The Arbiter Vol. 32 Issue 13 by The Arbiter at Boise State University

November 12, 2019

Vol. 32 Issue 13

I N D EPEN DE NT

S T UDE NT

V O I CE

O F

B O I SE

STAT E

Glass recycling bins are few and far between in Boise, making ‘re-using’ programs the norm

VISIT US ONLINE:

OPINION

Community members and students gathered for a discussion, but were met with a debate arbiteronline.com

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O T E L G G U R T STUDENTSS IALAND C N A N I F E C N A BAL S S E C C U S C I ACADEM

T C A G N I C N BALA NEWS

S I N C E

CULTURE

14-year-old college student studies physics, math and piano performance to further her education @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

Plans presented by the NCAA could change the future of collegiate athletes’ personal profits

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@boisestatearbiter

Editor-In-Chief Logan Potter editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Emma Freitas onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Celina Van Hyning news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Taylor Rico-Pekerol news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Will Meyer culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Michelle Johnson culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Delaney Brassil sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Autum Robertson sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Blake Hunter opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Megan Mary Social Media Coordinator Trisha Kangas Digital Content Manager Taylor Humby digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Mackenzie Hudson Graphic Design Manager Maddie Ceglecki design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Kacie Fromhart Illustrator Wyatt Wurtenberger Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK After reigning triumphant over SDSU with a 2-0 win, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer took home the Mountain West tournament title for the first time in program history. Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

Students are faced with the challenge of balancing school and work while the threat of student debt looms overhead. These challenges of ten equal less sleep, inadequate self- care and a smaller focus on academics. Cover design by Maddie Ceglecki

HOW TO REACH US: CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites

MISSION:

As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-par tisan and socially responsible media.

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

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

EVENTS VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT

STUDENT UNION BUILDING NOVEMBER 14, 7 PM

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS VOLLEYBALL

Compete in this Super Smash Bros. tournament for a chance to win an awesome prize. Contestants can pick their teams for this single elimination bracket challenge. Free with student ID.

TUNNEL OF OPPRESSION

STUDENT UNION BUILDING SIMPLOT BALLROOM

NOVEMBER 15, 10 AM

The Tunnel of Oppression is a 20-30 minute interactive theater challenging the way Boise State students view marginalized groups. This year’s tunnel theme is ‘Black Lives Matter.’

‘PASSION PLAY’ DANNY PETERSON THEATRE AT THE MORRISON CENTER

NOVEMBER 16, 7:30 PM Part of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing’s season celebrating women playwrights, Ruhl boldly intersects politics and religion in “Passion Play.”

A 1-1 week at home for the Broncos confirmed the program’s sixth-consecutive winning season. Boise State lost a back-and-forth battle with UNLV 2-3 on Thursday, then swept New Mexico 3-0 on Saturday thanks largely to freshman Lauren Ohlinger’s 21 kills. The Broncos (15-8, 7-6) have four regular season games remaining.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Boise State traveled to Eugene on Saturday to face No. 15 Oregon. The Broncos fell 106-75 against the PAC-12 Ducks, who shot 68.4% and drained 13 three-pointers. Derrick Alston led the Broncos with 28 points. Boise State returns home on Nov. 15 to face UC Irvine.

FOOTBALL

MOBILE APP PITCH COMPETITION VENTURE COLLEGE NOVEMBER 18, 5:30 PM Registration is free and open to all students who believe they have an idea for a brand new mobile app. Refreshments will be provided for this pitch practice workshop.

Boise State did just enough to get past the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday. The Broncos went into overtime for the first time this season and managed to get ahead with an unanswered field goal for a 20-17 win. The Broncos are now 8-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play.

EVENTS VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT

STUDENT UNION BUILDING NOVEMBER 14, 7 PM

SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS VOLLEYBALL

Compete in this Super Smash Bros. tournament for a chance to win an awesome prize. Contestants can pick their teams for this single elimination bracket challenge. Free with student ID.

TUNNEL OF OPPRESSION

STUDENT UNION BUILDING SIMPLOT BALLROOM

NOVEMBER 15, 10 AM

The Tunnel of Oppression is a 20-30 minute interactive theater challenging the way Boise State students view marginalized groups. This year’s tunnel theme is ‘Black Lives Matter.’

‘PASSION PLAY’ DANNY PETERSON THEATRE AT THE MORRISON CENTER

NOVEMBER 16, 7:30 PM Part of Theatre, Film and Creative Writing’s season celebrating women playwrights, Ruhl boldly intersects politics and religion in “Passion Play.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL

NEWS

NOVEMBER 12, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

GLASS PROVES TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR RECYCLING PROGRAMS

Lack of recycling plants in Idaho makes glass recycling almost impossible, city turns to ‘re-using’ programs instead

Ashley Clark | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ometimes, plans with even the best intentions fail; the city of Boise and the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) know this all too well. In 2007, Boise attempted to make a project deal with ACHD that would reuse collected glass mixed with gravel to be used as an anti-sliding agent on the sides of roads. ACHD also tried to send a large portion of the glass to a recycling plant in Salt Lake City, but both plans failed. Boise does not currently have any recycling plants that are able to melt down recycled glass and convert it into new glass products. However, the city has a deal with Environmental Abrasives, a company that breaks down the “recycled” glass into small particles and sells the product for abrading methods similar to sandblasting “Glass is brought by people [in Boise] to these specific recycling [locations], which is collected by Republic Services and then brought to us to use,” said Ron Ward, sales manager at Environmental Abrasives. This tactic provides a general use for the 250 tons of glass collected in Boise each month that would otherwise end up in a landfill. However, Environmental Abrasives is not providing the city with a recycling program. By definition, this methodology is a re-using program. Kat Davis, the Boise State sustainability coordinator, has been struggling alongside the city to find adequate and economical approaches to dealing with the glass recycling issue. “Glass is almost infinitely recyclable, but it just costs so much money to send glass anywhere that there is a manufacturing facility,” Davis said. Because of the weight of glass, the financial feasibility of transporting all of Boise’s

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glass waste to the nearest out-of-state processing facility has proven to be out of the question. However, the city of Meridian has recently attempted a similar outsourcing project and is supposedly succeeding, but with a significantly lesser load.

“Glass is almost infinitely recyclable, but it costs so much money to send glass anywhere that there is a manufacturing facility.” Kat Davis, Boise State sustainability coordinator At Boise State, the administration and the sustainability department continue to remind students that the campus is supposed to be glass free. By discouraging glass usage on campus, the university hopes to limit its own issues with glass recycling. “Realistically, we might find illicit glass wrapped in a Burger King bag and hidden in a pizza box, which is not helpful,” Davis said. Davis said she appreciates the sentiment of students who are trying to do the right thing by recycling their waste. She also understands the confusion of those coming from other states who have previously been accustomed to different recycling policies. However, Davis warns that putting glass into the normal recycling bins is not just an inconvenience — it can actually be dangerous. “The person that has to go through and

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sort out the recycling could actually get While in some areas on campus there is hurt because the glass will get crushed in signage posted regarding the expected recythe recycle dumpsters,” Davis said. cling contents, Davis warned that students Misusing the recycling bins can also be should try to be more aware of what they extremely counterproductive. Because glass are tossing into the bins. is easily prone to shattering, small pieces “If you have glass to be recycled, please of glass within the normal recycling system don’t put it in the regular recycle bins,” have the capability to taint the other items Davis said. “Put it in the glass specific bins in the bins, causing them to be potentially which you can find in the parking area by unfit for further processing. Square Suites or at any of the Albertsons “It creates an issue for having contamithat have glass recycle bins.” nants within the paper because it ruins the paper to have little glass particles in it,” Davis said. “Then we can’t recycle the paper the way that we should be able to.” Tori Hewitt, a sophomore pre-business major, said she is well aware of the no glass recycling policies in her Driscoll Hall dorm, even if other students are not. “There’s a sign that goes above our recycling bins and it says ‘Do recycle: paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, sturdy plastics,” Hewitt said. “Don’t recycle: all other plastics, glass bottles Albertsons houses nearly all glass recycling bins in Boise. Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter or anything else.”

NEWS

ASBSU FUNDING BOARD URGES CLUBS TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS

As the semester comes to an end, Funding Board continues to allocate money to clubs and individuals Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

livia Thomas was walking through the Sawtooth Dorms when she noticed a student in an Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) shirt just down the hall. She took a chance and asked if he could help her. “I was panicking about how our funding was going to work and he ended up helping me through the process,” Thomas said. “And then he ended up joining our club.” Thomas, the president of the Quiz Bowl Club, a team-based club for quiz competitions, since then has requested money from the Funding Board every year for the past three years. The ASBSU Funding Board is a committee with four student officers responsible for holding hearings for students that are requesting joint, individual or direct grants. On the ASBSU YouTube channel, the Funding Board has a video depicting how to find their office, as well as an introduction to the officers on Funding Board. Carolina Zamudio, ASBSU’s secretary of student affairs, is the head of the Funding Board and has worked to make the process less intimidating for students. “You’re coming into a room full of people, we all have our laptops up and open and we’re taking notes,” Zamudio said. “So it’s intimidating enough. And because you’re coming in, you have to present your budget, you’re asking for money, a lot of people come in nervous.” The funds in the joint, individual and direct accounts are granted to students or student organizations on campus to host events or send individual people to conferences. For students presenting work at a conference, the event should allow students to help their community. Mark Carter, Funding Board member, gave an example of students wanting to attend a 3D printing for special education conference. “They were each assigned a student in the community and they have a particular need.

Funding Board members from left to right: Mark Carter, Carolina Zamudio, Talon Drake and Cade Solich. Taylor Humby | The Arbiter One person holds their pencil in a certain way that a conventional pencil doesn’t work,” Carter said. “So, they will print something from the 3D printer that actually fits on their hands so they can hold a pencil and write like everybody else. It’s just really groundbreaking stuff like that.” At the beginning of the school year, the Funding Board had $24,000 in their joint account, $15,000 in the individual account and $140,800 in the direct account. The Funding Board has held hearings for 120 clubs and individuals and has allocated $155,617.41 so far this year. The board uses a first come first serve rule and urges those that know their needs for the year submit their requests as soon as possible. Currently, the joint account has $6,158.67, the individual has $2,067.84 and the direct account has $18,318.90. President of the Honors Student Association (HSA) Claire Oberg requested the limit for one organization of $4,000.

According to Oberg, the money is used for the two honors graduation ceremonies, one in the fall and one in the spring. The money is split so that $2,000 is used one semester and the rest is used the following semester. This is the second year Oberg has requested funds and the request was placed within the first two weeks of the semester to assure they would receive the funds. “We give each honors graduate a medallion to wear with their graduation regalia and that’s when we call them up one by one and give them that. It’s really just a recognition dinner and the funds go towards the catering for the event,” Oberg said. Each organization is allowed to request $400 per person but the board places a cap on the amount one organization can receive at $4,000. The Funding Board Code has rules and regulations for the criteria that must be met. If an event is being held that allows outside members to come, the event must have a 50% or higher attendance rate of students.

Although certain criteria needs to be met, Zamudio encourages students to research and see if they qualify for funds. Tyler Qualls is the Financial Officer of Jedi Academy Association and President of the Dungeons and Broncos organization. Qualls requested $4,000 for the Jedi Academy for light sabers, crash pads and an Adobe Suite. However, the request for an Adobe Suite was denied because it conflicted with the Funding Board’s code and received $3760 in total. Dungeon and Broncos requested $1,167.54 for books and LEGO tools and received all of it. “It is important because it furthers the ability for others to take part in these activities,” Qualls said. “Especially for the Jedi Academy, it’s really useful to have extra lightsabers in order to have people that can’t afford their own lightsabers to be able to participate.”

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

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NEWS

ID:EA CERTIFICATE TEACHES INNOVATION, DESIGN AND CREATIVITY

The College of Innovation and Design program advances mindsets of students in any field of study Celina Van Hyning | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Co-director of the ID:EA program Jennie Myers discusses qualitative data and conducting proper interviews to get a human insight.

o Brad Weigle, creativity is the strongest, most defensible human strength in the ever-changing professional landscape of new technology. In the College of Innovation and Design, Weigle works as the director of Innovation and Design: Emerging Applications (ID:EA) certificate program. Within the program, students learn everything from how to concept and debate big ideas, fly drones, hack their idea or business, 3D printing and perform primary research to name a few. “It doesn’t matter what degree program someone is coming from,” Weigle wrote in an email. “We believe that a student equipped with the ability to think innovatively and creatively will have both a sustainable future in their chosen career and a competitive edge.” The program originally began in 2017 when Weigle and the co-director of the ID:EA program Jennie Myers tested different versions of the class. It was officially added to the class roster very recently, accepting students into the program during

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spring semester 2019. Weigle says there are four different courses offered through the program. All classes are 7-week long courses, three credits each, offered in-person and online, available every fall and spring semester and can be taken in any order. According to Weigle, all four classes could even be taken in the same semester. “This program is not meant to replace any given degree program or existing career path- it’s meant to support and enhance it,” Weigle wrote. “Whether you’re an engineer, business person, artist, media professional, programmer, whatever - you can earn your ID:EA certificate to help you think about the work you do more creatively. We believe that a person armed with creative problem solving capabilities is prepared to take on whatever comes their way.” Remy Krey-Rebentisch, a senior media arts major, decided to pursue an ID:EA certificate after their advisor recommended it. The advisor went on to describe what the courses looked like and asked Krey-Re-

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bentisch several follow-up questions to ensure the courses were appropriate for a media arts major. “She raved about the courses and shared stories she had heard from previous students who had completed it,” Krey-Rebentisch said. “I’m so happy I made the decision to take these classes.” Krey-Rebentisch explained the most valuable thing she has gained from this program is the ability to think creatively, inside and outside of the classroom. “One day in Creative Concepting, we were asked the question, ‘How might we address the amount of anxiety and stress college students experience’ and tasked with coming up with as many creative ideas as we could in a certain amount of time,” Krey-Rebentisch said. “Some of the ideas included free campus-wide parking for all students, puppies in the quad for stress relief and even an on-campus waterpark. The mindset that no idea is a dumb idea was the catalyst for coming to some pretty cool revelations- and although they might not all be practical, we found a few

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

gold nuggets.” Kinzie Hague is another senior media arts major involved in the ID:EA program. She described her initial decision to join the program based on the relevant course material. “There’s no doubt that media and technology are transforming the way business is conducted and I was eager to take courses that revolved around this emerging technology,” Hague said. “I was also excited to take classes that forced me to think outside the box when building my own mock company and learning how to grow my company through platforms like Google and Facebook Analytics.” Hague credits the ID:EA program with giving her a clear plan for life after college. She plans to expand the knowledge she has gained in the program by pursuing a career in advertising. “I definitely see myself pursuing a career in the advertising industry,” Hague said. “Advertising is exciting because every day is filled with different tasks and challenges, all of which force you to be creative.”

NEWS

CITY OF MERIDIAN BANS USE OF ALL HANDHELD DEVICES WHILE DRIVING Meridian City Council passes new city ordinance with hopes of state-wide adoption Bridger Cowan | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

daho had 64 distracted driving fatalities in 2016, a 25% increase from the previous year. According to the American Automobile Association, texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an accident than impaired driving. With smartphones becoming easier to use everyday, that number could continue to increase. Meridian’s mayor Tammy de Weerd recently decided Idaho must put a stop to this dangerous habit. On Oct. 22, Meridian’s city council voted 4-3 on a new city ordinance that would prohibit the use of any handheld devices while driving in Meridian. Jeff Lavey, Meridian’s chief of police, proposed the idea of this ordinance in an attempt to curb traffic accidents and road congestion in the rapidly growing city. Lavey explained that, after the initial proposal, the subsequent processes of receiving public input and thoughtful discussion in city council hearings took several months before it was finally voted on and passed. “I proposed it to our mayor and our council president, and he said that he would get it on the council agenda to have a high level discussion to really see what the public wanted,” Lavey said. “There were four public hearings for the public to weigh in on it.” While a “no texting while driving” law already exists in the state of Idaho, the idea behind this city ordinance is for drivers to maintain a completely device-free driving experience, allowing for complete attention to the road and surrounding vehicles. This prohibits the use of cell phones, MP3 players or any other technological devices while operating a vehicle. This law, however, does not completely take away a driver’s ability to speak on the phone while driving. Vehicles with built-in Bluetooth capabilities, other Bluetooth accessories like headsets and earbuds and built-in speakerphone functionality all allow for a hands-free experience while driving. Madison Murphy, a junior business major, resides in Meridian and frequently

commutes through town. “I understand that it’s illegal, but I also feel it’s a bit excessive,” Murphy said. “Not the texting part, I can agree with that, but for the whole calling thing — I feel like that should be allowed as long as you’re aware of your surroundings.” Murphy explained that though this ordinance may decrease accidents at large, she believes younger people will likely ignore the law. “I think they’re going to do whatever they’re going to do,” Murphy said. “That’s what this generation is all about.” Failure to comply with this new ordinance will result in a $90 citation. However, given that the ordinance is so new and widely unknown by the public, points will not be added to an individual’s driving record for the time being. “Not only do we have to educate the public out there and give them a chance to start conforming to the law, we [also] have to train our officers as far as what the expectations are,” Lavey said. “We want to get to a point where the person is not driving down the road with their cell phone in their hand.”

“I think that if they’re going to implement it in one place it should be implemented everywhere.” Marissa Oedewaldt, sophomore elementary education major

Marissa Oedewaldt, a sophomore elementary education major, is also a resident of Meridian. She believes that this new ordinance will be frustrating and confusing for individuals who do not live in Meridian, but commute through it without knowing about it.

Meridian is the first Idaho city to pass a “no texting while driving” resolution. Kacie Fromhart | The Arbiter

“I understand why [the law is] in place, but I think it’s going to be frustrating for drivers when they’re going from another city and entering Meridian, not knowing they need to stop,” Oedewaldt said. “I think that if they’re going to implement it in one place it should be implemented everywhere. It would just be easier to regulate that way.” Officer Lavey states this is the exact direction Meridian hopes to take with this new ordinance. Before the “no texting while driving” state law was established in 2012, Meridian was the initial city to propose an ordinance of “no texting while driving.” The idea eventually caught traction and was

later passed as a state law. “We had our own ordinance before the state decided to come on board,” Lavey said. “That’s our hope this time as well, that the state will realize ‘Enough is enough, everyone is coming up with their own ordinances, we might as well come up with our own state law.’”

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

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OPINION NOVEMBER 12, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

IT IS TIME FOR LEGISLATORS TO START LEARNING FROM STUDENTS

State legislators debated diversity in their ‘civil discussion.’ Here is why that is not OK. Hailey Opperman | Guest Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

y now, many Idahoans are familiar with the letter Rep. Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls) and 27 other Republican Idaho legislators released over the summer. It criticized diversity and inclusion initiatives at Boise State, and asked our new president — just a few weeks into her position — to discontinue them. This disappointing attack targeted programs on our campus that provide opportunities and spaces for marginalized students to feel safe and celebrated, an essential tool if we want to make our school more inclusive. Many of the legislators’ claims were based on misconceptions, such as Black Graduation and Rainbow Graduation being “segregated” events. In reality, these events are before traditional commencement and a rare opportunity to celebrate historically underrepresented identities at an institutional level. Furthermore, anyone is welcome to attend these celebrations. The School of Nursing also has a special celebration, and there is a Veteran’s Cords ceremony, yet neither of these events were targeted by the Republican legislature. As lawmakers continued to spout false ideas in the weeks that followed their letter (including a far-fetched proposal from Rep. Tammy Nichols (R-Middleton) to defund Boise State entirely), students were left without an opportunity to address representatives who were negligent in completing their own research into the facts and value behind these programs, as they have many times before. Let’s jump ahead a few months. Hundreds of students and community members gathered on Oct. 22 at Boise State for “The Future of American Higher Education,” an event co-hosted by the Boise State University College Republicans and Boise State Young Democrats. On

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to be submitted 30 minutes into the event. Another glaring problem is how the Young Democrats and College Republicans treated diversity and inclusion as a political issue. Structuring this event as a debate — with partisan sides — reinforces this idea. It is unfortunate that these political student groups utilized their privileged mindset to create an event they knew would receive a sizable turnout and make headlines, at the expense of marginalized students who felt as though their experiences were up for debate. As someone from Idaho Falls, which is the town that both Rep. Ehardt and Rep. Zollinger represent, it is easy to identify that their version of the “Idaho Way” is one that does not celebrate diversity or value inclusion. However, I and other students, groups and departments on campus are working to define an Idaho that does. I serve on the Inclusive Excellence Several legislators spoke at the Oct. 22 event hosted by the Idaho Young DemoStudent Council (IESC), a branch of crats and Boise State University College Republicans. our student government, the Associated Taylor Humby | The Arbiter Students of Boise State University (ASBFacebook, it was described as “a civil disimportant, debating diversity is harmful as SU). Our goal on the IESC is to advocate cussion on the ideas of diversity and inclu- it reinforces the systems of oppression that for marginalized students and ensure Boise sion within our state education systems.” equitable and inclusive programs on camState has equitable and inclusive policy. Instead, the very structure of this forum puses are meant to disrupt. The legislators When looking critically at the excluwas more closely aligned with that of a harmed their own constituents by doubting sionary history of higher education and debate. It was inherently oppositional, with the validity of student experiences. other institutions, our obligation to better Republican representatives Rep. Ehardt and Prior to the event in an interview with serve historically excluded communities Rep. Bryan Zollinger (R-Idaho Falls) arguBoise State Public Radio, Young Demobecomes evident and non-negotiable. ing for the removal of these programs, and crats president Ivy Smith stated the forum It is incumbent upon everyone — stutwo Democratic legislators defending them: would be “a way to bring the conversation dents and legislators alike — to proactively Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb (D-Boise) and back to the students — it’s something that educate ourselves on the different experiencRep. Mat Erpelding (D-Boise). Both sides directly affects us.” es we have. We are not going to achieve any gave opening statements. Afterward, each Yet students were not given a proper real change if we keep discussing diversity side had selected moderators that asked platform to express their concerns or even and inclusion like they are political issues; opposing legislators a question, and after question any of the legislators. For an event they are values we must remain committed answering, the other side responded. that was nearly two hours long, it’s disapto in order to support all students. Which Sound like a debate? Yeah, that’s bepointing that only the last 15 minutes were is something our Republic legislators would cause it was. And while debating policy is saved for three audience questions which had know — if they did their homework.

| ARBITERONLINE.COM

OPINION

AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AS A PRIORITY Boise State administration, we need sustainability, and sustainability needs you

Ashley Clark | Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Current sustainability policies are small, temporary fixes for permanent problems. Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

ver the last decade, Boise State has implemented various sustainable solutions around campus like the geothermal energy loop and the rooftop bee keep. These projects provide a strong start to Boise State’s sustainability journey, but hardly qualify our school to be a role model to other institutions. With growing environmental studies programs on campus and an obvious global demand for environmental justice, it is difficult for me to understand why our Department of Sustainability lacks prominence within our university. The mission statement of Boise State

Campus Sustainability is as follows: “As Boise State rapidly advances and grows as a research university of distinction, we must ensure that we do so with mindful focus on creating a campus with an environmentally neutral footprint while advancing research in sustainability. Boise State seeks to become a model of low-impact development for other universities.” While sustainability has often been used as a “hot-button” term associated with different business strategies or political parties, the true fundamentals of the study are much more objective. Sustainability is equally triangulated by three principles: economics, environment and ethics —

three areas that Boise State’s sustainability mission should be tackling. Sustainability students look to implement environmentally friendly and economically feasible solutions to real world problems that affect all of us. Boise State does not currently have a sustainability major program, and the sustainability minor falls under the umbrella of the economics department. The creation of a sustainability major and full-fledged academic department could substantially increase the potential of students who are looking to make a difference within our campus community and, hopefully, the world. To make any significant differences, we must start with the fact that Boise State does not have any definitive guidelines for sustainable policies and procedures, specifically regarding operational facets like building projects, energy usage or carbon emissions. Brian Ertz, public interest attorney and environmental ethics professor at Boise State, said the absence of explicit material regulating Boise State’s environmental impact is a real problem. “They advertise the fact that they are environmentally conscious, but Boise State has not developed discernible standards or criteria that it could hold itself to,” Ertz said. “And a necessary part of making that [sustainable] claim is developing and promulgating policies that would be transparent and that would require objective standards.” Of course, it is easy for environmentalists like Ertz and concerned students like me to point fingers and demand action from those in power, but it is just as easy for the administration to point back. And their fingers are directing us to Kat Davis, the sustainability coordinator and lone staff member of the Department of Sustainability. Davis is often the only person held accountable for anything related to sustainability on campus, whether it be positive or negative. While the current administration appears to have an optimistic outlook on our

sustainable future, the department is not able to orchestrate these initiatives alone. Boise State, this “department” is overworked and underfunded. Sustainability should not be designated to an individual department, let alone a single person. It needs to be integrated into our entire administrative system. We must develop a dialogue and employ standards across the board. As governments and corporations continue their complacency, we are living in a period of mass extinction and detrimental climate change. If we do not act now, then nothing else will matter. If we are not part of the solution, then we are only part of the problem. Even though I write this through tears of frustration, I hope only to convey the urgency of this global crisis. Just because the consequences may not be obvious to us in Boise does not mean we are exempt. In fact, we have the opportunity to become leaders in our community, our city and our state. We can change the standards in how universities and other institutions impact the planet. We must take the initiative. If not for ourselves, then for the generations to follow. The sustainability program needs adequate resources to grow and actualize. We need it now more than we ever have, and that need is growing exponentially every day. You have my support and that of many other university and community members. To the Boise State Administration: we need sustainability, and sustainability needs you.

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

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

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F E AT U R E

BALANCINGACT

HOUSING, HEALTHINSURANCEANDALACKOFKNOWLEDGEABOUT RESOURCESMAKEBALANCINGSCHOOLANDWORKASTRUGGLE LOGANPOTTER| EDITOR-IN-CHIEF| EDITOR@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

truggling with depression and anxiety among other mental health concerns, junior elementary education major Emily Lanagan has always battled with affording proper health care. After her Medicaid plan came to an end when she turned 19, Lanagan described using the Affordable Care Act website to determine her eligibility; what Lanagan found was disappointing. “I made $6,000 the year before,” Lanagan said. “I didn’t qualify for a tax credit and would have to pay out of pocket. The cheapest one I could find was $250 with $50 copays on normal visits.” Beyond normal visits, Lanagan would require a psychiatrist to prescribe medication for her mental health, adding $75 per visit to her monthly bill. With medications, Lanagan said she would be paying over $500 a month for healthcare — an amount that can be nearly impossible to pay with rising tuition costs. Frustrated, she canceled her health insurance. Now, Lanagan has been uninsured for over a year. Lanagan’s experience is not an isolated one, and the problem extends beyond just a lack of health insurance. According to Forbes in February of 2019, the student debt crisis has hit $1.5 billion nationally, affecting students both during and after their collegiate experiences, and the length of time required to obtain a degree is not aiding the problem. While the dream is to graduate debtfree, health insurance, housing and a lack of awareness surrounding resources are just some of the factors that impact a student’s ability to balance school and work, often resulting in longer graduation times and a decrease in self-care.

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PROJECTING STUDENT SUCCESS Diving into school work and extracurricular activities from day one is the ideal college experience. For some, however, the options for involvement are not quite as endless. Leslie Webb, Boise State’s vice president of student affairs, explained that a student’s course load may directly impact their investment and success in academic careers — in the earliest stages, more credits are better. Students who take a full course load, or 15 credits per semester, have a higher retention rate and are more likely to graduate faster, according to Webb. Considering oneself a student first in this regard, Webb explained, is a means of becoming more deeply invested in the university experience. Although this may be true, students who are both full-time students and full or parttime employees, unable to take advantage of a full credit load or immerse themselves in extracurriculars and clubs, are left out of the projected success. “I do consider myself a student first; I think school is the most important thing you can do for yourself,” Lanagan said. “I find school kind of a break. It has become my only social obligation other than work. It makes me feel like I know I’m not alone in this struggle.” According to a 2019 report titled “The Condition of Education,” 41% of full-time undergraduate students at four-year universities are employed nationwide. Unfortunately, jobs that students need to afford living expenses while in school are not always geared towards the majors or careers that students are pursuing. For Lanagan, this means managing a

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McDonald’s franchise. Webb explained that students in Lanagan’s position, though not directly related to her English education major, should analyze their situations to find crucial skills for future employers. “Many of our students need to work,” Webb wrote in an email. “What type of part-time job [are they looking for], and how do you make the most of that experience by being able to articulate how that part-time employment is contributing to the knowledge and skills for which an employer is looking?” Senior marketing major Joseph Bowers has a common, yet frustrating problem: his parents do not make enough money to pay his tuition, but just enough to prevent him from getting necessary financial aid. As a result, Bowers has worked consistently since beginning college at the College of Western Idaho nearly six years ago, finally anticipating to graduate this spring. Working at a coffee shop, however, has not done enough to prepare Bowers for life after college — at least, not in the traditional sense. “I should have probably looked more into internships or a job that directs me more towards my line of work, but sometimes it’s hard,” Bowers said. “It feels like I don’t have time to apply and look for those things. The only skills that I’m really learning from working at [the coffee shop] are management and interaction skills with being able to work as a team.” While interpersonal skills are crucial to almost any job on the market, students who are unable to complete a professional internship because of other obligations may be at a disadvantage. A small study completed at Southwestern University in Texas reported that those who participated in just one internship during their undergraduate years

were 13% more likely to land in a full-time job post-graduation. Bowers certainly wants a full-time job in marketing, but he needs funds to finish his schooling. Although the trade-off can be frustrating, Bowers recognizes the need to make his finances a priority. “I’ve told my friends and many family members that, ‘Oh, this job works for now because it’s flexible with my schedule so I can go to school and work,’” Bowers said. “And because of that, I don’t see any reason to leave it, and it makes enough money that I can barely scrape by.” To put it simply, college jobs are not always intended to project career success. Nonetheless, a heavy workload both at work and in academics means trouble for students struggling to balance both — especially those who intend to graduate in four years. CLOSING THE RESOURCE GAP Lanagan spends much of her time outside of school at work, but she also spends nearly two hours a day in her car. A Boise State commuter, Lanagan makes the daily trip to Boise from Mountain Home, just under 40 miles away from campus. With only one car shared between Lanagan and her partner, the commute has become a burden particularly, she explained, when class projects are involved. “Classes often depend on group work, and currently, I am in a Shakespeare class where I have to do group performances which means we all have to meet outside of class to get that done,” Lanagan said. “Obviously, I live in Mountain Home and work full-time, and I only have one car that commutes to Boise and my boyfriend who also uses the car works in Boise, so I can’t come on days that I don’t have school because I don’t have the means to do that right now.” Lanagan’s commute has been a constant challenge for the two and a half years she has spent at the university, creating obstacles for her both in class and in her involvement on campus. Lanagan described her frustration that although Boise State Housing and Residence Life touts on-campus living to be the best option for first-year students and beyond, accessibility is a huge barrier, especially for students whose parents are not involved in the college experience. “They paint it as this wonderful experience for you, but it’s so expensive… I don’t have the

Joseph Bowers and Emily Lanagan are two of many Boise State students that struggle with a healthy work life balance, especially with academics. Taylor Humby | The Arbiter parents that can afford that for me,” Lanagan said. “Even after I did get my own apartment and then had to move back home due to other circumstances, I thought about just moving on campus. Because it was too expensive, I had to share a room with my little brother with a bunk bed and my stuff in my car.” Bowers shared this sentiment, going as far as calculating the financial difference between gas on his 30-minute commute from Meridian versus living on his own with Boise’s ever-growing rent prices. If students are hoping to foster a stronger balance between money and academics, on-campus living may miss the mark. Finding a balance, however, did not require a year in the dorms for Lanagan and Bowers. Rental assistance from the university is often nonexistent for students, but additional resources on campus may solve problems for living expenses beyond housing. Just last year, the Office of the Dean of Students introduced a campus food pantry intended to stifle food insecurity concerns for those affected campuswide. After developing partnerships with related organizations and promoting outreach to students, Dean of Students Chris Wuthrich has seen an increase of student use. Although the pantry is the office’s most publicized effort, Wuthrich wants students

to know that food insecurity is not the only hardship the team seeks to solve. From shortterm emergency grants to licensed social workers ready to strategize financial plans, getting financial help on campus can be as simple as asking for it. “Recognize that no one is really beyond assistance,” Wuthrich said. “If you don’t ask, no one will know. I would promote to everybody, whether they think their problem is a small one or a large one, they should ask. That can be asking a faculty member or asking a friend; making their needs known is important. With regards to obtaining effective assistance, that’s where you want to connect with folks who understand the resources and understand how to identify challenges, and that can be people in this office.” Bowers explained that, although he believes he could do more searching, the resources do not feel accessible when he does not know where to find them in the first place — a common barrier for students. And, despite the growing problem of food insecurity on campus as a result of already tight budgets, the overarching solution for financial hardship is not one-dimensional. STRIKING A BALANCE The struggle to make change in the “broke college student” stereotype is an age-old

issue, and the problem has only taken a turn for the worse in recent years. Business Insider reports that, since 1996, the average net worth of an American between the ages of 18 to 35 has decreased by 34% as a result of student loan debt and the current financial crisis. In turn, students are pushing themselves to earn more while in school to avoid maxing out loans, creating tension in the work life balance. Bowers knows this struggle all too well, but acknowledges the necessity of taking a little “me time,” despite the demand to work in overdrive. “It is definitely a struggle balancing academics and school, but I don’t think they are everything,” Bowers said. “I think you need to have a little personal life. I know people say you should just go to college and get it done, power through. But if you don’t have any personal life, it would be pretty depressing to do work, school, the end.” Although many students feel as though there is not enough time in the day to accomplish their many tasks, the free time does exist outside of academics — it is just a matter of analyzing its best use, according to Webb. “We are working on messaging to students far before they start college about all the aspects that need deeper consideration, and this is as important for current students,” Webb wrote. “For example, what is the true calculation of

living off versus living on? If there are 150 plus hours during a week that a student spends outside the classroom, how can this time be maximized?” Despite this sentiment, both Bowers and Lanagan find themselves losing sleep and slacking on academic projects because of their packed schedules. This problem is common among the college community, with one study reporting that 60% of students have poor sleep quality and 27% are at risk of a sleep disorder. Clearly, neither of these students is alone — the fragile balance between work and school is not an easy challenge to overcome. Although resources exist, creating a deeper understanding of where students may go to seek help, as well as being transparent about the reality of life while earning a degree, may be a tool in supporting students through the college experience. “College was painted to me as something where I would just have to go to school, and my classes would be the most stressful thing about it, but that’s just not true,” Lanagan said. “Do I want to work part-time and take out $3,000 in loans, or do I want to be debtfree and just work my butt off all the time and go to school all the time? That’s not told to you when you come to college at all. They don’t tell you it’s going to be this hard.”

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14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT ADJUSTS TO COLLEGE WHILE PURSUING HER PASSIONS Gigi Finn continues to exceed expectations both in and out of the classroom Michelle Johnson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

14-year-old Gigi Finn excelled in many fields from a young age, leading her to Boise State.

lectromagnetic theory, linear algebra and piano are just three of the classes 14-year-old Pangaea (Gigi) Finn is taking at Boise State University this semester. Finn, a freshman studying physics, math and piano performance, has been making steady achievements since she was a toddler. Being able to read at two, starting a nonprofit at age seven and taking classes such as conceptual physics at age nine, she keeps growing and pushing harder everyday. While she gradually started taking math and science classes, Finn received a toy piano and soon noticed she had a natural

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talent for music. “I got a toy piano at the age of maybe three, and I would play things on it that sounded kind of silly,” Finn said. “It was okay for no training, and then my grandma recommended piano lessons, so I started taking those at four.” Finn’s nonprofit is an initiative to discover better ways to save the rainforest just by eating and using palm oil-free products. Her inspiration was sparked by a girl she met at a summer camp who shared that same passion. “Essentially, palm oil is derived from oil palm trees and 85% of the world’s palm oil

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Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Finn

comes from Indonesia and Malaysia,” Finn said. “Workers end up destroying large areas of rainforest in order to make room for oil palm plantations and it’s really devastating the animals that live in the rainforest.” Finn’s parents, Elizabeth and Shawn Finn, are proud of all that their daughter has done and knew she was gifted when they noticed she had taught herself to read at such a young age. “We read to Gigi a lot when she was young, partly because she loved it so much and we would notice as we read to her that she was watching the books quite intently and at one point we were having

a conversation if she was reading them or not,” Shawn Finn said. “We were sitting at a Chinese restaurant having this conversation and the check came out with fortune cookies. I thought here’s an opportunity, I opened it up and gave her the fortune and as a two year old, she read it.” For being so young and progressing fast through school, there was no specific path set in place for Finn; and her parents invested their time looking into the profoundly gifted communities and seeing what the best schooling options were. “We were able to piece together the appropriate education for her,” Elizabeth Finn said. “Math and science was over at Treasure Valley Math and Science, then online courses for humanities, self-study courses, dual-enrollment classes here. We could see that those dual-enrollment classes were working and then the doors just opened.” Boise State has been very welcoming and accommodating to Finn. Of course, being at a very different stage of life from her peers, she struggled at first. “One problem is that people don’t take me seriously,” Finn said. “When I started, no one really had confidence in me. But when I spent more time in the class, both the students and teachers would realize, ‘Oh, hey, she’s smart.’” As for the future, Finn is keeping her mind open to any opportunity that may come her way. “I have no idea what I want to do and the thing with a lot of gifted students is that you cannot set a path that extends more than five years in the future,” Finn said. “It’s always good to keep your mind open about new paths and I don’t want to settle right now on exactly what I want to do in the future.”

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BOISE STATE STUDENTS USE DESIGN THINKING FOR GOOD

Service-learning class turned a project into reality for a local shelter Will Meyer | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ny college student can relate to the experience of someone asking what they want to do with their degree when they finish school. In several classes offered by the College of Innovation and Design, students can apply the skills learned in class and explore options within their fields. A service-learning class was encouraged to reach out to certain local nonprofit groups in 2017 with a goal of gaining empathy for the cause and creating a design project that would tentatively benefit that organization. “The aim of the class was to learn design thinking as a creative problem-solving strategy for some of the intractable problems of our time,” said Luke Jones, professor of the class. “There’s an intersection between grappling with our society’s inner-challenges, in the social sphere, and then using a human-centered design approach to solving those problems.” Jones said the class encouraged students to interact with social problems on a variety of levels, and understanding the perspective of those issues was key to the design of the course. One team worked with Interfaith Sanctuary, a local organization that offers shelter and support to people affected by homelessness in the Treasure Valley. “In this case, we really just gave them a broad challenge of, ‘What would you do to redesign the shelter experience to better serve their guests?’” Jones said. “And we didn’t really give a really specific like, ‘Here’s the problem,’ we just let students go and experience and talk to people.” Jones explained that when the students presented their final project proposal for the welcome area at Interfaith, executive director Jodi Stigers was excited by the idea and soon began seeking out local businesses that could follow the design plans the students had made. “They showed us how, in very easy ways, how we could lift up our shelter with color, and flooring and lighting,” Stigers said. “We

The Interfaith Sanctuary works to make a community impact with a welcoming space. created this team of do-gooders, and a couple of the students stayed engaged through the process, and that’s really how it went from an idea on paper to a real-life remodel.” Stigers said part of the appeal of the students’ work was its accessibility and it seemed achievable while making an important impact on the shelter. “When people walk into our shelter now that haven’t been there for a while they’re like ‘Whoa, it’s so welcoming now,” Stigers said. Stigers said that by implementing the designs, the space became more homelike and inviting and less industrial. She thinks it has had an impact on guests of the shelter who feel more respected from this change. “If you want someone to get better, and to move out of trauma, and to feel like

they’re a person worth fighting for they need to feel loved, respected, and comfortable,” Stigers said. Lonnie Jackson, assistant director for experiential learning at Boise State Career Services, took Jones’ class to learn more about design thinking, and consequently became involved in the project for Interfaith. “I’ve always been interested in trying to think about gaining empathy for different populations and how people design without even talking to the people they’re designing for,” Jackson said. “I’ve always had an interest in sitting down with someone, actually getting to know somebody, and then be able to design something for that.” Jackson said working on this project led him to meet and befriend many people affected by homelessness and empathize

Photo courtesy of Patrick Sweeney with their experience. “How do we facilitate an environment that, if they’re spending all day outside, that actually breeds rest and home and be able to turn off for a second,” Jackson said. Though it may have originally been introduced as just a class project, Jones’ design thinking course not only taught students how to involve themselves with the communities they design for, but also taught empathy and how the work could make big changes in a person’s life. By collaborating with nonprofits like Interfaith, classes such as this give students the opportunity to be involved in the larger Boise community and incite change through their passion.

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HEMINGWAY CENTER GROWS THROUGH DISTINCT LECTURES AND READINGS

Each year, the Hemingway Literary Center hosts a themed lecture series in hopes to bring people together Michelle Johnson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Hemingway Literary Center helps to spark important discussions about relevant social issues. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

perating this year by the theme of “Exile, Refuge and Home,” the Hemingway Literary Center (HLC) creates a series each year to spark discussions about important topics stemming from speaker-lead lectures. The series, consisting of four distinct lectures throughout the semester, brings people of different backgrounds together to produce lively and timely discussions. English professor and HLC director Cheryl Hindrichs explained the center’s vision and how the different themes each year

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provide the base for discussion, despite how new the literary events are to campus. “Our vision is to bring both students and community together to explore that theme and really create dialogue,” Hindrichs said. “We’re not looking to provide answers, we’re looking to ask questions and to foster that discussion.” English department chair Mac Test has a strong passion for the HLC. “Ever since I first got here 11 years ago and heard we have this Hemingway Center, I always thought that we have to do some-

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thing with this,” Test said. “We have the name of the family, the family gave us the name, we are the only center in the world that’s called the Hemingway Center.” Dakota Cline, a sophomore majoring in sociology, attended one of the center’s lectures, “A Pure Heart.” “It was Douglas Kearney’s reading and it was about his poetry and meaning behind his art,” Cline wrote in an email. “I would recommend other students to go because you get to see the author read it in the exact way it was intended to be heard. The tone,

attitude, the highs and lows in the voice, the volume. It’s a much richer experience.” Universities are hubs for students with diverse interests and backgrounds, and many times students are closed off, sticking to the comfort of their circles. Hindrichs sees that the HLC is unique in the way it brings these people together who might not have met otherwise. “It brings very different groups of people together and often at the university, you can end up in these silos such as English people just talking to other English people and so on,” Hindrichs said. “For example, our theme this year is ‘Exile, Refuge, Home’ and there are people all over the university that are working on things like the refugee community, history of immigration, etc. and so it gives all of these different perspectives in a class forum.” As the HLC continues to bring these lectures and readings to campus, it is not just directed towards English majors. Even though some of the lectures focus on literature, each one incorporates a theme, which takes it beyond a simple literature event. “While these are dealing with literature as a focus, (‘Out of Chaos’) is going to focus on a story of the founding of Rome but it’s also an old story of a refugee leaving what was the African continent, crossing the Mediterranean and coming to Italy,” Test said. “So what Paul O’Mahoney is doing is taking that whole story and reshaping it into [the] contemporary story of refugees crossing the Mediterranean.” Hindrichs feels these lectures can offer a richness of knowledge to students and help expand their minds. “I get that at 6 p.m. on a Thursday or Wednesday, you’ve got a lot of other things you are thinking about,” Hendrichs said. “But once you get there and spend an hour thinking about things you wouldn’t normally, getting new ideas and meeting new people, you come away from it feeling like your life and sense of being has expanded.”

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BRONCOS TURN TO PLANT-BASED DIETS THE MOST FESTIVE SPICE GIRL OF ALL

The diets can contribute to a more holistic approach to food culture

Pumpkin spice makes its fall return to mixed reviews

Blake Hunter | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Will Meyer | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ver the last few years, plantbased diets like veganism and vegetarianism have surged into mainstream food culture with an emphasis on content and well-being, rather than focusing on weight loss. BroncoFit assistant director MarLee Harris worked as a registered dietician for Boise State University Health Services before transferring to BroncoFit, where she works to create a more deliberate and ingrained food culture on campus that starts at an individual level. “It’s OK to take time to nourish ourselves, because I will be a better student, a better friend and a better worker if I actually nourish myself,” Harris said. “It’s really important to remember that food can be a really good foundation for supporting a lot of our goals in life.” Though food is not one of the eight dimensions of wellness that BroncoFit follows, Harris and many students recognize its ability to influence well-being. Junior sociology and sustainability student Lydia Hernandez said her time at Boise State and away from home has allowed her to explore her options when it comes to food. Limiting her meat consumption has improved her health in many facets of life, she explained, in ways that medicine never worked. Growing up with eczema made her attentive to her body’s reactions, and changing her diet helped her body significantly. “By tuning in to what my skin was manifesting, I was able to identify the foods that were no longer serving my body well and slowly began to follow a plant-based diet,” Hernandez said. “I never fully subscribed to the labeling of my eating habits, but simply ate what made me feel best.” Pre-nursing and pre-radiology junior Hallie, who has asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy, was vegan for several years, but only recently stopped using that label because of the many negative connotations associated with it. Hallie said when she used the term “vegan,” people were judgmental and often misinformed in their assumptions about her diet and lifestyle. “There is more merit to what I speak about

when I have chosen to live my life in a certain way, rather than completely submit to a particular label,” she wrote in an email. Sometimes, a diet’s labels apply certain limitations on people’s nutritional journey, according to Harris. Particularly in college, students juggle many different factors that impact what they can or want to eat. “For some college students, maybe the money and the time to make certain foods for themselves can be really limiting,” Harris said. “I really do believe for every individual, there’s a healthy way to eat. We don’t have to have any way, shape or form or a onesize-fits-all approach to nutrition.” One of the reasons for this, Harris explained, is that everyone has a different combination of reasons for limiting meat or animal product consumption. For centuries, some religions and spiritual groups have banned eating meat or particular animal products. Research and investigations in recent years have increased interest in animal welfare, the environmental impacts of animal production and health concerns in high meat diets, and students have been one of many groups to respond. Hernandez identifies as Latinx, and said that as the vice president of the Inclusive Excellence Student Council (IESC), she has to constantly educate herself about how her diet can impact the people she also wants to advocate for. “The fresh and organic strawberries I put in my oatmeal in the mornings might have been picked by farm workers who were not given fair, livable wages and under unlawful working conditions,” Hernandez said. “I have come to understand that a plant-based diet does not eliminate harm, but can actually perpetuate it.” Only an estimated five percent of Boise State students get their recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday, Harris said. While plant-based diets will not solve climate change or everyone’s dietary needs, they have started to create a change that could be a key to creating a culture where food is a cornerstone of well-being, not just a basic necessity.

he leaves are officially turning, and the temperature is fluctuating day by day. Autumn is in full force in Boise, and with that comes sweaters, UGGs, and pumpkins. As lines at campus coffee spots weave to new lengths between classes, an unavoidable change that most notice with varying like or dislike is the appearance of fall colors in the decoration and in the drinks themselves. This shift deserves attention as its effects are often deeper and more powerful than we realize. Suddenly, pumpkin spice lattes are everywhere, revealing themselves as the first definitive signs that fall has arrived. Pumpkin spice is a polarizing topic, to put it lightly. Though there is notoriously no pumpkin in many pumpkin spice lattes, the spice mixture which often includes a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and cloves is often associated with America’s obsession with pumpkin pie, traditionally eaten during the fall and winter holidays. Though eating pumpkin pie during the fall makes sense because pumpkins usually are not ripe until around this time, I often wonder why so many people have come to associate fall as synonymous with pumpkin spice latte season. While people unabashedly profess their love for the saccharine drink by the thousands, the image of the pumpkin spice latte is bedazzled with images of women with baliages who wear infinity scarves and take photos in piles of orange leaves and post them on their autumn Pinterest board or Tumblr. This has created somewhat of a field day, where people are unsure whether they want to associate themselves with

this identity group. Take to YouTube, and it is easy to get a representation of the diverse opinions about pumpkin spice, with many reviews both making fun of the drink and the following it has accumulated, while other videos play directly into the stereotypes that have been perpetuated so frequently. This year, Starbucks released their pumpkin cream cold brew which caters to the stereotype of gay men who love iced coffee and, also, pumpkin spice. While I have to say I incidentally do love the new drink, I hesitate every time I order it, simply because I feel like I am buying into a cultural phenomenon that has been sold to me more than I have bought into it. Pumpkin spice is a member of a larger group of items that grab onto identity groups and incorporate elements of themselves into said groups. This complex hodgepodge of a relationship makes buying the product similar to buying into a group. Though a brilliant marketing strategy that is used by endless corporations to get people to align with their products, these cultural practices function both as a way to group otherwise dissimilar individuals into an arbitrary group, and as a darker reflection of the ways in which corporate strategies undergird many of the social decisions we make in our day-to-day routines.

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NCAA ANNOUNCES PLANS REGARDING ATHLETE PROFIT ON NAME, LIKENESS

The potential rule change was offered in response to a California bill Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

n just a few years, you could turn on the TV to a Lithia Ford advertisement and standing next to a new Ford truck is the quarterback of the Boise State football team telling you to “come down to Ford before their year-end clearance event is over.” While endorsements are not currently happening in the NCAA, your favorite college athlete could be on your screen in the near future. The NCAA Board of Governors voted unanimously in favor of a new bill in California on Sept. 30, 2019. The bill permits student-athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness. This decision ignited change. Not long after, on Oct. 29, 2019, the NCAA announced their plans to allow student-athletes to profit from the use of their name, image and likeness, leaving many people shocked. Though this discussion is not new, the NCAA has only made a small step in the direction of making this happen. The timeline of the bill that the NCAA issued for this potential change is unclear. The NCAA board has instructed three separate divisions to begin discussing how this change could still keep the clear contrast between college and professional sports. The board is requesting that the three divisions present new rules by January 2021, which will focus on making sure that student-athletes have the same opportunities to make money as a regular student does, as well as ensuring that the rules do not create a competitive imbalance. “We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for college athletes,” said board chair Michael V. Drake in a statement issued by the NCAA. “Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education. This modernization

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The NCAA announced a plan to allow student-athletes to profit off their name, likeness and image. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons for the future is a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes, including full cost of attendance and guaranteed scholarships.” In a very vague manner, the NCAA stated that these new rules need to follow the “collegiate model,” meaning the new rules must comply with any old rules the NCAA has already implemented. Thus, there is a good chance that universities will be com-

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pletely uninvolved with the endorsements, and student-athletes will be required to work endorsements on their own time. The California bill also explains that student-athletes can begin earning endorsements in the year of 2023; in turn, the rule change is affecting little to no athletes currently playing in the NCAA. Because the rule change will take three or more years to come into effect, the NCAA will, in theory, have plenty of

time to take California to court and make changes to the bill. Boise State’s associate athletic director of compliance, Matt Brewer, emphasized that it is a misconception that NCAA employees are “making fortunes” off of these student-athletes. Brewer stated that these athletes could be making more money than what is already provided in scholarship and extra expenses; some people view this as crossing the line between collegiate and professional athletics. “I know there’s a lot of people that’ll probably be changing careers if that’s where it goes, myself included,” Brewer said. “If I wanted to work in professional athletics, then I’d go work in professional athletics.” This potential rule change could also ultimately change what a team sport looks like. “If you individualize somebody and it’s all about that one particular player and you’re in a team sport, that’s probably where it’s not going to be very positive. How do you make it good for everyone involved?” said Boise State’s football head coach Bryan Harsin. “A few guys will get attention more than others, and I think everybody understands that. But if it’s your quarterback, what about your O-line? What about your tailbacks? What about the guys catching the ball? How do you utilize that the right way to still keep the team concept? Because if you don’t, then it becomes about a bunch of individuals and we’re not in that sport.”

BRONCOS SHUTOUT SENIOR HUNGER

Club hockey raises $24,000 for Metro Meals on Wheels Emily Stevens | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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

F Boise State won 10-0 during the charity game.

he Boise State men’s hockey club stands for something more than itself; the team aims to acknowledge and counter the struggles faced by their surrounding community. In particular, the Broncos are combating hunger among senior citizens. For the past nine years, the Broncos have partnered with Metro Meals on Wheels, an organization that delivers and serves meals to seniors in Ada County that are unable to prepare or afford food for themselves. In an annual event titled “Putting Senior Hunger on Ice,” the Broncos raise substantial funds for Metro Meals on Wheels by donating the typical revenue of one home game, as well as earnings from activities such as auctions and raffles. This year, the fundraiser fell on Saturday, Nov. 2 – the night of Boise State’s 10-0 victory against the Washington State Cougars (WSU). The score, although high, was vastly exceeded by the $24,000 raised for the cause. Grant Jones, director of Metro Meals on Wheels, expressed the foundation’s appreciation for the consistent financial and promotional support of the Broncos. “We are so grateful to the Boise State hockey club,” Jones said. “This has been an incredible partnership for many years.” Jones was also pleased with the unique display of appreciation for the elderly among a younger community. “What a great cross-generational effort where you really show the younger people supporting the seniors. It’s really heart-warming,” Jones said. “A lot of times seniors get overlooked.” In addition to local seniors, the event positively impacted the Broncos on the ice.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

Sophomore forward Austin Fodrea, who scored his first two goals of the season, spoke on the atmosphere of CenturyLink Arena during the event and the effect it had on his level of play. “When you’re down there in that tunnel and you look out and see all these fans, it’s amazing. You get a feeling inside that is indescribable,” Fodrea said. “And then knowing that it is for a good cause makes it that much more special.” Combined, the implications of the fundraiser and the accompanying turnout of fans encouraged a Bronco win against WSU, a team arguably more threatening than opponents in past events of its kind – Gonzaga and the University of Idaho. Throughout the game, WSU’s aggressiveness intensified as the gap in score increased. Their penalties for slashing and roughing allowed for Boise State to thrive in power plays and add three points to the board with apparent ease. Junior forward Kaleb Stinson had a career game with two goals and an assist. He discussed the efforts made by himself and his team to keep their composure against the Cougars’ physicality. “It’s tough to not retaliate to those [plays], but it’s just staying disciplined,” Stinson said. “We’re a really disciplined team and I think that helped us throughout it.” According to Jones, the heightened competition featured in this year’s fundraiser made the event more interesting for donors. After their first ACHA shutout of the season, the Broncos hope to maintain momentum as they face Arizona State in a two-game series on Nov. 16 and 17.

or being a top 25 team that was favored to beat Wyoming by 15 points, the Broncos did not look that good. The game went into overtime and the Broncos won by a small margin of 20-17 over the Cowboys. There was a lot on the line for the Broncos. If Boise State would have lost, there would have been almost no shot of them making it to the Cotton Bowl. And they still may not make it as they trail two other Group of Five schools, Memphis and Cincinnati in the top 25. After nine games have passed, I am still not impressed with most of what the Broncos are doing. They are inconsistent, the o-line has turned into a weak link of the team but at least the defense remains strong. Here are my hot takes from the Wyoming game.

rush yards than him. This leads me to my next take, the offensive line.

Inconsistency is the Broncos offense’s MO I am having a hard time figuring out what the true strengths of this football team are. After Florida State, I could have confidently said the pass and the run game were strengths of this offense. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier finished the game with 407 yards and Robert Mahone led the running backs with 142 yards. We have seen games where the offense has shined since Florida State, but it is anything but consistent. Take the last game, for example. Boise State was favored by 15 points over the Cowboys and only beat them by a field goal. Granted, the offense was led by backup quarterback Chase Cord, but their play was inexcusable. The offense finished with 285 total yards, two turnovers, and four penalties. It was ugly. The Broncos offense never found a rhythm and snapped a streak of 16 games with at least 300 yards. Right after running back George Holani had three career highs at San Jose, he only managed 30 yards against Wyoming. Wide receiver John Hightower had eight more

The defense is the closest to complete that the Broncos have For the most part, the Broncos defense has been solid. They have assisted the Broncos to multiple wins on the season, and Saturday was no different. Prior to the game, the Cowboys were only allowing 3.5 tackles for loss per game, good for sixth best in the FBS. Boise State’s defense exploited the Cowboys and finished the game with eight tackles for a loss. The game could have easily gotten out of hand for the Broncos if it was not for three big plays by the defense. The first came when safety DeAndre Pierce stopped a touchdown in open field and STUD Curtis Weaver had two big sacks that forced the Cowboys to kick a field goal. The Broncos are at home next Saturday, Nov. 16 for maybe the last time of the season, so buckle up for some inconsistent football.

The O-line should be the Broncos biggest concern Blocking? The Broncos O-line has never heard of it. The O-line played miserably. The run game was non-existent and the Cowboys were consistently in the Broncos’ backfield. This is not new; the O-line has struggled all year. In every game, there has been a theme of watching Boise State’s quarterbacks get killed on plays. The worst part about the O-line’s “play” is the coaching. The scheme is obviously not working, but no adjustments are being made. A group that was once expected to be a strength on this team because of experience has turned into a weak link.

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

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SPORTS & REC

BRONCOS FALL SHORT OF PRESEASON WNIT SEMIFINALS

Missouri State outlasts Boise State 72-69

Delaney Brassil | Sports & Rec Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

t all came down to the last six minutes for the Boise State women’s basketball team on Sunday, Nov. 10. Center Mallory McGwire had just scored for the third time in the quarter to tie it up. The scoreboard read 60-60 as the Broncos took the court after a Missouri State timeout, prepared to do anything they could to take down the Bears. The minutes to follow contained nerve-wracking, back-and-forth play that involved nine fouls, five turnovers, 10 points from the Bears and nine from the Broncos. The Broncos trailed by four with 12 seconds on the clock when Riley Lupfer, who had not scored at all in the second half, lunged for a 3-pointer and nailed it. Almost immediately, a foul in the back court sent Missouri State’s Mya Bhinhar to the line, who went 2-2. Facing a three-point deficit in the final seconds, Lupfer fired again from the arc. ExtraMile Arena held its breath as the shot hit the left rim, spun to the glass and popped out at the buzzer. In a rare display of emotion, Lupfer slammed her hands on the floor, understandably frustrated. The final score was a gut-wrenching one: Broncos 69, Missouri State 72. “I don’t really let anger come out like that, but yeah I was pretty mad,” Lupfer said. “I hit the same shot right before that and I thought that last shot was going down. If you’re a shooter you know what rimming out feels like; it’s probably the worst feeling for a shooter.” Missouri State (3-0), who reached the Sweet 16 last season, proved to be an even match for the Broncos by the books. The Bears shot 28-64; the Broncos went 27-60. The Bears hit six from deep; the Broncos hit eight. The Bears scored 11 points from turnovers; the Broncos scored 13. The Bears had four players score in double-digits; the Broncos had three. “I know they are a good team, but this is a stepping stone for us,” McGwire said. “I know it’s kind of a setback but I think this just gives us more momentum with whoever our next high-seeded team is that we play.” Lupfer hit the court on Sunday with obvious intensity, going 3-3 from deep within

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

the first three minutes. She totalled 14 points in the first half, then fell silent in the remainder until her closing shots brought the Broncos within inches of a victory. “[Lupfer] does not quit, I mean she grinds to the last second,” McGwire said. “If we’re down by 10 with two seconds left she will fight like we’re up one. I mean she’s just a great competitor and I think we fight till the end.” While Missouri State outrebounded the Broncos 37-35, McGwire dominated everyone on the glass. McGwire recorded her first double-double as a Bronco by posting 19 points and 17 rebounds, both of which were game highs. In the fourth quarter alone, McGwire had nine points and pulled down seven rebounds. The Broncos gained momentum in the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 29-23 lead, but Missouri State answered with a 15-2 run to close the half as Boise State went 1-for-7 with three turnovers. The third quarter produced 20 points for the Bears and 21 for the Broncos, leaving the Bears with a 58-52 lead heading into the final quarter. The Broncos’ 69 points on 72 possessions proved their ability to hang with top Division I teams. At the half, Boise State had maintained their lead for 10:10 to the Bears’ 4:19. The biggest lead Missouri held throughout the game was by just seven points. “I think there’s a lot we can learn from it,” said head coach Gordy Presnell. “Certainly not a moral victory; we thought we could win and that we could advance in this tournament. But overall I thought we played pretty hard.” The Broncos (2-1) will play a consolation game to wrap their participation in the tournament either next Friday, Nov. 15, or Saturday, Nov. 16, at a site and against an opponent to be determined.

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Boise State (2-1) will play in a consolation bracket to conclude the tournament. Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

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