The Arbiter Vol. 36 Issue 2 9.7.23

Editor-In-Chief

Hanalei Potempa editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Online Editor

Adam Bridges onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Editor Kiryn Willett news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Reporter Kaylie Hilliker news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

News Reporter

Joel Hroma news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Culture Editor Emily Gordon culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Culture Reporter

Olivia Brandon culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sports & Rec Editor

Marlei Soderquist sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sports & Rec Reporter

Alec Simeone sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Opinion Editor

Ella Van Leuven opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Copy Editor

Kelly Ann Asker copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Social Media Coordinator

Naomi Priddy

Digital Content Manager

Taya Thornton digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Digital Content Producer

Niamh Brennan

Graphic Design Manager

Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Graphic Designer

Kelsey Mason

Illustrator

Sydney Smith

Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

ON THE COVER:

Recently, there has been a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns, rhetoric and hate crimes. Despite this, Boise Pride is celebrating its 34th year, and continues to push for equal rights and provide members of the community the opportunity to work together and support each other.

HOW TO REACH US:

CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302

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

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340

1910 W University Dr. Boise, ID 83725-1340

Photo of sorority Alpha Chi Omega at Boise State's bid day.

Photo by Taya Thornton

NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING IN IDAHO

Idaho adds new requirements for voting but offers a new alternative for identification

Joel Hroma | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

With the 2024 election cycle quickly approaching, there are some things for new voters to consider before they register and go to the polls.

House Bill 340, an amendment to the existing voter registration law in Idaho centering around the requirements for registration, went into effect on July 1. The bill passed 23-12 in the state Senate and 59-4 in the House with seven absent from the vote.

The recently passed amendment allows for a new type of identification offered by the state of Idaho in the form of a “no-fee identification card”. This card will be valid for four years.

According to the legislation, the alternative identification card will be issued to “any individual 18 years of age or older who has not possessed a current driver’s license in the preceding six months”.

If someone is wanting the new no-fee ID card, they must indicate on their voter application that an identification card is needed. Card-holders are entitled to one free replacement.

HB 124 removes the ability for voters to use a student identification card issued by a high school or accredited university in the state of Idaho as a form of identification for registration.

According to the legislature’s statement of purpose, “There is a lack of uniformity in the sophistication of student ID cards.”

Individuals and organizations opposed to this bill and other bills of this type, argue these policies will make it more difficult for new and younger voters to get registered and vote.

“It’s removed a couple of these things like student IDs that proponents of the bill have said can open things up to fraud,”

Charles Hunt, an assistant professor of political science in the school of public service at Boise State University, said.“There doesn’t seem to be too much evidence out there that student IDs are being used in any kind of fraudulent way.”

Babe Vote and March For Our Lives Idaho are filing lawsuits against the state of Idaho in response to the bill.

March For Our Lives is a national group with a chapter in Idaho whose mission states “born out of a tragic school shooting, March For Our Lives is a courageous youth-led movement dedicated to promoting civic engagement, education, and direct action by youth to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence.”

“That’s a vital form of identification used to register to vote, especially because many of the polls are located near or on campuses,” Eloisa Harper, a junior at Boise High School and one of the co-directors for the March For Our Lives Idaho chapter said.

Harper’s co-director, Lucy Glynn, a senior at Boise High School added, “For us being co-directors of March For Our Lives, and young people ourselves, the biggest thing that worries us is the ability for young voters to have a say in the future.”

The lawsuit filed by the Idaho chapter of March For Our Lives alleges this new legislation violates the 26th Amendment. In addition to this, they allege the law is designed to make it harder for certain groups of people, such as younger and new voters, to exercise their right to vote.

“I think the first thing we have to recognize is that this law doesn’t make it easier for anybody to vote,” Glynn said. “From our perspective, it’s just an unnecessary hurdle.”

The 26th Amendment states in section one, “The right of citizens of the Unit-

ed States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.”

State Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle, is the sponsor of HB 124. In the floor debate over the bill Herdon said “The reason that we, again, want to get rid of the student ID is because we cannot have as much

assurance through that method of identification that the voter standing at the poll to vote is who they say they are.”

The Idaho Senate voted 28-7 to pass House Bill 124.

Ballot box illustration with vote being cast. Illustration by Sydney Smith

CYBERCRIME ERA: CYBERHACKERS EXPLOIT DATA OF BSU STUDENTS

How the worldwide data breach of MOVEit affects Boise State students

Kaylie Hilliker | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

On May 2023, one of the most widespread cybercriminal organizations known as CLOP (or TA505) utilized a SQL injection vulnerability to interfere with MOVEit Transfer software, which is connected to countless databases of company information.

This Russian group of hackers encrypted a web shell nicknamed LEMURLOOT into the network of MOVEit, using it as a backdoor to infiltrate the web application and extract data..

Welcome to the era of cybercrime.

“We have this pop culture perspective that’s been given to us by various avenues that hackers work alone,” Edward Vasko, the Director

for Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity, said. “They’re individuals that are nefarious and so forth. The reality is it’s very organized, it’s very structured. And it actually leverages well known business models to conduct criminal activity.”

This massive data breach has been underway for the last couple of months, affecting 3,000 U.S organizations and 8,000 global organizations, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CSA).

The list of targeted businesses and major companies include everything from US banks like First National Bankers Bank, to oil giants like Shell and the well-known educational nonprofit National Student Clearinghouse. The US Department of

Energy, Shutterfly.com, American Airlines, Warner Bros and even the University of Idaho systems have been attacked.

Boise State University was targeted as well, and students and faculty were notified in an email sent out July 14, 2023, at 4:14 p.m.

National Student Clearinghouse alerted Boise State of the breach through MOVEit Transfer, the system they use for filing information, according to the email sent out by the Registrar Office.

The good news is that Boise State systems are not at risk, just the information linked to the third party MOVEit Transfer software. Regardless, Boise State is in contact with the Idaho State Board of Education to oversee the situation as it progresses.

The landing page Boise State provided for updates said, “We believe some students and employees will receive letters in the mail advising that information you shared with Boise State and our vendors may have been compromised.”

Director of Media Relations Mike Sharp, told The Arbiter in an email, “Boise State University was notified by the National Student Clearinghouse that July’s data breach affected sensitive information of three unenrolled Boise State students.”

Clearinghouse will contact the impacted students and information such as names, email addresses, etc. of other students may have been exposed as well.

“Boise State University continues to work with the Clearinghouse as they address their response to the MoveIt breach. A campus update is forthcoming,” Sharp wrote.

So what exactly happened? CLOP’s strategy of cybercrime is tied to

ransomware, a type of malware that blocks a web system and demands money in return to reboot up the system, remove a virus or a bug, or return stolen information.

It’s blackmailing, and CLOP has been around the block a few times when it comes to demanding money in return for recovering company information.

CLOP historically will discover a zero-day flaw in a system, exploit that flaw, extract data and then send a ransom note to whatever company they target. In ransom notes, CLOP threatens to publish or sell all vulnerable information on the black market if their victims do not comply.

Viruses and phishing scams emerged in the 1990’s alongside a new virtual reality. Since the beginning of the internet, cybercrime has existed, not for an era, but for thirty years give or take.

It’s no secret that even sharing information on social media platforms is taking a calculated risk. Accounts can be hacked into from Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and more. People can fake profile identities, scam users, engage in sextortion and commit other cyber crimes on social media, like trafficking, dm phishing and catfishing.

“I think the important thing to keep in mind is that these platforms are collecting information, they are receiving information from you that could be inappropriately leveraged,” Vasko said.

Living in a digital universe means that there will always be the danger of the dark web, malware, hackers and cybercrime.

Illustration of a robotic woman.

Illustration by Sydney Smith

The digital advancement of learning at Boise State

The future of the classroom is here with generative A.I.

Kaylie Hilliker | News Reporter

With the arrival of Artificial Intelligence, questions are starting to arise about how it can coincide with education.

On Aug. 29, Boise State President, Marlene Tromp, spoke to faculty about the repercussions and opportunities A.I. presents during a presidential address and panel discussion surrounding generative A.I. and the future of higher education.

Society’s fascination with artificial intelligence only continues to expand as our world increasingly grows more digital. The mix of fear, awe, excitement and skepticism of A.I. has translated into the educational sphere with the introduction of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that creates humanlike conversation, writes essays and answers questions in detail.

ChatGPT was downloaded 500,000 times in the first week of its release, taking the world by storm. To put this in perspective, Instagram only had 100,000 downloads in the first week of its release.

“We know this tool has the power to do great good,” Tromp said during the presidential panel. “We know this tool has the power to do harm. We know our students will consider competency in A.I. critical to their future.”

The fact is, it already has taken a role in the advancement of digital learning at Boise State.

Boise State launched the A.I. in Education Taskforce last year, in an effort to support students and faculty in strategies on dealing with A.I. in the classroom. The faculty taskforce was present for the presidential address and panel, including Steven Hyde, assistant professor in the College of Business and Economics, and Sarah Wilson, academic program integrity director for the Office of the Dean of Students.

During the panel discussion Hyde explained his innovative approach to using A.I. for the benefit of his curriculum and as an opportunity to engage with students.

“Right after ChatGPT came out I adjusted every single one of my activities,” Hyde said.

Hyde went on to describe how he used A.I. to individualize his material to his students to get the main objective of his course across.

“I’m excited how A.I. can be used to customize our courses to our student interests,” Hyde said.

The dilemma is students can take advantage of these technologies by undermining their learning through cheating.

Sarah Wilson, the Academic Program Integrity Director, has worked with several students in the past that were caught using ChatGPT to plagiarize in their coursework. Wilson’s approach to this issue is to

find the reason why students feel the need to cheat.

“One of the things we are trying to help students uncover is what need they were trying to serve through the behavior of cheating or plagiarism,” Wilson said. “We understand cheating behaviors as an expression of a need that’s not yet met.”

Wilson explained that students can use generative A.I. to promote higher level thinking so that they’re developing critical thinking skills and not replacing learning with artificial intelligence.

“Like every tool, it depends on how it’s applied. And right now, we are all learning how can we apply it. It’s an exciting time, and a little experimental,” Wilson said.

The airline industry, healthcare and

pharmaceutical organization, and even the food sector uses artificial intelligence to up the quality and efficiency of their services like with chef robots, for example. Retail, e-commerce and financial services use virtual assistants, and that is just the tip of the technological iceberg.

Education has already incorporated A.I. into intelligent tutoring, automated grading and student data tracking analytics.

How generative A.I. can enhance education is still a question that remains to be answered, but Boise State is undertaking the challenge of exploring the artificial intelligence frontier.

Illustration of two people talking, one represented as an AI chat bot.

Illustration by Sydney Smith

The history of affirmative action in

Kiryn Willett | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled against affirmative action on June 29, in a case brought forward against Harvard University on the basis that affirmative action unfairly favored applicants on the basis of race.

Affirmative action first began with President John F. Kennedy in 1961. The intent of affirmative action is to ensure that minorities are actively included and considered for both jobs and education.

Idaho has its own history and laws regarding affirmative action. Even before the Supreme Court decision, affirmative

action was banned in Idaho. The Governor of Idaho had issued an executive order establishing affirmative action in 2004, along with preference for veterans in state employment.

In 2020 affirmative action was banned in Idaho. The ban was signed into law by Governor Brad Little.

In an email to The Arbiter from Mike Sharp, director of Media Relations, Boise State provided an official statement on affirmative action.

“Boise State’s admissions decisions are based on academic achievement, consistent with state law that preceded the ruling.

We have and will continue to care for all members of our Bronco community,” the email stated.

Boise State has a majority white student population as of 2021, with 72.6% white, 12.9% Hispanic or Latino, 2.64% Asian and 1.55% Black or African American.

According to Dora Ramirez, director of Ethnic Studies at Boise State, affirmative action has had a positive impact on minority communities in the past. Affirmative action has helped women and other minorities get jobs and an education. ,

“I do think that it has made universities aware of the demographics, aware of the

kind of students that they are teaching and so I do feel that it has helped,” Ramirez said.

Affirmative action has more success in some schools and with certain demographics than others, according to Ramirez. Many engineering programs still struggle with recruiting women, and minorities face unique barriers in getting access to education and jobs.

“I mean, starting from day one, you know, a lot of communities of color are segregated,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez believes the way schools are funded creates segregated communities based on race and class.

“Certain schools get more money than other schools and they do that by wealth. If your community is wealthy, then you get more money for your schools. So if your community is not you get less,” Ramirez said. “Then that happens, because minorities tend to be segregated into areas that are not seen as areas that you want to live in. That becomes that kind of class structure that then weakens some schools and strengthens others.”

According to Ramiriez, college education opens up more opportunities for minority students that would not otherwise be available to them.

“It offers them a way to not just higher education, also jobs that have been, you know, historically restricted,” Ramirez said. “But it also offers a way to gain or to build some kind of generational wealth for their family”

Ramirez believes that Idaho’s ban on affirmative action has impacted students’ views of the state.

“That gives a certain kind of reputation with students. And so I think a lot of students might not want to come to Boise State University because of that,” Ramirez said. “But at the same time, I know that Boise State is trying to make sure that these laws don’t affect a student’s ability to get into college.”

Office of Admissions and Campus Visits.

Photo by Niamh Brennan

Idaho

The Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action, but it was banned in Idaho before the ruling

OPINION

It starts with a swipe: the true repercussions of dating apps

Dating apps are not the confidence boosters or fun way to pass time that they may seem at first glance

Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

As of 2023, many young people aren’t meeting their significant other at work, at a coffee shop or in their classes. Instead, a great number of relationships are beginning by swiping right or sending a like on one of the many dating apps currently available.

Since the introduction of Tinder and Hinge in 2012, dating apps have gained immense popularity throughout the world, and in doing so have changed the way that people think about and interact with potential partners.

A study conducted by Pew Research Center found that 48% of 18 to 29-yearolds reported using dating apps, with even higher percentages among members of the LGBTQ+ community. While other generations use these apps as well, they have their deepest effect on young people today.

While there are certainly good aspects of dating apps, such as feeling safer meeting in person after conversing online, as well as being able to intentionally match with people with similar interests, there are also clear downsides to using dating apps to find a partner. These apps pose the risk of encouraging surface-level relationships and can be emotionally detrimental to many users.

Dating apps encourage surface-level relationships based on their very nature. With the huge emphasis placed on physical appearance and the limited information a person’s dating app profile provides, it is easy to develop connections with someone regardless of actual compatibility.

Many facets of an online persona allow people to put on a front, and the way they appear and behave on dating apps

or through texting may be completely different from who they are in person. Even though somebody may seem like the ideal partner through a screen, they may be completely different in reality.

It is difficult to truly judge a person or a future relationship from the connection that is formed online, and this is a major factor in the surface-level relationships that so often are a result of apps like Tinder, Hinge or Bumble.

Besides the risk of meeting someone completely different from how they portray themselves online, dating apps have a deeper emotional impact on the people who use them.

A study conducted by Western Sydney University found that dating app users experienced higher levels of anxiety, depression and emotional distress than people not using dating apps. While there may be a variety of reasons for this, it is clear that dating apps are not the confidence boosters or fun way to pass the time that they may seem at first glance.

One of the primary reasons dating apps are so detrimental is the way in which they lead people to internalize appearance ideals. Because swipe-based dating apps are so largely based on physical appearance, users can put enormous pressure on themselves to create a stereotypically attractive profile.

Another emotionally detrimental aspect of these dating apps is the ease with which people on the app can be reduced to a picture on a profile, rather than a real person with real feelings. The rate at which many people will “swipe” on the app can turn it into more of a game than anything else, and it can be easy to forget the emotional impact that online interactions truly have.

Conversing online is very different from face-to-face interaction. Because of the ease with which dating app users can first interact, flirt and form connections online, it can in turn become more difficult for them to develop in-person relationships and have meaningful interactions.

As dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble

and Hinge continue to gain popularity and younger generations continue to utilize the internet as a way to form connections, people need to be wary of how these apps and interactions are truly affecting them, and consider whether the apps are as fun and harmless as they may appear at first glance — or first swipe.

Illustration of two people swiping on dating apps.

Illustration by Kelsey Mason

Lip flips and Stanley cups: The true effect of Tiktok on women

Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The popular social media app, TikTok, has become one of the most frequently used apps among younger generations. While the app has negative effects on both men and women, there are many sides to the app that are specifically detrimental to women.

Even though there are many fun, informative and engaging videos on the app, there are just as many (if not more) toxic, misleading and harmful videos. The app is easily accessible to young people, so issues like body image, the influence of capitalism and problematic discourse are often presented to people without the tools to handle them.

The app’s ability to flood its users with so much content in such a short period of time is a huge contributor to its comparison factor, and the concept isn’t limited to material goods. Body image and women’s perception of themselves have the potential to be deeply changed by content on TikTok.

Fitness influencers are major instigators in promoting unrealistic standards for their audiences. Many fitness influencers advertise themselves as being relatable to the average person, promoting the idea that they are a realistic goal for audiences to set for themselves.

This isn’t necessarily the case, fitness influencers are paid to be in the gym and often have a personal trainer and/or a nutritionist to help. While this obviously isn’t true for every fitness influencer on the app, it is for many, and they are creating unrealistic expectations for what women’s bodies “should” or “shouldn’t” look like.

Women’s body image can also be negatively affected by pro-eating disorder content that is often disguised as regular videos. A number of “What I Eat in a Day” videos contain child-size portions that encourage undereating, as well as “Get Ready With Me” videos sometimes

featuring body-checking – compulsive analysis of one’s own body – and unrealistic standards for the average woman.

Detrimental body image ideals aren’t the only negative facet of TikTok. Influencers and constant brand deals often reinforce capitalism’s detrimental effects on society by pushing products that people “need” and contributing to the cycle of microtrends.

While trends have always existed in industries like fashion and beauty, the rise of social media apps like TikTok has accelerated the trend cycle at an unprecedented rate. According to Heuritech, a trend forecasting company, trend cycles used to last as long as multiple decades. While users most likely don’t truly need the latest color of the Stanley cup, the newest clothing items from Shein or another shade of the Dior lip oil, seeing these products over and over on the For You Page certainly can make them feel like a necessity.

TikTok pushes products onto women — products they don’t need and products that the sponsored creators may not even use themselves. Videos where women show their 12-step skincare routine or their “maintenance day” Sunday shower routine often include unreasonable numbers of overpriced products.

Microtrends have even gone so far as to extend to cosmetic surgery. As young women scroll through TikTok, they are bombarded by the trending physical alterations that women are making to themselves. Lip flips, buccal fat removal and breast augmentations are all semi-regular occurrences on the FYP, pressuring women to develop insecurities they didn’t even know they were “supposed” to have.

A study from the University of South Florida found that plastic surgery content on social media is directly linked to viewers having a more negative perception of themselves. Content highlighting these procedures is deeply detrimental to the

women viewing it, pushing them to find more “flaws” within themselves that “need to be fixed”.

In addition to all this, TikTok contains a great amount of negative and harmful discourse targeted toward women.

While there is certainly productive discourse on the app about social issues, injustice and other important topics, the conversations on the app often contain enormous levels of toxicity and misinformation. TikTok exposes its users to thousands of conversations a day, and it can be difficult to differentiate between what is helpful and what is not.

While many of the podcasters and influencers on TikTok are dedicated to spreading awareness on important issues and truly benefiting their followers, there is a darker side to the app that is incredibly detrimental to the women consuming it.

The “alpha male” podcasts are a prime example of this; on these shows, the men often say degrading and dehumanizing things about women, promoting these ideas to the young men who are consuming their content.

Another side of TikTok that can be deeply harmful to young women is the sex workers’ pages which discuss their day-to-day lives, what it’s like to be in the industry and how they got into the industry itself. This is an incredibly risky genre of content for young women on the app to be consuming.

While education on the topic is absolutely necessary and many sex workers have good intentions, a number of these creators glamourize their lifestyle and make sex work out to be an “easy way to make money”. Creators often don’t address the darker sides of the industry, especially the dangers that exist for the young girls who join immediately after turning 18 (some even earlier). It’s incredibly risky for young girls to be told that sex work is a life of fun, fame and money.

Videos from sex workers showcasing how much money they make in a day are incredibly popular, and the comments are often filled with users talking about dropping out of school and joining the sex work industry. Not only do these videos generally only address the “fun” parts of their job, but they’re also often made by the top creators on sites like OnlyFans, and they paint a very unrealistic picture of what the industry is genuinely like.

Regardless of all its good sides, TikTok is an app that’s full of toxicity and is often incredibly draining to women. Body image can be deeply affected, capitalism has taken over many sides of the app, and the conversations that take place are often unproductive and misinformative.

This is not an order to delete TikTok or a call for it to be banned. The app is a wonderful outlet for many creators and artists to spread their content to a wider audience, as well as for important issues to be addressed. This is simply a plea to women who use TikTok to more deeply consider how their use of the app may be affecting them, and how it might be changing them in ways they don’t even realize.

Tiktok targets women’s body image and pushes consumerism in ways we may not realize

Illustration of a woman sitting down on her phone.

Illustration by Sydney Smith

BOISE PRIDE IS A REMINDER FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY THAT THE FIGHT ISN’T

OVER YET

AFTER A WAVE OF ANTI-LGBTQ+ CAMPAIGNING, BOISE PRIDE PROVIDES COMMUNITY, SAFETY AND A REMINDER OF LGBTQ+ HISTORY

Kiryn Willett | News Editor | news@studentmedia.boisestate.edu photos by taya thornton

Over the last year, the topic of LGBTQ+ rights has become a focal point of political discussions, leading to a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and hate crimes.

Boise has not been exempt from growing anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes. This was shown after a man from Idaho was indicted for a federal hate crime after trying to run over two people he believed were gay on Oct. 12, 2022.

In addition, multiple pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation were introduced in the past year.

A wave of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment

Morrighan Nyx, an organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), has organized grassroots protests and other community events to push back against what Nyx describes as “large scale demonization campaigns”.

“There has been an extremely large effort or campaign to try and stigmatize the LGBTQ community,” Nyx said. “And with that, it has included large scale attacks against pride, against pride organizations and pride events, especially here in Idaho.”

Dorothy Moon, chair for the Idaho Republican Party, encouraged businesses to stop supporting pride the previous year.

“Last year, again, groups including Idaho Republicans, publicly attacked Boise Pride Fest and then tried to ha -

rass sponsors into pulling their money out of pride,” Nyx said. “And a month or two later, we saw multiple hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people here in the valley.”

“There has been an extremely large effort or campaign to try and stigmatize the LGBTQ+ community. And with that, it has included large scale attacks against pride, against pride organizations and pride events, especially here in Idaho”

Despite this, Boise Pride is set to have a record number of attendees, according to Boise Pride executive director Donald Williamson.

“It’s gonna be huge this year. There’s a lot more buzz around this year than in the last several years,” Williamson said. “You know if we had 70,000 this year, that wouldn’t surprise me.”

While Boise Pride is set to see its biggest year yet, many local LGBTQ+ people are impacted by last year’s

events.

“It creates feelings of anxiety and fear, fear of themselves being the next victim of an attack or the kind of the fear of being out in the community,” Nyx said. “People talk about being afraid of wearing, you know, pride shirts or just shirts — anything that might designate them as a member of the community.”

As a result, many local LGBTQ+ members are looking forward to Pride. Ezra Howell, founder of the Boise Trans Collective, and Peyton Shollenbarger, co-chair of the Boise Trans Collective, are among them.

“I usually go because it’s one of the few times I can go out in the city and feel safe and included, and [be] around other people who are like minded or like me in some ways,” Shollenbarger said.

Howell will be attending Boise Pride Fest for the first time this September.

“I’m really excited to go, to be able to be loud and proud as a lot of people say. But [also] to show off what our organization is doing, and hand out resources and be just a bigger presence,” Howell said.

The fight for LGBTQ+ rights

According to Howell, there has been a growing attitude towards some of the efforts for LGBTQ+ equality in Idaho, treating it as “a lost cause”.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘oh, we should give up on states like Idaho.

- Morrighan Nyx, an organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation

It’s not worth fighting for’ just stranding all of the queer people who don’t have the resources or the privilege to move out and get to somewhere safer,” Shollenbarger said. “And that kind of sentiment really hurts as someone who, you know, is still in Idaho and choosing to stay in Idaho and fight the fight.”

In spite of these attitudes, Shollenbarger and Howell believe the fight isn’t over yet.

“It’s hard to hear that sentiment because it’s not necessarily true… It’s not only queer and trans people but allies as well that need to amplify our voices and be heard because we can’t do it alone,” Howell said. “Most recently we did have the bathroom bill that was affecting minors [to] be blocked. So there’s still people fighting for us. We just need them to come out and represent us and stand with us a little bit more.”

from appealing to corporate backed, progressive, quote unquote, politicians. We got our rights from militant struggle in the streets.”

The history of Pride

Pride is traditionally celebrated in June, in remembrance of the StoneWall Uprising, one of the most well known and significant moments in the history of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. For Nyx, Pride is a reminder of that history.

“The reason why Pride is so important today is [because] it’s a reminder that at the end of the day, it is not going to be elections or which nonprofit you support that is going to decide whether or not we have rights,” Nyx said. “It is going to be the product of committed organization and struggle in the streets of our community. that is going to decide whether we are able to reject this campaign of hatred and division and fear.”

Dr. Lisa McClain, a professor of History and Gender Studies at Boise State University, believes that the media attention has shifted people towards being supportive of the LGBTQ+ community at a local level. According to McClain, while media and news voices may have become louder and more hostile, not all community members feel the same way.

“Based on what I see and hear from ordinary people out in the community, I do not believe attitudes have become more negative in character,” McClain said. “Much of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and media rhetoric has actually moved many ‘fence-sitters’ toward greater support of LGBTQ+ people because of what they view as unfairness and injustice.”

which they are entitled as human beings — the same as all human beings.”

Boise Pride is entering its 34th year, and has changed significantly since over the years. At the first Boise Pride, participants had to wear brown paper bags over their faces to hide their identities.

Nyx shares the sentiment that the fight for equality needs to continue.

“[Pride] is a reminder that people are not alone, and that LGBTQ people are everywhere. [Pride] gives us a community space, which is so very important,” Nyx said. “But I think it also serves the purpose of reminding us about the history of our community. We did not get our rights initially

McClain anticipates that the anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments will continue, but LGBTQ+ members are able to build communities easier and work together to support each other through the internet.

“LGBTQ+ people have come a long way since Stonewall. The LGBTQ+ community is better informed, better organized and better supported by allies than ever before,” McClain said. “They are fighters who have a strong sense of the rights and respect to

Now, tens of thousands attend Boise Pride, and according Williamson, other surrounding communities have begun to hold their own Pride fests as well. East Idaho, South and North Idaho, Sun Valley, and Moscow all had pride festivals this year.

Despite everything that has happened in the last year, Williamson believes that people are more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community overall.

“I would say that the overwhelming sentiment across the country is one [of] more acceptance and inclusivity. Voices that have been maybe targeting this community the last couple of years are louder but they are the minority,” Williamson said. “That is not the overarching sentiment within the community, and the support we’re getting from our sponsors, the community, local businesses and people that turn out to the festival every year proves that.”

“The LGBTQ+ community is better informed, better organized and better supported by allies than ever before. They are fighters who have a strong sense of the rights and respect to which they are entitled as human beings — the same as all human beings.”

- Dr. Lisa McClain, a professor of History and Gender Studies at Boise State University

“I would say that the overwhelming sentiment across the country is one {of} more acceptance and inclusivity. Voices that have been maybe targeting this community the last couple of years are louder but they are the minority.”

- Donald Williamson, executive director of Boise Pride

CULTURE

The Great Comet of 1812 dazzles audiences at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival

Support the arts here in Boise by enjoying an incredible night of theater under the stars

Olivia Brandon | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“Great theater in the great outdoors” couldn’t be a more accurate slogan for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

This tagline is especially true when referencing their performance of “Natasha Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812”, a musical based on 70 pages of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. The innovative soundtrack coupled with the phenomenal acting from the cast makes this musical a delightful experience from start to finish.

The costuming, done by Tesia Dugan Benson, was absolutely stunning. Punk ensemble costumes contrasted with bejeweled gowns kept the viewers’ eyes trained on the actors the entire time, and added to the perception of each character.

Jillian Bumpas, known for iconic roles including Glinda and Nessarose in Wicked’s national tour, Cinderella in “Into the Woods”, Texas in “Cabaret” and countless others, played Helene the First in “Great Comet”.

Bumpas shared what made her experience playing Helene the first in “Great Comet” so special, and revealed it to be her favorite of the shows she’s done.

“This show is definitely now at the top,” Bumpas said. “I believe in it and I love it so much as a work. I’m not always in love with the entire show I’m in, this show feels cool and it’s edgy. And the fact that there are so many different genres, I feel cool doing it.”

Bumpas captured the stylistic elements of the music to a T. Each song challenged the typical preconceived idea of what a musical could be. The blend of pop, electronica and operetta (to name a few) completely elevated the already

incredible writing of the show.

An article discussing the musical’s historical context noted that the music that takes place during the Operetta within the show is said to be purposefully odd to represent Tolstoy’s negative opinion of the Opera. This attention to detail makes the show an absolute rewatch.

The characters were all so animated and precise with their movements, a testament to the passion the actors felt in getting to portray them.

“I’ve never been in my villain era until now and I’m never wanting to go back to the sweetheart,” Bumpas said. “I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve gotten older so I’m able to go into these facets of myself that are required for a role like this. It just felt kind of seamless. Not that I’m like her in every way but there’s a part of

me that is, that feels empowered wearing promiscuous clothing —or what in 1812 they considered promiscuous which was just like — shoulders.”

As far as the plot goes, there’s a reason why you may have heard of “War and Peace” once or twice. The links between characters and the overall connectedness of the plot make this show seem like a living entity.

The show is full of subplots that all interconnect to miraculously tie the plot line into a neat and tidy bow, despite the play being based on the middle of the novel.

“The classics are the classics because they resonate with every age of people because they are just so well written that everyone can see themselves,” Bumpas said. “‘Great Comet’ does such a good

job of doing that and bringing Tolstoy to our younger generations. I’ve seen so many people your age be so hooked on it and I get why.”

This musical’s content isn’t for the faint of heart, as pointed out in a fourth wall break in the show’s opening number.

“We get that it’s a hard sell,” Bumpas said. “We’re aware, we’re in on the joke. But now we’re going to tell it in a way that’s accessible to everybody. I’m just so thrilled that it’s getting young people to come out, I think this is a different kind of excitement than I’ve seen.”

Go see Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s next incredible show “Dracula” which is running from Sept. 1 until Oct. 1.

Design of two characters from Shakespearian plays.

Graphic by Kelsey Mason

Boise Pride’s Festival, three days of exciting performances and community

Boise Pride provides Idaho’s LGBTQIA+ community with opportunities to connect and feel supported

Olivia Brandon| Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise’s Pride event will be in full swing at Cecil D. Andrus Park from Sept. 8-10. Whether you’re a part of the community or an ally, this event is a wonderful chance to show support and celebrate who you are.

Boise Pride’s Executive Director, Donald Williamson, gave the full rundown on all the exciting events coming to Boise during the festival.

“Friday night we have a fairly new upand-coming artist Reve,” said Williamson. Reve is a Canadian queer artist known for her iconic performance of the National Anthem at a Canadian hockey game in 2014. Her music consists of pop and R&B-infused dance music.

Over the course of three days, festival attendees can experience everything from musical performances to incredible drag shows.

“Friday night is Big Freedia, which is getting a lot of buzz. She’ll be a lot of fun to see,” Williamson said. “She’s a black drag queen queer artist out of New Orleans. She’s really blown up in the last couple of years, [and] not just from her show, she's ended up partnering on tracks with Drake and Beyonce. She’s the main headliner Friday night.”

Big Freedia is known for her spectacular performances as well as her television shows “Big Freedia Bounces Back”, and more recently “Big Freedia Means Business”, which aired summer of 2023.

On Saturday the festival will feature musician N3ptune. N3ptune, as noted on his website, works “alongside his co-producer and virtuoso guitarist Rusty Steve, merge the essence of gospel, blues, and soul into an amalgamation of pop music”.

“The demographics in that audience

were all over the board,” Williamson said. “Which was really cool to see a queer, person of color artist pulling that kind of breadth of demographic in their audience, especially here.”

And last but certainly not least, Williamson discussed some performers from the area to look forward to.

“We have a lot of local talent,” Willaimson said. Groups such as Corvette Collection and solo performers like Josh Amara will be featured at the festival. Hometown Drag Show is back by popular demand and will have two hour-and-a-half slots Saturday and Sunday.

Williamson went on to note a moment from a past festival that illustrates just how important an event like Pride really is to everyone, but especially LGBTQIA+ youth in Idaho.

Williamson discussed a group of teens

doing their makeup before the festival, noting that many of those kids may have been unable to do so at home.

“To see them just be in that group and not have to worry about looking over their shoulder or who’s watching and just be in that moment and have that experience with their friends and to enjoy that environment for the weekend where you’re not having to hide who you are, that’s huge,” Williamson said. “It made my heart hurt. It’s cool that they have the weekend but you have three hundred and some odd days where you don’t get to do that. So to see these other pride festivals starting to bud in other areas, that’s so important.”

Be sure to check out this phenomenal festival, and look out for the 21+ masquerade event on Oct. 13, and the Diversity Prom on Nov. 4.

Illustration of train arriving at Boise Pride.

Illustration by Sydney Smith

Multi-platinum success Weezer performed in Boise on Aug. 26, at the Hillcrest Country Club. With a completely sold-out show, Weezer proves to all viewers that their grasp on the music industry has not budged since the release of their self-titled debut “Weezer” in 1994.

The band consists of Rivers Cuomo (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Scott Shriner (bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) and Brian Bell (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), all of which have been performing together since 2001.

The concert set-list consisted of 17 songs, two of which were encores. The band played all their best hits including “Island in the Sun”, “Say it Ain’t so” and “Undone (The Sweater Song)”.

The band has been playing together for nearly 22 years, though their stage presence is still very much the same. Lead vocalist, Rivers Cuomo, stands center stage and plays a multitude of instruments, dancing and swinging to every song. Wilson, Shriner and Bell accompany Cuomo and keep the stage alive.

The concert started with “My name is Jonas”, from their album “Weezer”. The audience screamed and sang along, jumping in rhythm with the percussion.

The band immediately jumped into “Beverly Hills”, a well-loved track from their “Make Believe” album released in 2005. The song depicts a desire to make a big name and a claim to fame.

All concert goers shouted along with Cuomo as he sang “No I don’t, I’m just a no-class beat-down fool / And I will always be that way / I might as well enjoy

my life / And watch the stars play”

The set list continues to evoke more screams and excitement from the audience, with guitar solos and cult classics one after another.

The band then began playing one of their biggest hits, “Undone (The Sweater Song)”, Cuomo affectionately says “Boise, you’ve just been Weezered”. The audience erupted in deafening cheers, viewers of all ages singing along to this hit classic that still remains trending with younger viewers.

The band then continues to play 14 more songs, including “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived”, “The Good Life” and “Perfect Situation”.

The band seemingly finishes with “Thank you and Goodnight”, followed by a 2 minute guitar solo titled “The Wasteland”. The band waves and exits the stage,

leaving the audience chanting “encore, encore, encore!”

The band members hurry back to stage and play two more tracks from the album that solidified their presence in the music scene, “Weezer”. The audience jumps wildly and screams as Weezer sings “Surf Wax America”’ and “Buddy Holly”.

The concert then officially came to an end as the band members waved goodbye and the stage lights turned off. Not a single audience member wasn’t beaming and hoping for a second encore.

Weezer at the Hillcrest country club was an ode to 90s punk music, reassuring their position with original fans and a completely new generation of listeners.

Weezer guitarist, Scott Shriner, absolutely shredding it at the 2023 Albertsons Open golf tournament.

Photo by Taya Thornton

“Weezer” in Boise assures a new generation of 90s punk lovers

“Weezer” plays their classics from 1993 and their newest releases for an ecstatic Boise crowd

Emily Gordon| Culture Editor| culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Zach Bryans newest album is a tender testimony to the human experience

Emily Gordon| Culture Editor| culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Zach Bryan, an American singer-songwriter has rapidly gained fame since his debut album titled “Deann”, released in 2019.

Since then, he has gathered the attention of millions with his poetic lyrics and all american presence. His most popular song, “Something in the Orange”, has nearly 500 million streams on Spotify. His newest self-titled album, “Zach Bryan”, released Aug. 25, showcases his pure talent for songwriting.

Zach Bryan served in the U.S. Navy, where he originally planned on staying before his music career took off. In a pod-

cast with Joe Rogan, Bryan revealed that he wrote poems constantly throughout his childhood, eventually calling them songs after he learned “songs” are taken more seriously.

After Bryan began posting YouTube videos of himself singing, he was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy to pursue his career in music. The only other musician to be honorably discharged from military service for music was Elvis Presley.

Bryan’s newest album consists of 15 songs and one spoken word poem, accumulating to 54 minutes and 23 seconds of soul and heartache.

The album opens with “Fear and Friday’s (Poem)”. There is no guitar or percussion, just Bryan’s voice. The poem consists of meaningful statements like, “I do not and will not fear tomorrow because I feel as though today has been enough.” This opening is an untraditional beginning to a new album, going back to Bryan’s original roots with poetry.

The second song on the album, “Overtime,” starts with a bluesy instrumental version of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” quickly preceded by strong percussion and the guitar that made his name. The song is a testament to defying preconceived notions of others and building a

name for yourself.

Bryan sings, “I’ll become what I deserve when it’s all through / And you’ll be there asking yourself why,” a simple reminder that growing out of spite is still growth.

The fourth song on Bryan’s album, “East Side of Sorrow,’’ explores the faith that’s lost when pain and tragedy invades a life. Bryan shares the fear and confusion he felt being 18 and an active duty military member, looking to faith for solace.

In the song, Bryan ponders to God, asking for comfort. He continues the song singing, “He said the sun’s gonna rise tomorrow / Somewhere on the east side of sorrow / You better pack your bags west / Stick out your chest / And then hit the road.”

Bryan’s newest album takes a more folk and somber adjustment. Contrary to his other pieces, like “Motorcycle Driveby” or “Revival”, which harbor a more lighthearted feeling. This new album is reminiscent of traditional folk, with harmonica accompaniments and slow guitar strumming paired with tender lyrics.

The thirteenth song on Bryan’s album, “Spotless” featuring The Lumineers, is a testimony to attempting to be at peace with one’s mistakes and imperfections.

The chorus goes; “I ain’t spotless, neither is you / For once in my life, I’m gonna see it through.”

Bryan pairing with an already established true folk band only solidifies the folk roots throughout this album, straying further from his original country style music and into softer soulful rhythms.

Overall, Zach Bryans newest self-titled album “Zach Bryan” is some of his best work. This album seems to be more true to his spirit and relays the messages he has been holding.

All kinds of music lovers will find bits of themselves within Bryans lyrics, his poetic lyrics simply relate to the joys and pities of being a human.

Zach Bryan’s newest album.

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers

With folk roots and poetic lyrics, Bryan ensures all listeners will find something within this album

SPORTS & REC

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

Fall Intramurals at Boise State: Everything you need to know How and why to get involved in intramural sports at BSU

Alec Simeone | Sports and Rec. Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Anew year of school means a new season of intramural sports, and what better way to get involved on campus and stay active than joining an intramural sports team?

How to join

Intramurals are available to more than just students. Faculty, spouses, partners and alumni are all eligible to participate.

To join this year, students will need a play pass. You can purchase a semester pass for $20 or a full year pass for $30. After that, students can register for a sport of their choice.

Students can register as a full team, or if you have no friends like me, you can register as a free agent, and get picked up by a team that needs players. If there are enough free agents, the organizers will make teams out of the remaining player pool.

What to know

Intramurals are easy to get into and it is a great opportunity for building a community through sports.

The organizers and managers are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment that encourages students to build relationships with fellow Broncos.

“It’s supposed to be something very easy to do in the sense of scheduling,” RecSports Coordinator Alexandra Sanchez said. “Intramurals are supposed to be something that any student can do.”

Intramurals are different from club sports in that the commitment is much lower. Teams are encouraged to practice and learn the game, but it’s not necessary. Showing up on game day and having a good time is what intramural sports is all about.

“You don’t have to know the sport to

play the sport, and it’s often a lot of fun for people that don’t know how to play that sport,” Sanchez said. “[Students] learning it together with their friends is always a joy to see, because that’s why I do my job, to see students be happy.”

There is also opportunity for some competition. Some of the sports are divided into blue leagues and orange leagues.

Blue leagues are for students who are more competitive and have likely played

the sport before. Orange leagues are for students just looking for casual matches. This year, a blue 3v3 basketball league is being offered for the first time. Winners of any of the tournaments get a free t-shirt too.

Why

do intramural sports?

Intramurals are a great way to get yourself involved in on campus activities. From learning a new sport to seeking out some competition, it’s just a great and easy opportunity to be active

and have fun.

“You can do every sport we offer, and we have a lot of students that do,” Sanchez said.

Being involved in intramural sports also means you’re involved at the Rec Center as well, where there are tons of other opportunities to get involved in anything from group fitness classes, to renting gear to float the river.

Group of BSU students playing flag football.

Photo by Taya Thornton

Shaking Off the Rust: Boise State falls to No.10 University of Washington 19-56

A rough start to the season for a still underdeveloped Boise State football team

Marlei Soderquist | Sports Rec.Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Broncos fell to no.10 Washington Huskies 19-56 to start off the 2023 season.

Coming into the matchup, the Huskies were heavy favorites, understandably so. The Huskies dominated the Broncos in nearly every aspect of the game.

Washington’s offense is much deeper. The team returned 15 starters, including potential heisman candidate quarterback, Michael Penix Jr..

Defying the odds wasn’t going to be a walk in the park for Boise State and that it wasn’t.

Both teams started the contest trading off punts and both offenses kept quiet. Boise State’s defense stopped Huskies wide receiver, Ja’Lynn Polk, fairly quickly in the game and established control over the “weak defense vs. strong wide receiver core” narrative.

The Broncos slowed down each possession and used up the play clock with strategic possessions which led to very necessary plays executed by quarterback Taylen Green.

One of Boise State’s biggest faults is the lack of offensive power in the wide receiver position. Green’s 40-yard pass to wide receiver changed that narrative and set the Broncos up for incredible field position at

the Huskies 39-yard line. With valiant efforts and an incredible catch by Eric McAlister, the Broncos moved up the field to put Ashton Jeanty in a wonderful position to walk in for a 3-yard rush to notch the first touchdown of the game.

One of the biggest shocks early in the game was a missed extra-point kick by senior kicker, Jonah Dalmas. Dalmas was automatic last year and didn’t miss a single extra point kick last year. Though the Broncos held a 6-0 lead early in the game, the missed extra point is a huge hindrance.

The first quarter was fairly silent with just the Broncos having a 6-0 lead, but the Huskies responded quickly in the second quarter.

The offensive powerhouse that is the University of Washington was quiet in the first quarter, the Huskies put up an underwhelming statline with just 89 yards, eight pass attempts and no touchdowns.

The Broncos seemed to be holding their own against an incredibly good team, playing effectively on defense while also utilizing more pass options on the offense.

The second quarter was a completely different story, the Huskies put on a show and demonstrated why their team is

ranked 10th in the nation.

The offense had 16 pass completions, totaling 180 yards, 206 total yards and garnered 28 points in just the second quarter alone.

Three different receivers in Ja’Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan and Jack Westover scored a touchdown to round out four total touchdowns of the quarter.

Star Husky, McMillan, scored two touchdowns in the quarter, and gave the Broncos a run for their money.

Broncos weakness in safety depth was discovered and completely exposed for most of the half by Penix. Redshirt senior safety, Alex Teubner, and redshirt junior safety, Rodney Robinson, were given a run for their money.

Dalmas was the only Bronco in the second quarter to put points up on the board with two field goals.

Entering halftime, the Broncos trailed 12-28.

The Broncos are no stranger to incredible comebacks and fighting till the end to persevere, but the Huskies were a different beast.

In the second half, the Broncos were outright outplayed, outfought and outscored.

The Huskies went on to outscore the Broncos 7-28 in the second half. To go

along with the tumultuous scoring deficit Boise State faced, Washington averaged 9.8 yards per attempt, 226 yards passing accompanied by 47 yards rushing.

Number tenth ranked in the nation, University of Washington, showed everyone what they are made of.

With their powerful wide receiver core in Polk, McMillan and Odunze, accompanied by the Heisman hopeful Penix. The Huskies are an all around team that is hopeful to make a return to the College Football Playoffs (CFP) for the first time since 2016.

The tough loss suffered by the Broncos was an opportunity to see where the Broncos lack, which is quite evident.

With JL Skinner and Scott Matlock having left the program for the NFL, the defense did not show up; the loss of key defensive players was severely felt throughout the matchup. The secondary was much slower against the dominant receiving core of the Huskies and slipped up in coverage more than anticipated.

The abundant new additions to the Boise secondary were thrown into a ring of fire during this contest and barely made it out alive.

To go along with an unsteady secondary, wide receivers, Stefan Cobbs and Billy Bowens, were incredibly quiet in the game. Despite both being sixth-year players on the Bronco roster, neither of them had an impressionable game.

Green had an underwhelming game as well. With one thrown touchdown, two interceptions and throwing 49% (19-39), the progress many hoped to see in the developing sophomore quarterback, fell short of the reality

Boise State will take on University of Central Florida at Albertsons Stadium on Sept. 9. at 5 p.m.

BSU football players approaching the field.

Photo by Taya Thornton

Wheelchair Tennis: Serving up a New Era of Adaptive Sports at Boise State

What adaptive athletics could look like at Boise State

Alec Simeone | Sports & Rec. Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Appleton Tennis Courts at Boise State University was the setting of a great day of tennis on a sunny Saturday morning.

It wasn’t just any tennis though, the Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association (IWTA) hosted the second annual Wheelchair Tennis Open on Sept. 2, and it saw nearly triple the competitors than the previous year.

Players from as close as Oregon and as far as Alabama came to this weekend’s tournament, which is a part of the Boise State Tennis and Pickleball Festival.

This weekend’s tournament is only a small chapter in a larger story brewing at Boise State.

The IWTA has its sights set on a move to bring wheelchair tennis, along with other adaptive sports to Boise State Athletics as a mainstay.

Their goal is to partner with Boise State’s kinesiology department to acquire funding and make the program official as a collegiate team.

“My biggest priorities are getting the program set up and getting the funding set up so we can get students here,” IWTA vice president Steve Baxter, said. “We’ve got a meeting with the kinesiology department and we’re just ironing out some of the details.”

Baxter is also the program director for the IWTA, and organizes events such as clinics they put on where they teach wheelchair tennis.

Schools like the University of Alabama also run their adapted sports programs through the kinesiology department, which has resulted in their winning of seven straight national championships.

Alabama’s no.19 ranked Nathan Hunter competed in Saturday’s tournament.

In the past three years, adaptive sports have grown exponentially. Wheelchair tennis programs around the country have grown from just five to over 60 teams,

according to Baxter.

There are no school funded teams currently in the northwest, meaning there’s an ongoing recruitment race in the region.

“If we can be that school that’s offering scholarships … there is no wheelchair tennis team anywhere in the northwest,” Baxter said. “So if we’re the first one, we have a huge area to recruit from and so that’s going to be an advantage.”

Boise State’s athletic program could soon be a top recruitment program for adaptive sports, which in turn would touch the lives of hundreds of student-athletes.

“I did three summers of able bodied tennis … with my physical disability, I just couldn’t keep up with the kids anymore,” Hunter said. “Once I got in the chair, it was liberating. It completely changed my whole aspect of life and I kind of fell in love with the sport ever since.”

Offering adaptive sports allows athletes to continue and progress their athletic careers, as well as teach personal independence.

“When a wheelchair person does athletics, it helps promote and teach independence as well. When you’re traveling, you have to get outside of your comfort zone of just being at home, and kinda adapt to different situations,” said IWTA Secretary Tommy Schroeder. “Most likely when you get a little older you’re not going to be able to travel with your parents. They might not be able to go with you, so what they do for you at home, you have to learn to do that on your own.”

Traveling remains one of the biggest challenges for the team. All expenses are paid out of the players’ pockets.

Partnering with the kinesiology department would allow Boise State students like junior educational studies major, Ally Mauck, to take their talents around the country to compete.

“Sports give me a competitive avenue to do stuff and meet new people,” Mauck said. “Especially with adaptive sports, there’s a big community, we’re all friends off the court, but when we’re competing, we’re competing. There’s always that fun aspect of it … we’re all cheering each other on, even though we’ll be competing against each other later on.”

IWTA founder, Randy Corbett, says that traveling is where players get better. Playing in tournaments around the nation gets players like Hunter nationally ranked.

Corbett was one of four members who represented the Broncos at the wheelchair tennis national championship for the first time in school history last spring.

The coaches and athletes at Saturday’s tournament believe that Boise State athletics could be a real power in the country for adaptive sports and IWTA president, Kevin Falk, says that the first step is simply getting visibility for the team.

Falk is also an adjunct professor for the engineering department at Boise State. He’s gotten coaches from Boise State’s tennis team to play tournaments with the IWTA, and wants to get Andy Avalos, and Dr. Tromp to come play what’s known as “up/down tennis”. These types of events are what helps recruitment and getting the word out to donors and future players.

“That’s our goal. That’s my goal here now. That’s what I, more than being an athlete, is just to help promote and keep this going for kids,” Falk said. “Just tons of opportunities, just because you’re in a chair doesn’t mean you have to stop living.”

Up next for the Idaho Wheelchair Tennis association is a ProjectKix event called fill the truck, where every shoe donated raises money for disabled athletes.

Photo of men’s wheelchair tennis playing a match. Photo by Alec Simeone

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