The Arbiter 11.27.18 Vol. 31 Issue 15

November 27, 2018

Vol. 31 Issue 15

IN D EP EN D E NT

ST U D E NT

V O I CE

O F

B O I SE

STAT E

S I N C E

1 9 3 3

THE GRADUATION GAP

SOME STUDENT GROUPS HAVE UP TO 47 PERCENT HIGHER GRADUATION RATES THAN OTHERS.

HERE’S WHAT THEY’RE DOING RIGHT.

VISIT US ON ONLINE: arbiteronline.com @arbiteronline

@arbiteronline @boisestatearbiter

NEWS

05

New suicide prevention grant

CULTURE

14

How student freelancers make it work

SPORTS & REC

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Student-athlete profile: eSports

WELCOME TO THE ARBITER PHOTO OF THE WEEK Editor-In-Chief Jordan Erb editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Ximena Bustillo onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor MaryAnn Fernandez news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Alyza Lovenguth news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Logan Potter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter David Collie culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Delaney Brassil sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Autum Robertson sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editors Chloe Baul Sophia Uhlenhoff Digital Content Manager Taylor Humby digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Bailey Nellesen Graphic Design Manager Maddie Ceglecki Graphic Designer Isabel Sarhad Illustrator Wyatt Wurtenberger Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year 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.

Sawtooth Hall flooded on Nov. 24. 130 students have been relocated to living spaces across campus. Jake Vegas | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

The universit y is working to raise graduation rates and close the gap between groups on campus, some of which have a graduation rate as low as 32 percent. Photo by Taylor Humby; Graphic by Isabel Sarhad.

HOW TO REACH US: CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

Fun place to work, lots of training, discounted meals & t-shirts $9.00 + an hour Cooks & Carhops (can also earn tips) Starting pay depends on your experience

SCOREBOARD

EVENTS JAZZ ORCHESTRA CONCERT

special events center wed november 28, 7:30pm

The Boise State University Jazz Orchestra will be exploring the history of Latin Big Band music from the 1950s until the present.

FIFA VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT game center

fri november 30, 7pm This single elimination tournament on PS4 and Xbox will prove who is the best of the best. The event is free for students with a valid ID.

MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP

albertsons stadium sat december 1, 5:45pm After defeating the Utah State Aggies last weekend, Boise State will take on Fresno State at home.

12 BARS OF CHRISTMAS BAR CRAWL

tom grainey’s

sat december 1, 12pm Registration starts at 12 at Tom Grainey’s. The crawl will cruise through eight bars and costs $18.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING

NOV. 15-17

MIZZOU DIVING INVITATIONAL

4th place 56.00 pts

NOV. 14-16

ART ADAMSON INVITATIONAL

3rd place 621 pts

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOV. 23-24 2-0

MEN’S BASKETBALL NOV. 19-21 cayman islands

CROSS COUNTRY NOV. 17

NCAA NAT’L CHAMPIONSHIPS

WOMEN’S 6K 6th PLACE (288 PTS.)

NCAA NAT’L CHAMPIONSHIPS

MENS’S 10K 10th PLACE (342 PTS.)

FOOTBALL NOV. 24 BSU 33 - utah state 24

NEWS

WOMEN IN STEM AT BOISE STATE

Women discuss their experiences in science, technology, engineering and math at the university

Abigail Figueroa | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ccording to data from STEM and Diversity Initiatives, in the 2016-2017 academic year, out of about 3,100 students who received their bachelor’s degree from Boise State, only 579 were STEM majors.

As for enrollment, in the fall of 2017, about 3,600 undergraduate students were degree-seeking STEM majors, which was a slight decrease from previous fall semesters. From that enrollment count, only 32 percent were female.

Mei Lin Fong, a junior mechanical engineering major, explained her decision to enter into her field. She previously was going for a business and criminal justice major, but being undeclared and taking engineering and chemistry classes prompted her towards engineering.

“I really enjoyed my engineering classes, and I felt that I could get a job with it, like a stable job. There’s just a lot of opportunity, especially where I’m from,” Fong, who is from California, said.

Kris Campbell, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, also explained why she choose engineering and discussed her experience with her degree in chemistry.

“I love math, and so I was thinking, alright, I want to get a job, and I don’t know what kind of job I could get with math, and I’d like a job after my bachelor’s degree. So the only thing I knew was engineering. I could get a job as an engineer, so I’ll do that,” Campbell said.

Another professor, Dale Russell from the chemistry department, added how her motivation, as a child, pushed her to the chemistry route.

“I started as a child making bombs and rockets pyrotechnics with my brother who does high energy materials, (and they) were very exciting, and we played around with that,” Russell said.

Russell went on to take and excel in AP chemistry classes during high school, which furthered her to pursue chemistry in

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Mei Lin Fong, a junior mechanical engineering major. higher education.

With the excitement of learning science and math comes challenges posed by outside factors. Women coming from more traditional-minded families may experience opposition. According to Russell, her father was reluctant to support her career decision.

“He didn’t think women belonged in science. He thought I should study art, foreign languages or physical education.

He was a nuclear physicist and a naval officer,” Russell said.

However, Russell was so focused on and enthralled by chemistry that this did not deter her.

Further, she explained that he changed his mind after Russell’s sister challenged him with the question, what if they had been boys?

Another factor in STEM fields is the disapproval from some male colleagues or faculty.

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“If you have an instructor that was doing something obviously derogatory towards a certain group of people, you can speak out nowadays. Back then it wasn’t so easy. Maybe more people are looking out for each other these days than they were back then,” Campbell said.

Russell described the time when she was a graduate student at the University of Arizona taking a class with a professor who never gave A’s to women in his class.

Even though she was the third highest in points, she ended having a B, while her study partner who was seventh in the class got an A. Fortunately, sexism in the sciences is being addressed. Russell explained that the American Chemical Society (ACS) conferences hold symposiums about anti-sexual harassment, and the president of the ACS makes sure that the issue is addressed even if some scientists believe the topic is out of place.

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter Fong pointed out that even if there are not enough female examples in the department, the male peers could show their support.

“You can’t get all the same support, but you can still get a lot of the same support from guys,” Fong said.

Even with the many challenges faced with being in STEM, there is motivation for younger girls to get into these fields.

Emily Kuehl, a civil engineering major junior, said it starts by having supportive parents and having them involved at an early age. From an engineering stance, Campbell said showing students what engineers do and what engineering really is will motivate them to join.

“Once you’re in it, you just have to focus on the subject matter that you enjoy, and don’t let the other distractions bother you,” Campbell said.

SUICIDE PREVENTION GRANT

AN A+ RATING FROM PETA2

Ximena Bustillo | Online Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Chloe Baul | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The grant created a new social worker position at Boise State

April Thorndyke. Photo courtesy of Thorndyke.

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he Office of the Dean of Students applied for the Garret Lee Smith grant in February of 2018. On Oct. 1 the grant, a total of $100,000 a year for three years, took effect, allowing the Office of the Dean of Students to channel resources towards programs to address student mental health. Leading these new initiatives is Boise State’s new suicide prevention and outreach case manager, April Thorndyke, who was hired as a result of the new grant.

Associate dean of students Lauren Oe explained that the catalyst for making the decision to apply for the grant came in the spring following the suicides of three Boise State students.

“The work to address mental health is being done by different offices,” Oe said.

“The idea is that as our campus has grown we need to consolidate. We need one person leading the charge.”

According to dean of students Christian Wutherich, the grant is a way to pilot outreach methods to help students get in to see mental health professionals or to examine their mental health status. The grant and Thorndyke’s position also allow the office to train faculty, staff and students to support and recognize when someone might need assistance.

“We have had concerns for a while about the mental health of our students,” Wutherich said. “This is one of the units on campus who works with students who are expressing concerns about mental health whether it is suicidal or depression

or anxiety.”

Thorndyke, a former Boise State student herself, applied for the new campus position following her role in outpatient therapy at the Boise VA. Her job on campus is to coordinate grant-specific programs including training through the Kognito online program, roll out Sources of Strength student training and manage Campus Assessment Resource and Education (CARE) reports filed regarding suicide concerns.

Thorndyke explained that her work will revolve around the normalization of mental health topics.

Kognito is an online program that focuses on “gatekeeper training.” Gatekeeper training refers to training that individuals go through to identify warning signs and adequate responses. Kognito was purchased with funds from the grant and will be used to help students, faculty and staff become familiar with mental health signs and how to reach out, make referrals and recommendations, according to Wuthrich and Thorndyke.

Sources of Strength is the second program described by Oe as “a peer/student-led wellness approach.” The suicide prevention program will include adult advisors, but will mostly be comprised of students from different areas of campus.

Thorndyke plans on rolling this program out in the spring semester.

Additionally, Thorndyke will act as a liaison for community agencies including crisis units, area hospitals, law enforcement and suicide hotlines. The position will also extend case management services to students post-hospitalization and after an emergency room visit.

“There is a lot of room for creativity in this new position,” Thorndyke said.

“People need to know that this is even a position. I can work with direct walk-in students and have meetings with departments and faculty.”

NEWS

Boise State ranked as top university in Idaho for vegan dining

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oise State Dining Services received an A+ rating from Peta2, a youth animal rights group, for having extensive vegan options for students. Since they’ve won this award several times, they are considered an “elite” school in the national rankings. According to MaryAnn Frattarole, marketing manager for Boise State Dining Services, not all students know about the vast range of vegan and vegetarian options available at Boise River Café (BRC) and Southfork.

On the “Vegan Report Card” on Peta’s website, Boise State is ranked as the top university in Idaho with an “A+.” The University of Idaho, the College of Idaho and Idaho State University are ranked second place with a “B,” and Northwest Nazarene University, Lewis-Clark State College and Brigham Young University-Idaho were given an “F.” Justin Lord, residential food service director at Aramark, said Boise State Dining services answered “yes” to nine out of 10 questions on the yearly Peta2 survey, which is sent out to all colleges and universities across the country. The survey asks questions regarding vegan food entrees, non-dairy milk options, egg replacements, vegan desserts and whether or not there is a vegan-only station in the dining hall.

“In the BRC, we do have a vegan-only station which features a made-to-order saute station, where we rotate through vegetables seasonally. We also offer three to

four vegan sauces, and there are four different proteins (and) three different grains to choose from so students can customize their own vegan bowl,” Lord said. “Also, at the BRC and Southfork, we offer vegan entrees as well as vegan sides every day.

Currently, our menu is around 33 percent plant-based.”

Elizabeth Mosqueda, a junior biology major, lives on campus and doesn’t have a personal kitchen, so a University Dining Services meal plan is her best option. According to Mosqueda, vegan food options on campus are good, but there is room for improvement.

“Once I had their ‘vegan three bean chili’ and it had meat in it, and I swallowed it. I just about cried. It was incorrectly labeled and was a horrible day. All I got was a sorry from management, but I guess there really wasn’t anything else they could do,” Mosqueda said. “Southfork has zero vegan dessert options. The vegan option at the BRC is actually really good though, and they have good veggie burgers.”

According to Rich Weigel, director of University Dining Services, the vegan station at the BRC is off to the side, so when people do find it, they’re thrilled.

“If anybody ever has any questions, reach out to Jessica Butler, the registered dietitian. If they have any nutritional questions when they’re here, I think that’s really important,” Weigel said.

Boise State was given an A+ for its vegan dining options.

Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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NEWS

STUDENTS FIND MORE JOB APPLICATIONS ONLINE

Job postings are becoming more digital, making it easier for students to apply Taylor Rico-Pekerol | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n today’s world as students look for jobs around campus, everything can be easily done in a one-spot shop on Handshake. Although the applications are at everyone’s fingertips, it also makes it difficult for employers because now they have more resumes to look through due to everyone being able to easily apply. Having a concise resume that stands out among the others is what employers look for.

Lauryn Case, a career counselor, has advised multiple students on how to stand apart from the rest on job applications.

“It has just become a little more competitive in the job application process since hundreds can apply, and so the biggest part is getting to an interview. Making your resume stand out and making connections with employers so that you move into the

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next step of an interview,” Case said.

Some people can look appealing on a resume and have multiple opportunities listed, yet not have a good personality or worth ethic. Other times, people may look terrible on a resume but have a great personality and good skills that cannot be shown on a piece of paper, according to Case.

Abby Elsethagen, a freshman English major, applied to a barista position in July and works at the Starbucks in the College of Business and Economics.

“I had to make an account with Aramark and answer a bunch of questions that were making sure I was a good fit,” Elsethagen said. “Just questions like, ‘Are you good at time management? And would you be good in this certain situation?’”

According to Alecia Bardachino, a career success advisor, networking is an import-

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ant aspect in the job-seeking process.

“If students are just hitting send and hoping for the best, I do not think that is the best approach for students. I think that actually networking is the best option,” Bardachino said. “I really encourage students to reach out and find out who is hiring for that position and ask to meet with them to find out more about the position to show your interest and get that face time.”

With the online aspect of the application process growing, it is making it harder for students to make themselves stand out.

Yet, although the process may be daunting, with the application having multiple questions, more students are applying, according to Bardachino.

“I think the job search process can be really overwhelming at times. I would

say that jobs on and off campus, different departments and employers can have very different expectations from each application,” Bardachino said.

Certain employers can place specific instructions to prospective employees on how and what they want on a resume. At times, when an application is precise, the employer utilizes these techniques to test an applicant’s skills already.

Although the process may seem daunting to some, it should not deter students who really want or need a job from applying.

NEWS

STUDENTS FORM A SEXUAL ASSAULT TASK FORCE

The goal of the task force is to hold the administration accountable MaryAnn Fernandez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ssociated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) and several students have created a task force to help spread awareness about sexual assault on campus.

According to Leslie Webb, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, Webb’s office has funded a grant in order to support the work of the student task force.

The task force was spearheaded by Makaela Bournazian, a senior health studies major, and ASBSU President Kaleb Smith.

According to Bournazian, the idea of the task force originated from Smith and Bournazian who were both following the Ford-Kavanaugh sexual assault hearings.

Bournazian said while they were watching the hearings they both decided they needed a sexual assault task force to spread awareness on campus.

The first meeting for the task force has already occurred and they began the conversation regarding areas that Boise State needs to improve upon to benefit sexual assault victims, according to Bournazian.

“Boise State needs to improve consensus upon several main areas in their policies,” Bournazian said. “There are resources available for victims, but there’s a lack of education on who to talk to and lack of education on what Title IX is.”

Bournazian added that both the perpetrator and the victim will get contacted in sexual assault cases on campuses, Boise State included, and many people are unaware of that. Additionally, the Gender Equity Center is the only confidential resource on campus for victims.

“Some of our goals for the task force are to start talking to administration to create educational programs for faculty,” Bournazian said. “Also, to look into the Title IX process and help make it more black and white for students.”

Smith explained that one of the reasons they wanted to create the task force was not only to spread awareness but to create

Students are taking a stand against sexual assault with a new task force and a silent call to action held last week (above).

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter a sustainable organization on campus. survivors.

“We actually secured a $6,600 grant for Keily looked specifically into the policy the task force,” Smith said. “Although, it’s of Title IX and the code of conduct and not official. We have been fully funded but found there were inconsistencies between them. haven’t officially received it yet.”

“These inconsistencies allow people Smith said that he and the rest of the to get away with terrible behavior. Also, task force will delegate where the funds (there are) just things that aren’t clear are will go. Smith estimates that they will an issue. In the Title IX policy it states that assist in the cost of creating programming, they will decide whether or not to investimarketing and education on sexual assault gate it,” Keily said. “To someone who is a for students and faculty. victim or in a crisis that might deter them Senior sociology major Amelia Keily is from reporting if they might not even take a member of the task force, and assisted the case.” in running a demonstration on Nov. 7 for Most recently, Education Secretary a “Silent Call to Action” for sexual assault Betsey DeVos released a rewrite of rules

that govern campus sexual assault and harassment allegations. According to The Washington Post, these changes would narrow the cases that schools are required to investigate and give the accused more rights.

According to Keily, the edits that DeVos is making to policies are detrimental.

“These changes do nothing but benefit actual perpetrators, and they don’t benefit people that have been falsely accused or the victim at all,” Keily said. “All it does is make campus less safe for people who have been assaulted.”

Keily added the most worrying change in the policy is that the perpetrator and the accuser will be in one shared room giving both of their testimonies.

“This change is traumatizing to the victim, and it means that the investigation has to make a hast decision,” Keily said.

“They won’t have more than two hours to come up with all the information and usually it takes months to come up with the correct information.”

However, Keily is hopeful for the task force because it will display student accountability on campus.

“All of these policies are put in place for the students, but we are the ones that have to live by them. We don’t have a say of what these policies are or how they are enforced, and that’s really unsettling,” Keily said. “If these policies aren’t fair for everyone then these policies are going to be impossible for us to live by.”

Keily added that the task force will be able to hold the administration in check on these policies.

“Also, if a student were to come to the task force who has been assaulted we could tell them what resources are available without reporting and starting an investigation,” Keily said. “This would be beneficial because there’s something to be said about having a peer you can trust.”

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OPINION

CAPITALISM STRIKES AGAIN (AND AGAIN AND AGAIN)

Why the commercialization of holidays has ruined the season Logan Potter | Culture Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Illustration by Wyatt Wurtenberger

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hanksgiving was last week, and I know what that means—Black Friday started a week ago! Friday isn’t just one day anymore, it’s at least seven (especially if you’re Amazon). While it is great, especially as a college student, to have long-term discounts on potential gifts for our families, friends and co-workers, the “much-needed” retail therapy often overshadows the holiday season.

The issue isn’t that consumers are

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deal-hunting rather than cooking with their families, but lies in the fact that capitalism has brainwashed those same consumers into believing that material gifts are more important than face-to-face interactions. Rather than writing out what one is thankful for on a Thanksgiving-themed napkin, it has become more crucial to consumers (including family members) to speed to that limited-time deal on the Target website.

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“It’s the thought that counts” has become a phrase used to apologize for giving the wrong gift, rather than thoughtfully sitting down and having a game night with friends where everyone brings their favorite card or board game to the table. These interactions don’t need to be as heartfelt either; simply calling extended family on the holidays is a gesture worth remembering. While this disintegration of human relationships can’t be directly attributed to Black Friday’s capitalistic tendencies, the distraction certainly isn’t on track to solve the problem.

While these same consumers waste their time on the internet or at the store with little to no real human interaction, corporations are basking in their glory.

Some companies, like Best Buy this year, are so confident that they will still be making money this Black Friday that they aren’t even trying to compete with other retailers’ prices. The dilemma? Capitalism has played such a fundamental part in the commercialization of the holiday season that there is concern for losing money—it’s expected that businesses will leave December with their pockets full.

Part of this confidence comes from the integration of the internet and artificial intelligence (AI) into traditional Black Friday shopping. Whereas say, five years ago, one would have to physically walk into a store for their shopping, they can do the same work today by scrolling Facebook and clicking on their filter bubble-tailored advertisements. This new technology also gives companies the ability to predict demand, meaning that before the advertisements even reach newsstands, companies are already sure that you’ll be in their doors before the clock strikes midnight on Friday morning—especially since most Black Friday sales now begin on Thursday by 2 p.m at most big-name retailers.

This commercialization has an astonishing link to the numbers of individuals spending money on Black Friday, especially from Thanksgiving through the weekend. In 2017, sales across the nation hit their record of $7.9 billion, with an 18 percent rise in online sales specifically, and 40 percent of all purchases were made from mobile phones. Materialism stems from convenience, and with the sheer amount of retail stores with mobile apps and phone-friendly websites, it should come as no surprise that individuals are likely to buy holiday gifts at the dinner table.

“The simplicity of shopping truly gets the best of consumers, especially during the holidays when gifts are not only encouraged, but expected.”

Logan Potter, culture editor The simplicity of shopping truly gets the best of consumers, especially during the holidays when gifts are not only encouraged, but expected. I am guilty of such materialism; I have the Black Friday app downloaded to my iPhone, and I find myself scrolling Amazon’s deals week listings while having conversations with friends and family. This experience is the reason that I am more proactive than ever in recognizing the problems with the capitalistic retail industry, and becoming consciously aware that while the deals may be hard-tomiss, quality time with those I love will be harder to recreate.

OPINION

LET’S MAKE HIGHER EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE — NOT LESS

Excessive amounts of fees make getting a degree more difficult than it already is

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Jordan Erb | Editor-in-Chief | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

s a senior who will be graduating in May, I’ve spent the past year researching graduate schools I might want to go to, and the past two months applying to them. While I’m lucky and have funds saved up to pay for the trivial fees that come along with academia, they are still a burden on college students who have other things to worry about–like dinner.

The fees associated with both graduate and undergraduate school are some of the biggest and most unnecessary barriers to gaining a higher education, and help to widen the gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots.” Universities–Boise State included–need to work on limiting the amount of fees that push talented and eager students away.

As a junior, I took the Graduate Record Exam, a $205 test that basically just tells graduate schools I’m pretty good at memorizing big vocabulary words, and pretty bad at remembering the math I learned in high school. That heavy $205 does not include the $27 fee to actually send the test to schools, nor the money spent on materials to study with, without which I would have doubtlessly failed the exam.

To be fair, you get to send the score to five schools for free, but only if you register them on the date of your exam. For students who don’t quite know where they want to go yet, that’s virtually useless.

Next up came the actual application fees, which varied from $55 to $115, depending on the school. After hemorrhaging money on nine schools–at least eight of which I won’t be able to attend–I had to take a step back. Even though there was a long list of other universities I would like to take my shot at, I had diminished my savings funds to the point of nightly anxiety episodes over whether I’d choose a week of groceries or an application fee.

Oh, and before I can even think about enrolling in graduate school, there’s still one more Boise State-related fee to pay: the graduation application fee. After handing over tens of thousands of dollars and leaving with upwards of $20,000 in student loan debt, the $20-something fee to graduate is a pretty little middle finger from the university to the students who have already emptied their pockets to the system.

While the GRE and many schools offer fee vouchers, it’s not enough. Even with a voucher, the GRE would cost the test taker $102.50, and doesn’t help with the cost of sending exam scores to universities.

Many schools that do offer applicationfee waivers require students to prove financial need–which, obviously, is understandable. However, adding just one more layer of bureaucracy can make students throw in the towel on the higher education system.

After spending over $1,000 just trying to get into graduate school, one-fourth of my summer income was gone, and my faith in the system was on its way out as well. For students who are already about to spend ungodly sums of money on a degree, tacking on little fees here and there adds up and begs the question: Is it all worth it?

HAVE A COMMENT OR REBUTTAL? EMAIL US AT: OPINION@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

Fees create an unnecessary burden for students to overcome. Illustration by Wyatt Wurtenberger OCTOBER 16, 2018 NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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F E AT U R E

A LOOK INTO BOISE STATE’S GRADUATION GAP WHAT THE UNIVERSITY CAN LEARN FROM STUDENT GROUPS WITH THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATES JORDAN ERB | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | EDITOR@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

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s registration for spring 2019 crept up in early November, Gabe Rosenvall, the associate athletic director/student-athlete development for Boise State athletics, sat with a binder full of academic advising reports on his desk. The binder, filled to capacity with papers and little notes, detailed each of Boise State’s 110 football players’ academic courses to date.

Rosenvall’s job is to ensure that each of these players stays on track for the coming semester. He makes sure they finish 20 percent of their degree each year, which equates to about 13 credits per semester.

He analyzes their courses and electives, and sorts out scheduling conflicts with college advisors. And when minor bureaucratic barriers appear, such as holds popping up in Student Center, Rosenvall is there to direct students toward fixing the problem.

Rosenvall is the adviser for the football team, and each team at Boise State has a designated adviser like him who keeps players on track to maintaining a GPA and graduating on time. This academic support structure exists in addition to the other players on the team, the coaches, the players’ designated college academic adviser and athletic trainers, each of whom offers a level of support far different than what is provided to the average student.

These concentric circles of support are largely what separate student-athletes from most of the student body, a trend that is reflected in the average graduation rates of different types of students.

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For the cohort of freshmen entering Boise State in 2010, student-athletes had an average graduation rate of 79 percent.

Participants in the College Assistant Migrant Program (CAMP), a program that provides support for students who are migratory or seasonal farmworkers, or children of such workers, on average graduate at a rate of 75 percent. Students who didn’t require loans or grants to pay for college

approaches. The success of students in these groups comes from a mix of financial aid, first-year student outreach, concentric circles of academic and social support, and help maneuvering the university’s bureaucratic processes, such as holds, permission numbers, transfer credits, academic adjustments, or any of the other small things that serve as barriers between students and their academic success.

“There’s something about being connected and having people who can answer the routine, runof-the-mill questions... You can throw money at people, but without the support, it’s not helpful.”

Michelle Kelley, director of CAMP graduated at a rate of 47 percent. Finally, Pell Grant-receiving students graduated at an average rate of 32 percent.

While the university’s administration has acknowledged this gap and is working to raise graduation rates across the board, there was little success between the 2010 and 2011 cohorts. In fact, the gap between those who did and did not receive Pell Grants–a federal subsidy that helps students pay for college–widened from 15 to 23 percent.

Groups like CAMP and Boise State athletics have demonstrated that student success is based on a multitude of different

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What support looks like By the time registration is through, both Rosenvall and his students have a firm grasp on what the upcoming semester will look like. Holds have been removed, advisors and professors have been contacted and players are well on their way to a successful semester.

“I have gone through working with the folks in the Registrar’s Office and different folks on campus, so I know exactly what class (they’re) taking and why (they’re) taking it,” Rosenvall said.

In much the same way, CAMP assists students who are enrolled in their first year of undergraduate studies at Boise State.

On average, participants of CAMP have a 75 percent graduation rate, according to Michelle Kelley, the program’s director.

Although the program does offer financial help for students, it is only available for their freshman year. Despite this, their graduation rate remains high–higher than most on Boise State’s campus–leading Kelley to believe it’s less about money and more about retention tactics.

“There’s something about being connected and having people who can answer the routine, run-of-the-mill questions,” Kelley said. “…You can throw money at people, but without the support, it’s not helpful.”

With CAMP, students receive counseling and tutoring services, skills workshops that help with job or internship placement, and a bilingual orientation that helps students and their parents maneuver different hurdles, such as student center issues, accessing financial aid information and buying books.

Similarly to Boise State athletics, CAMP puts an emphasis on first-year outreach to involve students and keep them at the university. While about two-thirds of student-athletes receive scholarships–whether in full or in part–according to Rosenvall, a lot of success comes down to support and connections over money, especially early on.

“I don’t think we’re necessarily geniuses,” Rosenvall said. “I think we work

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pell grant receiving students

“Whether it’s widening or not, when you look at a 15-point difference, you want to try to respond to that and ask ‘what can we do to help support those students?’”

Andrew Finstuen, dean of the Honors College University action For Leslie Webb, the associate vice president for student affairs, and Andrew Finstuen, dean of the Honors College and the interim vice provost for undergraduate studies, first-generation college students are of particular interest. The two created the Student Success and Retention Committee in 2016, and although it’s intended to impact student success as a whole, they looked carefully at first-time, full-time, commuter students, who tend to be among the most vulnerable.

“X number of years ago we pushed for better retention and graduation,” Finstuen said. “Now, what can we do on those same measures — better retention and graduation — around stu- dents that face more challenges? Statistically, if you live off-campus and you’re an Idaho resident, you’re more likely to have financial challenges, whether that’s Pell-eligible or not. You’re more likely to not retain at the university. That’s the group we want to focus on.”

According to both Webb and Finstuen, this group constitutes a broad population that overlaps with both Pell-eligible and underserved populations. That group is likely to cover some of the Pell-eligible students who fall into a group that is now 23 percentage points beneath Boise State’s average graduation rate.

“Whether it’s widening or not,” Finstuen said, “when you look at a 15-point difference, you want to try to respond to that and ask ‘what can we do to help support those students?’”

In November, the committee came back with four areas of development that the university can improve upon to increase student retention and success.

The four areas include mitigating bureaucratic barriers to success,

students who didn’t require loans or grants

college assistant migrant program

pushing for student registration, creating an alert system in the classroom for students who are falling behind, and finally, developing an overall sense of mattering and belonging. They’ll need approval from the provost before they can start implementing the recommendations, but they hope to get started by the end of the month.

According to Finstuen, bureaucratic barriers can be any number of small things that put one more hurdle between students and their academic success, including holds, permission numbers and credit transfers. These barriers are often financial, but they can also simply be time-consuming and inconvenient, and without a support system to help students navigate them, they can be a deterrent to continuing at the university.

“It just becomes one more thing that’s the final straw, like, I’m done with this for a little while,” said Luke Jones, director for Housing and Residence Life and a member of the committee. “I’ll come back when I have more time and resources.

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student athletes

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really hard and we’ve created, over time, a culture here of expectations. Our athletic training staff does an excellent job of engaging with students and helping them feel connected to Boise State and supporting them. We have tremendous coaches who bring in good students who care about doing things the right way, and then we have systems of support in place that can help do that.”

For first-year student-athletes, regular–if not weekly–meetings with academic advisors are mandatory. They look at the weeks ahead and plan around game trips.

They make sure they know what homework to bring on the plane, and advisers like Rosenvall help set them up with tutors or learning assistants if need be. They are coached on what their resources are, and also benefit from the study hours designated to each sport.

This, according to Rosenvall, is the obvious advantage student-athletes have over the rest of Boise State’s student groups.

The same goes for Kelley, who thinks there is a model set by CAMP that could be learned from.

“We’ve got a pretty big institution, and it’s easy for people to get lost. I know the institution is concerned about first-gen student completion,” Kelley said. “And I think ‘OK, what could they learn from what we do?’ I don’t know if this is something that could be implemented on a larger scale or make things more available to students, but I think there’s value in seeing what we’re accomplishing.”

GRADUATION RATES OF DIFFERENT CAMPUS GROUPS (ENTERING IN 2010 AND GRADUATING BY 2016)

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or other support staff,” Finstuen said.

This would allow students to stay on track with their courses and perhaps even build some sort of relationship with their professors, which is a key component to the final recommendation. To take a play out of athletics’ book, they hope to boost students’ sense of mattering and belonging–although, they admit, those terms are a bit vague.

“Those are just words,” Jones said. “What does it mean to matter and belong? At the heart of it is that you find people who share your values and your goals. You find like-minded people, students or others. You believe that there are people who are sharing in your success.

There are people who are rooting for you, and that there are people who depend you on at the institution.”

Finstuen agreed, saying he’s not sure that he, or anyone, really, has the answers to the question of mattering and belonging.

The committee hopes, however, that by helping students create meaningful relationships to the university, along with the other three goals, they’ll help improve retention and graduation rates.

“It’s not just about the rates or the numbers,” Webb said. “There is a large level of humanity behind this, and ignoring that is a problem. We’re not ignoring it.

We’re really trying to understand who we are talking about and to get to know them in an intentional and meaningful way.”

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I think it disproportionately affects the students who lack the time and resources to figure it out.”

This ties into the next recommendation, which is to figure out ways to reach out to students who are eligible to enroll but haven’t yet. Finstuen and Webb hope to implement a system that will allow them to call students who haven’t yet enrolled and ask what’s holding them back.

Oftentimes, finances are a factor that keep students from enrolling. While the university doesn’t have the ability to offer money to every student who is kept from enrolling due to financial hardship, it does have certain emergency funds that can be implemented in some cases. Beyond that, though, the committee would just like to see some sort of outreach program that can help mitigate the issues that keep students from enrolling.

Next, they want to ensure they’re catching students when it matters–at the beginning. They are looking into a way to track students’ progress at the beginning of the semester, and make sure their grades are on track to pass their classes. Similar to Boise State athletics and CAMP, this would be a collaborative process amongst professors, advisers and administration.

“The most concrete solution is an early-alert system, where by week four there’s been a substantial enough assignment that a faculty member can gauge where a student is in terms of progress, and that can be automatically reported to advising

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TRAVELING TO BOISE STATE AND BACK The pros and cons of being a commuter student Ben Harris | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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iving on campus can provide a number of advantages for students, such as campus walkability, access to professors and being part of the student community. Makaela Bournazian, senior health studies major and president of the Residential Housing Association, said that the convenience of living on campus is something she appreciates about residential life at Boise State.

“Living on campus is super convenient; everything here is very walkable. I like it because it’s easy for me to get to class,” Bournazian said. “It’s just the convenience of everything being really accessible.”

Living next to the classroom can be about more than just convenience. Bournazian believes that living on campus and student involvement go hand-in-hand.

“If I didn’t live on campus, I definitely wouldn’t be involved to the extent that I am,” Bournazian said. “I’ve made a lot of connections through being on campus and being able to get to these things very quickly and very conveniently.”

Not everyone, however, is privy to the experience of living minutes away from club meetings and lab exams. While the quick and convenient aspect of residential life at Boise State is advantageous, it’s not something that every student has. Mackenzie Hevly, junior interdisciplinary studies major, lives about 30 minutes away from campus and finds it more difficult to stay involved at Boise State.

While there are plenty of academic opportunities that come with living on campus, it can be quite a financial burden for those already paying tuition. Residential housing costs students thousands of dollars each year, and this is the main reason that Hevly decided to start living off campus.

“Living off campus is just cheaper than what you can get on campus,” Hevly said.

“So that is the main factor. If money wasn’t an issue, I would live on campus.”

One of the more frustrating problems for Hevly is parking on campus. Unlike

those with housing through the university, commuter students aren’t presented with overnight options or flexible lots.

“I know a lot of students (that say) when they come to park on campus, (they) can’t find any spots in their designated areas,” Hevly said. “I think it’s extravagant to have it be three to four hundred dollars to park in a parking garage when I already paid $7,000 in tuition.”

Parking on campus is a frustration for many students, and Hevly isn’t alone in her frustrations on the matter. Samuel Patterson, director of transportation, parking and safety systems, understands the financial process and wants to provide students with a wide variety of options.

“It’s unrealistic to think that we can have a parking spot for every student on campus,” Patterson said. “We will continue to push for a new parking garage, expand our shuttle services and push affordable or free parking options like the Student Satellite Zone or Student Evening Permit options.”

While the Student Satellite Zones are free for any students, their distance from university “hot spots” makes them less desirable for commuting students after a long drive. According to Patterson, the university is constantly trying to find ways to make getting to and finding somewhere to park on campus easier for commuter students.

“Those that live less than a mile from campus are still driving with campus parking permits,” Patterson said. “We need more space for commuters driving from Meridian and Nampa and will continue to be creative going forward.”

As Boise continues to grow, so does the university. Patterson said that he’s impressed by students that find alternative ways to get to campus.

“We are still a very car centric community, but as Boise State grows and the City of Boise grows, we will be similar to other large cities and may need to evaluate different transportation options from home to university,” Patterson said.

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“LAST WALK” DELIVERS HOPE

Boise State film club works on their new short film David Collie | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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aking a movie is no small task and even with a Hollywood-sized budget, making that movie well isn’t guaranteed. Despite the obstacles, Boise State film club, Dead 8 Productions, isn’t afraid of the challenge.

The club has been working on the short film “Last Walk” since September.

One student involved is junior media arts production major Patrick Kaufmann. He explained the short film is about two sisters in a post-apocalyptic world. After one of the sisters is bitten by an infected person, she asks her sister to take her on her last walk while she is still herself.

Kaufmann has made a number of contributions to the film. Aside from his work with the camera, editing and sound, Kaufmann used resources found around his home, particularly his garage, as a source for many of the props used in the production. Though he has provided much to the film, the experience has given him many things to take away, as well.

“It’s been eye-opening,” Kaufmann said.

“It’s awesome working with a really talented group of people. The skills I’m learning in (my) classes, being able to put those to work here… is actually a lot of fun. It’s really helpful.”

The experience has changed Kaufmann’s perspective of film and the work that goes into creating one, giving him a new respect for even poorly-reviewed movies. Ideally for writer and director Caitlyn Nelson, however, this film will not fall on that list.

Once a biology major, Nelson explained that the path didn’t quite resonate with her once she began taking classes—it just didn’t quite click, as she described it. Now majoring in film and television, Nelson found her true passion. She also remains optimistic that the film will serve as an inspiration for others to follow their dreams as well.

“One of the things I want people to take away from it is, whatever you want to

do, whatever your passion may be, if you changed your mind a thousand times, go for what you really want to do,” Nelson said.

This film will be Nelson’s first time directing, an experience she has learned much from. She explained that one of the challenges she faced personally was learning her role as a director.

Nelson, however, wasn’t the only one who had a role to learn. Freshman theater arts major Grace Ward will be acting in the film, a stark contrast with her previous experience in musical theater.

“This on-screen process of finding someone who’s subtle and doesn’t sing and dance to solve their problem has caused me a lot of anxiety,” Ward said. “That’s been my biggest challenge.”

She explained that Nelson has been a big help throughout the filming process, and she has enjoyed working with other women on the project.

“I hope everyone who watches this film can really see the girl-gang mentality,” Ward said. “There’s two girls on screen, and there’s a woman directing behind the camera. That’s not the point of the film, but that’s been really powerful for me, to see women helping other women become powerful artists. It’s really, really wonderful.”

Ward said that, despite the darkness of the story, she hopes that there is an element of light present on screen. Nelson echoed this wish, and said that she hopes a positive message emerges from the difficult situations seen in the film.

“That’s what I want people to take away, that there’s always hope at the end of the tunnel,” Nelson said.

The short film is planned to be released on the Dead 8 Productions YouTube channel sometime in December. The production of the film has sought to give valuable experience to all the students involved, and in turn, provide something valuable to those who watch it as well.

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BRONCOS TAKE ON THE RULE OF THIRDS

How up-and-coming student photographers navigate an oversaturated field Taylyn Cogswell | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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oise has a massive community of photographers and digital freelancers, and it is of the smaller metropolitan cities across the nation. The closed Facebook group, Boise Photography and Model Community, contains a whopping 2,500 members seeking to make a profession off of their endeavors.

This steady oversaturation permeates the local digital market, making it increasingly difficult for some to break into the field without a developed and unique business model to bring traffic, and most importantly, income to their businesses.

Despite this difficulty, a handful of Boise State students have taken advantage of the expanding digital industry and have started up their own media businesses alongside their academic studies by becoming freelancers in the field. These students are actively building their clientele and honing their personal brand; each with different sets of skills and intellectual backgrounds, they have made themselves stand out amongst a sea of photographers, offering services that are affordable, personal and provide incredible attention to detail despite juggling a small business alongside the duties of school.

SS Photography & Design by Sadie Shirts Sadie Shirts, a senior computer science major, started her photography journey seven years ago in Weiser, Idaho, teaching herself the basics of Photoshop before buying her first professional DSLR camera.

She has since created a massive body of work under the brand name SS Photography and Design and built a steady clientele that has her booked for sometimes more than five shoots in a weekend that range anywhere from senior portrait photography, couples sessions or full eight-hour wedding coverage.

Shirts described her portrait photographs as “heirloom pieces” that will be passed down through generations in her

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clients’ families. She noted that her ability to make her clients laugh and feel comfortable in front of the camera has attracted a broad array of clientele who otherwise are less confident around a camera. Individuals booking with SS Photography rely on her laid-back approach as a crutch to achieving the timeless, professional portraits they desire.

Shirts plans to make a living off of her digital endeavors past her graduation in the spring of 2019 and, in addition to her own freelance business, has taken on a variety of other projects that require an application of knowledge from her academic discipline and help her maintain a more steady income.

“I run a marketing campaign for a music festival. And for a few clients, I am the back end of their websites and things like that. I also do logos, so I’m a little bit more diversified, but it is all still starving artists’ territory,” Shirts said.

Shirts described the necessity to keep up with a personal online presence in order to further her brand. Doing so helps her draw in business and maintain relevance among oversaturation in the digital photography market.

“You need to show up on social media every day and get on your (Instagram) story and show your face,” Shirts said. “Even though it’s really daunting, and I’m not someone that likes to be in the limelight, it is so much more than just taking the pictures and just running the forefront of your business; there’s a back end.”

Amethyst Images by Maddie Park Maddie Park, a sophomore graphic design major, began her business Amethyst Images a year ago and is already taking on several loyal clients. Between organizing photo shoots, Park’s design work has gained her a bit of notoriety as of late, scoring her a client with a local boutique opening up in downtown Boise. Park has taken on the responsibility of designing

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the business cards, logos, webpage and photographing the company’s products.

According to Park, her photography sessions are affordably priced, which has opened up her business to a much younger base of clients.

“I decided I wanted to make it affordable for everyone. Everyone deserves to have pictures,” Park said. “And I don’t know why people charge so much. It’s really something I love to do, so I don’t feel like it’s fair to charge people so much money for something that I want to do.”

Thompson began her business, Dixie Nyle Media, by taking pictures for various sororities on campus which led to a great deal of word-of-mouth marketing to friends of previous clients and other organizations seeking to hire her almost overnight.

“My biggest goal with every shoot is to leave my clients coming out of the session comfortable and keeping them relaxed the entire time. I love to incorporate jokes and ways to get clients to be themselves,” Thompson said. “Since I am a college student, I feel like I can relate to many problems or situations my clients are going through at the time. I often get feedback about how I was able to make each session fun and enjoyable, and I believe that’s what sets me apart from others.”

Dixie Nyle Media by Dixie Thompson Dixie Thompson, a junior media arts major with an emphasis in public relations, has gained a lot of attention on campus for her portrait photography work and professional drone footage.

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“THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB”

Loss of complexity makes film unlikely to stick with audiences David Collie | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Millenium book series, best known for “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” has recently received its fifth film adaptation, making it the second attempt to bring the series to an American audience.

This time, Hollywood has targeted the fourth novel in the series, “The Girl in the Spider’s Web.” Unfortunately, the film is a Hollywood-friendly dilution of the source material’s complexity that does a disservice to its characters.

The iconic protagonist—Lisbeth Salander—is a hacker and vigilante known for being someone who “hurts men who hurt women.” Unfortunately, much of this vigilantism is done by a Salander who, while compelling in her own way, is no match for her written counterpart. Viewers looking for the cold, calculated character of the books might be disappointed with the rash and comparatively vulnerable depiction the film presents.

While Salander has been softened for the big screen, she retains some complexity from her loner attitude and troubled past and still has a couple shining moments.

The same cannot be said for much of the watered-down cast, however. While including all of the characters and depth found in the 529-page novel would likely be impossible, the characters who do make it onto the screen are largely shallow.

A prime example of this simplification can be seen in August Balder. The Balder in the book is a severely autistic young boy who does not speak but has savant abilities in drawing and math. This ability paired with an abusive parental figure strongly mirror Salander’s troubled past and creates a strong affinity between two. This unique relationship pulls two withdrawn characters from their shells in a touching way.

The movie toys with this relationship, but the film version of Balder faced no abuse, and viewers unfamiliar with the book might see nothing more than a moderately shy genius. A bond was clear

between the two, but the lack of shared struggles paired with the already softened Salander resulted in a dynamic far less moving than the one seen within the novel’s pages.

The plot was not spared in this over-simplification of the source material, either.

The film offers action cliches and tropes in place of the novel’s complex, thriller-based suspense. Much of this action, however, was quite enjoyable, albeit occasionally far-fetched. In the case of the climax, the action-packed sequence of the film greatly surpassed the events in the book, in which the pivotal moments were recounted by an old man who witnessed the final action.

By the film’s conclusion, those looking for the deep mystery and complex character drama found in the book will likely be disappointed. Perhaps the most underwhelming change in this regard would be the way the movie shied away from some of the larger themes tackled in the book.

For example, instead of the ethical exploration of government power and technology found in the book, the movie offers a cliched, nuclear-weapon-controlling software. The book also offers a more critical lens of the National Security Agency in particular, providing some thought-provoking social commentary on a compelling, real-world issue. Though the movie does not sing the praises of the organization, it is absent of any notable critique.

The film, although a strong departure from its written counterpart, definitely has its enjoyable moments. If it were judged simply by its own merits, it would probably be seen as an OK action-movie with a couple memorable scenes. The film does have the advantage of only taking two hours, but it is simply another casualty on the list of book-to-film adaptations. It seems like this is one spider’s web that fans of the novel and casual moviegoers might want to avoid getting tangled up in.

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JUST A THOUGHT Hollywood has us wrapped around its finger at its very worst Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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t’s November 2018, the beginning of the famed Hollywood Awards Season, and we as viewers, myself included, are still funneling our time, attention and money (shamelessly, in fact) into a system of elitism. While we’re sitting casually on our couches watching reruns of “The Bachelor,” cheering for that final rose ceremony, Scarlett Johansson is on the shortlist for the lead in the “Crazy Rich Asians” sequel on a storyboard in some executive’s basement after her famously whitewashed work in “Ghost in the Shell,” and we are to blame. Why? We stopped remembering Hollywood’s faults.

For some reason, after #OscarsSoWhite came and went three years ago, filmgoers and awards gurus assumed the problem had passed the film industry by for good.

Awards season in Hollywood became much more inclusive; “Moonlight” won Best Picture in 2015, and Jordan Peele was nominated for Best Director—that’s where diversity begins and ends in entertainment, right?

Wrong. No matter how hard we try to hold the industry accountable, audiences

are still purchasing tickets to the films we have the biggest issues with, like “Three Billboards” and “Green Book.” Socially critical movie viewing is still ratings and box office numbers—executives couldn’t care less about the “why” behind your movie-going.

Sure, awards season is an incredible time to watch in film; the “best-of-the-best,” as determined by often bribed, mostly old Academy members, flash across our screens in all of their shining, overpriced Oscar de la Renta glory. I, for one, am a sucker (both monetarily and emotionally) between the months of November and February. I print out all the officially unofficial ballots, I make my predictions and I pride myself for an entire calendar year when I’m right. But I also recognize that success isn’t the tell-all, be-all moment of importance in this block of time.

Next time you’re making bets for Best Picture or hosting a red carpet party in your home, consider the consequences of the elitism that you’re taking from Los Angeles into your own house, wherever that may be. Recognize that minority groups are still struggling to be recognized on the big screen and the Academy’s stage, while you’re prancing down your own. Remember that films featuring racist portrayals are still being produced at an alarming rate (looking at you, “Peppermint”), and we’re still paying the fees to stream them on our television screens. This year, take a step back and celebrate the success of someone who deserves it; no, this isn’t you or me, no matter how accurate our predictions are. Take on #OscarsSoWhite, and turn your focus to do something right—just a thought.

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SPORTS & REC

BOISE STATE FRESHMAN FINDS FUN, PURPOSE WITHIN OVERWATCH TEAM

Sean Gilbert hopes to utilize team experience to build towards his future career Nathan Cook | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ntering a practice session of Boise State’s Overwatch team on a Monday doesn’t look that much different from the start of any other sport’s practices.

Players review previous games, comment on plays and discuss with head coach Chris Haskell over strategies and areas for improvement. After a debriefing, Haskell sends the team to work on scrimmages against other teams, coaching his players along the way.

Freshman computer science major Sean Gilbert (“CBMX”) got plugged into collegiate Overwatch competition in his first semester. He quickly took on the tank role by preference, playing as D.Va and Zarya, characters from the game.

“Over the course of running on 12 weeks, I feel like I’ve become more outgoing and communicative. I find myself having more fun playing with other people,” Gilbert said. “I used to be a single-player person but team play makes the gameplay infinitely more fun when you’re in an organized environment.”

Throughout his childhood, Gilbert was always surrounded by video games.

At home, he played games like “Super Smash Bros.” against his siblings as well as on his own. The first console he owned was the Nintendo DS. Beforehand, his father worked at an arcade when he was a teenager, also sharing a love for gaming and encouraging it within the family.

Gilbert enjoys working with code and studies computer science to fulfill his passion for creating things to help people.

He views his education at Boise State as fulfilling the gap between this desire and his ability to act upon that. He understands how being able to learn anything and working with different personalities can build up his skills.

“I want to build software that helps people do things easier and build a more positive experience. With this new age of social media, there’s negative experiences

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Sean Gilbert is a freshman on the Boise State varsity eSports team.

Nathan Cook | The Arbiter associated with being online,” Gilbert said.

“I want to be an arbiter for positive change, especially in the user experience.”

Within the team, Gilbert sees himself as “glue,” seeking to bring people together and maintain a positive team morale. On top of that, he also plays multiple roles during matches, substituting not only in the quarterback role but also any other role needed at a given time. “(Sean) is a much better communicator than he was at the beginning,” Haskell said.

“He recognizes he’s gotta call shots, which means slightly less than half the time he’ll be wrong. And that’s OK. You have to be willing to authoritatively make a call that doesn’t work out. He’s much better in the beginning (of each game) at making those kinds of calls.”

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Haskell provides guidance to his players, instilling a positive team ethic and learning opportunities to benefit them as students and citizens. He noted that, like in other sports, the eSports team is held to NCAA guidelines. Players are required to maintain good grades and good behavior on campus as well as practice on a team for no more than 20 hours per week.

“We’re regular students too,” Gilbert said.

“There’s a stereotype that people who play games must play games all the time. But we have other responsibilities to juggle. The majority of us have jobs, family obligations; all that as well.”

Outside of practice and competitive events, Gilbert and fellow players share memes on a Discord server as well as engage in physical activities like frisbee to build

up their team bonding. For instance, they plan on going to an escape room in the near future, which Gilbert anticipates to be hilarious and fun.

Senior gaming, interactive media and mobile (GIMM) major Madisyn Benge (“N3rdybird”) also plays as a tank on the blue team, specializing in D.Va’s build. She alternates with Gilbert, determined by maps and strategies needed to optimize team composition. When an aggressive dive tank play style is needed, Benge swaps in and enters the field.

“What will determine your skill level and ability to perform in the game is how well you can cooperate and communicate with your team,” Benge said. “Our ability comes from how much time we spend together. It grows not only our relationship as friends but also as a team.”

Once Gilbert, Benge and their teammates have prepared in their weekly practices, they take the stage at the eSports Arena on the second floor of Albertsons Library. They bring their skills and strategies into matches against other colleges, competing through the Tespa Collegiate Series.

“Once you’re in that jersey on stage, getting broadcasted out to Twitch and people are watching you live, it really legitimizes you,” Gilbert said. “Compare that to sitting on a couch playing games. When you’re out there on stage, it’s something magical.”

As for progressing his eSports career, Gilbert is open to continue playing on the team. But he understands the possibility of his class schedule keeping him from being fully committed throughout the rest of college. Moreover, he is willing to channel his current experience into a career in software development, seeing this as an opportunity in the wake of eSports’ rise in popularity.

“Hopefully I’m remembered as a good D.Va and Zarya player,” Gilbert said. “I just want to be remembered fondly.”

SPORTS & REC

ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Broncos’ victory leads to the Mountain West Championship

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Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Boise State Broncos played at home on Saturday, Nov. 24 in front of a packed crowd of 35,960 fans when they took on the Utah State Aggies in their last regular season game. The Broncos defeated the Aggies 33-24; with the win they clinch the Mountain division and a spot in the 2018 Mountain West Championship game.

“It was awesome. I thought the crowd was unbelievable,” said senior quarterback Brett Rypien. “It wasn’t always easy; we had to battle for every point we got.”

The Broncos’ offense looked sluggish at the start of the first quarter, going threeand-out on their first two drives, while the Aggies’ offense was able to score on their first drive. The Broncos’ offense was able to correct their problems quickly. Junior running back Alexander Mattison earned the Broncos’ first touchdown of the half with a two-yard rush up the middle. Mattison finished the half with 13 attempts for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

Rypien was able to put up good numbers against the Aggies’ defense; he went into the half with 200 yards and completed passes to five different receivers.

The Broncos’ defense had better luck stopping the run, holding the Aggies to 49 total rush yards. Aggies’ quarterback Jordan Love was able to throw for 150 yards and two touchdowns, but the Broncos’ sophomore linebacker Kekaula Kaniho picked off Love, leading to the Broncos’ first score.

The Broncos went into the half leading 17-14.

Rypien came out firing in the second half, gaining more yards on the night.

Rypien’s longest play of the half came from a 44-yard completion to senior AJ Richardson. Rypien was hit hard in the fourth quarter, almost knocking him out of the game, but he would cap the same drive off with a touchdown pass to redshirt junior Garrett Collingham.

Rypien ended the game with 310 yards

and one touchdown. Rypien has earned himself another Mountain West record with the most 300-yard passing games with 21.

Mattison broke the century mark once again, finishing the game with 200 yards and three touchdowns.

“I didnt even realize how many carries I had in the game. It doesn’t matter to me,” Mattison said. “Give me 50 and I’ll take it with a full head of steam and all my heart... make sure the team is successful at the end of the day.”

The Broncos’ defense played tough in the second half but still had some trouble stopping the Aggies’ dynamic offense.

The Aggies’ Gerold Bright had an 83-yard touchdown reception to bring the game within two points. Love finished the game with 348 yards and three touchdowns.

The Broncos improve to 10-2 on the season and will once again face the Fresno State Bulldogs in the Mountain West Championship game. The game will take place Dec. 1 at Albertsons Stadium.

“We beat (Fresno) on The Blue last time, and they’re going to give it everything they’ve got,” said redshirt junior Curtis Weaver.

Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

MOUNTAIN

Boise State (10-2) The Broncos finish the season atop the Mountain division after running past the formerly No. 21 Utah State Aggies in a 33-24 victory. With the win, the Broncos earn themselves a spot in the Mountain West Championship game. The Broncos also moved up to No. 19 in the AP top 25 poll.

Utah State (10-2) Throughout the entire season, the Aggies had one of the highest scoring offenses in the country, but they just couldn’t get it done in Albertsons Stadium. The Aggies were defeated by the Broncos 24-33; the Broncos defense and crowd proved to be too much for the Aggies.

Wyoming (6-6) The Cowboys took down the New Mexico State Lobos 31-3. The Cowboys have been hot and cold all season, but have won their last four games in a dominant fashion. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, that wasn’t good enough; better luck next year.

Air Force (5-7) The Falcons crushed the Colorado State Rams 27-19. The Falcons’ fullback Cole Fagan made the win possible behind his 34 carries for 260 yards and one touchdown.

Colorado State (3-9) The Rams fell to the Falcons in a 19-27 loss. The Rams’ defense couldn’t stop the run; that’s not how you win a game.

New Mexico (3-9) The Lobos are really good at losing, and when they lose, they lose bad. They were toppled by the Cowboys 3-31; nice try Lobos.

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WEST

Fresno State (10-2) The Bulldogs clinch the West division and a spot in the title game with a 31-13 win over the Spartans. The Bulldogs’ quarterback Marcus McMaryion tore apart the Bulldogs’ defense, throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

Hawaii (8-5) The Rainbow Warriors went into overtime to beat the Aztecs 31-30.

Quarterback Cole McDonald put up huge numbers against the Aztecs’ defense, throwing for 452 yards and three touchdowns.

Nevada (7-5) The Wolf Pack was dominated by the Rebels 29-34. The Rebels’ offense proved to be too much for the Wolf Pack’s defense when they scored three touchdowns in the second quarter. But the Wolf Pack only goes down one spot because they have consistently done better than the rest in the West.

San Diego State (7-5) The Aztecs showed a lot of promise at the start of the season, but they ended up losing their final three games. They lost 30-31 at home to the Rainbow Warriors in overtime.

UNLV (4-8) The Rebels routed the Wolf Pack 34-29.

The Rebels had a fantastic game on offense, but this was only their second conference win, so they remain at fifth in the rankings.

San Jose State (1-11) Congratulations Spartans, you had an 11game loss season. That’s fantastic, and to top it all off, the Spartans were crushed by the Bulldogs 13-31. There’s always next season.

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THE ARBITER STAFF PREDICTIONS

The Mountain West title game is being held in Albertsons Stadium for the second year in a row on Saturday, Dec. 1. The Broncos will once again face the Fresno State Bulldogs in the championship game. The Broncos took down the Bulldogs 24-17 when they were called underdogs in their own stadium, and the Bulldogs were knocked out of the rankings for the remainder of the regular season. The Broncos have the home field advantage; they will win this game.

Final Score 31- 24

NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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SPORTS & REC

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE BRONCO FOOTBALL TEAM Equipment managers play a crucial role in the Bronco football organization

Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

W

hen the Bronco football team arrives at their designated stadium, everything is ready to go; nothing is required from the team except for warm-ups. This is largely due to the 15 student equipment managers that help make all the gameday magic happen.

The Broncos’ equipment managers’ typical week consists of an extensive amount of work that makes everything fall into place for the Bronco football team. They’re out at every practice doing what is needed.

“We help set up the practice, run the practice and help the coaches do the drills how they want them to be done,” said senior literature major George Evans. “For me, practice is the most fulfilling part of the job. It’s when we’re doing a lot of the running around. You might be catching footballs or hitting people with the pads; it’s an interactive kind of thing.”

Not all of the equipment managers are on the field doing drills with the athletes– some are at the facility before practice even starts and stay after practice is over to get their job done.

“A typical week for me starts off with laundry in the morning until we have a staff meeting at 10:30 a.m. After the meeting I usually have more laundry to do. It’s never-ending some days,” said 2017 communication graduate Dustin Kelley. “My job is to make sure that all of the equipment managers are on the same page and know exactly what they are doing for practice; make sure that they are a few steps ahead of the coaches.”

The position attracts people for different reasons. Several of the managers are former high school football athletes that just wanted to continue doing something for the sport they love.

“I knew I wouldn’t be good enough to play, but I really wanted to be involved in football and athletics at a really high level,” Evans said.

Bronco game days are a whole different

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NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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The Boise State Broncos equipment managers pose for a photo on The Blue.

Photo courtesy of George Evans

“Behind the scenes is fun. A good day for us is when we aren’t seen at all. It’s a really fast-paced atmosphere, and we are always looking to the next week while taking football season one day at a time.”

Will Black, junior general business major

ARBITERONLINE.COM

experience for the equipment managers.

Many have their hands full the entire game. Some can be assigned to hold signs, record plays and fix equipment. Other equipment managers don’t have to do anything besides watch the game.

“Behind the scenes is fun. A good day for us is when we aren’t seen at all. It’s a really fast-paced atmosphere, and we are always looking to the next week while taking football season one day at a time,” said junior general business major Will Black.

Even the away games require equipment managers. The football team flies about eight managers out every game. The managers’ workload isn’t lighter when they travel; they transfer equipment from the Broncos facility to the plane, then to the other facility. The managers even load up the Bronco-themed semi-trucks.

“One thing that isn’t too obvious is we become a big family. So just getting to go

somewhere for two or three days and hang out with everyone seems stressful but it’s a really cool bonding moment; it’s really nice,” Evans said.

The equipment managers see everything that happens behind the scenes. After all, they are around the team five to six days a week.

However, working behind the scenes doesn’t necessarily mean the managers are constantly informed about what is going on in the organization.

“I have been doing this job for eight seasons now so everything has become routine. The craziest thing I can think of would have to be when Coach Pete left,” Kelley said. “I didn’t know about anything until the ESPN app on my phone informed me that he was leaving.”

The work seems to be worth it for many of the equipment managers. They are appreciative of the unique experience they are getting by working for the football team.

“When you tune into ESPN, you see The Blue or whatever team it is. Anytime

“... It makes you appreciate that whenever you see something, you know that’s a job someone had.”

George Evans, senior literature major you’re seeing a big event like that, the amount of service that goes behind to help set it up is definitely not something I thought about in the past,” Evans said.

“It makes you appreciate that whenever you see something, you know that’s a job someone had.”

OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.

SAGITTARIUS, you had a successful

break for Thanksgiving, but you might have let your generosity get the best of you over Black Friday weekend. We know how tempting those massive deals can be, so start a budget to ensure that you can have a carefree few weeks off, without financial stress.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 - DEC 22

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 20

Capricorn, the end of the semester is going to be difficult if you continue to expect the least promising scenario. Deep breaths, bath bombs and adequate amounts of sleep will keep you going, so make sure to take advantage of all three!

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

Aquarius, use some of that humanitarian attitude to give back after the semester ends. Take a few weeks to volunteer for a local organization or donate a little cash in a family member’s name— they’ll love the gesture as a gift!

CANCER

JUN 21 - JULY 23 Cancer, you’re a loyal friend, so it’s no surprise you want everyone to have the best presents. Focus on ending the semester first; it’s the thought that counts this season, so offer to stay in and have a day with them if you can’t afford material gifts.

PISCES

FEB 18 - MARCH 20

Pisces, your never-ending desire to be somewhere other than the moment might be leading you to want to skip right to holiday break. Use your fiery instincts to do what’s best and push through academically this semester, and take some time off.

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 23

Leo, creativity is practically your middle name, so gift-giving has never been much of a feat for you.

Because it’s simple and quick, put your efforts into getting in any late work and extra credit—treat yourself to a great GPA for the holidays!

ARIES

MARCH 20 - APR 20

Aries, great job focusing on yourself this Thanksgiving — self-care is important! Keep the trend going in the coming weeks, but don’t let your confidence in your mental health distance you from the people you love the most. Even stable people need companionship!.

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEP 23

Virgo, try not to overanalyze your abilities during this pivotal time of the semester. Trust your instincts, eat those Thanksgiving leftovers and stay confident in those final grades. If you’ve had nothing to worry about before, there’s no concern for now!

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 21

Taurus, your practicality stopped you from spending too much money last week, but those Cyber Week deals are coming. Stay responsible and reserved, and focus on finishing the semester strong (and with money in the bank)!

LIBRA

SEP 23 - OCT 22

Libra, social situations are where you thrive, so the holidays are a breeze for you. Pitying yourself, however, is where your weakness lies. If you end up with a less-than-desirable grade for a course you care about, brush it off. Next semester awaits!

GEMINI

SCORPIO OCT

MAY 21 - JUN 21 Gemini, your curiosity got you out of the house last week, which means this week will be on the drowsy side of things. Don’t deprive yourself of the sleep you need, especially with finals creeping up on you so quickly.

Scorpio, this week, open up to those you trust the most. You’re a resourceful person, which means you’ll find a way to voice your feelings without oversharing during your holiday break.

NE DEADLI ED! D EXTEN NOVEMBER 27, 2018

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