WHAT’S INSIDE
NEWS 1
SPORTS 3-4
OPINION 2
CULTURE 6 I SSU E
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The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933
Volume 23
First Issue
F R E E OCtober 21, 2010
NCAA Football Midseason reviews!
5
Fashion show featuring burqas
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3
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Can ASBSU spend money wisely?
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ARBITERONLINE.COM
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Boise State police issue 142 citations to tailgaters HAVE YOU CONSUMED ALCOHOL WHILE TAILGATING? Yes - Alumni (43%) Yes - Neither Yes - Student (9%) No - I don't drink (17%)
SHOULD TAILGATERS BE ABLE TO DRINK ALCOHOL OUTSIDE THE STADIUM? Yes - (92%) No - (8%)
HOW MUCH ARE FINES? Tickets can cost anywhere up to $300 as well as court fees of $150 and a permanent misdemeanor.
robby milo/THE ARBITER
Boise State fans play beer bong outside Spartan Stadium in San Jose last week. With hundreds of consumption tickets given out this season, fans are wondering what exactly the drinking rules are. Generally off-campus tailgaiters are guaranteed to get a ticket if consuming alcohol. On campus, police are more relaxed. Marina Hunley Journalist
Bronco fans, beer and more than a hundred citations have students asking: What exactly are the drinking policies while tailgating? Tailgaters and consumption tickets turned out in massive numbers for the Homecoming game Oct. 9 when the Broncos defeated the Toledo Rockets. Officers issued 142 citations at the last home game according to officer Jermaine Galloway. The citations included four minor in consumption, 42 open container, 91 parking and five contrib-
mct campus
Zombies to roam Boise Cody finney Photographer
This Saturday, Oct. 23, the fifth annual Boise Zombie Walk will begin at 7 p.m. in The Boise Centre on the Grove. Each year, Boise’s zombies meet together to prepare for the the annual Boise Zombie Walk. The walk is meant for all ages and participants are expected to act in typical zombie activities -- minus the cannibalism and violence. The walk began in Sacramento in 2001 when Bryna Lovig, a promoter of a local horror film festival, suggested to have a parade of zombies to promote the event. Since then, the Zombie Walk has spread across America with hundreds to thousands in attendance. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record amount of zombies walking is more than 4,200 people in Seattle. There have been rumors of possibly invading a Boise IHOP or Wal Mart. For information, visit the Boise Zombie Walk Facebook page or zombiewalk.com.
uting to minor citations. It's understood that 24-hours prior to Bronco game days, blue and orange takes over the stadium parking lot as well as University Drive. RVs are parked bumper-to-bumper and tents mark their territory. But now, Boise city police say there’s confusion with what the drinking regulations are. “The confusion is where students see folks drinking on the campus lots and think, 'If they can do it, why can’t I drink 15 feet away from them?'” Lieutenant Tony Plott said. “We want people to be educated. We don’t want to just hand out tickets
without them knowing the law.” City and state boundaries cause alcohol to go from gray-area to guaranteed ticket According to Plott, there is a difference between city and state boundaries. City boundaries prohibit public consumption of alcohol altogether. “In the city of Boise, we have an ordinance that you cannot have an open container in public," Plott said. "So you can’t just take a beer and walk across the street.” Campus is a state ordinance. State properties can determine whether they want
to be under city ordinances or create their own policies. So Boise State is governed by campus policies. According to the Student Code of Conduct, “A violation may include, but is not limited to, possession, consumption or distribution of alcoholic beverages.” Students still ask the question: is Boise State a “wet” campus or a “dry” campus? “It would be nice to be able to buy beer in the stadium and drink openly during the tailgates in the parking lot,” senior business major Dustin Atkins said. Boise State is a dry campus. But on game day, tailgating
fans say “Keep it in a cup.” “The campus rules say that this is an alcohol-free campus but in the tailgating situation, as long as people don’t have a keg or can of beer, the campus has a relaxed stance on what they’re going to allow on game day," Plott said. As long as students stay in the parking lot and alcohol is not visible, students can generally expect to be safe from citations. Once tailgaters step off the grass and onto the sidewalk, city regulations are enforced. Galloway explains that underage drinking is a big problem as well as people drinking in neighborhoods:If
University trims graduation credits to 120
Uh, oh
Facebook to look into how apps evaded privacy policy
Edina Macic Journalist
Some lucky students might have a few classes sliced off their graduation requirements before they graduate -- but don't hold your breath, chemistry majors. Sona Andrews, departing provost and vice president of Academic Affairs proposed in 2008 to change minimum graduation credits from 128 to 120. The proposal was endorsed by Faculty Senate and then taken to the State Board of Education where it was approved for spring, giving permission for departments to reduce graduation requirements to as few as 120 credits, according to Andrews. Thirty-three departments have pledged openness to curriculum revisions. “It will give departments the opportunity to have their degree programs be a minimum of a 120 credits. It's not as though every single program at Boise State might be at 120 credits, but at present the minimum is 128. This allows programs to reduce the number of credits,” An-
you're on the sidewalk with a beer, expect a citation. Underage drinking is enforced in city and state boundaries. If a minor is holding a cup and an officer suspects alcohol, the minor can expect to be questioned and cited for a minor in consumption ticket. Students who are ticketed can expect fines of up to $300, court fees of $150 and a permanent misdemeanor on their record. The Broncos' next home game is Tuesday, Oct. 26. Kickoff against Louisiana Tech is at 6 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN 2. Tailgating rules will be strictly enforced.
andrew ford/THE ARBITER
Shelby Smith (right) a 19-year-old sophomore education major from Idaho Falls studies Tuesday night in Albertsons Library. Smith would support reducing minimum credit requirements to 120. "I don't feel like it's that big of a difference. That's like what, two classes? That might be nice." drews said. “Most universities around the country have a 120 minimum. We were just behind,” she added. According to Andrews, faculty members could spend less time teaching and more time doing research. “I see no loss for students at all.” Students would be able to take fewer classes, spend less money and presumably graduate faster. According to Andrews, reducing the number of credits will make the university more efficient and help manage enrollment growth. The eight credits could come from anywhere
inside the curriculum. Departments are looking at their entire curriculum including their objectives. Learning objectives will still be met but departments may have to reduce a class there is an overlap of another. Trimming the minimum graduation credits down to 120 was unanimously approved by Faculty Senate and the State Board of Education, but students shouldn't expect every department to drop down to 120. “When this came up, it was pretty controversial,” said Owen McDougal, faculty senate president. "It raised concerning ques-
tions how this was going to affect programs if credits would be reduced." “I think there are many departments that this will not work for, like chemistry," McDougal said. Chemistry curriculum is established by certifications, so some departments may want to remove classes but won't be able to. Faculty Senate’s Oct. 12 meeting covered course curriculum and brought on board the departments that will be considering this change. Some departments expect to have their changes implemented in the spring, while most will wait until fall semester.
SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook is looking into how third-party applications treat its users' information after the revelation that some applications and games were sending data to advertisers. The 10 most popular apps were forwarding user identification numbers to advertising companies, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Specifically, such games as FarmVille and Texas Hold 'Em Poker reportedly shared with advertisers a string of numbers and letters used to identify users, the story alleged. That made it possible for advertisers to glean quite a bit about the users in combination with the other information they collect on them. That activity, which violates Facebook's guidelines, raises the question whether the world's most popular social networking service has adequate systems to oversee the activity of third-party applications. "Press reports have exaggerated the implications of sharing" a user's ID, or UID, the post from Mike Vernal said. "Knowledge of a UID does not enable anyone to access private user information without explicit user consent." Even some technology bloggers are challenging Facebook. Others say this is much ado about not much.
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Opinion
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OCTOBER 21, 2010
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Is Gene Harris jazzy enough for $5k?
The Weekly Buzzkill
ASBSU grants jazz festival extra $2,000
Vote. Seriously.
Christine Ritchie Journalist
Josh Gamble
Ten semesters of books. Additional computers for the school. A scholarship fund. Nearly one full year of tuition at Boise State University. All are worth around $5,000 and all pertain directly to BSU students. Yet the Associated Students of Boise State University passed a bill which allocated that amount of money to sponsor one of the many bands at this spring's Gene Harris Jazz Festival. Though held on Boise State’s campus, this annual jam fest is largely a community event. According to Sarah Tatistcheff, the senator of the College of Arts & Sciences, ASBSU has co-sponsored bands in the past with $3,000. “In previous years, it was in the budget to give them ($3,000) but it was taken out of our budget (this year),” said Tatistcheff, sophomore French and political science major. This year, the music department had trouble finding support for the festival and asked Tatistcheff for $2,000 in addition to the usual $3,000, she said. This increase in funding means that ASBSU will be the sole sponsor of the jazz band KneeBody, and the money will cover all their expenses. Tatistcheff was happy about this opportunity to support the arts. This amount of money should not have been spent on a community event. Rather, it should have been focused toward the attendees of Boise State. There are many areas of the university
Online Editor
ASBSU senators discuss the $5,000 sponsorship of the Gene Harris Jazz Festival. Melanie Burk/THE ARBITER
because it was the first fiscal bill presented and it happened to be a lot of money,” Tatistcheff said. ASBSU eventually came to a consensus on the bill and passed it. Unfortunately, this is really only advantageous in a business sense. Having ASBSU stamped in the program is great for marketing but does it account for the students? According to Tatistcheff, students receive $5 off the admission to headliner shows and can see the club concerts for free. ASBSU members also get a special perk: free admission to the headlining concert of their choice. The fact remains that student money is being spent on a
that could use the extra money and those areas would directly benefit the students whose fees fund ASBSU. Junior political science major and Senator At-Large Caleb Benedict abstained from voting on the bill the senate passed. “I like the Gene Harris Jazz Festival,” Benedict said, “but I am uncomfortable with giving $5,000.” Benedict believes the money probably offers more advantages for the community than for students. Other members of the senate also showed some apprehension when first addressing the proposed legislation. “It was about a 50-50 reaction
community-centric concert that brings a night of enjoyment to the non-college citizens of the Treasure Valley. There is even a concert only for those who are 21 years old and older. Both Tatistcheff and Benedict say that ASBSU has sufficient funds. However, just because they have the money doesn’t mean it needs to be spent, especially in this manner. Student fees should not go toward events that have little to do with them. Ultimately, while this is a great cultural experience for Boise residents, the festival should not be given $5,000 by ASBSU. A more reasonable figure, like the usual $3,000, is more than enough.
Reform BSU's core credit system
E ditorial S taff E ditor - in -C hief Bob Beers
M anaging E ditor Kirk Bell
M edia M anager Zach Ganschow
P hoto E ditor
N ews
Editor Producer
S ports
Trent Lootens Editor Producer Joey McCullough
O pinion
Nik Bjurstorm
Editor Producer
O nline E ditor
C ulture
Josh Gamble
V ideo E ditor Gray Battson
E ditorial A dvisor James Kelly
Andrew Ford Mitch Esplin
Haley Robinson Jessica Swider
Rebecca De León Editor Producer Glenn Landberg
C opy E ditors
Univ
ersit
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ture articles. What I wish to send you away with, my fellow students, is the assurance that your university is taking active steps to make the Boise State experience meaningful, distinctive and most importantly: conducive to the kind of education you deserve. Chase Johnson is the ASBSU Secretary of Academic Affairs.
Go to arbiteronline.com to read a response by masters student Neil Fox to Josh Gamble's "The Weekly Buzzkill: How not to impress that special boy," published Oct. 7.
State
division work but I dare Boise State to do more! Well… that dare has already been taken. In my opinion, the proposed new Foundations Program does just that. In this new system two new classes will be offered: Intellectual Foundations 100 and Civic Foundations 200. The current document states that these classes will provide students with an introduction to: Critical Inquiry, Innovation and Teamwork, Diversity and Internationalization, Writing, and Oral Communication. This will be done with the best teachers and creative class topics. I will venture a guess that this curriculum is not in the catalog at DeVry. I do not have the print space to discuss the intricacies of the program here, although this could be the topic of fu-
oise
The case for reform of Boise State’s core credit system: What is a college education worth and what benefit does it give you? Unfortunately, this is a commonly asked question of people our age. With cheap alternatives offered by online and for-profit institutions like University of Phoenix, one can obtain the basic skills for a work-force career without the need for a four year stint at a typical university. The last thing I want to do in this article is beat the for-profit drum. However, as students, the question we must ask of the faculty and administration is: Why Boise State? What will my degree here give me that others cannot? I am here to make that case. The answer is in the current effort to reform our core credit system. In my humble opinion a "stack em’ deep and teach em’ cheap" business like University of Phoenix fails to offer its half-million students the proper foundations of intellectual
inquiry and civic engagement that true accredited institutions of higher learning do. People pursue for-profit universities because they are faster and cheaper. Others pursue four-year private and public schools because what they offer is more substantial. If you have recently listened to any of Dr. Kustra’s speeches (and if you have not, you really should), his resonating message is that Boise State is at a crossroads. A few years ago the College of Western Idaho was created and it assumed Boise State’s technical and trade programs. Put simply, we no longer teach auto-mechanics. Although we might not look like one yet, Boise State is now a traditional university. This gives us many opportunities, one of which is for our core credit system to give students a more meaningful university experience. Currently the first two years’ experience at Boise State is a skeletal structure at best. The checklist style curriculum of Area I, II and III classes offer a multi-discipline approach and a solid foundation to upper-
sy B
Guest Opinion
Cou rte
Chase Johnson
Voting. It’s a theme that’s been done to death. “Rock the Vote,” “Exercise your right,” “It’s your civic duty,” are all popular attempts to get voters to the polls. In 2008, voters turned out in record numbers for the general election -- 62 percent. That’s pathetic. In Idaho, 64 percent of the eligible population showed up. Nearly everyone has an opinion about the government, but one third of them don’t deserve it. Here’s a new slogan: “Don’t vote? Don’t bitch.” Voter apathy is a serious and understated issue in America. It’s enabled corporate interests to control our elections. Senator Mike Crapo’s campaign is a great example. Crapo sits on the Budget Committee, the Finance Committee and the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committees. His top three campaign contributors are JPMorgan Chase Co., Credit Suisse Group (a Swiss-based international bank) and Goldman Sachs, totaling more than $335,000. It’s a problem on both sides of the aisle and with most candidates. The federal government is the pocket of Corporate America. The United States is no longer a government for the people or by the people, but for the dollar and by the dollar. An engaged and active citizenry can take back the reins. Anyone who reads The Weekly Buzz Kill regularly knows that I’m liberal. However, I’m not encouraging liberals to go vote to defeat conservatives. I don’t care -- just vote. Put honest people in office. Elect men and women who really have the interests of Idaho and of the U.S. at heart. Citizens who complain about elected officials or the direction of the country, but then sit on their hands on Election Day have no room to talk. There are people right here on campus who want to restore the power of the vote, such as the student club Democracy Matters. (Yes, I am a member and yes, that was a shameless plug.) Vote if you hate tuition hikes. Vote if you want lower taxes. Vote if you want better public transit. Vote for our schools, our jobs and our roads. Vote if you think Obama is a socialist for all I care. Some people claim they have no idea for whom to vote. All the information is readily available online. Others say they don’t like either candidate. Vote third party -- even if that candidate doesn’t have a ghost of a chance. A large amount of third party votes still sends a message. Many people don’t vote because they don’t have the time. Make time. The future of this country, this state and everyone’s pocketbooks are at stake. Voting uses an hour from your day once every two years. All it takes is a valid ID and a trip to the nearest polling place. A vote for what you believe in is a vote for America. In the last midterm election (2006), less than half of Idaho voters showed up. Those people squandered a right that people the world over have fought and died for. Don’t leave America to the hands of the corporations who only care about the bottom line. To borrow the Tea Party refrain, “Take back our country.”
B usiness J ournalists Christine Ritchie, Edina Macic, Eva Hart, Gabbi Brandini, Gabriel Iacoboni, Jana Hoffman, Jessica Copeland, Joe Sook, Justin Dalme, Karey Hoke, Lance Moore, Lauren Hooker, Marshell Martinez, Nikki Hanson, Sam Royce, Sherika Martinez, Stephanie Sheibe, Tony Madonna, Tony Rogers, Wyatt Martin
Megan Bronder Eden Enberg Laura Rogers
D esign
G eneral M anager
P roduction T eam
Brad Arendt
B usiness /A d M anager
Bree Jones Glenn Rummler Brendan Healy
Matthew Summers
M arketing D irector Jennifer Orr
O nline
B ookkeeper Shae Hanah
O nline C oordinator
A ccount E xecutives
C ommunity M anager
James Orr Jennifer Orr Miguel Varela Nicole Bell
Iko Vannoy
Megan Lloyd
O nline S ports E ditor Brittney Johnson
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Guest opinions (500 word limit) and Letters to the Editor (300 word limit) can be e-mailed to letters@arbiteronline.com
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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 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 apiece at The Arbiter offices.
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Sports
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OCTOBER 21, 2010
ARBITERONLINE.COM
Conference Power Rankings Matt Bedinger Journalist
1) Pac-10 The Pacific-10 conference is home to the nation’s No. 1 team, the Oregon Ducks, at least according to the human polls. After an impressive showing in out-of-conference games, the Pac-10 has established itself as 2010's elite conference. Although, Oregon is the only team currently in the Top 10, Arizona and Stanford have both proven they can win big games. Don't forget about UCLA's beat down of Texas. USC could be 7-0 had its defense not broken down late against Washington and Stanford. Arizona State went into Camp Randall Stadium (where Ohio State was just beaten) and came short of upsetting Wisconsin by a point. Two of Oregon State’s three losses have come against Top 5 opponents on the raod. There's been parity early in the conference schedule and that only strengthens the argument that the Pac-10 has the best conference in the nation.
2) SEC
The Southeastern Conference is right there with the Pac-10. If Auburn or LSU keep winning, there is virtually no way they would be left out of the BCS National Championship game based on the SEC’s reputation. Even though Auburn and LSU are higher in the standings, Alabama passes the eye test much better than either of those teams. Whoever wins the West Division should win the conference. The East has one team with a marquee win in South Carolina, but the Gamecocks have been inconsistent throughout the season. This is shown by their second half collapse against Kentucky where the old ball coach's team blew an 18-point halftime lead.
3) Big 10
Every year, it seems that the Big 10 faces the same situation. It has four good teams with Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio
State and Michigan State, but none of the four have proven to be elite teams, yet. There is a big gap between the top four and the other seven teams. The lack of depth in the conference should be a major concern for an Ohio State team that finds itself fighting to get back in the national title race.
4) Big 12
The Big 12 will be the most debated conference in the country. Most computers rank the Big 12 as the nation's number one conference, while most human polls rank it third or fourth best. Oklahoma is ranked No.1 in the BCS, but the Sooners garnered only one first-place AP Poll vote. Texas has been inconsistent throughout the year and Nebraska hasn’t played many quality opponents either. Missouri and Oklahoma State are 6-0, but still largely unproven. The Missouri versus Oklahoma showdown this Saturday in Columbia, Missouri will tell us more about the Big 12.
5) Mountain West
The Mountain West is in the midst of a down year overall. Still, with two Top 10 teams, the Mountain West is stronger than both the ACC and the Big East. Utah and TCU seem to be on a collision course that will determine the conference title. Air Force was looking like a much stronger team compared to past years, but its loss to San Diego State raises questions. The additions of Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State next year would have gained the conference automatic qualification status, but Utah and BYU’s departures complicate the situation.
6) WAC
Boise State is clearly the cream of the crop in the Western Athletic Conference, coming in at No. 2 in the human polls and No. 3 in the BCS standings. Building on Boise State’s success, Nevada and Hawai'i are both much improved this season. Fresno State is the same tough
team its been every year and the Utah State Aggies have taken steps forward, falling to Oklahoma in Norman, Okla by just seven points to start the season and crushing in-state rival BYU.
7) ACC
The Virginia Tech Hokies have bounced back nicely from their postBSU hangover versus James Madison and the same can be said for Florida State after the Oklahoma debacle. As for the rest of the conference, there’s little to talk about. North Carolina is overachieving, but has a much lower ceiling with many of its projected starters from the preseason still sitting. Miami has been fixated in the Top 25 almost all year and should show much more consistency than they do, but Jacory Harris is a turnover machine at quarterback.
Arbiter power rankings
Week 7 Online Sports Editor
6-0, 2-0 WAC
8) Big East
Why does the Big East still have an automatic invite for the BCS? That's a question everyone should be asking. The Big East is struggling this season and has for a while now. The West Virginia Mountaineers are the only team from the conference ranked in the Top 25 sitting at No. 20. The one-loss Mountaineers are the only bright spot. Last year's Big East champ, Cincinnati, are sitting at 3-3 on the year with a loss to Fresno State by 14. Even with the poor play, the winner of this conference is headed to BCS game. 9-11) Conference USA, MAC, Sun Belt These three conferences are the bottom dwellers of Division I. There isn't much of a difference between them. All three have at least one team with 5 wins. The MAC and the Sunbelt are the only two conferences containing teams without a win this season. These are the teams that get paid big bucks to get beat up on by big schools early in the season. Only the top teams in these conferences will make bowl games. East Carolina, Northern Illinois and Troy are the for sure choices, but there are also a handful more that will vie to make a bowl too.
6-0, 3-0 Pac-10
7-0, 4-0 SEC
6-0, 2-0 Big-12
Bowl Projections
BCS National Championship
7-0, 3-0 MWC
vs. Boise State
Oregon
Sugar Bowl 7-0, 3-0 Big Ten
vs. Texas Christian
Auburn
nik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER
Fiesta Bowl 6-0, 3-0 MWC
vs. Alabama
Oklahoma
Rose Bowl 6-1, 3-1 Sec
vs. GoDucks .com
Michigan State
Stanford
Heisman Top 3
Orange Bowl
Sports Producer
1Cameron Newton -
vs. West Virginia
Joey McCullough
Virginia Tech
Auburn's junior quarterback has splashed onto the college football scene this year and has made an immediate impact for the Tigers. His No. 6 Tigers are 6-0 this season. Newton has scorched opposing defenses with his arm and his legs. He has passed for nearly 1,300 yards, thrown for 13 touchdowns and rushed for 860 yards and 12 touchdowns. Kellen Moore - His 190.3 passer rating and 16-to-1 touchdown/interception ra-
2
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tio are tops in the country. He has passed for more than 1,500 yards having played in only two full games. Moore's efficiency helped the Broncos to big wins over ranked opponents Virginia Tech and Oregon State. The undefeated Broncos 6-0 are ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll, the USA Today Coaches' Poll and the Harris Poll. LaMichael James - Oregon's sophomore running back leads the nation with 169.6 rushing yards per game. Averaging nearly eight yards per carry, James has rushed for a total of 848 yards on 114 carries with nine scores this season to lead the Ducks to victories over Tennessee and Stanford. The Ducks are a perfect 6-0 and sit atop all three college football polls for the first time in their programs history.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Brittney Johnson
6-1, 2-1 Big Ten
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6-0, 4-0 SEC
The Broncos cruised through the first half of the tougher part of their season and have done so blemishfree. The perfect storm is beginning to brew for the Broncos, but BSU has to fear the Bowl Championship Series computers moving teams in front of them. Boise State needs to continue winning by large margins and hope for more upsets. The Ducks got to sit back on their bye week and gain the most from the Ohio State loss. Oregon is now No. 1 in the AP Poll, USA Today Coaches' Poll and the Harris Poll. The Ducks play UCLA on Thursday and at USC the following week. Oregon's offense will continue to put up video game numbers, but its defense must improve if it hopes for a January trip to Glendale, Ariz.
The Tigers are firing on all cylinders, but the second half of the season will be more difficult for Auburn. It's Iron Bowl match-up against Alabama could decide who plays for the national championship. Junior quarterback Cam Newton is carrying the Tigers through several impressive wins. Beat Bama, and the Tigers should have an easy time with whatever team comes out of the SEC East for the SEC Championship. The Sooners are unbeaten, however beating Cincinnati by two, Air Force by three and letting Utah State hang until the very end are not. Are the Sooners worthy of jumping any teams ahead of them in the human polls? The Sooners have a lot of proving to do this week at Missouri. The Horned Frogs are easily the best team in Texas and one of the best in the nation. Their defense is still stellar and has proven they deserve a top spot in the standings. Senior quarterback Andy dalton has TCU's offense firing on all cylinders.
Michigan State may be the best team in the Big 10. The catch is: they haven't played a game outside the state of Michigan. Somehow MSU escaped having to play Ohio State, but the second half of the season will show who the Spartans really are. Can they jump in the talk for the national championship? The Utes have quietly crept up the rankings and are flying under the radar with Boise State and TCU stealing the non-AQ headlines. This sets the stage for an excellent game between the Utes and the Horned Frogs in Salt Lake City, Utah. Can the Utes cause BCS chaos with a huge upset? Will the winner jump BSU? The Crimson Tide now have an uphill battle to prove they still deserve a shot at the national title. LSU and Auburn still loom on Alabama's schedule. Can the Tide roll out of those two games alive and really cause mass debates for a national title shot with one loss?
The Badgers physically destroyed what was the No. 1 team in the nation last week against the Buckeyes. Many of the teams ahead of them owe Wisconsin a lot but it's time for the Badgers to prove they belong in the Top 5 discussion. Can the Badgers ride their momentum to a Big Ten title?
"Lucky" is the best way to describe the Tigers. LSU has made it out of too many games by the skin of their teeth for it to keep that going throughout the second part of the year. Can they prove people wrong and start winning decisively?
The Arbiter • arbiteronline.com
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SCPORTS ULTURE
OCTOBER 21, 2010
ARBITERONLINE.COM
Arbiter sports editor's letter to ESPN radio/television shows Trent Lootens Sports Editor
To whom it may concern, My name is Trent Lootens and I'm the sports editor at The Arbiter, Boise State's student newspaper. I have been covering the Broncos for three years and I am a student at BSU. As you know, the BSU football team and its quest to play for the BCS National Championship is the hottest topic in college football. When the first BCS standings were released on Sunday the Broncos came in solidly at No. 3. While BSU might be No. 3, I and the rest of Bronco Nation believe this is unfair treatment and that Boise State has been wronged by the BCS system, again. ESPN's first weekly BCS Countdown show put a very sour taste in my mouth because of the noticeable bias against the Broncos. Show guests Craig James and Robert Smith said they respect the Broncos, but put them at No. 4 in their top 5 lists. Also, when
they tried to explain their respect for BSU they said BSU has proved they can beat big time programs on the road such as Virginia Tech and TCU, but failed to mention Oregon -- the team they both had as No. 1 in their BCS rankings. How do you forget Oregon, other than the fact they don't want to mention the Ducks because it proves their own ranking wrong? I heard them use the term "body of work" countless times when referring to the reason why Oregon and Oklahoma should rightfully be ahead of BSU. Have they even looked at either of those teams' schedules. OU has victories against Utah State by 7 in Norman, Okla. (BSU should beat USU Dec. 4 by much more than 7), Florida State by 30 (quality win), Air Force by 3 (AF just lost to San Diego State 27-25), Cincinnati by 2 (Fresno State beat Cincy by 14), Texas by 8 (Good win, but how good is Texas?) and Iowa State by 52 (Not impressive considering how bad the Cyclones are,
Utah scored 68 on ISU). Is this really the "body of work" of the BCS's No. 1 team? Oregon has victories against New Mexico by 72 (UNM lost to New Mexico State, a team BSU beat 59-0, but could've beat 100-0 if the first team played out), Tennessee by 35 (Vols have a horrible defense and are a SEC bottomfeeder), Portland State by 69 (BSU doesn't play a FCS team this season), Arizona State by 11 (Ducks gave up 597 yards to the Sun Devils), Stanford by 21 (Good win, but had to come back in the second half) and Washington State by 20 (WSU's only win this season is against Montana State by 2). Is this resume worthy of a a No. 1 ranking in the AP and USA Today Coaches' Poll? Boise State has victories against Virginia Tech by 3 (Sure, VT chocked versus James Madison, but the Hokies likely will win the ACC), Wyoming by 45 (The Cowboys never get beat that badly at home), Oregon State by 13 (Played a vicious schedule
and lost James Rodgers, the best player on offense), New Mexico State by 59 (NMSU beat UNM and BSU could've beaten the Aggies 100-0), Toledo by 43 (Toledo isn't a bad team as it proved by beating Purdue on the road) and San Jose State by 48 (Alabama beat SJSU by 45 in Tuscaloosa and Wisconsin only beat SJSU by 13 in Madison). The "body of work" argument the "experts" are using makes no sense. BSU is being punished because of its name, and it's very clear to see if you actually look at the scores of these games. Plus, BSU junior quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Kellen Moore has only played two entire games this season versus VT and OSU. He didn't take a snap in the second half vs. SJSU and BSU still beat the Spartans by more than Alabama and Wisconsin did. ON THE ROAD! Are the "experts" actually watching the games, or are they only looking at ESPN's highlight clip and the box score? Because if they did watch the game they would notice how easily BSU is rolling these inferior teams. BSU isn't taking its foot of the gas during these games, it's pulling the emergency brake. Not to mention, BSU has the nation's longest winning streak at 20 games and the longest road winning streak at 16 games! No team is close to
either of those streaks, and it doesn't matter that BSU plays in the WAC because a lot of other teams play easy conference schedules too. The "experts" say Oregon's offense can't be stopped. BSU held the Ducks without a first down last season in Boise for two and a half quarters. It doesn't matter if it was last season. That is a huge stat that no team can claim it has done to Oregon in the Chip Kelly or Mike Bellotti era! What's scary is the fact that BSU's defense this season is better than last year's. BSU's defense ranks No. 1 against the rush by an overwhelming margin, giving up a measly 59.33 yards per game. Impressive, considering it has shut down VT and OSU -- teams with great running backs. BSU ranks No. 1 in total defense, allowing a nation's best 210.17 ypg. Everyone, including the "experts," say defense wins ballgames, right? Finally, the offensive statistics. The Broncos have outscored its last three road opponents 158-6 and its last two 107-0. That number could be way higher if Moore and the rest of the starters played in the second half! It doesn't matter if its against Wyoming, NMSU and SJSU. They're FBS football teams and BSU is on the road. Don't forget Moore either. His 16-to-1 touchdown/ interception ration is the best in the country and he is No. 1
in passing efficiency. He has put up numbers like this for three years and is a Heisman Trophy front-runner without question. As a freshman in his first ever road game, Moore torched Oregon in Autzen Stadium for 386 yards and three touchdowns. By the way, BSU won 37-32, but nobody wins at Autzen. Except Moore and BSU! I feel like these are huge arguments that nobody wants to bring up because BSU isn't Oklahoma or Oregon. Having me as a guest on your show would give your listeners/viewers a new perspective that they might have not seen or heard before. It would be different than the regular "experts" who regurgitate the same information over and over and blab about strength of schedule and "body of work." The people judging and hurting the Broncos in the polls, on television and on the radio don't understand what they're saying and they're not giving BSU the chance that it rightfully deserves. If you put BSU's "body of work" and its statistics in the place of teams such as Oklahoma and Oregon they would be No. 1 in all polls and in the BCS without question. The hate for BSU needs to end, and I want to do something about it. I want to defend my school and I believe I could do it on the national scale. People need to hear these arguments.
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OCTOBER 21, 2010
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The Future
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
By N. Black & S. Clement Tribune Media Services
The Boise Bicycle Project hosts their first ‘bike-in movie,’ with the film Bicycle Dreams on Saturday, Oct 23. Film begins at 7pm, and is $5 if you ride your bike.
Today is a 7 - Balance your checkbook before spending any money. This is no time to be frivolous. Your energy’s better spent considering your next step.
Today’s birthday (10/21/10)
A short film produced by Boise State Student Media will open the screening. Ride on.
Funnies
The
Wisdom arrives this year on the wings of intelligent flights of idealism. Use your values this year in charitable activities. You’d be surprised at the connections you can make that have positive career and social impacts. Apply conscious intention to all areas of your work. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 - An older individual, possibly a grandparent, makes you aware of circumstances from the past that answer a lot of questions. This gives new perspective.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 5 - Wherever you find yourself today, accept a service role. Others depend on your logical recommendations. You serve yourself this way, too.
Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 6 - Unless plans arise to spend time with someone special, stick close to home and get to bed early. Still, a magical night is worth yawns the next day.
Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 9 - This is no time to keep secrets. Share information as well as logic. Then others understand your motives and will support what you’re up to.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 6 - One-sided thinking creates extra stress for you and your favorite people. Review the facts to discover a previously unexplored option. Try it out.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 - Your favorite person wants to take an entirely new direction. You’d prefer sticking to the familiar path. Either way, a map is helpful.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7 - Apply your best effort to get more work accomplished now. An older person has a definite idea of what’s needed. It’s up to you to make it happen.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6 - From your perspective, an older group member causes extra trouble. If you need results now, discuss it in person for best resolution.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 - Repairs create a drain on your bank account. Resist the desire to redesign things and just fix what’s necessary. You’ll be glad you did.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 6 - Spend part of the day on a creative writing project. Do some Internet research to gather information to flesh out a plot or character.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6 - An older person makes you aware of your own creative potential. Consider their suggestions in private. Adjust the idea to fit your personality. ___ (c) 2009, Tribune Media Services Inc.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Sudoku By M. Mepham
Level: 1
2
3 4
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6
Culture
OCTOBER 21, 2010
ARBITERONLINE.COM
Beyond the burqa
The Saucy Misadventures
Muslim women talk about Islamic fashion
Lance Moore Journalist
Fashion Show Women of Islam kicked off the start of Islamic Awareness Week this Monday in the Simplot Room of the Student Union Building and featured a panel discussion. The event was hosted by the Muslim Students Association, highlighting traditional attire worn by Islamic woman in correlation with Muslim practices. The show began with a short introduction of Muslim women's traditional attire, the burqa. A burqa is a long garment covering a woman's body from the neck to the wrists and ankles, and the piece of clothing which covers the woman's head is called the hijab. Members of MSA said covering the face is an option women may choose to exercise or not. The interpretation of the face cover requirement often varies from country to country. After the brief fashion exposé, Marisa Kaali, a Muslim convert, and Huma Ali, a native Pakistani, lead a panel discussion regarding the Quran and women's role in Islamic society.
“Regarding the interaction between man and woman, the Quran cherishes the values of modesty,” Kaali said during the panel discussion. Panel members said the Quran is sometimes misinterpreted. Some people think it exemplifies the dominance of a perceived cultural patriarchy. Modesty is not meant to degrade women, but preserves the sacred bond of marriage between a man and woman, panelists said. “The Quran tells us to cover our head, body and shape, to embody the idea that men and women can be viewed as people, while not being objectified,” Kaali said. The discussion broke down a few of the fallacies concerning Islam, such as fundamentalism, Americans' perception, as well as supposed permission from the Quran to impose hatred upon “infidels.” “The differences that have come to be in the Islamic world permitting inferiority of women, and a mistreatment of women are purely political, and entirely unacceptable according to the
The savvy girl’s
guide to:
Being legit with the intimate Sherika Martinez Columnist
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One of 14 models sports a colorful burqa at the Islam fashion show Monday. Quran,” Kaali said. MSA panel members recognized Islam was a revolutionary idea at its inception, however, it is difficult to understand how some of the ideas closely associated to Islam in Americans' eyes are incorrect in reference to the thoughts The Prophet Mohammad stated. Huma Ali, a BSU graduate student also receiving questions in the panel discussion, directly addressed this. “The Prophet Mohammed’s idea of Islam was so
revolutionary in regards to women because he spoke positively of women’s right to education, to marry whom they choose, a woman’s right to participate in business and to use the money earned as her own,” Ali said. The panel discussion was a stepping stone used, as Ali said, “to paint a true picture of Islam.” Zahir Nadery, a senior political science major, said the misinterpretation of Islam “is an utter fabrication pre-
sented by the media from around the world as a false truth.”
Online Want to see the fashionistas on the runway? Go to arbiteronline.com to watch a video about the fashion show if you missed it live.
Driving dilemma To commute or not to commute, that is the question natalie craig Journalist
andrew ford/THE ARBITER
peaceful moments
Boise State enrollment services report that an estimated 25 percent of BSU students live on campus, while the rest commute to class.
Bi-Annual Emeritus Faculty Exhibition
Reception: 10.21.10
4:30 – 6:30
Free parking will be available in the Liberal Arts parking lot during the reception. Free and Open to the Public Light refreshments will be provided
10.16.10 – 11.18.10 Student Union Gallery visit our website at: http://finearts.boisestate.edu
PROMOTIONS
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY Student Union Fine Arts
The drive, walk, run, bike or bus ride to get to class is part of a student’s everyday life. How students get to class depends on how it benefits their lifestyles, commutes and class schedules. “Driving to campus is both good and bad,” Destry Royce, a freshman with an undeclared major, said. “I feel like it gives me a lot more responsibility because I can't stay up ridiculously late the night before, and I can't really take the luxury of sleeping in. My drive is roughly 20 minutes right now so I have to plan ahead for that. Sometimes traffic completely sucks, and sometimes I almost die on the connector, but it really isn't that bad.” Living on campus has the benefit of getting to class efficiently. If running late or forgetting assignments on the counter is a daily thing, it is a quick fix for students who live on campus. “When you live on campus, you have an advantage,” freshman business major Shena Foster said. “You don’t have to worry about heavy traffic or inconvenience with transportation. I love having extra time to get ready, and if I leave something behind it's only a couple minutes away.” Living on campus may provide students with access to everything they need just foot steps away, but students may have to sacrifice things they truly want in a perfect work and living space. “In my opinion, the biggest con of living on campus is the amount of noise there is during the day and at night," Lacey Luken, a freshman and social work major, said. “When I need to study I find it hard to at times because there will be people talking loudly and yelling inside and outside my dorm. It would almost be worth the commute from outside of campus in exchange for a peaceful study environment.” Freshman communication major Alex Muir said living off campus is the better option for him. “I don't have to live in a noisy dorm room where I would get sleep deprived like some of my friends," Muir said. "I have no limits on what to have in my room and there are no rules that I disagree with in my house. Those reasons alone sometimes make the commute worth my while.” Living on campus makes the commute easier for busy students, but living off campus provides students with essentials that may not be an option for dorm students. It all comes down to the commute -- drive 30 minutes and have privacy, or walk five minutes and live in constant traffic.
THURSDAY 10/21
CONTINUED...
STREET DOGS
Continental
FRIDAY 10-22
In my last column, I made the point that the line between friend and romantic love interest often isn't so clear. That the components all loving relationships are based on – commitment, passion and intimacy are shared not only between two lovers, but are also the basis for many a meaningful friendship. Most people I spoke to said passion - described as a deep yearning for someone accompanied by sexual arousal - was the deciding factor for them on whether a person was relegated to friend or potential dirty flirty distraction. The thing is, while passion may not be present at the conception of a relationship, it can grow over time as people begin to get to know each other better. Not to mention, it can hit randomly as a matter of circumstance; the opportunity presented itself and two people who had always considered themselves “just friends” find themselves having awkward pillow talk whilst inwardly wondering how much drama they had just brought upon their heads. And therein lies the problem: why should it matter if two friends decide to engage in some sexual play? Is that really all it takes to destroy an otherwise good foundation of friendship? I think instead of focusing on passion, the real answers lie within the realm of intimacy. There are different types or dimensions of intimacy: there’s physical intimacy, which we first experience as a fetus embraced within the confines of our mother’s womb. Hugs, kisses and being held are other forms of “innocent” physicality. The second type of intimacy is intellectual sharing where one person engages another in an exchange of important ideas. A bond is formed through frank conversation and if both parties can remain respectful, this can be a very rewarding type of closeness. The third way of achieving intimacy with another person is through shared activities. When you spend time together you form your own distinctive way of interacting with each other and that interaction can transform an otherwise humdrum friendship into a soulmate-like sexplosion of confusion. The last type of intimacy is emotional: being able to talk openly and honestly about how you are feeling with another person with no fear of judgment. This seems to be women's strong suit, who according to research share their thoughts and feelings more freely than men do, although the difference isn’t as dramatic as you might think. In the amazing interpersonal communication book, "Looking Out Looking In," it makes the point that self disclosure isn’t the only way to bond with others and that, unlike women who value personal talk, men bond over shared activities developing feelings of interdependence, appreciation and mutual liking and they generally use practical help as a way of demonstrating they care. Thing is, physical intimacy is just one of many dimensions for people to connect through. If you have multiple dimensions of intimacy with someone -- sharing your ideas, feelings and life activities -- why should that one small physical dimension outweigh the importance of the others? When friends screw up their groove by discovering the passion between them, why does it have to be an ugly situation? Those other dimensions remain the same, the basis for what led you to feel the spark of physical intimacy in the first place. Don’t lose a friend over lust, because it’s probably just a more subtle form of love.
SATURDAY 10-23
MONDAY 10-25
LOW-FI, 57 HEAVY
ATREYU
DEVIL'S BRIGADE
BOISE ROCK SCHOOL
BLESSTHEFALL
BULLET for my VALENTINE
FLAT FOOT 56
NEW TRANSIT
CHIODOS
ESCAPE THE FATE
FRIDAY 10/22
SATURDAY 10-23
WEDNESDAY 10-27
The Morning Benders
PEELANDER Z
ELECTRIC SIX
TWIN SISTER
JOHN E. COMBAT
The Constellations
HOLIDAY S
&
the JUNGLE FUCKS
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