April 23, 2019
Vol. 31 Issue 30
I N D EP EN D ENT
S T UDENT
V O ICE
O F
BO IS E
S TAT E
S I N C E
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the barriers barriers of of toxic toxic the masculinity in in masculinity academics and and beyond beyond academics PG 10
NEWS
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Boise State student to bike across the United States for his fraternity’s philanthropy
VISIT US ONLINE:
OPINION
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The university’s branding is drab. Getting bold would make Boise State a more dynamic institution arbiteronline.com
CULTURE
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Professors and students discuss the pros and cons of taking online courses @arbiteronline
SPORTS & REC
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Skyler Eubank of the men’s golf team fulfills dream of playing in the United States
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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 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 Mackenzie Hudson Graphic Design Manager Maddie Ceglecki design@stumedia.boisestate.edu 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.
University Drive flooded on April 20 after sandbags blocked the drains.
Taylor Humby | The Arbiter
ON THE COVER:
Toxic masculinit y can af fect all aspects of people’s lives, including life at the universit y. 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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Cherry blossoms were in full bloom last week, starting spring off right. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter
Pup sits on Friendship Bridge after leaving Hemp Fest Taylor Humby | The Arbiter
Boise State’s men’s lacrosse team will play the University of Oregon in the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League playoffs. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter
NEWS
APRIL 23, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
26TH ANNUAL SEVEN ARROWS POWWOW SHARES NATIVE CULTURE Exploring the cultural importance beyond the food and fun David Collie | Culture Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
The grand entry was filled with song and dance. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter
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n April 20 and 21, the Jordan Ballroom in the Student Union Building was filled with food, crafts, dancing and music from Native American culture during the 26th annual Seven Arrows Powwow. Although no stranger to powwows, pre-business sophomore Barbelyn Tom was accustomed to larger gatherings from her home in Colorado. Still, Tom found herself pleasantly surprised by the weekend event, and said it was a good way to connect with a community she has missed since leaving her home. “I guess the native community, you kind of miss it, especially on a campus like this,” Tom said. “Especially over here in Idaho, I don’t think it’s very diverse. But when you bring it over here, it’s like a whole new experience for everyone.” Another way that Tom has maintained connections with Native American culture and other native students is through Boise State’s Intertribal Native Counsel (INC). Although INC is made up of a small group of students, they are in charge of planning the annual powwow. Tanyka Begaye, a junior elementary education major and president of INC, also said that the event was a good way to connect with her culture. Coming to Boise from Arizona, Begaye explained that finding that connection can be hard so far away from home. In addition to helping native students connect with their culture, Begaye also thinks these events give the opportunity for non-native students to broaden their cultural horizons. “I’m a very big advocate for cultural events on campus,” Begaye said. “I think it really helps other students that may not be a part of that culture to experience the
culture and to kind of immerse themselves in it.” This was echoed by the director of Multicultural Student Services and INC advisor Ro Parker, who discussed the benefits for native and non-native students alike. “I think that having something like this can really make (native students) feel like they found a connection to home,” Parker said. “This is a really great opportunity for non-native students to actually walk into a room and be immersed where the majority of the folks in the room are native, and that doesn’t happen very often anymore.” Although events like the powwow can be a powerful way to gain appreciation for other cultures, Parker explained that it is important for cultural events to be educational as well. While things like food and dancing can give insight into a culture’s traditions, it can be important to learn the significance behind those cultural events as well. “(It’s important), as long as there’s a component that is educational and that it’s not just about, ‘Oh let’s do celebratory and food types of events,’” Parker said. “I think the surface is about fun, food and festival, and people think, ‘Oh, I attended this. I’m really diverse.’ And so I think that it’s important to have an educational piece to it.” As an example, Parker talked about INC’s current goal of collecting 75 red dresses by October as a way to raise awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women. Although attending events like the powwow can offer new and exciting experiences, it can also be important to realize the significance those events might have to other cultures, and that those cultures remain important after the event is over.
NEWS
BIKING ACROSS AMERICA FOR A CAUSE
Senior Cole Cunningham to bike across the United States for The Ability Experience Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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enior marketing major, Cole Cunningham, will be biking in the Journey of Hope ride across the United States this summer for his fraternity’s philanthropy, The Ability Experience. The Ability Experience is one of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity’s philanthropies and is an experience alumni and current members of the fraternity can take part in. The philanthropy supports and serves to empower people living with disabilities, both physical and mental. Each member that takes part in the ride has to raise up to $6,000, but Cunningham has made it his goal to raise an extra $1,000 for the philanthropy. Around 100 riders take part in the journey across America and they are split up between three different starting points on the West Coast. The ride begins on June 8 and ends on Aug. 10. The first route is called the Transamerica route and starts in Seattle; the North route starts in San Francisco, and the South route begins in Santa Barbara. All the routes end in Washington, D.C. where family and friends will meet the riders to celebrate finishing the journey. “We (Pi Kappa Phi) have philanthropy weeks during the school year where we raised a good amount of money. But I think events like these are really where The Ability Experience does a lot of good and raises a lot of money,” Cunningham said. So far, Cunningham has raised $3,600 and is hoping to raise the full amount by June 8. He has started a fundraising page on his Facebook and Instagram @colebikesamerica. Along the routes, riders will have stops almost every day called friendship visits where they will get to meet and interact with people with disabilities. “One of the main reasons why I joined Pi Kappa Phi was for the philanthropy. Working with people with special needs has just always had a special place in my
Senior marketing major Cole Cunningham. heart,” Cunningham said. The journey is 4,000 miles long and cyclists can ride up to 115 miles in one day, according to Cunningham. Alan Greening is a chief fitness officer for his own business but has worked with many cyclists through webinars to train them. The Ability Experience hired Greening and his business partner to create webinars and workouts for the cyclists to follow and build up the stamina needed. Along with training the men in endurance and strength, they also focus on safety. “Every year it gets a little harder because drivers are more and more distracted with texting and everything else. So, you’re always running the risk of having an acci-
Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter dent,” Greening said. “We want to make sure that the guys are as professional on a bike as possible, in addition to being fit enough to get the miles done.” Cunningham decided he wanted to take part in the Journey of Hope after coming back from spring break and talking with people who had done it before. Most cyclists decide in November or December so they can start training, but Cunningham is determined to work hard to make up for his late start. “They talked about that in the webinars –– it’s going to be tough,” Cunningham said. “There’s going to be days you want to quit but a lot of it is mental. Once you get past the wall it’s just, you’re just doing it.”
“There’s going to be days you want to quit but a lot of it is mental. Once you get past the wall it’s just, you’re just doing it.” Cole Cunningham, senior marketing major
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NEWS
STUDENT-OWNED BUSINESS ‘STRONG STRAW’ REPLACES PLASTIC STRAWS
Junior Reed Osbrink creates glass straws to minimize harm to the environment Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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hile hanging out in their Chaffee dorm room freshman year, Reed Osbrink, now a junior electrical engineer major, and Justin Lobaugh, a junior pre-med major, would play a game. The game was to come up with mock business ideas and invent ways to sell them.
Then, during Osbrink’s sophomore year, he took a chemistry class where students were tasked with making glass eye droppers. After making his eye dropper, Osbrink was able to use the excess glass to make a glass straw for himself. “I was lucky enough to find a glass store that specializes in glass and they have glass tubing,” Osbrink said. “I went on Amazon and bought a Bunsen burner, made a little shelf in my backyard, and just started blowing straws for my friends and family.” As time went on, this became a hobby for Osbrink, but he soon started selling them and received positive feedback from customers. He then went through the incorporation process to become an official business during summer 2018 and founded Strong Straw. Soon after Osbrink created a legitimate business, Lobaugh became a business partner with him and they heard about the reusable straw movement. “I jumped on board because the guy is my best friend and I want to help him succeed in whatever way I can,” Lobaugh said. Osbrink and Lobaugh utilize the resources that are available to them as Boise State students, including the video production room in the library along with the equipment to make videos for their Instagram @strong_straw_. Strong Straw has grown in the recent months by collaborating with a momand-pop business in Los Angeles to produce the glass straws in a larger quantity
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Osbrink and his business partner, Justin Lobaugh
that also uses an eco-conscious packing and shipping method. “Being a small business, I want to see other small businesses succeed,” Osbrink said. “I want to succeed as a small business, so I want to promote others.”
“Being a small business, I want to see other small businesses succeed. . .” Reed Osbrink, junior electrical engineer major
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The straws have eco-friendly bamboo holders and come with brushes to clean them. Metal straws can easily dent and micro-organisms can get stuck in the crevices, contaminating the straw and making it unsafe to drink from, according to Osbrink. By using a glass straw, a person can see how clean it is and they are made of a special type of glass that is more durable than normal glass. If a straw does happen to break, Osbrink and Lobaugh will replace it for free. “We’re building the website to have a form that you could submit to get a replacement straw. If it happens to break, God forbid, you can get a replacement,”
Taylor Humby | The Arbiter
Osbrink said. Plastic waste is becoming an increasing issue and 127 buses can be filled from front to back, bottom to top, with the amount of straws used in the United States every single day, according to Osbrink. According to The World Count website, almost 3 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean globally with the number increasing every day. “I believe Strong Straws aren’t just necessary for the environment as a straw itself, but equally a tangible reminder to cut back every day on single use plastics,” Lobaugh said.
NEWS
“BOOKS IN EVERY HOME” PROJECT DONATES BOOKS TO LOCAL CLASSROOMS The Boise State-run program sends books to elementary schools Sonora Birnie | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
success of kids and access to books is critical to that endeavor.”
“I also really believe in the mission. I know about the fact that early childhood literacy is really important for future academic success of kids and access to books is critical to that endeavor.” Pamela Craig, graduate student The students and faculty behind the Books in Every Home project.
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ooks in Every Home is a community-oriented project that is a part of the Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) program at Boise State. Through the program, students can participate for credit, working alongside faculty. The goal of Books in Every Home is to collect picture books for elementary students through fundraising and donations. Though this is the first semester Books in Every Home has been a part of VIP, the program has been operating as a part of the English Department for a few years prior to this one as a capstone elective. Tara Penry, a professor of English who specializes in 19th century and western American literature, has long been the driving force behind the project, which was so inspiring and successful that it was expanded into a VIP. She now coaches alongside fellow professor of literacy, language and culture, Eun Hye Son. “We’ve had some students who were really passionate about getting dual language books or home language books into the hands of kids. We deliberately chose a
school that had a high refugee population and we wanted books that parents could read with their kids,” Penry said. “One girl got a book in English and Arabic and she looked at me and she was completely shocked when she saw the Arabic letters on the front of the book. She looked at me, almost with tears in her eyes and said, ‘My mom can read this book with me.’” Students from all majors have access to VIPs, and students can usually find a way to use their area of interest to benefit the project, especially with Books In Every Home. Penry said now that Books in Every Home is associated with VIP, more than ever before is possible. “It’s the most real thing I have done so far in my whole university career. With this we are all on the same playing field, we’re all making suggestions and making things happen,” said Denise Hutchins, a junior double major in illustration and creative writing. “It’s not being directed by one person, it’s teamwork and we are doing something that is a real world project that makes a difference.”
Photo courtesy of Tara Penry The group plans ways to raise money to buy books and collects donations in much the same way a nonprofit would, and then distributes the books to classrooms. Penry said there is room for Books in Every Home to grow beyond what it is now. The project has partnered with a local food bank to give books directly to children who are the most in need, and there are possible future plans to connect with adults in the prison system as well. Pamela Craig, a graduate student who is in the final year of her public administration program, was in the library on April 11 overseeing the collection of books during the Books in Every Home book drive. “I’ve worked with Dr. Penry in the past, I’ve taken a few of her classes and really admired her as teacher and I wanted to work with her more. I was able to angle it (the VIP) as nonprofit experience and fundraising experience which is what my public administration degree is about,” Craig said. “I also really believe in the mission. I know about the fact that early childhood literacy is really important for future academic
The book drive might be over, but Books in Every Home is always welcoming any donations from the public. They will accept gently worn or brand new children’s picture books in any language. The group has an Amazon wish list and is always appreciative of any books from that list. Both Craig and Hutchins were drawn to the program because of its practical value to students, but also because of the community connection that it elicits. “We don’t all band together in our workplaces based on our majors so that kind of interdisciplinary approach is really important because it brings in a lot of different skill sets,” Craig said of VIPs. “Our majors should be preparing us to do a wide variety of things and equipping us with a wide variety of skills so that we can collaborate and work together in different ways. My experience working with the project and working with different people has been very positive.”
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OPINION APRIL 23, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
LET’S GET GRAPHIC
Boise State’s branding and design is a bust Maddie Ceglecki | Guest Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Maddie Ceglecki | The Arbiter
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raphic Design. What is it? I’ll explain it like you’re five, since you probably think it’s just making advertisements for billboards. And you’ll think if someone has a passion for it, there would probably be a frog involved and the font papyrus. But that is just surface level. Graphic designers know about typography, color, visuals, images and how to give people a message. But doing it successfully? That’s where it gets tricky. Doing it in a successful and interesting way? Slow down there, guy. Let’s get into how this relates to Boise State. In 2001 we had the release of a blue logo with three pillars. A diamond in the middle represented the river, the mountains and cityscape of Boise. Pretty terrible. This logo was meant mostly for on-paper sort of branding: business cards, letterheads, etc. And somewhere in this realm, Angry Buster Bronco and the text underneath him existed.
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Obviously, in terms of consistency in our branding, we were a little lost. Fast forward to 2011, we become reborn. The B you know and love to take Instagram photos in front of becomes the new standard. Luckily enough, the design was pulled from our old angry friend the Bronco. He wasn’t forgotten either in our rebirth. Thank the graphic gods for that, as well. But let me make some connections for you: rebranding based off our athletic logo, from a company famous for athletics, to make our brandings more consistent with the athletic logo. Are you catching on? The Nike baby is born. Boise State just wants to fit in with the other colleges, and like other colleges, has made their athletics a staple in the design of their brands. According to the Idaho Business Review, “Other large universities also share an academic and athletic logo. The University of Washington, University of Ore-
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gon and Washington State University all have their athletic logos prominently displayed on their academic websites.” Boise State attempted to follow in the footsteps of one of the most interesting and out-there brands in college graphics: University of Oregon. Boise State’s own branding is, to say the least: a little constricted. Blue and Orange. And if you’re getting even crazier: Blue, Orange, and the fonts Gotham and Garamond. Yet we follow in the footsteps of the colleges that came before us, like the University of Oregon which is the king of Nike Children, but they do the graphics right. The University of Oregon has been known for changing football attire and being the most unique. It doesn’t seem that Boise State even has a purpose to the brand other than having a brand. “A unified campus with a consistent brand and mission strengthens the university. A clear message and visual identity reflect a multi-faceted, but the unified, organization
— as a Metropolitan Research University of Distinction.” Essentially be the brand, the brand is us, we are the brand, “Brands are performance driven.” But how do we perform? Compare this with the mission of University of Oregon: “Our brand is the education we provide, the research we conduct, the discoveries we make, the environment we inhabit, and the community we belong to. It’s the thousands of alumni whose legacy we continue, and the thousands of lives this amazing place has transformed. It’s our mission. It’s how we treat each other. It’s how we interact with our community and the world.” I mean, come on. They take branding and sending a message to a whole new level. They said, “this is us and what we want to do.” They even have a vocabulary to play by: Irreverent, Progressive, Extraordinary, Alive, Natural, Inclusive. If that isn’t inspiring, I don’t know what is. When and how is Boise State going to start? First, get away from the mindset of being the brand and the brand only. “Brands are performance driven.” But how do we perform? We are at Boise State University. We took on the blue turf which made us innovative. We became a staple in the best city in the country which made us all-encompassing for all lifestyles across America. We are builders of our reputation. Our recognition has been built here at home. Step away from perfection and aligning with the crowd. Get monochromatic. Get experimental. We have built the foundation and it’s high time to show what we can do with it and the best way is through experimentation and also realizing that being a school built through athletics doesn’t mean we have to rely on only athletics or a brand built to sustain just the surface of Boise State and what we can do.
OPINION
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND A MUSIC FESTIVAL THIS SUMMER Music festivals afford students the opportunity to meet new people and connect through music Lia Crumpton | Guest Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ummer is one of the best times for any student! The liberation that comes at the end of the school year and the beginning of endless possibilities. It’s filled with travel for some, working for others, as well as summer courses; but for me, it’s filled with live music. When I was a sophomore in high school, I learned about Sasquatch! Music Festival through some friends who had attended and it sparked an idea that I wanted to attend one as well. I went to Sasquatch! in 2017 because I wanted to see Twenty One Pilots perform. At the festival, I danced with my best friends, met unique people in even more unique outfits, ate some interesting food, and was shocked by how positive and vibrant the venue was. Everything was so bright and the people were so happy; it was an extremely euphoric event. One of the best things about music festivals is the promotion of good vibes. Even though it sounds cheesy, people at music festivals are genuinely living their best life.
Photos by Lia Crumpton The crowds seem intimidating at first but often have some of the nicest people who are just trying to enjoy the music. For students staying in Boise this summer, an awesome festival to check out is Bonanza Campout, only four and a half hours away in Heber, Utah. In summer 2018, I took four of my good friends to the festival for our first time and it did not disappoint. There are only two stages so it’s easy to be in front for your favorite artists and sets don’t overlap like they do at larger festivals, so you never have to worry about missing a performance. Last year I had the opportunity to see some of my favorite artists including Halsey, Quinn XCII, MAX, Wiz Khalifa, and Zhu perform. It’s such an incredible experience seeing people from all different ethnicities, backgrounds, gender orientations, ages and beliefs come together to celebrate music. The festival is three days but they also offer single-day tickets if you have plans or don’t want to attend the other days. But for any festival, I highly recommend attending all three days because it’s how you
discover new music. This will be my second year attending Bonanza and I’m excited to discover new music and artists. I have found some of my favorite artists just by checking out artists sets while walking around such as Dounia, who will be one of the performers at Bonanza this year. This year the festival lineup includes, G-Eazy, DJ Snake, Yungblood, Manila Killa, Machine Gun Kelly, Two Feet and Griz to name a few of the popular artists as well as up-and-coming artists such as Dounia, Harry Hudson, Carlie Hanson, NomBe and Charlotte Lawrence. In my personal experience, music festivals radiate positive energy and good vibes. It’s a great way to meet new people and connect through music. I have attended over seven music festivals since Sasquatch! Music Festival in 2017. I have created some everlasting memories by flying to new places, trying foods like ice cream tacos, dancing at sunset to Excision, crying to Lana Del Rey with strangers, headbanging to Louis the Child, and connecting with others through late night deep talks.
Festivals such as Bonanza Campout are $185 for the entire weekend — and seeing a few of these artists outside of the festival would cost you more than just paying for a weekend at a festival, plus you wouldn’t get the benefits of camping with friends, seeing over 30 artists, getting to wear interesting outfits without judgment for three days, and the countless selfies. My hope in sharing my experience is to encourage other students like myself — who are on a budget and are looking for something fun to do this summer — to try out a music festival. There are festivals for almost every genre of music and budget. Through festivals, I have met lifelong friends all over the world, seen some of my favorite artists perform and found a greater love for myself and music. Lia Crumpton is a sophomore media arts major with an emphasis in public relations. She is a freelance music photographer.
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F E AT U R E
DAVID COLLIE | CULTUREREPORTER@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU
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n recent years, gender reveal videos have become a popular trend online. With each reveal more elaborate than the last, there is always a persistent truth: pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Even before birth, there are distinct lines drawn that define what it means to be a man or a woman. Eventually, pink and blue turn into Barbies and GI Joes, Hannah Montana backpacks and Transformers lunch boxes. In these cases, the cost of this socialization is usually no more than some boys and girls being ridiculed. But what happens when the design of a backpack turns into being passive or violent, or when gender roles determine who can and cannot be academically successful? Among countless gender roles, some of the most impactful for men are the expectations surrounding violence and academic success. When men and boys are forced by societal and familial pressure to adhere rigidly to masculine gender norms, toxic masculinity is the outcome.
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What is toxic masculinity? The term toxic masculinity can be a broad one that refers to many contexts. Janice Witherspoon, a senior political science major and co-founder of Students Against Misogynistic Establishments, defined it. “Toxic masculinity is an offshoot of teaching young boys that they have to conform to a ‘harder’ type of performance of masculinity that is based in the suppression of emotions, utilizing violence as a source of power, and a general stoicism or hardness,” Witherspoon wrote in an email. “All of this is to say that young boys are pushed to embrace a kind of masculinity that becomes toxic to them and other (sic) later in life, because it values and promotes a lack of emotions and a substitution of violence.” Although several definitions exist, most point toward toxic masculinity as glorifying a dominant view of what masculin-
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ity is — typically involving strength and stoicism — while discouraging things that are “weak” or “feminine,” especially when it comes to emotional vulnerability.
Not just a frat problem When looking at masculine expectations on a college campus, there are likely few examples better than fraternities. Nearly any movie about college is sure to have its stereotypical “frat guy” who is buff, drinks a lot, sleeps with many women and probably isn’t the brightest – like the film “Neighbors,” for example. This is obviously not a realistic depiction of every male in a fraternity, but this stereotype does effectively highlight what many people expect from college-aged males, especially within the university setting. To get a more accurate idea of what fraternities on campus are really like, Interfraternity Council president and junior communication major Connor Johnson discussed the role of masculinity
among his peers. Johnson said that, although they could do better, Boise State and its fraternities do a relatively good job of promoting academic success. The problem, according to Johnson, is one that extends beyond fraternities. “I think that the problem of toxic masculinity and academics isn’t necessarily a sole fraternal issue, because we see similar GPA averages,” Johnson said. “But what we have seen is that the all-male average is almost always lower than the all-female average.” There are several national statistics to support Johnson’s claim of women finding more academic success than males. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2015, 72.5% of females who had recently graduated high school were enrolled in a two-year or four-year college, compared to 65.8% of men. This disparity can also be seen in graduation rates across all four-year institutions. For the 2009 cohort, within five years of starting, only 51.5% of males graduated, compared to 58.4% of females. For the 2017-2018 academic year at Boise State, male students made up 43% of the student body, while female students made up 57%. Finally, looking at the GPAs of fraternities for the fall 2018 semester shows an interfraternity GPA of 2.9, compared to the total undergraduate average of 3.076. Although there are likely a number of factors that contribute to this, gender expectations and toxic masculinity may also play a role. Although Johnson explained academic success is not looked down on in fraternities like it might have been in decades past — missing a party to study,
for example — academic success for males is not valued by society as highly as other traits, such as physical strength. “Where the masculine part of our society is at doesn’t put an emphasis on the importance of being a 4.0 (student) all the time,” Johnson said. “It instead puts more value on being more physically active and those types of things and, because of that, it puts a little less emphasis on the importance of academia.” In looking at this emphasis on physical traits, Johnson also discussed the difference between masculine traits and toxic masculinity.
Bryden’s story Bryden Larson, a English literature and kinesiology double major, had a hard time with gender expectations while growing up. Raised in a LDS family where gender roles were strictly enforced, Larson’s passion for things like writing, dance and opera were looked down on by his relatives, including a grandfather who prided himself on having never read a book. The problem, however, extended far beyond a simple disapproval of Larson’s interests, past being told by close relatives that the arts “weren’t for guys” or that he was doing things “real men” don’t do. Larson recalled routinely being asked which girls he thought were the cutest, or which one he was going to make his. “I felt so wrong about looking at people as something to be possessed, but masculinity asked me to do just that,” Larson wrote in an email. “I was encouraged to view others as something to own.” It was around age 12 when Larson realized he had the choice of not being himself and appeasing his family, or facing the isolation and disappointment of his family for not conforming. Larson chose to be himself, a choice he is now happy with, but one that made for a difficult road.
“I’m a big believer that masculinity itself isn’t harmful, but when it becomes toxic is when you try to define other people and assign them worth based off of your concept of masculinity, be that how much you can lift, how much you can drink, how many women you “It’s hard to find selfslept with, etcetera.” worth, joy and (contentment) when you Connor Johnson, president of are fighting a war against Interfraternity Council everyone around you.” “I’m a big believer that masculinity itself -
isn’t harmful, but when it becomes toxic is when you try to define other people and assign them worth based off of your concept of masculinity, be that how much you can lift, how much you can drink, how many women you slept with, etcetera,” Johnson said. “I think it’s great you can bench 400 pounds, but the moment you start to use that in order to be superior or to make other people feel bad about that, then it becomes toxic.”
worth, joy and (contentment) when you are fighting a war against everyone around you.” Larson’s battle with himself and societal standards for manliness was not an isolated circumstance, and many other men and boys are prone to facing the same, difficult choice. The ability to fight those wars, however, is a key piece of the puzzle in overcoming toxic masculinity.
How to combat it Through discouraging males from trying to obtain academic success, teaching violence as a way of handling emotions and promoting the objectification of women, toxic masculinity is harmful to both men and women. Therefore, it is important to find ways to try to fight it. According to linguistics and gender studies professor Chris VanderStouwe, the university — as a place that brings different ideas together — has the potential to be a place for that to happen. “I feel like there’s a lot of chances in a university setting to sort of combat that, but then there can also be this sort of push back that says, ‘No, this is me. I’m a real man. I do this,’ and sort of play into those roles of violence and aggression … and all of these other things that can come along with it,” VanderStouwe said. One barrier in deconditioning those
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social constructs, VanderStouwe explained, is the fact that these conversations are not taking place widely, and are often confined to classrooms and elective courses where people tend to already be more conscious of the social issues being discussed. “The idea that people are sort of working to better that or get rid of it is also something that’s typically only found in elective courses and things that people are choosing to take … as opposed to a broader reach that says, ‘Hey, everyone should be learning about these kinds of things, and everyone should be challenging themselves and learning about how our social constructions really lead to the kinds of identities we end up conveying and portraying towards people,’” VanderStouwe said. Having these conversations outside of elective classrooms might be one way to bring awareness and begin deconstructing harmful gender roles. Although the response from some might be to fight fire with fire, Larson encourages the opposite approach when it comes to dealing with toxic masculinity. “We can’t condemn those operating under the principles of masculinity, because most of them are unaware of what they are doing,” Larson said. “Instead, we need to encourage them to step outside, be brave, be empathetic and face their fears outside of that bubble of masculinity. It’s not easy, but we have to do it.”
Bryden Larson, Boise State senior “This sense of isolation and abandonment resulted in chronic trauma that resulted in suicide attempts and a great deal of anxiety and depression,” Larson wrote. “I have spent years in therapy working through (it). I am honestly shocked I am still alive because so many moments felt insurmountable … It’s hard to find selfAPRIL 23, 2019
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THE PROS AND CONS OF ONLINE COURSES Faculty and students discuss their takes on ecampus learning
Cicely Caruso | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ith the rise of technology comes the rise of courses offered online, and these courses are set in place to help students complete credits at their convenience. While online courses are beneficial in allowing students to work around their schedules, they might not be for everyone. Tori Bivens, a sophomore communication major, is one of many students for whom online courses are one of the only ways they can get an education and maintain extracurriculars, as well as other life engagements. Bivens is on the Boise State softball team and has to travel throughout the season, making it almost impossible for her to attend in-person classes. Bivens discussed her experience with online classes allowing her to get an education while still participating in other commitments. “(It’s about) being able to schedule classes and work on them on your own, especially when you have a lot of other things going on in your extra-curricular life,” Bivens said. “Online courses are great for that because you can do it on your time.” There is a common myth that online courses are a quick and easy way to gain credits without having to do the work. Mary Frances Casper, an associate professor and public relations coordinator at Boise State, debunked that myth. “In my personal opinion, online classes are much more difficult than face-to-face classes because, even though you’re doing your work, you’re independent and you don’t have to worry about what anyone else is doing,” Casper said. “You are responsible for all the learning, and you don’t have the lecture. Everything has a timeline.” While the workload may be similar to taking lecture courses on campus, students trying ecampus classes may find themselves
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Online courses require additional time management skills. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter independent, hard-working person.” with a new challenge not often found in However, according to Erin Barney, the classroom setting. Taking online courses multimedia storytelling professor, that leaves much of the responsibility to the shouldn’t deter a student from taking an student, making it easy for them to slack online course. off or forget. “I have noticed a lot of success with the “It is easy to slack off. You don’t have 30 students coming out of (online multimedia other people in your class to tell you what storytelling),” Barney said. “Online courses you have due for that class,” Bivens said. can keep students more organized and “You don’t meet anyone from that class, teach students a lot of important writing so you don’t have any connections. So, it’s skills that will help them in many areas of really easy to forget that you might have something due the next day if you aren’t an their lives. Along with this, they are also
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learning important computer skills that are extremely important for getting a job.” Boise State students are often focused on what comes after graduation, and ecampus can play a valuable role in this discussion. Casper continued this sentiment by explaining how the skills students learn in online classes can be applied in the workplace. “Many of our workplaces now are asynchronous,” Casper said. “So, if you’re used to that, you’re able to handle it, and you’re able to handle having big group discussions through a screen. That sets you ahead in the game from many.” Online courses can offer students many critical life skills that will give them a competitive edge when entering the workforce. According to Barney, these courses are extremely well thought-out and, though they aren’t easy, they can be worth it if they are right for the student. “I am excited for the future of education,” Barney said. “I think it is going to be a great thing being able to learn online and in person. I think it will be able to accommodate a lot of people, which is really neat.” For any student that is questioning whether or not they are right for online courses, Bivens offered some helpful insight. Interested students can also find an ecampus quiz on the Boise State website, which is designed to determine whether online classes are tailored for a student’s learning style. “I think it’s good for any person to take at least one online class so that they know what it’s like,” Bivens said. “There are a lot of jobs that require computer and technology skills, so they need to know how to do it.”
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STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR LANGUAGE-LEARNING MATERIALS Student-created materials aim to make language learning accessible throughout Idaho David Collie | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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s part of the ongoing Open Educational Resources initiative on campus, Boise State’s World Language Resource Center (WLRC) is hosting a spring showcase on April 26 from 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., which will feature student-made learning materials created for the department’s Pathways Language Teaching Repository (LTR) to help make high-quality language-teaching materials accessible across the state of Idaho. According to Amber Hoye, director of the WLRC, the project started as a way to share some of the many materials that were created for world language courses at Boise State, especially with rural communities in the state that may not have much available funding. Although the WLRC has already contributed around 100 activities to the LTR, there are more than 400 that are still being added. What makes the spring showcase special, however, is the fact that the created materials being displayed come exclusively from students. This, according to Hoye, is a great moment for the students and the project.
“(OER is) student-created, which I think is pretty unique,” Hoye said. “There (are) some instructors on campus who are making and using OER, but there (are) not a lot of students that are doing it, and so I think that’s pretty cool.” Hoye talked about some of the student work that will be featured, representing languages such as French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Basque, ASL and more. One such project involved students interviewing French speakers from outside of France — such as those in Haiti — with a goal of showcasing some of the variety present in the language. One student involved in the project is Naia Robinson, a freshman global studies major, who worked with a student from Germany to increase cultural competency of German. “We created some activities that were kind of more current,” Robinson said. “A lot of German programs don’t have access to new materials, so the view of Germany tends to be outdated. So we wanted to, with a person from Germany, create something that shows the current culture.”
One student involved in the showcase is Abby Cain, a junior Spanish secondary education major. Cain will be presenting an interactive infographic at the event which will showcase her project. Cain took resources from the LTR to teachers, asking them what barriers there were to using them in the classroom. Beyond making language learning more accessible, Cain also discussed the value of learning other languages, telling her story of hearing Spanish on the playground, which inspired a passion for language learning. “I think it teaches you a lot of empathy and understanding, and (it) just gets your mind thinking about so many different things,” Cain said. Cain also explained that learning a language is a way to show respect for others and place value on their culture. Hoye echoed this as well, explaining that learning a new language, even just a little bit, is a way to practice empathy, along with various cognitive skills. “I think that learning another language really opens doors,” Hoye said. “It allows
you to communicate with people that you might not ever have been able to, but it’s not just the language.” Although those doors can sometimes be difficult to open in schools where funding for foreign-language teaching is not particularly high, the LTR and the student-created materials in the spring showcase will be a step in bringing more language learning to Idaho.
Open educational resources (OER) affect more than textbook prices, also making language-learning materials more accessible.
Isabel Everett | The Arbiter
“I think that learning another language really opens doors. It allows you to communicate with people that you might not ever have been able to, but it’s not just the language.” Amber Hoye, director of WRLC
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WHAT DO TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE?
Students prove that leaving an unhealthy relationship is easier said than done Cicely Caruso | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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oxic relationships are a prevalent and severe issue. Especially amongst young adults, the level of shame, secrecy or sensitivity around them can make it an uncomfortable topic. Particularly during transformative years of their college career, people should be excelling, succeeding and living life to its fullest. However, being involved in a toxic relationship could very well hinder one’s ability to do so. Kelsey Allen, the licensed associate marriage and family therapist at Boise State, explained the stigma surrounding domestic violence and toxic relationships with the hope that information and conversation on the matter will spread light on this very real problem. “It’s not always what you think of a stereotypical domestic violence situation; there can be a lot of damage and hurt and pain that’s happening below the surface,” Allen said. “So, realizing that it’s much more common than we think, I have hope now that discussion of mental health and relationships is increasing so much in our culture.” An unhealthy relationship can be any relationship that is seemingly one-sided, all give and no take, draining and often manipulative. It can cause physical, mental and emotional damage even if it is not a physically abusive relationship. Jillian Kelley, the healthy relationships peer educator at the Gender Equity Center, defined toxic relationships in her own words. “A toxic relationship is a relationship that is just defined as unhealthy,” Kelley said. “Basically, it’s not benefiting one person or the other, especially in the mental health part of that relationship. It can be characterized by one or more toxic partners in a relationship that are emotionally damaging to one or the other partner.” Stephanie LoPiccolo, a former Boise State student with a bachelors in business administration and human resources, described what a toxic relationship is from firsthand experience of being involved in
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one with her sister. LoPiccolo’s relationship with her sister isn’t the typical image that comes to mind regarding toxic relationships, but she shared how being in this unhealthy relationship affected her as a Boise State student. “My sister and I have always had an interesting relationship. We have a lot of things in common, but personality-wise are totally different,” LoPiccolo said. “We always seemed to have each other’s backs no matter how bad, or ugly things were. Once she was diagnosed with cancer in her teenage years, things changed even more between us. As a teenager, I didn’t know how to handle it, and I know she didn’t either. We were still close and did things together as she was in remission. Once things changed for the worse with her and her boyfriend, things changed for the worse in our relationship, as well. She started to resent me, and I did not know why.” The unhealthy relationship between LoPiccolo and her sister is just one example of a growing problem, especially in college students. Allen discussed how she thinks people typically find themselves in toxic relationships. “It can happen pretty slowly. That’s something I’ve observed in my clinical work,” Allen said. “I don’t know a single person that chooses to be in a toxic relationship. A lot of times, it can come from home if there are unhealthy relationships that are modeled. For example, a lack of affection in the home or really inconsistent affection from a parent (may mean) someone can find themselves in a toxic relationship because that is what they are used to.” Once an individual finds themselves, as Allen described, in a toxic relationship, getting out can be much like trying to break out of an emotional prison cell. Even after figuring out that they are in a toxic relationship, many people will choose to stay in that relationship for various reasons.
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“Whether it be in a romantic, friend, or familial-based relationship, it can be that they don’t want to be alone, so they choose just to ride it out because this is better than nothing,” Allen said. “There can be a lot of justifying emotional inconsistencies. Thinking that the relationship will progress, that the partner is growing and there are such wonderful sides to them, and they have a lot of potential.” For many, getting out of a relationship can be hard, especially if it isn’t a healthy one. The person may rely on their partner for emotional, financial, living and other areas of need. However, getting out might be just
what they need in order to become their best selves. Allen explained what life starts to look like after leaving an unhealthy relationship. “There is a huge change once people get out of a toxic relationship,” Allen said. “It can range from almost like the euphoria of having a huge weight lifted off their chest to an almost fear of the unknown but they go hand-in-hand. It’s like they can breathe again. Most of all they start to get back to who they were before. You get your ambition back, you start socializing again, you get your normal appetite back (and) you sleep better. You get your light back.”
Relationships don’t have to be romantic to be unhealthy. Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter
SPIRITUAL CONNECTEDNESS
The importance of religious organizations to students Ben Harris | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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n the average Saturday morning, a small group of around 15 students gathers in St. Paul’s Catholic Center. While the group that meets isn’t a large crowd, the members of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) have a strong bond with one another. Christian Farradj, sophomore pre-med and biology major, is the president of this organization and, from Farradj’s perspective, the last thing students should be on campus is alone. “The entire purpose (of the OCF) is just allowing a space where Orthodox Christian students can (have) discourse, talk and feel like they’re not alone on this campus,” Farradj said. “That’s really easy when there are 15 of us.” All over campus, religious organizations are helping students create important connections with their peers. Through regular meetings and events, Boise State students have a place where they can be themselves. While some organizations are large and have a lot of influence on campus, Farradj believes that the small numbers of the OCF are just as meaningful as the big numbers of other groups. “It can be tough not having enough people, but on the flip side of that, I could say that in ways it’s even better,” Farradj said. “In the OCF, we’re able to provide a deeper connection, even though it’s with comparably less students than a larger religious organization.” The OCF isn’t alone in its Boise State impact, as larger religious organizations hold importance on campus, as well. Cru, one of the most prominent religious groups on campus, strives to give students a sense of community. Landry May, president of Cru and senior kinesiology and pre-chiropractic major, makes it a priority to meet every new student that comes through the organization’s doors. “I want everyone to feel welcome and feel the sense of family that I felt when I came as a lonely freshman,” May wrote
in an email. “I try to come to as many of our events as possible. I want to be the representation of what putting yourself out there can look like.” While plenty of students join Cru, there are also many who don’t. Religion is a subject that many students can feel hesitant about, and each individual often has legitimate reasons for staying uninvolved. One common reason is the idea that a person may be judged harshly but, according to May, that’s not the atmosphere of Cru. “We try to make it clear that whatever your religion, faith background or spirituality, you are welcome at Cru,” May wrote. “Honestly, I find something really special about diverse religions and spiritual backgrounds coming together to form community.” While different religious groups can disagree on what they believe to be true, there’s still common ground to be shared. The unity of religious groups on campus is something that Amber Dopp, senior sociology major and vice-president of the Latter Day Saint Student Association, wants to see more of on campus. “We go through a lot of the same things, but we don’t know much about each other,” Dopp said. “One of our goals this year is to reach out and have community with other people of faith.” Although every student may not find their place in a religious organization, those who do find similar benefits as students who participate in extracurricular activities. From Dopp’s perspective, religious organizations offer not just social enrichment and an opportunity to serve, but spiritual enrichment, as well. “It gives you an opportunity to be part of something that really is part of your soul,” Dopp said. “It’s a place to feel safe and grow in ways that you don’t usually grow on campus.”
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JUST A THOUGHT Mental health isn’t just a “normal” people problem Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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nxiety and depression are becoming increasingly common in teens and young adults, with many Boise State students suffering the effects of mental illness in some regard every day. Although the numbers are high, the psychological impacts are even more devastating, and it is, unfortunately, a common problem for individuals to commit suicide as a result. Trauma is no longer isolated, and those beyond the campus environment are just as prone to its effects. Mental illness, while becoming more widely advocated for in recent years, is still often seen as a “hush-hush” discussion in the status quo. Whether students find themselves unable to discuss their turmoil with a professional — although numbers of those seeking help are on the rise — or struggle to cope individually with their symptoms, the flaws with the current discourse seem endless. Ariana Grande, who has suffered the death of a loved one and the end of her engagement within the same two-year period, recently released images of her brain scans that show
activity in her brain reflecting symptoms of PTSD. Other than the trauma she has faced, this release of information reflects a number of problems surrounding the stigma around mental health and discussion of trauma. While it may be important for many that Grande made the decision to speak out, the societal pressure for her to disclose her condition is telling of how inhumanly celebrities are often depicted in the minds of the public and, often, the fans. Regardless of the controversy surrounding the chart-topping performer, Grande’s mental health should never be at stake when discussing her career. The expectation for celebrities to “shut up and dance” in the face of trauma and disease for the sake of making music or films is a harmful sentiment that not only promotes Hollywood and music industry toxicity, but also the idea that mental health is no more than a personal construct. This isn’t to say that no one in the spotlight ought to speak out about their mental health. Celebrities like Zachary Levi and Grande’s comedian ex, Pete Davidson, have spoken out about the importance of speaking out and, although their efforts have started small, their impact has the potential to be life-altering. Public figures within the media and pop culture will continue to dance along the fine line of pressure and opportunity when it comes to talking candidly about emotional trauma, but support ought to be the key term in the discussion. Whether one is suffering with mild depression or borderline personality disorder, the expectation should be a simple one. Famous or not, severe or not, mental health topics ought to be open for healthy discourse at the discretion of the sufferer, not the pressure of their fans — just a thought.
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MAKING DREAMS A REALITY
Golfer Skyler Eubank is living out his lifelong dream of playing golf in the United States
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Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
ver 5,000 miles and a nation away from where he is now, sophomore golfer Skyler Eubank spent the first 13 years of his life on a military base in Japan where his father was stationed. After going through elementary school, middle school, his first year of high school and playing in the Japanese Junior Golf Tour in Japan, Eubank realized his dream was to play golf in the United States. When the opportunity arose for Eubank to live out his dream at age 14, he took it and ran. “Growing up in Japan, I always had dreams of playing college golf in (the) States, but I didn’t really have any exposure out there,” Eubank said. “So my dad decided to send me to an academy in Florida to hopefully get in front of college coaches.” Like most military children, Eubank moved often; he went from Japan to Florida for two years, to Texas for a year where he met Boise State head coach Dan Potter, then finally Boise. Boise is where Eubank has been living out his lifelong dream of golfing on a collegiate stage. “It’s been awesome here. I love Boise in general. I think everybody’s friendly. I like the golf courses we get to play; they’re awesome. And (I’m) definitely trying to mature and grow here,” Eubank said. Eubank, who has made plenty of big life decisions since leaving Japan, said his decision to commit to become a Bronco has been paying off. Eubank was named Mountain West Golfer of the Week on Feb. 27, had a top-five finish at the Duck Invitational and earned his first-career collegiate title at the Desert Classic. Eubank said growing up in a foreign country where people spoke a language
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Skyler Eubank is making waves in the golf world. Photo by Boise State Media Relations he wasn’t fluent in was “just tough,” and his experience at the academy in Florida wasn’t what he expected. But Eubank has managed to overcome it all and emerge as one of the Broncos’ top golfers in his second year.
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“Skyler this year has really kind of embraced more of a leadership role,” Potter said. “He’s brought awesome energy to the team, he leads by example... he has a little bit more (of an) outspoken kind of aggressive mentality, which has been awesome
for our guys. You can feed off that energy; it’s been awesome to see him develop that part of what he brings to the team.” Eubank wants to bring leadership, knowledge and energy to his younger teammates, and he seems to be accomplishing this. Coach Potter also said that Eubank “brings a little bit of swagger” to the team. In the summer leading up to his sophomore season, Eubank suffered a wrist injury that kept him off the course for about three months. This led him to have low expectations for this year, and he struggled to get back into the swing of things. But, Eubank persisted and worked hard all fall to get back in top shape, and his hard work didn’t go unnoticed by his team. “He was struggling at the beginning of the year... Now everything in his game has improved,” said freshman golfer Cameron Barzekoff. “To see him come back from injury and win a tournament, it’s just really, really cool to see in person. And it’s really cool to watch him play really consistent golf all season long in the spring.” An athlete that has a drive to face every obstacle and has the power to overcome anything that gets in his way is the motivation that this team needs, and it’s what Eubank brings. “I think it gives everybody confidence because as much as they respect that they practice with Skyler, and they’re like, ‘man, I want to beat this guy; I can do what he does.’ And so that’s a huge source of motivation,” Potter said. Eubank’s path to golf was earned through hard work and a relentless attitude to achieve his dreams. His constant determination has got him this far and Eubank hopes it can lead him to becoming a professional golfer after college.
BOISE STATE BASKETBALL SEASON IN REVIEW
SPORTS & REC
Head coach Leon Rice reflects on a tough season Gabe Serrano | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Although the Broncos had a disappointing season, they’re looking forward to taking charge next year.
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eon Rice walked into the Arguinchona Basketball Complex on Monday, April 10 for his end-ofseason press conference, where he would have to reflect on the 2018-19 season’s outcome. Rice tagged junior forward RJ Williams to take the lead for his head coach, jokingly saying his voice wasn’t ready for the conference. “I am going to have RJ answer the questions,” joked Rice. Ultimately, Rice was going to reflect on a season that he would like to forget. Boise State finished 13-20, the first 20-loss season in school history. This was the team’s most losses since the 2004-05 season when they lost 18 games. In conference, they mustered a 7-11 Mountain West record this season, finishing eighth overall in a year when they were picked to finish fourth. The year concluded with a hard-fought loss to Nevada, who would go on to compete in the NCAA Tournament. Rice was not happy about the way the season ended,
but proud of the effort from the team. “It was a good battle. I was proud of the way our guys competed,” Rice said to The Idaho Statesman following the loss to Nevada on March 14. Almost a month later, Rice talked about a year full of heartbreak and struggle. “You always reflect on the year. You also try and move on to the next year as fast as you can. There was a lot of things that got me excited about last year’s team,” Rice said. The Broncos went 1-7 in games decided by seven points or fewer. Rice believes that was the difference in this year’s team. “We lost in a variety of ways, it wasn’t just one thing. But, that’s how you learn. Next year, I’m sure we will be in a lot of close games and hopefully we find a way to turn the script,” Rice said. “Last year’s team was very competitive. We just didn’t finish games.” The Broncos started conference 3-0 and went on to lose the next two games after an emotional loss to Nevada on January 15, in which they led in the final
Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter
minute. If Nevada’s Cody Martin would have missed the game-winning three that night, who knows how the Broncos’ season would have ended. During a stretch from February 13 to March 6, the Broncos dropped six straight games, including two overtime games to Utah State, in which they led in the final minute, and UNLV. This ended up being the worst stretch of the season and put the Broncos in the bottom three of the conference. Some of the problems could be seen through some numbers. Statistically, the Broncos ranked eighth in scoring and last in total defense. They were 1-13 in games where the opponent outrebounded them and finished 2-10 in the final 12 games of the season. This equated to Rice’s worst season in Boise since he took over eight years ago. But, the time to move on has already begun, especially with the depth and talent Rice will carry. Despite losing senior bigs David Wacker and Zach Haney, the Bron-
cos will have impact transfers in Emmanuel Akot, who was a former five-star recruit for Arizona, and Abu Kigab from Oregon. “Our guys are really excited to move forward,” Rice said. “We had a lot guys in new roles and new places last year. This year, we will be very experienced.” After the season’s end, there were many rumors of Rice taking the head coaching job at his alma mater, Washington State. But, Rice is sticking around and looks forward to a new challenge next season, with hopes of turning the ship around and getting the program to where it was years prior: winning 20 games per season and competing for a Mountain West title. “I’m very excited for next year. It’s tough to have a year like this, and lose so many close games,” said junior Justinian Jessup on March 14. “But I hate to look ahead right away coming off a loss like this. Next year is going to be big time.”
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SPORTS & REC
WOMEN’S BEACH VOLLEYBALL TEAM ENDS SEASON 13-6
The team beat out Sacramento State but fell to Arizona in Beach Classic Championship Armin Mesinovic | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ith the Boise State Beach Classic underway, the Boise State women’s beach volleyball team competed against the Sacramento State Hornets and the Arizona Wildcats at the Boise State sand volleyball complex on Friday, April 19. Going into the tournament, Boise State had a record of 12-5 on the season and a seven-game winning steak on the line. The Broncos could have capped off an incredible season with a nine-game winning streak. However, Boise State finished their season with a 13-6 record after beating Sacramento State 4-1 and falling to Arizona 3-2. Arizona managed to snap Boise State’s eight-game winning streak by a small margin of victory. Boise State held their first home match of the season and celebrated their seniors’ last match with details of their accomplishments as a Bronco, presenting each of them with a bouquet of flowers followed by cheers from the attending fans. “I’m gonna miss the family vibe, this team has welcomed me in from transferring since day one and they’re everything to me and I think I’m going to miss having a family behind me,” said senior Morgan Hughes. To start the day, Boise State secured first point against Sacramento State after sophomore pair Kylee Johnson and Kiley Lewis secured a 21-16, 21-15 victory. The only loss occurred when freshman Ellie McDonald and sophomore Jensen Allen fell to Sacramento State’s pair of sophomore Macey Hayden and freshman McKenna Smith by a slim margin of 22-20, 16-21, 17-15. Junior Janell Walley and senior Kendra Bodine gained a close victory by a score of 21-10, 19-21, 15-10 to finish the match against Sacramento State. “It was so nice, we had a good crowd and the weather was awesome,” Walley said. “I love playing at home in front of our fans and it gets me hyped so I was
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The Beach Classic was Boise State’s first time playing at home this season. super excited.” Boise State had already lost to Arizona after the first three matches had gone to the Wildcats. The Broncos continued to push forward and finish strong with wins from their No. 1 and No. 2 pairs. The No. 1 pair, consisting of Walley and Bodine, defeated senior Mia Mason and junior Olivia Hallaran to claim Boise State’s first point of the match. To finish the season, seniors Sabryn Roberts and Morgan Hughes won the last match of their collegiate careers with a score of 27-25, 21-15.
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The pair finished with the third most wins in school history playing in the No. 2 position. “Honestly we were always cheering each other on and it was awesome to see at the end there with Sabryn and Morgan finishing us out,” Bodine said. “We were always trying to make each other better in practices by constantly competing and I’d say overall the whole team improved this year.” Despite a loss to end the season, Boise State finished strong and head coach Allison Buck was pleased with the team’s
Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter overall performance and expects more to come for next season. “We started in January for our spring season and seeing the growth that our team has gone through and the competition with how much the team has got better is exciting, especially for the future,” Buck said. “I think this season was fantastic. We went 13-6 and that’s the best season we’ve ever had –– especially for beach volleyball –– and I hope it keeps getting better.”
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