The Arbiter 3.31.22 Vol. 34 Issue 11 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

March 31, 2022

Vol. 34, Issue 11

I NDEP EN D E N T

STUD E N T

VO I C E

O F

B O I SE

STATE

S I N C E

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ROOTED IN REVIVAL

how treefort music fest rallied boise towards a cultural renaissance NEWS

The Jones-Bernard ticket won the ASBSU president and vice president election by a 1.2% margin.

VISIT US ONLINE:

OPINION Idaho rightly considers dropping biased standardized testing that wrongly profits off of students. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

The rich culture and unique history make Basque studies interesting and applicable to all students. @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

After their Division I program was cut in 2020, club baseball is ready for its comeback.

@arbiteronline

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

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

Fifth-year softball player Alison Seng hits against Fresno State on March 19.

ON THE COVER:

Last week, Treefor t Music Fest celebrated its 10th anniversar y following a hard-fought battle through the COVID pandemic. Since its conception, Treefor t has established a legacy of ser vice and trust that became its saving grace during a time of financial turmoil. Photo: Claire Keener | The Arbiter

HOW TO REACH US:

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

MISSION:

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

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

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

STUDENT MEDIA IS HIRING! APPLY NOW ON HANDSHAKE

SPORTS AND REC REPORTER & EDITOR NEWS REPORTER & EDITOR ONLINE EDITOR CULTURE REPORTER & EDITOR COPY EDITOR OPINION EDITOR ILLUSTRATOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER SOCIAL MEDIA & OUTREACH COORDINATOR ADVERTISING AND SALES CONSULTANT & MANAGER MUSIC DIRECTOR PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR OPERATIONS MANAGER IT SUPPORT TECHNICIAN

NEWS

March 31, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

JONES-BERNARD TICKET WINS CLOSE ELECTION TO ASBSU PRESIDENCY

With a 1.2% lead over runner up Kline-Zak, Jones and Bernard were elected as ASBSU president and VP Fenix Dietz | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

1,283 votes. Barkley currently serves as a member of the General Assembly. She wants to “foster academic excellence” at the university. Her platform goals include increasing the graduation rate and increasing the accessibility and advertising for financial aid opportunities for students.

dam Jones and Ryan Bernard won the Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) President and Vice President race with 752 votes, or 50.6% of votes, while Eric Kline and Kelsie Zak finished with 733 votes, or 49.4% of the vote. Julie Feferman and Sarah Fry finished in third, and their votes were redistributed along with the write-in votes in accordance with ASBSU’s instant runoff voting model. ASBSU conducted elections from March 15-16. Members of the student body voted for ASBSU elected officials, including choosing from three presidential tickets, for the 2022 - 2023 year. According to an email sent by ASBSU, the elections had a total vote count of 1,535, which accounts for 10% of all eligible voters. This shows a significant increase from the spring 2021 ASBSU elections results, which pulled in 1,102 votes, or 7% of the eligible voters. The winners for the 2022 ASBSU elections were announced as follows:

President and Vice President Adam Jones and Ryan Bernard (50.6%). Jones and Bernard received 752 votes, with Jones currently serving as a member of the General Assembly. They seek to “improve the quality of life for Boise State students.” Their platform goals include enhancing the significance of Greek life at Boise State and seeking a way to eliminate over-credit fees for students. It is unclear if a body such as ASBSU would be able to achieve the latter of these goals as the over-credit fees policy is decided by the Idaho State Board of Education. Additionally, an ethics complaint was filed against Jones on Feb. 16 concerning a breach of code 6.V.C.4. The code states that “A Candidate may not begin Campaigning until they receive written approval from the Elections Manager.” Adam Jones and individuals affiliated with him reportedly began campaigning before receiving approval, which could have given his ticket an

unfair advantage over other candidates, according to the complaint. A hearing date was set for March 4. The Arbiter is working to obtain more information and a recording of the hearing.

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs Kalista M. Barkley (89.9%). Barkley ran unopposed and received

Associate Vice President of Student Organizational Affairs Rylee Bray (89.7%). Bray ran unopposed and received 1,284 votes. Bray has been involved with the Honors College leadership team on their service committee. As the Associate Vice President of Student Organizational Affairs, she seeks to increase both awareness and communication between ASBSU and student clubs and organizations. Bray also would like to provide more funding for these groups in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inauguration will be taking place on Monday, April 18 at 4 p.m. at Berquist Lounge in the SUB.

Ryan Bernard & Adam Jones

Melanie Figueroa Zavala

Kalista M. Barkley

Rylee Bray

Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence Melanie Figueroa Zavala (87.6%). Zavala ran unopposed and received 1,253 votes. Zavala has previously worked for the World Languages Department and is a member of the Trio Rising Scholars program. Zavala believes that her background as a first-generation Mexican and female college student give her a unique perspective with this position. Her platform revolves around the creation of a “tight-knit community in which everyone feels represented, heard and welcomed.”

The 2022 ASBSU inauguration will take place on April 18 in the Bergquist Lounge in the SUB.

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Photos courtesy of candidate’s campaigns

NEWS

NEW STUDENTS FOR LABOR CLUB AIMS TO EDUCATE ON WORKERS’ RIGHTS

The club has worked collaboratively with other labor-friendly organizations like ILPOC and AFL-CIO Br ydon Black | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

tudents For Labor (SFL) is a new student club at Boise State interested in educating students on the importance of organized labor and how to participate in working-class politics, outside of the Democrat and Republican parties. Aaron Liu is a junior sociology major minoring in labor studies and became a member of SFL this semester. Liu said that SFL has been working in conjunction with the Idaho Labor Party Organizing Committee (ILPOC) to help spread its newspaper publication “The Field Hand,” which features letters written by Idahoan union members. “Our goal is to educate the next generation of Idaho’s working class about their rights and abilities as workers to collectively organize for a better future,” Liu said. SFL has also worked with other labor-friendly organizations involved with the ILPOC and have been active within local labor councils of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States. Part of SFL’s goal is to popularize the idea of the creation of their own political party separate from that of the Democrat or Republican Party. “We view an independent party made up of and beholden to the interests of workers as being the only way to fight back against the landlords and developers, who are helping push Idahoans to the depths of economic desperation,” Liu said. Some of the issues SFL are concerned with are Idaho’s increasingly unaffordable cost of living, low wages and “right to work” laws which they say have helped cripple unions. “Right to work” is a carefully worded law that, despite its name, does not give workers a guaranteed right to a job. The laws are used to kneecap unions by allowing workers who are employed at union

Students For Labor attends the Jan. 29 community potluck event in solidarity with the local unhoused protest. Claire Keener | The Arbiter jobs to opt out of paying dues or joining the company’s union. “You used to have to pay what they call ‘fair share dues’ which was less than the dues a member would pay, but this portion would go toward collective bargaining,” said Martin Orr, professor of sociology and director of labor studies at Boise State. “In a lot of states they’ve taken advantage of these rights to work laws which Idaho passed in 1986 … It takes resources away from the union and makes things much more difficult for them.” Orr also said that large companies, such as Walmart, Starbucks and Amazon, will spy on workers attempting to organize unions, show anti-union videos on the job, illegally fire organizers and hire companies that specialize in union busting. According to a 2019 estimate by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), employers spend roughly $340 million annually on “union avoidance” consultants to help them avert union elections.

Liu said the weakness of organized labor in Idaho is a large reason why Idaho still has a $7.25 minimum wage, and such weakness is used as leverage over vulnerable workers, particularly undocumented farm and dairy workers. Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, said the dairy industry is made up of about 90% immigrant workers and that many of Idaho’s dairy workers are undocumented, via the Idaho Statesman. “Being undocumented further strains the ability of people trying to provide for their family to stand up for themselves on the job in cases of harassment, let alone bargain for higher wages,” Liu said. According to the Idaho Press, Idaho’s 2018 median wage, which was released in May of 2019, ranked 43rd in the nation. This, combined with rising housing costs, particularly in the Treasure Valley, has caused a crisis. Members of SFL attended the Jan. 29

potluck at the old Ada County courthouse in solidarity with Boise’s unhoused population. “We got off campus and into the streets, demanding justice for those who are victims of an economy that increasingly pushes working people off the job site, out of their homes and into the streets,” Liu said. Orr said it’s important to note that the wins coming out of the labor movement have been enjoyed by the population at large, not just union workers. “One of the things that unions have done is reduce the work day from 12 to eight hours. The five-day week and the weekend are products of the labor movement,” Orr said. “Teacher unions have pushed for smaller classrooms, better funding, more resources for students, so our public education system is better for the fact that it is largely unionized … thank the labor movement that we’re not working in the sort of factories that we worked in [during] the 19th century.”

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NEWS

BOISE STATE FACULTY CO-WRITE BOOK ABOUT INFLUENTIAL IDAHO LATINAS

“Nosotras” highlights the lives and stories of Idahoan women in Latinx communities Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Cárdenas (left) and Wakild (right) received funding for “Nosotras” through an Idaho Humanities Council grant. Claire Keener | The Arbiter

hen Maria González Cárdenas tells people that she’s writing a book about Latinx Idahoans, she often gets a similar response. “‘I didn’t know there were Latinx people in Idaho,’ that’s usually the response.” Cárdenas is the co-author of “Nosotras,” a book that profiles 50 Latinas who have shaped Idaho in the last 50 years. “We have contributed, we are contributing, we will continue to contribute,” Cárdenas said. Cárdenas is a former college counselor in the College Assistance Migrant Program at Boise State University, and has served on several Idaho Hispanic boards and in Latinx organizations as a part of her background in migrant work. The idea to write a book about Latinas in Idaho first came to her in 1992 while working as the president of Mujeres Unidas de Idaho. It wasn’t until 2020 that Cárdenas introduced the idea to Boise State professor Emily Wakild, who joined the project soon after.

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“Emily got really excited about it, especially because Emily has published work and done work within the Latina community,” Cárdenas said. Wakild has both worked in and published books about Mexico, which were translated into Spanish. “Through that process of translation, it became apparent to me how easy it is to publish things that need to exist in this world,” Wakild said. Cárdenas and Wakild received funding for “Nosotras” through a Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant from the Idaho Humanities Council. “I was really excited that they were so willing to support an important project like this,” Wakild said. Initially, the book was intended to focus on Latinx Idahoans with Mexican descent, though the project evolved to highlight women in the Latinx community in particular. “The resounding [response] was, ‘No Maria, it’s got to be about women,’” Cárdenas said. “It’s got to be about Latina women and, if you can, Mexican-descent women.”

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According to Cárdenas, most of the stories from the Latinx community that get told are about men, leaving out an equally important part of their history. “One thing that’s exciting about this project is the opportunity to tell stories that haven’t been seen, and to be able to tell them in the words of the people that experienced them,” Wakild said. Nearly 13% of Idaho’s population indicated they were Hispanic or Latino, with Latinx children making up 18% of K-12 public school students, according to the 2020 census. As Wakild pointed out, this means that approximately 1 in 5 students in Idaho public schools are Latinx, though their representation in higher education along with Idaho’s history remains unbalanced. “So that means that [20%] of Boise State should be Hispanic or Latinx, and it’s not, and we’re nowhere close to that,” Wakild said. “Even less so when we look at political representation.” Cárdenas hopes that this book will help young Latinas feel represented and encourage them to visualize a path to becoming influential Idaho women. “We lose so many, they don’t even make it through their junior year, often,” Cárdenas said. “So that’s why getting to even younger than middle school and junior high is so important.” Though the Latinx population in Idaho is diverse, “Nosotras” is set to have a larger focus on Latina women of Mexican descent in order to be more representative of the population. The state of Idaho is unique in that 85% of Latinx citizens in Idaho are of Mexican descent. However, Mexicans only represent 62% of the Latinx population on a national level. This means that Idaho Hispanics are more likely than all U.S. Hispanics to be of Mexican descent, according to the 2021 Hispanic Profile Data Book for Idaho. “Latinas and Latinx communities

have reinvented rural Idaho,” Wakild said. “There’s a vibrancy in the community, and yet when we think about rural, the white dude in the cowboy hat is sort of what’s on the cover for Idaho. Part of this project is expanding what we think of when we think of rural, because it’s a multicultural rural, there’s a reinvention.” Part of Cárdenas and Wakild’s goal for their book is to ensure its accessibility to the various communities in Idaho, regardless of language or financial barriers. “We don’t want that to be a barrier, that just the English speaking young women or women are able to read it,” Cárdenas said. “We want the moms, the grandmas, to be able to read it. And a lot of those are going to be Spanish speakers.” Aside from providing different translations of the book, Wakild outlined two goals for making sure the book is more accessible as an educational tool: one of which is public library access. “We would like it to be in public libraries all around the state,” Wakild said. “We would like to send copies to as many libraries as we can afford to do.” Additionally, Wakild hopes to offer workshops for teachers that will illustrate how they can incorporate the book into their teaching and lesson plans. Cárdenas also hopes to have an electronic version available at some point in the future. The release of “Nosotras” is planned for September 2022, Latinx Heritage Month. With the project still undergoing the writing process, Wakild encourages the Boise State community to reach out if they know of someone whom they believe should be featured in the book. “We don’t want people to feel chosen, or not chosen or overlooked,” Wakild said. For those who wish to suggest Latinas for the authors to highlight in the book, please contact Emily Wakild at emilywakild@boisestate.edu.

NEWS

LAUNDRY FEES TO BE ELIMINATED FOR ON-CAMPUS STUDENTS

Starting in fall 2022, laundry will be free in Boise State housing, made possible by cutting cable services Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

tarting next fall, laundry will be completely free to Boise State students living in on-campus housing. According to Dr. Luke Jones, director for Housing and Residence Life, this change has been in motion since 2018, but progress was largely halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve been trying for several years to make the shift and just include the cost of laundry, washing, drying with the cost of housing fees,” Luke Jones said. “And we were just about to see that when COVID hit, and so that threw everything off.” The decision to eliminate laundry fees was made possible by projected cost savings to the housing department of around $150,000, according to Luke Jones.

The cost savings would come from cutting cable services in housing buildings, with the exception of the dormitory common rooms. According to Luke Jones, national data and data at Boise State shows that students don’t actively utilize the cable service. However, Housing and Residence Life currently includes a charge for cable as part of the university’s housing costs. “Students are ultimately the ones who are paying through their fees to have access to cable,” Luke Jones said. “We’d rather not use student fees or costs that they’re paying [toward] housing to go to something they’re really not using.” By redirecting the money saved, the university can now include laundry costs in the room and board fees without

having to raise the price students pay for housing already. “We actually are able to just take that money that comes from the cost savings from not providing cable,” Luke Jones said. In addition to the university’s goal of cutting laundry fees for students, progress is also being made towards improving the quality of accessible laundry equipment. “A complaint was heard from students that sometimes it doesn’t get it dry all the way, and so you might have to spend more than $3 to do your load of laundry so we’ll be working on the quality of that as well,” Luke Jones said. However, he wasn’t the only one to hear concerns from students over laundry costs in residence halls.

Laundry machines in Chaffee, where residents currently have to pay to operate.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

“We’d rather not use student fees or costs that [students are] paying [towards] housing to go to something they’re really not using.”

- Dr. Luke Jones, director of Housing and Residence Life

“It was mainly complaints from other students,” said Adam Jones, the on-campus housing representative in the ASBSU General Assembly and a sophomore in political science. “I probably heard from half a dozen [students], but they were really pretty upset about the cost of it, which I understand. I mean, it’s $3 for every time you wash your clothes.” Adam Jones had written a resolution back in February to bring down the cost of laundry at the university, though learned upon contacting Luke Jones that a similar plan was already in motion. “Had it not been for [Kenneth Huston of ASBSU] just saying ‘Hey, do you mind just chatting, a student wants to pass this resolution,’ I wouldn’t have even known about it,” Luke Jones said. “One thing I’d love to see in the future is for there to be a more collaborative relationship when it comes to issues that students are facing.” According to Luke Jones, Boise State housing is often aware of issues students are facing and has a plan to approach them. In instances like this, communication and collaboration can get things done more efficiently than external bills and resolutions. “So most of the things that students are concerned about, we are too and we want to work together to make them happen,” Luke Jones said. “I would much rather have those kinds of collaboration than a resolution.”

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OPINION March 31, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

IT’S TIME TO LEAVE SATs IN THE PAST

Idaho is considering dropping the statewide SAT requirement for high school seniors, and it should Paige Wir ta | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Standardized tests like SATs cause more stress than they are worth. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu

ost Idaho high school graduates will remember taking the SATs multiple times in their schooling. Up until the fall 2020 semester, all Idaho high school seniors were required to take the SAT. I remember extreme stress, confusion and anxiety. I’ve never been the best test-taker, finding myself easily distracted and suddenly forgetful when facing a sheet of questions. The idea of a test that practically determined my eligibility for college was not exciting. Actually, it was horrifying. Not to mention that none of my high school math classes truly prepared me for the math section of the test. I had

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one week (two class periods) dedicated to SAT prep, the week before the test. When I sat down in front of the math portion of the SAT, everything appeared entirely foreign to me. I hadn’t been shown the necessary equations and proper problem-solving techniques to get through the test well, so how was I supposed to do well at all? Finally, I remember leaving the testing-room feeling inadequate and dumb, and the thought of retaking the SATs for the chance of a better score certainly wasn’t helping. Sitting through all of that again? No thanks. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I felt for the high schoolers about to go into SAT season; I could imagine that

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remote learning didn’t help the gap I found in my education and preparation. To my surprise, the Idaho State Board of Education waived the SAT requirement in fall of 2020, then again both semesters of 2021. Boise State has since altered its admission requirements, removing the SAT scores altogether. Many universities across the nation have done the same in recent years. Sherri Ybarra, the Idaho state superintendent of public instruction, told KIVI that the State Board of Education is considering removing the requirements at the state level as well, potentially making the test optional for students who still want to receive a score and send it off to their top colleges. In other states, however, the cancellation of the SATs has not been as easy. According to a Forbes investigation, some students or their parents reported that they were notified about their SATs being canceled only 12 hours before it was set to begin. This same investigation led to me discovering the corrupt history — and the corrupt present — of the College Board, the nonprofit organization that administers the SATs and PSATs every year. The College Board accumulates more than $1 billion annually in revenue along with $100 million in untaxed surplus from operating the tests. According to IdahoEDNews, the state pays an annual $1 million to offer the SATs to students. Sounds to me like the College Board could cover the costs of testing for every state without harming its financial standing. Many other states don’t buy the tests for its students, leaving many students and their families having to shell out $50-65 on the SAT, putting low-income students at an extreme disadvantage.

The criticisms against the SATs are not new. People have long been calling into question the biases of the test and the possible harm it perpetuates, as Black students and other students of color tend to participate less and score lower on the SATs compared to white students. In fact, the first SAT was created in 1926 by a racist psychologist who believed Black people were intellectually inferior. While that psychologist is no longer creating these tests, that bias and prejudice was built into the organization from day one. Other worrisome discoveries include privileged chief executive David Coleman taking a $2 million paycheck and the College Board selling student data (i.e., ethnicity, religion, gender) to colleges and “other third parties.” I can’t say I’m surprised that an organization that creates and profits off of college entrance exams is corrupt — I surely believed they were when I sat down in a squeaky wooden desk in 2019 to take the dreaded SAT myself. I remember being told that the SATs were an indicator on how ready a student was for college. Apparently, this is not the case. Forbes found that standardized test scores, including the SATs and ACTs, are “worse predictors” of a student’s potential success, compared to GPAs, something that is already measuring a student’s perceived success in school. So basically, the College Board is selling us on the idea that the SATs will positively affect one’s academic experience, but this is untrue. It’s good to see that Idaho is considering dropping the statewide graduation requirement, and I believe it’s pertinent for the success of young students.

OPINION

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IS ROOTED IN INTERSECTIONALITY

Student research indicates that marginalized groups are more engaged in environmental justice Mackenzie Bennet t | Guest Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ith the growing issue of climate change, the general public is becoming more familiar with the concept of environmental justice. Social media allows us to document and engage with environmental issues that pose a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of peope everywhere. Making these issues visible is important, especially for marginalized groups. This leads us to a key component of true environmental justice: intersectionality, the complex way that multiple effects of discrimnation overlap in the experiences of marginalized groups. With funding from the Boise Cascade Environmental Research Fellowship, I had the opportunity to conduct research on how to effectively talk to the public about major environmental issues like climate change. Dr. Shelly Volsche, Dr. Stephanie Capaldo and I conducted a survey on how the way we talk affects climate change engagement. We noticed something interesting: queer participants were much more likely to actively engage with environmental issues than non-queer participants. To learn more about this, I reached out to Dr. Som-Castellaño from Boise State’s sociology department and Dr. Volsche from the anthropology department. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.” Notice how important identity is in this definition. Identity is directly connected to how we each experience the environment. This is why we must view environmental problems through an intersectional lens, recognizing the impact of our overlapping identities. One such way of

observing and evaluating the world used is called OneHealth. “OneHealth is a lens through which we can view the world. It is about the interconnectedness of humans, other species and our environment,” Volsche said. So, we understand that our identities are tied to our experiences with the environment and environmental justice. It’s logical to think that different demographics would have different levels of engagement with environmental issues. But why is the queer community in particular more likely to get involved than non-queer particiants? “I think queer participants may have reported higher engagement because in many ways, members of queer communities are already advocates,” Volsche said. “They must advocate for themselves every day. Alternatively, heteronormative individuals may not have spent as much time researching and questioning the norms they follow.” Queer individuals are already forced to advocate for themselves because of the discrimination they face every day, so they are generally more engaged with other types of advocacy. Non-queer indivduals may feel less of this pressure. Queer people (and many other marginalized groups) readily see the interactions between the environment and their lives because they are forced to. In addition, Dr. Som-Castellaño pointed out that people in marginalized groups tend to be more affected by environmental issues, further forcing them to pay attention and take action. “For instance, some recent research finds that LGBTQ+ communities experience disparate impacts of disasters. They link this to factors such as ‘bias in federal disaster response programs, and lack of recognition of LGBTQ+ families,’” Som-Castellaño said. Because of the discrimination and disproportionate impacts of environmental

Environmental justice issues are social issues, writes guest author and student researcher Mackenzie Bennett. Photo courtesy Eva Hambach issues they face, marginalized groups, including the queer community, tend to be more involved in environmental advocacy out of necessity. This leads us to our takeaway from this study: what can we do to incorporate intersectionality into environmental communication? “In terms of considering intersectionality, I think this is essential — we must consider the ways in which it is not a single factor that influences how people experience the environment, broadly defined, as well as environmental activism, but the intersection of various forms of marginalization (or privilege),” Som-Castellaño said. “Research demonstrates that gender, race, class, sexuality, geography and more can shape a person and/or community’s experience with environmental change.” This is a keystone of true environmental justice. To effectively deal with environmental issues, we need to recognize

the complex overlapping identities that change our individual experiences with our environment. Finding a solution that supports only one group is not finding a solution at all. “Honestly, I think intersecting identities exist everywhere, so of course they occur in environmental justice and communication spaces. Evolutionary minded scientists think about traits in terms of population variation; this aligns with the idea of ‘spectrums’ we so often hear about in queer communities,” Volsche said. Environmental issues are social issues. To solve the environmental issues, we need to consider the social side of the problem. This means giving marginalized groups representation, a voice in decision-making and aid in advocacy. Recognizing and listening to those who are disproportionately affected by environmental crises will bring us closer to true environmental justice.

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Photos by Claire Keener, Corrissa Campbell, Graphics by Cassie Mcgar t y

THE

Evolution of T reefort How the beloved Boise festival stayed true to its roots through a decade of growth and an international pandemic Kelby Andrew | Copy Editor | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

n March 2012, Treefort made its debut in Boise, Idaho, a community in recovery from an economic recession that skyrocketed the city’s unemployment rate and left small businesses scrambling to stay afloat. In the following years, the music festival became a cultural cornerstone for the City of Trees, with resounding economic impact, funneling millions into the local economy before coming to an unexpected halt in 2020 at the height of the festival’s growth. With the conclusion of Treefort 10, the future of the festival may feel uncertain after a tumultuous two years fighting against the financial woes of the pandemic. However, the legacy of Treefort is one deeply intertwined with the local community. Just as Treefort played a role in the revitalization of Boise after the 2008 recession, so did Boise in the revitalization of Treefort during the pandemic. The rise of Boise’s music scene: Treefort takes root The 2008 economic recession wasn’t kind to Boise. Increased financial pressure and limited professional opportunities left many scrambling to make ends meet as the city confronted a rising unemployment rate, reaching its peak in January 2010 at a staggering 10.6%. However, the City of Trees slowly regained its balance, and in the aftermath of the recession, Boise saw the first inklings of an incoming artistic and cultural revolution, including the rise of the city’s music scene. Eric Gilbert, co-founder and director of Treefort, moved back to his hometown Boise in 2009 after touring across the country with his band Finn Riggins, playing an estimated 200 shows a year. A seasoned member of the music industry, Gilbert saw potential in the city’s still-budding music scene and became involved in booking shows for bands, beckoning friends he had made while touring with Finn Riggins to visit Idaho’s capital city. “Prior to the recession, a lot of people were moving to other bigger cities to pursue music,” Gilbert said, “but a lot of us had recommitted to Boise, that maybe it’s a place we could build the type of music scene that we want.” In 2011, Radio Boise hit the airwaves, bringing independent radio to the area for the first time since 1988. Radio Boise’s

community-based programming made room for local bands to gain regional exposure like never before. However, these positive developments were competing against an issue that had continuously stalled growth in the city’s music scene: the inability to attract touring artists to Boise — an issue that two music lovers, unfamiliar with the music industry, were looking to address. Future Treefort co-founders Lori Shandro and Drew Lorona were frustrated that their favorite bands never performed in Boise, attributing this issue to the lack of a substantial venue for artists to perform. Shandro, a music enthusiast, faced unexpected tragedy after her husband died in a plane crash in 2009. Following his death, Shandro was left with extra money which she looked to invest into a meaningful cause. Lorona, also a music lover, was an MBA student at Boise State searching for an internship. Together, they sought to create a business plan for a new music venue in Boise to address the gap they saw in the local music scene. Then, in the summer of 2011, they met Gilbert — who was also looking to attract more touring bands to Boise. Not long after, Treefort took root. “It was a timing thing,” Gilbert said in an interview with Territory Magazine. “Post-recession, RadioBoise on the FM airwaves, a lot of Boise music scene momentum, and more local excitement, in general. It just felt right.” The inaugural Treefort Music Fest took place in March 2012, hosting 137 bands across 13 venues. The festival was so popular that the first batch of tickets for Treefort 2013 sold out in 17 minutes, well before the next year’s lineup had been announced. The beginnings of Boise’s cultural renaissance were now underway. For the community: Treefort stays true to its roots In the years following Treefort 2012, the festival established itself as a pervasive cultural force in the Boise community and demonstrated sustained success as the number of bands, venues and attendees steadily increased with each passing year. Treefort’s connections with the city’s creative sector also grew deeper as the festival expanded beyond music, introducing new “forts” such as Storyfort, Comedyfort

and Artfort. And it wasn’t just Treefort experiencing this growth. The larger Boise community made gains of its own. In the festival’s seventh year, Treefort brought an estimated $11 million to Boise according to the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau. With the festival becoming more profitable each passing year, Treefort looked to reaffirm its commitment to the festival’s foundational values, and in 2015, it became the first music festival in the United States to receive B Corp status — a certification given to businesses that meet high ethical standards regarding social and environmental impact, accountability and transparency. “After the third year of the festival, we found it necessary to look at our legal entity structure as more than a way to process the finances of the festival,” Shandro said in a Treefort press release. “We felt that we had an opportunity to shine a light on the responsibility any business has to identify and represent its stakeholders, not just its shareholders.” Treefort lovers from near and far hail the festival’s strong sense of community, and this close-knit atmosphere is no happy accident. Since the beginning, Treefort has stayed true to its community-centric mission. However, despite the festival’s long-standing popularity, the initial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic left Treefort with an uncertain future after the leadership team postponed the festival’s ninth installment. But, despite facing financial turmoil of its own, Treefort never backed down from its mission, launching the Treefort Live Music Relief Fund in April 2020 to provide financial assistance for professionals working in the Treasure Valley live music sector, an industry that experienced some of the pandemic’s most devastating effects. During the early months of COVID-19, the unemployment rate for the arts, entertainment and recreation sector spiked from 4.7% to 47.2% between February to April 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Then, when Treefort needed it most, the community returned the favor, with 850 investors raising $337,000 towards the costs of Treefort 9 and 10. Comments left under the festival’s WeFunder page make it clear what inspired this overwhelming display of generosity. “I believe in the spirit of Treefort,”

wrote Andrija Barker. “Not only is the energy around Treefort one-of-a-kind, but it’s also a well designed, curated, community experience that everyone can appreciate in some capacity. I look to invest in great people and stellar ideas. I am all in.” Fast forward to March 2022, and the festival was in full swing once again, welcoming over 520 artists across 37 states and 19 countries. According to Gilbert, the 2022 lineup featured the largest number of international artists in festival history, a welcome feat after pandemic lockdowns placed restrictions on international travel. “I think that if something like Treefort didn’t come back, what would that say about the viability of Boise post-pandemic?” Gilbert said. “Not to put too much weight or credit our direction, but I do think it’s fair to point out that it would have been a big message to the community. For me, the creative sector has a very large role in the future of Boise, and maintaining space for it is valuable.” Treefort is for everyone: A retrospective on Treefort 10 While Treefort 9 was a notable comeback, Treefort 10 was the festival’s true homecoming. Featuring the largest lineup yet and little-to-no pandemic restrictions, a sense of normalcy washed over Treefort’s little slice of the Linen District and downtown Boise — or at least as normal as Treefort can get. Treefort Music Fest is a wonderfully bizarre display: a man playing the guitar while speeding along on a skateboard, adults dueling with blue light-up swords, the occasional broken guitar string found along the sidewalk. But what is particularly striking about the festival is the diversity of its attendees. For years, Treefort has lived by the motto “Treefort is for everyone,” and one glance at the crowds populating the festival reveals the truth of this adage. At any given concert, festival goers both young and old gathered to listen to the music, some in jeans and a t-shirt and others donning intricate amalgamations of fabrics and patterns. However, this motto ranges beyond the composition of attendees. Though larger artists make appearances at the festival, Treefort never fails to put Boise’s local talent on display, and even the smallest of venues can feel like the biggest of crowds.

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March 31, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

PROFESSORS REFLECT ON HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF BASQUE CULTURE

Basque studies highlight the unique language, culture and history of the Basque diaspora

Julianne Gee | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

hen talking about being a speaker of many languages, Dr. Nere Lete, professor and director of Basque Studies at Boise State, joked about speaking to her children in Basque. “I just want them to understand whatever language,” she said with a laugh. Dr. Ziortza Gandarias Beldarrain and Dr. Xabier Irujo (with the addition of Dr. Irujo’s wife) laughed along with shared understanding. While being interviewed, the three Basque professors laughed and joked together a lot, but they spoke with seriousness and respect about their work, identities and culture. “The word we use to talk about a Basque person, euskalduna, [means] ‘the one who speaks Basque.’ I don’t think that definition applies in the Basque diaspora,” Lete stated with seriousness and clarity. “‘Basque’ is not necessarily what makes you Basque in the Basque diaspora.”

“There is not one Basque identity. There are many Basque identities and here in the diaspora they work together very well.” - Dr. Nere Lete, professor and

director of Basque Studies Basque studies are about the classes and academics, but it is also about the Basque language and identity. It is about the relationship between people in the Basque diaspora and people in the Basque country. Although small and sometimes overlooked, Basque studies are relevant for people of all backgrounds. Boise State currently offers a Basque stud-

MARCH 31, 2022

ies minor program and three different certificates. The classes are open to all students. Boise State professor Dr. Ziortza Gandarias Beldarrain, brought on in 2018, said that the Basque language and culture is applicable in many ways, not only to students of Basque studies. “We try to highlight in our classes that… what is happening here is happening in the Basque country. We have different culture, maybe different realities, but at the same time we are part of the global world,” Gandarias Beldarrain said. Lete recounted how one student joined a Basque language class because they felt it was an important part of the Boise “mosaic.” Although the Basque identity is not always tied to the Basque language, students are encouraged to take classes in it. “[The Basque language] is not related to any other European language, or any other language in the world, which makes it a unique case of study. Teaching the language is one of the things we have done in different programs,” said Dr. Xabier Irujo, director of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). Lete described the Basque studies program at Boise State as a “sister” program to UNR’s program. Basque studies examine the culture and language, and also pay special attention to Basque history. Basque culture and identity suffered from near-genocide during the early 20th century because of the Spanish civil war. Irujo is also a professor of genocide studies. “Genocide studies is the destruction of identity. [Transnational identity is] the opposite to genocide studies… how identities develop and flourish and merge in a natural way,” Irujo said.

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UNR Basque Studies professor Dr. Xabier Irujo gives a lecture at a Boise State collaboration event. Claire Keener | The Arbiter Because of the diaspora and its history, the question of identity has become a major part of Basque studies. Two anthropologists described how the significance of Basque history in social and cultural spheres informs Basque identity in the present. Gandarias Beldarrain spoke about how the Basque professors all “embrace [their] transnational identity.” Many people are a part of the Basque diaspora because they or their families were exiled, as Irujo’s family was. “My family has suffered six exiles in five generations. They were a part of political parties that supported independence,” Irujo said. “It is a constant in the history of the country. In 1937, 20% percent of the country was exiled. More than

150,000 people were exiled, including 32,000 children in 1936.” The current population of Basques inside the Basque country is around 3 million, but the Basque diaspora has upwards of 4.5 million people. Despite the relatively small population, Basque people have endured these struggles and found ways to sustain their identity inside and outside of Basque country. At Boise State, there is a unique opportunity to study this small, but culturally important language and culture. “There are many ways of being Basque here. It’s very eclectic. There is not one Basque identity. There are many Basque identities and here in the diaspora they work together very well,” Lete said.

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THE YAK IS BACK: ANONYMOUS SOCIAL MEDIA APP RETURNS After a four-year hiatus, Yik Yak has made a resurgence on college campuses Isabella Fox | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Yik Yak is not only an anonymous platform but also allows users to chat locally, leading to serious issues in the past Claire Kenner | The Arbiter

he anonymous social media platform, Yik Yak, has made its comeback after four long years. After its launch in 2013, the app grew its following with over 1.8 million downloads. Yik Yak was taken down shortly after its fame in 2017 due to the removal of anonymity and countless reports of cyberbullying which resulted in a loss of funding. The company, once valued at $400 million, sold themselves to Square for only $1 million. Yik Yak allows users to anonymously post and comment on local boards within a five-mile radius making it irresistible on college campuses. Users can downvote and upvote comments to increase or decrease its visibility on the app. If a post receives five downvotes it’s automatically

removed from the posting board. “Yik Yak is just Twitter for unfiltered college students,” said sophomore civil engineering major Jordann Morton. Many negatives emerged regarding the app’s anonymity. In 2014, a school in Massachusetts received multiple bomb threats on Yik Yak which led to two school evacuations. Other schools reported arrests after threats of school shootings and racial violence were posted on the app. Yet, the Yak prevailed with around $6.2 million in seed funding as it returned to students’ phones across the nation in 2021. The company’s new mission statement suggests that they have a new focus on openness and authenticity within local communication. New features and media types are said to be coming to the app in

the near future. Yik Yak’s website includes mental health resources, community guardrails and “Stay Safe Resources” in an attempt to combat the site’s inevitable toxicity. “We brought Yik Yak back because we believe the global community deserves a place to be authentic, a place to be equal and a place to connect with people nearby,” states the Yik Yak team. “We want to be the world’s dominant mode of local communication. We’re working hard to make Yik Yak more engaging, more fun and more accessible to users in different countries and with different device types.” Boise State students have embraced the app’s return. However, there continue to be hesitations in how the app is truly being used around campus. “I think Yik Yak is entertaining to an

extent,” said sophomore health sciences major Jillian Means. “I think it’s easy for people to hide behind platforms, but for a platform’s purpose [being] to hide is interesting.” A student from Northwest Nazarene University commented saying his sister who attends Boise State was unwillingly caught in a roommate scandal that blew up publicly across the app. Morton described Yik Yak as a large group chat within the university community. She said she originally downloaded the app to stay in tune with activities happening on the weekends. However, she said she’s stuck with it because it’s become a source of humor for her and many other users. However, colleges grow worrisome of the effects anonymous comments have on their campuses. The local College of Idaho in Caldwell attempted to outright ban the app on its campus, going as far as asking the company to install a “geofence” around college campuses. Yik Yak responded, “Ask nicely and we will build it for you.” The company has expanded its fences to middle schools and high schools in an attempt to prevent bullying amongst the younger generation. Means and Morton both agreed, however, that the app brings lots of laughter and interesting insights from their peers. “You’ll scroll through the app and just can’t help but laugh at some of it,” Morton said. As with any anonymous social media platform, negative comments are almost inevitable. However, Morton explains that although negative comments can appear, Yik Yak users are quick to combat them. Although new attempts have been made in combating the app’s past destruction, college campuses and students themselves continue to worry whether the pros outweigh the cons.

MARCH 31, 2022

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SUSTAINABLE GARDENS IMPROVE COMMUNITIES AND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD Gardening saves money, creates less waste and improves the local environment Kendall Hospenthal | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

gricultural sustainability practices give us the opportunity to produce wholesome food without the environmental repurcussions that come with everyday food consumption. The food production industry in the United States is a significant user of finite resources and is responsible for environmental degradation globally. Unsustainable food practices contribute to the array of environmental impacts including climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, loss of biodiversity and the degradation of water, soil and air quality. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, one-third of food is never eaten. As food is wasted, so are other resources such as agricultural land, water and energy. Dr. Erik Hadley, who teaches UF 200: Food and Sustainability at Boise State,

was inspired to teach students about agricultural sustainability after taking interest in how food is made. “Through research, I became increasingly concerned about how our food was made and how far it traveled,” Hadley said. Hadley grew up in rural Montana with a large garden and functioning ranch. After buying a house in Boise with a garden and chicken coop, he said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to garden. “One of the coolest things is just knowing that all that food is produced at your intentionality in your own garden and then you get to pick it and eat it,” Hadley said. “There are other sustainable aspects as well, like symbiotic systems.” According to Recycle Track Systems, an environmental service, 80 billion pounds of food is wasted every year in the United States. That averages to 219 pounds of

food waste per person. Gardening saves money and gives control of how much food is produced, so less goes to waste. “This could be a really useful thing for your life, not just because it makes you feel better about the food you eat, but because it creates this connection between you and the natural world around you,” Hadley said. “Idaho is a really great place to grow food, and it’s really cheap.” Urban agriculture is beneficial to the environment. There is more availability of nutritious foods, reduces environmental decay and creates more sustainable systems. Community gardens directly impact the environment. They improve air, water and soil quality, increase biodiversity and reduce transportation. Boise State’s Community Garden is tended to by the Sustainability and Com-

The Boise State Community Garden Club aims to reduce food waste and carbon footprint.

MARCH 31, 2022

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Claire Keener | The Arbiter

munity Garden Club on campus. This organization is dedicated to teaching students about sustainable living and provides an opportunity for students to get their hands dirty and learn about biodiversity firsthand.

“One of the coolest things is just knowing that all that food is produced at your intentionality in your own garden and then you get to pick it and eat it.” - Dr. Erik Hadley, professor of UF

200: Food and Sustainability “The founding mission of this club was just to make a space that would’ve been plowed over and turned into a concrete slab for parking, and restore it and bring it to life so that we can foster a better experience for the community,” said club president Cody Fleenor. “We want to be an example of how to be more sustainable and cultivate that through the community.” The main focus of the club surrounds the community garden, which is located on the outskirts of campus on Juanita Street. “We just wanted a space for learning and a welcoming space for everyone,” said Alayna Chu, the communications coordinator of the club. The community garden is an example of how growing food takes away or reduces the carbon footprint of industrially produced food. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced and removal of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is possible with food changes. While sustainable agriculture practices are designed to protect the environment and future generations, it’s going to take a worldwide effort to make a change.

WRITING SUBMISSIONS DUE APRIL 4

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EARTH DAY ART EXHIBITS DUE APRIL 11

Writing for Change Journal seeks to publish students

Earth Day sustainability program to exhibit student artwork

Emma Westcott | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Hanalei Potempa | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

oung authors and journalists are inspired individuals, convicted with the passion to write and spread change. However, figuring out how to start on that journey can be a difficult task. Dr. Kyle Boggs, editor and advisor of the Writing for Change Journal, has given these authors a platform. “We discovered a desire for more experimental writing/editing/publishing experience that were in line with how publishing happens in the ‘real world,’” states the Writing for Change Journal website. “In a lot of my classes, I always dedicate the last week to publication, for those that want to pursue publication and what that actually looks like … I found that a lot of students wanted more of that and wanted more of a venue to practice that and have that experience,” said Boggs of his inspiration for starting the Writing for Change Journal. The Writing for Change Journal started in 2020 amidst the COVID pandemic. The journal publishes two collections each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. This edition’s theme is “learning and teaching in a pandemic.” “We’ve been in this space long enough now that people have not only found ways of coping with it but have learned

Graphic courtesy Dr. Kyle Boggs

a lot through the process, so that’s the primary motivation behind this collection,” Boggs said. Submissions for the Spring 2022 Collection of the Writing for Change Journal are due April 4. All writers from Boise State University or the Treasure Valley are welcome to submit a work of their creative choice, aligning with the collection topic. If students are interested in publishing their work, they can visit http://writingforchangejournal.org/. This collection directly aligns with the target audience of the Writing for Change Journal, which is “those motivated by a desire to grapple with change.” People experience dramatic transformations in two years anyway, but adding a global pandemic brings new lessons and challenges. “I don’t want the focus on the pandemic to be a bummer, but I do want to use it as an opportunity not to focus on what we’ve been focusing on which is the downers … but throughout all of this what have you learned about yourself, what have you learned about what’s important to you, how have the last couple of years changed you for the better,” Boggs said. Different types of media are accepted for submission, from essays and personal narratives to photography and performance art. There is a bigger push in this collection for more creative submissions because, as Boggs said, “Different people grasp on to different mediums and different messages resonate more powerfully in different ways.” Journalism is a powerful way to incite change with words. With many years of experience under his belt, Boggs urged young authors to “have the courage to pursue the truth, even if the truth is uncomfortable or makes people angry and not to give up.”

he Sustainability Center in the Student Union Building is seeking new submissions for the Earth Day Art Exhibitions. In partnership with ASBSU, the Fine Arts Program and university art curator Fonda Portales, the Earth Day Exhibition seeks to feature works that relate to the theme of environmental sustainability. $250 awards will be given to all selected artists whose works are featured in the exhibit, and the call for creations is open to all students from any area of study. “We really want to emphasize that the call for innovators is open to all current students. So if you’re an engineering student, if you’re a nursing student, if you’re a creative writing student or an art student, we want to see what kind of works you come up with around the scheme of environmental sustainability,” Portales said. All types of genres, styles and media will be considered. Works can include but are not limited to robotics, video, digital art, textiles, tools and machines, collage art, sculpture and visual arts, including large ceramics and even furniture. “It is up to however a student chooses to explore environmental sustainability through materials, through objects and through ideas,” Portales said. One piece from the 2021 competition,

titled “Building Community,” is by Kelly Hayes, a junior majoring in art education, and is made with watercolor and ink on handmade paper. The piece represents the physical appearance of the Keiser Hall dorms and incorporates those who interact with the building with sketches of eyes on bricks. Hayes’ artist statement reveals how the piece illustrates environmental sustainability. “Sewing the bricks together is a way of showing that unity. We are the building blocks that can make our world more sustainable for the future,” she wrote. The exhibit will be featured in the Sustainability Center, which is located on the first floor of the Student Union Building (SUB). The gallery requires that accepted works be on loan for a year, as the exhibit will be on display until April 2023. The gallery space allows for small and large pieces, and thousands of people pass through the SUB daily, allowing for high exposure for featured artists. Submissions must include your status as a student at Boise State, a high-resolution photograph of the piece, a description of the piece, as well as a 150-200 word statement about how your piece relates to the theme of environmental sustainability. Submissions are accepted via email at fondaportales@boisestate.edu.

“Building Community” by junior Kelly Hayes. MARCH 31, 2022

Photo courtesy Fonda Portales

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SPORTS & REC March 31, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

WOMEN’S SOCCER INITIATES LEADERSHIP TEAM TO BRIDGE PLAYER-COACH GAP

The “Information Highway” focuses on player empowerment, mental health, hardwork and more Jenna Vitamanti | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Junior midfielder/defender Morgan Stone is one of the team leaders in the Information Highway. Claire Keener | The Arbiter laying at the Division I collegiate for the 2021-22 season are sophomore Information Highway works to fill the level is one thing, but maintaingoalkeeper Genevieve Crenshaw, sophogap between the coaching staff and players. ing mental stamina is an entirely more defender Jocelyn Stephens and junior The goal is to develop a bond between the different element, one that the midfielder/defender Morgan Stone. team to express concerns or ask questions Boise State women’s soccer program has “Our team trusts us a lot and it is a lot of regarding the program. emphasized for years. responsibility, but it makes us so invested “The girls are not as comfortable as you Rather than assigning captains, the in the process and in the program,” Stone would hope,” Crenshaw said. “Obviously program created a leadership group called said. “We care so much about how everyone we have a male coach, so I am able to be Information Highway, which acts as an is and how everyone is doing, just making there for someone and understand that this effective communication process between sure everything is running smoothly.” isn’t easy. From our coach’s point of view, the team and coaching staff. During the season, the group meets once he is trying his best to understand us as 18 “I wanted to empower young women to a week for about 30 minutes to discuss team to 21-year-old girls, and is asking ‘what can have a stronger voice in a world that is male needs, practice schedules and the team’s I do to help?’ Seeing that he has so much dominant,” said head coach Jim Thomas. physical health. care, is trying his best and the desire he has “It is difficult to do that. The first step withDuring the off-season, meetings occur to help us has made me become a better in that requires me to really push power. I every other week to converse about the plans leader on this team.” had to give a lot back to the players in order for the spring, preparation for the season and Thomas advocates a series of four pillars to give them power behind their voice.” updates on players’ mental and emotional to his athletes that was developed with the The three athletes selected as leaders wellbeing to best support the team. team’s perception of the world in mind. He

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emphasizes the opportunity these athletes have of being part of the small percentage of students who are able to play collegiate-level sports. The concepts behind these pillars were progressively developed over a course of four to five months to best reflect the program’s success. The first pillar is “humility and action” which represents the role that the athletes embody within the community to serve and give back. The following three pillars comprise the process that the athletes will face to continue the success. The second pillar is “hard work is a given,” meaning that the expectation is to work hard, but some athletes will be rewarded for their talent and success. The third is “toughness and tolerance” which deals with the rigors of being a Division I athlete and taking advantage of criticisms and failures to learn and grow. The fourth is “legacy” which reflects the idea that players should leave the program a better place after serving their time on the team. The second and third pillars are referred to as the engine of the program. Thomas insists that just showing up and working hard is not enough. Rather, the athletes and coaches have to focus on improvement. To complete this concept comes the roof of “gratitude” that sits over the four pillars to make up the foundation of the women’s soccer program. “As hard as life is and as difficult as this process is, we should be thankful for it,” Thomas said. “It’s a real blessing to be able to do what we do and sometimes you can get lost in the hardship of it. Hopefully working on tangible gratitude keeps these guys grounded through all of that.” Boise State women’s soccer has announced their spring schedule with their first game scheduled for March 31 to face Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa.

GYMNASTICS WINS SECOND AT MRGC

SPORTS & REC

HURDLING STAR DAFNI GEORGIOU

Multiple Broncos received individual accolades

Goergiou holds five school records, leads conference

Lexi Almeido | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Nate Lunak | Staf f Writer | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

he No. 24 Boise State gymnastics team claimed the runner-up spot at the 2022 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference (MRGC) Championship on Saturday, March 19 in ExtraMile Arena The Broncos finished the championship with a score of 196.550. Utah State finished just above Boise State with a score of 197.025 to achieve their first MRGC Championship title in program history. Southern Utah University finished third with a score of 196.500, and No. 21 Brigham Young University (BYU) came in fourth with a score of 196.375. “What a night,” said head coach Tina Bird. “We fought hard and came up a little short. I’m proud of the team for some great performances and really sticking together through the whole meet.” The Broncos started the evening on vault where they scored an overall 48.925. Sophomores Courtney Blackson and Emily Lopez led the team in this rotation with a 9.850 and a 9.825. Fifth-year Emily Muhlenhaupt led the way on bars in Boise State’s second rotation of the night. Muhlenhaupt finished with a score

of 9.950 to contribute to the team’s 49.475. She also earned her third straight award for MRGC Bars Specialist of the Year and was named first-team all-conference for the fourth consecutive season. Lopez landed behind Muhlenhaupt for bars with a score of 9.925. She also achieved first-team All-MRGC honors for her performance on bars this season. Boise State finished their third rotation on beam with a score of 49.125. Junior Adriana Popp scored a 9.900 to lead the Broncos, while freshman Emily Loyim set a career-high 9.850. Popp also received first-team All-MRGC for her performance on beam. The Broncos ended the evening on floor with a score of 49.025. Popp and freshman Elaina McGovern both finished with 9.850 performances. However, these scores were not enough to knock off the Aggies from the first-place spot. After their finish at the MRGC, Boise State was selected to compete in the NCAA Regional Championships in Norman, Oklahoma, on March 30-April 2. The Broncos are one of the top-36 teams in the nation to be selected for the regional competition.

The team finished 8-1 last season, creating high expectations for this season. Photo courtesy of Grant Gaynor

Dafni Georgiou competes in the 60-meter hurdles. Photo courtesy Sarah Joram fter a very successful year, the second at 8.31 seconds. indoor track and field season has Sophomore sprinter/hurdler Nyenuchi come to a close for the Broncos. Okemgbo also performed well this year. One athlete in particular domiOkemgbo held the seventh-fastest time in nated her competition all season. the MWC and placed fifth in the MWC Junior sprinter/hurdler Dafni Georgiou Championships for the 60-meter hurdles. competed in the 200 and 60-meter races, Having two of the fastest runners pracand 60-meter hurdles this season. Her ticing together certainly has helped them best races came in the 60-meter hurdles. push each other to become better. Dafni previously broke the school record “One of the reasons I chose to come for the 60-meter hurdles with a time of was because I knew that Dafni was a good 8.48 seconds in the 2019-2020 season. That hurdler here,” Okemgbo said. “Thinking time came from the Mountain West Indoor that I would be able to train with her I Championships where she placed fourth. feel like that has helped me and it gave This season, Dafni ran a sub-8.48 me more confidence in myself because 60-meter hurdle 10 times. This means she’s a really encouraging teammate.” that Georgiou now holds well over the Although Dafni is only a junior, this top-five school records in the 60-meter year will be her final at Boise State. She hurdles for women. has her eyes set on going professional. “I think I changed a few things on my She hopes to return home to Cyprus and technique, and also getting stronger in compete in the University Games for the weight room,” Georgiou said. “I think both her country and Boise State. The combining those two things made me run Commonwealth Games and other interthe record again.” national events are also on her mind. Georgiou had the fastest time in the With the indoor season over, the athMountain West Conference (MWC) for letes are set to start competing in outdoor the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.20 events starting March 24. seconds. At the Mountain West Indoor Championships this year, she placed

MARCH 31, 2022

ARBITERONLINE.COM

SPORTS & REC

BOISE STATE BASEBALL BOUNCES BACK AS A CLUB TEAM

Back in 2020, the Division I program was cut due to pandemic-related financial challenges Mason Becker | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Broncos will head to Montana for their season opener on April 2.

pring is just around the corner, which means the wait is over for the Boise State club baseball team. The wait, however, has kept the players on their toes, as they have been relentlessly training and practicing for their upcoming season since the end of their fall campaign, in which they went 8-1. Last season’s performance was a good sign for the team and its fans, as these nine games were all against conference opponents of the Broncos. The players have kept this excitement from the fall season all throughout the winter, according to junior catcher and pitcher

MARCH 31, 2022

Grant Gaynor. “The fact that we know we are going to have a full season without COVID is really exciting. Everyone is 100% bought in,” Gaynor said. Senior catcher and third baseman Rory Patterson also voiced his eagerness for the upcoming season. “There is a lot of good talent this year, and I think all of us are just really looking forward to getting on the field again,” Patterson said. As many know, the baseball program at Boise State took a massive hit in 2020 due to pandemic financial challenges, as the univer-

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Photo courtesy Grant Gaynor sity made the decision to revoke the team’s Division I status, cutting off all funding and leading to the disbandment of the team. As a result, many of the team’s players departed from Boise State and continued their college careers elsewhere. But the motivation to have baseball at Boise State did not die with the loss of the program. It was instead brought back as a club again with a new vision, according to Coach Dan Thomas. “We want guys to come to Boise State to get a great education, while also getting to play some great, competitive baseball,” Thomas said.

Thomas was a student at Boise State in the late 70s and early 80s. He witnessed firsthand the first time the Boise State baseball team was disbanded in his second year of college. Seeing it happen all over again was disheartening. “I was most disappointed in the fact that players could not work their way up to the varsity squad anymore. It definitely drove kids to work harder,” Thomas said. But the competitive edge has not died for the baseball program, even when the sport was reverted to a club. The school has continued supporting the program as a club as well. “The school is definitely one of the best in the support they provide for our program,” Thomas said. “We are in the top bracket for clubs, as far as support from the school.” There is one thing, however, that Thomas wishes the school could improve on. “I will say that I wish the school could advertise more about our club, all clubs in general really,” said Thomas. Even without all the hype and fans that some of the more popular sports and clubs have at Boise State, the program is just excited to be back on the field and playing again. The Broncos’ next matchup will be an away series versus University of Montana, where they will play two games on Saturday, April 2, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and then again on Sunday, April 3, at 11 a.m.

“The fact that we know we are going to have a full season without COVID is really exciting. Everyone is 100% bought in.” - Grant Gaynor,

junior catcher and pitcher

CAPRICORN DEC 22- JAN 19

NOW IS THE TIME TO LAUNCH A NEW PROJECT. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND CREATE SOMETHING GREAT.

AQUARIUS JAN 20- FEB 18

THINGS ARE ALIGNING PERFECTLY IN YOUR SIGHT. TAKE HOLD OF ALL YOU CAN AND APPRECIATE WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER.

PISCES

FEB 19 - MAR 20

FOCUS ON BREAKING ANY UNHEALTHY HABITS YOU’VE COMPILED. DO SOME SPRING CLEANING TO CLEAR YOUR MIND.

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 19

OUR BEST GUESS

CANCER

JUN 21 - JUL 22

AS THE SUN COMES OUT, TAKE SOME TIME TO WATCH FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN REFLECT ON YOUR HEALTH ON ALL ACCOUNTS, THE ARBITER ALIGNS YOUR STARS YOUR COMMUNITY. SPEND TIME GIVING BACK AND MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES. AND REFLECT ON HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL.

TAURUS

LEO

APR 20 - MAY 20

JUL 23 - AUG 22

YOUR COMPASSIONATE SIDE WANTS TO FOCUS ON OTHERS, BUT MAKE SURE TO KEEP SOME KIND ENERGY FOR YOURSELF.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 20

UTILIZE POSITIVE EXPRESSION IN THE WORKPLACE TO GAIN CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH CO-WORKERS AND IMPRESS SUPERIORS.

IF YOU’RE CONSIDERING CUTTING TIES WITH SOMEONE, TAKE SOME TIME TO WRITE OUT YOUR FEELINGS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.

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PAIGE WIRTA OPINION EDITOR

OPINION@STUMEIDA.BOISESTATE.EDU

VIRGO

AUG 23 - MAY 20

YOU MAY BE MISSING SOME RED FLAGS AROUND YOU. REFLECT ON ANY IFFY SITUATIONS AND PRIORITIZE YOUR OWN WELLBEING.

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

CONSIDER ANY BAGGAGE THAT MAY BE WEIGHING YOU DOWN; YOU DON’T NEED TO CARRY IT WITH YOU EVERYWHERE.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

IT’S TIME TO ERECT SOME PERSONAL BOUNDARIES AROUND YOURSELF. MAKE SURE YOU’RE PROTECTING YOUR LIGHT.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 21

REFLECT ON HOW FAR YOU’VE COME AND LET YOURSELF FEEL PRIDEFUL; JUST DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD.