December 4, 2018
Vol. 31 Issue 16
IN D EP EN D E NT
VISIT US ONLINE: arbiteronline.com @arbiteronline
@arbiteronline @boisestatearbiter
ST U D E NT
V O I CE
NEWS
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Sawtooth Hall flood updates
O F
B O I SE
STAT E
S I N C E
CULTURE
15
12 Bars of Christmas Bar Crawl
1 9 3 3
SPORTS & REC
18
New club supports women’s sports
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.
Boise saw its first snow of the season on Sunday, Dec. 2.
Taylor Humby | The Arbiter
ON THE COVER:
Some languages, such as Native American Navajo and the Basque Euskara, are in danger of getting lost in the age of globalization. Cover design by Maddie Ceglecki.
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, flex schedules, discounted meals & free t-shirts
$9.00 or more per hour Cooks & Carhops
(Carhops can earn tips) Start pay based on experience To apply: Text APPLY4687 to 876-642
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SCOREBOARD
EVENTS BOISE STATE TREE LIGHTING quad
wed december 5, 5 pm Holiday music, hot chocolate, reindeer, Buster Bronco and the Meistersingers will be on the Quad to celebrate the annual tree lighting.
WEIHNACHSTMARKT
powderhaus brewing company sat december 8, 12 pm
This traditional German Christmas market will be set up Bazaar-style with several local vendors selling crafts.
LATE NIGHT BREAKFAST boise river cafe sun december 9, 9 pm
Kick off finals week with this year’s Late Night Breakfast. Free pancakes, eggs and bacon are available to students with a valid ID.
WINTER COMMENCEMENT
taco bell arena
sat december 15, 10 am Boise State’s 103rd commencement ceremony will recognize summer and fall graduates.
TRACK and FIELD Sharon Colyear-Danville BU Season Opener Women’s 5000m Dec. 1 OSTRANDER 4TH PLACE 15:16.83
VENTERS 14TH PLACE 15:53.47
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Dec. 1 BSU 71 - WSU 95
MEN’S BASKETBALL Dec. 1 BSU 67 - GCU 69
FOOTBALL Dec. 1 BSU 16 - FRESNO 19
NEWS
SAWTOOTH HALL AND HONORS COLLEGE FLOOD LEAVES STUDENTS DISPLACED
124 students moved to other halls on campus after the flood Chloe Baul | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ne hundred and twenty-four students were relocated from Sawtooth Hall and the Honors College after a breached valve inside an interior wall started leaking, resulting in a flood that rushed through the halls on Saturday, Nov. 24. Students were relocated to various available spaces across campus, including Towers, University Suites and Chaffee, according to associate vice president for student affairs Jeremiah Shinn. “We are working with our partners at Greystar, formerly EdR, which owns and maintains the facility, to explore building remediation and restoration timelines,” Shinn said. “We have dedicated campus shuttles to assist students with transporting belongings to their new rooms, and provided boxes, tape and bags to assist
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students with the move.” Additionally, students affected by the flood were given access to scheduled movers and moving trucks to provide additional moving assistance, according to Shinn. Staff from across campus were on site to assist students as they relocated. The university has also coordinated with a laundry company to wash wet clothing and deliver them to their new rooms. Freshman nursing major Carolyn Merrick previously lived on the first floor of Sawtooth Hall and was relocated to University Suites when she returned from Thanksgiving break on Saturday. “I was still at home and I flew back the same day (of the flood). When I got to the front desk, they said ‘you have to pack up your new stuff and then go to your new room assignment,’” Merrick said. “It was
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frustrating at first; they just gave us boxes and wheel carts and I had to wheel all my stuff over there.” Repairs are moving quickly. By the time Merrick got to her room on the first floor, they had already ripped up all of the carpet and had fans running to dry up the water. On the third floor where the flooding started, the walls were being removed for replacement. Vice president for student affairs Leslie Webb sent out an email to all faculty and staff on campus stating that students affected by the flood may need additional accommodations during the move and additional flexibility in meeting course requirements. Craig Wack, property communications coordinator of Greystar, which owns and maintains Sawtooth Hall, said the com-
pany is doing a thorough investigation of the root cause of the pipe leak and why it keeps happening. “We’re working hard to find the source, the reason behind it and getting everything repaired. That’s our number one priority, and also trying to make these repairs with the students in mind,” Wack said. According to Wack, Greystar is hoping to have repairs completed by the start of the spring semester. “We’ve got workers scheduled to work through the holidays, and we’re trying to get as much done as we can, a lot of it just depends on the progress they make,” Wack said. “Over the last couple of days, progress has been good, so we hope that it continues and we can get everything resolved quickly.”
NEWS
BOISE STATE’S NURSING PROGRAM MORE SELECTIVE THAN EVER
With more applicants than ever, the program still has the same small number of spots available Taylor Rico-Pekerol | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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his year, Boise State’s nursing program had more applicants for the program this year than any other year in the past, with more than double the applicants than spots available for the program. With only 60 spots available to students, the process of applying and finding out whether a student was accepted or not can be stressful. According to Glenda Hill, the director of student services and academic advising for the College of Health Sciences, there are typically 120-150 applicants per cycle. Sixty of those students will be accepted to begin the program each semester, creating the program with 120 students each year. “As an exciting note, the School of Nursing accepted 64 students to begin in the spring 2019 semester. This increase was due to an innovative change in working with our clinical partners,” Hill wrote in an email. However, this year the applicants for the nursing program had to wait an extra week and a half to hear back compared to in the past years. Last year results were found out around Oct. 6 and this year no one found out until Oct. 22. Katherine Ferrell, a sophomore nursing major, was just accepted to the nursing program for the spring semester. “A lot of people were on edge because it was such a long time, and so many people have so much riding on this,” Ferrell said. “Waiting over a month and a half to hear is a really long time when in the past it has been three weeks. Everyone was just really confused why we were not hearing back.” The application for the spring semester nursing program is available for a short amount of time. For spring, the application time period is just 46 days. “Notification of acceptance status can vary slightly from one application cycle to another based on the number of applications submitted, administrative variables, etc.,” Hill wrote. During the process of applying, students
Katherine Ferrell, a sophomore nursing major, was just accepted to the nursing program. are encouraged to maintain a high GPA, but they need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at least and completion of required courses. Also, students are required to take the pre-admissions exam and demonstrate their ability to handle a large course load, according to Hill. “The overall application process is pretty easy. It is just a stressful process getting your grades up and getting it all put together to make sure you are not missing anything,” Ferrell said. The nursing program offers students advisors to help with the process, but it is not a mandatory service. Since it is not required it is strongly encouraged to take advantage of the help to make the process
as smooth as possible, according to Ferrell. Lauren Carroll, a senior in the nursing program, is graduating this spring after being accepted to the program in 2016. “The process was very nerve-wracking and stressful due to the pressure of having amazing grades and keeping a high GPA in the core classes. Applying into the program was pretty simple and very easy to find on the nursing school website,” Carroll said. Brooke Kelley, another senior nursing major, was accepted into the program in 2016 as well. “Being admitted was one of the most exciting moments because it was intimidating and hard work getting through pre-requisites and having the grades to be competitive to be accepted,” Kelley said.
Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter
After a student is accepted into the program, they have a roughly 20-page packet of items that need to be done within a certain time frame. Ferrell had to receive a drug test, get her blood drawn, get caught up on her vaccines, buy textbooks and buy her uniforms before the final deadline of Dec. 6. “Every semester, month (and) week is different, so it has been tough, wonderful, challenging and the biggest learning process I’ve been through. It has given me growing confidence in myself and my future potential to care for people of all walks of life during times when they will be unable to care for themselves,” Kelley said.
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NEWS
DRONE USE IN GEOSCIENCE RESEARCH
Boise State’s Department of Geosciences uses drones that aid in research projects Abigail Figueroa | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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rones are aerial devices that are used for surveillance purposes and for looking from above. At Boise State, various research projects, such as investigating erosion, snowpacks and vegetation in the Department of Geosciences use drones. Nicholas Ellet is a second-year master’s student who used the drone for his project involving post-fire erosions. Anna Roser is a first-year master’s student working on exploring remote sensing in sagebrush, and Joel Gongora is a Ph.D student who works on sampling data from snowpacks taken from drones. “After the Pioneer Fire, I studied a small, steep basin near Lowman, Idaho and figured out how much sediment was eroded during the first year, and what specific mechanisms were responsible,” Ellet said. Ellet used the DJI Phantom to take more than 800 overlapping images. Those images determine the elevation of all points, or topography, with great detail. “The benefits of using the drone for my research were that I could access very rugged topography from above, and I could process the overlapping photos into very detailed topography,” Ellet said. Roser’s research emphasizes on remote sensing understanding imaging and sensors ranging from satellites to drones overlooking landscapes, such as sagebrush. “Basically what I am trying to figure out is what the drones can help us measure in sagebrush communities,” Roser said. Roser explained that currently they are taking measurements by hand. Although, this method is problematic because of the slow progress and inaccurate due to few data points, including things like biomass above the ground of plants. “These are relevant because land managers need to know how much forage is available for cattle grazing or if this area burned, like how dense is the vegetation, (and) would it burn really quickly?” Roser said. Roser also worked with a group under the United States Department of Agriculture over the summer to look at vegetation fields. They collected data by hand and used the drone to look at those same spots. According to Roser, using the drone is
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surprisingly not complicated. “You can have an app on your phone, and you pre-program the flight,” Roser said. “Once you decide what grid pattern over the interested area you want the drone to fly, you press play and the drone does its job.” Gongora works with the Cryosphere
Geophysics and Remote Sensing (CryoGARS) group that investigates the cryosphere, or Earth’s water surface in solid form. “The purpose of it is pretty much how much water is up there. Other scientists use that information to model how much it is going to melt, what’s the rate of it and
Joel Gongora, a Ph.D student samples data from snowpacks taken from drones. Photo courtesy of Gongora.
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then where does it go,” Gongora said. Gongora specifically looks at snowpacks. He works in ways to optimize sampling strategies to sample efficiently and use the information to extrapolate to unmeasured locations. “I’m using the data and then applying machine learning (and) artificial intelligence algorithms to make the predictions for that. So I’m testing a few algorithms to see which is the most viable,” Gongora said. Gongora wants to leverage his data with other data being collected by NASA’s SnowEx campaign, a project involving aircrafts scanning over multiple states to understand the limitations of how well snow is measured. Drones carry various equipment to collect data. These tools include different cameras and sensors for different purposes. Thermal cameras are mounted to give temperatures of the snowpacks; other cameras are used to detect vegetation. The drone can also carry two multispectral cameras and a GoPro. “Thermal cameras provide the temperature profile so that we can see what conditions snowpacks will go, (and) the goal is to get a time series of this and to try understand how the snow is changing over time,” Gongora said. A problem with the drone involves its battery life. Josh Enterkine, another master’s student working on mapping vegetation, explained that a crash occurred due to the battery life drainage 10 feet off the ground. However, drones can be beneficial to research. They can go up to 14 miles per hour and about 150 feet above ground, covering lots of areas to do repetitive measurements more easily than if it were to be done by hand. “Instead of manually collecting that field data, we could show up and have a drone go take those pictures (and) save a lot of hiking,” Enterkine said.
NEWS
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PREPARING TO EXTEND TROOPS’ STAY ON THE BORDER 5,800 troops are stationed along the southern border of the United States David S. Cloud | Los Angeles Times (TNS)
5,800 troops now deployed in California, Arizona and Texas are scheduled to depart Dec. 15. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS)
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ASHINGTON — Pentagon officials are considering whether to keep U.S. troops along the southwest border an additional 45 days, potentially extending a controversial mission to assist the Border Patrol into next year, U.S. officials said. The 5,800 troops now deployed in California, Arizona and Texas are scheduled to depart Dec. 15. But the Department of Homeland Security, parent agency of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has opened discussions with the Pentagon about delaying their departure until late January, according to an official who was not authorized to speak on the record. If approved, the extension would represent another expansion of the military border operation, whose scope has steadily grown since President Donald Trump rushed troops to border posts in Arizona,
Texas and California shortly before the Nov. 6 midterm election. An extension would keep troops away from home through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, which would intensify criticism of the operation from Democrats, who have called the operation wasteful and unnecessary. Only last week, the White House authorized troops along the border to detain, search, and if necessary use deadly force to protect other U.S. government personnel, a major change in the military role but one that Pentagon officials insisted would only be employed in dire emergencies. Thousands of migrants are in the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. Some clashed earlier this week at the San Ysidro border crossing with Border Patrol agents, who fired tear gas to prevent them from seeking to rush the border en masse. Unarmed U.S. troops were seen moving razor
wire to block the attempted crossing. If the mission is extended, one official said, the Pentagon could rotate new troops to the border and send some personnel who have been living in makeshift camps since October back to their home bases. The Defense Department has sought to keep tight limits on the border operation. At the same time, other administration officials who advocate aggressive efforts to block immigration have sought to expand the military role to buttress the president’s incendiary charges that caravans of migrants moving north through Mexico pose an imminent threat to U.S. security. The Homeland Security department has not made a formal request for an extension, Pentagon officials said. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis told reporters Wednesday the two departments were in discussions about whether an extension was required.
“We’ll react to the Department of Homeland Security if they ask for it,” he said. “Right now we’re working with them on the staffs.” Mattis added that the troops had largely completed their original mission of strengthening protections with razor wire fences and vehicle barriers at dozens of legal border crossings, known as ports of entry. “The ports of entry are pretty much, I think, done,” he said. “There’s a little on the flanks of a couple of them we’re still working on. So we’ll have to see if the request extends further.” That could lead commanders of the operation to send home engineering and logistics troops who have been installing the additional barriers. Military police who would be called on in case of a riot or other large-scale attempt to cross the border would likely remain, along with support troops, helicopter units and other specialized troops. It’s unclear whether the overall size of the force would shrink if an extension were approved. Mattis played down the possibility that troops could be involved in use of force against migrants, saying the Border Patrol had shown its capability of securing the border without direct involvement by troops. “As far as the use of force, the Border Patrol is using what they believe is appropriate. We would be backing them up,” he said. “I can’t even forecast what would be necessary after seeing the Border Patrol’s response under the pressure that we saw this last weekend.” Mattis did not address why the troops would need to stay on the border if the Border Patrol could handle security. U.S. Northern Command, which is overseeing the border operation, said in a statement that an extension request from Homeland Security was possible but that the “mission to secure the U.S. border is temporary.”
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OPINION
FAMILY, THE HOLIDAYS AND POLITICS
How to combat political conflict at the dinner table this holiday season Kenzie Wachtell | Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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he midterm elections recently saw a change in power in the House of Representatives. Political tensions are high and politics are a constant discussion. In a country with many opinions, an influx of “fake news” and combative, rage-filled political debate, the holidays are sure to include political discourse. According to Ilana Rubel, a democratic member of the Idaho House of Representatives, there are various ways to conduct civil discourse during the holidays. Rubel explained that most of the intense emotions are being fueled by misinformation. “I think that clearing up information may help us in the long run with less hatefilled rhetoric. I would encourage people to engage in a very polite and civil fashion, in making sure
that we are dealing with a common set of accurate facts,” Rubel said. According to Rubel, most people are inclined to avoid difficult topics because of the response that they may receive. “I think a large part of what underlies the problems that we’re having today are differences not only in opinion but differences in information and the perceived facts that are informing those opinions,” Rubel said. Megan Reichle, secretary of Ada County Republicans, believes the three main factors of the divisiveness in America are social media, the inability to be open to listening to different opinions and have an open debate or discussion, and opinions being perceived as facts in the media. “I believe there are multiple political factors that have caused the divide
we currently have in America,” Reichle said. “Opinions are now taken as facts in the media. This leaves people to not only doubt the media, but each other as well. We have lost the art of constructive, respectful conversation.” Rubel explained that the majority of people base their beliefs on the topic of the subject, not the generalized beliefs held by the political parties. News outlets report on shocking, controversial events or opinions to capture audiences. The news has begun to highlight the extreme views of both parties, which has resulted in many people thinking these views are shared amongst all those affiliated with a certain party. “I think it would be very fruitful for people to engage and not to pick a fight or get adamant. But to have intelligent, meaningful discussions to build those
Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter
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bridges back. The idea of misinformation is driving a lot of these divisions,” Rubel said. Many families may choose to not discuss politics for fear of causing conflict or arguments. Both Rubel and Reichle believe that the divisiveness in the United States comes from a refusal and inability to have constructive political conversation and debate. However, the holidays provide an opportunity to learn and understand different opinions and have productive conversations. Chris Wilcox, vice president of communications and public affairs for Albertsons, explained that in order to have a civil and productive conversation about difficult topics people need to be willing to listen, try to understand one another and empathize. “People want to feel like they are being heard and listened to,” Wilcox said. “When people speak over one another, it becomes a competition to see who can speak louder. Listening to what someone has to say and showing understanding is the best way to have a calm, respectful and productive conversation.” Rubel explained that in order to improve relationships across the aisle and the political climate, it is important to have conversations about politics. Also, it is important to utilize the time with family to learn, understand and engage in productive political conversations. Until people are willing to have the conversation with those of opposing viewpoints, it will be hard to create change. “When you have a civil, open discussion people tend to find that they share more in common than they thought,” Rubel said. “Until you are willing to have the discussion, you simply won’t realize that people from different political affiliations share many of the same opinions.”
OPINION
BITCOIN IS KILLING THE ENVIRONMENT
Discussions of cryptocurrency should extend to the environment as well Zach Hill | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ast month, Boise State hosted Florida Atlantic University economics professor William Luther for the Brandt Foundation Lecture Series, hoping he would answer the question “Is Bitcoin a bubble?”. Put short, the lecture was informative—Luther covered the basics of Bitcoin, blockchains and other aspects of Bitcoin that the general public may not know. However, there was one piece of discussion noticeably missing from Luther’s lecture: Bitcoin is terrible for the environment, but nobody is talking about it because of the financial ramifications. While this issue isn’t Mr. Luther’s fault, the lecture itself is representative of an increased focus on the other things we can gain from developments in various industries, regardless of the environmental cost. When Bitcoin’s price skyrocketed from $1,000 to $17,000 near the end of 2017, people began to take it much more seriously. This mainstream appeal largely comes from recognition that Bitcoin is solid from a financial standpoint. Transactions don’t require a third party, making them more secure; purchases made with Bitcoin aren’t tracked, making them more secure than other forms of payment, and the list goes on. Bitcoin has to be mined, meaning that in order to “find” them, a computer has to use a complex algorithm to solve math problems, and in exchange the user is awarded with a certain amount of Bitcoin. This is all well and good, except for the fact that the process of mining uses a ton of electricity. According to Digiconomist’s Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, Bitcoin uses roughly 32 terawatts of energy every year, which is enough energy to power three million U.S. households. Ultimately, shifting our para-
digm away from climate oriented stances towards economically advantageous frameworks is harmful to global issues. The biggest reason nobody is taking action on the suddenly popular cryptocurrency is due to its relatively “inconsequential” impact on the environment. In the end, this is the
Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter same excuse that’s been used by world leaders time and again as a reason not to take action on climate change. When President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, he did so under the pretext of saving the economy— declaring the environment inconsequential
in the face of potential financial benefits. This is most problematic when we consider that climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity, as carbon emissions have quadrupled since 1950, indicative of a 1.5 parts per million increase every single year since. Bitcoin may not increase carbon emissions directly, but its impact on our electricity use is astounding, and requires our accountability. If you’re considering investing in Bitcoin, try investing in it outright instead of mining. You can also consider using a company called 4NEW, which uses waste from agriculture and households across the country to power their cryptocurrency mining. While it’s not a perfect solution, it does offer a potential mechanism for easing the effects later on. If you feel an undeniable need to invest in Bitcoin, however, there are ways to mine for it that won’t kill the environment. The Blockchain for Climate Foundation seeks to use the same technology that decentralize and encrypt Bitcoin transactions to connect the carbon accounts of international actors. Using the Paris Climate Accords, Blockchain for Climate seeks to unify each individual countries carbon goals into one multilateral effort. The best way to prioritize the fight against climate change is to support organizations and causes that make real change using whatever means they can. Cryptocurrency is killing the environment, and in a time where our highest levels of government refuse to prioritize making change that will save the planet, it’s on us to make the necessary changes. William Luther isn’t to blame for these problems, but don’t let talks about finance and economics let you stray too far from the real problems we face.
MEET OUR NEW OPINION EDITOR Zach Hill | Opinion Editor opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
My name is Zach Hill and I am
the Opinion Editor at the Arbiter. I’m a third year Communication major and a member of the Boise State Talkin’ Broncos debate team, so I feel right at home talking about my opinions on pertinent issues and more importantly, hearing yours. I hope to make the opinion section a place where student voices can be heard and expressed. The ideas and civil discussions we can bring to the table in a journalistic space are limitless, and it’s important to hear those things so we can better understand each other. In my spare time I enjoy watching hockey (we are all Canucks), binging Netflix, and going to the movies.
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F E AT U R E
Fighting silen
What is lost when l
David Collie| Culture Reporter| culture@stum
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Isabel Everett | The Arbiter
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ith more than a billion speakers worldwide, English is a language that seems to have cemented its place in the world, and for monolingual English speakers, the idea of losing that language might be incomprehensible. While some languages, such as English or Mandarin, continue to grow, others begin to fade away as they become less frequently spoken and passed on. Two examples of this are the Navajo and Basque languages. The effort to ensure languages such as these do not vanish is an important one, as it not only provides another way of speaking, but another way of viewing the world and another way of being. One linguistics professor on campus who works with and studies language loss is Tim Thornes. For the past 20 years, he has worked to study, analyze and document Northern Paiute—a Native American language in the northwest region. Thornes explained that the process of language loss occurs “when members of a language community stop using the language in particular social contexts, and those contexts become evermore numerous over time.” According to Thornes, this is a gradual process; languages do not disappear overnight. Loss occurs over the course of multiple generations as languages are suppressed or hidden more frequently.
Though language loss is not new, it is more dramatic now than it has ever been. Thornes explained this is largely due to the forces of globalization and forced assimilation. As different cultures interact, the need to communicate often results in speakers of less widely spoken languages learning the predominant language. In order to give their children the best chance of success, they will often also prioritize the teaching of that predominant language. On the surface, everyone speaking the same language may sound positive, but a way of speaking is not the only thing that can be lost with a language. “We’re worried about (language loss) because it also signals some other aspects of loss,” Thornes said. “(These include) loss of connection to the environment, loss of traditional knowledge, ways of knowing, ways of understanding the world and ways of expressing connection between community or one’s identity in the world.” Native American language - Navajo One population familiar with language loss is the indigenous peoples of the United States. Tanyka Begaye, president of Boise State’s Intertribal Native Council and a junior elementary education major, grew up with the Navajo language. Supporting Thornes’ explanation of a gradual process of loss over generations,
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tumedia.boisestate.edu Begaye explained her family history with the language, beginning with her great grandmother who spoke only Navajo, her grandparents who spoke it fluently, her parents who did not speak much of it but were able to understand everything and, finally, herself with an even more limited understanding. “I do think it’s really important to learn the language, because people don’t live forever, and a lot of our language is tied up in our culture and traditions and the things that we believe in.” - Tanyka Begaye, president of the Intertribal Native Council
Begaye did not grow up on a reservation like many of her relatives, making English the predominant language around her. Her primary exposure to Navajo came from from her grandparents during cultural and family gatherings. Because of this limited exposure, Begaye explained that learning the language was difficult.
“If you’re not with somebody who knows or is fluent with the language, you’re not really going to grasp that,” Begaye said. “Unless somebody asks me, or I’m in a population of Native Americans, I rarely speak it. I’m not the first to bring it up.” Despite this, Begaye plans to learn the language fully. By doing so, she hopes to one day teach the language to her children, as well as children on reservations, instilling in them a spark of interest in the language. “I do think it’s really important to learn the language because people don’t live forever, and a lot of our language is tied up in our culture and traditions and the things that we believe in,” Begaye said. “So if you don’t learn the language, you can’t really accurately and continuously explain all of the traditions, values and pieces of Native American cultures.” The Basque language - Euskara One language that has an interesting place in the topic of language loss is the Basque language, Euskara. While it does not have nearly the number of speakers that the languages in the bordering France and Spain do, it does not face the same peril as Navajo or Northern Paiute. This is the result of a collective effort among speakers of the language to ensure its continued vitality. Euskaraldia, for example, is an initiative—lasting from Nov. 23 to Dec. 3, 2018—created with the goal of promoting the Basque language in both the United States and the Basque country. One professor of Basque language and culture, Nere Lete, explains the purpose of Euskaraldia. “(It is a) social exercise to focus on the importance of using the Basque language in all the areas of the Basque society,” Lete said. This event, however, is a big change
from Lete’s experience with the language as a child. “At that time, there was a dictatorship in Spain,” Lete said. “Life, culturally, was very difficult as a Basque in the Basque country during that dictatorship. There was nothing allowed in Basque, there were no textbooks, there was no radio and there was no media in Basque. There was nothing in the Basque language.” Facing this outward suppression, Lete was faced with the choice of attending either a Spanish or a Catholic school. Despite the oppression of the language by the dictatorship, however, speakers of the language continued fighting to keep it alive. As a part of the grassroots movement to continue the language, Lete’s parents took out a loan so she could attend a private school in the Basque language. Lete and the rest of her generation experienced a time when the Basque language had to be fought for. After the end of that dictatorship, the government suppression of the language ended, allowing for a new period where Euskara could be celebrated openly. Another professor of Basque studies, Ziortza Beldarrain, grew up in that next generation and shared her connection to the language. “I’m so proud of it because it’s true that, for me, I never felt that it was taken away from me,” Beldarrain said. “If you grow up in a Basque family, the memory of what happened and the imposed silence where you cannot talk your language, where your identity is erased, your culture is erased, this is something that, in my house at least, my grandparents and my parents would talk to me about. Talking Basque in the house was a way of maintaining our rebellion against the system. The language is one of the most important pillars of identity and Basqueness and Basque culture.” Representing the next step in the story of the language are international graduate students from the Basque country, Amaia Lojo and Iñaki Sagarna, studying educa-
tion and history, respectively. Together, they host a radio show called Boiseko Taupada which plays Basque music and gives news about the Basque country. Lojo explained what it was like when she first discovered the show under its previous host. “I started to watch it on Facebook and supported it a lot because it was so cool,” Lojo said. “There is no other thing like that in Boise, any TV show or radio show or anything in Basque.” Because of supporting efforts, the fight for the language might not be at the same critical level it once was. However, the continued vitality of the language requires desire from future generations. This desire is one that cannot be mandated, but one that must be chosen. As Sagarna explained, language should not be forced. As a speaker of English, Spanish and Euskara, he plans to one day give his children a choice by teaching them both the Basque and Spanish languages. “I am not one to say what language they have to speak, because it is a really personal choice,” Sagarna said. “You don’t have to make people just speak one language or the other; they have to choose.” While the Basque language has more than 500,000 speakers, many other languages are not so lucky. As globalization advances, minority languages will likely continue to be threatened by more widely spoken ones. Because of the valuable perspectives that language diversity brings, efforts to ensure their continued vitality are important. Perhaps in pursuit of that diversity, the fight of the Basque language can serve as a beacon of hope. And even for monolingual speakers of English, a valuable lesson—said best by Lete—can be learned from the Basque language. “We put a lot of emphasis on all the superlative, the biggest, the most spoken. Okay, yes. But I think that the small has something to teach too,” Lete said. “It’s another way to look at the world.”
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C U LT U R E
FINDING A NEW PERSPECTIVE ABROAD
How spending 35 days backpacking across Europe opened my eyes Michelle Privette | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
The author, Michelle Privette, stands with her fiancé during their European adventure.
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uring the summer of 2018, I went on the adventure of a lifetime. The trip was one that had previously seemed like the byproduct of wanderlust and wishful thinking. As a broke college student, a month-long jaunt across the pond seemed unlikely, at best. Six months prior to my European adventure, my fiancé and I arrived at the airport in our hometown of Kansas City for a flight to Boise. Upon arrival to our gate, an announcement sounded over the PA system. Our flight had been oversold, and they needed volunteers to give up their seats and take a later flight. This announcement was music to my ears, and I rushed to volunteer. Giving up your seat means one of two things: an upgrade to first class for your rescheduled flight or flight vouchers to use towards your next flight. Basically, the best words outside of “free vacation” that a travel junkie could hope to hear. After the flight gate closed its doors, I rushed up to the counter to collect my reward and was handed two vouchers for $1,000 each! I couldn’t believe our luck. We decided that night to fulfill our life-
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long dream of going to Europe and used our shiny new vouchers to book a flight overseas. Since a trip to Europe may be a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity, we decided to throw caution to the wind and spend just over a month, surrounding ourselves with new cultures and visiting as many cities as possible. Over the next six months, we saved every penny we could. While planning lodging and transportation, I was pleasantly surprised by the affordable European prices. Each flight was only around 20 euros (roughly $22), and accommodations were secured for less than 50 euros (about $57) a night. With proper planning and saving, I discovered that a backpacking trip to Europe can actually be possible for college students on a budget. After half a year of planning and saving, it was finally time to begin our grand adventure! Three connecting flights and a 16-hour overnight layover at Newark Liberty International Airport later, we made it to Europe! Over the course of 35 days, we ventured to nine countries and 13 cities across
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Photo courtesy of Privette. Western Europe. We wandered along the winding cobblestone streets of Rome, climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and indulged in authentic European cuisine, such as schnitzel, a traditional style of pork in Germany, and Paella, a regional rice dish that incorporates seafood and vegetables, in Barcelona. We savored wine in Tuscany, bar-top conversation in Belgium and marveled at ancient architecture that predates the birth of the United States itself. Of all the castles we explored and beautiful sites that we saw, the best memories I have from my trip are of the people I met along the way and the impact each of them made on my life. Meeting people from around the world, both fellow backpackers and locals alike, reshaped my perspective of the world. While seeing famous places and beautiful cities is a wonderful aspect of traveling, the experiences you have are so much more meaningful. It changes you. It opens your eyes to other people and cultures of the world and helps you become a more open-minded person. Spending just one month abroad helped me to understand
my part in our global community, which is something you’re likely not to understand without immersing yourself in new and unfamiliar cultures. Even in the most confusing and frustrating circumstances I faced abroad, I learned valuable lessons about myself and the way I communicate. Being lost in Florence forced me out of my comfort zone and helped me bridge the communication barrier between myself and a few kind Italians who helped me find my way back home. Navigating the rail system helped me learn how to read and decipher maps rather than relying on modern technology. While traveling, I started to see that the material items I possess and the amount of money in my bank account shouldn’t rule my life. When I chose to embrace my wanderlust and my quest for the unknown, I discovered the way to bring new meaning to my life, and I found the person I want to be. My advice is simple, but effective (at least, it was for me). Throw caution to the wind and go somewhere new. It might just change your life.
C U LT U R E
“FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD” FALLS MAGICALLY FLAT The second film in the series carries few of the aspects that viewers of the original loved Rainie Harker | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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magical spin-off of the renowned “Harry Potter” series, the second edition of the popular “Fantastic Beasts” franchise, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” was hoped to be full of the same sense of wonder that enchanted us for so many years in J.K. Rowling’s universe, including the first film in the franchise. However, this new addition to the series falls flat. Between juggling the various story arcs and character subplots, the film lacks a specific plot focus and fails to give us the connection we found in other “Harry Potter” spectacles. Let’s start things off on a good note. In the beginning of the film, we are greeted by protagonist Newt, whose awkward demeanor and attachment to strange beasts is as endearing as ever, but does not develop
much as a character throughout the film. His love interest, Tina, presents issues early on, though these disappear after a simple conversation. Within the first half hour, we meet Jacob and Queenie, a couple who disagrees about the qualms of marriage between wizards and non-wizards. Jacob is your average muggle—he has no powers, and he travels alongside Newt throughout the movie. That said, I have no idea why he or Queenie are in the movie. They take up essential screen time for other, more central characters and their plot line is, dare I say, terrible. Queenie joins the “dark side” later in the film, and it is meant to be a moment of betrayal to evoke intense emotion in the viewer—but I hardly cared. What I would have loved to see more of
was the relationship between Credence and Nagini. Lovers of the series would know Nagini as Voldemort’s snake, as she was afflicted with a curse which turned her into a serpent as night fell. Credence was her close companion, and the two worked to uncover the secrets of his birthright. Little is known about Credence in the beginning of the film, other than his apparent use of dark magic, which is made to be spectacular through special effects. Many of the characters are searching for Credence for reasons that are unclear when watching, and the search for him ends up being a convoluted red herring, as if the producers used him as an excuse for all the film’s characters to be in the same place. Grindelwald, the main antagonist, hardly feels like an issue; he does not affect the characters in any personal way. His magic
may be flashy, but it does not present the threat it should. After watching the film, I was confused. The music and special effects brought it to life, but they lacked a sense of urgency the film needed to get viewers attached. Essentially, here is the issue: “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” had too many plot points and characters. Simply, there was too much going on for viewers to feel connected. Moreover, the film’s focus has shifted away from “fantastic beasts.” A plot based around Nagini would have been much more interesting and followed this basic idea of the franchise. I wanted more of the wonder and Newt’s lovable personality; instead, I got an overwhelming series of characters and convoluted plot lines.
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C U LT U R E
THE STORIES BEHIND THE INK
Boise State students and faculty discuss the meanings behind their tattoos Megan Schuessler | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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imes have changed regarding society’s acceptance of body art, such as tattoos and piercings. Currently, there are many students and Boise State faculty members who have chosen to add art to their bodies to express themselves in some way. The most common of these modifications are piercings and tattoos, and for some, these modifications have significant meaning. Throughout the years of popularity of modifications, such as these tattoos and piercings, it is a common fear to be concerned about the workplace effects stemming from visible modifications to one’s body. This fear, albeit long-term, is still burning strong in the minds of employers and some employees. According to the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of individuals surveyed believe visible tattoos are inappropriate in a work setting, and
an even larger 55 percent feel similarly about visible body piercings, regardless of location. Regardless of whether or not the workplace is a concern, students at the university are still expressing themselves by using their body as a canvas. Taylor Drake, a senior social work major, has several tattoos, the most significant of which is a black and white wolf located on her upper right thigh, and she claims it serves as a reminder of the kind of person she wants to be every day. “There’s an old Cherokee legend about how there’s a terrible fight in everyone and it’s between two wolves,” Drake said. “One is evil and it represents anger, envy, sorrow and kind of the bad qualities in everyone. The other one is good so it represents joy, love and compassion. You decide which one wins by which one you want to feed. » Enroll anytime! » Complete in one year or less! » Self-paced study. Anytime. Anywhere!
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Taylor Drake’s wolf tattoo. That was the idea behind it.” Drake isn’t the only student who has chosen an internal dialogue to be turned into art on their skin. Katie Taylor, a junior pre-radiology major, currently has one tattoo of a watercolor Japanese Shisa on her right shoulder blade. “The Shisa are a traditional cultural artifact and decoration derived from Chinese guardian lions. It’s a cross between a lion and a dog,” Taylor said. The Shisa tattoo isn’t a lonesome one; Taylor said she got matching Shisa tattoos with her husband who was in the military. At the time, Taylor and her husband were stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Taylor said that in Okinawa, the Shisa are seen in a male and female pair and are believed to be protectors. “The left Shisa is the female and that’s the one I have. It has a closed mouth and it’s known to keep the surrounding goodness in and it provides protection involving preservation and sharing of positivity,” Taylor said. Students aren’t alone in using ink to tell a permanent story on their bodies. Kristina Jensen, a sociology professor, is a faculty member who decided to share the story behind her body art. Jensen has a multitude of tattoos and she began getting them in 1997. The terminology used to describe tattoos is very important to Jensen and she prefers that tattoos are not called body
Megan Schuessler | The Arbiter modifications as they commonly are. “It’s not modification. That suggests altering something in a negative way,” Jensen said. “I prefer it to be considered art. Not just anyone can slap a good tattoo on someone. It takes skill and talent. That is art.” Jensen said her most meaningful tattoo is an “Alice in Wonderland”-themed piece that covers her back and left arm. “My main piece, Alice in Wonderland, covers my whole back and most of my left arm,” Jensen said. “That tattoo started as a cover-up of a crappy tattoo I got for dumb reasons years ago. I chose Alice in Wonderland because she slayed the Jabberwocky and proved that when it seems all is lost, the impossible is possible.” There are many different reasons why students and faculty choose to give themselves body art. For individuals across campus, tattoos can have a significant impact on their lives and represent obstacles they have overcome, be a reminder of the kind of person they want to be or a piece of art they simply think is beautiful. “For me, that was significant, as I have overcome so many obstacles in life: being molested, raped, homeless, an alcoholic and residual mental health problems,” Jensen said. “My graduate cap says ‘Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast.’ It hangs in my office with the same significance.”
12 BARS OF CHRISTMAS
The seasonal bar crawl brought students together downtown Michelle Privette | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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n Dec. 1, 2018, holiday spirit flooded downtown Boise, bringing with it hundreds of people wearing holiday hats and dressed up in their finest ugly sweaters, Christmas onesies and jolly Santa suits. The event that brought holiday lovers downtown was the second annual 12 Bars of Christmas Bar Crawl, which began at Tom Grainey’s Sporting Pub at noon, and rolled through eight downtown bars until 8 p.m. on Saturday evening. The Christmas spirit flowed as freely as the discounted spirits and booze at the event, and the festivities brought together people young (but over 21, of course) and old as they celebrated their shared love for the holiday season. “One of the greatest things about this event is that it brings the community together. You get to see people all dressed in similar outfits, so it creates this uniform that reminds us we’re all together in this, and to come together and have a really good time,” said Yeti Abides, bartender at Tom Grainey’s Sporting Pub. A group of current Boise State students and alumni came out for the event to celebrate their friend’s birthday, and to take a well-deserved break from studying before finishing out the semester strong. “I had a really large paper that is due on Monday, so I told myself that if I finished last night then I can reward myself by coming out today,” said Terisa Zimmerman, graduate student at Boise State. For many bars downtown, the anticipated 600-700 patrons this event brings in provides a large boost for the businesses revenue on the day of the event. “It’s one of our biggest days of the year and provides a great way for us to spring
into the holidays (and) finish out the year really strong,” Abides said. In addition to the added revenue this event brings to downtown, the crawl introduces participating local bars to patrons looking for a new and unique alternative for an upscale drinking experience downtown. “We’re a craft bar in the middle of all these college bars, so a lot of people just walk right by us. For foot-traffic, this event is awesome, because it helps get us out there,” said Danika Lupton, bartender at Whiskey Bar. Rather than repeatedly mixing run-ofthe mill well cocktails for patrons, Lupton enjoys spending her time hand-crafting signature cocktails with specialty ingredients, such as their Whiskey Sour that unexpectedly includes egg whites. “I love the craft of making drinks, rather than speed bartending. I love putting together a drink for somebody and giving them an experience,” Lupton said. “When someone comes in and orders a drink that I’ve made and put on the menu it’s fun to say, ‘Let me tell you a little bit about this, let me out in front of you and give you some insight so that you can enjoy what you’re drinking and not just pound them down.’” The company putting on this event, 12 Bars of Christmas Crawl, is a family-owned and operated organization, with most employees being family and friends. This company organizes events all over the country with the hope of spreading a little holiday cheer. If you missed out this year, the 12 Bars of Christmas Bar Crawl will be returning to Boise for their third annual Bar Crawl on Dec. 7, 2019.
C U LT U R E
JUST A THOUGHT Privatization hits the working class hard
Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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he Paradise fires in California came to an end in mid-November, but crews report only finishing the death count on Nov. 29. This event accounted for the deaths of 88 people, and nearly 200 still remain missing from their loved ones, even after each building has been searched. Fire departments across the area worked tirelessly to save the lives and homes of those in Paradise, often times to no avail when departments become overworked. The solution? There isn’t one... unless you’re Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. If you are swimming in as much wealth and Twitter clout as they are, however, the easy fix is private firefighters. Privatization is on the rise in the United States, as corporations are seeking to distance themselves from government entities in order to capitalize on the free market more efficiently, and firefighting is no exception to the list of professions moving the hypothetical Yellow Pages. While the Kardashians did save, like, two other houses with their “fire break,”
they failed to use their wealth to benefit the thousands of other homes in the area that were suffering extreme damage, not to mention the families being displaced while their homes were destroyed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bad. Kim K donated $500,000, split between three charitable causes regarding the fires, which is a great move—one that is arguably made to offset the luxury decision made to save her home. She may be well-intentioned, but that doesn’t change her actions in contrast to others in the area. Khloe Kardashian spent her time purchasing supplies to help fight the fires, Lady Gaga volunteered at a displacement shelter after her evacuation and long-time couple Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus donated $500,000 to a relief fund after watching their entire house burn down. Kim’s solution wasn’t exactly a charitable power move, y’all. In an extremely biased article by Bustle, the writer analyzes Kim’s interview with Ellen Degeneres, where she claims she knows that private firefighting is a “luxury,” but she had to keep her family and home safe. Look, I get it; you have kids and all of their memories have been made in your unreasonably priced mansion, but that doesn’t make privatization the ultimate solution. Follow in the footsteps of your fellow A-listers, Kim, and use capitalism to everyone’s benefit, not just your own. Save your home, but hire those same crews to save someone else’s, too. If you have the opportunity to do better, and you do, girl, take that chance to be better—just a thought.
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SPORTS & REC
WITH FALL 2018 DONE, WOMEN’S LACROSSE STEPS UP IN THE RANKINGS
The Broncos look forward to a D1 ranking
Cameron Pepin | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ith 14 new freshmen on their roster and two fall scrimmages under their belt, the Boise State women’s club lacrosse team is ready to tackle their 2019 spring schedule as a Division 1 club. The women’s club lacrosse team has been considered a Division 2 club since 2001 for the Rocky Mountain Women’s Lacrosse League (RMWLL). Next spring, due to changes within the organization of Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (WCLA), Boise State will be moving to the Division 1 status. “This change in division status is based on the school’s population; for example if
the school has over 15,000 undergraduate students, they are going to be considered a D1 school,” said Cameron Stevenson, club president. The Boise State women’s club lacrosse team ended last season (2017-18) with a total of four wins and five loses. In their 2018 fall ball season, the women’s lacrosse club went 1-1 for their fall scrimmages. One scrimmage was played at the University of Utah at the McCarthy Fieldhouse Sport Complex on Oct. 13. During the competition, the lady Broncos led the entire game but lost in the last three minutes, 11-10. Although they have not defeated Utah in the last four years, the Broncos have made progress this season
The Boise State Women’s Club Lacrosse team (2017) is set to be a D1 club this spring.
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against Utah’s D1 program by holding their first ever lead against the Aggies. “After how well we did in our fall ball games, I think we have a really good chance of going to nationals this year,” said sophomore Bailey Lenon. “We will definitely be a really strong team this year.” In their second scrimmage, against Weber State University, Boise State won 13-2. Weber State was a provisional team, meaning they have never been a part of the school’s club system, until this year when they were recognized as a club in the WCLA. “This is a huge development for the program, and as a result, we are really narrowing in on nationals as a team goal for the season,” Stevenson said.
Boise State will be the host of a spring tournament on March 8-10. A group of 14 freshmen joined the team of 22, making up a roster of 32 participating players this year. “I am super excited to see how the new freshman tackle this season with some of the seasoned players,” said sophomore player Grace Taylor. For new students looking for some exercise or to continue their passion after high school, the women’s lacrosse team is taking rolling admission, meaning those interested can join at the beginning of the spring semester. Players can apply by Jan. 20, 2019.
Photo courtesy of Boise State Women’s Lacrosse Facebook
BOISE STATE CONCEDES MOUNTAIN WEST TITLE
SPORTS & REC
Broncos score two for four in match-ups against Fresno State in past consecutive year Nathan Cook | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Boise State loses to Fresno State.
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he No. 1 Boise State Broncos defended The Blue and their Mountain West Champions title once more against the No. 3 Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, Dec. 1. Their monumental effort on a snowy, slick field led to a narrow loss during overtime, marking the first game the Bulldogs have ever won in Boise. The Broncos’ relinquishment of the title to the Bulldogs brings them to 10-3 overall and 7-2 in the Mountain West division. This poses a stark contrast to their previous Mountain West win, 17-14, against Fresno State last year before sweeping the Las Vegas Bowl, 38-28, from Oregon State. This also comes after their 24-17 victory over Fresno State earlier this season. “For all the players in the game tonight, they all fought hard both sides of the ball,” said head coach Bryan Harsin. “I’m very proud of our team and certainly Fresno deserved to win the game. They played well. We got ourselves into an overtime situation and they came up with the win.” In the first quarter, Boise State faced an uphill battle in the rain, which soon
Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter turned into snow. With 9:03 left on the clock, Fresno quarterback Marcus McMaryion found wide receiver Michiah Quick for the 15-yard score. However, with 1:56 left on the clock, Rypien passed the ball, which redshirt senior wide receiver Sean Modster caught despite Fresno State’s Jason Bryant tipping it, leading the Broncos to 7-7. Right before halftime, Fresno State scored a field goal to pull ahead 10-7 with 3:20 left on the clock. In the third quarter, Fresno State earned another field goal, 13-7, with 11:15 left on the clock. Junior running back Alexander Mattison proceeded to run for 11 yards, meriting his 11th career 100-yard game, and his sixth this season. In the middle of the fourth quarter, Mattison ran 34 yards past Fresno State’s defense to the endzone to tie the game 1313, after having already rushed 200 yards. Sophomore safety Kekaula Kahino intercepted the ball after Fresno State’s fumble with 4:11 left. However, both the Broncos and Bulldogs held a steady defense, leading them into overtime. This was the first time
a Mountain West Championship game had ever gone into overtime. Redshirt senior kicker Haden Hoggarth scored a 23-yard field goal to make up for the Bulldogs’ blocking straight-on to bring the Broncos up 16-13. After the Bulldogs ran the ball, the Broncos went into defense mode but then called a last-minute timeout in an attempt to stop the Bulldogs. In spite of this, the Bulldogs still scored a touchdown, effectively winning the Mountain West Championship 19-16. “My hats off to the Boise State program and coach Harsin. They’re an excellent team, very well coached,” said Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford. “I’m really proud of our kids, the way we were resilient tonight and kept fighting back in a hardfought game.” Despite facing a helmet-to-helmet hit in the fourth quarter, Mattison rushed for 200 yards and scored a touchdown on 40 carries. This marked the fifth match-up in which Mattison has rushed for over 100 yards. “This championship was an opportunity to go out there and leave a legacy with those seniors,” Mattison said. “So it is disappointing we couldn’t send them off that way.” Despite their 2018 football season coming to an end, the Broncos made this season one to remember, pushing through multiple setbacks, putting up fierce resistance against rival teams and still delivering solid play on the field. The team as a whole turned around uncertain prospects into a compelling championship bid, breaking individual records along the way. The Broncos will advance to the First Responders Bowl to square off against Boston College in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday Dec. 26. Kickoff time will be at 11:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on ESPN. The Broncos will start their 2019 season playing against the Florida State Seminoles in Jacksonville on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. Kickoff time and channel are to be determined.
BY THE
NUMBERS Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu On Saturday, Dec.1, the Boise State Broncos were on The Blue for the 2018 Mountain West Championship game where they faced the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Broncos held the advantage going into the game, but played conservative football all night. The snowy weather could have been a factor, but it resulted in a 19-16 overtime loss for the Broncos.
350 The Broncos’ offense was only able to put up
350 total offensive yards. The offense didn’t seem to be clicking, and the coaches were playing it safe with senior Brett Rypien who finished the game going 15-31 with 125 yards. To put that into perspective, Mattison had 40 attempts.
200 For the second week in a row, junior running
back Alexander Mattison rushed for 200 yards. This was Mattison’s third 200-yard game, making him only the third Bronco to accomplish this. He was named offensive MVP in a losing effort.
11 Junior linebacker Tyson Maeva showed up
in the Mountain West Championship game. Maeva matched his career high with 11 tackles. He also had two tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
6 All night, the Broncos failed to convert in
critical third down situations. The Broncos’ offense converted six of 18 third down attempts. The Bulldogs’ defense played tough in the snow making first downs a heavy task for the Broncos.
1The Broncos finished with two touchdowns.
Redshirt senior kicked Haden Hoggarth was only able to complete one of the extra points. If Hoggarth would have completed his second there’s a good chance the Broncos would be the Mountain West Champions.
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SPORTS & REC
WOMEN’S SPORTS HAVE A NEW SECTION OF DEDICATED FANS
The Corral and the Bronco Squad pair together to make low-priority sports a priority Ali Hollis | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
The Corral, pictured above, is teaming up with a new club, the Bronco Squad, to cheer on women’s sports.
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ne of the biggest features at Boise State is the school spirit the students have. A well known on-campus club, The Corral, is now teaming up with a new club, the Bronco Squad, which is all about showing up to support the women’s teams at Boise State. The Bronco Squad was started by junior Lucas DeMatio and a few of his fellow classmates. According to DeMatio, the Bronco Squad is “dedicated to increasing support and attendance of women’s sports at Boise State.” DeMatio is majoring in relational and organizational communication and is currently the president of this new club. He emphasized that both clubs still want
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to support all sports at Boise State, but due to the large amount of planning involved in attending games, making a second club was very useful. “Moving forward, we’ll work together to make sure the student experience, both athletes and fans, is as fun and supportive as possible,” DeMatio said. Vice president of The Corral, junior marketing major Brad Walden, said that the two clubs have a combined event, Bowling with the Broncos, on Dec. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Game Center in the Student Union Building. This event will showcase who the Bronco Squad is and what their purpose is. They have also arranged for athletes from the softball, volleyball and soccer teams to attend the
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event to get to know students and answer their questions. “(The Bronco Squad’s) biggest goal is to make sure that attendance for Boise State sporting events is important for all of the sporting events,” Walden said. Along with getting to know all of the women athletes, the club will be giving out prizes for the gaming competitions that will be put on, including a Dutch Bros gift basket and assorted gift cards. The Corral president, junior kinesiology major Connor Martin, said that The Corral is going to start hosting sport clinics with the Bronco Squad so that students can have the opportunity to meet and interact with athletes. “‘Come early, be loud, stay late,’ the
Ky Tucker | The Arbiter Corral’s motto, should apply to all sports at Boise State,” Martin said. He believes that having two sports-dedicated clubs will make the student section grow at the games. Martin also believes that students should want to go out to all of the Boise State games. Bowling with the Broncos will be accompanied by promotional events such as tabling in the quad during the school week. These promotional events aim to benefit not only both of the clubs, but all of the sports at Boise State. The clubs are excited to begin working and collaborating with each other to make sure attendance is in full swing at all sporting events.
OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.
SAGITTARIUS, whereas you may
SAGITTARIUS
NOV 22 - DEC 22
normally be somewhat worrisome about the future, you’re thriving this month when it comes to tackling multiple projects. This is the time to save money on holiday gifts, as well as making some time to spend with people you normally prioritize work and school over. Make yourself happy, and those around you will be, too.
CAPRICORN
DEC 22 - JAN 20 Capricorn, working in groups has never really been your thing, so dead week and finals may be a little tough for you if you have any collaborative presentations. Don’t stress yourself out; do your part, wipe your hands clean and focus on your next task to finish strong.
AQUARIUS
JAN 20 - FEB 18 Aquarius, don’t just go with the flow when it comes to your future this month. Take initiative in planning, whether that means applying for internships or just finding a seasonal job to keep yourself busy. Take charge and lead your own path to success this December!
PISCES
FEB 18 - MARCH 20
Pisces, as much as you love your life right now, it’s time to take to the backseat and put on a good listening ear. Even if you may be blowing through finals and family stress, your friends may not be. Sit down, relax and allow them to vent when they need it.
LEO
ARIES
MARCH 20 - APR 20
Aries, you might be feeling a little down for the next few weeks, but rest assured that it’s just the change in the weather getting to your emotions. Take some time to recover from the tough stuff this semester and make yourself your number one priority again.
JUL 23 - AUG 23
Leo, spread your incredible mood by going into December with holiday cheer in full force. Pay it forward by paying for the person in line behind you at the coffee shop or volunteer to wrap gifts for those who can’t do it themselves.
VIRGO
TAURUS
APR 20 - MAY 21
Taurus, hold your ground this holiday season and don’t let nosy family members throw your personal life around the dinner table. You know your destination and the path it takes to get there, so pump yourself up and the negative
GEMINI
AUG 23 - SEP 23
Virgo, we all have days where it’s tough for us to get out of bed; the next few weeks may be that way for you, friend. Don’t isolate yourself— spend time with the people you love and pick up an old hobby to keep your brain distracted for some healthy time off.
LIBRA
MAY 21 - JUN 21
SEP 23 - OCT 22
Gemini, you’re letting your indecisiveness get the best of you again, and it’s not a good look. Make a decision this week, even if it’s just putting together a Christmas list. The relief of getting a task done will be so worth it!
Libra, your drive to succeed is going to take over if you aren’t careful. Relax—there are holiday deals on pedicures, massages and sensory deprivation chambers galore that can get your mind off the obsession for work. Treat yourself!
SCORPIO
CANCER
JUN 21 - JULY 23
Cancer, this month will be a great mental health break for you with the season’s events. Go hunt for holiday lights around your hometown, take some deep breaths and try something new in December to get your creative (and mentally healthy) juices flowing!
OCT 23 - NOV 22 Scorpio, don’t let emotional build-up be the reason for the blow-up at the family gathering this December. Don’t let yourself be pushed to your limitations, but also don’t be shocked if the way you choose to live creates some sharp tension. Be you!
Ezra Phillips is a ten-year-old aspiring cartoonist. He submitted his artwork, from a series titled “Crappy Holidays,” to be featured in The Arbiter. DECEMBER 4, 2018
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