page
7
Find out what happened when our staff went to play Quidditch.
page
8
The Boise State gymnastics team is heading to regionals.
arbiteronline.com The Arbiter Indepen d en t
S t u d e n t
V o i c e
o f
B o is e
S tat e
Si n c e
@arbiteronline
1 9 3 3
April 3, 2014 • Issue no. 52 Volume 26
Boise, Idaho
First issue free
O M O F
TS N E ES D N U O T S H RP EPS I E E K H OT END T R D T W HE E C N A T A AT
Staff Writer
September 2013
of adults
72%
Statistics from pew research center
Bloop! Bloop! Bloop! On cue, every person in a five foot radius immediately checks their phone. They don’t want to be the one missing Sally Jean liking their Instagram photo. Or maybe it was Billy Joe commenting on their hilarious tweet from earlier. FOMO, or the “fear of missing out,” is a plague that has stricken overly obsessed social media users. “I have it to the extent that I’ll put stuff off I need to do in order to hang out with people, so they don’t do something without me. I’ll admit, when I’m alone I probably check social media every 10 minutes,” said Melissa Corn, a senior at Boise State. Social media has driven users wild; Driven to constantly update phones and check and recheck all of the different apps. Someone could be having the worst day ever, but on Instagram they’re posting a selfie with a caption about how beautiful life is, so all of their followers think that their life is ideal. Social media users have started creating these fake personas that people know them by, which mostly aren’t true at all. FOMO also applies to missing out on events. People can’t relax on Saturday night at home if they know they are missing a party without getting into an anxious frenzy. The perception is if their friends have fun without them, they’ll never live it down. FOMO has become a real term that many
people identify with, so much so that it was added to the dictionary in 2013. The problem is that people are so caught up on their Twitter timeline that they forget there is a real live person across the table from them with whom they can interact. FOMO can create sleep deprivation. Users stay up late so they can do anything and everything. The cycle continues until everyone’s all zombies, never sleeping so it’s impossible to miss a thing. Some people experience FOMO differently. Some will respond to text messages in their sleep. Apparently, it’s not uncommon either. Sleep texting has become a phenomena that closely relates to sleep walking. One’s conscious mind is asleep while motor skills are awake. That can lead to some embarrassing responses. Breena Hohe, sophomore, has sleep texted before, leading to a little confusion in the morning. “I didn’t even know a person could text in their sleep,” Hohe said. “I woke up one morning and my friend had texted me asking me if I was alright. Apparently I texted her that I couldn’t go to sushi because I had gone yesterday. That wasn’t even what we were talking about, though.” Social media has its positives and negatives, but it’s prevalent in today’s world and it’s up to everyone to choose when and how often to use it.
2 022
18-24 ,
90%18-24 of adults
own their own average
texts
cellphone sent per month
use at least social media site
SENT BY AGES double the amount 25-34
that is
Kelsey Jacobs
67
AVERAGE
TEXTS
PER DAY
page Design Megan Nanna/THE ARBITER
John Engel @EngelESPN
It rained, and poured, Tuesday for the Boise State men’s tennis team. “It was the perfect storm and we were on the wrong end of it,” head coach Greg Patton said. Patton and the no. 22 ranked Boise State men’s tennis team went into Palo Alto, Calif. with the goal of capping off their West Coast with three wins, but instead left soaked and sorrowful. According to Patton, there was only a two or three hour window in which the match could be played because of weather, so the Broncos were forced to breeze through their warmups and were unable to perform many of
News
The Arbiter
their prematch “rituals.” Stanford swept the Broncos 4-0 in unbelievable fashion. Boise State didn’t put up much of a fight in singles matches, losing each of the four matches in straight sets. Senior Andy Bettles, ranked no. 86 in the nation in singles play, was defeated 6-1 and 6-4 by the Cardinal’s John Morrissey. Patton blames the uncharacteristic loss on a lack of preparation and faulty coaching. Following the match, Patton continuously told The Arbiter he blamed the loss on himself. “This hurts. It hurts like crazy. This is one of my best teams,” Patton said.” I just felt that they were going to be ready to go. We were flat and I can’t allow
pg 3
that. Usually I don’t allow that to happen.” The Broncos had just mounted 6-1 victories over UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly on their California road trip, and had the opportunity to move into the top 16 in the national rankings, and earn a very favorable draw in the upcoming NCAA Championships. “I just don’t see how we can get in the top 16,” Patton said. “We didn’t really have the preparation we wanted on the court. I thought we were better than this, and I was wrong. I’m angry at myself. I’m really angry at myself.” Despite the loss, Boise State still stands as a favorite to win the Mountain West Championships and has an opportunity to cor-
Opinion
pg 6
Robby milo/arbiter archives
Broncos slip in Palo Alto
Boise State men’s tennis is still fighting for a strong draw at the NCAA’s. rect some of its mistakes. “I thought they did some things better that we’ve been talking about this week. We’ve got some big things ahead of us,” Patton said. “It’s about how we re-
spond to it, and it’s going to make us better.” Patton has long wanted to bring a national championship to campus, and still believes his team has a chance. The lack of prepa-
Arts & Entertainment
pg 7
Sports
ration against Stanford, however, isn’t a good indicator of a championshipcaliber team. “The train had left the station before we could jump on it,” Patton said.
pg 8 arbiteronline.com
Page
2A
pril 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
Crossword
The Future
For Release April 3, 2014 FOR RELEASE APRIL 3, 2014
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Lab has lots of them 7 Many a chalet 13 Nielsen of “Airplane!” 14 Purple Label designer 15 Open, as a fern frond 16 Relieving 17 Olfactory detection 18 Rumor starter 22 Spanish pronoun 23 Vintage auto 24 Ballerina’s asset 26 Dress nattily, with “up” 27 Wrinkle-resistant synthetic 29 Alternative to gravel, perhaps 30 Humiliate 32 With 37-Across, what the circled words (shown in the appropriate direction) are capable of doing 35 Poker variety 36 Golfer Isao 37 See 32-Across 39 Part of a process 42 “Bartender, make __ double!” 43 Tie the knot on the sly 47 LBJ’s antipoverty agcy. 48 Sierra __ 51 “Papa-__-MowMow”: 1962 novelty hit 52 Suffix with school 54 Former “The View” co-host 55 Conglomeration 56 ’30s-’50s British Labour Party leader 58 25-Down div. 60 One on a ladder, to a kitten up a tree 61 Property recipient, in law 62 Join up 63 Garden sides DOWN 1 Prefix with scope 2 Shark, maybe 3 Comparable to a cucumber
4/3/14
By Don Gagliardo and C.C. Burnikel
4 Hurtful remark 5 Cocktail with cassis 6 Baseball commissioner under whom interleague play became a reality 7 Wake-up call, say 8 Pilot-licensing org. 9 Red herring 10 __ Nashville: country record label 11 “Stay Fresh” candy 12 Mesh, as gears 19 Tee off 20 Joie de vivre 21 Carrier with a Maple Leaf Lounge 24 “Here’s what happened next ...” 25 Ones getting lots of Bronx cheers 28 Hops driers 31 Speakeasy employee 33 Saturn SUV
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
34 Physics class topic 38 Bryce Canyon state 39 Cider press leftovers 40 Patricia of “Everybody Loves Raymond” 41 Of a blood line 44 “Va-va-voom!” 45 Self-assured 46 Gushes on a set
4/3/14
49 His last blog post ended, “I’ll see you at the movies” 50 Most Iraqis 53 Mid-11th century year 55 Eye, at the Louvre 57 Some RPI alums 59 Mike Trout’s team, on scoreboards
2
January 17, 2014 arbiteronline.com
3
Aries (March 21- April 19): While you are sitting there wasting time, there is money to be made out there! Get up and get yourself together! If you’re poor, it’s because you aren’t trying hard enough to earn the almighty dollar. The greatest people in American history pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, you damn louse! Oh wait, most of their parents were already rich.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Your desire to express yourself will result in you buying a plastic recorder and joining in on local third grade music lessons. Your spirit will find peace through songs like “Hot Cross Buns” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb”. Your age and size will confuse and infuriate elementary music teachers who will likely report you to the Boise Police Department.
Taurus (April 20-May 20): Your favorite pair of sunglasses will be stolen, prompting you to follow the perpetrator across the country, experiencing strange and wonderful adventures along the way. Though you won’t catch the thief, you will join a desert cult in Arizona and eventually settle down to a routine of hanging out at the local airport waving signs about the impending apocalypse.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Start a garden this spring and begin a whole new phase of your life where your health comes first. Eat lean meats and plenty of vegetables and be sure to engage in regular exercise each day for at least 20 minutes. Stare at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you are an awesome person. Also, make sure to drink your own urine.
Gemini (May 21-June 20): During these trying economic times, you will find out just how resourceful you really are. Much to the chagrin of Boise citizens and local law enforcement, you will begin bathing nude in the Boise River near campus. Also, your soap will be homemade from the human fat you will steal from liposuction clinics across the Treasure Valley in daring midnight raids.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22): This may sound a bit depressing, but it’s time to start planning the final journey. You know, death! Don’t be all macabre! Were all gonna take the big dirt nap so we might as well do it in style. Next time you have a free day, peruse the many headstone and coffin styles available. I already picked out my own Arnold Schwarzenegger themed funeral.
Cancer (June 21-July 22): You couldn’t have asked for a better week for yourself, Cancer. Things are really looking up. First off, your friends will throw you a surprise party for no apparent reason at all. Even your parents will be there! Then you will find $500 in the park that you will use to get full sleeve tribal tattoos and huge gauges in your ears. The hipsters will worship you.
Capricorn (Dec. 23-Jan. 19): You will be honored as a local hero this week when you summon superhuman strength and lift a city bus off of an injured child. Crowds of people will cheer you on and you will be carried on their backs to city hall where Mayor Dave Bieter will pin a big shiny medal on your chest before the throngs of onlookers. Then you will be arrested for outstanding warrants.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): How many goddamn times do I have to tell you to stay away from negative energy crystals, Leo? You know you can only draw power from expensive rubies and diamonds! I’m not advocating breaking the law or anything, but the only way you will be able to balance your chakra will be to rob a local jewelry store. Life can be challenging.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): After starting a local fight club, you will realize how much money can be made through bloodsport. Ten bucks a head times 50 members each night means 500 sweet dollars in your pocket. Only after one of your members is accidentally murdered will you and the other members be forced to flee to South America to avoid prosecution.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Those neighbor kids are walking on your lawn again and you have had just about enough of their cellular phones and rock and/or roll music. The only solution is to tear out all of your grass and install electrified metal flooring. That way, the next time any of these damn kids try to take a shortcut through your lawn, they will be left squirming on the cold ground.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): A camping trip early in the spring will leave you stranded and soaking wet in Central Idaho’s wilderness areas. You will be forced to subsist on squirrel meat and tree bark. Soon enough you will feel at ease in the wild and run free, sporting animals skins to cover your genitals. The U.S. Forest Service will eventually hire you as a freelance ranger.
E ditor - in -C hief Tabitha Bower
editor@ arbiteronline.com
M anaging E ditor
Emily Pehrson
managingeditor@ arbiteronline.com
N ews E ditor
Mallory Barker news@ arbiteronline.com
I nvestigative N ews E ditor
Ryan Thorne inews@ arbiteronline.com John Engel sports@ arbiteronline.com
A ssistant S ports E ditor
Michael Steen sports@ arbiteronline.com
A rts & E ntertainment E ditor
Madison Killian arts@ arbiteronline.com
A ssistant A rts & E ntertainment E ditor Katie Johnson arts@ arbiteronline.com
Devin Ferrell/THE ARBITER
S ports E ditor
Editor’s Pic The Funnies
Saturday, April 5 will be “Student on the Blue” day. Students are invited to meet at the Bleymaier Football Complex at 2:30 p.m. They will receive a tour of the complex, run out Victory Tunnel onto The Blue and take photos with some of their favorite football players. There will also be music, games and prizes on The Blue. At 5 p.m. students are invited to stay for the 5 p.m. football scrimmage.
Ryan Thorne, Christian Spencer/THE ARBITER
Sudoku
Level: 1
2
3
4
O nline E ditor
Kaitlyn Hannah onlineeditor@ arbiteronline.com
P hoto E ditor
Devin Ferrell photo@ arbiteronline.com
C opy E ditors
Alx Stickel Brenna Brumfield Briana Cornwall
Graphic Manager Megan Nanna
Graphic Designers Jovi Ramirez Tyeson Anderson Christian Spencer
SOLUTION TO SATURDAY’S PUZZLE
Complete so each column a 3-by-3 bo (in bold bo contains e digit, 1 to For strate how to so Sudoku, v
B usiness M anager
Ben Tonak business@ arbiteronline.com
Contact Us
arbiteronline.com 1910 University Dr Boise, ID 83725 Phone: 208.426.6300 Fax: 888.388.7554 the The arbiter Arbiter
Distributed Mondays & Thursdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University and a designated public forum, where student editors make all content
11
decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body www.sudo and advertising sales. The firstThe copy is free. © 2010 Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. rights reserved. Additional copies canAllbe purchased for $1 apiece at The Arbiter offices.
arbiteronline .com arbiteronline.com
April 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
3
ACHD proposes bike lane Keely Mills @PelozaJ
Bipolar Disorder and Dating
Devin Ferrel/ the Arbiter
In a survey done last year by Transportation and Parking, it was found nearly 20 percent of commuters to Boise State choose a bicycle as their form of transportation. In order to promote cycling safety and accommodate for the rise in cyclists on the roads, Ada County Highway District has proposed some changes to the streets of downtown. Included in this plan is taking an auto lane out of Capitol Boulevard., Idaho Street, and Main Street to put in a buffered bicycle lane. “It’s kind of an obvious linkage that really needed to be made,” said Craig Quintana, chief information officer at ACHD, on the connecting of northern and southern downtown. ACHD has been working hard to get the community’s input on these proposed changes, and so far they’ve received nearly 300 comments from the people of Boise. However, Quintana fears that they are only hearing from one group of the community — cyclists. “Where we suspect we’re not getting good feedback and penetration in terms of public awareness is just the general driving public,” Quintana said. In order to bring these possible changes to the public’s attention even more, ACHD is planning to create a live demonstration of what these
Bike lanes near Boise State are being considered by the ACHD. changes would mean. Quintana explained that they are trying to “do our level best to simulate what it would really look like if we made these changes.” The demonstration could run from a couple weeks up to a month. However, it will be difficult to create this demonstration without making it look like a construction zone. “We can’t have a bunch of orange cones and orange barrels out there,” Quintana said. “Because in a construction zone, people drive and people bike differently.”
Boise’s downtown to campus is cycling along 8th street until reaching the Green Belt and then crossing the river at Friendship Bridge. Porter isn’t sure how having one less auto lane will affect motor traffic moving away from campus up Capitol Blvd. “We’ll have to wait and see,” Porter said, “there’s a lot of other access points to access University, like Beacon is a really good one.” Echo Knight a junior health education major, rides her bicycle to the university coming from south Boise. Knight
Quintana mentioned that extending bicycle lanes was highly influenced by Boise State. JC Porter, assistant director of Transportation and Parking Services at Boise State, feels the bicycle lanes would be a benefit to the community and to Boise State commuters. “I think anytime you can increase safety for cyclists it’s a good thing,” Porter said. “That (the bicycle lane) will definitely help promote cycling to and from campus.” Porter explained the safest route currently to get from
sticks to the back roads to avoid traffic. “Cars scare me. Riding by cars kind of freaks me out,” Knight said. Knight also works at Proto’s Pizza and will sometimes cycle from the university to there, which takes her up the Greenbelt and Capitol Boulevard. “I think that’d be a good thing,” said Knight on adding a bicycle lane to Capitol Boulevard. “I think that might make people feel more comfortable riding their bikes there and I think biking is better healthwise.”
Courtesy Comm 273
As a child, Carissa Wolf knew she wanted to be a writer. From documents composed of scribbles, to publishing a family newspaper featuring stories of what the dog did each day, Wolf began writing at a young age. Wolf carried passion for writing through junior high and high school, gaining experience working at the school newspaper. After a post-graduation, three-year cross-country road trip, Wolf returned to Boise to continue her education. Wolf ’s early passion for writing inevitably led her to journalism. Two bach-
“
elor’s and a master’s degree later, Wolf continues to be an active voice in the community. As a freelance journalist, Wolf has had opportunities to write for various local newspapers including The Blue Review, Boise Weekly and The Idaho Statesman. She was also a research assistant for the Wall Street Journal. Wolf ’s stories range from political coverage to human rights. “I sometimes write stories about things people may not care about but it is my job to explain why they should care about an issue or person they have never heard about. I love this part of my job,” Wolf said. After years of proven success, Wolf embarked on another endeavor driven
“
Zach Sparrow
The opportunity might not be at the daily newspaper anymore, but I think the opportunities are going to be at these non-profit journalism centers—like what we’re developing here at Boise State. —Carissa Wolf
by her childhood love of teaching. Wolf is now an adjunct professor, teaching courses in journalism, communication and sociology. Senior Karlo Mercene was a student in one of Wolf ’s sociology classes. “Honestly, I enrolled because I thought it would be an easy elective, but it ended up being one of the most helpful classes in preparing me for other courses,” Mercene said. Since 1992, the United States has lost 30 percent of reporters. Faced with this statistic, Wolf collaborated with Boise State professor Seth Ashley, Ph.D., and a committee of concerned journalists and co-founded the Idaho Media Initiative in 2013. The Idaho Media Initiative is partnering with the university to create a non-profit journalism center, where students and professionals would collaborate to report on issues, which have gone
courtesy carissa wolf
Boise State professor spreads media literacy
Carissa Wolf currently teaches at Boise State. uncovered. “The opportunity might not be at the daily newspaper anymore, but I think the opportunities are going to be at these nonprofit journalism centers, like what we’re developing here at Boise State,” Wolf said. The Idaho Media Initiative would promote journalism by creating a curriculum for schools to provide younger generations with information and courses in investigative journalism. Non-profit journalism
LOCAL MUSIC all at your fingertips
centers implement programs that spread media literacy, creating a demand for better reporting, which in turn creates opportunities and jobs for journalists across the state. “There’s 70 of them around the country, and 20 are affiliated with universities. Most of these have opened their doors in the last five years. So this is a brand new platform for journalism,” Wolf said. For more information on the Idaho Media Initiative, visit sspa.boisestate.edu/imi/.
“Breaking Expectations” is staff writer Shelby Bodine’s firsthand experience with living with mental illness. When you live everyday with a mental illness, you live with the realization that at some point you will have to share that fun fact with others. Of course, you could keep it bottled inside, but as I’ve discussed before, that is a terrible idea. So what happens when you meet the person who gives you butterflies and who you want to share everything with? Do you tell them or do you wait? The thing that makes this tough is that there is always a sense of the unknown stopping you from being upfront with them. How will they react? Will they think I am unstable? Will they not want anything to do with me anymore? The thing that makes this simple is that you have to learn to be honest with yourself before you can truly be honest in a relationship. That rule doesn’t only pertain to those with mental illness; it’s a true fact across the board. However, if you are lucky enough to have a mental illness and find someone you want to share everything with, there is a balance you must find. When I found someone I wanted to share this with, it was a complex idea to explain. On one part, I really didn’t want to lose what I had going, but on the other hand, the relationship wouldn’t be completely honest and I would also be constantly trying to keep a piece of who I am in the shadows. When I came clean and shared that I was bipolar, I was expecting a lot more theatrics than what occurred. I was met with, “Okay. So explain what that means.” I then explained how it just meant that sometimes I am hyper and don’t sleep and have all these ideas but other times I am dark and twisty. I am still the person that I’d been the whole time since meeting. If someone is scared and can’t understand something that is a part of you, why do you want to be with them anyway?
Your mini Boise State On iTunes and Google Play
the arbiter The Arbiter
arbiteronline .com arbiteronline.com
4
April 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
Bitcoins lose their viability In February of this year, what is known as Mt. Gox (Magic the Gathering Online Exchange) declared bankruptcy after losing around 900,000 bitcoins which they were housing for users while operating as an exchange bank. This sparked the plummet of value in bitcoins that the bitcoin community has seen recently. But none of this really makes sense unless one understands – what are Bitcoins? “It is a digital currency with no forced physical aspect that is not governed by any government or authority,” said Spencer Smith, junior computer science major who has been mining bitcoins since around two years ago. Mining is the term used for discovering, or creating, Bitcoins. “It’s so complicated it’s hard to put it in terms,” Smith said while trying to explain what exactly goes into mining. To break it down, every time a transaction of Bitcoins occurs, that transaction becomes public record for all the miners of the Bitcoin community to begin mining. The transaction creates a block, which houses a math question that must be solved in order to reap the bitcoins
“
It is a digital currency with no forced physical aspect that is not governed by any government or authority. —Spencer Smith
from it. Once each block is solved, the user that solved it receives 25 bitcoins. The current value of a single bitcoin rings in around $600, meaning solving a block will leave you with a whopping $15,000 or so. “Basically you’re solving a really hard math problem that is super hard to predict or fake,” Smith said. The mining, however, is done entirely by computers, not the people themselves. Miners put their computers to work in order to solve these logarithmic codes in the blocks. “It uses both your processor as well as using your graphics card,” Michael Allen, assistant professor for the Political Science Department said. Allen explained that it can take weeks for a computer running at full power to solve one block. That’s why the most common way now for people to begin mining bitcoins is through joining a pool. A pool is a network of computers all working together to solve the same problem. Then they distribute the
bitcoins equally among all the members of the pool. Allen suggested that this still may only be a good idea if you don’t have to worry about paying the electric bill, say if you live in the dorms. “The energy you spend, the resources you consume to run your computer to mine the Bitcoins may not match what you gain from being part of a pool that gets the bitcoins out,” Allen said. So how did Mt. Gox end up losing all these bitcoins with no way to find out where they went or who has them? One of the big appeals of bitcoins is that they are completely anonymous. No one knows who holds them or how many they are holding. Bitcoins are kept in digital wallets, but the owner of said wallets is not disclosed in any way. This way, no one can be sure if Mt. Gox was robbed, hacked, or if they are just keeping all the bitcoins themselves. “The problem with bitcoin for it to be successful in the long run is that they want people to start using it as an
courtesy mct wire campus
@PelozaJ
“
Keely Mills
everyday currency,” Allen said. “People will be reluctant to do so if they think it’s going to rise in value in the future.” Many people feel Bitcoins will do in the future. The volatility of Bitcoins is extreme; the only value they have being derived from the demand, as the supply of bitcoins can already be determined as a finite number. “We know over time the amount of Bitcoins that are going to be in existence ever is relatively fixed,” Allen said, “It’s a logarithmic curve.” The estimated amount of bitcoins that can ever exist is around 21 million.
When bitcoins began just five years ago, they were worth pennies. “I like the idea, but right now it’s kind of like a lottery ticket,” Mike Touchton, assistant professor for the political science department said. “It might work out very, very well in the long run if you buy the ticket now.” Though if people begin buying Bitcoins as a means for investment rather than for using as an everyday currency, the value of Bitcoins will drop extremely. Touchton feels that the lack of regulation with Bitcoins, one of the main attractions,
is also one of the biggest problems as to why it probably won’t be replacing any governmental currencies anytime soon. “It’s a very interesting idea, but as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, without a government to back the creation or monitor the use of these Bitcoins there can be major problems with trust,” Touchton said. “When you put your money in a bank in the United States it is insured to a certain amount of money, so you know that if your bank falls apart that you will be reimbursed up to that amount of money.”
TKE revamps their image Staff Writer
“I want to change the world,” sophomore entrepreneurship management major Brian Garretson said, without a hint of hesitation in his voice. Garretson spoke of his future plans without question, as if he knew that he would ultimately leave a positive, lasting legacy on his world. His plans have already begun to unfold at Boise State via his involvement with the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity, of which Garretson is the president. TKE is one of 13 Greek organizations on campus at Boise State. However, TKE is a Greek organization that has recently faced significant public scrutiny at the national level regarding a
racist-themed party thrown by the Arizona State chapter of the fraternity and at the Boise State level regarding the diminishment of the fraternity last semester. “Some chapters have members who are not meant to be there. Some chapters have members who were meant to be in another organization,” Garretson said. “You work with it and you try to find worth in your own organization.” Under current leadership, the fraternity seeks to thrive by participating in extensive service activities, by building a strong relationship with Boise State and by striving to live the values set forth by the fraternity. “We know that worldly living sometimes isn’t the best, so why don’t we become the better men to
make a better world,” Garretson said.
Service and Teke Week
The organization recently participated in Dance Marathon, which raised $37,000.23 for Children’s Miracle Network. TKE also partners with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at the national level, so a significant amount of the service work performed by all chapters of TKE is done in order to benefit St. Jude’s. The fraternity additionally hosts a weeklong campaign, called Teke Week, in order to promote friendly competition and volunteerism. “The whole purpose of the week is to better ourselves and better the community,” sophomore health science major Nick Parisi said. Parisi, a member of the fraternity, organizes Teke
Week.
Leadership
Garretson implemented Teke Week after adopting it from a similar fraternal activity at Virginia Tech. Garretson spent his spring break participating in a volunteer program in Jamaica with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center. “I’ve never been so empowered to do this and the current standing members of this chapter have never been so excited to keep going and live by the values,” Garretson said.
Looking Forward
Garretson believes that strengthening the relationship between the Greek community and Boise State is essential. “Before we decide to be Greek, we actually decide to go to Boise State University,
courtesy / tke
McKenzie Perkins
TKE refers to themselves as Band of Brothers. so that means we all have this common bond that we love Boise State University so much,” Garretson said. The fraternity is currently in the process of educating seven young men who will be initiated in the fall. Currently, the focus of the fraternity is planning Teke Week and rush for the upcoming fall, as well as the graduation of some of the fraternity’s seniors. Garretson continues to seek ways in which to live
the values of the fraternity as well as ways to help the young men of Tau Kappa Epsilon to become better men for a better world. “At the end of the day, it’s not the GPA that will measure our character. It’s not the amount of service. I know we love service, but it won’t measure our character either,” Garretson said. “It’s the relationships we build that will measure our character and the type of people we are.”
CAMPUS EATS on-campus deals
Are you Broke? FREE BAGELS! Everyday from 5pm - 7pm with purchase of 32oz fountain beverage
50% off Cheese Pizzas Monday through Thursday The Arbiter
Use your Bronco ID to claim these special student deals!
These deals are also available on The Arbiter and Pulse Facebook pages 24/7.
� B�� Buster
or Blue
Meal Plan
5
and get
MEALS FREE! Call 426-4636!
FREE add shot with espresso drink purchase
FREE pastry with purchase of espresso drink
5pm - 7pm
2 for $4! arbiteronline.com
April 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
5
Free college textbooks MCT Campus
Holding a whiteboard, the University of Maryland, College Park students scrawled their complaints and posed for a picture. “My name is Justin and I spent $114 on ONE textbook,” a student wrote. “My name is Jeff and I spent $736 on textbooks,” wrote another. The images, posted online by the Student Government Association in recent months, are designed to highlight the rapid rise in the price of college textbooks over the past decade. This semester, the University System of Maryland is exploring ways to bring that cost to zero with “opensource” electronic textbooks, the latest experiment in changing the way students across the nation are taught. Unlike electronic versions of textbooks sold by publishers, open-source textbooks are made up of materials gathered from various sources and are not protected by copyright. They are often designed to be interactive, with links to source material and multimedia elements. The materials are licensed openly, so anyone with an Internet connection can access them. A pilot program, which the university system estimates is saving 1,100 stu-
dents a combined $130,000, is the latest in a shift on the nation’s campuses toward digital learning. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the California State University system and the Washington State college system are among those that have built libraries of free online course materials in recent years. Still, open-source textbooks, which have been around for several years, face challenges and have not caught on broadly. “I don’t know if it’s transforming higher ed yet,” said Craig R. Vasey, a member of the American Association of University Professors who uses open-source materials in his logic class at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia. “I think the textbook publishing business is still doing very, very well.” In fact, the textbook industry is also working to offer cheaper alternatives to hardcover textbooks and even partnering with opensource textbook providers. The pilot program is part the University System of Maryland’s recent strategy to emphasize online learning. The system is also expanding its online-only course offerings. And this spring, the University of Baltimore launched its first online course open to anyone out-
side the state. The university system is also experimenting with “course redesign,” in which more course material is presented online and class time is restructured to focus more on discussion. Although the opensource textbook concept has been embraced by student groups such as the Student Government Association in College Park, university officials say the challenges include connecting professors with the materials they need for the textbooks and creating a system to assess the quality of the books. Another complication: Many universities are bound to contracts with private companies to run campus bookstores, where many students purchase their textbooks. University System of Maryland financial records show that the bookstore contracts are not always lucrative, however, last year the system lost about $1 million. Some students and a growing number of professors and university administrators say the cost of printed textbooks outweighs their usefulness. Textbook prices have risen an average of 82 percent between 2002 and 2012, about three times faster than the rate of infla-
College textbooks, print or digital, come at a high cost to students.
ing to buy the textbook, or outwit by trying to buy cheaper editions.” The University System of Maryland’s textbook pilot program stems from a partnership with Lu-
tion, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. High textbook prices are “quite ridiculous,” said Jesse Fox, president of the University System of Maryland Student Council, which lobbied system officials to study opensource textbooks. Fox, a doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, added, “The only reason this is the case is textbook companies can do this. There’s no check and balance.” The College Board estimates that the average college student spends $1,200 a year on textbooks, and the costs are often higher in fields like science or mathematics. The costs strain budgets as families struggle to pay for higher education, and sometimes students opt
not to buy textbooks or put off purchases until late in the semester, which can jeopardize their grades, according to student groups, advocates and administrators.
“The traditional model of textbook is like a game of ‘Survivor,’ “ said Meenu Singh, a College Park student coordinating the textbook cost awareness campaign for the Student Government Association. “It becomes a game of outwit and outlast: Let’s see how long we can last the semester without hav-
men Learning, a Portland, Ore.-based company that helps professors access open-source content, tests, graphics and other course materials that they can pull together into an electronic “book.”
Maria Shimel
or clues from the professor about what topics might be included on future exams or assignments. When you are in class, you might get clues on what information will not be in the test as well; this will save you time and effort later when it comes to studying. Remember to take thorough notes that will be easy for you to go through later. Attending class also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on
topics that you don’t understand. Class time counts as facetime with the professor. Take advantage of this—your professor is a valuable tool who can write letters of recommendation, advise you on educational and career choices, and open up opportunities that you never even knew existed. Long story short, you pay big bucks for your education—make sure you get your money’s worth!
Online Testing Center
Welcome back from Spring Break! We are halfway through the semester, so it’s a good time to remind you of the #1 rule of successful college students: Go to class. This concept can be difficult as the weather improves and we start to burn out on the academic year. Always keep in mind that when you attend classes, you might receive extra information
“
“
Courtesy
Arbiter Archives
New strategy would drop college textbook costs to zero
The only reason this is the case is textbook companies can do this. There’s no check and balance. —Jesse Fox
Local Eats
Read the full story at Arbiteronline.com
off-campus deals
Out on the Town?
Happy Hour4-6pm Monday-Friday
Buy one fry, get one FREE!
500 W. Idaho St. Expires July 31, 2014
(Some restrictions apply)
111 S. Broadway Ave (Less than .5 mile from the sub) www.boisefrycompany.com
Be sure to watch for more Boise State Dining Deals weekly in every Thursday edition of The Arbiter! the arbiter The Arbiter The Arbiter
arbiteronline .com arbiteronline.com
6
April 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
Students should escape the classroom Nate Lowery I think it’s time we all grow up a little. No longer are we bound by the chains of the high school education system, obsessed and solely driven by GPAs and test scores. You have nothing left to prove, so make the most of your time in college and get out of the classroom! I came into Boise State this past fall expecting to finally be enlightened, to have the opportunity to actually learn something instead of just regurgitating “knowledge” on a scantron. Instead, I was met with the cruel realization that college is just like high school. Boise State is a wonderful school with wonderful faculty, but I still have seen the same thing I went through in high school: let’s give out pointless busy work, testing the students to see who can accomplish it with the least amount of effort. Many of us just glide along through college, simply attending class, expecting our work in the classroom alone will secure a job waiting for us upon graduation. Unfortunately, the real world isn’t like that. A degree is not job training or experience, it is only a paper that shows we’re willing to work.
Cody finney/arbiter archives
Staff Writer
Tannen Campbell (above) has played on the Boise State club lacrosse team since his freshman year. I’m making the most out of my college experience by choosing to put the majority of my time and energy into endeavors out of the constricting walls of a classroom. Instead of spending countless hours studying
and working on class work, it would benefit us all if we escaped the classroom and got out into the real world, where things matter. Our quest for knowledge is not gained inside of a classroom. It is gained by becoming involved in
organizations. I, like many, saw high school as a waste of time, so when faced with the choice of how to experience college, involve yourself! Get out into the community and make connections. We are all better off
People: It’s not BSU, it’s you Katie Johnson
Assistant Arts Editor
As my years at Boise State add up and graduation steadily draws closer (yes, it really is getting closer), I have seen a trend that concerns me as a rather involved student on campus. The more my peers and I start to think about what to do after graduation, the more I hear
concerns that graduating from Boise State will impact people negatively in the application pool. I’ve heard this from multiple students, whether it be that they don’t feel prepared for a graduate program, or that they don’t feel like their resume is strong enough to get them the kind of job they want post-graduation. And here’s the thing. I’m
tired of people bagging on Boise State. I have no concerns about getting in to law school for this reason: admissions committees look at more than grades and test scores. Every post-Boise State option I have looked in to makes me feel as though they want to hire and admit well-rounded people. Debbie Kaylor, Boise State Career Center direc-
tor, stressed the importance of having more than a degree on your resume. “A degree is not enough,” Kaylor said. “That piece of paper is not enough.” And she tells students the same thing. “If you’re coming in here as a senior, you’re too late.” Kaylor said. “It’s the out of the classroom activities that matter to employers and
involving ourselves with some of Boise State’s over 200 organizations and taking on leadership roles. The opportunity is ours for the taking. Making grades and getting that degree still matters, but get out of the classroom!
The real world is not a room with four walls and a professor lecturing you; it is a place where those who are successful are the ones who get out into an unfamiliar environment and attack every opportunity they see.
grad schools. Coming out of Boise State doesn’t look bad on applications.” In a nutshell: College is more than going to class. If you haven’t spent your college career building a resume and trying to make yourself someone that employers want to hire and admissions committees want to admit… well, that’s not Boise State’s fault. There are posters all over campus trying to get students to get involved. From running for an ASBSU office to attending a networking
event to getting help with career options, there are so many ways to get involved and expand your resume. And if you aren’t doing those things to make yourself stand out in application pools, that is on you, not Boise State. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Boise State can give you every opportunity to make yourself a well-rounded applicant, but nobody is going to hold your hand and guide you through it unless you reach out and ask for the help you need.
Do you believe you are getting a quality education at Boise State? I think I’m definitely getting a quality education. I’ve found that the professors are extremely wiling to work with you and point you the right direction if you only put in all the effort and that they are extremely engaged and want the best for their students. So I’ve had a lot of opportunities presented to me. Ivana Mullner Linguistics
You get what you put into it. You can skate by in classes and not read your texts fully and just Google all assignments through and you’ll probably walk out with a decent B and pass and feel like you paid for nothing. But if you engage yourself in your education and you actually spend the time doing the readings and then the supplemental material, which professors do give, and then come to class prepared and not afraid to have a discussion, you’ll probably have the same quality education that you would get anywhere in the United States.
Yeah, I think so. I don’t have reason to think otherwise I guess, so that’s why I wouldn’t say no. Naomi Aguirre Marketing
Esteban Galan Political science
I think that I am getting a good, quality education here, but there are just certain things like the way the Art Department is treated here is kind of bullshit, and you can put that in The Arbiter. It’s just certain things like that, but that’s beside the question. I do feel that I’m getting a quality education and I’m glad I’m going to college.
Ashley Martinez Visual arts
I think that I am getting a pretty good education. I think that my major is very interdisciplinary so there is a lot of different courses I have been taking for the major, but overall I would say that yeah, I am very happy with what I am doing. I mean, the pricing and everything like parking, there’s little things at any university that’s kind of a pain in the ass, but overall with the education, I think I’m doing just fine. I enjoy it.
Richard Martinez
Environmental Studies
The Arbiter wants to hear from you! We accept Letters to the Editor and guest opinions from students, faculty and staff on campus. Guidelines: Submissions should be 300-500 words. Your submission will be edited for spelling and grammar. Please include your name and major or university affiliation. The Arbiter reserves the right not to publish any submission received.
the arbiter The Arbiter
arbiteronline .com arbiteronline.com
April 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
7
April Calendar Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday
Friday An Evening with Bill Cosby at the Morrison Center (8 p.m.)
Mind Body Recovery Workshop in the Rec Center Group Excercise Room (7:30
Waka Flocka Flame at the Revolution Center (8 p.m.)
The Arcade Building hosts an
”From Aca to Alla and back: Leaving, loving, and
Frida Kahlo: Her life and
legislating across America’s Southern border” in the
Art in the Student Union
student union Farnsworth room
p.m.)
evening of culture and art to display
Pi Kappa Phi war of the roses: Rose
Mexican photography by Monica Guerrero
Pageant at the SPEC (11 a.m.- 4p.m.)
Mouret in celebration of Mexico week
Simplot C Ballroom
(4 p.m.- 11 p.m.)
(6:30 p.m.)
‘Honor Flight’
Tasty Tuesday in the
“Wicked” at the
Documentary in the
Student Union Hatch
Morrison Center
Record Store Day at the
Student Union Simplot
Ballroom (5 p.m.)
(16- 20) (22-27)
Record Exchange
Ballroom (6:30 p.m.)
(29-30)
-Franz Ferdinand at the Knitting Factory
Gavin Degraw at the Knitting Factory (7:30 p.m.)
-Ellie Goulding at the
Investigative
Revolution Concert House
Journalist Amanda Ripley (7 p.m.)
Quidditch team sweeps up competition Nicole Kopczynski Isabel Corona Staff Writers
closely associated with Harry Potter, despite its literary origins. “I don’t want to talk about Harry Potter,” sophomore history secondary education major Stew Driflot said. “I like to exclude the sport from Harry Potter itself.” For sophomore teammates business major Meghann Neveau and English major with a linguistic emphasis Chance Fuerstinger, the sport is closely connected to the Harry Potter franchise. Neveau and Fuerstinger, who are roommates, both grew up with Harry Potter and have collectables in their apartment. “In our apartment when
Nicole kopczynski/the arbiter
courtesty/Kat Ignatova
Forget what you’ve heard. Quidditch is no longer just for wizards and Potterheads, but muggles too. Although originally J.K. Rowling’s fictional creation was available only to witches and wizards, Quidditch has developed into a real-life sport played by both fans and those unacquainted with the world of Hogwarts. Junior political science major Kym Couch, manager of the Boise State Quidditch team, explained that her love of Harry Potter isn’t the reason why
she plays the sport. “I like Harry Potter and it’s great, but it’s not why I play Quidditch,” Couch said. Quidditch allows players to meld two of their passions: entertainment and physical activity. Couch said she decided to help form the team because she had always been passionate about sports. “There’s the people who want it to be really connected to the books and then there’s the people who want it to be separate,” Couch said. “It’s moving more towards a sport that is separated from that whole fandom situation.” Many of the players are upset that the sport is so
The Quidditch team is gearing up for two upcoming games.
you walk in, there about 17 wands up on the wall. We have all the replicas of the wands, Harry Potter flags and Slytherin stuff,” Neveau said. The one thing many of the Quidditch team want people to know is it is not a Harry Potter club. “Don’t go into it expecting it to be a joke, because it’s hardcore and you’re going to get hurt,” Fuerstinger said. Despite the fact that the game is physically grueling, many spectators continue to see it as Harry Potter fanatics running around on “broomsticks.” Driflot explained this perception prevents them from being seen as a sport rather than a club. “No matter how serious we get, no matter how good our team is, we’re still running around on broomsticks throwing balls and catching a snitch. There’s always going to be that challenge,” Driflot said. The Quidditch team is always open to new members, and those interested in joining can stop by their practices on Sundays from 12-2 p.m. on the field in front of the SUB. Those interested in watching a match can catch them on April 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Smurf Turf for a tournament against other teams.
The rules of Quidditch • Three chasers score goals worth 10 points with a volleyball called a quaffle • Each team has a keeper to protect their hoops • Two beaters with dodgeballs, called the bludgers, help keep flow of the game by getting players out by hitting them with the balls • Each team has a seeker to catch the snitch • The snitch is a ball attached to the snitch player, who wears a yellow uniform and tries to avoid capture • The snitch is worth 30 points and its capture ends game • A Quidditch game requires each team to have at least two players on the field who identify with a different gender than at least two other players. The gender that a player identifies with is considered to be that player’s gender, which may or may not be the same as that person’s sex the arbiter The Arbiter
Group foothill rides April 3, 10, & 17. 5:30 PM
Located on the bottom floor of the Lincoln Garage
arbiteronline .com arbiteronline.com
8A
pril 3, 2014 arbiteronline.com
Gymnastics looks to fly high at regionals
Compared to the top teams in their region the Broncos will be the underdogs. But don’t let them hear you say that. “I think we are, but we
know we are a great gymnastics team and we are capable of beating anybody on any given day,” Resnick said. “We have as good a chance as anybody.”
Even though the Broncos are not favored to come out of their respected region the Broncos know they have what it takes to not only make it but to win the region as well. “I think the other teams think we are underdogs,” Jacobsen said. “But us personally because we have achieved so much this season we are going to come in there knowing we can take it all.” Boise State will not be intimidated by the top teams, in fact they are the ones who are planning on doing the intimidating. “The teams really haven’t seen us,” Wossner said. “When they see how clean our form is and how good we are in each event, they are going to be intimidated.” Boise State would love nothing more than to cap off their record-breaking season by becoming the first team in school history to go to nationals. “It would be such an honor and a reward,” Wossner said. “We have worked our whole lives for this.”
worry about what anyone else is doing.” Despite the added pressure of needing to compete well against MWC teams, Thorpe believes Boise State needs to play in the present to avoid letdown. “It’s about keeping things light and trying to have fun while also having small goals within the game,” Thorpe said. “We just need to stay in the present time and give it all we have.” Excellent pitching has spelled doom for Boise State thus far this season. According to Thorpe, the Broncos have faced two of the best pitchers
in the conference thus far this season in Fresno State’s Jill Compton and Colorado State’s Holly Reinke. With the Runnin’ Rebels’ Amanda Oliveto — who led UNLV to an upset win over ranked Texas — coming to town, Thorpe knows the Broncos will have another challenge on their hand this week. If history is any indicator however, the Broncos will have no problems keeping pace with the Runnin’ Rebels — Boise State leads the overall series 5-3 over UNLV, and is 5-1 since joining the conference. “We’re hoping (to continue
the streak against UNLV) but you never know,” Thorpe said. “You just have to show up to play.” History is not the only advantage Boise State has this weekend over the Runnin’ Rebels—the Broncos hold a 10-3 record from the sanctity of Dona Larsen Park. Thorpe credits the impressive home record to the enjoyment of playing at home, the excellent facilities at Dona Larsen Park, as well as the fans of Bronco Nation. Play beings at 3 p.m. Friday April 4 at Dona Larsen Park and continues through Sunday.
Brandon Walton “We know we have to get this done,” co-head coach Neil Resnick said. “If we want to be at the next level then it’s all about qualifying for nationals and being a top-12 team.” The 16 ranked Broncos head to regionals in Seattle this weekend for a chance to achieve their ultimate goal, making it to nationals. “Everybody was on board to make it to nationals,” sophomore Krystine Jacobsen said. “We called it getting on the bus to Birmingham.” Boise State, along with six other teams, will head to the Seattle Regional for a chance to compete on the grandest of stages in college gymnastics. “I think it’s a really good region,” sophomore Marissa Wossner said. “I definitely think there is going to be competition but it’s nothing we can’t handle because we have been put in tough situations all year and it’s just another one we have to keep our confi-
Jake Essman/THE ARBITER
Staff Writer
The Boise State gymnastics team is looking to continue a successful season at regionals. dence up for.” The Broncos were put in a tough region. Boise State joins no. 33 Washington, no. 25 BYU, no. 20 Denver, no. 9 Nebraska and no. 4
Alabama. Only the top two teams advance to nationals. “I think it’s probably the strongest region looking at the lineup of teams,” Resnick said.
Softball prepares for UNLV
Nate Lowery Staff Writer
wins over the Bulldogs which began conference play at Dona Larsen Park March 21-23. With the amount of depth in the MWC, Thorpe knows that even the last place team in the league can earn a win over the first place team. “I think there’s so many good teams in the Mountain West that I think we need to get wins whenever we possibly can,” Thorpe said. “Anything can happen in this conference on any day. We just need to play our best ball we can. We can’t
Devin Ferrell/THE ARBITER
Coming off a series loss at the hands of Colorado State, Boise State (17-16) finds themselves facing a must win series this weekend. The Broncos currently sit at eighth place in the MWC standings at 2-4 but a pivotal series against UNLV this weekend has the potential to vault the Broncos to the top of the standings. “This (past) weekend was a pretty rough week-
end,” Broncos head coach Erin Thorpe said. “We have to be able to rebound from that and get some wins against UNLV.” Thorpe, the only head coach in Broncos softball history, understands how important it is for Boise State to notch some wins in conference play in order to avoid falling too far back in the rankings. UNLV currently sits tied for first in league play with San Jose State, Fresno State and San Diego State. Boise State notched two
Softball will host the UNLV Rebels this weekend at Dona Larsen Park.
Rice finds post replacement @MichaelSteen2
The Boise State men’s basketball team landed a big replacement for Ryan Watkins on Monday night in a verbal commitment from 6-foot-10 center, Kevin Allen. “It felt like a perfect fit for me,” Allen said. “Coach Rice showed a lot more interest in me than the other schools and they play at a very high level.” Allen spent his freshman year for the 20122013 season at Jackson Community College in
Senior Ryan Watkins will be difficult to replace. He averaged 11.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
Michigan where he average 8.8 points and pulled down 6.5 rebounds per game in 13 contests. The Ecorse High School (Detroit, Mich.) graduate then transferred to Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kan. for the 20132014 season where he averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in 31 appearances. In a loss in the first round of the NJCAA Tournament this year, Allen poured in 31 points and pulled down 17 rebounds in a 68-65 loss to Trinity Valley Community
College. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life,” Allen said. “I just needed someone to give me a chance.” Allen will have big shoes to fill, as the Broncos will lose Second-Team All-Mountain West forward Ryan Watkins who became the first Mountain West player to score over 200 points and grab over 200 rebounds in conference play. Allen can officially sign with the Broncos on April 16.
Jake Essman/THE ARBITER
Michael Steen
Leon Rice signed a replacement for Ryan Watkins. the arbiter The Arbiter
arbiteronline .com arbiteronline.com