The Arbiter 2.6.18 Vol 30 Issue 21

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

VOL. 30 ISSUE 21 I N D E P E N D E N T

Student robbed at knifepoint 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

“New Residue” keeps it casual Page 12

S I N C E

1 9 3 3

Day in the life of an athlete Page 18

EVENTS

Events this week Stress Management and Creating Calm Feb. 7 | Human Resources Building| 11 am

Learn more about where what stress is, where it comes from and how to resist it through self-care.

Civil Discourse on Identity and Art Feb. 7 | SUB| 6 pm

Professors Any Arellano and Dr. Christina Ivey speak on how we talk about “narratives and how they are told, developed, understood and questioned by all of us.

Legislative Breakdown: A Live Broadcast Event Feb. 8 | Boise State Public Radio | 5:30 pm

The political podcast “Legislative Breakdown” hosts a live version and walks listeners through events and processes of the Idaho Legislature.

A Conversation with Monique Morris, PhD Feb. 8 | SPEC | 7 pm

Award-winning author Dr. Monique W. Morris speaks on the criminalization of girls of color in schools. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Boise State vs. Utah Feb. 10 | Taco Bell Arena | 2 pm

Boise State’s women’s basketball team takes on the Utah Aggies. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for youth and seniors.

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FEBRUARY 06, 2018

INSIDE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

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

On Friday, Feb 2, professor Brian Jackson lead an event called The First Friday, where students were given the opportunity to view Orion’s Nebula. Find out more at arbiteronline.com. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

What you missed online C U LT U R E Movie review: Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” reminds audiences home is where the heart is.

TWITTER POLL 56% of respondents feel California should be separated into two states, and 44% feel it shouldn’t be separated.

SPORTS In front of a sold out crowd in Taco Bell Arena, Boise State men’s basketball team defeated UNLV 93-91.

Visit us online The Arbiter

@arbiteronline

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 editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Design Manager Selina Ceballos Graphic Designers Nabil Rahman Olivia Tocher

@arbiteronline

arbiteronline.com

On the cover: Boise State Bahà’ì Club members from left to right: George Nallathamby, Yasaman Parthor, Wyatt Morgano, Emma Guzman. Photo by Brandon Rasmussen. Cover design by Selina Ceballos

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

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Boise State student robbed at knifepoint near Albertsons Stadium

The incident is the second armed robbery since Nov. 2017 Blake Simony | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

A Boise State student was confronted by a man who pulled a knife out in the east Albertsons Stadium parking lot on Thursday, Jan. 25. According to the student, he gave the man money and left the incident safely, but the man has not yet been apprehended

by Boise Police.

John Doe, who requested to have his name changed to protect his privacy, had just left his evening class on Thursday night. He was walking to his parked car across Broadway Avenue when he was stopped on the way by the sound of someone calling out to him from the center of the parking lot around 9:40 p.m.

Thinking it was a friend, Doe walked over to realize that it wasn’t anyone familiar. Doe said it seemed to be a friendly man, strolling along in his white cargo pants and red Vans with white laces, one hand in his hooded jacket.

The friendliness quickly turned into a conversation about the man’s “life story,” as described by Doe. He repeatedly asked Doe if he believed in God and told Doe that he was from Texas visiting Boise.

“I didn’t think much of it—I don’t know why,” Doe said. “This guy was already super fishy.”

According to Doe, it took a turn when the man said that he was in Boise to kill his brother. He repeatedly told Doe that he doesn’t kill, but only maims others.

He then asked Doe to point him towards downtown.

“I’m ‘directionally challenged,’ so I pointed literally the opposite way on accident. And he had asked two people, prior, where downtown Boise was and they had pointed him in the correct direction,” Doe said. “He thought they were lying to him, so he pulled the knife out.”

The man said he’d have to kill the other two, since they had lied to him. Then he turned to Doe with a new question: How about you buy me lunch?

“What do you do? This dude’s got a knife out on you and he’s asking you for

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The man, who robbed a student on Jan. 25, still has not been found. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

lunch,” Doe said.

He gave an undisclosed amount of money to the man, who took it and began to cry as Doe left.

“I just started fast-walking away from it and ran across the crosswalk on Broadway,” Doe said. “In the moment, I was pretty terrified.”

When he arrived home around 10:20 p.m., Doe said he hadn’t thought to report the incident until talking to his father about what happened.

“That was probably the furthest thing from my mind, reporting it, which probably sounds bad,” Doe said. “I’m not trying to keep murderous people out on the street… there were just so many other things racing through my mind. I just wanted to go home.”

Although his initial idea was to shake off the experience, Doe returned to campus to report the incident around 11:30 p.m. Po-

lice officers were unable to locate the man on the night of the incident, but the Boise Police Department may have identified him through video surveillance at a nearby gas station since then. However, he has yet to be found.

“I always say it: see something, say something,” said Lieutenant Stan Niccolls, the Boise Police Department lieutenant stationed on campus. “We rely on our citizens because there is a citizen everywhere. We probably have about 50 cops working in the day, but we’ve got 223,000 citizens in this city that are seeing stuff all day long.”

Lt. Niccolls estimated that there is about a 60 to 70 percent chance that the suspect in this case will be apprehended. While this incident is only the second armed robbery on campus since November 2017, he emphasized the importance of safety precautions.

“Every single one of these is at nighttime and (the victims are) by themselves,” Niccolls said. “I think your odds of being assaulted here are very small if you take precautions, simple precautions.”

Campus Security and Police Services and the Department of Public Safety have several means of staying safe on campus and precautions to take, such as: Plan to have a safe way home at the end of the night.

Travel with a partner at night.

Have a plan if you feel unsafe, like keeping 911 or campus security dialed and ready to call with one tap.

Request an officer escort to walk with you by calling (208) 426-691.

Call the dispatch center and stay on the line with them while you walk at (208) 426-1453.

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Boise State’s first on-campus food pantry opens in Dean of Students office

NEWS

The pantry includes meal kits, seasoning mixes and other on-the-go snack options Taylor Munson | Online Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The food pantry is open to all students. All that is needed is a valid student ID. Photo by Taylor Humby.

In a small room tucked away within the newly relocated Dean of Students office, Basic Needs Coordinator Cassie Hines excitedly showed off shelves of neatly stocked food items. These items ranged from burrito bowl ingredients to seasoning mixes to packaged fruit.

This little room is Boise State’s first on-campus food pantry, which officially opened on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The new food pantry is intended to provide students with a meal or snack option when they feel unable to afford their own, and according to Hines, it is also intended to be a source of healthy food items and nutrition education. The campus dietician, MarLee Harris, as well as nutrition students have been heavily involved in the process of providing healthy and nutritious meal options.

“We want this food pantry program to include nutrition education and also

include some financial education,” Hines said. “There will be recipe cards so students see the cost of how much money it takes to create a meal. That’s the small piece of the beginning of the nutrition education, where we teach students that you can eat healthy on a pretty tight budget.”

Addressing the issue of food insecurity at Boise State has been a priority for Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) president Sienna George. George worked closely with the Dean of Students’ office to create the pantry.

“It was brought to our attention (in spring of 2017) that nearly half of our students were experiencing food insecurity to some extent on our campus,” George said. “So we thought we really needed to do something about that.”

According to George, the primary funding for opening up the food pantry came from a PonyUp campaign they created

last fall, as well as some donors. Moving forward, George said they will be looking for monetary donations until they know exactly what types of food can be directly donated to the pantry.

The opening of this on-campus food pantry means The Horse Bit—a food pantry located in the St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center—will be closing after spring break, according to Hines. This will allow for a transition period as the on-campus food pantry will take The Horse Bit’s place in providing free food options for Boise State students.

“In the past, the food pantry had only existed at The Horse Bit, located in the basement of a church, so there was a lot of stigma surrounding it, even though it wasn’t associated with the church,” George said.

According to George, ASBSU decided the food pantry needed to be associated

with the university, especially since Boise State was the only institution in the state of Idaho that didn’t have an initiative directed toward addressing the issue of food insecurity on campus.

George also explained this new initiative would continue to roll out throughout the semester. In addition to the food pantry, there will be food cupboards opening up in different buildings throughout campus.

These cupboards will include a handful of food items for students to grab if they don’t have time to walk over to the Dean of Students’ office.

The food pantry is open to all students and is located in the Dean of Students’ office in Suite 120 of the Campus School building. The pantry is open during the office’s operating hours, which is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students only need their student ID number in order to use the pantry.

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NEWS

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Yet another proposal surfaces to split California in two

Reports of dissatisfaction have sprouted an argument to separate the state Patrick Kaufmann | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Boise State boasts a diverse population, with over 26 percent of students originating outside Idaho. According to available enrollment data from Fall 2017, at least 10 percent of Broncos are from California, where reports of dissatisfaction may indicate changes to the geopolitical status quo and perhaps even a fifty-first state.

Leaders of the New California movement issued a Declaration of Independence from the state of California on Jan. 1. Founder of the New California movement, Robert Preston, asserted the need for an independent state in response to complaints of excessive taxation, lack of representation and the overall ineffectiveness of the California state government.

“A monoparty form of governance has been deliberately fashioned to destroy ‘representative’ governance through illegal district design, false illegal elections and corrupt election procedures and action,” said the New California Declaration of Grievance 1.

The creation of a new state would have far-reaching implications for both California and the rest of the nation, including a change in population size and a shift in the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

If successful, this movement could provide an additional factor for students here at Boise State when considering the cost of tuition, as state education budgets play a role in determining eligibility for Federal Student Aid. Since the recession, states are spending on average 18 percent less per student, according to a 2016 report from the Center on Budget and Priority Policies.

California has reduced spending by an estimated 3.2 percent, while in Idaho spending per student has dropped by over 30 percent.

A 2015 U.S. Census finding indicated that one in four people moving to Idaho come from California.

The movement cites the separation of West Virginia as a model to achieve their

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Excessive taxation, lack of representation and the overall ineffectiveness of the California state government are among the grievances. Graphic by Selina Ceballos.

goal of a new state through legal means.

So far, 29 counties have allied with the movement, out of the 40 counties required by law.

“This declaration is primarily an attempt to market their movement, while in fact the chances that it will succeed are unlikely,” said Gary Moncrief, professor of political science at Boise State. “There have been over 200 attempts in California’s history to form a new state within its borders, some of which have even resulted in a vote among the counties which was ultimately defeated.”

Moncrief mentioned financial factors as one of the reasons for the failure of previous movements, as well as challenges to the

movement’s legality, partisan politics and opposing ideologies.

Mechanical engineering senior Kristine Diedrich expressed her dissatisfaction with the movement.

“People from the rural east are underrepresented, but it’s naïve of the group.

They’re not thinking it through—, it is too politically charged and they’re only thinking of the social differences,” Diedrich said. “It’s true that a lot of people may be resentful of the red part of California, but overall it’s not a good idea. It’s a reaction.”

The group is working with the California state legislature to produce a resolution for the proposed separation within the guidelines outlined in Article IV, Section 3

of the U.S. Constitution, which stipulates that while new states may be admitted to the union, no new states may be formed within pre-existing state borders without the approval of that state’s legislature and the U.S. Congress.

While several past attempts have sought to bisect California along lateral north/ south lines, this current iteration seeks to separate the more liberal coastal cities from the typically conservative rural counties.

If successful, the state of New California would incorporate those rural areas east of the coastal cities to become the sixth largest state in the country.

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

NEWS

Application underway for suicide-prevention grant Ximena Bustillo | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The grant would help with mental health and substance abuse, as well as suicide prevention.

Photo by Axel Quartarone.

University Health Services and the Office of the Dean of Students are applying for the Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention Grant. This is a three-year federal grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support suicide prevention work in campus, state and tribal communities.

Lauren Oe, associate dean of students, explained the grant itself centers not only on suicide prevention, but also mental health and substance abuse.

“What the grant really focuses on is training and education for campus, early intervention and better opportunities for screening and assessment for students,” Oe said.

The Wellness Services Office does a lot of outreach and education around mental health and suicide prevention, according to Oe. “This grant would allow us to do things a little bit differently and bring in some different kinds of programs to help with that,” Oe said.

Oe explained the focus is on the students. “The grant would allow us to bring in some dollars to really help and bring some programs, implement new models

and complement what we are doing in other areas to help out campus community,” Oe said.

Leslie Webb, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, explained they are hoping the grant helps with specific prevention around suicide and includes positive pieces that are around self-care and resource and referral.

Both Webb and Oe agree there is a connection between suicide prevention and mental and self care.

Oe wants the University’s efforts to emphasize messages of hope, strength and community to help individuals know that there are other answers to what they may be dealing with. The grant would help create a positive narrative around prevention as opposed to the common rhetoric which surrounds numbers of deaths, according to Oe. “There’s been some great communication about being aware, being patient and being with each other,” Oe said. “I think if we continue to use that narrative and have a positive framework around it, that’s where we might be able to see some change.”

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OPINION

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

It’s time to save the shopping malls

Their very existence hangs in the balance

Jacob Palmer | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Nostalgia is one of the most powerful emotions we feel today. Even though we as consumers keep buying the newest products, we still happily listen to music on old records, proudly wear t-shirts depicting our favorite 90s cartoons and smile with joy when we play old NES or SNES games. We keep older decades alive through the products we buy, the stories we tell and the historical sites we preserve.

And while we Gen-Xers and Millennials are more than happy to keep the memories of the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s alive, we are also neglecting to preserve one crucial location that has been a cornerstone of United States culture in the late 20th century: the shopping mall.

Shopping malls are so ubiquitous of consumer culture, it’s easy to assume they will always be around. But sadly in the last decade, that has been far from the case. Due to the rise of services such as online shopping, malls have had a crisis of existence. According to Time Magazine, one out of every four malls could be closed by 2022, as online shopping continues to

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When a shopping mall suffers, the entire community suffers. Thousands lose their jobs and livelihoods, other businesses around the mall start to close, crime in the area spikes and giant shells of mall buildings are left to rot away.

”

expand its dominance. The term “dead mall” has emerged to describe a mall that has either been closed or is near to being closed. And while many stores go out of business on a regular basis, a shopping mall closing has much bigger consequences

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for the community.

The impact of dead malls Historically, malls have not only been places to shop, but also have served as bedrocks for entire towns. Whole neighborhoods have been built around these retail behemoths. Malls have served as gathering places for residents, a vital resource for jobs and platforms for small local businesses to thrive alongside the biggest retail chains.

Malls can also serve as cultural time capsules. Many malls built in the 70s, 80s and 90s have distinct architecture and artifacts from their respective eras that can’t easily be found in other places. Many people look back at malls with nostalgia, such as filmmaker Dan Bell, who has formed a sizable following online taking pictures and videos of shopping centers that were once a big part of his childhood.

When a shopping mall suffers, the entire community suffers. Thousands lose their jobs and livelihoods, other businesses around the mall start to close, crime in the area spikes and giant shells of mall buildings are left to rot away. Howard Davidowitz, chairman of retail consulting firm Davidowitz & Associates, explained how communities suffer from mall closures in an interview with Business Insider.

“The communities (surrounding shopping malls) wither away, and they never come back,” Davidowitz said. “Malls are big, big contributors to city and state taxes, jobs and everything. Once they close, they are a blight on the community for a very long time.”

A bright spot in Boise While many around the country are left to grapple with the consequences of their local malls closing, residents here in Boise have surprisingly been spared from the advent of dead malls when compared to other cities.

The Boise Towne Square Mall has remained a successful and busy mall in

Shopping malls used to be a hub of social and economic activity. But now many shopping malls are being left abandoned and deserted. Graphic by Sierra Nobley.

spite of nationwide mall closings. In fact, it’s one of the most successful malls its owner (General Growth Properties) owns, according to Boise Weekly. Open since October 1988, almost 30 years ago, the mall continues to hold onto it’s five main anchor stores, and its occupancy rate remains high, with many local residents still gathering there to socialize. Meanwhile, the Karcher Mall in Nampa still remains after more than 50 years since its opening in 1965, although it does have more vacancies, fewer customers and a harder time drawing in residents when compared to Boise Towne Square.

According to the Idaho Statesman, part of the reason for Boise’s better retail landscape is due to the healthy store-to-population ratio Boise maintains. Other areas of the country have suffered from overbuilding, with too many stores serving too little residents. Yet by limiting the amount of big box stores to around one in Boise, retailers such as Macy’s and JCPenney have managed to stay alive in the region.

The continued success of the Boise Towne Square Mall is not guaranteed, however, with retailers continuing to close stores nationwide in 2018, according to NPR. Time to go back to the mall It can be difficult to make the effort to go to a brick and mortar department store considering both the fast-paced modern life and financial limitations many students face. But right now, shopping malls and the stores within them need our support more than ever. The Boise Towne Square Mall and the Karcher Mall were influential in building our cities and economies, and many of our neighbors rely on their wellbeing for their livelihoods.

You don’t have to become a shopaholic to support your local mall. Even something as simple as getting a pretzel, buying some coffee and walking around a mall to get exercise can help keep these community giants from fading away.

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Next university president can address long-term issues

OPINION

New president has the opportunity to make an immediate impact on students and community Devin Ramey| Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The new president of Boise State will need to tackle both atheletic, academic and social issues facing Boise State. Graphic by Sierra Nobley.

In November of last year, Boise State President Bob Kustra announced he would retire on June 30, 2018. With the search for a new president well underway, now is the time to look forward to a new era at Boise State. Kustra has done a remarkable job guiding the University’s growth, athletic programs and national exposure.

However, with new incoming leadership, the University should pivot to more immediate and pressing issues. Whoever the next University president is, he or she needs to hold off on further athletic program expansion, allocate funding for new student housing and work with ASBSU on increasing student involvement in the student government. Each of these issues should be on the front burner and will require time and patience before they will be rectified.

Athletic Expansion Before the last football season started, Boise State announced a wide range of changes and improvements for Albertsons Stadium in an attempt to create a better fan experience. Even with these changes, the attendance for football games is still in decline. Investing more into the university’s top sport may sound like the best option to brings fans back to games, but I am doubtful that even that will change the fact that revenue is dropping. The University will also have to balance this with the costly addition of a new baseball team.

One of the last actions Kustra took as Boise State president was cutting the wrestling program in favor of creating a new men’s baseball team. While baseball is typically more profitable than wrestling, the

costs of jump-starting a baseball program may prove costly. The baseball program is expected to cost nearly one million per year. While Kustra hopes the team will able to pay for itself and wont be a burden on the university, I am far from optimistic this will be the case. The Treasure Valley is fickle when it comes it to sports teams, and unless the baseball team starts winning right out of the gates, generating consistent revenue may be an issue.

Heavy investments into the football program has reaped huge benefits, especially the school’s national brand and enrollment growth in previous years. But the latest round of changes hasn’t produced much positive changes in attendance. Until football attendance is stabilized, and the true costs of the baseball team is found, the next University president should use caution before throwing money at the problem. There are few things I love more than our football team and all of our sports teams, but throwing money at the attendance issue is not the best long-term plan to resolve it.

Student Housing One of the issues of constant and consistent enrollment growth is the issue of student housing. The University recently finished the new Honors College, but has held off on further student housing, allowing developers to swoop in around the University and build new luxury housing.

The average rate for a two bedroom apartment at Boise State is $634.50, compared to the average of $1,317.50 at these luxury apartments around campus. Both the lack of on-campus housing options, and these new luxury apartments have caused issues for students in the past. The costs of these student housing options have been well documented in previous Arbiter articles, and the University has the opportunity to build more on-campus housing that would save students money and unnecessary burdens. There are plans for new,

additional student housing as part of the master plan from 2015, but these need to become a priority as Boise States student population continues to grow. If the next University president does not make this a priority, then developers will continue to build over the top, expensive luxury housing that well exceeds the city’s average cost of rent to meet student housing demands.

Whoever becomes the next University president should jumpstart these housing plans which would be greatly beneficial for the University and all students.

Working with ASBSU Lastly, the next head of the University should use his or her’s position of power to work with ASBSU to encourage more student participation in their student government. The 2017 election saw an abysmal 1,700 students voting, roughly seven percent of that year’s student body. ASBSU President Sienna George has attempted to involve more student voices for the decision making process in order for better student representation with restructuring.

While these changes and restructuring are a welcome change, it is still unseen how they will influence student involvement in ASBSU. ASBSU and the new University president should work closer together on student outreach, where students value and participate in their student government more. If both parties work together to find the cause of this issue, and address it, it would create a more robust student government and better student involvement in University affairs.

There will be plenty of opportunities for whoever takes Kustra’s place to cement a lasting legacy, but there are several issues that need to be addressed soon. New leadership needs to recognize this and act quickly and create his or her’s own path forward for the University.

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FEATURE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Defending the right to education

Bahà’ì club at Boise State helps shed light on injustice Shannon Brennan | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

When Boise State junior psychology major Yasaman Parthor’s parents made the decision to move to the United States, they did so in order to provide Yasaman and her brother with an education that was not available for them in Iran. The family left their country in order to find a place where they were free to practice their religion, the Bahà’ì faith.

A documentary showing the club will be hosted on March 8 at Boise State, “Changing the World, One Wall at a Time” discusses the human rights movement started

by Canadian-Iranian Maziar Bahari, a non-Bahà’ì reporter that saw injustice and decided to act.

“This documentary really captures the story of the street art campaign. It’s raising awareness about the young people in Iran who are unable to have a higher education.

It’s a pretty severe human rights violation that I’m sure a lot of people don’t even know about,” Bahà’ì community member Barba Mark said.

This battle fought through art seeks to inform the wider world of the problems Bahà’ìs face within Iran. Members of the Bahà’ì religion are lawfully unable to seek a higher education within Iran. This lesser-known human rights violation has been in effect since 2006 when the Iranian government instructed universities to expel all Bahà’ì students. This 300,000-member Bahà’ì community faces harassment from both their fellow Iranians as well as the Iran government, while the members of the political sector blatantly deny the injustice.

The movement brings the fight for education in Iran to the forefront of world thought through beautiful murals painted with the words “education is not a crime.”

These murals found their first homes in Harlem, New York, where disadvantaged members of our own country related to the struggles of attaining a higher education.

The movement has since spread to places as far reaching as Australia, South Africa

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Bahà’ì Club meets to pray and discuss future service opportunities. Photo by Axel Quartarone. and France. While we do not have any of these murals at Boise State, that does not mean that members of the community, students or Treasure Valley citizens are not concerned or involved in the issue at hand.

“If I was in Iran currently, I wouldn’t be able to go to school. I wouldn’t be able to attend a university. Why? Because I am a Bahà’ì and the Islamic government deprives students, like myself, of their basic right to get an education simply because we have different beliefs,” Parthor wrote, “I had the privilege of coming to a country where I could receive an education and further it by attending a university.”

In Iran, if a Bahà’ì individual wishes to seek a higher education they must do so

in secret through the illegal organization, The Baha’i Institute of Higher Education.

This is where Iranian citizens like Parthor’s mother were forced to turn in order to pursue their education. The only other recourse is to leave the country.

With this in mind, Bahà’ì Club members bring the issues to campus, and while they may not be directly involved with the Education is Not a Crime movement, they work to spread inclusivity and knowledge to their Boise community through their service in the Treasure Valley, their open doors and events such as the documentary showing.

At Boise State, the Bahà’ì Club meets to pray, serve the community, learn and

find connections with anyone interested in “expanding their world view.” While some members, such as Parthor, joined the club because of their religious affiliations, other members have joined because of the club’s inclusivity. All members of the club made it clear one does not have to be a Bahà’ì to join the club.

“The campus club has been going on since at least 1994. They want to make a change in the world, and anyone in any religion is welcome to join. They are based around the Bahà’ì principle of the oneness of mankind,” Mark said.

“The club provides a space for Bahà’ìs and non-Bahà’ì to come and enjoy each other’s company,” said Parthor.

FEATURE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018 George Nallathamby, an active member of the Bahà’ì club, is not technically a member of the Baha’i religion. He explained that as a Christian, he found the open and welcoming nature of the club to be a refreshing environment to grow as a person while developing his own spiritual identity. The on-campus club hopes to allow for a conversation about the Bahà’ì faith, humanity in general and the issues pertaining to the Education is Not a Crime movement.

Aside from meeting to develop this spiritual identity, the club spends a large portion of its time planning and participating in various service projects around Boise.

From making dog treats for the Humane Society to visiting elderly members of the community, the members of the club are up for the challenge.

“There is sort of a two-fold purpose for us of building a spiritual identity, as well as the service we do as part of the Bahà’ì club,” Nallathamby said.

As individuals with the access to university education, the club members encourage participation in the Education is Not a Crime as well as other education reforms needed worldwide.

Wyatt Morgano, Boise State elementary education major, asks his fellow students, “What would it be like if you were deprived of your higher education?”

Morgano stressed that students in the United States, and specifically here at Boise State, should consider ourselves lucky.

Injustices like this one can and do happen to anyone.

“We need to stand up for them and defend their right to an education. We are college students as well, and we have to defend other students,” Morgano said.

Morgano and his fellow club members encouraged all students to come and watch the documentary and educate themselves, not only on the Bahà’ì faith, but the injustices faced by this religious community and others around the world.

“Just be a defender of higher education.

Bahà’ì are not the only ones being deprived of an education,” Morgano said.

Bahà’ì Club invites all members of Boise State community into its inclusive group. Photo Courtsey of The Bahà’ì Club.

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CULTURE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

“New Residue” exhibit forgos intentionality Artists take an organic approach to art

Kolton Gammie | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Artists Jon Swindler and Michael McFalls enlist the help of Boise State students in the construction of a new exhibit. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Between hosting numerous galleries and arranging the many art experiences they provide, Boise State’s Department of Art is always diligently looking for ways to bring attention to student, local and other artists. So when the opportunity arose to have two traveling artists organize an installation at Boise State, Kirsten Furlong, gallery director, jumped at the chance.

The “New Residue” exhibit held its opening reception the evening of Jan. 26.

With only one week to build the installation, artists Jon Swindler and Michael McFalls enlisted the assistance of students from ART 473, Studio in Interdisciplinary Practice. With the visiting artists’ guidance, the group worked diligently to create the experience that currently stands in

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room 170 of the Liberal Arts building.

The artists approached the creation of this piece a little differently than one may expect. Rather than attempt to convey a specific message, they attempted to use new or repurposed materials and allow the natural formation of the installation determine its suggestions.

“It’s not that novel, but I think compared to what students are sometimes trained to do in art school, it’s a little novel,” Mcfalls said. “The academic setting is asking for intentionality—we are asking for the opposite.”

Students were asked to perform various tasks, such as painting large wooden posts or taping together repurposed prints to make a sort of paper quilt. They were told

to do so without worrying too much about the end result.

“I think the best part of it is how free all the actions are,” said senior interdisciplinary art major Breann Urlaub. “In a lot of my classes we have to think every action through very strategically, whereas with this project, we really have an open rein.”

Although parts of the installation are recycled works from generous donors—including the visiting artists—they have been gently altered to create an entirely new piece. Old prints and paintings are torn and formed into lovely colored fencing.

Other works are similarly repurposed to fit the overall presentation while new materials were gathered by the visiting artists upon their arrival in Boise.

“This will never be recreated,” Swindler said. “The traditional academic model is that you make something, it goes into a museum or collection and it lives forever.

Neither Mike nor I, at least in our collaborations, are interested in that.”

After the installation’s viewing period has ended, the pieces that were borrowed will be returned to their respective owners, even in their newly-taken forms. Once the installation has been taken down, the experience will come to a total end.

The installation will remain open for public viewing until March 16, with open hours Monday through Thursday at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Friday, 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.

CULTURE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

You’ll “Never Be The Same”

Camila Cabello’s debut solo album packs a unique punch Logan Potter | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Every popular band has an inevitable end.

The likes of *NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys and One Direction have all reached their career plateau after what fans perceive as a short-lived run. Fifth Harmony, the X Factor-championed group, has proven to be no different.

While the remaining members of the group remain intact (for now), Camila Cabello has found her path on a solo career, releasing her first album just last month.

The self-titled compilation has 11 tracks, each showcasing a different piece of Cabello’s extensive list of vocal talent. While the whole album is worth giving a listen, these are some of the production highlights.

The first single of the album, “Havana,” brings a taste of Camila’s Latin roots and catchy lyrics that make it an obvious contender for the best on the album. The Pharrell-produced pop track quickly became Cabello’s most popular, making her the most streamed female artist on Spotify and sending her soaring to the number one spot on the Billboard Top 200. With an alternative version sang in Spanish and featuring Daddy Yankee, the song was intended to fall into the likes of “Despacito” and “Echame La Culpa,” two of the most popular Latin/American hits to find their way into car radios across the world last year. The original, Young Thug version of the track ended up reigning supreme for Cabello, and its attractive and seductive instrumental makes for an extremely memorable song.

“Never Be The Same,” a pop ballad, is sure to be Cabello’s next hit. Unlike most of the album, this track lacks the Latin flavor that the rest of the album packs on, but it does succeed at making you feel something as the listener. First performed in early January, it’s considered the second single from the album, and rightfully so.

With lyrics about being addicted to love, Cabello takes the song to the next emo-

Camila Cabello’s solo album rises to the top of the charts. Photo courtesy of Camila Cabello’s Facebook page

tional level in vocals. If you have to choose one track to play on repeat, “Never Be The Same” is it, and it helps if you love love stories, too.

Maybe the most interesting note about “Camila” is the artist writes little to none of the lyrics for the tracks on her album.

While this isn’t uncommon in many artists on the radio today, she initially cited her reason for leaving Fifth Harmony as “expressing interest to write lyrics for the

group and being denied.” As someone who has shown such interest in songwriting, fans would have expected something originally branded on the solo debut; hopefully, however, this self-titled mix won’t be her last, and music listeners can expect to hear more from Cabello in the future.

Whether you’re a pop, Latin or contemporary music guru, Camila Cabello’s debut album has a little something for anyone who happens to stumble upon it. Behind

the ex-girl group persona that Cabello has been branded with, there happens to be an extremely talented artist, and her first album showcases (almost) all of these skills hiding under her belt. If the first two singles have anything to say about it, Cabello might even end up with a greatest hits album one day; the album is worthy of a long listen for bringing a new, unique taste to traditional pop music.

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CULTURE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Are students grading their professors?

Students and professors weigh in on methods of course evaluation Isabelle Spaulding | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Exploring the effectiveness of RateMyProfessor and Boise State Course Evaluations and their effect in the classroom. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

RateMyProfessors.com is a website that aims to supply students the opportunity to “grade” professors and universities across America, Canada and the United Kingdom. The site boasts over 15 million ratings and lists professors from over 8,000 colleges and universities, including Boise State.

According to freshman elementary education major, Joy Flournoy, students are using the website to choose professors for classes because they seem to find it useful and reliable; the actual professors find it to be almost the exact opposite.

Flournoy said she relies on the website when picking out professors at the beginning of each semester. However, temporary lecturer, Christopher Michas, has different thoughts regarding the website.

“Course evaluations with Boise State are slightly more reliable than RateMyProfessors.com because at least you know the student has taken the class that they’re rating, and that in itself is more reliable;

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that level of verification,” Michas said.

In his time at Boise State, Michas said he has not encouraged course evaluations through the school either.

“I don’t encourage it because the evaluations and RateMyProfessor are both one sided—there is no dialogue there. That’s not productive.”

There appears to be a discrepancy between students and professors. Students are using the website to choose professors for certain classes because they seem to find it useful and reliable; the actual professors find it to be almost the exact opposite.

Both methods of evaluation can have a positive outcome, however. Adjunct professor, Timothy Murdock, said that his evaluations help him progress towards more productive teaching methods.

“My evaluations have evolved for the better,” Murdock said. “I have gotten many more positive responses to my teaching. They indicate more confirmation of what I set out to do and conform more to

what I want to do as a teacher.”

Michas expressed a different view, explaining that a student could give him a bad rating for something as unrelated to his course as not liking his political views.

He believes the professor should not take full responsibility for everything, including the ratings.

“I feel like some of it should be on the students to make the effort to go and connect with the professor if they are struggling,” Michas said. “If that professor refuses to meet with them or makes it hard to meet with them, then that’s on the professor. But I do think it’s a two-way street. There’s some responsibility on the student there.”

Murdock said students come into certain courses with preconceived ideas on the subject matter or professor, and that if they don’t put the effort in for the class and end up with a bad grade, it can very well result in a bad review on one of the evaluation sites. Murdock said he tries to help stu-

dents get over that fear and loathing about specific subjects, but it still affects evaluations at the end of the semester.

On the student side, Flournoy said that even when she does use RateMyProfessor, she doesn’t trust every review. She expressed that when a student writes a thorough review with their honest opinion and the grade that they got in the class, then she will trust that rating. Flournoy stated that she only trusts the ratings of students that got a C or higher in the class because she believe these reviews are more accurate “It helps if you use it properly and don’t just trust all the reviews,” Flournoy said.

Professors utilize these evaluation methods so they can improve to help themselves and their students. The accuracy of the reviews vary: a professor could be fantastic and engaging offline, but have poor reviews on a website. It’s up to the students to decide what to trust and which professors to seek out.

CULTURE

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

An open letter to Kylie Jenner

Congrats on the baby and your career

Shannon Brennan and Logan Potter| Culture Section | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

That glow, pregnancy suits you Ky. Photo courtsey of Kylie Jenner’s Facebook page.

Dear Ky, Congratulations! Only five days ago, you gave birth to the baby girl that fans “didn’t know about,” even though we SO already knew. The name is up in the air, but fans are guessing Butterfly; we’re hoping you’re more creative than a colorful moth. Names aside, Travis Scott tweeted that a new “rager” has been born, but please don’t go throwing your baby into any mosh pits just yet.

We get why you hid the pregnancy--spotlights might be just a little too bright for an unborn child--but we are praying this was more than a promo for “Life of Kylie.” Fans were, quite honestly, over it after Season one, which is pretty much an ego destroyer for you, all things considered, you still got only half the viewers that “Rob and Chyna” had, and you didn’t even have revenge porn. Maybe it would just be best to leave the whole thing in the past and move on with your life.

You can always guest star when Khloe’s spin-off succeeds, right?

Moving past this somewhat dark career point and into the important questions.

We hear that you’re “so over” your lip injections--does this mean the demise of Kylie Cosmetics? Will Colourpop reign supreme? Do we have to start buying...

Gasp, GENERIC lip kits? Look, maybe motherhood changed you (for better or worse), but you have to think about the millions of girls who will no longer have a place to spend their mothers’ money, and may even have to result in lip injections of their own. This is a slippery slope, Kylie. A slippery slope, indeed.

It’s 2018, Ky, and we still haven’t seen the threequel for “Rebels: City of Indra.”

Maybe no one read the first one, (too busy watching KUWTK?), but we did, and what are we going to do without a continuation of your fantasy author status? To be honest, all jokes aside, its not your best work, but it was certainly better than your one-hit wonder (kind of ) pop solo career.

We aren’t even sure it really exists, but we would like to believe that someone else wrote this song just so you don’t have to take credit for it. We can let the lead singer of Terror Jr. stay an enigma. In fact, maybe it’s best that this one stays a mystery. Rest in peace, “Glosses.” Maybe we should leave the music career to your baby daddy.

In summary: The whole world watched you grow on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” and we can’t even imagine how pressured your life must have been. You struggled through your relationship with Tyga, the strains that fame put on you and Kendall, but you have thrived recently in your ability to put yourself (and your baby) first. We commend you for your decision, and we can’t wait to see what’s next in the life of Kylie (but not on “Life of Kylie”).

APPLY TO THE RESPIRATORY CARE PROGRAM

-- Applications are due March 1-Info Sessions: Tues, Feb 06 3:00 - 4:15 Thurs, Feb 22 5:30 - 6:15 Health Science Riverside 2nd Floor

With love, Logan and Shannon

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SPORTS & REC

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Boise State students find oppertunites to hit the slopes

Boise State offers two classes and has a club dedicated to skiing and snowboarding

Autum Robertson | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Bogues Basin is a bout a 15-minute drive from campus. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

For Boise State students who love to ski, this season has been a disappointment.

Lackluster snowfall has meant canceled classes at Boise State and slow business at Bogus Basin, the closest ski resort to the University.

Boise State normally gives plenty of opportunity for students looking to ski, offering a couple of classes as well the Ski and Snowboard Club. Unfortunately, the snow this season has not lived up to expectations after a record-breaking season just last year. The lack of snow has affected Boise State’s classes and club.

The Ski and Snowboard Club hasn’t had too many opportunities to get up to Bogus, but has taken advantage of the snowfall at Tamarack Resort, 100 miles north of campus.

“This season has definitely not lived up to last year, but there is still enough snow up on the mountain to shred and have a fun time,” said Jeff Hockenson, a junior media arts major and member of the Ski and Snowboard Club. “Some members of the club have been pretty disappointed with Bogus’s snowfall this season, but the recent little storms have helped out.”

Boise State canceled both of its spring semester alpine skiing classes because

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of the lack of snow as the deadline for students to drop classes and still receive a refund was looming, said Jim Sutton, coordinator of the kinesiology BroncoFit program.

Bogus Basin is known for offering good deals on season passes for students. A season pass for anyone over 18 normally costs $329, but with the student discount it costs $199. Bogus has no control over whether the snow season will be good or bad.

“We offer partnerships where our guests can enjoy different areas,” said Susan Sadd, director of community and customer relations at Bogus. “We joined the Powder Alliance last year, and that entitles Bogus Basin season pass holders to tickets to 15 different ski areas all over.”

The snow season at Bogus is finally starting to look up. The past couple of weeks, snow has been steadily falling, and the numbers of people going up have increased, with more than 7,000 people the last weekend of January.

“This has definitely been a tough year for Bogus Basin and for ski areas all over the West,” Sadd said. “We were very happy to finally get more snow the past couple of weeks.”

Bogus Basin has 91 runs for students and Boiseans to take advantage of. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

Intramural sports at Boise State continue in spring semester

SPORTS & REC

All you need to know about new, current and future intramurals Seth Newville | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State students play intramural football on the Blue. Photo by Kenzi Hudson.

With a successful fall season of intramural sports behind us, the spring semester is here. Fall offered a variety of competitive sports, such as soccer, flag football, spikeball and more. The spring semester offers just as much. Students looking for a competitive environment that gives them an opportunity to be active, meet new people, try new things or play sports they have always loved, may find what they are looking for in intramurals.

Basketball, volleyball and bowling may be in full swing, but for dodgeball fans, the deadline to register for the March 1 tournament is on Feb. 26. The dodgeball tournament is shortly followed by badminton, which takes place on March 1. These help kick-off our spring season, which also consists of soccer, flag football, kickball,

softball and golf.

While these are sports we have seen in past years, Boise State is announcing new sports such as billiards—starting March 11—disc golf and a spikeball tournament, which are set to kick-off later in the semester. Daniel Fragel, who is in his first year as the Intramural Sports Coordinator at Boise State, couldn’t be more pleased with how things are going.

“We are excited with the addition of the Pre-Season Tournament as well as our current intramural sports, such as 4v4 volleyball, 5v5 basketball and bowling,” said Fragel. Those seasons are in full-swing now, seeing a large number of participants once again.

Fragel continued to say he hopes to bring that same atmosphere to students at

Boise State, as he said he met many of his current friends through the program.

Senior Coleman Evans and sophomore Eric Lyon discussed the impact intramural sports has had on their college experience. Evans has played intramural sports throughout his time here Boise State.

“Intramurals are very suitable for college students in terms of time commitment and are a good way to stay active and have a sense of competition,” Evans said.

Boise State has already debuted the basketball preseason tournament, a new league for our students. The tournament has already come and gone, but students can expect to see it again next year if they didn’t get the opportunity to participate in the action this season. It gives teams a chance to get a couple games in, followed

by a single elimination tournament concluding with a champion.

Intraurals can also be a good way to relax from a busy college lifestyle, giving every student a chance to compete. This was sophomore Eric Lyon’s favorite part of competing in intramural sports.

“I’ve competed in both intramural soccer and basketball here at Boise State and plan to play water polo and tennis in seasons to come,” Lyon said. “I especially love the setting: it is controlled and officiated, reminding me of high school sports.”

More information about the sports and registration can be found on the Intramural Sports page on Boise State’s website.

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SPORTS & REC

FEBRAURY 06, 2018

A day in the life: Cody Evans

Boise State swimming team athlete takes us through her day

Addison DeHaven | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Junior communication major Cody Evans logs a lot of time in the pool. As a member of the swimming and diving team for Boise State, she has to. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native outlines a normal Thursday for her, a day in which she stays rather busy.

5:30 a.m. “I slam the alarm clock and hurriedly get ready to head to campus. We have to be on the deck of the pool at 5:50 a.m., so I don’t have a lot time,” Evans said. “I get on my bike at about 5:40 a.m. and hustle to the kinesiology annex pool.”

5:50 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. While stretching on the deck, Evans tends to eat a granola bar to ready herself for the morning’s workout.

6:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. The swim team practices for two hours every weekday morning, as well as Saturday morning.

They’ll swim anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 yards, which on a 25-yard pool is anywhere from 160 to 240 laps. That adds up to about an average of 3 miles every morning.

8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. After practice, the team heads to Taco Bell Arena to do rehab at the training room. These are exercises done to either fix past injuries or prevent them.

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. “Most mornings I have class at 9 a.m., but on Thursdays I’m able to go home and have a big breakfast,” Evans said. “I usually will have oatmeal with peanut butter, almond milk, frozen fruit, honey and chocolate chips.”

9:30 am. – 10:30 a.m. “I usually will get started on some homework and get prepared for the rest of the day,” Evans said. “By 10:30 a.m., though, I’m usually feeling pretty tired.”

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Junior communication major Cody Evans is a member of Boise State swimming and diving team. Right photo by Axel Quartarone. Left photo courtesy of Boise State.

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. “If I can get a nap in, then it’s a pretty good day,” Evans said.

12:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Evans, being from Canada, also has a minor in French.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she takes a class called French World Today, during which she will eat a small lunch of yogurt, granola and crackers. Afterwards, she attends her Sports Research and Innovation class until the start of the next practice.

2,000 to 4,000 yards or 80 to 120 more laps. Lap count for the day: between 240 and 360 laps of the pool.

5:30 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. The team heads back to the training room for more treatment and stretching.

5:40 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. “I head straight to work after,” Evans said. “I work at the Rec Center as a swim instructor and supervisor. I do private lessons and set up schedules at the Rec.”

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. “By 3 p.m., we are in the weight room with our strength and conditioning coach, Ben,” Evans said.

“Immediately after, we head back to the pool for our second training session of the day. “

7:05 p.m. – 7:20 p.m. “After work, I start the 15 minute trek uphill back to my house,” Evans said. “On the way home I say a quick prayer that roommates have made dinner for me—at this point I am so hungry.”

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. In the afternoon, the swim team usually gets in another

7:20 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. “Usually we will have something ready in the crockpot,

since all my roommates also have a fairly busy Thursday,” Evans said. “We usually take turns making dinner and Thursday is their night to make it.”

8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. “I attempt homework, but get distracted by the T.V.,” Evans said. “We usually have a Netflix show—lately it has been “Shameless”— and have trouble staying focused on the books.”

9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. “Put the homework down and focus solely on the T.V.,” Evans said.

10:30 p.m. “I usually try and be in bed by 10:30 because practice is only 7 hours away,” Evans said. “It can get pretty busy, but staying on a routine has helped me stay on top of my swimming and school work this semester.”

FEBRUARY 06, 2018

BUCKING AROUND

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.77)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Tue Feb 9 01:22:25 2016 GMT. Enjoy!

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