The Arbiter 12.5.17 Vol 30 Issue 16

DECEMBER 05, 2017

VOL. 30 ISSUE 16 I N D E P E N D E N T

ASBSU semester check-in Page 4

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

O F

B O I S E

S T A T E

Finals relief for students Page 14

S I N C E

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Mountain West Champs Page 16

EVENTS

Events this week Women’s Basketball vs University of Washington Dec. 7 | Taco Bell Arena | 7 pm - 9 pm

Support the BSU Women’s Basketball team as they take on the University of Washington! For more information visit broncosports.com

Annual Family Holiday Concert Dec. 8 | Morrison Center | 7:30 pm

Come and enjoy Boise State’s Music Department’s yearly event for music lovers!

Tickets are free for staff, students and faculty, discounted tickets for non-students.

Buster Bronco’s Birthday Party Dec. 9 | Alumni and Friends Center | 12 pm - 1:30 pm

Come celebrate Buster Bronco’s Birthday in this family friendly event. Attendees are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to be donated to Toys for Tots for the holiday season.

Men’s Basketball vs. Sacramento State Dec. 9 | Taco Bell Arena | 2 pm - 4 pm

Watch the Men’s Basketball team take on Sacramento State! For more information visit broncosports.com

Finals Week Relief Begins-Late Night Breakfast Dec. 10 | Student Union Building, Dining Area | 9 pm - 11 pm

Start off finals week with a free breakfast for every student with a valid ID. While supplies last!

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DECEMBER 05, 2017

INSIDE

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Photo of the week Editor-In-Chief Brandon Rasmussen editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Online Editor Taylor Munson onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Jacob Palmer opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Jordan Erb news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Ximena Bustillo news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Shannon Brennan culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Logan Potter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu The Boise State Broncos won the Mountain West Championship on their home turf on Saturday, Nov. 2. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

What you missed online SPORTS Boise State women’s basketball falls to Saint Mary’s, bounces back to defeat Eastern Washington

OPINION

Idaho should legalize marijuana because of its many benefits seen in other states

C U LT U R E Learn how to make Oreo Truffles and Peppermint Bark while you’re on a budget with easy steps

Visit us online The Arbiter

@arbiteronline

@arbiteronline

arbiteronline.com

While some off-campus student housing sites have more luxurious features, living there is quite a bit more expensive than other on-campus or off-campus options. Cover design by Nabil Rahman.

Sports Editor Daniel Gardner sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Peter Huguenin sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Manager Axel Quartarone digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editors Evan Fishburn Harbor Neher Design Manager Selina Ceballos Graphic Designers Nabil Rahman Olivia Tocher Contact us The Arbiter’s mailing address is: 1910 University Dr., Mail Stop 1340 Phone: (208) 426-6300 Website: www.arbiteronline.com Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State, 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.

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NEWS

DECEMBER 05, 2017

How’s it going? Checking in with members of student government

End-of-semester review of Associated Students of Boise State University Ximena Bustillo | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

design thinking, which is the concept that there are no dumb ideas, just ideas that need the foundation to grow when discussing how to carry through our projects,” Payne said. “We look at what Boise State is doing well, what they can improve on and how to fix any issues.”

Another change this semester includes leadership luncheons, which are informal lunches students can attend and meet with educators.

“31 people came to the last one,” Payne said. “We are getting educators that are more focused on student experience and student voice.”

The event is open for all students, with the next one taking place in December and throughout the spring.

Spring will be an exciting time, according to Payne.

“These are the months where all four projects will take place. Diversity week will take place, and hopefully the food pantry will have a secured location,” Payne said.

Students gather at ASBSU student assembly. Photo by Brandon Rasmussen.

As the semester’s final days quickly approach, it’s time to reconvene with members of the student government. Gabe Payne, vice president, Austin Henderson, secretary of community relations and Veronica Camargo, secretary of student organization affairs discuss their projects this semester.

Gabe Payne: Vice President Gabe Payne, a senior health science major and vice president of Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU), has been busy working with student assembly. Assembly, along with other sections of ASBSU, has been working on

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four main projects: tackling food insecurity, diversity week, mental illness awareness and a spring farmer’s market.

Last year each executive member led a committee with students to form a committee of their designated projects.

“We saw that some students might be more passionate about certain projects compared to others–even within the same committee,” said Payne. “Having these four projects and allowing students to find their passions and use their skills to help move the project forward is new this year.”

There has also been a push for creativity and student outreach.

“We have introduced the practice of

Austin Henderson: Secretary of

Community Relations As secretary of community relations, Henderson was in charge of the Boise State block party and Voter Registration day events during this first semester. He is also the head of the committee planning diversity week and has been working closely with the Inclusive Excellence Student Council (IESC).

Henderson has been working alongside the vice president of the IESC to plan events and respond to conversations occurring on campus.

“A lot of my position involves making sure students know their student government cares about them,” Henderson said.

He specifically cited the occasional need to respond to national conversations, such as when Henderson and ASBSU President Sienna George drafted a statement to send to students in response to President Trump’s policy advocacies on Deferred

Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Veronica Camargo: Secretary of Student Organization Affairs As the head of the funding board, Camargo is in charge of allocating student fees to student organizations requesting money for travel, supplies or other needs. According to Camargo, this semester there have been 195 requests for funds as of Dec. 3.

“Most funds run out within a little over the first semester, but we believe that this year they will stretch well into the spring semester,” Camargo said.

An addition to the process this semester included the addition of a “deferred” category for student organizations who may have presented well but lacked basic information needed for the funds to be granted.

“They might not have all the information or may have to reword to comply with code,” Camargo said. “They get an assigned officer to help and they resubmit.

Then I present to the board via email. It helps so the students don’t have to come back to be re-heard in front of the whole board.”

There has also been the addition of three more specific forms to allow for more accurate fund requests: expense request, event request and travel request.

“My goal is to improve the student experience. In order to do that I make hearing review notes that have all the details regarding their grant and any existing questions, so when they are in the hearing we can focus on what the student actually wants funding for as opposed to asking tedious questions,” Camargo said.

After the given event, officers are responsible with following up with student organizations and asking for results, pictures and other information, which is also new.

“I am looking to see how our officers, including me, can be more involved and so students can get to know them as well.”

NEWS

DECEMBER 05, 2017

The reasons behind the new crosswalk signs on University Drive

To improve safety on the curving road, flashing crosswalk signs were implemented Alyza Lovenguth | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu When students walk, bike or drive down University Drive, two signs sit to the left and right, flashing “Crosswalk Ahead.” After appearing on Nov. 8 and remaining to this day, questions have arose concerning the signs’ sudden and mysterious appearance mid-semester.

Due to a student being hit at the crosswalk between University Drive and Theatre Lane this fall, the “Crosswalk Ahead” signs are a temporary fix, according to Greg Hahn, the associate vice president of Communications and Marketing. Although the student is in good condition, Boise State wants to prevent any future incidents from occurring by putting up these signs and improving the crosswalk permanently.

“I just know the student is okay. It made us say ‘let’s not wait for these other signs to get up,’” Hahn said. “That process has been going on. When we started the crosswalk on the curve, we knew we were going to have to do more to alert drivers it’s there. So we put those signs up to keep awareness high.”

According to Hahn, the new sign at the crosswalk at Theatre Lane and University Drive will be similar to the flashing sign and lights across 8th Street and River Street. However, the new crosswalk improvements will more than likely just be a flashing crosswalk sign. Although Boise State would prefer a replica of the 8th and River crosswalk alert, Hahn stated it was up to Ada County Highway District (ACHD).

“We’re working with the ACHD and the city to have a button students can push, and it flashes the lights,” Hahn said. “It’s not like the one near the administration building, putting the red light up and making cars stop. It’ll be more like the one on River Street, where it flashes lights across the road. We’re not 100 percent sure when or if we’ll be able to do that, but for sure, we’ll be able to put flashing lights on the crosswalk sign. That’s the immediate

The flashing crosswalk signals arrived after a student was hit while crossing University Drive. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

play and should be up in the next couple of weeks.”

Hahn continued by stating the needed parts have been bought and should be placed in the next couple weeks—and will be in operation by spring semester.

“From what I understand, we already have the parts this year for the sign,” Hahn said. “You’ll be able to push a button, and it’ll flash under the sign. It just raises more awareness for the drivers.”

After the recent scare, Boise State staff decided the “Crosswalk Ahead” signs were needed until the new pedestrian signs were in order. Due to the curve of University Drive near the crosswalk, it’s hard for drivers to see pedestrians until it’s too late. Although the crosswalk at Univer-

sity Drive and Theatre Lane has been an ongoing problem, Hahn stated the needed improvements had to go through several channels before being enacted.

“It clearly was a tough crosswalk because of the curve,” Hahn said. “So we have a complicated system. Because it’s a public street, it is technically managed by the ACHD, but the city of Boise sort of plays a role too. It’s not easy to make big changes quickly, but we do what we can do by putting the signs up to manage traffic for football games and stuff like that.”

According to the project sector of ACHD, the improvements are a requirement of the new Boise State honors building and are dependent on the building’s developer. However, ACHD is currently

discussing additional enhancements on the intersection at Lincoln Avenue and University Drive.

Although the student being hit was a wake-up call for temporary action, the crosswalk improvements are not just a result of the incident. The improvements have been in the works due to Boise State’s growing population, Hahn stated.

“Its definitely a lot of students over there (in that crosswalk),” Hahn said. “Every time the campus grows one way or the other, we have to figure out all the safety issues, but they’re working on it to make sure everyone can get around as safely as possible.”

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NEWS

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Starting The Conversation

Boise State becomes supporting member for publisher, The Conversation MaryAnn Fernandez | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu The Conversation, an independent, nonprofit publisher, recently gained Boise State University as a supporting member.

Numerous experts at Boise State have already contributed to the publication of their research.

Cienna Madrid, research promotions and communications specialist at Boise State, explained in an email that The Conversation encourages academics to write timely articles about their areas of expertise for the general public and allows media outlets to repurpose their content for free on their sites.

According to Madrid, The Conversation helps academics explain their research to the general audience instead of other academics. Additionally, she said it helps the public understand how universities contribute valuable research to society.

“We have had faculty writing for The Conversation for the past several years and had very good experiences working with editors there,” Madrid wrote. “In addition, their research was disseminated to thousands–sometimes hundreds of thousands– of readers.”

Troy Rohn, professor of biological sciences, is one of the several faculty members at Boise State who has contributed to The Conversation. In his article, he discusses Alzheimer’s disease and, more specifically, smaller subsets of cases such as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Rohn explained that in a recent survey, he found that Americans 60 years or older were most afraid of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, in the article Rohn emphasized the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, and

there are clearer symptoms to distinguish Alzheimer’s from normal aging. The article also highlighted a clinical trial happening in Columbia, involving a family and community that carries the Alzheimer’s mutation in their genetics.

Rohn’s article has had a considerable impact around the globe, with over 125,000 reads since the year it was published.

Jen Schneider, associate professor in the School of Public Service, was also a contributor to The Conversation, along with other co-authors. According to Schneider, the article they wrote was based on their book “Under Pressure,” written in 2016.

The book detailed how the coal industry responded through advertisements and campaigns to a historic bottoming out of the coal market in the United States.

According to Schneider, The Conversa-

tion is important for academics to think about how to communicate their work to a broader audience.

“It’s a hugely useful exercise to get clear on the heart of your work and then to explain it to an audience of people who have different backgrounds, different forms of expertise and different values. It clarified my own work to myself, really,” Schneider wrote.

Schneider added that research is fundamentally about trying to make visible social processes that might have been formerly taken for granted, or invisible.

“If we’re not making a contribution to how people operate in the world, or see it, or experience it, then I think we do have some soul-searching to do,” Schneider wrote.

Boise State has developed a relationship with publishing company, The Conversation. The Conversation will publish academic articles produced by Boise State faculty. Photo courtesy of The Conversation’s Facebook page.

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OPINION

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Considering eSports as a sport

Why eSports deserve to be seen as equivalent to tranditional sports Jeff Hokenson | Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu As lines of fans file into the stadium and find their seats, tension for the main event rises. The cameras begin streaming to thousands more online. Casters begin to discuss the upcoming matchup. Players stumble over the strategy they’ve been working on for weeks. Coaches give their team a quick-pep talk to raise morale. The lights go dark and the crowd ignites the stadium with cheers. The lights refocus on the teams taking up their positions.

With millions on the line, the pressure can be felt from anywhere in the building.

The main event has begun—an eSports tournament.

By definition, an eSport is a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers. Most people wouldn’t consider eSports a sport, based on that alone.

Anthony Gabianelli, a student writer for the Montclarion, the student newspaper of Montclair State University, thinks the lack of physicality is what separates eSports from traditional sports. “eSports are entertainment and nothing more than that,” Gabianelli said.

However, being a professional gamer is much more than just sitting in front of a screen playing video games all day—it is not something everyone is capable of accomplishing. Professional gamers live in hyper-competitive worlds where their individual and team skills are constantly being put to the test. With a combination of competition, skill and teamwork backed with an audience and building revenue, eSports is redefining what a sport is. eSports takes skill According to the Oxford Dictionary, a sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. By this definition, sports have to be athletic, but don’t get caught up on this physical aspect.

There are other established sports that

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don’t require physical activity, such as chess—which is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee and over 100 countries—or stock car racing— NASCAR. Thomas Formoso, another student writer for the Montclarion, describes how it feels to play eSports.

“You’re in the zone. You are using the right blend of competitiveness, the necessary hand-eye coordination, or the amount of concentration and communication required to succeed,” said Formoso.

Could sound like any sport, right? At the core of every sport, eSports included, is the spirit of competition. eSports requires teamwork eSports, just like traditional team sports, requires teamwork. Players have to work together to complete objectives in order to succeed. This requires players to practice, just like any other sport. Playing together helps build team chemistry and gets players used to working together as a team.

This way teams are prepared for tournaments, when everything is on the line. eSports organizations build teams of support staff to assist the professional gamers in excelling, similar to other sports organizations. Sam Mathews, founder of Fnatic—an eSports organization, said, “We have a live-in coach, we have analysts, we have … basically a huge support network.”

Audience and revenue Any successful spectator sport needs to be able to draw in crowds for events to make money. Many eSports tournaments have already sold out many large venues around the globe, including the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. According to a study by Newzoo, the global eSports audience expanded from 204 million to 292 million viewers between 2014 and 2016. In only two years, viewership raised by 43 percent and is

While eSports may be a relatively new development, they have already gained massive audiences and followings. Photo by Taylor Humby.

projected to continue to rise.

Newzoo found the eSports global revenue exploded from $194 million in 2014 to $463 million in 2016. An impressive 239 percent increase in just two years of growth.

Many businesses are beginning to realize the financial potential of eSports. According to Jacob Wolf, a staff writer for ESPN, “Cloud9 has raised $25 million in Series A financing from notable companies and parties in sports, media, tech and entertainment.” Some of these financial parties included the WWE and San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence.

ESPN has even begun broadcasting eSports events on their networks and has an eSports section on its website.

Collegiate eSports eSports have also made their way into the collegiate sports scene.

According to ESPN’s website, there are currently 41 varsity eSports programs

across the nation. Some of these schools include: UC Irvine, University of Utah and Georgia State University.

This year, Boise State unveiled its new varsity eSports program. According to a previous Arbiter article, “Boise State launches new Esports program,” Boise State is one of four Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools to have an official organized varsity eSports team. BSU’s eSports program offers varsity teams for five separate games—League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, Heroes of the Storm and Hearthstone.

While eSports lacks the athletic aspect of traditional sports, it has many other components of them. Like in team sports, eSports features games where players have to work together to achieve victory. Players practice to compete on global stages, in front of huge audiences, with millions up for grabs. This is why eSports deserves to be recognized as a sport.

OPINION

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Ada county’s transit system needs updating

Students living in the treasure valley need more transit options

Alyza Lovenguth| Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Better transit opinions would give students who commute into Boise State more academic opportunities. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

Imagine a student in Caldwell, Idaho who has a 9 a.m. class at Boise State. With no car, they’re forced to wake up at least an hour before catching the bus at Happy Day Transit Center. At 6:30 a.m., the Route 41 bus arrives at their station, but they will not arrive at Boise State until 8:06 a.m. Driving would have taken them only 28 minutes according to Google Maps.

Scenarios such as this, Ada County’s transit system should adapt and change all bus schedules to Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Boise State students forced to use ValleyRide have less transit opinions due to limited bus schedules.

Between the busyness of college classes and college life, the last thing students should worry about is a bus schedule. In order to increase ridership, we must first improve ValleyRide.

Limited Schedules

If you don’t have a car, walking or riding a bike may be your only alternative with Ada Country’s transit system which can be either impossible or worrisome (at night or in harsh weather).

Students traveling by bus are forced to schedule their classes with their bus schedule--specifically students riding on Inter county Routes.

Also, according to Ada County’s transit website, ValleyRide has 18 weekday routes-most operating between 5:15 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. Out of these 18 routes, eight routes operate on Saturday, with no routes on Sunday. Without routes operating on weekends, many students will have to make extra arrangements to involve themselves in college life.

Added Stress According to the academic article “Running for the 7:45: The effects of public transit improvements on commuter stress”

by Richard Wener and others, two studies revealed commuting through mass transit can result in stress due to factors such as the time and predictability of the commute. The more time the commute takes, the more stress is given to the commuter.

“The findings demonstrate a relationship between the nature and quality of the commute-to-work on mass transit and psychological/psychophysiological stress, with multiple methodological indicators,” Wener wrote.

In a previous interview concerning Boise State’s population growth, James Anderson, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services, stated Boise State is a place for networking and socializing—not just a place to take classes.

“We want students to stay on campus because it’s a place to study, place to network, a place to meet with one another, and when students do that, they have a higher success rate,” Anderson said.

Boise State faculty additionally push for “green” ways of travel such as riding a bike or taking public transportation— making cycling accessible on campus with GreenBike and free bus fare for students.

According to an academic article by Alex Bond and Ruth Steiner entitled “Sustainable campus transportation through transit partnership and transportation demand management: A case study from the university of florida,” fare cost is not the only factor to ridership; but instead, improved service also attracts bus riders.

“By reducing the total wait time—and thus the total travel time—transit begins to become competitive with the private automobile in terms of convenience,” Bond and Steiner wrote. “Evans found that frequency elasticity for transit ridership is 0.5—for every 10 percent increase in frequency, ridership goes up by 5 percent.”

Waukesha County in Wisconsin has a similar population to Ada County, however their public transit system—Waukesha Metro—has less restricting schedules than

Valleyride.

According to Suburbanstats.org, Ada County has a population of about 392,365 people. In Wisconsin, Waukesha County has a population of 391,200 people, according to CRE Demographics; but unlike Ada County, their transit system runs Monday through Sunday.

On average, Waukesha Metro’s bus schedule run from 5:35 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. on weekdays. Although their Saturday and Sunday bus schedule fluctuates, Saturdays

“

By reducing the total wait time—and thus the total travel time—transit begins to become competitive with the private automobile in terms of convenience.

”

- Alex Bond and Ruth Steiner, UC Berkley average 8:20 a.m. to 9:25 p.m.--Sundays averaging 9:20 a.m. to 6:25 p.m.

Although Waukesha Metro’s Sunday schedule is restricting, they still run every day of the week. With a slightly higher population, Ada County’s transit system still has a stricter schedule than Waukesha Metro.

Ada County and Boise State are only getting bigger. As of now, Boise State has a fall semester population of 24,154, and Boise State faculty only suspects it will get bigger. With the total enrollment this fall semester, Boise State is a town of its own.

As Ada County and Boise continue to grow, Valleyride needs to grow with the population and accept the growing pains that come with it, because a transit system should be made to make lives easier--not dictate students’ schedules.

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FEATURE

DECEMBER 5, 2017

Opportunity cost: is luxury off-campus student housing worth the price?

Examining opinions surrounding La Pointe, River Edge and The Vistas

Jordan Erb and Ximena Bustillo | News Staff | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Within the past three years, four off-campus student apartment complexes have gained popularity among students. Each is less than half a mile from the Boise State campus, stands four or five stories tall and offers luxury amenities, such as fitness centers, jacuzzis, Starbucks coffee dispensers and game rooms.

The apartment complexes were brought to Boise by different out-of-state housing development corporations: La Pointe was developed by Fresno, Calif.’s Topanga Investments; Vista East and West by Atlanta’s Carter; and River Edge by Marlton, N.J’s The Michaels Organization. They offer high-end student living–for a price. A comparison between average rent in Boise and rent at these complexes revealed that residents at any of these four apartments may be paying up to $1,277 more than for the average apartment their size in Boise.

The Arbiter reached out to current and previous residents and staff from each apartment complex to answer one question: is it all worth it?

Vista East and Vista West: Vista East and West, owned by the same out-of-state corporation, offer all-inclusive housing with individualized leases for both students and non-students.

For Brianna Wadsworth, senior economics major and current resident, the positive aspects of Vista West outweigh the negatives. Living with friends, proximity to campus and access to facility amenities make it a top-notch housing option, according to Wadsworth.

“The apartment comes fully furnished and for someone who lives like a divorced, 30-year-old dad, I find The Vistas to be a saving grace, considering all I need is bathroom towels, bedding and food,” Wadsworth said.

According to Wadsworth, most problems at The Vistas come from negligent renters. She also acknowledged that the maintenance and front desk staff strive to

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keep up with the messes of wild residents.

“The younger residents are obnoxious, and leave their trash everywhere. Holes are punched in the wall, pizza boxes are shoved into gates to break it for roughly one month and I wake up to throw up in the halls and elevators,” Wadsworth said.

“If you ask me, this is a resident problem rather than a community problem.”

Cynthia Lay, leasing and marketing team leader, agreed.

“Not everyone respects where they live.

There can be vomit in the elevators–its typical student housing,” Lay said.

La Pointe: According to Emily DeYoung, the property manager of La Pointe, the apartments offer individual leases for luxury student housing. With 336 students, La Pointe is 98 percent student occupied.

Junior graphic design major Camille Poynter and senior communication major Meghan Holley were both former residents of La Pointe. Both students lived in the apartments from summer 2016 to summer 2017.

Both Poynter and Holley agreed La Pointe is a clean complex with a friendly staff and timely maintenance crew.

“They had special rates if you signed within a limited time at $490 a month per person with a four-bedroom, fourbath lease,” Poynter said. Holley agreed, explaining this is the same reason she moved in.

“They raised their rates over $100 per person per month for the next year, and it would be over $600 per person for a fourbed four-bath,” Holley said.

The increase in price is the main factor that deterred the two students.

“I think I was getting my money’s worth. Internet, cable, gym, pool and other amenities were included in a really nice apartment layout,” Poynter said. “$600 per person is reasonable for them, though not reasonable for college students.”

The luxury apartments have had to steadily increase their prices to mold to market demands, according to DeYoung.

This, unfortunately, places students in a bind.

“It basically forced us to move out, which sucked because I really liked living there,” Poynter said.

For next year, there will be a raise in prices, as a $30 utility fee will be added due to market demands, according to DeYoung.

River Edge: Reflective of its name, River Edge sits neatly against the Boise River and the Greenbelt. Housing more than 600 students, the facility offers a student-living experience unlike other off-campus housing, according to general manager Erin Johnson.

“

The younger residents are obnoxious, and leave their trash everywhere. Holes are punched in the wall, pizza boxes are shoved into gates to break it for roughly one month and I wake up to throw up in the halls and elevators.

”

-Brianna Wadsworth, senior economics major “We’re about 85 to 90 percent students, mostly because of the way we structure our lease terms and the utilities included, so students would be more prone to renting here than not,” Johnson said.

The lease structure, according to junior marketing major Madison Belzer, is a convenient aspect of the complex and one that

her parents appreciated, as well.

“My parents love that it is individual leases,” Belzer said. “If someone moves out, your rent doesn’t go up, whereas in most houses it would. The concept of these apartments is genius.”

Like the other three, River Edge offers all-inclusive living and fun extras, such as “Free Food Fridays” and access to HBO. As with the positive similarities between complexes, there are negative similarities, too.

“After the weekends it gets a little messier, just because there are some residents that don’t respect the property as much as the rest of us would like. But hey, you can’t expect everyone to be as respectful or clean as the next person, that’s just not how it goes,” Belzer said. “I have heard the same things about La Pointe and The Vistas as well. But maintenance works really hard to make the property nice and clean. They deserve a lot more credit than they get.”

To corroborate this, Emily Dawson, a senior psychology major and previous resident–whose name has been changed to protect her anonymity–said River Edge had its occasional messes.

“Overall, it was pretty clean,” Dawson said. “However, they didn’t clean the stairs too often and there would be dog poop and spilled beer for a few days before it was cleaned.”

Josh Paulsen, junior applied mathematics major and previous resident, said maintenance is good and timely, but damage by tenants is apparent. According to Paulsen, there were times when emergency exit signs were knocked down by students, leaving holes in the walls.

In general, students seemed content to compromise price for a luxury living experience. The amenities and lavish extras still draw in renters, despite frequent cost upticks, facility damages and vomit and feces in hallways. The opportunity cost associated with these complexes is an imperative risk, according to Boise State students.

ARE THESE HOUSING COMPLEXES WORTH THE COST? COST PER MONTH 1000 800

$940

�

$930

BOISE AVERAGE 1250 1000

$685

VISTA WEST

VISTA EAST

$1050 $864

LA POINTE

$2400

2500

1750 $1400

1400

$1220

$1350 $1300

750

1050

400

500

700

1000

200

250

350

500

0

0

0

0

1500

$977

2 BEDs

1 BED

$1965

2000

600

STUDIO

RIVER EDGE

$1123

3 BEDs

“$600 per person is reasonable for them, though not reasonable for college students.

”

- Camille Poynter, junior graphic design major

SQUARE FOOTAGE � 500

456

450

400

448

BOISE AVERAGE 750 600

VISTA WEST

VISTA EAST

700

1250

1250 550

1000

964

880

885

870

900

450

750

750

200

300

500

500

100

150

250

250

0

0

0

1 BED

1197 1103

1000

300

STUDIO

RIVER EDGE

LA POINTE

0

2 BEDs

3 BEDs

1190

NOTES

DECEMBER 05, 2017

In your corner: What to expect next from your ASBSU team

ASBSU President lays out accomplishments from this semester and looks to the next Sienna George | Staff Writer, ASBSU President | asbsupresident@boisestate.edu

“What’s next?”

It’s the question of the season. Two little words powerful enough to send a graduating senior into panic around the dinner table over winter break. While most respond with facial expressions of pure shock—sometimes even terror—perhaps I’m of the rare breed generally OK with responding, “I’m not sure, but I guess we’ll find out.” I find the question of “what’s next?” excites me for the very reason that those words hold so much promise.

With little under four months left to fulfill the goals and platform ideas I and my team members set forth for our ASBSU executive team this year, “what’s next?” seems to be a question ever-present on my mind.

As of today, we’ve raised $4,235 for our food cupboard PonyUp campaign with five days left to reach our goal of $5,000.

These funds will help us to lay the foundation for a lasting legacy at Boise State: the first-ever, on-campus network of food cupboards. These cupboards will enable students across campus to reach their

“

This is an opportunity where students can meet directly with club members as opposed to just the academic departments. They can get more information to make connections and get involved,” Stafford said.

”

- John Doe, Sample Designation full potential on full stomachs. We are currently in the process of re-structuring our Student Activity Fee Advisory Board (SAFAB), which infuses student voice, not

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Sienna George is this year’s ASBSU president. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

only the Executive Budget Committee, but also at the level of the State Board of Education in the Spring 2018 semester.

With this restructure we hope to extend our reach beyond simply student fees to enable student voice to be heard when discussions on tuition and fee increases arrive.

Every month, our team hosts Leadership Luncheons to connect key members of Administrative and Student Affairs teams with student leaders on campus, helping to bridge the divide between what students really need and what educators on campus think they need.

In the spring, thanks to the work of our Student Government Relations Officer, Hayden Rogers, we will host our first-ever Town Hall, connecting state candidates running for election with students on our campus and will begin to work towards

securing a rotating student seat on the State Board of Education. As the year continues, our Secretary of Community Relations, Austin Henderson, is eager to continue building a relationship of trust and respect with the Inclusive Excellence Student Council (IESC) in hopes of soldifying a lasting relationship for years to come. The work of our Ethics Officer, Ben Kizer, will help future ASBSU executive teams to act with more integrity and more foresight when making decisions that affect 24,000 students on campus. Our Secretary of Student Organizations, Veronica Camargo, continues to diligently work towards intentionally stream-lining the ASBSU Grant Hearing process so more students have access to funds to make their big ideas a reality. Garrett Pederson (Secretary of Academic Affairs), Emily

Rembert (Secretary of Communications) and Haydn Bryan (Chief of Staff) will each lead Student Assembly efforts to improve mental health and personal well-being in the realm of the classroom and the campus community.

Our work is nowhere near complete. By the end of my own term, I still want to implement a way for student leaders to access their administrators more easily, create a sustainable and lasting sexual assault prevention and consent education training for all students and make our campus more compost-friendly.

“What’s next?” It’s time for us to finalize the work we set out to do in the spring of 2017 and look forward to creating a strategic plan for future ASBSU executive teams so that all students can thrive as Boise State Broncos.

CULTURE

DECEMBER 05, 2017

“Come on down!”

“The Price is Right Live!” brings a classic with a twist to Boise State Logan Potter | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

For 49 years, “The Price is Right!” has been bringing cash, prizes and playful entertainment to audiences across the United States, and on Sunday, Dec. 3, the team brought the luck-based game show to Boise State. While this isn’t the show’s first time in Boise, this time around was an successful run, attracting a few handfuls of Boise State students to the audience of the stage show. With several leaving the stage with money and fly-away trips, the show speaks for itself when giving itself the same of the “greatest game show in game show history.”

The famed “Come on down!” announcer for the night was Andy Martello, whose work could be seen on the television show “Last Comic Standing.” Martello opened the show with the rules and regulations, including a few hidden surprises such as audience member prizes between games, and that the show’s final segment, the Showcase, would be randomly selected regardless of previous winnings. While he brought the contestant excitement to the forefront of the live show this weekend, the host, Todd Newton, brought the audience laughs throughout each segment.

Todd Newton is best known for his hosting roles on game shows such as “Whammy: Press Your Luck,” “Hollywood Showdown” and “Family Game Night,” the last of which he received a Daytime Emmy award for. He may not be as wellknown as the studio show’s Drew Carey, but he certainly brought the necessary charisma to bring a television show to life on a stage for theatre. One contestant, a garage door mechanic who took the stage with Newton, seemed less than excited to be on the show, blaming his monotony on the bright lights, but Newton wouldn’t let him live it down without some humor.

“The lights are too bright? Man, that’s like me coming to your job and saying, ‘Huh, this door keeps going up and down’,” Newton said.

Hosting aside, the show was a decent

Boise State was feeling lucky at “The Price is Right Live!” this weekend at the Morrison Center. Photo courtesy of The Price is Right Live! Facebook page.

example of a theatrical performance as well, clearly geared to older fans as well as Boise State students. The contestant registration line was a mix of generations, yet all the same enthusiasm for the idea of being asked to compete on Contestant’s Row. With contestants from Washington to California, Boise quickly became a hub for the entire Pacific Northwest.

“I love Boise, Idaho as it is; the cold is one of my favorite things. That said, I didn’t need an excuse to come anymore once I saw that ‘The Price is Right!’ was headed to the Morrison Center--I bought my tickets right away,” said Sheri, a contestant from San Jose, California.

With a fanbase as large as that of “The Price is Right!,” the excitement was the gift that kept on giving on Sunday night.

The show included many of the original games from the television series, including audience favorites like “Plinko!” and “Cliffhanger.” The most anticipated part of the night, however, seemed to be the

Big Wheel. As acclaimed as the television wheel of similar stance, three participants were labeled as the “lucky three” who were given the opportunity to spin the wheel and walk away with cash prizes (as well as a great photo opportunity).

Similarly, audience members were given the chance to purchase a VIP Pass at the beginning of the show, with which they were able to spin the Big Wheel after the show’s conclusion. The merchandisers call this pass “The Big Wheel Experience,” and it appeared to be one of the most popular merchandise items for sale. Other merchandise for the show included t-shirts and baseball caps, both of which appeared frequently in the rows of audience members in the show.

A show like “The Price is Right Live!” is presumed to be uncommon in nature-game shows don’t often tour beyond a live studio audience. Host Todd Newton credited the show’s vast success to the audiences, new and old, who have been

watching the show for decades, or even just a few years.

“For 49 years, this show has been the greatest in game show history. From Bob Barker to Drew Carey, the legacy has continued to grow, but it wouldn’t be possible without those of you who have been here since day one,” Newton said.

All in all, the game show might not have been college students’ number one pick for a weekend getaway--fans of the television show definitely took the reins on ticket sales--yet there was a charm about the theatrical performance of a beloved television show that managed to bring audiences together, whether in the form of prizes or applause. With the success of this year’s performance in tow for both contestants and the show itself, it is sure to be more attractive to Boise State students in the coming performance years, maybe even calling on a few to “Come on down!” next year.

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CULTURE

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Finals stress relief

With exams approaching, Student Involvement and Leadership Center offers students aid Hannah Schliep | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

» Enroll anytime! » Complete in one year or less! » Self-paced study. Anytime. Anywhere!

Almost 100 online courses in more than 25 subject areas: Family and Consumer Sciences

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Students unwind with a free massage. Photo courtesy of Student Involvement and Leadership Center Facebook page.

Final’s week is just around the corner which means Boise State students have begun to study for countless hours, procrastinate, cram late nights, procrastinate some more and use their favorite study tips to secure a perfect score on their biggest tests of the year.

This may be a stressful time for students across campus and, although it’s important to study, it is important to rewind and take time connecting with fellow students.

Whichever your outlet may be, students can start finals off right by joining the Student Involvement and Leadership Center in the SUB dining area for Late Night Breakfast, on Sunday Dec. 10 from 9-11 p.m.

Students can let off some steam with free pancakes, eggs, bacon, potatoes and games and prizes. All students with a valid Boise State ID will receive a late night meal (while supplies last) to keep them going on the Sunday before finals week begins.

No meal plan needed! SILC Marketing Assistant Hannah Baker encouraged.

Additional free events include: Stress Relief Yoga: Students can relax their mind and body Thursday Dec. 7 at 5p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center.

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Cram Snacks & Coffee: Who doesn’t love free snacks and coffee?

Snag some this coming Sunday through Thursday at 9p.m. in the Library.

Coloring for a Calmer Mind: For all the artists and non-artists at Boise State; relax and color Sunday Dec. 10 from 6-8p.m. on the first floor of the Albertsons Library.

Free 10-minute Massages: Sign up to secure a spot for a free massage Monday Dec. 11 through Thursday Dec. 15 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. in the SUB atrium.

Puppy Love Therapy and Service Dog Program: Come hangout and play with puppies (petting and cuddling greatly encouraged) on Monday Dec. 11 through Thursday Dec. 15 from 11a.m. to 2p.m. in the student union building atrium. For students who live on campus, the dogs will also be visiting residence halls from 6 to 8 p.m.

Free Bowling and Billiards: Get some friends together and celebrate the end of finals with free bowling and billiards all day Monday, Dec. 11 through Thursday, Dec. 14 in the Games Center located in the SUB. For more information, visit the Student Involvement and Leadership Center.

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CULTURE

DECEMBER 05, 2017

No longer holding out for a hero Exploring the influx of superhero films

Kyle McCroskey | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Both Marvel and DC comics are being made into movies at a suprising rate. Photo by Kyle McCroskey.

Entertainment is a medium that human beings have been utilizing for decades to escape modern-day life. Film is one of these forms of entertainment, and superhero movies seem to be the current genre of choice.

Spider-Man was one of the earliest films Marvel produced that truly cemented a place for superhero films within Hollywood. It was the first to achieve success at this staggering level.

After this film, the film industry began to produce a multitude of superhero movies, many tied to different specific characters within the Marvel universe.

These included Iron Man, Thor, Captain

America and many more. These movies almost all have one or more sequels that are still being released today.

Since 2008, when the first Iron Man was released, there have been over 17 movies made by Marvel. This number only pertains to The Avengers series, it does not include any of the X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool or other Marvel films made.

In under 10 years, almost 20 superhero films have been created. This number only shows a small percentage of the movies that fall under this genre. Marvel in no way, shape, or form, is the only production

company that is dishing out these films to the masses.

DC Comics has also made its mark on the genre, but it is not quite at the same pace as Marvel. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and Aquaman are some of the heroes a part of the DC universe.

Recently, these specific superheroes have been seen in a huge number of films, with the two most popular being Wonder Woman and Justice League. Unlike Marvel, certain DC characters have actually been adapted into films that have no relation to the DC label.

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight saga is an example of these films that are not related to the main production label.

According to Forbes, the Dark Knight saga is, “Sitting at more than $1,011,011,000 global box office returns.” It is no surprise that people have started to wonder why there are so many of these superheroes films in theaters today.

“An easy answer is money, but I think we live in a dark time so people need a hero, which is why I think there are so many of these films,” said Rulon Wood, Boise State media instructor.

With the money the genre is making, Wood might just be right. Stated on Boxofficemojo.com, the superhero genre has grossed over $16 billion worldwide with estimates of continual growth.

Without a doubt, it’s clear that these movies bring in a hefty amount of money.

However, that doesn’t mean they are always considered good films.

Recently, these movies have started to receive negative feedback from critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, Wonder Woman received a critic rating of 92 percent while Justice League only obtained 41 percent.

A reason for this type of rating may be the lack of change in the movies and genre as a whole.

“I’m personally a huge comic book fan, so I really enjoy these films. However, if they do not continue with the changing of

the times, these kinds of films will decline and may begin to become overused,” said senior Michael Porter.

Certain movies have begun to change and contort the filmmaking norms of the superhero genre. They do this through adding a retro aesthetic to the film, like in the Guardians of the Galaxy series, or making movies wildly gory with an MPAA rating of “R”, with films such as Logan and Deadpool.

“

I’m personally a huge comic book fan so I really enjoy these films. However, if they do not continue with the changing of the times, these kinds of films will decline and may begin to become overused.

”

- Michael Porter, senior On movie discussion forums such as IGN, it seems that any and all changes made within this genre have been positively accepted by critics with some instances of massive cult followings from audiences.

It is unclear whether or not the genre will continue to try new things or stick with the norm. Either way, genre fatigue can still become a problem within this genre and may potentially lead to its downfall.

“I’ve been a comic book fan since before I could walk, but I can see where critics can begin to get genre fatigue, but not for the consumers, if the stories continue to be good and entertaining, then these films will be around for awhile,” professor Dane Johns.

Audience members will just have to wait and see where the genre goes and what movies are produced over the next few years.

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SPORTS & REC

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Boise State wins the Mountain West Championship

Boise State defeated Fresno State to win its third Mountain West Title Peter Huguenin | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State enters the field before the Mountain West Championship. Photo Alec Foege

Boise State defeated Fresno State 17-14 on Saturday to win the Mountain West Championship. This was Boise State’s first conference championship in three yearsexactly 1,091 days ago, according to head coach Bryan Harsin.

The game was back and forth with both defenses making it difficult for the opposing offense. Boise State got on the board first when redshirt junior kicker Haden Hoggarth kicked a field goal, scoring the only points in the first quarter.

Fresno State quarterback Marcus McMaryion gave Boise State some trouble in the second quarter, running it in for two touchdowns. Boise State scored one touchdown in the second quarter when sophomore running back Alexander Mattison scored on a three-yard run.

Redshirt freshman cornerback Avery Williams gave the Broncos great field position when he returned a Fresno State punt 36 yards to the Fresno State four yard line.

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Boise State was down at the break 1410.

“We got everyone together at halftime. I told everyone ‘We’re a second half team- we’re about to go win this thing.

It’s 0-0; let’s go out and grind one play at a time, and we’re going to get it done,’” said Leighton Vander Esch, redshirt junior linebacker and defensive player of the game. “We knew the offense was going to come up sooner or later, and they came up big and it was in the defense’s hands from there.”

That’s exactly what the team did. The Boise State defense shutout Fresno State in the second half, and redshirt senior running back Ryan Wolpin scored on a four yard touchdown run. Boise State took a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter that lasted for the rest of the game. That play was set up when junior quarterback Brett Rypien connected with senior wide receiver Ced-

rick Wilson on a 59-yard pass to get to the Fresno State 36.

Fresno State had one last chance to win the game when they had the ball down with 2:19 left in the game, but McMaryion was intercepted by Vander Esch to seal

“

We got everyone together at half time, and I said, ‘we’re a second half team, we’re about to go win this thing.

It’s 0-0; let’s go out and grind one play at a time, and we’re going to get it done.

”

- Leighton Vander Esch, defensive player of the game

the game.

“I didn’t know whether to score or fall down. I mean, sooner or later, the defense was going to get the ball in our hands because of how resilient we are,” Vander Esch said. “It happened at probably the best time of the game.”

At the end of the game, according to Harsin, he had many thoughts going through his head.

“I knew they had no timeouts and that was going to seal the game,” Harsin said.

“To be honest, when he took it, I really didn’t think he would slide. I wanted him to score, but that’s not the right thing to do, but you get excited about it about it.

He’s been such a good player for us.”

It was then when Harsin realized his team would be champions again.

“That was really the opportunity for us to seal the game,” Harsin said. “And it’s never over until it’s over, but right there with the time left and no timeouts, we had the ball back in our hands. We were going to win the game. You’re always making sure that happens and as we got down to the last kneel in that position, I knew that we had won it, and I knew it was over and we were champions again.”

Rypien—who won offensive player of the game—completed 16 of his 30 pass attempts for 246 yards. Mattison scored a touchdown before going down with an injury in the second half; he had to be carted off. Wilson finished with eight receptions for 148 yards. Vander Esch broke a Mountain West Championship record with 16 tackles in the game.

Boise State will play Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m.

The game can be seen on ABC. Oregon finished fourth in the Pac-12 North.

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Boise State athletics hires mental professional

SPORTS & REC

Boise State athletics continues discussion on importance of mental health

Addison DeHaven | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu For decades, university athletic departments have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on student-athletes, focusing primarily on their physical and academic well-being. but according to the NCAA a third and arguably more important piece to success is forgotten: the mental health of student-athletes.

“I was walking through the Varsity Center and I was thinking about how we have every resource we could possibly need, ranging from academics to physical, but nothing that acknowledges mental health,” said senior business and psychology major Sadi Henderson, current student-athlete.

“The amount of stress college students in general are exposed to, and then on top of that being student-athletes, I wondered where our outlet was.”

Boise State has started taking steps to improve its mental health resources.

“We have recently hired our first full time mental health professional for the athletic department,” said Marc Paul, Assitant Athletic Director/ Sports Medicine.

“Stephanie Donaldson, who is a former collegiate swimmer at Pepperdine University, will start this week and be mainly responsible for educating on mental health practices.”

The addition of Donaldson will work in collaboration with the Health Center and their New Director of Counseling Services, Matt Niece, another former collegiate athlete. This investestment highlights the commitment to the well-being of all student’s mental health at Boise State.

“Regular student or student-athlete, mental health is important,” Paul said.

“The more education we can get on the subject, the better off we will be.”

In November 2013, the NCAA assigned a task force to research and understand the mental health issues that student-athletes face. In March 2016, they released a list

of their findings in a guide titled “Mind, Body, Sport,” which provides universities with information on the best ways to support the mental health of student-athletes.

These practices are beginning to become implemented more around the country, but there still is a long way to go, both in the understanding of mental health with student-athletes and the best practices of support.

“Student-athletes are under a very big spotlight,” Paul said.“Like regular students they under the eyes of the peers, professors and parents, but unlike regular students, they are also under the eyes of the Idaho Statesman, ESPN, and hundreds of Boise State fans.”

The NCAA states that “Student-athlete mental well-being is best served through a collaborative process of engaging the full complement of available campus and community resources, which may include athletics, campus health, counseling services, disability services and community agencies.”

Student-athletes battle with the day to day issues related to the stress levels that

“

The best way to break the stigma is starting the conversation. By talking about mental health, we can break the sterotypes associated with it.

”

- Marc Paul, Assitant Athletic Director/ Sports Medicine come with being a college athlete. They are often taught to tough it out or suck it up.

With small issues, this mentality will work, but bigger ones like anxiety or depression

Boise State athletes deal with mental pressure throughout college. Photo by.

need professional help.

Currently at Boise State, student-athletes are out-sourced to counselors or psychologists at the University Health Center.

“The Health Center is already overbooked, which means we need a qualified mental health professional in the athletic facilities,” Henderson said. “Student-athletes can’t wait two months to see a counselor. Our demanding schedules require things to happen a little quicker.”

An important change would be the hiring of an on-campus, full time mental health professional, located in the athletic facilities. The NCAA recommends this “an important way to increase the practitioner’s visibility and accessibility.” “Having a mental health professional on site will help with anonymity for student-athletes,” Paul said. “By making the mental health professional visible and comfortable with the student-athletes, it will make going to

see him or her less of a big deal, which will allow student-athletes to be more willing to face the issues.”

One of the biggest challenges facing mental health is breaking the stigma surrounding mental health practices. “The biggest problem is the stigma,” Henderson said. “Some people don’t understand how important mental health is to the well-being and success of student-athletes, making it hard to invest resources into it.”

Heading to go see a counselor or a psychologist has a stigma around it that keeps people away. People who see counselors or psychologists are often times viewed as having serious mental issues, when that is not always the case.

“The best way to break the stigma is starting the conversation,” Paul said. “By talking about mental health, we can break the stereotypes associated with it.”

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SPORTS & REC

DECEMBER 05, 2017

Boise State football attendance declining

Boise State fans have a number of reasons for not coming to the games

Abigail Pennecard | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State fans cheer on the Broncos at Albertsons Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

It’s game day for Bronco Nation, and fans are dressed in blue and orange from head to toe. Tailgates surround them in every direction. Fellow fans and friends are throwing parties, excited to watch the Broncos take on their next opponent. People fill the stadium, with students bunched in the student section ready to cheer their team to victory. This type of game day is a rare sight this season, as home football attendance is lower in the 2017-18 season then it has in the past six years.

“We aren’t immune to some of the trends around the country in attendance for sporting events, whether at the professional or collegiate level,” said Brad Larrondo, Assistant Athletic Director for the Boise State football team. “There are so many options for people from an entertainment standpoint, so you have to constantly be looking at how to create the best event and experience so that people want to come back again and again and not just watch from their living room.”

Attendance of home football games has been on a downhill slope for the past six years, decreasing from 35,404 in 2012 to 32,370 this current season, says the Idaho

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Statesman. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Boise State is not the only school experiencing this issue. This is the sixth year attendance has decreased overall in the NCAA. Communication professor Laurel Traynowicz teaches a class specifically related to these decreases. One theory Traynowicz has is that the ability to watch the game on TV is a large factor in the decrease of attendance.

“If I can turn on CBS sports and I can sit with my feet up, don’t have to deal with the crowd, don’t have to park- what’s getting me to the game?” Traynowicz said.

Larrondo and other staff are trying to find the answer to this question and figure out just what will bring fans and students into the game and stay for the duration.

“We are constantly doing surveys and market research in various form and look at all that data to determine trends, consumer feedback and also just to evaluate how we do on the customer service end of things,” Larrondo said. “It is important that we listen to our fans, and work as best we can to adjust as the market for live college sports changes.”

Traynowicz and her students are conducting studies related to what fans want to see that will enhance their experience, why they leave early and what will get the fans more engaged. Unfortunately, much of the results and information Traynowicz and her students have come to find is confidential. Although, it’s not too difficult to think of a few possible reasons students are typically arriving late to and leaving early from games. They call it “pre-gaming” for a reason, right?

“I think it’s the fourth top reason they leave. ‘I’m sick, I’m too drunk,’” s Traynowicz said.

On Sept. 2 the Broncos faced Troy on the blue when the temperature reached an intense 97 degrees.

“When it was really hot, they had people passing out. It was clear from observing that a lot of people had alcohol, and they were the ones who were passing out,” Traynowicz said.

According to sophomore and President of the Boise State student section, “The Corral,” Nathan Carroll mentioned another reason attendance may be declining.

“At the end of the day, if Boise State wins, people will come,” Carroll said.

The schedule has not brought many big teams to the turf this season. From playing Troy to Air Force, many fans may like to see the Broncos play better games with bigger competitors.

“People want to see higher competition and we haven’t had that as much this year.

I would be willing to bet that in 2020, when Florida State comes to town, we will have a full sellout of the stadium. Especially if it’s a 5 p.m. kickoff and if Boise State is coming off of a good year,” Carroll said.

The student section has struck people’s interest as well, according to Larrondo.

“We are always looking at the best ways to engage our students. We see the students as a major piece of our stadium experience and want to make that an even bigger priority,” Larrondo said.

There is a section of the fan base who gets all crazy and dressed up for all the home events, and sits in the front row of the student section. Those fans make up The Corral.

“The Corral is the student section at any Boise State sporting event. The Executive Team in particular meets every other week and plans events for students. As for rules, it’s pretty much come to meetings and go to games, and you can reap the benefits.

Student participation I would say is better at football games than past years,” Carroll said.

At bigger schools, Traynowicz explained, getting into the student section is extremely difficult, and is composed of upperclassmen who maintain the first few rows. If you are seen leaving during the middle of the game, you are banned from the student section–it’s competitive. Big, active student sections fill more seats and generate more revenue. Take Nebraska, for example-the Boneyard. They have sold out every game since 1962, and their section in the stadium holds 8,500 students. The Boneyard is known as the heart and soul of Husker game days.

“At Boise State, do you see people rushing the field? No. Why not? MAV Event services is there, and we have the fence.

You can’t do it. Being able to go onto the field after a huge win-wouldn’t it be great?”

Traynowicz said.

A big problem students face today is that this is a new generation. Millennials demand different needs and wants than those of past generations. If the football administration wants to see improvements in attendance, then they need to begin looking at how they can satisfy the needs of the future generations.

“We can’t bury our heads in the sand and always do what we’ve done just because that is how we’ve done it. We have to be able to adjust,” Larrondo said.

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