

“Fortunately, our outof-state numbers were already above where we were this time last year. We didn’t need to extend that deadline because we only have limited scholarships, and we didn’t want to open it up to more students and turn them down for scholarships for out-of-state.”

Kris Collins, associate vice president for Enrollment Services

Ultimately, Boise State wants to give as many opportunities to Idaho students as possible, according to Collins.

“In Idaho, numbers are down throughout the state. We want to give Idaho students as much time as we can to hopefully get life back to normal and come to Boise State,” Collins said.

While the scholarship and resident deadlines are not extended for out-of-state students, the intent to enroll deadline has been extended for all incoming students from May 1, 2021, to June 1, 2021, according to Collins.

At this time, Boise State does not intend for the new deadlines to be permanent for future semesters. Collins notes that the university is here to help all students with enrollment questions and concerns.

“If they have questions or concerns or they have financial issues, our offices are

here to help them answer their questions and help them get to Boise State,” Collins said.

For more information about important incoming freshman deadlines, visit the Boise State Admissions website. For more information about financial aid and scholarships, visit the Boise State Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

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NEWS

CAMPUS TOURS ADHERING TO COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS SET TO CONTINUE For the fall and spring semester, the Boise State campus tours program proceeds with prospective-student tours Kennedy Barr | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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espite the coronavirus pandemic, Boise State feels they have found a safe and effective way for future students to experience what there is to offer at the university.

To continue in-person campus tours, a number of measures have been taken to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty.

Each tour is capped at a total of 10 people, with masks being required at all times. All tours are given outside to guarantee the safety of students taking in-person classes.

At check in, all tour participants must complete a symptoms screening.

The symptoms screening includes a series of questions regarding health concerns. If students are experiencing symptoms before their arrival, it is recommended to reschedule the tour.

Sydney Montgomery, an admissions counselor at Boise State, believes the university should continue in-person tours.

“It’s really important for students to get the feeling of where they could call home for the next four years. There’s a level of seeing, feeling and interacting with others that they really get the Boise State way, mentality and community that we have here,” Montgomery said.

Montogmery believes that in-person opportunities like tours can remove doubt from student’s college selection process.

“I think it’s important for students to have a genuine feel for where they could be potentially moving and calling home in their future. Visiting the school creates a level of confidence in their decision because they don’t have to wonder ‘what if ’,” Montogmery said.

In-person tours are available Monday through Friday as well as select Saturdays.

A 90-minute walking tour gives future students an opportunity to see what life is like at Boise State. Students can also set up virtual appointments to connect with admissions counselors and learn more about campus life.

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Despite the new rules and regulations, Devan Pierce, a student recruitment specialist, has found the continuation of on-campus tours to be a good environment to understand the campus life.

“A lot of the kids we talk to are really struggling because it’s their senior year and everything is online. For them, it’s like a light at the end of the tunnel to be excited about next year. Seeing that has been a rewarding experience for me,” Pierce said.

Allison Ray, a future Boise State student, spoke about her recent experience on the

in-person tour.

“The tour was lots of fun and informative because we saw all the buildings and our tour guide provided us with many details about each building. Overall, it was very safe with masks and social distancing, and my family and I felt super comfortable around campus,” Ray said.

According to Montgomery, the feedback from the visitors has been amazing and motivates the team to continue doing what they do.

“The feedback we have gotten from

campus visitors has been incredible. How thankful they are to be able to connect with a current student, ask questions and see the spaces,” Montgomery said. “Especially because there are not a lot of other competitor institutions that are offering that.

We are excited to continue to offer tours as safely and as effectively as we can so we can continue to offer this opportunity to parents, families and future Broncos.”

For more information about campus tours, visit the Boise State campus page.

Prospective students visiting Boise State have been receptive and excited about the tours, according to Devan Pierce.

Photo courtesy of Kennedy Barr

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NEWS

BOISE STATE PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS DISCUSS NEWS MEDIA CONSUMPTION

Experts say the democratic process relies on news consumption to create informed, educated and involved citizens Stephanie Gull | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Passively following along with current events can help students stay informed and avoid media burnout.

Photo courtesy of Roman Kraft

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umerous studies have shown that people who spend less time watching or reading the news can be more content and socially satisfied. However, they also become less informed about current events and political news as a result.

Rick Moore, a media arts professor, believes that while this may be the case, students still have a responsibility to remain informed.

“Students are citizens of a community, of a country and of a world,” Moore said. “And they need to start realizing the responsibilities of that. We should have some concern about what’s happening in the world, and given that, we should consume news.”

According to Moore, politicians, media theorists and political scientists have said for decades that being informed is an essential feature of being a citizen in a democracy.

It’s difficult to do so, at least in a national or

international environment, without consuming the news.

However, Moore understands that sometimes those who are deeply engaged in the news get depressed or burnt out for many reasons, whether it be the condition of the world, the condition of politics or the human condition in general.

“When you read the news, you realize how crazy the world is sometimes,” Moore said. “So you need to find things to balance your news consumption to give you some other sense of hope or optimism, or some sense of peace in a world that sometimes is kind of crazy.”

According to Steve Utych, an assistant professor of political science, the good news is if you want to be informed, it just takes a little bit of effort.

“There’s a lot of research that says passively paying attention to the news still informs quite a bit,” Utych said. “I think on social

“When you read the news, you realize how crazy the world is sometimes. So, you need to find things to balance your news consumption to give you some other sense of hope or optimism, or some sense of peace in a world that sometimes is kind of crazy.”

Rick Mooore, media arts professor

media, one benefit is you don’t need to be interested in the news. If you have friends or contacts on social media who are interested and talk about issues, that passive interest will make you considerably more informed than someone who doesn’t engage. It doesn’t make you as informed as someone who’s actively seeking out the news a lot, but it keeps you informed by kind of getting news by accident.”

However, Utych said that one thing to be aware of on social media is the potential for sensational headlines and bias. Utych’s main advice for combatting this is to actually click on the articles and read them.

“I don’t want to tell people getting information on social media is bad because the format is not inherently bad,” Utych said.

“The problem is that it can enable a lot of bad actors, and people are less likely to vet the information they receive, which then informs them in the wrong way.”

According to Utych, he believes that if students want to be good consumers of the news, they can. They just need to be careful, cognizant and aware of super sensational stories and their sources.

Tuan Nguyen, a senior business and economic analytics student, consumes news daily because it is how he learns about what’s going on in the world.

“Consuming news helps me learn about the world, and I love exploring what’s going on in the world,” Nguyen said. “Also, news consumption is how I keep myself updated and stay tuned for interesting topics.”

According to Nguyen, he sees the news as a useful tool to bring people closer to each other.

“As an international student, I learn and receive news from all around the world,” Nguyen said. “I also want to share with my family and my friends about the American news and vice versa.”

Consuming news is important for his career choice, but more than that, it is a means to be involved within the Boise community, his native community and the global community.

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OPINION MARCH 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

STUDENTS LOOKING FOR A BREAK FROM SCHOOL CAN TRY CREATIVE OUTLETS Picking up a new hobby can help inspire creative energy and give a person new skills to utilize Paige Wirta | Opinion Editor | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

weeks after making my initial ring, I have made about 30 more.

I have also enjoyed making earrings and necklaces along with rings. There is never a limit on what you can make with some charms, beads and wire, and making something unique is surprisingly fun.

The process of creating something tangible is such an exciting thrill. Making something and being able to hold it in your hands provides a reassuring feeling I had not expected. Of course, not everything you create will come out a masterpiece, but knowing that I can try again prevents me from feeling burnt out.

Students shold find useful tool to get creative and try different methods of relaxation.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

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hroughout what is continuing to feel like a never-ending pandemic, I have gone through several different phases to try and pass the time. Especially with Zoom classes and discussion board posts, I find myself exhausted day-after-day with a lot of pent-up creative energy, yet nowhere to expel it.

Recently, I have been searching for new, healthier outlets for this energy I feel the need to release. If you are anything like me, after a long day of classes and work, taking the time to let yourself do something enjoyable away from screens can be a great relief.

Sadly, that is much easier said than done.

Finding something enjoyable to do at the end of the day without using a computer or phone presents another challenge, especially when screens seem to dictate our lives. Here

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are a few things that have helped me find a healthy, creative outlet to end my days feeling refreshed and reflective.

Jewelry making Through a late-night scroll on TikTok, I stumbled upon a video of someone making wire-wrapped rings, similar to one I had bought off Etsy. With a description of all of the tools needed to replicate the rings, I had everything I needed to join in on this new trend.

After a trip to Michael’s for 20 gauge wire, an assortment of beads and gemstones, a ring mandrel and wire-cutting pliers, I was excited to try my hand at making rings and see if I was any good at it. It took a few tries and a lot of trial and error to find out what type of style I preferred and get better at cleanly wrapping the wire. Only a few

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Writing Since writing is not only my job and involved in a majority of my schoolwork, I often hit block after block and struggle to even formulate new ideas to pursue. It may seem redundant to claim that writing has proven to be the solution, but it has.

Most of my professional or academic writing takes place on my computer, leaving me with sore eyes and tense muscles. But investing the time to write the old-fashioned way has been another outlet I encourage others to try.

There is something soothing and almost therapeutic about writing in a notebook by hand. When I usually do any creative writing on my laptop, I would still feel the painful effects of staring at a screen for too long.

But if you enjoy writing and have faced a similar issue, writing in a notebook can lead to new ideas and sparks of creativity.

I have never been one for keeping a diary or journaling my thoughts, but even reflecting over a nagging conflict or something upsetting is super relieving. Getting negative feelings out on paper is a great way to sort through your emotions and recognize

what you are feeling, even if you do not care to recount your entire day.

Yoga In the past, I have gone to a few yoga classes, but I never enjoyed being told what to be thinking about or focusing on. Creating and sticking with an exercise schedule has also never been a strong suit of mine. But in a burst of interest, I took about 30 minutes before bed to spend stretching and mimicking the yoga poses I had seen in past classes.

Typically, I really struggle to fall asleep and often toss and turn in bed for an hour or two before I finally do sleep. Even then, I usually wake up multiple times throughout the night and once again struggle to fall back asleep. After my brief DIY yoga session, I fell asleep faster than usual and slept through the night.

I decided to continue with these nightly yoga sessions, and I have continued to see large improvements in not only my sleep, but also my overall energy throughout the day.

Finding new things to do that do not involve staring at a screen for hours on end can be a challenge when we are living in a global pandemic. With school and work often dominating our lives, having a healthy, creative outlet can really make all the difference in your life. periodically and who I go to for letters of recommendation or simply help in general.

Taking the time to start the semester by getting to know students can make the world of a difference, and I believe every professor should adopt the first-week “About Me” forms and questionnaires.

OPINION

SUPPORTING LOCAL BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IS PART OF BEING AN ALLY Local Black-owned shops offer unique products to connect to the community and customers Paige Wirta | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Honey Pot CBD, a Black, veteran-owned store, is in Boise located across from Albertsons on Broadway.

Paige Wirta | The Arbiter

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hough Black History Month has ended, it is important to remember that being a non-Black ally is not just a one-month task. A good way to continue to support the Black community is through shopping at local Black owned businesses and engaging with local Black organizations. Compiled here are a number of local businesses and organizations to support, not only during Black History Month, but year round.

One of my favorite stores has to be The

Honey Pot CBD in downtown Boise near the Boise State campus. Located across from Albertsons on Broadway, this verteran-owned CBD shop has a variety of products for a number of different uses.

Brown Shuga Soul Food is a local food truck that travels around Boise and serves hearty classics from jambalaya to pulled pork sandwiches. Check out their Facebook page to see where they are located and their weekly menu.

Lumos Optical is a local, independent eyeglass and sunglass shop in downtown

Boise. They offer trendy frames, lenses and vision tests for low and up-front prices. I have not had a chance to visit Lumos Optical, but a look through their website makes me eager to schedule an appointment and choose a colorful new frame.

Dunia Marketplace is Idaho’s only non-profit, fair trade retail store with a mission “to provide vital, fair income to artisans by selling their handicrafts and telling their stories.” Dunia Marketplace also educates the community and spreads awareness on the importance of fair trade

retail. Their Facebook page offers a gallery of their beautiful artisan items from jewelry to Ethnic food options.

Carter the Barber is a licensed, traveling barber who is strongly involved with the community. His Instagram offers a look at his work, not only with his clients, but with organizations like Black Lives Matter.

Located in Nampa, Smoove Wireless pays cash for your used, cracked or locked smartphones. They also sell quality devices at bargain prices, making it easy to get rid of a cracked phone and purchase a new one. Their Facebook page stays updated with what devices they are selling and looking to buy.

Afrosonics is a local Afro-Indie band from Boise, creating an “eclectic mix of styles and influences” in their music.

Though tour dates and shows are on hold during the pandemic, they do live sessions on Facebook, and you can find their music on your preferred streaming service.

The Global Lounge was the City of Boise’s Cultural Ambassador from 20172019, and works to preserve, educate and share culture and awareness in the community. They are a non-profit that hosts a number of (virtual) events to inspire diversity and education throughout Idaho.

Their website and Facebook page features events, donation links and includes ways to get involved.

Taking a look through True Joy Cookies Co’s website is bound to make you crave one of their fresh cookie pies.

They have a unique menu and no-contact delivery services throughout the Treasure Valley area. You can order from their website and check out their Facebook for news and updates.

Supporting locally owned Black businesses and shops is a great way to engage with the community and work to be a good ally.

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Brad Verbout | Sports & Rec Editor | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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oise State students’ tuition contributes to some of the highest-paid salaries in the state.

In 2019, four of the five highest-paid public employees in the state of Idaho were Boise State athletic coaches, according to Open The Books data. Former football Head Coach Bryan Harsin was paid $1,773,707.

The other three highest-paid employees were: Boise State men’s basketball Head Coach Leon Rice, who received $772,768; former Athletic Director Curt Apsey who received $455,481.93; and women’s basketball Head Coach Gordy Presnell who made $357,955. For comparison, Gov. Brad Little made $190,147 in 2019.

It is not common knowledge for most that head coaches are some of the highest-paid public employees in their respective states.

Despite the misconception, 28 college football coaches and 12 college basketball coaches top the list of highest taxpayer-funded jobs.

According to Boise State’s 2021 fiscal year auxiliary budget book, the university plans on using $3,351,926 directly from student fees to supply its intercollegiate athletics fund. Boise State expects $9,831,968 in revenue from student fees in 2021. This does not include fees collected from other areas, such as housing or meal plans.

With fluctuating admission rates, Boise State seems to be exploring every financial avenue, even resorting to offering students a chance to put a cardboard cutout of themselves in the stands for $50. With the possibility of more financial hurdles on the horizon, the university has opted to go all-in on one of its biggest earners — Boise State Athletics.

Boise State finds money where it can Boise State only allowed fans at two of its four home football games during its 2020 season, losing out on hundreds of thousands

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in fan revenue.

Fans are now allowed to attend the games since Feb. 17, when they announced their decision in a plan that has been reviewed

by Central District Health. Fans must enter their names in a raffle due to limited tickets.

Students who won the raffle had to produce a negative COVID-19 test 24 hours before the event. Loss of ticket sale revenue has hurt the university’s bottom line, which has become a major concern for university administrators considering there is no determined timeline as to when venues can move to maximum capacity.

According to Boise State President Marlene Tromp, the university is being asked to complete a 5% one-time hold-back for the fiscal year of 2021, equalling around $5.4 million.

The university, along with many local Boise businesses, lost out on some anticipated revenue when the NCAA announced that its March Madness Tournament would not be held in Boise this year. According to Carrie Westergard, executive director for the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau, Boise’s economy will lose out on a significant sum of money.

“The NCAA tournament was in 2018, and it looks like [Boise’s financial gain] was around $14.8 million. That is for the one event,” Westergard said. “In 2020, we hosted the Big Sky Conference, and that estimated economic impact was nearly $1 million with the conference ending mid-conference. If both of those events were to not happen in 2021, we would be looking at over $15.5 economic impact loss. The hospitality industry, everything from hotels, restaurants, transportation, retail, bars would be most affected if these events were to not take place, especially with the hard-hit the industry has received through COVID-19.”

With the football season over and the basketball season coming to an end, Boise

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State will have missed out on the full potential of the only two sports that turn a profit. The university will have to wait until next fall to hope for the roughly $25 million that comes with the average football season in which fans can attend games.

Boise State decided to cut its baseball team, women’s swimming and diving programs last year due to the financial hardships caused by COVID-19. Cutting the programs saved the school approximately $2.3 million. In the spring 2020 semester, Boise State lost a total of $14 million in revenues. The school also permanently cut positions and furloughed employees.

“The pandemic has made a challenging financial situation unsustainable,” Tromp said. ”Ultimately, the reduction of the number of sports in which we compete allows Boise State a better chance of remaining competitive at the highest level, and provides a more realistic roadmap to a sustainable future for the university and athletic department.”

When the Broncos won the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State received a $4.3 million payout from the Mountain West for representing the conference on the national stage. The university also saw a 40% jump in academic applications following the Fiesta Bowl publicity.

Now, with students balancing school both in-person and online, it does not stop Bronco athletics from paying large amounts of money to compete at the collegiate level.

Congress has recently passed a $900 billion stimulus package for small businesses, schools and childcare facilities in hopes of offsetting losses. Boise State will see $15.1 million of the stimulus package, according to Idahonews.

Boise State initiated the Elevate The Blue fundraiser with the purpose of helping the athletic program recover the losses it suffered from the pandemic and help pay for stu-

dent-athlete scholarships. The fundraiser coupled with the school’s annual Giving Day in which over 880 donors from 39 states pledged more than $437,000 in a 36-hour time frame, Boise State was able to make up a fraction of its losses suffered throughout the pandemic.

According to B.J. Rains and Margaret Carmel, reporters for the Idaho Press, Boise State projected a $12.2 million loss from ticket sales and seat contributions alone if the 2020 season was canceled.

Many different factors affected the Boise State budget, but no official numbers have come out stating what the total loss in revenue was for the university.

The cycle continues On Jan. 11, Andy Avalos was hired to a five-year $7.75 million contract as head coach for Boise State football, according to the Idaho Statesman. The contract gave Avalos the title of the highest-paid public employee in Idaho.

Avalos will make a salary of $1.4 million during his first year and after he will receive an annual raise of $75,000. The university will also provide Avalos with a vehicle, cover moving expenses and pay for spouse travel to all away games, as well as family travel to postseason bowl games.

“This is a dream come true, and a very humbling opportunity for myself and my family to be back in this program,” Avalos said. “I’m excited to get back around the players I have missed the last two years, and to provide an elite experience for all the young men in the Boise State football program.

I can’t wait to get to work and help this program make our university, community and the state of Idaho proud by continuing to grow the blue-collar mentality that has been the staple of our program and allowed it to thrive for years.”

Boise State made another significant

F E AT U R E

By the Dollar

Prominent Idaho salaries for 2021

signing in January when the university announced that it would be hiring Jeramiah Dickey as its new athletic director. According to documents obtained by the Idaho Statesman through a public records request, Dickey is set to make $410,000 in 2021 and will receive an annual raise of at least 2% for the next five years until his contract is up. This contract puts him as the third highest-paid public employee in the state.

Dickey will be tasked with managing all aspects of Boise State’s athletic programs: hiring coaches, scheduling, budget preparation, promotion and fundraising. Along with the general responsibilities that come with the position, Dickey will also be responsible for helping the school rebound from its financial problems.

“I want to meet our donors and Bronco Nation,” Dickey said in a Jan. 4 press conference. “I’ve heard so many great things about them, and I can’t wait to get in front of them and outside of Zoom and technology, technology is crazy, as crazy as it is. I want to meet those that have very much impacted and built upon this foundation that has been built.

My background is in fundraising and resource generation, and whatever we don’t have, we will go out and get.”

During Avalos’s introductory press conference, he addressed how he felt about the resources being provided to Bronco athletics.

“The vision and plan of the president and the new AD [athletic director], that inspired us to hear and learn about,” said Avalos. “As we worked through what it would look like for us (Avalos’s coaching staff) to help and come be a part of this team. The leadership was great as we worked through certain numbers, understanding the financial difficulties that come from the year of COVID-19 and the ramifications on many different areas.”

Andy Avalos

Boise State Football Head Coach

$1.7 M

Marlene Tromp $425 K Boise State President Jeramiah Dicky $410 K Boise State Athletic Director GRAPH SOURCES

Average Physician $197 K In Idaho Lauren McLean

Boise Mayor

• Boise State Public Records • Idaho Statesman • Salary.com • City of Boise Salaries Code

$149 K MARCH 4, 2021

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C U LT U R E MARCH 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

TWELVE BSU STUDENTS TRAVEL ABROAD DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC In an average year, about 300 students travel abroad, compared to the 12 during this spring semester

Stephanie Gull | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ven in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, 12 Boise State students are currently studying abroad this spring semester.

According to Corrine Henke, the director of the Global Learning Opportunities office, the studying abroad program at Boise State, about 300 students study abroad in an average year. So in comparison, the number of students abroad right now is extremely low.

“It was kind of our official stance that they don’t go [last fall],” Henke said. “But then for spring, because our policy is based on the state department levels, there were some programs running and students still wanted to go. So, we worked with them on that.”

Henke explained that students were informed beforehand that their programs could get canceled and they’d have to come home at any time. However, their biggest worry is that students will go somewhere that cannot pivot to online if their university were to close down because some countries don’t really have that option.

“Part of them assuming all these risks of doing it is that they understand that if [their program gets canceled], they could get stuck there or have to pay for a flight home,” Henke said. “I think things are eventually calming down, but that’s part of them assuming the risks of going.”

Braelyn Whitelock, a junior entrepreneurship management and global studies student, is one of the few students who is studying abroad right now, and is currently studying at Prifysgol Aberystwyth University located in Aberystwyth, Wales.

It has been two months since she arrived in Wales and Whitelock doesn’t regret going during the pandemic. She always knew she wanted to study abroad, and she didn’t want to miss the chance.

“I still have a bunch of things I want to

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do back home at Boise State and I only have a year left, so it was kind of now or never,” Whitelock said. “The opportunity was still open and they never told me I couldn’t, so I figured I might as well do it.”

Whitelock explained that whether she was in Boise or in Wales, she’d basically be doing the same thing anyways because of the pandemic.

“I might as well do something fun and get a little bit of a different scene,” Whitelock said. “Instead of just sitting in my room in Boise, I’m sitting in a dorm room in Wales and I get to explore a new town. Plus, I’ve already had so many great experiences and I’ve met a bunch of other international students who I’ve learned so much from.”

Erin Kerr, a senior psychology major, was studying in Dublin, Ireland last spring when the pandemic hit and she was sent home half a semester early.

“What happened to me basically was that all my classes were on Irish time, which means that I took my finals at 2:45 in the morning,” Kerr said. “I had to do group projects with people, and I would call them at nine in the morning as they were about to go to bed. It was really crazy with the time break.”

According to Kerr, after she discovered she had to come back to Boise, she had about a week to do some exploring, so she and her roommate bought bus tickets to the other side of the country. However, what greeted them was an eerie sight.

“It was supposed to be for St. Patty’s Day, but that was the first day that they really did shut everything down,” Kerr said. “They shut down the pubs and the restaurants — there’s only one restaurant that we were able to go into, and we stayed in a hostel. We still had a great time, meeting people and Irish music and Jameson, but at the same time, I felt like

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all of the culture had been stripped from it.

You can walk around and you can see it, but it was like Disneyland when there’s no kids there. Do you know what I mean? It’s just eerie and weird. It’s like you’re looking at it from the outside.”

According to Kerr, she wouldn’t want to study abroad right now during the pandemic.

She wouldn’t want to go back for an entire semester if she wasn’t able to do the traveling and exploring that she did in the short amount of time that she got.

“Even if I was given an opportunity to go spend the second half of the semester over there right now, it’s like — I’m a senior, I’m about to graduate and I’m starting my life,”

Kerr said. “I can’t. That was my time. It sucked, but I got everything I could have out of it, which makes me feel better.”

Even though Kerr and Whitelock have had very different perspectives and experiences of studying abroad amidst the pandemic, their advice to other students is the same.

“A lot of what I’ve been telling people is I could have died on a plane crash on the way back from Barcelona. I could have gotten a really gnarly form of coronavirus,” Kerr said.

“I’m only 21, I have the rest of my life to go back and explore the world. As bad as this is, it’s not the hardest form of adversity I’ve ever faced. Life is short. Do what you’ve been wanting to do.”

When the coronavirus pandemic first started in March 2020, students studying abroad had to return home early.

Photo courtesy of Erin Kerr

C U LT U R E

BOISE STATE’S COLLEGE ASSISTANCE MIGRANT PROGRAM MAKES ADJUSTMENTS

CAMP has worked with students to meet remotely and in person to continue to offer them support Leslye Ambriz | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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raduate school may seem like a daunting or formidable question when one doesn’t know where to look or who to talk to. However, Boise State offers numerous resources that are readily available to students in order to make the search as easy as possible.

Melissa Krancer, the recruiter for Boise State’s Graduate College, is usually one of the first people students talk to when they are confused or unsure.

“I talk to people from traditional students, to people in their sixties who have a passion that they’ve been putting off,” Krancer said. “There really is no limit to who can return to school and decide to pursue an education, and it can be for so many different reasons.”

According to Krancer, there seems to be varying perceptions of higher education within Idaho. Some people are terrified of higher education because they worry about debt or the possible lack of a job, while others believe it’s the “Emerald City,” and that all of their problems will be solved by a degree.

“It’s a big investment,” Krancer said.

“It’s a lot of time, it’s a lot of money and it’s a lot of work. It’s all those things. You need to get some good career counseling at the front end to make sure you match up with what you want to do. It’s not to be entered lightly.”

Alex Gutierrez, the senior associate director for Career Services, explained that the first step in considering graduate school is ultimately determining what your personal and career goals are.

“Do the research on yourself,” Gutierrez said. “What are your own personal goals and wishes? If you’re going into graduate school, what do you hope to get out of that?”

Both the Career Center and Graduate College have staff that are eager to help students with this process, and each of the graduate programs also has a program coordinator ready to talk with students that would like to learn more.

Students in CAMP have attended all of their events virtually for the fall and spring semester.

Abbey Nimegeers | The Arbiter Another helpful tool from the Career Center is a program called PathwayU, which is a free online assessment for students who are struggling with pinpointing their career goals. It looks at a student’s interests, values and strengths, and gives suggestions of possible careers to consider.

“Whether you’re a freshman taking it just to figure out what to do or study, or a senior gathering all of their experiences to find things they really enjoy, this tool can give career suggestions that students may not have even thought of,” Gutierrez said.

Another important step that students can take is simply talking to other people regarding graduate school.

“Talk to your advisor and professors, and ask if they know anybody that you can talk to in the field you’re looking into, to evaluate and ask questions,” Gutierrez said.

“Ask them questions like: How did you enter the job market? How do you like what

you do? Was it tough? Do you have further education (a certification, a whole different major, a graduate degree), and did that help? How did that affect your prospects?”

This also leads to a helpful resource called BroncoLink, which is a system of alumni that are willing to do informational interviews, job shadows and answer any questions.

Ultimately, there are a lot of considerations when it comes to graduate school, including choosing a program, picking the right school, going through the application process and figuring out funding, but it all just truly depends and begins with what you want to do.

According to Gutierrez, ideally students start thinking about this at the beginning of senior year, or maybe even junior year, because it’s really about getting information to help make a decision. However, he doesn’t think it’s ever too late to start.

Lilly Crolius, a first year technical communications graduate student, initially started her research into graduate school by looking at Boise State’s website and going into the graduate college office as a walk-in appointment. She described her transition into graduate school as relatively easy due to her personal support group and Boise State’s resources.

According to Crolius, her advice for students who are even slightly interested in education beyond an undergraduate degree is to start with broad research and to pay close attention to deadlines.

“Keep all your application stuff together and organized, stay on top of it and don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification,” Crolius said. “Always remember that programs may be competitive, but usually professors and department heads are excited when students are interested in their subject. You’ve got this.”

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C U LT U R E

THE QUEER STEM CLUB PROVIDES A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR STUDENTS Through their members and events, the new QSTEM club is a supportive environment on campus McKenzie Heileman | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

grams like QSTEM happening, especially in Idaho. She feels these kinds of programs are needed in our community.

“It’s nice to see these programs coming from the students at Boise State,” Hansen said. “It’s good to see it starting from the bottom up instead of from the top down.”

“It’s nice to see these programs coming from the students at Boise State. It’s good to see it starting from from the bottom up instead of from the top down.”

Shannon Hansen, senior member of technical staff at Micron

Paisley Davis is the president of the QSTEM club on campus, where they aim to create a welcoming environment.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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new club on campus, the Queer STEM (QSTEM) club wants to create a safe space for queer students, especially those in STEM. According to Paisley Davis, a senior computer science major and president of the club, QSTEM aims to provide academic and social support for queer students in STEM and break down the status quo surrounding STEM. “Right now, we’re pretty small,” Davis said. “The vice president and I had plans to create this club pre-pandemic. We’re hoping next semester will be better.”

Davis wants to keep people engaged with the club and plans to do virtual events.

The club offers information on internships,

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scholarships and other academic opportunities specifically for queer people.

Though the club does not have any events in the near future, they have done events in the past, such as a collaboration with the Maker Club, where they built pride flags on LED strips. Davis also aims to build connections with professionals in the Boise area.

“I like to think we’re a good place to get support,” Davis said. “Even though individuals who understand what people may be going through may not understand some of the isolation or the feeling of not fitting in.”

Davis wants to create a welcoming environment for queer students in STEM because they understand the hardships a person may encounter.

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“Even if it’s not purposeful rejection, it’s still there and people may not understand that,” Davis said. “There’s a feeling of imposter syndrome. We’re able to provide a unique understanding of that.”

Imposter syndrome is the inability to believe that one’s success is rightfully earned.

Shannon Hansen, a senior member of technical staff at Micron in Boise, has worked with QSTEM in the past.

“I came out at 34 years old after being in the industry for over a decade,” Hansen said. “Had I met others like me in my college and professional career, I might have felt safer coming out, but I didn’t see others like me.”

Hansen thinks it’s powerful to see pro-

Club Vice President and junior computer science and mathematics major Anna Rift feels there is a need for queer social groups on campus.

“For me, it provides a greater sense of belonging,” Rift said. “It’s really nice because I’m someone who likes to have a social group and this club provides that for me.”

For Rift, QSTEM is important because it’s specifically aimed toward queer people.

Though the Gender Equity Center provides support for both allies and LGBTQIA+ students, the QSTEM club is a closer knit community and entirely student-run.

“We’ve mostly spread by word of mouth,” Rift said. “It’s hard to have as much engagement during a pandemic.”

Students wanting to be involved in QSTEM can go to the club’s Engage page.

Once a student has requested to be a member, Davis will reach out.

Though not required, it is encouraged that students wanting to become involved with QSTEM are STEM majors.

C U LT U R E

“GIRLS ON THE RUN” IS ACCEPTING SPRING 2021 APPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS The nonprofit organization “Girls on the Run” focuses on empowering young girls through exercise programming Andrea Teres-Martinez | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Volunteers and participants will have the opportunity to choose from in-person and virtual events.

Photo courtesy of Ally Orr

W

ith their spring season steadily approaching, the Treasure Valley-based program “Girls on the Run” (GOTR) is looking to recruit Boise State students as volunteer coaches.

“Girls on the Run,” a nonprofit organization devoted to the empowerment of young girls through an exercise-centered program, is preparing to make an in-person return after months of uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

Toni Ramey, the council director for the Treasure Valley program, emphasized the importance of this program during these trying times, as well as how college students play a significant role in its advancement.

“Stressors and trauma related to COVID-19 are undoubtedly negatively affecting girls. Now more than ever, girls need to be accepted, inspired and motivat-

ed,” Ramey said. “Knowing that their coach is in college sets an amazing example for these girls.”

The after-school program has grown to serve over 900 girls from multiple counties, with grades ranging from third to eighth grade.

Halfway into their 2020 spring season, health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic had left the organization with no choice other than to cancel the rest of the season.

“It became apparent over the second week of March that this was something serious, something unprecedented, and we could not continue in that way,” Ramey said. “We sent them videos and activities and things like that, but we knew that wasn’t enough.”

For the first time since the organization was formed in 2001, participants and

coaches will have the option to become involved both in-person and remotely, depending on which format best suits their needs.

The new virtual program, which was piloted during the summer of 2020 by Ally Orr, a junior marketing major, has allowed GOTR to expand beyond geographical boundaries.

“I coached virtually, I encouraged eightyear-olds to have dance parties online,” Orr said.

Orr has worked with GOTR for over a year as an intern coach. She acquired the position through the help of Bronco Corps, and has since assisted the organization with marketing and organizing lessons for the girls.

“Girls on the Run honestly changes your life whether you’re the person being coached or whether you are the coach,” Orr

said. “Yes, you have a test that’s coming up that’s so stressful, but the people in your life really do matter and how you interact with them.”

Along with one-time volunteer opportunities, GOTR offers internships which focus in disciplines such as marketing and public relations, coaching and kinesiology, and entrepreneurship. These internships offer students the opportunity to bring their individual skills to the organization, through which they can earn credits.

“Having something to put on their resume is super valuable,” Ramey said. “It’s not too late if students want to get involved.”

GOTR’s spring season is set to begin in mid-to-late March and will last through mid-to-late May. Thanks to the new virtual program, Boise State students can now become involved regardless of geographical location or individual circumstances surrounding COVID-19. The coaching can be done from the safety of one’s own living spaces.

Volunteer and coaching opportunities are open to all students and are not exclusive to women.

“Sometimes people assume that it’s only for women, and that’s not the case,” Ramey said. “If you are a male coach, the girls… it’s like their favorite uncle.”

From its beginning as a sorority philanthropy event to a place of employment for Boise State alumni, Boise State students from a variety of majors and departments continue to make their mark on the organization through their volunteer work, which they have come to consider “a highlight of their semester” according to Ramey. “[The girls] love college students,” Ramey said. “There are so many ways in which it’s inspiring for both the girls and the coaches.”

For more information about how to get involved with Girls on the Run, visit https://www.girlsontherun.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

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SPORTS & REC MARCH 4, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

THE BOISE HIKER’S GUILD IS HELPING RESIDENT EXPLORE IDAHO

Students looking for ways to see the outdoors and find a new community in Boise can join the Boise Hiker’s Guild

Aaron Cornwell | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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mid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a group of Boise State students are finding ways to get outside safely, and explore the outdoors while taking in what Idaho has to offer.

In the summer of 2020, Clara Adams, a junior majoring in graphic design, started the Boise Hikers Guild (BHG) to encourage students to get outside and find a new community. Adams, who is from the Portland area, has always been an avid hiker and found inspiration from her own father’s hiking group.

“My dad originally was telling me a story about back when he was in a men’s singles group and there was a friend that he had that would just send out an email once a month that consisted of something along the lines of, ‘Hey, I’m hiking here at this time. This is the trailhead join if you want, no pressure.’ I liked that idea, no pressure to join, come one week and maybe not the other. But that’s what I think started the idea,” Adams said.

The BHG meets every other Saturday. Along with hikes, they take trips to the hot springs and recently went snowshoeing near Bogus Basin. Adams believes that accessibility and openness were two things that really helped grow and add more members to the guild.

“We want people who aren’t in college to feel comfortable coming to a guild rather than a college club, having a diverse group of people of different majors and backgrounds is what we want to strive for, that’s where the word guild comes from, a gathering of people with a common interest,” Adams said.

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“We want people who aren’t in college to feel comfortable comingto a guild rather than a college club, having a diverse group of people of different majors and backgrounds is what we want to strive for, that’s where the word guild comes from, a gathering of people with a common interest.”

Clara Adams, junior graphic design major According to Adams, she wanted to keep the BHG separate from any organization and took pride in the idea that it was run and led by students.

Kelley Hayes, a junior majoring in Art Education and a member of the guild, was very enthusiastic about the accessibility that the BHG has to offer even with COVID-19.

“It really is for all hikers, Clara [Adams] does a great job allowing us to set our own pace and still keep together as a group but still being six feet apart. Hiking in a group is great as it’s a safe way to explore with those who are at your own experience level while also still being a community,” Hayes said As of 2021, the guild has 50 official members signed up and 113 followers on

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The guild meets every other Saturday and is led by students at Boise State.

Photo courtesy of Boise Hiker’s Guild Instagram. Most hikes consist of groups of anyone is welcome to join regardless of a dozen or more hikers each week. experience. Adams encourages anyone who Becca Gunree, a junior double majoring is interested in the BHG to try it. in Spanish and English, is the social media “We would love to have you. It makes manager of the BHG. She noted that college students feel that they have access having a committed presence on Instagram to the outdoors. Sometimes it’s hard to has really helped in attracting more people. get out there when you don’t have fancy “I thought it’d be kind of fun to branch camping gear and all that stuff, or you’ve out a little bit more and have a place for never been before and so leading students our photos and all of our trips. So, we and introducing them to the outdoors is started Instagram for that. Also, Clara and an incredible mission as well,” Adams said.

I just always think of one time that we Students can find more information and did a sticker workshop. Making different pictures on the BHG Instagram page or stickers and pamphlets for BHG is always visit their website to join their email list. in the back of our minds,” Gunree said.

Gunree believes that her biggest goal now is to simply get the word out that

SPORTS & REC

NEW FOOTBALL HEAD COACH ANDY AVALOS IS BACK FOR THE BRONCOS

Bronco Nation welcomes Andy Avalos back to lead the Boise State football team into their next season Colton Dalia | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n Jan. 9, news swept across Bronco Nation as Andy Avalos was announced as the new head coach of the Boise State football program. The announcement was made by the Director of Athletics Jeremiah Dickey.

“I am elated to bring Andy Avalos back to Boise State, where he belongs,” Dickey said. “We did our due diligence with this search in a very short period of time, and this was a national search, not just something we were looking at keeping within the family. Andy left no doubt that he was the individual that would continue building on the well-established culture

within Bronco Football. His passion for this program was evident, and I am excited for our student-athletes, our staff, and Bronco Nation.”

Avalos spent seven seasons coaching at Boise State, including the final three as defensive coordinator. During his time as coordinator, the Broncos led the MW in sacks, ranked second in rush defense and third in total defense.

He was a former all-conference linebacker for the Broncos from 2000 to 2004 while playing for Head Coaches Dirk Koetter and Dan Hawkins; which will ascend him to be the second graduate from Boise State University.

Avalos started his coaching career in his hometown of Corona, California, where he coached linebackers at Corona High School. He then spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Colorado before coaching two seasons at Nebraska-Kearney and one at Sacramento State.

Avalos would then go on to be an assistant coach for the Broncos from 2012 to 2018. From there, he would work his way up to the title of defensive coordinator in 2018 while working alongside Chris Peterson and Bryan Harsin. He then took the defensive coordinator position for the University of Oregon Ducks from 2018 to 2019 working under Mario Cristobal.

While Avalos was at Oregon, the Ducks led the Pac-12 in sacks over the course of his two seasons as coordinator and ranked third in the conference in both rush defense and total defense.

Oregon finished the 2019 season ninth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 16.5 points per game. The Ducks ranked 13th nationally in rushing defense (108.93 yards per game) and 22nd in total defense (329.1 YPG). Avalos’s defense disrupted opposing offenses, finishing second in the country in interceptions (20), sixth in passes defended (76), 13th in sacks (41.0), and 21st in tackles-for-loss (97.0).

During his five seasons as a defensive coordinator, Avalos established himself as one of college football’s premier coordinators. He was named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coach, during his first season at Oregon in 2019.

Avalos’s head coaching career will begin Sept. 11 in the season-opener against the UTEP Miners. The university and Bronco Nation are now waiting to see what Avalos can do.

“This is a dream come true, and a very humbling opportunity for myself and my family to be back in this program,” Avalos said. “I’m excited to get back around the players I have missed the last two years and to provide an elite experience for all the young men in the Boise State football program. I can’t wait to get to work and help this program make our university, community, and the state of Idaho proud by continuing to grow the blue-collar mentality that has been the staple of our program and allowed it to thrive for years.”

Avalos has worked for seven seasons as the defensive coordinator for Boise State in the past.

Photo courtesy of Boise State University MARCH 4, 2021

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SPORTS & REC

BOISE STATE ATHLETICS IS NOW ALLOWING FANS INSIDE EXTRAMILE ARENA

Fans and spectators are able to attend sporting events now at ExtraMile Arena and other venues Taylor Clements | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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oise State Athletics started their week off with news for Bronco fans, spectators are allowed back into ExtraMile Arena and other campus sporting venues.

As of Feb. 16, Boise State’s Athletic Department and Boise health officials announced in a statement that they have given Boise State Athletics the green light in allowing fans at their games. With the ever-changing COVID-19 guidelines, this comes a week after health officials agreed to start allowing athlete’s families into games.

Students will now be able to join a raffle for each home game. People on tiers one and two, including players and staff, will need a negative COVID-19 test. Fans and staff sitting in tier three will not need to show a negative COVID-19 test sitting prior to entering the game, according to a Boise State Athletics press release. Fans entering the venues must partake in a temperature check before entering.

Jeremiah Dickey, Boise State’s Athletic director, shared in a statement the protocols and policies Boise State basketball and ExtraMile Arena will follow.

“Knowing we can provide both a safe environment while playing in front of Bronco Nation makes this an opportunity I know our student-athletes will be excited for,” Dickey said.

ExtraMile Arena will not be close to its maximum capacity, but will allow 900 fans at men’s and women’s basketball games for the remainder of the season.

These fans will be socially distanced amongst each other in pods. The pods will be grouped together in either two or four people sections and will not be mixed with other groups of spectators. Each pod will be separated by a singular row and six feet apart.

Students will be able to attend these games by entering in a raffle to receive tickets, much like the fall 2020 football season. There will be 200 students allowed

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Event attendees will be required to take a temperature check at the door, but won’t need to provide a negative COVID-19 test.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter at each basketball game.

“This is a team that our fans deserve to see play in person, and our student-athletes deserve the opportunity to play in front of Bronco Nation,” said Head Coach Leon Rice. “I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I’m appreciative that our health and wellness team has put together a plan that allows us to play in a safe environment.”

Coaches and student-athletes had positive and excited opinions on having spectators in the arena. Having normality back in their weekly routine is something to look forward to when going to games.

Throughout the course of the game, the players did everything they could to hype

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up the crowd of 900 from dancing to interacting and having conversations.

After the game on Thursday, Feb. 17, guard’s Derrick Alston and Marcus Shaver Jr. shared how they felt about spectators being at ExtraMile Arena.

“It was good to have Bronco Nation in there cheering and supporting us because we needed them today,” Alston said. “That was a big win for us, and it was a total team effort. I’m proud of the guys and how we stuck with it.”

The first game back in ExtraMile Arena for spectators was one many were excited about, including the players.

“We wanted it a lot, but the job is not

done. We stayed pretty much even keel the whole game, we knew it was going to be a dog fight and we just stayed together as a team and played together the whole game,” Shaver said. “I missed that feeling, the environment and playing in front of fans and family, it’s definitely a game-changer. I missed that energy and the energy the fans give us. It helps a lot.”

According to a press release, spectators can purchase tickets online for prices ranging from $30-$40. If students are not a part of the Bronco Athletic Association or a season ticket holder, you may or may not be able to find tickets through the school.

OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.

PISCES:

Growing up, you didn’t like to share, Pisces.

That may not be the case anymore, but that doesn’t mean you should let people walk all over you. Hold your ground and make boundaries that you are comfortable with. School and work could be areas that you need to reevaluate those boundaries with people.

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 19

Be aware of how many chances you give people, Cap. Although you may be feeling lonely and hoping to make new friends, don’t forget the virtues you look for in relationships. Remember that you have the people in your life for a reason, so when past relationships resurface, proceed with caution.

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

With multiple deadlines coming up, Aquarius, make sure to take a step back and assess what you need from others. After finding what can help you, reach out to others to lend a hand. The full moon this month could present some problems in communicating with others.

FEB 19 - MARCH 20

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TAYLOR RICO-PEKEROL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ARIES

MARCH 21 - APR 19

On March 3, Mars moves into Gemini leaving you feeling paranoid, Aries. It is okay to be cautious of what is happening around you, but remember your friends are there to help you, not hurt you. You may be feeling stuck with family or friend drama and need some fresh air. Take a few days for yourself and come back feeling centered before addressing the conflict.

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 20

Taurus, do that one thing you’ve always wanted to do. Take a risk this week and it could pay off in a big way, but be careful of how big of a bite you can chew. You’ve been dreaming a lot more, whether that be daydreaming or in your sleep.

Figure out what those dreams mean to you.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 20

March will be your month of opportunity, Gemini.

Search inside yourself to find where your priorities lay and begin the groundwork for how you will maintain them. A new change in scenery will give you fresh eyes as to what you need to accomplish.

CANCER

JUN 21 - JULY 22

Cancer, you may be feeling extra exhausted this week and something has to give, or else your mental and physical health will be making the sacrifice. It may feel like you have been working hard for a long time, but sadly your efforts are not over.

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 22

Don’t get stuck in your head this week, Leo. Your mind is constantly thinking of scenarios that could happen in the future or that have happened in the past. Keep the ‘what if’s out and be present with what is happening to you right now. The sun enters Aries this month, meaning you could become closed-minded, so try to let others’ opinions mean something to you.

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEPT 22

You are a soft one, Virgo. Analyzing the relationships in your life could do some good for you. With spring quickly approaching, get to cleaning out those areas of your life that feel cluttered, both physically and mentally. The month of March could bring some rocky waters for school and work.

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

Family issues could be holding you back, Libra.

You let people have too much opinion on your life and need to figure out how you think your life is going. Find peace in the stability of friendships, and go outside to get some fresh air. A clear head and mind could be a great help.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

Scorpio, right now, might feel like a good time to take the leap of faith, but hold off for a bit longer. The Pisces new moon this month could lead to some sticky situations surrounding relationships and work life. Be concise about your feelings and what you are looking for.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 21

Be upfront with people, Sag. A lot can get lost in communication, which is a key value of yours.

Take the extra time to think out what you want to communicate before judging others for their ideas.

You will be coming to a crossroads soon in your relationship, but with Mercury moving into Pisces, you should head on the right path.

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