The Arbiter 1.15.19 Vol. 31 Issue 17 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

January 15, 2018

Vol. 31 Issue 16 IN D EPEN D E NT

ST U D E NT

V O I CE

O F

B O I SE

STAT E

SI N C E

1 9 3 3

ADDRESSING INEQUALITY

FROM PAY GAPS TO LACK OF GAME ATTENDANCE, WOMEN IN BOISE STATE ATHLETICS SHARE THEIR

PERSPECTIVES

NEWS

As Boise State’s enrollment increases, the university looks to expand campus

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OPINION

The Arbiter’s employees share their goals, big and small, for the New Year arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

Listen to this Boss B*tch playlist to unleash your inner #Girlboss and start the semester out right @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

Swimmer Ally Kleinsorgen leads the women’s swimming and diving team through the season

@arbiteronline

@boisestatearbiter

Editor-In-Chief Jordan Erb editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Online Editor Ximena Bustillo onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Jordan Erb and Ximena Bustillo news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Taylor Rico-Pekerol and Jack Briggs 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 Christopher Duggan Digital Content Manager Taylor Humby digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Bailey Nellesen Graphic Design Manager Maddie Ceglecki design@stumedia.boisestate.edu 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 Arbiterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

Did you know there are bee hives, tended to by the Bee Team, atop the SUB?

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

Female student-athletes and one Boise State coach spoke to The Arbiter about collegiate spor ts and the trials of being a woman athlete. Cover design by Maddie Ceglecki and 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

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EVENTS

SCOREBOARD 2019 LEGISLATIVE FORECAST

zions bank building

wednesday, jan. 16, 1:30 pm Hosted by the Idaho Environmental Forum, this event will cover this year’s environmental hot topics. It will take place on the 17th floor.

TRANSFER STUDENT AND FRIENDS GAME NIGHT games center thursday, jan. 17, 5 pm

Connect with other transfer students and make new friends while bowling, playing pool, or just hanging out. The event is free to students with an ID.

WOMEN’S MARCH ON IDAHO

the capitol

saturday, jan. 19, 9 am In solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington, this march aims to raise and empower all of Idaho’s women.

‘80S NIGHT the brickyard

saturday, jan. 19, 10 pm House musicians will play ‘80s jams until 1 a.m. Wear your best ‘80s gear.

GYMNASTICS JAN. 13

BSU - 1ST PLACE 196.400 SAN JOSE - 2ND PLACE 193.050 AIR FORCE - 3RD PLACE 191.875

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL JAN. 12

99 68 BSU vs SAN JOSE

MEN’S BASKETBALL JAN. 12

87 64

BSU vs SAN JOSE

TRACK AND FIELD

BRONCO INVITE JAN. 12

WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP 1ST PLACE ABI DARGAN (39-0.5FT) MEN’S MILE 1ST PLACE ANDREW RAFLA (4:12.20)

NEWS

JANUARY 15, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

IDAHO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION LOOKS TO CREATE NEW FUNDING MODEL

Governor Brad Little to consider “outcomes-based” funding to replace existing model Ximena Bustillo | Online Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

What is “outcomes-based” funding? Outcomes-Based Funding (OBF) is a funding model proposed in October after three years of planning. According to Mike Keckler, chief communications and legislative affairs officer of the Idaho State Board of Education, there has been a technical committee made up of representatives from the Board, businesses, the higher education institutions and additional experts working on the formula. Keckler explained that at the base level, OBF rewards institutions for an increase in amount of graduates with an increase in funding based upon a set pool of funds that is divided among Idaho’s institutions. This is opposed to the current model, which focuses strictly on entry numbers. Additionally, OBF rewards institutions that produce graduates in six areas: STEM, health, business and education fields, graduating in four years and graduating need-based students, The governor will be examining a funding model that would affect Boise State according to Clark. However, it all remains de pendent upon if the legislature chooses to fund OBF year-to-year. Heil explained that OBF Taylor Humby | The Arbiter could easily fall victim to the same issues faced by EWA: underfunding from the State resulting or the past 29 years, Enrollment in low money distribution. Workload Adjustment (EWA) has

been the funding model used to allocate state funds to Idaho’s public universities, community colleges and technical institutions. The model funds institutions based on the number of enrolled students they have. However, Idaho State Board of Education President Linda Clark explained that during Idaho’s economic downturn of 2008 the funding for EWA was frozen. While enrollment numbers increased in institutions like Boise State and College of Western Idaho, the funding was not adjusted to match the increase. The years of 2010, 2011 and 2012 stand out due to consistent EWA underfunding in light of enrollment increase, according to Mark Heil, Boise State’s vice president and chief financial officer. In looking to create a new model to replace the perceivably outdated EWA, an “outcomes-based funding” was created by the Idaho State Board of Education and presented to the state legislature last fall.

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What does it look like? According to the OBF model, there are three years of implementation mapped out. However, over three years, funding provided by the legislature decreases and funding by the institutions themselves increases. “Both models have similar benefit, but both are subject to inherent weakness in whether or not EWA is funded and how much gets placed in the OBF pool,” Heil said. “OBF could fall victim to the exact same scenario where we have an increase in enrollment that through the formula would drive increased funding for the university, and the legislature could decide not to fund it.” Heil explained that funding depends on the legislature’s input which may result in a potential decrease of funds over time. “This model, if done right, would adequately fund institutions, just like EWA. EWA I am not

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a fan of because in tough times, the legislature doesn’t fund it,” Heil said. “But with OBF, as the pool of money decreases, the model doesn’t work either. You have to be willing to put enough money into the pool to cover the increase of either enrollment or graduates.” The proposal from the Idaho State Board of Education shows a steady decrease in new legislature funds that would decrease funding from EWA and one budget line item. During the first year, Boise State and other four-year institutions would have a pool of $11 million, $7.5 million the second year and $4 million the third. “If you look at the models, the first year we are slightly better on OBF than the EWA. In year two we are probably slightly better off with EWA than we would be with OBF. In the third year, the model is even lower where we are probably better with EWA,” Heil said.

“The impact to Boise State is very similar, it just depends on how much money the legislature decides to put into the OBF model.” Mark Heil, Boise State’s vice president and chief financial officer “The impact to Boise State is very similar, it just depends on how much money the legislature decides to put into the OBF model.” It is unknown what would happen with the funds following year three, according to Heil. Clark and Heil agree that overall, the main difference between the two models is the philosophical and value approach. Clark proposes that across the country,

focusing on incoming numbers is not an incentive to finish with a meaningful degree. “It’s (OBF) more of a different theory. Do you want to reward the progression toward a degree or do you want to reward the degree or certificate? There is a trend going around the country and it kind of fits with some of the social beliefs in Idaho that we want to reward the actual outcome and objective, not just working toward it,” Heil said. “It’s a noble theory. I agree with it. But in the long run it would not significantly change what Boise State gets with EWA now.” Looking forward On Jan. 7, Governor Brad Little released his budget recommendations to the state legislature. Little chose not to provide any funding towards OBF, instead continuing funding EWA and increasing the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship in response. “We had the old program, EWA, and I looked at the old program and said, ‘look, if we just provide scholarship for these kids they can decide where they are going,’” Little told The Arbiter in a press conference. “We had 1,700-1,800 kids last year who applied for Opportunity Scholarships. If we just make scholarships available, let them decide what institution they go to.” Little explained that although he is not providing immediate funding right now, he plans to study OBF to further understand the costs and benefits of the policy switch. “The Governor recognizes that the transition from the current enrollment workload adjustment funding model to the State Board of Education’s proposed outcomes based funding model is a major policy switch,” according to the Fiscal Year 2020 Executive Budget Summary. “As such, he wishes to further study the advantages and disadvantages to both models over the next year before making a decision.”

BOISE STATE'S EXPANSION BEGINS TO AFFECT LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS

NEWS

As the university’s enrollment increases, so must the campus Sonora Birnie | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

oise State has plans to demolish two homes near the campus due to neglect, which has brought attention to how the expansion of the university will affect existing nearby neighborhoods. The houses, located on Potter Street, were originally purchased by Boise State with the intent to house employees and students, but that has not been the case. For the past five years, the homes have been unoccupied and used for storage, according to Drew Alexander, Boise State’s capital planner. According to Alexander, after the homes are torn down, grass will be planted, and the area where the houses once stood will be used for nothing. There is no chance of renovation, no community projects will use the land and renovations are not an option. “They have deteriorated to a point where the funding that was necessary to bring them back to a habitable condition is not the most fiscally responsible decision to make,” Alexander said. “The decision was that the money could be placed elsewhere to some of the homes that we own for faculty.” The neighborhoods that the demolitions affect are not always pleased with the changes, but Alexander said that Boise State is having ongoing conversations with the residents about the pushback. “We are aware of their goals for the neighborhood to continue to be a place for homeowners and students, faculty and staff. We are actively injecting residential real estate management funds into homes in the neighborhood to bring them back and to promote a system for faculty (or) staff housing in the neighborhood,” Alexander said. Ed McLuskie is a graduate professor at Boise State as well as a resident of the neighborhood that will be affected by the demolition of the houses. McLuskie has long been an advocate for the university

The university plans to demolish two homes near campus. Taylor Humby | The Arbiter and community working together to find the best way for expansion to benefit everyone. “We want to rehabilitate those kinds of houses or put in something equivalent that is actually an improvement but is, at the same time, compatible with the neighborhood that is there,” McLuskie said.

“Neighbors are always put in the position of having to react. They are never put in the position of being able to be proactive.” Ed McLuskie, graduate professor

“Neighbors are always put in the position of having to react. They are never put in the position of being able to be proactive.” According to the enrollment data provided by Boise State, overall enrollment has steadily increased every year. However, a noticeable jump can be seen between the 2015 and 2016 school years from 19,310 students to 23,886 in fall 2016. This is the same year that a statement from the Idaho Department of Labor said that the population of the Boise Metro area increased by 2.3 percent. With the increase in students attending Boise State, the university has no option but to expand the campus. Boise State plans for growth, so they purchase land surrounding the existing campus in preparation. Alexander explained this is routine for Boise State. “We have identified expansion zones, and oftentimes, when a property goes on

the market, the owner will sometimes even contact the university, asking the university if they are an interested purchaser,” Alexander said. McLuskie voiced his own view on the issue. “This is what I would say to the university: become more proactive in getting neighbors, faculty, staff, students and the city into creating the plan for the next 15-20 years. If the demolition is inevitable, the university could replace them with affordable housing that is compatible with the neighborhood,” McLuskie said. Christy Jordan, director of capital planning and space management, said that Boise State updates its expansion master plan every eight to 10 years, and the last update was created in 2015. Even though the master plan was updated three years ago, Jordan said that it is not outdated. “The 2015 master plan was created to accommodate 30,000-35,000 students over 20-30 years, and recent growth is consistent with this planning,” Jordan said. “The 2015 master plan reflects the need for additional academic buildings, housing and other amenities to address growth, especially with regard to increases to numbers of students living on or near campus.” As far as the future of Boise State is concerned, the expansion reflects a prospering student population, but one that needs to coincide with the surrounding community. According to Jordan, the short-term plans do not include development in the future expansion area. “There are plans in the works to make the south portion of campus more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and to connect the neighborhood south of Beacon Avenue to the university through the installation of a Hawk light at Beacon and Manitou,” Jordan said.

JANUARY 15, 2018

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NEWS

GOVERNOR BRAD LITTLE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION DURING HIS FIRST TERM

The 33rd governor delivers his first State of the State address Ximena Bustillo | Online Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

n Jan. 7, newly elected governor of Idaho Brad Little delivered his first State of the State address in front of Idaho’s lawmakers, press and constituents. From Idaho’s history, to education, to healthcare and changes in budget, Little discussed his goals for his upcoming term. “I stand here today not to reminisce about Idaho’s past, but to look towards our future,” Little said. “As governor, I will seek to reflect our shared Idaho values and aspirations.” Education Little discussed Idaho’s future as a national leader and cited education as his number one priority for the state budget. Little stated that his budget recommendation increases funding for the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship by $7 million. “In fiscal year 2018, a total of 1,780 applicants were eligible for the scholarship but did not receive an award because of lack of funding,” Little said. This comes after the Idaho State Board of Education brought forth a new funding model for Idaho’s universities. Little explained that he wishes to further explore the advantages and disadvantages of the “outcomes-based funding model” that was proposed to the legislature in October before making a decision. “If we just provide scholarships then students can decide where they are going and what degree they choose,” Little told The Arbiter in a press conference. “This is a lot simpler. We are just going to fund scholarships.” Little’s budget recommendations implements the fifth year of former Governor Butch Otter’s task force recommendations. Additionally, Little is creating an initiative titled “Our Kids, Idaho’s Future.” “This initiative will provide Idaho’s next five-year blueprint for education investment and reform,” Little said. “I will continue to focus on increasing Idaho’s go-on

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rates and accomplishing the goal of having 60 percent of our 25- to 34-year-olds with a completed degree or professional certificate.” Little emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the Idaho National Laboratory and Idaho Universities, which includes Boise State. “Those enhanced ties will result in a more secure nation, thriving laboratory and strengthened university programs,” Little said. “More importantly, it presents opportunities for our state’s best and brightest students to work and raise their families right here in Idaho.” Healthcare First, Little addressed Medicaid expansion and the healthcare gap faced by many Idahoans. “I intend to work with you to implement Medicaid expansion using an Idaho approach,” Little said. “We need spring in our safety net so that there are multiple pathways for the gap population to move off Medicaid and onto private coverage.” The governor is also proposing that $4 million go towards combating opioid abuses. According to the budget summary the dollars will be delegated to “develop a system of prevention, monitoring and treating opioid-related addiction and carry out the Partnership for Success grant.” “Looking ahead, I will issue an executive order on substance abuse, formalizing this existing opioid plan, broadening these efforts, directing future resources and creating non-offender programs for substance abuse.” The Idaho State Legislature has officially resumed session and will continue through the month of March.

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Governor Brad Little pictured at inauguration. Photo by Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter » Enroll anytime! » Complete in one year or less! » Self-paced study. Anytime. Anywhere!

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Biology Computer Science Economics English

Music History Philosophy Physics

Environmental Science

Political Science

Family and Consumer Sciences

Psychology Sociology

Health Care Administration

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Member institutions include: University of Idaho Lewis-Clark State College

Idaho State University Boise State University

Participating schools accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

NEWS

BOISE STATE’S ENDOWMENT TOTALS $110 MILLION

Compared to other Idaho colleges, Boise State ranks second in endowment totals Alyza Lovenguth | Guest Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

n endowment fund is much like a garden: seeds are planted, gardened, harvested and then distributed among the people the garden was planted for. However, Boise State’s endowment fund is most like a farm. With 1,100 individual funds, Paul Powell, executive director of the Boise State University Foundation, said Boise State’s endowment totaled $110 million on June 30 at the end of the fiscal year. Endowment explained An endowment is a pool of money that consists of individual funds made to fulfill a specific purpose, according to Powell. An example Powell used was a scholarship fund, where a family may create a fund with an initial allotment of money in memory of a loved one; other people can contribute money to that same fund to make it bigger. “Say you had $100,000 in that scholarship fund, that’s pooled with our other endowed money, and we invest it,” Powell said. “Let’s say we get 6 percent earnings on that money, what you’re doing is you’re spending the earnings for whatever purpose the donor wanted to support, as opposed to spending the original gift amount, which gives you a permanent stream of money every year.” According to Powell, Idaho State has about $58 million in their endowment fund. The University of Idaho has $280 million in their endowment fund. Between the three, Boise State ranks second place. According to Neil, Boise State is actually under-endowed based on how much the school’s population has grown. “We have around 25,000 students now,” Neil said. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could give half of their tuition in scholarships? But we just don’t have that kind of money.” Powell said the amount of an endowment fund is often connected to the age of the institution, due to the number of

Boise State’s endowment is the second largest in Idaho. alumni and the size of the student body. Boise State is a young college, according to Neil, with its first four-year graduating class in 1967. How Boise State’s endowment works The idea of the endowment is for the funds to grow over time—the minimum earning amount being 5.5 percent each year but some years land on six, eight or 10 percent earnings, according to Powell. According to Jennifer Neil, interim associate vice president for development and executive director of gift planning, the minimum amount for a named endowment fund is $25,000, with 4 percent of the fund being dedicated to the endowment’s purpose every year. Neil said the original amount of money in an endowment fund should never decrease. Instead, the money is put in the stock market by employed investors with knowledge on where to invest, with the hope of a growth of at least 5.5 percent. With the individual endowment fund growing, the amount given each year will also increase each year. “We give donors an endowment report every year and that tells them how much is in their fund, how much went out to

Graphic by Isabel Sarhad | The Arbiter

a student, the name of the student, the major of the student and a little about the student. So it’s a process of continually keeping the donor involved.” According to Neil, the growth of an endowment is not just in investments and earnings; it also needs new money coming into it constantly. The development team is structured to raise this money. A big part of the Boise State University Foundation is not only to invest the money from the endowment fund but to manage it, according to Powell. When an endowed fund is created, the Boise State University Foundation makes an agreement, a one- to two-page document, that lays out the donor’s purpose for the fund, the name of the fund, how much is being donated and how the donation will be distributed, which both the foundation, the donor and the university sign. “That’s a big part of what the foundation’s job is, not only to invest the money but to manage every year how much money gets distributed to each of the specific purposes being funded: scholarships or operation expenses or something else,” Powell said. For scholarships, the criteria are based how the fund will be administered and

who decides who obtains the scholarship: whether the scholarship is for those of financial need, a full-time student in a specific program and beyond. The Boise State University Foundation also has about $65 million in current use funds—totaling close to $200 million total assets at the foundation. Unlike endowment funds, current-use funds are when money is donated to be used in a short period of time, such as donations to the construction of the Micron Material Research building and Fine Arts Building. “We know that money is going to be spent in the next one to three years, and we keep it in short-term investments, a kind of stable value investments,” Powell said. “As opposed to our endowment investments which are longer-term investments and are invested differently, maybe more aggressively, because you want it to grow. With stable value, you just want to make sure it’s there when it needs to be.”

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! JANUARY 15, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

THE ARBITER’S RESOLUTIONS After a month-long break full of rest and reflection, The Arbiter staff is back and better than ever. Here, we share what we have in store for ourselves– personally and professionally– for the new year. We’re excited to go to work for you, Broncos!

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JORDAN ERB

XIMENA BUSTILLO

LOGAN POTTER

DAVID COLLIE

Editor-In-Chief

Online Editor

Culture Editor

Culture Reporter

In 2019, I’m pursuing the same resolution that I set for myself year after year: to become a better person. I hope to improve as a professional, as a student, and as a daughter, sibling, and friend. Generally I break these down into “hard” and “soft” goals. For this year’s hard goals, I am going to read more and spend more time away from my phone, and call home to talk to my family more often. As for my soft goals, I want to become a stronger leader and give others the confidence to do the same.

This year I definitely want to travel more for non-work, non-school purposes. I have been very lucky the last few years to get to travel but it has always been tied to school or work. I always encourage others to travel because I have found it to be one of the most relaxing things. I would love to do it more without the pressures and stress of academics and work.

My New Year’s resolution is to practice effective self-care, and I don’t mean face masks. In the rush of the semester, focusing on academics and jobs, it is far too easy to forget about what’s important: our own health. I am certainly guilty of not taking on any “me” time, so this semester, I’m changing things up a little to keep myself in one piece by May. Whether it’s yoga or meditating or just breathing for a minute, 2019 is about focusing on my goals and ambitions while still reflecting once in awhile.

My New Year’s resolution is to manage my time better. Much of the stress in my life comes from procrastinating, and overcoming that would give me the freedom to accomplish other goals. That’s why first thing tomorrow I’ll stop procrastinating. I’m busy right now, but as soon as I get a chance I’ll stop procrastinating. I promise. And if tomorrow doesn’t work, I’ll definitely stop by the end of the week. Probably. Okay seriously end of the month and not a day later. But maybe I would have more time to focus on this goal when the semester is over?

AUTUM ROBERTSON

ZACH HILL

Wow, it’s 2019 already. Amazing! This year I’m keeping my New Year’s resolutions simple. I’m going to attempt to workout (almost) everyday but I’ll be eating healthily, not sure how long that one’s going to last. Another that I have is to read more books, but I enjoy doing this so it shouldn’t be that hard. My final resolution is to learn how to swim!

My resolution this year is to spend less time indoors and more time being outside experiencing things. I feel as though I spend a significant portion of my time on the internet, watching Netflix, YouTube (thanks, Buzzfeed Unsolved) and going through social networking sites, but no more! This year I want to commit myself to getting outside, even if it’s just sitting outside to read a book and take in the fresh air.

DELANEY BRASSIL

Sports & Rec Editor

Sports & Rec Reporter

2018 taught me that higher education is not all about the classes. It is about the extraordinary people you meet and even the smallest of friendships you form. 2018 showed me how to break out of my comfort zone and I aim to maintain this personal growth. My 2019 resolution, to put it simply, is: no excuses. No excuses in my studying, no excuses for maintaining my personal health, and no excuses for not making my writing as strong as I know it can be.

CHRIS DUGGAN

Copy Editor

I want to practice listening when others are talking, rather than thinking about the next thing I’m going to say. So often I find myself waiting for my turn to talk again, so I can continue barfing up the string of thoughts that’s running in my head. My main priority is to make my point, and this takes enough concentration that I may not have mental space to hear what another person is saying. A friend told me recently that when they realize they’re not actually listening to somebody, they start repeating every word the person is saying in their head.

TAYLOR RICO-PEKEROL JACK BRIGGS News Reporter

Every year, I choose a New Year’s resolution that I know I will not keep. Usually it is to go to the gym more, eat healthy, or stick to a sleep schedule. This year I have decided to choose something a little more abstract and easier to do. I have decided to do one thing a week that pushes me out of my comfort zone. Whether it be complimenting a stranger, cutting my hair short, or trying something new I want to push myself to be a better version of myself.

News Reporter

Opinion Editor

ISABEL EVERETT

Since I’ve never set a New Year’s resolution, mine is to set one and actually follow through on it. Done. On a more serious note, in 2019, I’m going to call my sister at least once a week. This resolution will not require changing deep-seated habits or a significant time commitment. Since leaving for college, my sister and I have gradually communicated less and less, but after seeing her over break I realized it’s time to change that.

Social Media Coordinator

My New Year’s resolution revolves around my health, mentally and physically. I’ve made it my goal to try and drink a set amount of water everyday, incorporate yoga into my schedule, as well as write in a journal every night. All of these things are supposed to help make me physically feel better but also have mentally relaxing qualities. Between school and my multiple jobs, I regularly find that I am dehydrated, sleep deprived, and stressed out. Hopefully 2019 is the year that I begin to take a more active role in caring for my body!

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F E AT U R E

Boise state

Women athletes

Discus us s us Inequaa lityy Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

omen athletes are often faced with trials and tribulations from the moment they start playing, but many times gender-based challenges don’t become apparent until women start playing at a higher level. At the collegiate level, attendance in women’s games compared to men’s is one of the most prominent issues. When the Boise State men’s basketball team took on Idaho State in their home opener, the game brought in 5,001 fans. Meanwhile, the women’s home opener against Cal State Northridge brought in 419 fans. Attendance is a factor athletes count on and according to Boise State student-athletes, a lack of attendance is something they notice. Because of this disparity between men’s and women’s athletics, female athletes can face backlash including negative stereotypes, lack of

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attendance and pay gaps. A Boise State coach and three student-athletes spoke to The Arbiter about gender inequality and their personal experiences. Coach perspective Boise State’s highest-paid female head coach and male head coach differ tremendously in their hourly wage. Football coach Bryan Harsin is the highest-paid male head coach making $697.12 per hour, while Christine Mabile, the swimming and diving coach, is the highest-paid female coach making $40.87 an hour. The disparity between their wages is most likely due to the amount of revenue brought in by each sport. USA Today reported that in 2016-17 Boise State athletics brought in $45,486,486 in total revenue and swim and dive accounted for zero percent of that. For the most part, female coaches are also awarded less pay. They are also not represented well; in 2017 less than 50 percent of females

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were coaching women’s teams in the NCAA . There are 11 women’s sports at Boise State, but there are not many female coaches to show for this. There are only five female head coaches and eight female assistant coaches that coach women’s sports, the rest are men with six head coaches and 11 assistants. Maria Lopez is one of the assistant coaches for the women’s tennis team. Originally from Venezuela, Lopez started playing tennis when she was a young girl. Like many young women athletes, she didn’t feel all the repercussions while she was playing. But when she started working in the higher level of athletics, Lopez really began to notice the gender inequality. “There has been much more adversity for me to have to go through; different paths that a guy can just get there without having to,”

Lopez said. “As a player you don’t notice that there’s that much inequality, but when you get out to the real world trying to get a job, if someone else who doesn’t have the same credentials or experience but they are male, they get the job. That for me has been more challenging.” Lopez emphasized that they teach the women on the team about this to prepare them for their futures after tennis. For Lopez, the lack of respect and recognition for women athletes is more difficult for her to cope with than the pay gap. Lopez says she has seen improvement over the years, but it’s “not nearly moving fast enough.” Boise State University has managed to give both women’s and men’s sports equal coverage with promotions including press releases and social media coverage, and that doesn’t go unnoticed by the players and coaches. “This is the third school I’ve worked for and one of the things I really like about Boise State is the success of the women’s sports,” Lopez said. “I know that they really take the time to support female sports more than they did at the other schools.” However, according to Lopez, stigmas that are associated with women’s athletics can have a lot to do with some people’s lack of exposure to them from listing or watching. “When you look at TV time the majority of the time is spent on male sports, so of course when you grow up that is what you’re seeing,” Lopez said. “I definitely don’t remember seeing women that I could to look up to when I was growing up. You might see two to three players as opposed guys who you see in almost every sport.” Student perspective Boise State only keeps attendance for women’s basketball, but that’s not to say that other women’s sports on campus don’t have the same problem with low attendance. Some student-athletes contested to a visible difference in attendance. Sophomore tennis player Vanessa Timm was raised in Kerteminde, Denmark. She said that in both Denmark and in the United States, she has witnessed a huge attendance difference between men’s and women’s matches. “I think people say that it’s not as interesting as watching men’s games or matches or whatever sport it is, and maybe it’s inequality in

F E AT U R E Graphics by Maddie Ceglecki and Isabel Sarhad general, how females are looked at as vulnerable and they don’t really play sports,” Timm said. “(Women’s tennis) is still kind of new compared to men’s sports. People think men are more dominant and they know what they’re doing. I often run into the opinion with guys where they don’t watch women’s sports because its too boring and it’s not a real sport.” Tennis is one of the only sports that pays somewhat equally at the professional level. The Grand Slam (the four biggest tennis tournaments played annually) prize money is the same, but Timm hears people argue that it shouldn’t be because “men work harder for the money than the women do.” Junior basketball guard Braydey Hodgins grew up in Pasco, Washington in a family that is highly regarded in the world of women’s basketball. At one point, Hodgins’ mother was the all-time career scorer at the University of Washington and eventually went on to play basketball overseas. “In a time when women in sports weren’t that big, (my mother) still did a lot of amazing things. I know they didn’t even have a threepoint line when she played,” Hodgins said. “I mean just where she came from, she grew up in Pasco, she was in the hall of fame in her high school. She was the first women’s inductee in the University of Washington hall of fame; that’s where I get my inspiration from.” Hodgins’ two sisters both played basketball at Eastern Washington University where they went on to become the all-time career scorers. Her family has paved the way for her and showed her that women deserve just as much credit in athletics. Because of all the women athletes in her family, Hodgins has seen how women’s sports have evolved over the years. Since her mother played, changes include the installment of the three-point line and the creation of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). But one thing that hasn’t been made equal is the pay gap. “I think the biggest problem is the pay wage right now in the WNBA and NBA, and I think that’s something everyone is continuously fighting for,” Hodgins said. “It’s obvious that the WNBA doesn’t bring in as much revenue as the NBA, but I think it should be recognized more.” It is true that the WNBA brings in far less revenue annually. Airtime and media atten-

tion are a large part of this; only two percent of airtime was allocated to women’s sports on SportsCenter in 2014, according to a study done at the University of Southern California. To compare the highest paid athletes in both leagues, in the NBA Stephen Curry makes a yearly salary of $34 million, while the WNBA’s Sylvia Fowles is making a yearly salary of about $1.2 million. The pay gap is something that doesn’t resonate well with most female student-athletes. Redshirt junior softball pitcher Rainey Dyreson grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho where her father taught her how to play softball by watching YouTube videos. In Dyreson’s experience, being a girl that plays sports hasn’t been a disadvantage to her at all. But like many other women athletes, she sees the problem with the pay gap. “Monica Abbott is the first ever softball player to sign a $1 million contract, but when you look at men’s baseball, they’re all on like $3 to $4 million contracts and that’s the lowest player. There’s definitely a difference there,” Dyreson said. Boise State University has recently started a Division I baseball team, but because they have not played any games, there is no way to compare the attendance between softball and baseball games yet. Not all women athletes are experiencing gender inequality, but that’s not to say it isn’t happening. There is a wage gap between men’s and women’s professional athletics along with big differences in attendance that can be seen at every level of sport. Sources believe that more exposure to women’s sports in the media could help break these barriers. “If we don’t get as much exposure as men it’s going to be hard for little boys and girls to look at women’s sports and respect them and be excited for them,” Lopez said.

JANUARY 15, 2018

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C U LT U R E JANUARY 15, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

HOW TO REBOUND FROM A ROUGH SEMESTER

Some semesters may feel like a nose dive, but things can always turn around

Even if last semester took a nose dive, there’s still hope for the upcoming months. Illustration by Wyatt Wurtenberger

David Collie | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

t the conclusion of the fall semester, the winter break provided some time to decompress. But for some students, this time may have been used to dwell on shortcomings, missed opportunities, failed courses or dropped GPAs. With the new year and new semester, however, there potentially comes a fresh start for students to turn things around. A rough semester can mean different things for different people, ranging anywhere from a failed class to an A-. No matter what wound lingers from last semester, the new semester is here and there are a number of ways to ensure the same mistakes aren’t repeated. One resource to help with this rebound is the Advising and Academic Support Center (AASC). John Maloney, an academic advisor with AASC, gave some advice on the matter. “The general advice that I give students is that there’s nothing that you can’t come back from,” Maloney said. “It’s just a matter of trying to figure out what happened and trying to eliminate whatever obstacles were there before.” Regardless of the hardships the last semester brought, there is nothing that can’t be overcome, and advising, according to Maloney, can sometimes help students identify what some of those previous obstacles were. In addition to advisors like Maloney, AASC provides a number of resources for students to have a better and more productive semester. One of the most accessible is the collection of tips and strategies on a number of topics such as note-taking, test anxiety, time management and more. While topics like these are likely to help a semester go more smoothly, there

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are sometimes more challenging obstacles that get in the way. The director of the Math Learning Center, Gary Hagerty, had some insight on the subject and explained that these individual obstacles are not the only factor, but rather there are a number of misconceptions and mindsets which can be a barrier to student success. One such case is the attitude many students have regarding failure. Hagerty said many students may feel defeated after they experience failure but explained that this might not be the best reaction. Using the example of soccer, he explained that, despite missing a majority of the attempted goals, many people still enjoy playing soccer. Failure abounds, but people are not defeated by it. “Why are we allowing learning in the first place to defeat us?” Hagerty said. “We have to make mistakes when we are learning anything new, and the more complicated it is, the more mistakes we’re going to make.” Avoiding these feelings of defeat can be a major step in finding greater academic success. Furthermore, Hagerty discussed one large difference between high school and college learning that can make things difficult, especially for freshmen. There is a shift in responsibility in college learning. In a high school algebra class, for example, most work will take place inside the classroom, and a teacher will walk around providing assistance. That same class in a college setting would see

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most of the work taking place outside of the class and the important responsibility of finding help placed on the student. This crucial step of finding help can come in many forms. Although support from advisors or professors can be important, there is something special about finding support from peers. Francisco Salinas, the director of Student Diversity and Inclusion, talked about the importance of this assistance. “Students have to figure out how to overcome their challenges, and they shouldn’t do it alone,” Salinas said. “If they can do it with some peers who are experiencing similar things… then that is a resource that will serve (their) devel-

opment far beyond just the institution.” Salinas said that, in addition to grades, college is also about the skills students develop in learning how to overcome obstacles by creating and finding resources. Being able to find peer support is a valuable skill in college and beyond. For every student, college will likely come with its failures, but overcoming those failures is an important part of learning and becoming successful. Some semesters may feel disheartening, but there is no time like the new year and the new semester to turn things around.

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HOW LEARNING TO LISTEN CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Professor Tom Lobaugh explains how his course helps students Michelle Privette | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

this is because people “don’t understand the difference between hearing and listening.” Understanding this difference can be the first step towards being an effective communicator. Because there is so much more to listening than most people understand, it takes time and practice to develop this important skill. “We all listen and hear on a daily basis, so we have a certain level of competence, but we all benefit a lot from being deliberate and studying how to do these things better,” said Todd Norton, head of the Department of Communication.

“We all listen and hear on a daily basis, so we have a certain level of competence, but we all benefit a lot from being deliberate and studying how to do these things better.” Todd Norton, head of the Department of Abby Segale, Zach Gappa and professor Tom Lobaugh Photo by Michelle Privette

“Ok

everybody. Let’s breathe,” said Tom Lobaugh, an adjunct communication professor, to his students as he began his course on listening. He understands that students face a great deal of stress, so taking the time to breathe deeply and let go of the stressors in their daily lives is essential to setting the tone for an atmosphere of learning in his class, which he teaches each week. “Being able to breathe allows us to put aside our internal noise and be present,” said Abby Segale, a senior communication major and current teaching assistant for Lobaugh’s listening course.

Segale believes that taking a few minutes at the beginning of each class allows students to remove their distractions and focus. Although learning to listen is arguably one of the more important skills for students to learn, education for this subject is hard to come by. Of all the universities across the United States, there are fewer than 10 schools currently offering a semester-long course devoted to listening, according to Lobaugh. The lack of education in this area is likely due to the common assumption that students already know how to listen. Zach Gappa, a senior communication major and teaching assistant for the course, believes

Communication Having the opportunity to spend a full semester learning what it means to be a good listener and being able to practice these skills in a classroom setting makes this class stand apart from others on campus. Lobaugh is certain that his class has something to offer each individual student, regardless of their major. “Everyone needs to learn how to be a listener, not just students in the communication department,” Lobaugh said. While this course remains an uncommon class at the university level, the communication department at Boise State plans to continue making it available for students.

“I remain committed to offering that class and Dr. Lobaugh teaching that class on a regular basis precisely because of student feedback,” Norton said. “Students report pretty consistently really enjoying that class and learning a lot about themselves, learning a lot about their own behaviors, productive or otherwise, learning about how to improve their consciousness of mind and listening processes in a variety of contexts.” Lobaugh has one primary objective for his course: for his students to become better listeners. To accomplish this objective, he strives to help students build connections from the theories they learn in class to their own lives, ideally enhancing their relationships both in and out of the classroom. Instead of lecturing for the duration of each class, Lobaugh encourages classes to be conversational. “Students have something of value to share, and it’s important to create a safe space where they feel valued and can bring their knowledge to the table,” Lobaugh said. Each person brings with them a wealth of experience and knowledge, and bringing the students, teaching assistants and Lobaugh together in an open conversation provides an opportunity for everyone present to learn from one another. “It’s a life skills class. It changes your life, and it changes how you perceive things. Everyone takes something different from this class, and that’s what’s truly amazing about it,” Gappa said. “It’s going to show you your flaws, and it’s going to show you your strengths, but it’s going to change how you communicate and how you view the world.”

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FROM STARVING ARTISTS TO BROADWAY STARS

Students and faculty discuss the challenges of going from campus to a career in theatre Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Photo courtesy of the Boise State Theatre Majors Association’s Facebook page.

t’s no secret that the skills learned in extracurricular activities, whether in high school or college, are known to create more well-rounded students and, eventually, job candidates in the “real world,” regardless of the field students choose to pursue after graduation. These extracurricular groups can create lifelong hobbies and, for some, entire careers. Albeit no easy feat to enter any field, the entertainment industry is notoriously hard to succeed in, as noted in the popular phrase, “starving artist.” Boise State students, however, seek to become more than artist stereotypes. The campus theatre arts program, part of the School of the Arts, brings foundational and creative studies together to create a substantial and well-rounded experience for theatre majors and minors across the university. While the skills that these students learn are often universal between career fields, they aren’t always the key to becoming famous on Broadway, but these students aim to succeed in the paths available to them nonetheless. On the stage Job interviews often require potential candidates to describe their career goals, and for some, it can be a terrifying question to answer. For sophomore Theatre Majors

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Association (TMA) President Michael Burns, however, the answer is both simple and practical. “My goal is to work. I have a more artistic and emotionally impactful answer, but it’s work,” Burns said. “It becomes this idea of ‘I want to have a job.’ I do theatre because I enjoy creating characters and telling stories; I want to be a force of good, but at the end of the day, it’s the same kind of job that everyone wants.” While Burns is confident in his goals and aspirations in his second year at Boise State, it wasn’t an obstacle-free ride to reach this point. A passion sparked within him when he saw his first professional show at 14. Since then, he has worked through several aspects of the field while trying to reach his goal as an actor, including working as a stagehand to get his foot in the door locally. “I want to act; that is my field. It’s kind of one of those things, like if you hear someone say they want to be an actor, you assume they want to be the next blockbuster star, but some just want to be part of local productions, like Boise Little Theater or Boise Contemporary Theatre,” Burns said. “There are so many great options. Currently, I work at the Morrison Center as a stagehand. It’s equally enjoyable because I enjoy the environment,

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that’s what I want to be a part of.” From local theatre productions all the way to Broadway, there’s no single or simple path to succeeding in the job market, and it may be harder to find an appropriate living for those who participate in theatre, but aren’t majoring in it. Fortunately, according to Rachel Giacomino, former TMA president and current actor with Idaho Shakespeare Festival, she’s comfortable with wherever her path takes her in the theatre world. “My number one goal is to make it to Broadway, but I would be happy just maintaining a successful career and being a resident of a local company or touring,” Giacomino said. “It’s not about money for me, it’s about keeping myself busy with my work.” Off the stage Although her sights are set high within the entertainment industry, Giacomino also believes the skills she has learned throughout her stage experience have propelled her to succeed in any career path she chooses to take, strengthening her faith in success in the job market “The skills go beyond the stage. Not only on the performing side of things, but also technical–it’s important to have a strong

work ethic,” Giacomino said. “It’s the main thing that has carried with me into my other jobs; time management, delegation and professionalism are all things you learn in theatre. You have to put entire productions together, manage time and stay professional to keep everything together in pretty much any career you find.” Even more prominent than professional skills in the theatre world are what Richard Klautsch, chair of the Department of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing, described as “soft skills.” Falling into more creative direction, these skills are used for collaboration and organization rather than the traditional skills that one would list on a resume for an office job. “All of these skills are things students learn coming into the program and working in our productions,” Klautsch said. “We have to be ready on opening night, and our students get to experience working on production crews, being performers and they learn a lot of responsibility. It also teaches students how to communicate when talking about creative and abstract ideas, as well as how to get things done and schedule and organize.” Although he is partial to the theatre and academic worlds per his career path thus far, Klautsch believes that no matter where students may end up post-graduation, the goal for all professionals in the job market ought to be the same. Without the discipline and focus that is typically required by employers, it can be difficult for students to succeed, and Klautsch described the hard truth of the theatre world and why its skills can be considered universal. “The moment that you can’t give your full attention, that’s when we fail and the whole thing falls apart,” Klautsch said. “You learn to bring that commitment to your work every single day, regardless of emotional experience or dealing with other problems, you have to be able to come into the job giving 100 percent. I think that’s what makes (professionals) successful to an extent.”

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BOSS B*TCH PLAYLIST 10 SONGS

JUST A THOUGHT Victoria’s Secret is that she loves to discriminate Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Songs to start the semester out right. Powerful pump up songs picked by Student Media’s female staff.

SAVE TO YOUR LIBRARY Motherlove by Bea Miller Logan Potter