The Arbiter 1.22.19 Vol. 31 Issue 18

January 22, 2018

Vol. 31 Issue 18 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

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How hiking and the environment can improve graduate students' mental health NEWS

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Through the Holiday Meal Project, students donated 543 meal swipes to give meals to others at the BRC

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OPINION

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The time we spend on our phones is taking away from the time we could spend doing things of value arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

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During its second year at Boise State, the TournĂŠes Film Festival is aimed at creating dialogue @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

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The gymnastics team works its way through the ranks, currently taking the no. 7 spot in the nation

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@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 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.

Ryann Banks, freshman, rallies a crowd on Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 21.

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

Graduate students carr y a heav y burden, and are of ten faced with challenges to their mental well-being.

Some groups on campus are working to help them. Illustration by Wyatt Wur tenberger.

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 INVOLVEMENT FAIR jordan ballroom

wednesday, jan. 23, 2 pm Learn more about the latest involvement opportunity on and off campus.

Local non-profits, student orgs and other companies will be present.

FREE PREMIUM FITNESS CLASSES rec center all week

During the first two weeks of the semester, all premium fitness classes are free for Rec members.

TOURNÉES FILM FESTIVAL

skaggs hall

thursday, jan. 24, 6 pm From Jan. 24-Feb. 8, Boise State will be hosting the Tournées French Film Festival in Skaggs Hall in the Micron Business and Economics Building.

WOMEN’S TENNIS boas complex

saturday, jan. 25, 12 pm Boise State women’s tennis will take on Weber State at the Boas Soccer and Tennis Complex on Jan. 25.

GYMNASTICS JAN. 18

BSU - 195.400 SOUTHERN UTAH: 194.325

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL JAN. 19

72 60 BSU vs FRESNO

MEN’S BASKETBALL JAN. 19

53 63

BSU vs FRESNO

WOMEN’S TENNIS JAN. 19

BSU - 6 IDAHO STATE - 1

NEWS

JANUARY 22, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

FOOD PANTRY TO CELEBRATE ITS FIRST YEAR AT THE END OF THE MONTH

Since last January, the food pantry has undergone a facelift to its facilities and has plans to expand in the future Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Food Pantry, located in the Office of the Dean of Students.

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hile reading the notes and suggestions left in the comment box in the newly revamped food pantry, Anna Moreshead, the assistant dean of students, received a lot of gratitude from students.

The food pantry, located in the Office of the Dean of Students, opened last year on Jan. 30. Since then it has made improvements ranging from the layout to what types of foods are provided, in hopes of better servicing those who use it. Over the past year, 149 individual users signed in, recording 402 individual visits, though this number could be higher as students are not required to sign in out of respect for their privacy.

“I think one thing to go along with these

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numbers relates back to some of the values ASBSU and our office valued early on was the privacy of our users,” Moreshead said.

“So we purposely do not have anyone back there to monitor or check in with. These numbers represent the students who have entered their Boise State ID number when they get in there.”

To revamp the food pantry and make it more welcoming for students, an interior designer came in and helped by replacing the flooring, painting a wall and adding matching shelving that was all donated and allows for more food to be placed on the shelves.

“We heard pretty quickly and early on it was not the most welcoming space to walk into. It did not really look like a pantry because we were using leftover office furni-

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Taylor Rico-Pekerol | The Arbiter ture, so it looked school-like was the feedback we were getting,” Moreshead said.

Lauren Oe is the associate dean of students and has worked alongside Moreshead in making sure the pantry is stocked and ready to serve students in need.

“I feel that it is important for students to know that we put thought into the space and (we) want them to know we care about them. Environmental design is important to show students no matter what they are facing that we are very thoughtful about that experience,” Oe said.

Throughout the year, the comment box and students talking to people within the Office of the Dean of Students have resulted in a change in the food offered as well.

“Some feedback I got from the pantry users in the comment cards expressed some

interest and need for a diverse range of diet, especially for international students.

And we realized, yes, not every student is going to love ramen or pasta,” Moreshead said.

The food pantry’s staff try to promote healthy eating by making meal kits and placing recipe cards with the kits for easy meal prep for students.

Associate Student of Boise State University (ASBSU) President Kaleb Smith has worked alongside other students to support the food pantry.

“They (ASBSU) are thinking of expanding it into other buildings because right now it is just in the dean of students office.

They were thinking of doing it in every other building so that students always have a chance to grab something when they need it,” Smith said.

One of the foundations of the pantry has been privacy. Students are allowed to go in and take as much as they need and do not need to check in with anyone.

Although they are not required to sign in they can put their ID number in if they feel comfortable enough to do so.

More changes are planned for the food pantry this year. Besides potentially expanding into other buildings, some of the main priorities are to increase signage and marketing.

“The more it expands and the more it kind of catches wind and some of the marketing comes out, it will become part of more conversations student-to-student,” Smith said. “There are a lot of ideas swirling around so it’s kind of just how to make it happen and we have a good budget, so hopefully we get some changes going this semester, or some more changes at least.”

NEWS

EMERGENCY FUNDS AID STUDENTS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

Office of the Dean of Students offers relief for emergency financial situations Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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hrough Boise State’s Office of the Dean of Students, there are emergency funds available to provide financial assistance to students experiencing unanticipated, temporary financial hardship resulting from emergency or crisis situations, and are in danger of withdrawing. When academics are supposed to be a student’s main focus, it is important to know there is somewhere to turn when an unanticipated financial stressor occurs.

For the academic school year of 201718, student emergency funds granted a total of $25,228 to 50 students. That number has risen considerably this year, with 63 approved awards totaling $25,288 being granted in the first semester alone, according to Anna Moreshead, assistant dean of students.

Students are awarded up to $400 but they can request anything below that if they do not need the full amount. The funding has been operating entirely off of donated funds for the past three years that come from private community members, parents of Boise State students, fundraising, or from grants through the state.

Students are asked to fill out a survey two to three months after they receive the funds, and on the dean of students’ Facebook page, they have collected anonymous gratitude from those who benefited from the program.

“I would like to thank Boise State for helping me in my time of need. I was in a tight pinch and you gave me exactly what I needed to pull through a hard time. As a result I am now able to continue my studies at Boise State, complete an internship, and graduate on time,” said one anonymous student.

Moreshead was handed this project after the 2014 vice president of Associated Student Body of Boise State University

“I would like to thank Boise State for helping me in my time of need. I was in a tight pinch and you gave me exactly what I needed to pull through a hard time. As a result I am now able to continue my studies at Boise State, complete an internship, and graduate on time.”

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fund but if I am hearing other concerns about food insecurity, child care needs, or academic concerns, I connect students to resources and this is kind of a way to get them in the door.”

The overall process of applying for and receiving the funds takes between two days and a week, depending on how soon the applicant can meet with someone from the Office of the Dean of Students for a meeting.

The Office of the Dean of Students does more than just aid students in their immediate emergency needs. They often also point students in the right direction and connect them with resources with other issues such as food insecurity, child care needs, or academic concerns.

» Enroll anytime! » Complete in one year or less! » Self-paced study. Anytime. Anywhere!

Anonymous student (ASBSU) decided to implement a program that aimed to keep students from withdrawing due to financial burdens.

“We know that life happens in the middle of a semester and she was trying to put some resources out there for students who were possibly at risk from withdrawing from the semester due to financial hardship,” Moreshead said.

The process is straightforward and time-sensitive, as it is utilized in emergency situations in which time is of the essence.

An applicant has to fill out a form on the dean of students’ website and then meet with someone from the Office of the Dean of Students to talk more about their emergency need.

“We have students come in and meet with us as part of the application process and that is a tremendous opportunity for us to hear about their need and see if we can offer additional support that we can provide them,” Moreshead said. “We are talking to them about the emergency

Lauren Oe, the associate dean of students, works alongside Moreshead in awarding students these emergency funds.

“We try to meet with the students because a lot of the situations are more complicated than one situation. So sometimes students are facing multiple hardships or they are just trying to mitigate a lot of other problems they are having,” Oe said.

Often students who are awarded the money want to pay it back but they are not allowed to since it is a grant, according to Moreshead. As a solution, students are able to pay it forward in the future and donate to the emergency fund.

Almost 100 online courses in more than 25 subject areas Accounting

Interdisciplinary

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Modern Languages and Culture

Biology Computer Science Economics English

Music History Philosophy Physics

Environmental Science

Political Science

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Psychology Sociology

Health Care Administration

Statistics

History

Theatre

Humanities

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

JANUARY 22, 2018

Register Online: www.uidaho.edu/isi Toll-free: (877) 464-3246

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NEWS

HOLIDAY MEAL PROJECT SERVES 499 MEALS

Students donated 543 meal swipes at the BRC to others in need Jack Briggs | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ddressing food insecurity has been a rising concern at Boise State over the last year. Between Dec. 5 and Dec. 15, the “Holiday Meal Project” was launched. Students on weekly meal plans donated 543 of their guest swipes with 499 meals being redeemed. During the 10-day period, all a student needed to do was state their intention to receive a “Full Bronco” meal and they would be allowed entrance into the Boise River Cafe with no questions asked.

“I think that food insecurity is a really big issue facing college students today. Our campus is unique where we have commuter students and all types of different demographics coming together so food insecurity is something we will need to continue to address,” said Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) Vice President Emily Rembert.

Modeled after the national program Swipe

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Out Hunger, the project was a collaborative effort between Boise State—that does not currently participate in Swipe Out Hunger—and Aramark, that does support the program on college campuses elsewhere.

Taking inspiration from the national program, five individuals from the food insecurity advisory board, graduate student Jessie Dexter, graduate student Bailey Carson, professor Caile Spear, dining services director Rich Weigel and campus services director Nicole Nimmons, launched the project to provide a solution to food insecurity that more accessible than other programs.

“It was a really successful pilot project with all the partners involved. There is desire to have it happen again at the end of spring semester and there is also a student on campus named Sara Thomas advocating for Swipe Out Hunger, a national program,” Dexter said.

Unlike other programs on campus, such

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as the Food Pantry and the Meal Assistance Program, the Holiday Meal Project sought to eliminate the extra hurdles a food insecure student would need to navigate through to get a meal.

“They didn’t have to write down their student ID number and they didn’t have to swipe their card,” Dexter said. “If you put up little barriers like that students are less likely to use it. I think that did a lot of good on reducing the stigma associated with accessing these resources.”

Rich Weigel was tasked with pitching the idea to Aramark. While he may work for the university today, Weigel understands how companies like Aramark operate because he used to work for similar companies. As a result, Weigel anticipated the concern Aramark might have.

“Every student on a weekly meal plan has 16 guest swipes. We knew that not all of those

guest swipes were being used,” Weigel said.

“But, I wanted to be cognizant of the consequences because when Aramark does all their costing out to determine meal plan pricing, they take into consideration that not all meals will be used. They cost that business out. Because if every single meal was used, I guarantee you it would cost a lot more money.”

Despite its apparent success, one student expressed her trouble with the project on Twitter by stating her attempt to receive a meal was rejected. She was not available for an interview, but there are other signs that the project may have had unintended consequences. While Jake Holt, sophomore business and economic analytics major, was appreciative of the convenience it made during his busy finals week, he received a meal not knowing the project was designed for students facing food insecurity.

“I just really love food,” Holt said.

NEWS

WOMXN’S MARCH RALLIES FOR INCLUSION

Protesters gathered for the third annual march with the goal of uniting women and their communities

Taylor Humby | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Women and their supporters rallied on the Capitol’s steps on Jan. 19 for the third annual Women’s March.

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he third annual Womxn’s March occurred at the Capitol steps on Saturday, Jan. 19, drawing hundreds—if not thousands—to rally behind the cause.

The event is one of hundreds happening across the United States, and a sister to the main event held in Washington, D.C. that spawned from the election of Donald Trump in 2016. This year’s Boise event featured multiple guest speakers, including former White House communications director Jennifer Palmieri, as well as a change from the event spelling of women, to womxn.

The event was held by People for Unity, in collaboration with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.

Tanisha Newton, a senior at Boise State who worked with the Idaho Coalition’s involvement in this year’s event, spoke to the need of expanding inclusion.

“One of the things that the Women’s March has been called out for, is that it is

not as inclusive as it could be,” Newton said. “So by putting the ‘x’ where the ‘e’ goes, there is symbolism that all folks are welcome here. Whether that is men who see themselves as allies, gender non-conforming folks, trans women, whoever it may be.”

Newton stated the Capitol location was chosen to reinforce this idea of inclusion and recognition, due to the symbolic source of power the building holds in the minds of locals.

“There’s been a lot of devaluation in women this year. I think a lot of them have felt overlooked, and under-heard,” Newton said. “It’s a nice opportunity to show recognition to a lot of the women who haven’t been getting recognition, and to the survivors and victims who have been targeted this year and have had the rug pulled out from under them.”

The importance of the event was echoed among the attendees, who spoke about why they decided to march this year. Mo-

Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter

nique Bettencourt, a Boise State student, mentioned her desire to fight not only for women’s equality, but also other issues such as immigrants’ rights and Black Lives Matter.

“I think it’s important to remember every single year that the fight is never really over,” Bettencourt said. “As we solve issues we still need to fight for those that don’t have a voice and can’t speak for themselves.”

Marcher Cami Nichols described the unforgettable feeling of unison amongst protesters looking to create change.

“I have always believed in equality for women, and having the opportunities to demonstrate this I think is really important,” Nichols said. “Any time you get a large group of people together that believe in the same thing it’s just a certain type of magic and it’s powerful to be here and witness.”

Friend to Nichols, Kendall Varin, spoke of the need to unite no matter what might

be appearing to separate us, and why the theme of inclusion in this year’s title change matters to those marching.

“I’m here with my best friend, because we are feminists together, and it’s really cool to be surrounded by other people that want to support each other despite their differences and come together for one cause,” Varin said. “Whether that’s women supporting other women or men supporting other women, whoever it is, it’s really great.”

Echoing the reasoning behind the original creation of the march, along with more current political events, march attendee Caitlin Brunkhorst described her reasoning for joining the movement.

“I am here because Trump was boasting about grabbing genitals, and Kavanaugh was elected as supreme court judge,” Brunkhorst said. “It’s so easy for women to feel like we don’t have a place in the world.

I’m here to stand with my sisters and tell them we do.”

JANUARY 22, 2018

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OPINION JANUARY 22, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

UNESCO MEMBERSHIP IS A WASTE OF MONEY

The United States is out of UNESCO—and we should keep it that way Zach Hill | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The United States left UNESCO on Jan. 1.

Lisa Lubin/Chicago Tribune/TNS

UNESCO’s budgetary problems were most prominent during the tenure of Director-General Irina Bokova, when administrative costs went through the roof, requiring most of their already small budget to go towards things like maintaining their office in Paris. Any programs that attempted to do good things, like the International Hydrological Programme, suffered as a result, never having the funding they needed to sufficiently do their jobs.

In 2019, Bokova is gone, replaced by French politician Audrey Azoulay, but administrative costs are still high. It’s true that administrative costs are going to exist regardless of the organization or director, but UNESCO has a unique problem handling the funding they receive, and years of attempted reform haven’t been successful in fixing these problems. The United States

can do better things with its money, and UNESCO just doesn’t have the financial structure to accomplish anything good.

One of UNESCO’s claims to fame comes from their list of World Heritage Sites, which are landmarks deemed to be of “outstanding universal value.” This list includes environmental sites like Yellowstone and the Everglades alongside cultural markers like the City of Rhodes in Greece. These areas are intended to create some sense of cultural pride among local populations, but they’re often the subject of extreme degradation due to tourism.

Even worse, World Heritage sites claimed

by UNESCO can also force out local populations, who either use the sites as part of rituals or live in the areas. Regardless of which reason people are forced away, UNESCO’s behavior of reducing the lived

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n Jan. 1, 2019, President Donald Trump added to the list of similarities he holds with former President Ronald Reagan: deciding to withdraw full membership status from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a branch of the United Nations dedicated to educating the international community on scientific and cultural issues.

Trump and his supporters cite UNESCO’s “anti-Israel bias” as the main reason for leaving, but frankly, there are a lot of other reasons to leave the organization that are far more compelling. Regardless of why the United States is leaving UNESCO, it’s a move that’s for the better—UNESCO is a bureaucratic disaster that usually does more harm than good.

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experiences of people connected to cultural markers to nothing more than an item on a list is problematic, and emblematic of Western dominance in culture.

UNESCO’s focus on education is not necessarily a bad thing—people should know how to better manage water resources, or be able to understand the problems with deforestation. The only issue that UNESCO runs into with these programs is that other organizations, like UNICEF, have managed to create tangible results in their water programs, providing water to millions of people over the course of their existence. UNESCO’s structural problems get in the way of them being able to do anything even close to what UNICEF has accomplished in their existence. It comes down to an issue of which organization is better funded, better structured and better managed. UNESCO simply is a bad organization, one that doesn’t provide any real solutions to pertinent problems.

The United States might have trouble figuring out where to spend money, but there’s one place that the federal government should keep their money out of— funding UNESCO is a poor way to try and impact change in the real world, and the United States would be wise to keep their hands off.

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

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS KILLING OUR CULTURE

An increase in technology use is reducing the amount of time we spend doing things in the real world Anthony Nacarratto | Guest Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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et’s take a trip back to 2007, when denim miniskirts thrived and Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” could be heard on almost every car radio. A time where the most coveted “smart” phones had a physical keyboard and a screen the size of a fridge magnet; one of those little business ones that ALWAYS came on the new phonebooks? But this magnificent year was also marked by the historic release of the very first iPhone, an innovation that would ultimately change our society in a profound way.

My goal is not to target smartphones or technology, but rather to address the effect that they are having on our society. In today’s world, it’s nearly impossible to exist as a normal member of society without possessing some sort of internet-connected technology. No matter what device, most people have convenient access to the internet.

With social media and instant messaging, we can communicate and connect with the world through a simple tap of our finger. We don’t even have to go to the grocery store anymore to do our shopping, and why endure the crowds and inconvenience of driving when we can just hop on Amazon and order anything our hearts desire? Why go out to catch up with friends when we can all just FaceTime from the comfort of our own rooms?

See what I’m saying? We’re proud of being so “connected” by technology when in reality it is isolating us more than ever.

People don’t actually ask others on dates anymore, they just send a text asking if they want to “hang out.” Arguments are carried out on internet forums. Sometimes we flat out ignore something if we don’t want to deal with it. Lying is a whole lot easier when we’re not looking the other person in the eye. Why do we do this?

BECAUSE IT’S EASY! There’s no risk, no discomfort and best of all we get to sit behind the safety of a screen instead of experiencing what life has to offer.

We’ve become great at communicating with speech bubbles and emojis, but there is so much that we miss out on when we don’t do things in person. Life isn’t supposed to be convenient all the time, and Swiss novelist Max Frisch sums up it perfectly: “Technology… the knack of so arranging the world that we don’t have to experience it.” Instead of ordering those designer socks on Amazon, go to the store and interact with people! Go to a local coffee shop with friends and catch up, or drive around and find someplace new to explore and experience! Our lives are defined by the times when we branch out and go outside our comfort zones.

Our society’s addiction to the convenience of technology along with the instant gratification it brings has stripped us of our ability to genuinely interact with others. I fear that we miss out on the best of what life has to offer because we can’t pull our eyes away from the devices that we hold so dear. I fear that the beautiful tapestry of our society will soon be replaced by a drab and monotonous canvas of disconnected and unfulfilling online interaction.

To be clear, I don’t hate technology or what it has to offer. In fact, I am an avid consumer of technology, but I make it a point in my own life to make sure it doesn’t take control. It pains me to see the slow degradation of our society’s personal connectedness; if that disappears, we will lose an integral part of our identity.

So, I implore you: put down the phone, shut off the computer, meet new people, push yourself to LIVE LIFE to the fullest!

We miss out on valuable interactions by spending so much time on our phones.

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

Anthony Naccarato is a junior in his second semester of the nursing program. He spends his free time working, studying, and as a leader for the high school ministry at his church. He tries to live life to the absolute fullest and make the most of every day no matter what.

JANUARY 22, 2018

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F E AT U R E According to Boise State’s website, for the 2017-18 academic year, about 82 percent of students were pursuing undergraduate degrees. While that means graduate students only make up about 18 percent of the university, that still works out to more than 3,000 students. Three thousand who, according to counseling services director Matt Niece, are sometimes underrepresented.

“So many initiatives here on campus are focused at the undergraduate population, and graduate students, to my understanding, get a little lost in the shuffle when it comes to programming,” Niece said.

This is paired with Idaho’s poor

another step on the path to graduate student mental health How wellness can be improved through paradigms and hiking davild collie | culture reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ith undergraduate students making up a majority of the student body, there can be a shift in focus for many of the programs and initiatives at the university. Despite this increased attention, however, mental health is an issue that affects everyone, and it affects graduate students disproportionately. A new collaborative program between Counseling Services and the graduate college called GradWell aims to narrow that gap and improve the wellness and mental health of graduate students.

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support for mental health and the fact that graduate students are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population—more than six times as likely according to one study. These factors have the ability to create a perfect storm for graduate students here at Boise State.

“We want everybody across campus to be having this on the front of their mind: wellness,” Niece said. “A primary principle here is that we’re trying to change the paradigm that exists on campus. Without addressing wellness, you’re not really encouraging or maximizing the education

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that could be happening.”

In order to reach this new paradigm, the program will focus on three areas: knowledge, personal awareness and skill.

This means increasing understanding of the topic, increasing awareness of personal attitudes and beliefs regarding wellness and helping people to better address the topic of wellness.

According to Niece, preventative care such as this program is far more cost-effective than remedial care. Because many of the objectives involve training faculty and staff who often teach undergraduate students, the impact has the potential to be seen across campus.

Dean of the graduate college, Tammi Vacha-Haase, compared this to the saying of a rising tide lifting all boats.

She explained the goals of the program entail not only being a long-lasting and institutionalized part of the university, but something that other universities can look to. To accomplish this, Vacha-Haase echoed the importance of changing the campus-wide paradigm regarding mental health.

“We need to validate that everyone needs help at one time or another and the importance of getting help and accepting help.

Everyone struggles at some point,” Vacha-Haase said.

As dean of the graduate college, Vacha-Haase has had a great deal of experience working with graduate students suffering from mental health problems.

In identifying some of the reasons why graduate students experience some of the difficulties at disproportionate rates, she pointed to a few factors.

“It’s not easy; it’s a challenge to be a graduate student,” Vacha-Haase said.

“There are a lot of responsibilities, a lot of expectations and there isn’t always a lot of support or recognition.”

In addition to this, Vacha-Haase explained that graduate students are often achievement-oriented, go-getting types that are usually some of the brightest students from their undergraduate programs.

Together, these many factors can create situations where graduate students are more likely to be hard on themselves.

Beyond the nature of the students, there are also stresses that come from the programs.

Graduate student Pamela Craig shared her insight

F E AT U R E on the topic.

“Beyond focusing on mental health, I do think that graduate programs need to take a long, hard look at the way they’re structured,” Craig said. “I think more often than not it’s the workload and pressure to perform on top of being a parent or a full-time working professional. How can you do all of those things and do them well or do them well and not have something suffer? And more often than not, it probably is your mental health (that suffers).”

Regardless of the causes, the path for graduate students isn’t always an easy one. While the GradWell program might make that journey easier, it will not be implemented until later in the spring 2019 semester. Until then, there might be another path, several in fact, that graduate students can take to help reach that state of wellness.

According to a recent experiment conducted by Boise State researchers, hiking can be one way to lower stress levels.

Although this might not be the same as a dedicated program, it might be the first of many steps to a happier and healthier university.

One of the re-

searchers involved was recent Boise State graduate Ellie Opdahl.

“We were trying to understand what types of physiological responses that people who recreate outdoors might be experiencing from the environment and from nature itself,” Opdahl said.

The study looked at hikers, mountain bikers and off-highway vehicle motorists and found—by measuring the saliva of these people after their respective activities—that the hikers experienced the most consistent stress relief.

In addition to the type of activity performed, the results seemed to suggest that the environment the activities took place in played a role in the amount of stress relieved. In particular, a kind of environ-

“I can’t say that it’s a catch-all solution or that it would work for every person out there, but I do think that we have seen a trend, and if that trend is something that is true, then, hypothetically, you would think that, yeah, walking along the Greenbelt could actually be a tool for people to help relieve their stress.”

Opdahl herself has found that time in nature has been a helpful way for her to manage stress and reevaluate things.

“I never really thought about it actively, but I’ve always noticed that after I spend time outdoors, it just helps put things a bit more in perspective,” Opdahl said. “But after having done this research and seeing that there are actually ways that we can directly and quantitatively see that people

Scott Lowe, Tammi Vacha-Haase, Matt Niece, Brette Stephenson Illustration by Wyatt Wurtenberger | Photo by Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter ment called a “riparian zone” seemed to be more effective at reducing stress.

According to Opdahl, a riparian zone is an area with high vegetation along some sort of waterway. It would be no surprise if this description evoked thoughts of the Greenbelt as Opdahl said this was a perfect example.

The implications, then, are that students facing overwhelming stress on campus might have a valuable tool in managing it directly nearby.

are reacting to their environment, it’s made me a bit more aware of it for sure.”

The GradWell program and walks along the Greenbelt will likely not entirely solve the issue of graduate mental wellness.

However, shifting paradigms, increased conversations, interdepartmental cooperation and research are all steps toward that healthier student population.

JANUARY 22, 2018

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C U LT U R E JANUARY 22, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

A BOISE STORY RETURNS HOME

Boise Contemporary Theater to present two plays from Idaho native Samuel D. Hunter

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

rom Feb. 6 through Mar. 9, the Boise Contemporary Theater will tell a two-part story: the plays “Lewiston” and “Clarkston.”

From successful playwright and native Idahoan Samuel D. Hunter, the connected plays tell the story of modern-day descendents of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark while posing big questions on an interpersonal level.

The plays debuted last fall in New York—where Hunter now lives—making this production the first time the works will be staged outside of the city. In addition to being Hunter’s home state, Idaho’s connection to Lewis and Clark makes Boise the perfect location to tell this story.

E.B. Hinnant, who plays Jake in “Clarkston,” came to this realization as well.

“I walked up the top of Camel’s Back Park the other day, and I was like, ‘Oh. This is why I’m doing this here,’” Hinnant said. “This is what these people were seeing. This was a piece of the land that Lewis and Clark were seeing.”

Hinnant is excited to be among the natural beauty of Boise, visiting from New York himself, and is even more excited to star in the play, which will be his first professional production.

“I can’t believe that this is what was handed to me,” Hinnant said. “I thought my first professional gig was going to be playing a string bean on a national children’s show tour or something like that.

This is an incredible script, (and) it’s an incredible group of people.”

One of Hinnant’s castmates also shared his excitement to be working on the production. Hunter Hoffman, who plays Chris in “Clarkson,” explained that finding any work in theater is great, but the complexity of this play makes it especially exciting.

“It’s a very challenging play which, as an actor, is fantastic,” Hoffman said. “At the end of the day, there’s nothing I’d rather be doing.”

This conviction, though, is something that Hinnant often grapples with.

“Sometimes it feels like, ‘Is this really the best thing I can offer the world as a human life on this planet?’” Hinnant said.

“But I think I’ve learned it’s almost like a classroom. You get to come in here and see another human being, their trials and tribulations and their life dissected in front of you, and, whether you like it or not, you get to take some of that person with you and learn from them. It affects your own life that way as an audience member. I think being the catalyst of that affectation helps me continue on doing this.”

Though she is not an actor, the director of both plays, Lillian Meredith, explained why she is drawn to such a difficult profession. Meredith said she believes that storytelling is fundamental to what makes us human, giving us both empathy and a sense of meaning, and she expressed excitement to be working with plays that evoke these emotions so effectively.

“For me, what’s really exciting about the plays (is that) they deal on an intimate level with an epic question of, ‘What does

Director Julie Ritchey watches an early rehearsal (left). Lynn Allison in an early rehearsal (right).

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it mean to be an American?’ and, ‘What is that relationship to the American Dream in the 21st century?’” Meredith said. “I think that the sort of brilliance of Sam Hunter is that his plays don’t try to tell you what to think. They’re presenting you with a sort of great quandary on an intimate interpersonal scale.”

Meredith said that the plays, although thematically connected, stand by themselves and can be enjoyed individually.

However, because of this connection, seeing both would provide a richer experience. But to viewers seeing one play or both, Meredith said that the story offers real representations of human beings struggling with what it means to be human.

“Come in prepared to fall in love a little bit with these people that you’re going to see real, very honest, deep, lovely representations of human beings struggling with what does it mean to be human,” Meredith said.

Photos by Lila Streicher

C U LT U R E

EXPLORING DIVERSITY GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Tournées Film Festival expected to create discourse in its second year Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Several films discussing race and inclusivity will be screened at the festival.

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n the past academic year, campus initiatives for diversity and inclusion have taken on new territory, creating discourse among all departments of the university about how change can be achieved. Albeit a challenge, combining film and diversity initiatives has the potential to be engaging to viewers while beginning a valuable conversation.

This year, Boise State is ready to take on the challenge. Mariah Devereux Herbeck, French film professor and organizer of the Tournées French Film Festival, seeks to take on the feat of exploring diversity through a series of films curated from ideologies of sexism, racism and more.

“This year, we focused on fiction, documentary and one silent film,” Devereux Herbeck said. “Our idea was to respond to Boise State’s mission statement regarding diversity and inclusivity, and we thought it would bring departments on campus closer together. Part of that statement is creating opportunities for discussion, so that’s what we want to do.”

While Tournées, and their curated list of 90 films for campuses across the world to choose from, are marketed to be part of a broader education in the French language and culture, one film being screened at the second annual festival is entirely in English. “I Am Not Your Negro,” directed

by Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck. The documentary will be shown on Feb. 1, intended to kick off Black History Month at Boise State.

According to Devereux Herbeck, the curation of the film in the line-up goes beyond its surface-level significance for Black History Month, and instead celebrates several cultures at once.

“I was intrigued by the film because it’s directed by a Haitian director,” Devereux Herbeck said. “It is based on James Baldwin’s manuscript ‘Remember This House,’ and what better film to show on for Black History Month? Although it’s not in French, I like how we can draw attention to different filmmakers and how they can be popular to an English-speaking audience, as well.”

While “I Am Not Your Negro” will be the only English-speaking film, “The Passion of Joan of Arc,” which will be presented by film professor Ryan Cannon, is the only silent classic film in the festival line-up. It’s a film Cannon loves, and he described watching it for the first time during his undergraduate years of college.

Sentimental value, however, is not the only reason Cannon looks forward to presenting this film at Tournées.

“I had an epiphany watching it,” Cannon said. “It’s filmed almost entirely

Photos courtesy of Mariah Devereux Herbeck. in close-ups, and it’s just so gorgeous and poetic and lyrical. It’s the story of Joan of Arc, but it’s only the last couple hours of her life; it’s her trial and then her murder. It’s minimalist in some ways, and it’s surreal.”

Cannon doesn’t want audiences to fret simply because the film is silent. Instead, he challenges them to recognize just how Joan of Arc’s story transcends stereotypes and truly explores diversity, fitting the festival theme. “(Viewers) hear silent films and they think slow or boring or dated,” Cannon said. “I hope people that see this will have a notion challenge. It feels very contemporary, and the gender dynamics and sequences feel very modern. Apart from just the raw power of the story, and an incredible performance, I hope people who see it think they didn’t know a film could do that, especially in 1928.”

Along with this silent film, “Makala,” a film which examines the life of a charcoal producer in present day Congo, will be presented by political science lecturer Isaac Castellano. In regards to exploring diversity, Castellano hopes viewers of the film walk away with a newfound understanding about energy and how individuals in underdeveloped countries, at least economically, live in regards to their respective

countries’ energy.

“I hope those who come are prompted to learn more about the reality of daily life in societies reliant on less modern energy sources than what most Americans are familiar with,” Castellano said. “I hope it drives people to ask questions about economic development, the role of energy, and the difficulties of daily life in many corners of the world.”

The Tournées French Film Festival will take place over the span of one month on campus, and there are a series of six films being presented by faculty from various departments throughout the university.

While each film carries a vastly different meaning and impact, the theme of exploring diversity remains universally sought after.

“There should be a film that interests just about everyone,” said French professor Jason Herbeck. “That said, hopefully community members will be able to see many of them, maybe even all of them, as, together, they offer a rich historical and contemporary portrait of the world today. In many ways, the different stories told should encourage viewers to reflect not only on the individuals portrayed but, much more globally, on the inherent interest of diversity itself.”

JANUARY 22, 2018

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C U LT U R E

NEW SUB ART EXHIBIT EXPLORES LIFE AND CONSCIOUSNESS

Boise State alumna shares art and a story that are both unique David Collie | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Khara Oxier, a Boise State alumna whose art is on display in the SUB.

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rom now through Feb. 24, the Student Union Fine Arts Gallery will be displaying the paintings of Boise State alumna Khara Oxier, offering a unique look at nature, life and the blurred lines that separate them. In addition to the uniqueness of her work, Oxier’s personal background is one that some may find just as interesting as her art.

After some time at an art college for fashion design in San Francisco, Oxier joined the United States Marine Corps.

After an honorable discharge, she earned a BA in anthropology at Boise State. It was during this time that Oxier experienced a traumatic head injury and, shortly after, began painting frequently.

Oxier explained that she had experience painting before, but after the injury, there was a huge shift. Because of this timing, people ask Oxier if the injury has

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played a role in her pursuing art. To these questions, Oxier doesn’t have a definitive answer.

“I don’t know if I would say it was a cause,” Oxier said. “It just changed things for me. I always kind of struggle with it because I feel like I’m kind of forced to decide, ‘Oh, did I hit my head and now it’s affected me in some way, or was it some sort of magical push into a direction that I should have already been going and I didn’t?’ It’s just kind of a weird thing to think about, but at the end of the day the realist part of me just (says), ‘Hey, it happened,’ and you kind of do what you do.

It might have changed some things, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing either.”

According to Fonda Portales, university art curator and collections manager, the mission of the gallery is to help alumni like Oxier get more exposure and experience by

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Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter

“I don’t have a message or some sort of political agenda. I just really love life, and I just want to make things and share it, and I hope that people can feel that when they look at the work.”

Khara Oxier, Boise State alumna

sharing their work.

“Our mission is to show (the work of ) students, alumni and community members who may or may not have many opportunities to be in really traditional gallery spaces, and this is an opportunity for them to get experience with that,” Portales said.

According to her artist statement, Oxier’s work is influenced by her background in anthropology and integrates the concepts of human evolution, development, causation and adaptation. In simpler terms, however, Oxier hopes to spread a love of life.

“I don’t have a message or some sort of political agenda,” Oxier said. “I just really love life, and I just want to make things and share it, and I hope that people can feel that when they look at the work.”

This idea of life is central not only to Oxier’s paintings, but her own being as well. Her rare plant collection is often featured in pieces throughout her paintings, along with human life. Oxier explained that she likes to explore the lines between plants and people, especially when it comes to consciousness.

“It seems interesting to think plants have a consciousness,” Oxier said. “As science moves on, we learn more and more, and they’re not just a plant; they’re definitely very much alive. At what point can those consciousnesses touch one another, and can we be aware of that or become more aware in the future?”

Whatever message is taken away from the work, it is likely to deliver an emotional response. Melissa Maxey, a senior illustration major, explained her feelings in response to the art.

“It has that visceral, really deep, emotional outlet,” Maxey said. “I’ve been in every single one of these places, in all of these paintings. You can stand in front of the painting and just feel the emotion. I think that’s what’s great about artwork.

You don’t have to really talk about it; you can just feel it.”

“BEAUTIFUL BOY” FALLS FLAT

The film doesn’t fulfill its role as a redemption story Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

C U LT U R E

JUST A THOUGHT The Golden Globes were a little dull this year

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Francois Duhamel | Courtesy of Amazon Studios

teve Carell’s serious acting roles are few and far between, which is saying something for an actor who didn’t find fame until his 40s. Some are just meant to do comedy, and after watching “Beautiful Boy,” now streaming on Amazon Prime, it is abundantly clear that Carell is that actor. Despite the rather unconvincing performance of a grieving father, “Beautiful Boy” wasn’t a movie to dislike, but that’s only because it can’t be classified as anything other than an OK film.

The almost-dynamic duo of Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet works solely in flashbacks, where we see a pure, fatherly love coming from Carell’s David Sheff with a young Nic, usually in a well-lit scene with colors to signify the mood.

It’s when the present day comes around, however, that Carell’s performance of a father grieving the loss of his living son falls short of anything convincing to the audience. Rather than compelling viewers to feel his pain, Carell’s characterization is frustrating, and truly leaves those watching wanting the odds to work against him.

Unfortunately, if not for this flaw in script and emotional response from Carell, the film would’ve been one to write home about.

Nic Sheff, the young drug addict portrayed by Chalamet, feels like a very one-dimensional character. We, as the audience, know little about his backstory,

and are really only introduced to him as he’s already rolling downhill rather quickly.

Other than minimal flashbacks from his childhood, viewers never know who Nic was, only who he is after the addiction has taken over his being. That said, Chalamet plays the part effortlessly; no matter which sign of addiction he is experiencing, whether it be manipulation or withdrawal, Chalamet makes Nic look like he’s in agonizing pain, but he’s handcuffed to the disease. The real Nic Sheff, upon whose memoir the screenplay is based on, should be grateful that the casting choice was so masterfully made for such a powerful story.

The issue simply isn’t that “Beautiful Boy” was a poorly-made film. The story is heartbreaking, the roles are dynamic and the pain feels familiar; the time jumps and average performances by the cast, with the exception of Chalamet, are what leave this film rather unworthy of best picture awards, although the Amazon Studios original was expected to be bait for Academy voters before its release. While I wouldn’t recommend subscribing to Amazon Prime solely to watch “Beautiful Boy,” I would advise those who are already subscribed to take a couple hours out of their day (or night, if you’re like me) to check out the film and form their own opinions. It’s certainly beautiful, but a story so earth shattering for the real-life family deserved a harder hitting portrayal on-screen.

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Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

anuary marks the first month of an exciting and competitive awards season in Hollywood, which is usually just as thrilling to me as a fan and a journalist. I’m the type that creates brackets, participates in pools and tweets my predictions so I can reign victorious after the show, flashing my glory across social media and my office. This year, however, has proven to be a different one in terms of Hollywood awards seasons, to say the least. This change can be directly attributed to the upset of the century (exaggeration, maybe) at the 2019 Golden Globes.

I’ve been partial to “A Star is Born” since it first hit theatres, but it isn’t the only noteworthy film that I watched throughout the year. “Hereditary,” “BlackkKlansman” and “Crazy Rich Asians” all remained on my radar through the end of 2018, bypassing a few in particular that jumped ship early on, like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Green Book.” It isn’t, however, that the latter were terrible films—it’s simply that nobody, at all, needed them. “Green Book” is on a boat all alone in films that portray race, but only for white people, while “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a star-studded disappointment.

It’s for these reasons that, when “Bohemian Rhapsody” picked up the best picture win over “A Star is Born,” “BlackkKlansman” and “If Beale Street Could Talk,” I was ready to riot (at least on Twitter).

Choosing a film to win such a distinguished honor that not only incorrectly portrays the life of a legendary human being, but also credits a director (Bryan Singer) with a heavy past of sexual assault allegations, is disappointing, and calling it

an upset is quite the understatement.

Sure, not everything has to go by the ambiguous definition of politically correct, but respect towards Freddie Mercury, the deceased center of the plot of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” would be an incredible place to start. We cannot keep rewarding biopics simply for being biographical—it’s the same reason that the Stephen Hawking biopic, “The Theory of Everything,” would only pick up a Best Picture trophy in an alternate universe. Much like Eddie Redmayne in the Hawking biopic, Rami Malek, the actor portraying Mercury, deserved a Golden Globe, but only for his portrayal, and not the authenticity that he and the rest of the cast continue to pride the film on, but fails to exist beyond the screen.

It’s time that Hollywood begins to reward stories, not finances. We’re past the days of living off solely blockbusters, and we’ve transitioned into a time when moving storytelling and effective writing deserve to walk home with the biggest honors of the night. Films like “Bohemian Rhapsody” should never outwin heart wrenching and well-written scripts like “If Beale Street Could Talk,” and consumers shouldn’t allow these independent films to slip under the radar. The Hollywood Foreign Press, and every other award-presenting entity, ought to move away from bribes and start to feel something moving enough to sway their vote—just a thought.

JANUARY 22, 2018

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SPORTS & REC JANUARY 22, 2018 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT THE GYMNASTICS TEAM Resnick, Bird encourage focus and supporting other female athletes Delaney Brassil | Sports Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ucked away in the Kinesiology Annex lies a practice gym that is home to a group of record-breaking athletes. The room is packed to the brim with equipment, and the unusually high ceilings indicate that this area could only be for 16 of the most fearless and committed Broncos: the gymnastics team.

With sarcastic comments and inside jokes being thrown from athlete to coach and right back at another athlete, the environment is immediately inviting and captivating. As co-head coach Neil Resnick would describe it, this facility is home to a family.

“I think our personalities really mesh well,” said senior health science major Shani Remme. “We really buy into what Neil and the coaches preach, which is we focus on the process not the outcome.”

The Broncos opened their 2019 season on Sunday, Jan. 13 at Taco Bell Arena.

Boise State took first place (196.400), which set a school record for highest season-opener score. They were followed

by San Jose (193.050) and Air Force (191.857). This victory helped them jump from No. 16 in the nation to No. 7, as determined by Road to Nationals.

The tri-meet victory was the 200th career win for co-head coaches Resnick and Tina Bird. The two have been coaching together since 2007 and their symbiotic relationship helps the program find balance.

Bird handles administrative processes and beam, while Resnick handles floor, bars, vault and recruiting processes.

Beyond just high scores, the group also strives for high academic standards. For the seventh straight semester, the team recorded a GPA above 3.7 with a combined average of 3.76, the highest in the entire

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Boise State’s gymnastics team, ranked no. 7, earned a school record for highest season-opener score.

Bailey Nellesen | The Arbiter athletic department.

Over half of the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores, giving the upperclassmen opportunities to help shape the program’s future.

“I try to lead by example, keeping a positive mind in the gym even when its not your best day in here,” said senior general business major Sarah Means. “I always make sure that the freshmen feel like they can come up to me and talk about anything, which is very important for that first year in this new environment.”

The season opener also produced a

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number of individual accolades. For Jan. 7 through 13, Remme was named the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference (MRGC) Gymnast of the Week, MRGC Beam and Floor Specialist of the Week and Boise State Athlete of the Week. Junior Courtney McGregor and sophomore Emily Muhlenhaupt were the MRGC Bars Specialists of the Week.

“We typically are all surrounding the event when it’s happening,” said redshirt senior health science major Alex Esmerian.

“Everyone is cheering each other on and we try to create a really positive and excit-

ing environment.”

Remme’s beam routine (9.95) is the highest in the nation thus far, ahead of UCLA senior Katelyn Ohashi’s beam routine (9.938), whose perfect floor routine (10.0) went viral last week. “(Sunday) was about the most stress-free first meet of the year that I can remember here,” Resnick said. “The team had trained so well and was super prepared… it was nice to go and not be worried about this or that.”

Remme, Esmerian and Means were sure to note a rare occurrence during Sunday’s meet. Resnick made it a point to watch the beam routines; something he normally never does.

“I tell them all the time the goal is to get better so I have to get better as well,” Resnick said. “I was working on that… I never watch beam and at this meet I did.”

Resnick is invested in the recognition of Boise State’s female athletes, and challenges fans to show more support.

“The challenge is anybody that’s been to a football game or any of the men’s events and has never been to a women’s competition, go out and see one event,” Resnick said. “Whether its swim and dive or softball or women’s basketball or gymnastics, you’re going to go ‘wow, they’re great athletes and they deserve our attention.’”

The gymnastics season spans a total of 11 weeks, pushing the athletes to maintain their intensity and focus in order to reach the postseason.

“I said something after the meet that I believe to be true; it’s a great beginning but it’s only the beginning,” Resnick said. “I think for us to be successful in the postseason, which is what we want to do, we have to treat every one of these meets that we go to like it’s regionals.”

HOPES FOR THE SUPER BOWL

Will a former Bronco football player grasp a Super Bowl ring?

Cami Pepin | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he NFL playoffs came to a close on Sunday, Jan. 20 after the NFC and AFC Championships. Over the weekend, four former elite Boise State Bronco players were on a warpath to get to the top to claim the Super Bowl Champion title. In the end, it is the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots who will head to the Super Bowl.

This weekend during the NFC Championship game, former Bronco Donte Deayon took the field with the Los Angeles Rams. This year is Deayon’s sixth season with the Rams, and so far he has a total of 186 yards with one touchdown this year.

On Sunday he played against past Idahoans who didn’t attend Boise State, such as tightend Josh Hill who is from Blackfoot, Idaho and attended Idaho State, and Taysom Hill who graduated from Highland High in Pocatello and attended Brigham Young University.

Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill, who hasn’t had a lot of playing time this season, was thrown in the game as a wildcard player. In his last game of the season he ran into the endzone scoring a touchdown for the Saints before they went into OT. But despite the team’s best efforts to win, they came up short when they went into overtime and ended their season 23-26.

“Josh Hill is a great asset to the team but has a lot of growing to do,” said Boise State freshman Nathan Marx, who is an avid Saints fan. “I’m depressed knowing my favorite team isn’t going to the Super Bowl this year; I am still optimistic and believe that they will redeem themselves next year and be back in the playoffs again.”

“I think there were plenty of times offensively, we didn’t take advantage of,” said Saints quarterback Drew Brees in a post-game press conference. “But it was a hard-fought game on both sides. Credit to them, they did a great job.”

This weekend in the AFC Conference, the New England Patriots battled the Kansas City Chiefs who were ranked No. 1 in

their conference. Hoping to claim the title of AFC Champion was Boise State alumni Orlando Scandrick, who is currently in his 11th season in the NFL. This is his first year with the Kansas City Chiefs, after 10 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. In his career with the Chiefs he has made 44 tackles and one interception. With his hopes high, Scandrick and his team came shy of winning the AFC Championship against the Patriots, going into overtime and leaving Kansas city in an upset yet again with the game ending 31-37.

After Sunday’s games, only one former Boise State Bronco is left in the running to claim their very own Super Bowl 53 ring: Los Angeles Rams player Donte Deayon.

But, there are other former Broncos who recently lost in the playoffs before last weekend. Joe Trahan, media relations and corporate communications coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, spoke to Leighton Vander Esch after he was drafted into the NFL. “There’s a lot to live up to, and I’m gonna do just that and more,” Vander Esch said.

“Like I said, we’ve got Super Bowls to win.

A lot of them.”

This season, Vander Esch has proven himself with 140 tackles and two interceptions. With one season under his belt, Vander Esch has more room to grow as a player and create more success for himself in the years to come, which could set him up to reach the Super Bowl in the future.

Vander Esch also plays with another Boise State alumni, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. This was Lawrence’s fifth season with the Cowboys and proved to be his best year yet with a total of 64 tackles, 10.5 sacks and one interception.

These former Boise State football players are showing their alumni fans that they are still striving to become the best and get ahold of a Super Bowl ring one day down the line. Super Bowl 53 will be held on Sunday, Feb. 3 in Atlanta at 6:30 p.m.

SPORTS & REC

POWER RANKINGS: BOWL GAME EDITION

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

T

he 2018 NCAA football bowl season has come and gone, and six Mountain West teams were represented in bowl games this last year. As usual, some of the games proved to be a disappointment while others were definitely worth watching. From first to worst, here’s how I think the bowl games stacked up.

1. Mitsubishi Las Vegas Bowl: Fresno State vs. Arizona State The Arizona State Sun Devils may not be the best in the PAC-12, but they fought hard for their seven wins and actually matched up pretty evenly with the reigning Mountain West champions, the Fresno State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs came out on top 31-20; the game was up for grabs until the third quarter when the Bulldogs defense started shutting down the Sun Devils’ offense, allowing only three more points.

2. Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: Nevada vs. Arkansas State The best way to describe a game that featured the fourth best team in the Sun Belt (Arkansas) and a team that was hot and cold all season (Nevada) is underwhelming, but it still takes second on the list. The Nevada Wolf Pack won 16-13 in a game that went into overtime. The two quarterbacks combined for five interceptions, but the back and forth battle made it exciting (kind of ).

3. Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Utah State vs. North Texas This was probably the most anticipated Mountain West bowl game, but it didn’t nearly live up to the hype. The narrative of two of the top Group of Five quarterbacks, the Utah State Aggies’ Jordan Love, and the North Texas Mean Greens’ Mason Fine, seemed like it would be nothing

short of a classic, but Fine only threw for 59 yards. The Aggies blew out the Mean Greens 52-13 thanks to Love’s 359 yards and four touchdowns.

4. SoFi Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs.

Louisiana Tech The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors fought hard all season and came out with a positive record, but unfortunately they didn’t have much fight left when they faced the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The Bulldogs toppled the Warriors 31-14. The Bulldogs defense is the strongest part of their team and it showed; the Warriors’ quarterbacks were intercepted three times and sacked nine times.

5. DXL Frisco Bowl: San Diego State vs. Ohio It’s no surprise that the San Diego State Aztecs disappointed in the bowl game after disappointing all season. The Ohio Bobcats routed the Aztecs 27-0. There’s not much to say about this game other than the fact that it was boring (unless you’re a Bobcats fan).

6. Servpro First Responders BowlBoise State vs. Boston College If you haven’t heard by now, this game was canceled and will not be replayed.

They only played for nine minutes and 52 seconds because of lightning. And that’s why I’m calling it the worst Mountain West Bowl game of the 2018 season (maybe the worst bowl game ever). It’s a shame that the Broncos and the Eagles season ended like this, but hey, there’s always next season.

JANUARY 22, 2018

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SPORTS & REC

BOISE STATE FALLS SHORT AGAINST FRESNO’S HIGH PRESSURE

Now 3-2, the Broncos look to learn from their setbacks Delaney Brassil | Sports Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Broncos fell short of a victory against Fresno State on Jan. 19

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ith a two-game losing streak on the line for both teams, Boise State and Fresno State went head to head at Taco Bell Arena on Saturday, Jan. 19. The Broncos and Bulldogs each had a Mountain West record of 3-1 heading into the pivotal game. On Tuesday, Boise lost a heartbreaker to No. 10 Nevada 72-71, no doubt lighting a fire under them to fight hard.

But after a fierce defensive battle and slew of missed shots, it was Fresno State who came out on top, pushing past the Broncos 63-53.

While head coach Leon Rice paced the floor and assumed his regular crouched position in front of the advertisement boards, a crowd of 6,437 watched the Broncos go

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hot and cold from half to half.

Both teams struggled from behind the arc as Fresno went 2-15 and Boise went 2-10 in the first half. Fresno, the leading 3-point shooting team in the conference, was held to 5-8 in the second half, a nod to the Broncos’ defense.

“I’m not too worried about it, I don’t think anybody else on the team is worried about it,” said junior guard Marcus Dickinson. “We’re a great 3-point shooter team; it’s basketball, it happens. Teams have slumps and as long as we keep shooting and getting in the gym, we’ll be fine.”

The Broncos caught fire when redshirt senior forward David Wacker threw down a dunk with under five minutes left in the first. By halftime, the Broncos were up 2822 thanks to their 7-0 run within the last

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Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter three minutes.

The atmosphere in Taco Bell Arena was electric as the Broncos fought to break through Fresno’s full-court press. Boise’s 16 turnovers helped the Bulldogs find their footing, ultimately widening the gap between a 41-41 tie in the last seven minutes.

“Coming in we knew they were going to pressure us and at times when we got the ball in and we did what we were supposed to do, it worked out well for us,” said junior guard Alex Hobbs. “...They forced turnovers which led to easy buckets for them and that’s how they picked up momentum for the second half.”

Hobbs had a team high of 15 points, as did junior guard Justinian Jessup. Fresno’s sophomore guard Deshon Taylor also scored 15 points, followed by 14 points

from redshirt junior guard New Williams.

No other Broncos or Bulldogs hit double digits.

“Our offense put way too much pressure on our defense and it kind of took the wind out of our defensive sails a little bit because we didn’t score,” Rice said. “We got some good looks and we went 4-of-21 from three and we never got the free throw line. They pressured us all game.”

After an 0-2 week at home, the Broncos will take a trip to Colorado to attempt to redeem themselves and work on building from their weaknesses. They face Air Force (7-11, 2-4) on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

“We can’t let two straight losses affect the rest of the season,” Dickinson said.

“We just have to keep getting better and moving forward with this.”

OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.

AQUARIUS, You’ve made it through

the first week, Aquarius, but that doesn’t mean you can put your guard down. You have an aloofness that distances you from responsibilities from time to time, but if you let this tough semester slip through your fingers, there’s a good chance you’ll regret the decision. Focus on your responsibilities before your fun this semester.

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

CAPRICORN JAN 20 - FEB 17

Your self-control is impeccable, Capricorn, but only because you’re constantly expecting the worst.

Loosen up a little bit and take things one day at a time, whether it’s with class or your social life.

Change can be positive, so take these next weeks in stride!

PISCES

FEB 18 - MARCH 20

Intuition is your strong suit, Pisces, which means you’ve practically planned out the rest of your semester immediately after the first week. Organization is great, but too much structure will leave you wishing you’d left more room for social flexibility in your schedule.

ARIES

MARCH 20 - APR 20

While other signs are struggling to stay alert after the first week, Aries, you’re putting everything you have into succeeding this spring. While your drive and determination are admirable, it’s OK to take a step back and evaluate what you need emotionally to come out victorious this semester.

VIRGO

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 21

Your semester may not be as simple as you assumed, Taurus. Maybe you’re taking more upper-level courses than in the past, or you’ve forgotten everything math-related; regardless of the reasoning, you’ll have to compromise with your old study habits to succeed this spring.

AUG 23 - SEPT 23

You’re definitely the hardest working sign, Virgo, but you’re equally as critical. Rather than using your brains to be judgmental, offer study help or tutoring to someone who is struggling more than succeeding in that science lecture or lab. You won’t regret it!

GEMINI

LIBRA

MAY 21 - JUN 21

Luckily, Gemini, you adapt well to changing conditions, so this semester could truly be a breeze for you. Challenge yourself by taking something up on the side, whether that’s an instrument or a coding tutorial, to keep yourself busy even after you’ve blown through your textbook reading.

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

You’ll own group projects this semester, Libra.

You’re gifted with lots of internal diplomacy, which means conflict ends with you every time. Even if you dread group work, rest assured that your classes, after the first week, will be smooth sailing.

CANCER

SCORPIO

JUN 21 - JULY 23

Cancer, you’re phenomenal with the art of persuasion, but don’t rely on it to keep your GPA stable this semester. While you may have been rounded-up in the past, it’s crunch time, and you’ll feel better about your work if you’re putting some effort in yourself.

OCT 23- NOV 21 Scorpio, you’ve always been resourceful, and you’re going to need it this spring. You’re already feeling lost in your new courses, so it’s time to pull out some of those secret study methods to get ahead. Did someone say Chegg?

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 23

You’re definitely funny, Leo, but being the class clown in your lecture isn’t going to work to your benefit this spring. Now that the first week is over, be flexible in studying and also cognizant of how others are perceiving your jokes. Humor is great, but there’s always time to get serious.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 22

We know how much you love to volunteer, Sagittarius, but that isn’t going to work with everything you’ve already committed to. You have a habit of overloading your plate, and it would benefit you this semester to put your effort into the things you’re already passionate about!

JANUARY 22, 2018

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