February 11, 2020
Vol. 32 Issue 21
I N D EPEN DE NT
S T UDE NT
V O I CE
O F
B O I SE
STAT E
S I N C E
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A SHIFT IN GENERATIONAL PRIORITIES MEANS A CHANGE IN MODERN LOVE FOR MILLENNIALS AND GENERATION Z NEWS
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Boise State issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory in response to the coronavirus outbreak
VISIT US ONLINE:
OPINION
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Netflix’s “Sex Education” showcases the necessity for comprehensive education in our own backyard arbiteronline.com
CULTURE
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Language professors discuss the ways in which different cultures celebrate love across the globe @arbiteronline
SPORTS & REC
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Wheelchair tennis could be the next addition to the growing list of adaptive sports at Boise State
@arbiteronline
@boisestatearbiter
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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 Mackenzie Hudson digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Chandler Thornton 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 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.
First Friday Astronomy took place on Feb. 7 with stargazing and a lecture that explored the age of Saturn’s moons and rings. Chandler Thornton | The Arbiter
ON THE COVER:
Millennials and Generation Z grew up in a much different world than the generations that came before them. Because of influences such as technology, career accessibility and exposure to divorce in adolescence, young adults have shifted their priorities when it comes to modern love. 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
New plasma donors receive up to $400 in a month! Biomat USA 4017 W. Overland Rd. Boise (208) 338-8417
EVENTS 30TH ANNUAL WATER QUALITY WORKSHOP
SUB JORDAN BALLROOM FEBRUARY 11, 8 AM
Topics for the gathering will include monitoring, temperature, agriculture and irrigation among many others. Admission is free, and those interested in attending can register at deq.idaho.gov.
INVENT FOR THE PLANET
VENTURE COLLEGE FEBRUARY 14-16 Invent for the Planet is a 2-day Intensive Design Experience, engaging students from different universities around the world with discussions on high-impact global problems. The Boise State sector will be hosted by Venture College.
SPRING CHORAL COLLAGE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 16, 7:30 PM
All are welcome to attend the Department of Music’s spring performance. Admission is free for all Boise State staff and students with ID. Concert proceeds will be used to fund Boise State Music Scholarships.
COBE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING DINNER STUECKLE SKY CENTER FEBRUARY 18, 5 PM
A limited number of spots are still available for this year’s College of Business and Economics professional networking event. Appetizers and dinner will be provided, as well as insight from keynote speaker Scott Flanary and 20 companies.
UPCOMING SPORTS WOMEN’S TENNIS HOME
VS MONTANA STATE
FEBRUARY 15, 10 AM
VS LINFIELD
FEBRUARY 15, 4 PM
MEN’S TENNIS
AWAY
AT PACIFIC
FEBRUARY 15, 1 PM AT SAN FRANCISCO
FEBRUARY 16, 2 PM
WOMEN’S BA SKETBALL AWAY
VS AIR FORCE
FEBRUARY 12 , 6:30 PM VS SAN DIEGO STATE
FEBRUARY 15, 2 PM
MEN’S BA SKETBALL
HOME
VS AIR FORCE
FEBRUARY 11, 7 PM VS SAN DIEGO STATE
FEBRUARY 16, 2 PM
NEWS
FEBRUARY 11, 2020 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
BOISE STATE’S EMERGENCY OPERATIONS TEAM PREPARES FOR CORONAVIRUS
With 12 cases in the U.S. and one fatality, precautions are being taken in the case of a coronavirus outbreak on campus Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ark Buchanan, a professor of law and international business, was teaching abroad in 2003 in Chengdu, China when a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic broke out. SARS is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can infect people and cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and SARS, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Buchanan and the other faculty members decided in March to end the semester three weeks early and had students leave in April. “I think that, all things considered, you don’t want to jump too early [in making a decision] because the level of disruption is really pretty huge,” Buchanan said. “It impacts lives and programs so you don’t want to be too early, but you also don’t want to be too late.” Boise State recently announced a “Do Not Travel” advisory after the state’s Bureau of Consular Affairs declared a Level 4 health concern for the Novel Coronavirus outbreak and is following the guidance of the WHO, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of State Travel Advisory information. The novel coronavirus is the most recent string of an outbreak first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, with over 42,000 cases reported as of now. The United States has had 12 reported cases so far with one death. The closest case reported to Boise is in Seattle, Wash. “We’re in the monitor and report phase right now so there are no known cases in Idaho, so our focus is protection and prevention,” said Rob Littrell, director for the Office of Emergency Management.
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“We’re in the monitor and report phase right now so there are no known cases in Idaho, so our focus is protection and prevention.” Rob Littrell, Office of Emergency Management Littrell works with multiple departments on campus to maintain and improve the Boise State Comprehensive Emergency Management and Emergency Operations plans. Currently, the Emergency Management team is working with Boise State Health Services to update the Boise State website with health information on flu shots and personal hygiene. “It’s going to be really hard to contain. I mean, just like the regular flu it’s going to be really hard,” Littrell said. “So we are just trying to stay one step ahead.” Their pandemic plan is on level one to protect and prevent Boise State’s students, faculty, staff and families from becoming infected. There are no students currently in China from Boise State but those who planned to study abroad this spring in China have switched their programs to options in Uruguay. Right now, students are still allowed to go to China for the summer study abroad trip but the situation will be assessed further in March by the Center of Global Education, according to Corrine Henke, the director of
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A “Do Not Travel” advisory was placed by Boise State after the Bureau of Consular Affairs declared the threat of coronavirus a Level 4. Kacie Fromhart | The Arbiter global learning opportunities. “It’s all based on what the CDC says and the world health organization if they say, ‘Yeah, it’s all clear,’ and then students can make the decision themselves though they could postpone and go next summer,” Henke said. “We don’t have anyone going yet, but let’s say that someone says, ‘Oh, I want to go next summer instead or I want to go to a different program.’ I would just help them move programs or whatever they decide.” The departments on campus working on the Emergency Operations Plan include Health Services, Center for Global Education, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Campus Operations (Public Safety, Environmental Health Safety & Sustainability, Risk Management, Facilities Operations & Maintenance), Campus
Services, Human Resource Services and Housing & Residence Life. Presently, the departments’ main goals are to keep communication lines open and prepare as much as possible for the campus to receive a case of the Novel Coronavirus. “All of us are tied together and we do regular exercises to prepare but it doesn’t mean that this is going to be easy but we do train for it,” Littrell said. “And that is why we have our EOC [Emergency Operations Plan] active and are monitoring the situation.” If you have specific medical questions about coronavirus and your health, you can contact University Health Services at (208) 426-1459 or healthservices@ boisestate.edu.
GOV. BRAD LITTLE ISSUES FAMILIES FIRST ACT FOR NEW PARENTS
NEWS
The Idaho governor issued an executive order requiring employers to allow for eight weeks paid maternity leave Celina Van Hyning | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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nder current Idaho law, state employees are allowed to take up to 12 weeks off from work following the birth or adoption of a child. However, this time off is unpaid unless the employee has accumulated enough vacation or sick time to compensate for maternity leave. As a result, Gov. Brad Little issued an executive order on Jan. 22 establishing eight weeks of guaranteed paid leave for eligible employees of Idaho’s executive branch agencies following the birth or adoption of a child. The executive order also encourages other state elected officials, independent commissions, the Legislature and the judiciary to adopt comparable policies for their employees. “Idaho is a state that encourages strong families as the bedrock of our society,” Little said during a press conference.“Parents and children need to be together as much as possible in the weeks following a birth or adoption. Children benefit, parents benefit and the state benefits when we support a culture that balances the demands of work with the demands of family.”
“Parents and children need to be together as much as possible in the weeks following a birth or adoption.” Gov. Brad Little The Families First Act assures parents that they can take eight weeks of paid leave without having to tap into their accrued sick or vacation hours. “Flexibility and family-supportive policies are essential to recruiting and retaining a state workforce that is productive and
The executive order directs the Division of Human Resources to issue this new policy effective July 1, 2020. Photo courtesy of Marissa Morrison engaged,” Little said. The executive order directs the Division of Human Resources to issue the new policy effective July 1, 2020. Marissa Morrison, Gov. Little’s press secretary, said Gov. Little decided to issue this executive order as part of his commitment to ensuring Idaho’s children are taken care of. “The governor has been a champion of family and education is his number one priority. And a lot of that starts in the family,” Morrison said. “So he wanted to make sure that flexibility and family supportive policies were in place not only for recruiting and retaining that state workforce, but also
to start kids on the right path, you know, to help parents establish that relationship in the home. It kind of goes hand in hand with his education initiatives as well.” Morrison said the response to the executive order from the community has been very positive; but many people have stated concerns about the cost associated with this new law. According to a press release from Gov. Little, the fiscal impact is intended to be very small. April Arnzen, senior vice-president for human resources at Micron, which has 37,000 employees globally and a big presence in Boise, spoke at the signing of Gov. Little’s executive order and is very
supportive of the bill. As an employee of a large company like Micron, Arnzen explained that 98% of tech companies offer paid parental leave in an effort to maintain low turnover rates. “The state of Idaho is on the forefront of supporting a family-friendly environment,” Arnzen said. “For those of us who have led teams or owned our own businesses, we know the cost of turnover is high.”
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NEWS
PROTECTION ORDERS MAY BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE THIS WEEK
During a hearing on Feb. 13, the bill for the Sexual Assault Protection Order will be presented by Rep. Melissa Wintrow Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
available, no one is required to use their assistant services, according to Erin Vlamis, the court advocate manager for the WCA. “I definitely think that it would provide the option for more people to have orders granted,” Vlamis said. “I would say that we don’t see cases every single day where a person has been sexually assaulted by someone that they don’t have that relationship with coming in to seek that order and having it denied, but it definitely happens.”
“I definitely think that it would provide the option for more people to have orders granted.” Erin Vlamis, court advocate manager for the Women and Children’s Alliance The hearing for the addition of a statement in the Sexual Assault Protection Order legislation will be on Feb. 13. Chandler Thornton | The Arbiter
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ep. Melissa Wintrow was sitting in her office when the director of the Domestic Violence Center came to her to see if a bill could be worked on. The Sexual Assault Protection Order Bill is being presented for a hearing on Feb. 13 to add a statement that a person does not have to be in an intimate relationship with their abuser if they want to receive a civil protection order. “What was happening is, sometimes, law enforcement would advise someone who was a victim of sexual assault to maybe go to the court and petition for a protection order,” Wintrow said. “Well, the way the language is written in the domestic violence act, a sexual assault survivor could not get one, unless they had a long-standing intimate partner relationship, which meant that most people could not get one.”
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A civil protection order is administered to those who have previously been involved in intimate relationships with their abusers and have requested the order in a civil court, which states that whoever is causing the victim harm and fear must cease to do so. The protection orders are temporary and last for 14 days until the hearing, where they can then be granted for 90 days and up to one year, in some cases. “We have been working so hard to get the language right and to work with the courts and law enforcement to make sure [it is right],” Wintrow said. “And that’s really the hard part in any legislation is making sure you have the language right.” During the hearing on Feb. 13, members of the public can testify for or against the bill. Lobbyists and other government officials will speak on the matter, and then
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the bill is typically sent to the floor for a recommendation. The bill can also be held in committee where Jaclyn Kettler, an assistant professor in the political science department, has seen most bills fail. “It’s easiest to talk to someone [about the legislation] because sometimes it’s the way bylaws or things are written,” Kettler said. “[It] can be very formal language and can be kind of confusing or unclear probably more than it actually is.” The status of whether a bill has been signed by Gov. Brad Little is now posted on a new website for the public to see in a more accessible way. In the Ada County Courthouse, the Women and Children’s Alliance (WCA) has an office to assist people with filing for protection orders and working through the process. While the services are readily
If a victim does not want to file a criminal case report with law enforcement, they can receive a civil protection order. However, they can not receive a no-contact order. A no-contact order differs from a civil protection order, as it is attached to a criminal case and can be issued for a longer period of time than a civil protection order. “I think this essentially adds more relief on the civil side for victims if they’re not interested in maybe going the criminal route and filing a report and seeing if there’s the ability to have a no-contact order entered on the criminal side,” Wintrow said. “It just opens up the door for individuals to still seek safety and relief without having to go that route, which is the only option there is right now.”
NEWS
IDAHO REPRESENTATIVE INTRODUCES 'RIGHT TO LIFE' BILL IN LEGISLATURE Rep. Heather Scott’s 'Right to Life' bill could outlaw abortion in Idaho
Celina Van Hyning | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu
In 2017, Sen. Dan Foreman proposed a bill that would charge the doctor and the person receiving an abortion with first degree murder. Photo by Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer
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personal bill was brought forward in the Idaho House of Representatives on Jan. 22 by Rep. Heather Scott. House Bill 361, also known as the Idaho Abortion Human Rights Act (AHRA), would make it illegal for anyone to “perform, procure, or attempt to perform an abortion” in the state of Idaho. Scott’s bill would also “repeal a section of Idaho code that prohibits the prosecution of abortion as murder.” According to the bill, there will be no exceptions to this law for cases of rape or incest. However, the AHRA makes a crime of only the intentional killing of a preborn child, meaning medical emergencies like ectopic pregnancies will be an exception. “The ethical approach by the medical industry is that in a critical care situation, both mother and baby are treated as patients, and whatever is medically possible to save both should be attempted,” Scott stated on her website. “The concept of triage is that when there are multiple patients and limited abilities and resources, the patient with the
most critical need and reasonable possibility of success may be prioritized. As an aside, by the time ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed, almost always the baby is already deceased, and thus, treatment of ectopic pregnancy is not considered an abortion.” During the 2019 legislative session, Rep. Scott and former Rep. John Green attempted to change abortion laws in Idaho. As a personal bill, Scott is guaranteed a bill number, but not a hearing. According to a press release by Scott, only two counties in Idaho perform abortions, Twin Falls and Ada county. Scott says her bill would put an end to these practices and allow Idaho representatives to be educated on the nature of abortion. “After several discussions with the Committee Chairman, we believe much more education is needed for legislators,” Scott said in a press release. “Remember, federal court opinions have been telling citizens and lawmakers for 50 years that murdering babies is okay, as long as the mother and her doctor are doing it.” Scott’s bill has been met with discourage-
ment from certain pro-life lobbyist groups in Idaho, but Scott says these groups need to be educated on the nature of the bill. “I would encourage you to make sure you are supporting a group that is working to end all abortion in Idaho and not give you lip service while their hand is out,” Scott said. “The division between various pro-life lobby groups is hurting efforts to make abortion truly illegal in our state.” Rep. Green worked closely with Scott last year on a bill that would make abortion a crime in which the mother and doctor would be charged with first-degree murder. Green says these bills are the most important in the legislation. “I made no secret about the fact, when I was running [for office], that I am committed to ending the murder of pre-born Idahoans,” Green said. “I want people to understand that this legislation is not about overturning some arbitrary federal Supreme Court case. This bill is about the sovereignty of the State of Idaho enforcing our statutes about the murder of the most vulnerable segment of our population.”
Moon and Green have explained the importance of this bill passing, but some feel the bill is too restrictive of women’s rights. Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL ProChoice America, said restricting abortion will not end abortion, rather, it will end safe and legal abortion. “Now more than ever, the aims of the anti-choice movement are clear: They’re committed to ending Roe v. Wade by any means necessary, criminalizing abortion, and punishing women,” Hogue said in a press release. “But every draconian law at the state level was matched by unprecedented levels of outrage and organizing, and key electoral victories in 2018 paved the way for state legislative victories across the country as well.”
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OPINION FEBRUARY 11, 2020 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
NETFLIX’S RAUNCHY ‘SEX EDUCATION’ IS A PERFECT VALENTINE’S DAY BINGE
Creator Laurie Nunn shows us that we could all use a brush up on our sex education Blake Hunter | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu
Gillian Anderson plays Jean Millburn, a sex therapist in “Sex Education” who helps teenagers and adults process their sexual stigmas, misinformation and identities. Photo courtesy of Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles/TNS
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he second season of Netflix’s “Sex Education” opens with a “bang”... and another, and another. Creator Laurie Nunn’s first season debuted in January 2019, Otis Millburn (Asa Butterfield) is a dorky teenager who struggles to find his footing while entrenched in a world obsessed with sex. Then, in probably one of the best masturbatory supercuts ever directed, Otis seems to be joining his peers in their sex-fueled melee of frank confusion and honest desire. Otis’ mom, Jean (Gillian Anderson), is a sex and relationship therapist, and Otis’ high school peers — though they are having sex — have endless questions and
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insecurities. Involuntarily instilled with Jean’s nonchalant, optimistic and pragmatic views about sex (her house has a plethora of phallic and vaginal-inspired decor), Otis unofficially becomes Moordale High School’s satellite sex therapist, advising his peers in their school’s rundown restrooms. “Sex Education” depicts what happens when people experience puberty without a model of what sex can look like outside of procreation. A gay boy’s desire to have sex with his partner is inhibited by his complete confusion at anal douching. An actor who fears herself to be “broken” because she feels no sexual desire finds out that she is asexual. An entire school panics over chlamydia, and one girl is blamed for
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an outbreak that turns out just to be hysteria. In the show, Jean solves most of the problems, but not everyone has access to a sex therapist in real life. These are sexual concerns, but they can also lead to serious physical and mental harm. Maeve (Emma Mackey), academic genius and Otis’ business partner, often takes the brunt of the show’s more political aspirations. In season one, she navigates an abortion, and in season two, she helps her friend Aimee (Aimée Lou Wood) file a police report after she is sexually assaulted on a bus. In a girl-power moment far more sobering and exciting than anything “Avengers: Endgame” could throw together, Aimee and Maeve unite an unfriendly group of girls in telling their stories of unwanted sexual contact by men. It is clear that Nunn is more interested in promoting culturally bound sex education than admonishing teens for not using condoms. Though the diversity of students from many different states and countries at Boise State is worth celebrating, there is no consistent level of understanding of healthy sex practices throughout the U.S., including the discussion of consent and boundaries. Idaho’s statute on sex education employs an abstinence-focused sex education in public schools and allows parents to opt their children out. According to the 50-year-old statute, sexual education programs “should supplement the work in the home and the church...including knowledge of the power of the sex drive and the necessity of controlling that drive by self-discipline.” In the decades since that statute was passed, politicians, and particularly legislators, have consistently disregarded research that shows abstinence oriented
sex education is more likely to lead to unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections than comprehensive, methods-based sex education. In a “Sex Education” episode of the New York Times podcast, “Still Processing,” hosts Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris make the claim that, over the last two decades, television and movies have lost touch with sex. They point out that the Marvel franchises, built around characters and actors selected at least partially for their conventional attractiveness, is completely devoid of sex. After “Sex and the City,” women, in particular, became sex-less, and queer and non-procreative sex are hardly found in mainstream media. To Wortham and Morris, part of the allure of “Sex Education” is not that just that watching non-pornographic, empathetic depictions of sex and sexual conversations is fun. It is also necessary. “The places where we spend time talking online are becoming so sanitized and ruled by these invisible, super prude and puritanical algorithms that don’t want you to talk about sex anything,” Wortham said, referencing Instagram’s ban on female nipples and the 2018 “adult content” block on Tumblr. “So if it’s not happening on TV, where the heck is it going to happen? Nowhere.” Unlike “American Pie,” “Sex Education” considers that maybe, just maybe, sex is not something to be won. Unlike “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Sex Education” demands that sex is non-coercive and only one part of human relationships. Unlike most of the American government, it forgives teenagers for trying to figure out what they want from their relationships and bodies.
CATFISHING IS ONE EXTREME IN THE SEARCH FOR COMPATIBILITY
OPINION
Split-second judgments and the need to impress create a toxic online dating culture Maddie Ceglecki | Graphic Design Manager | design@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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he culture of online dating is in full swing in 2020 and with Valentine’s day coming up, those pursuing online romances on social media from Instagram to Tinder to Bumble may come across a less-than-exciting experience. With the cultural pressure to present your best self on social media, insecurities may run high in regards to being less than satisfied with who we are in comparison to the rose-colored glasses that Instagram photos and Tinder bios provide. “Catfishing” is a term popularized by the MTV show “Catfish: The TV Show,” which originated with the documentary film “Catfish,” created by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. The film follows the story of Nev Schulman, who pursued a relationship with a woman who was not the person she had presented herself as online. Some people have a hard time presenting themselves online, and often results in the “construction” of who they want to be in order to find acceptance from others. This is especially true if they are not receiving meaningful or romantic attention online or in person. Thus, insecurities manifest, and individuals are lured into believing that they are not good enough as they are. At this intersection of confusion of identity, some fall into utilizing “catfishing” in order to pursue online connections. An individual portraying themselves online as someone they are not can range from lying about what they do for work to bluffing about how tall they are. But some people take on completely different personas by posting photos they find on the internet, or even from people they know personally. The overall purpose is to disguise who they are to supplement their insecurities, to feel accepted or even to impress others. The act of catfishing is real, but what we have popularized through reality TV is not necessarily the full picture. The premise of the show is somewhat dramatized, which leaves viewers en-
Nev Schulman’s experience was the inspiration for the reality TV show “Catfish: The TV Show,” which centers around people who falsify their identities online. Graphic by Kacie Fromhart; photo courtesy of Perfect Boys (CC BY-SA 2.0) grossed with the exploration of relationships and identity. But when it comes to real-life catfishing, it is an exploitative and toxic way to try to get to know someone. Manipulation of your own identity in order to get close to someone is not a healthy way to have a relationship with them or even yourself.
Bringing our entire selves into existence in a dating profile has taken first impressions to a new level. Online dating culture easily dehumanizes those behind their photos. Split-second judgments and the pressure to get one’s initial message of interest just right in one shot can make priorities very vain and superfi-
cial. The extreme ease of connections tends to make people more judgemental as well. To put it simply, having more options to connect does not mean more opportunities. The ability to keep so many people in your back pocket means there is less interest to work on getting to know someone because people are left wondering about having better compatibility with someone else. Humans by nature want to feel accepted and cared for and unfortunately, dating apps seem to dig at our most raw emotional wants and needs in overly sped up ways. Under the influence of apps that enable us to meet people for any need, we can try to find a hook-up for the sake of feeling good or try to make an instantaneous, durable love connection. Both stem from the urge to fulfill a connection that makes us feel wanted and good about ourselves. We often forget that our most important friendships and bonds are not instant. Intimacy, trust and connection come over time, and most importantly the willingness to be vulnerable and honest. Catfishing itself is only a temporary solution and destroys trust and intimacy. Remember that you need to put in work to get a reward out of the relationships you create. Swiping and direct messaging can only work when you give open and honest emotional connection. The most important relationships you will build will not be perfect from start to finish. Enjoy the process of taking your time to build trust and, more importantly, memories. The healthiest relationships will build you up and help you accept yourself for who you are, faults and all.
HAVE A COMMENT OR REBUTTAL? EMAIL US AT: OPINION@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU
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PRIORITIES ARE SHIFTING FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHEN IT COMES TO FUTURE PLANNING AROUND MARRIAGE AND KIDS LOGAN POTTER | EDITOR IN-CHIEF | EDITOR@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU
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alentine’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate love with a significant other or spouse, but for many young adults, the celebration may be most appealing without a ring. According to recent trends, millennials and Generation Z are more likely to pass on the “traditional” household lifestyle, or the nuclear family, for something more career-driven and flexible. Rather than taking on the idealized 1950s model of a family, younger generations are thinking about love in a more modern way. Factors such as exposure to divorce during childhood, new ways to find “the one” and accessibility to opportunities have opened the door for a revamped idea of love. One student following the generational trend is Nathan Carroll, a December 2019 graduate and financial technician for the athletic department. Carroll’s sister was married in October 2017. Prior to his sister’s ceremony, Carroll’s central exposure to the institution of marriage was within the bounds of involvement with his church. “Church culture is a lot of times like, ‘Oh, you have got to get married and have kids, because that’s what some of your older friends in the church are doing. Your friends are married, and they’re having a blast with it,’” Carroll said. “And it was just seeing her married and finding her have that one was just such a realization of
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like, ‘OK, this isn’t something I can force because I want to love like that.’” Carroll is not alone, and actually follows a growing pattern for younger generations when choosing the timeline of their relationships. As a result of his experience, Carroll thinks of the family dynamic differently; rather than rushing to get married, he is content with waiting for the right person to come along. Finding “the one” With the rise of online dating and the effortless ability to swipe left or right on a potential romantic match comes the opportunity for users to hand-tailor their ideal partner instantly, whether through built-in filters or aesthetic features alone. “I do think our younger generation
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has become very independent because of the society we grew up in,” said Mikayla Melchert, a senior marketing major. “I believe the purpose of relationships not lasting as long in today’s age is due to the fact that we as a society are always wanting instant results and searching for instant gratification rather than working through progress and problems. Because our generations are constantly wanting instant results, this is where
dating apps came into play and really found their place in the dating environment.” Desiree Brunette, a lecturer in the sociology department, believes that some of the pressure when it comes to making relationship decisions stems from the societal conception about what finding the perfect partner means. “I think we have this idea that you’re supposed to find this person that’s your
end-all-be-all; your best friend. You’re supposed to have hot, passionate sex all the time,” Brunette said. “I think we have this idea that everybody has this one person that’s going to meet all their needs. And they’re going to be a good communicator and passionate and a great parent and a provider, and people are like, ‘I don’t know how to find this person.’ And those people really, quite honestly, don’t exist.” The modern dating landscape, whether through online dating or other means, aims to make the search for a soulmate more accessible and convenient, but it can also create a false sense of the reality of settling in with a lifetime partner. Eli J. Finkel described the resulting phenomenon in an opinion article written for the New York Times as the “all-or-nothing
women, because we’ve seen our mothers and grandmothers [in heterosexual marriages] have to take care of men and women don’t want to do that.” But higher divorce rates during the adolescence of now-millennial and Gen-Z individuals may be a large contributor to low marriage and reproductive rates now.
marriage.” He hypothesized that higher divorce rates over time could reflect a shift in attitude towards the autonomy of women. Brunette shared a similar sentiment. “As women become more financially independent, the need for marriage lessens,” Brunette said. “It was a way to keep wealth within the family and marriage is still very much homogenous; people marry people that are like them. And I think that for
the long-declining divorce rate, but many students were privy to the downfall of marriages, whether of their parents or otherwise, in their adolescence. Dr. Jennifer Weaver, an assistant professor in the psychology department, discussed the likelihood for children of divorced parents to find the same type of union later in their own lives. “What we see is that kids who grow up as children of divorce, there’s kind of a split:
A familiar fear The larger-than-life expectations that come with finding “the one” can be exacerbated when students have been exposed to relationships with rocky foundations or marriages that ended in divorce. Longterm psychological effects also likely play a role in millennials and Generation Z’s skepticism about starting a family. Newer generation marriages are stabilizing
we either see a really early marriage for them occurring, or a very late or no marriage occurring. So, they kind of fall into, kind of, two different categories over time,” Weaver said. “And I think children of divorce are more skeptical of the marriage institution, not surprisingly, especially if they’ve seen a lot of parental discord in marriage.” The point at which the fear and distaste toward marriage begin, though, does not have to make a permanent mark. Weaver explained that the long-term effects are largely situational, and the damaging effects may be remedied with changing home environments. “If they were a child who saw a parent divorce, and then saw a parent remarry and then divorce again; those kids that see these subsequent disillusions of marriage are less likely to want to initiate marriage themselves,” Weaver said. “On the other hand, if they were a child that saw their parents divorce but then their parents went into a really good marriage after that and things were stable for them, that can kind of be a healing thing and they might not have such negative attitudes about marriage.” A negative outlook upon the institution of marriage, while a key factor, is not the only reason that millennials and Generation Z are looking toward options other than the nuclear family. Obstacles to independence While her outlook on marriage and children have changed over the years, Delaney Beale is certain about one thing: the traditional nuclear family is not a likely path for her to take. “I used to not want to get married, like at all,” Beale said. “And then more recently, I
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was like, that actually sounds kind of dope. I’m still not fully sold on it, because it just seems like a weird thing to get into; being legally married to someone just seems kind of weird. But if you look at it, like for tax purposes and stuff, it makes sense.” Where the financial changes that come with marriage may help sophomore history major Beale to thrive, the burden that comes with children outweighs the benefits of starting a family. Beale says kids generally make her anxious, but that climate change, health concerns and finances are also on the list of stressors that come with the idea of having children. “It’s so much money. It’s so much money,” Beale said. “And I am planning on being a museum curator, which does not make a lot of money. So, the thought of raising a kid on what’s basically lower than a teacher’s salary is terrifying.” The laundry list of concerns that come with talks of starting a family for millennials and Generation Z also comes from a lack of flexibility in the nuclear family dynamic. Students, like Beale, are often career-driven and potentially fear the hindrance that marriage or children can bring. Millennials and Generation Z largely thrive on individualism, making independence a central priority in future-impacting decisions. As a result, the nuclear family has been revolutionized; the younger generation’s way has become the new nuclear. “If I want to get to my goals of being a museum curator or working in a library, I think it definitely could [stifle goals]. Not only do you have to be pregnant for nine months, you still have to take care of a baby after,” Beale said. “Those are years of not being at your full potential of doing things. And I mean, dads are not often wanting to be stay-at-home dads or anything, so it would probably be me. And if I get to the point where I’m close to reaching my goal, I don’t think I would really enjoy having to give that up.” Modern love has shifted in the wake of new priorities for young adults, such as career-building and online dating. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter
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CELEBRATING LOVE AROUND THE WORLD
Professors in the Department of World Languages discuss different cultural recognitions of love Michelle Johnson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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ith Valentine’s Day around the corner, stores across the country have been filled with giant teddy bears, boxes of chocolates and bouquets of flowers. While this has become the traditional way for the United States to convey its love, other cultures have their own celebrations. While some cultures express love through festivals and others bring different variations of Valentine’s Day to their country, each one is unique. In the Azores Islands, Portugal, gratitude for friends and family is celebrated rather than Valentine’s Day. Fatima Cornwall is the Spanish language coordinator and recalls celebrating Dia dos Amigos, or Dia dos Amigas when she lived in Portugal. “This celebration goes on every Thursday through the month of February right before our Mardi Gras celebration,” Cornwall said. “The first Thursday is for the male friends, the next is for the female friends and these outings usually involved bars, restaurants or special catered events. Then come to the third Thursday, male family members get together and then the last day is for female family members, which is treated more like an at-home potluck celebration.” In Korean culture, Valentine’s Day has been celebrated since the 1980s. Yookyung Lee is a professor for Korean language
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Celebrating love is not one-size-fits-all for cultures across the globe. Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter studies and described how Korean culture has adapted Valentine’s Day. “It is a little different in where the women are more likely to give men the chocolate or the candy,” Lee said. “Then, on March 14, men [are] more likely [to] give the candy to women who gave them the candy.”
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As well as showing their celebration of love to one another, Feb. 14 also aligns with the ending of Korean school sessions. As a result, people will use this day to celebrate school and their teachers. “So people also use this Valentine’s Day to express their appreciation or gratitude
to their teachers or to their boss of the company,” Lee said. “It’s a day that they use to show that appreciation and gratitude that they have.” While some cultures recently adapted variations of Valentine’s Day to celebrate love, other cultures have a deep history. Karen Wadley, who teaches Latin, explained the history of this day for the Romans. “It was a Catholic saint’s day commemorating the death of a martyr named Valentine. He was possibly a priest, possibly a bishop, definitely martyred,” Wadley wrote in an email. “To be sainted, he had to be associated with miracles. Time has built traditions of affiliation with lovers, weddings and defiance of Roman Emperors.” Cultures celebrate love in ways that sometimes share similarities, and often differ with American’s ideas of Valentine’s Day. Though each festivity has its roots in specific cultural history, from Denmark to Taiwan one thing they all share in common is an uplifting of love and community.
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PLANTING FRESH IDEAS JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING
Sustainability Club works to decrease food insecurity and increase student involvement Amanda Niess | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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pring is just around the corner and with warmer temperatures approaching, the Boise State Sustainability Club’s community garden will soon be back in business. Located at 1415 S. Juanita St., the garden will be welcoming a variety of new plants, seedlings and animals to enhance the garden’s growth. Haley Neill is graduating from Boise State and will be stepping down from the garden manager position after this semester. She will be handing the position to Megan Hill, a sophomore environmental studies major with a triple minor in business, sustainability and Spanish who shares a similar passion for sustainable living. “The mission of our Boise State community garden is to expose students to the work, energy and organization required to cultivate organic produce while combating food insecurity on campus,” Neill said. “We aim to instill an appreciation for the craft of gardening.”
“The garden is a huge learning tool, teaching service-learning students and young kids what it’s like to grow and harvest and care for our food.” Megan Hill, sophomore environmental studies major Hill has been a part of the Sustainability Club for two years now and interns with the sustainability department and the sustainability committee with Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU). With her expertise in sustainability, Hill holds the responsibility of maintain-
The club hopes that adding new elements to the garden will help with overall accessibility. ing the basic needs of the garden while also managing the seeds and other resources needed for a successful spring season. Hill will also be working with members of the Sustainability Club and service-learning students to help them become more involved with improving the garden. “The garden is a huge learning tool, teaching service-learning students and young kids what it’s like to grow and harvest and care for our food,” Hill said. In addition to growing and harvesting crops, Hill is working on developing a large project which involves the introduction of chickens to the garden for the 2020-2021 school year. “The goal will be to have fresh eggs for members of our club and for food-insecure members of our BSU community to have without question, in addition to the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables,” Hill said.
With these new developments, Hill hopes to start off the new school year by creating an infrastructure similar to Neill’s in order for students and faculty to gain access to fresh fruits and vegetables – and eventually eggs – at their leisure. This project will serve as a trial run in order to investigate how the chickens’ presence will influence and affect student’s lives on campus. “In order to help combat food insecurity on campus, we host open hours for students and faculty to come harvest, learn and get involved,” Neill said. “All produce grown by the garden is free[...], we just ask that people are respectful of the area.” The Sustainability Club hosts biweekly meetings at the garden, addressing everything from the club itself to the upkeep of the garden. The Sustainability Club community garden also runs OrgSync,
Amanda Niess | The Arbiter
Facebook and Instagram pages to share updates and information regarding how to get involved. Students and faculty are able to get in contact with the newly elected co-presidents Arie Weidemaier and Katie Hansen through the Sustainability Club’s OrgSync page to address any questions concerning the garden. Hill’s passion for sustainability education continues to grow with the garden’s development. She wishes to spread the importance of gardening and how it contributes to food security for the Boise State campus as well as the surrounding neighborhoods. “Our club and department are also trying to form a closer bond with events and involvement across campus,” Hill said. “We love our sustainability family so much and we would adore any new additions to it; any and all are welcome to join the club and help with the garden at any time.”
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OPERA IDAHO BRINGS OLD AND NEW MUSIC TO TREASURE VALLEY
The company has seen a dramatic increase in demand for performances Will Meyer | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
ter said. “In terms of accessibility, these performances are presented in a way that truly captures the excitement and the joy of opera, and translates it in a way that first-time people will appreciate.”
“What I love about Opera Idaho is they really provide a season that is accessible and also honors the art of opera.” Dr. C. Michael Porter, associate professor of music For newcomers, opera can seem like another world, but it is the aim of Opera Idaho to make performances a more welcoming environment. “I feel that opera as an art form is a culmination of everything; we have to do Students get to work with visiting performers as well as local artists through the company. everything,” said Peter Scott Drackley, visit Photo courtesy of Fernando Menéndez ing lead tenor for the company’s upcoming performance of “La Bohème.” “Most of the ircumstances are few and far Valley has grown as we’ve grown.” rience outside of what we can offer here stories that you see on TV are originally between for one to find an The company is able to invest signifiat Boise State,” Porter said. “This is one of stories that are linked to operatic stories.” opera fan these days. However, cantly more into performances than they our biggest selling points in the vocal area: Drackley mentioned that the popular opera is alive and well, and had in previous years, and Junkert said that if you come here to Boise State you get this musical-turned-film “Rent” is based on the Opera Idaho is Boise’s source for the art a large reason for this is growth in ticket wonderful opportunity that the university storyline of “La Bohème.” For Drackley, form. The organization, which has been sales and donations. offers in terms of the performances and the this connection to popular culture is one serving the Treasure Valley for over 45 “We try to give people a balance of things education here, but also to do a producreason why newcomers may appreciate an years, continues to perform new operas that people maybe haven’t seen or heard, tion that is with a professional company. opera performance. as well as classic favorites. Mark Junkert, or maybe they’ve seen them in other cities That’s not something you get everywhere.” “The reason to go to an opera is, at the the general director of the organization, before they moved here,” Junkert said. Porter said that allowing students to very least, everyone should try new things says that the combination of old and new For Dr. C. Michael Porter, Opera Idaho work with professional vocalists and musiall the time. So, if you haven’t been, how allows them to serve their supporters in a uses its community outreach in more ways cians gives them the experience that can be do you know you hate it if you haven’t unique way. than just bringing in new audiences. Dr. added to their resumes to help with findbeen?” Drackley said. “We’ve expanded [the] number of operas Porter facilitates the resident artist compaing work after graduation. Although Porter Opera Idaho is a unique resource for we do in the time I’ve been here, and now ny in connection with Opera Idaho which works in this department, his extends to Treasure Valley residents to enjoy an all-enpresent a full season of opera like other allows Boise State vocal performance the way Opera Idaho chooses to design compassing art form without having to companies around the country in metrostudents to participate in smaller roles in their seasons. travel long distances. The company gleans politan areas the same size as ours,” Junkert the company’s various productions. “What I love about Opera Idaho is they the talent of local artists while also bringsaid. “It corresponds with the growth in “It’s a way that they get another educareally provide a season that is accessible ing in all-star names to dazzle audiences. population here in Boise; the Treasure tional experience that’s a real-world expeand also honors the art of opera,” Por-
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SUPPORTING SPECIFIC NEEDS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS
Kelly Rossetto takes on a new role as faculty director for Gradwell Michelle Johnson | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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s someone who has always had a passion for helping others, associate communication professor Kelly Rossetto has tried to find a balance between her love for communication and counseling. With her new role as faculty director for the Gradwell program, she has found just that. Gradwell is a program for graduate students with a strong focus on mental wellness education and mental health counseling services. Matt Niece is the director of counseling services and discusses the focal point of Gradwell. “Gradwell is a wellness initiative that is targeted specifically for graduate students at Boise State,” Niece said. “The majority of the universities across the country have wellness programs for undergrad and very few have them specifically for graduate students. It’s important to identify that graduate students have been shown in the research to experience unique stressors. In fact, they’re six times more likely to experience debilitating depression and, or anxiety.” One of the main goals of Gradwell this year is to increase faculty involvement. Along with continuing her teaching role, Rossetto will take on many new tasks with Gradwell. “Within my role is to think creatively about how we can engage faculty in this idea, in this process of creating a healthier culture for our graduate students,” Rossetto said. Rossetto has been an inspiration to many of her students, helping them with various questions and concerns and giving them advice throughout their college careers. Michelle Jimenez graduated in Spring 2019 with her masters in interpersonal and organizational communication and worked closely with Rossetto throughout her time in college. “I don’t think I would have made it through grad school without her,” Jimenez said, “She was not only my academic advisor but became my life advisor as well. She cared about me as a student and as an individual. Knowing that she cares about my success in every facet of my life really helped me trust that she was there to push
me to be the best version of myself both inside and outside the classroom.” That passion for working with students is a key component in her role, meaning she will not have to give it up and continue to do the jobs that she loves most. “I love working with students, I like being around young people who are eager to learn and to provide them with the knowledge and skills and let them provide me with the knowledge and skills to kind of to, in my case, improves relationships improve communication, because that’s what I teach,” Rossetto said. Rossetto aims to speak about Gradwell and spread it across universities, showing how programs like these are needed and can be beneficial to graduate students as well as the faculty helping them. “What I love about this role is that it really does provide a connection between my research and my teaching. I study coping [and] resilience support,” Rossetto said. “I’m hoping that, from here, I can actually take some of the things I’m learning in my research and teach them to other faculty, implement them, provide strategies and workshopping and those kinds of things, so that they get used, rather than, you know, thrown in a journal that a few students read.” Jimenez can easily understand why Rossetto took on the role as faculty director for Gradwell. She understands the amount of stress students can experience and also wants her students to succeed in anything they set their minds to. “Kelly is such a good fit for her role as faculty director because she is very good at remembering what it was like to be a grad student,” Jimenez wrote in an email. “She lives a life that promotes everything the Gradwell program represents: worklife balance and physical/mental health. She wants her students to succeed because she cares so deeply about them, but also recognizes the importance of a school and work-life balance. That’s something I didn’t receive from any other professors before Kelly, and I am so grateful for it.”
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY 2020/21 STUDENT TUITION AND FEE HEARING Students are invited to comment on proposed 2020/21 tuition and fees. Students may learn more about proposed tuition and fee changes at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2020, beginning at 1:00 P.M. in the Lookout Room of the Student Union. Proposals will be presented in the order listed below. Students will have the opportunity to comment after each proposal. Students may also submit written comments prior to the hearing. More detailed information about the proposed tuition and fee changes is available during regular business hours from the Office of Budget and Planning, Suite 210, of the Administration Building. All interested Boise State University students, faculty, and staff may send written comments to kennethkline@boisestate.edu before February 14. BSU students, faculty and staff wishing to provide comments in person may sign up at the hearing. It is helpful if those providing comments in person also provide a written copy of their comments. Persons not currently affiliated with Boise State University are allowed to testify at the Student Fee Hearing under the following conditions: 1 They must sign up to testify and in doing so, indicate they are not a student, faculty or staff. 2 They must submit a written copy of their testimony prior to testifying.
3 They will be allowed to testify only at the discretion of the hearing officer.
4 If allowed to testify, they must identify themselves as a non student at the onset of their verbal testimony.
Requesting Unit
STUDENT ACTIVITY FEE SUMMARY INFORMATION
GENERAL EDUCATION TUITION FACILITY FEES TECHNOLOGY FEES ACTIVITY FEES TOTAL TUITION and FEES
Current Fee/Semester
Proposed Change
Proposed Fee/Semester
Fall / Spring Fall / Spring Summer Full Time Part Time per credit per credit
Fall / Spring Fall / Spring Summer Full Time Part Time per credit per credit
Fall / Spring Fall / Spring Summer Full Time Part Time per credit per credit
103.61
9.42
7.50
-4.00
-0.36
-0.25
99.61
9.06
7.25
Current Fee/Semester
Proposed Change
Proposed Fee/Semester
Fall / Spring Fall / Spring Summer Full Time Part Time per credit per credit 2,766.18 251.75 199.08 694.80 63.16 49.44 128.57 11.69 8.90 444.45 40.40 35.58 4,034.00 367.00 293.00
Fall / Spring Fall / Spring Summer Full Time Part Time per credit per credit 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -4.00 -0.36 -0.25 -4.00 -0.36 -0.25
Fall / Spring Fall / Spring Summer Full Time Part Time per credit per credit 2,766.18 251.75 199.08 694.80 63.16 49.44 128.57 11.69 8.90 440.45 40.04 35.33 4,030.00 366.64 292.75
Proposed Percent Decrease
-0.1%
-0.1%
-0.1%
0.00 0.00 -2.00
0.00 0.00 n/a
0.00 0.00 n/a
Other Fees
GRADUATE FEE NON-RESIDENT FEE WESTERN UNDERGRAD EXCHANGE FEE
Boise State University Office of Budget and Planning 1910 University Drive Admin. Bldg., Suite 210 Boise, ID 83725
789.00 8,460.00 2,017.00
103.00 357.00 n/a
75.00 35.00 n/a
789.00 8,460.00 2,015.00
103.00 357.00 n/a
75.00 35.00 n/a
To be eligible for Federal and some institutional financial aid, you must enroll in 12 or more credits. The full time undergraduate fee is charged to undergraduate students taking 11 or more credit hours. The full time graduate fee is charged to graduate students taking 9 or more credit hours. If approved, proposed changes would take effect starting Fall semester 2020.
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SPORTS & REC FEBRUARY 11, 2020 | ARBITERONLINE.COM
BOISE STATE INTRODUCES WHEELCHAIR TENNIS PROGRAM
BSU student Randy Corbett and others are working to provide athletic opportunities for physically disabled Broncos Emily Stevens | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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hen Boise State student Randy Corbett broke his back 30 years ago, he was introduced to the vast world of adaptive sports. Like much of the able-bodied population, Corbett was previously unaware of the variety of athletic opportunities for those with physical disabilities. Numerous sports have been adapted, including tennis, basketball and rugby. Corbett found a passion for wheelchair tennis and has since traveled the world competing in events such as the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour. “It really is a whole different world that nobody even knows about and it’s kind of neat to see it growing,” Corbett said. After an extensive career in international wheelchair tennis, Corbett returned to Idaho with the mission of providing locals with the same opportunity. Thus, he founded the Idaho Wheelchair Tennis Association, for which he both competes and coaches new athletes. Corbett is now taking this mission of spreading adaptive sports one step further. As his capstone project, Corbett is working with Boise State University to bring a wheelchair tennis program to campus. With the establishment of a wheelchair tennis team, the population of students in the disability community will be provided with exercise and a sense of community. “I know, through the people I’ve coached and introduced the sport [to], that it changes their lives,” Corbett said. “It allows them to do things that they never could have done without this sport. I’m very invested in it.” Tennis will not be the first adaptive sport to be introduced on campus. Wheelchair basketball has existed as an intramural sport
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for seven years. However, as of now, the team mainly consists of able-bodied individuals. Wheelchair basketball coach Kevin Falk illustrated his plan regarding recruitment for adaptive sports at Boise State, all hinging on exposure through competition. “We can play against other teams in Salt Lake and Spokane and make Boise State a really good entity – make people want to come to school here,” Falk said. Currently, Corbett is working alongside the associate director of Campus Recreation, Jared Cox, to develop a solid sports team that would then be provided with facilities and supported by the university. Cox aspires to follow the lead of schools such as the University of Alabama and establish an entire adaptive sports program, beyond just tennis and basketball. Naturally, the incorporation of a sports program will take priority over singular teams. Thus, questions regarding scholarships and recruitment will be answered farther along in the process. Until all business is finalized, the Boise State wheelchair tennis team will rely on grants for funding. The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), an organization dedicated to creating and supporting athletic opportunities for individuals with physical challenges, recently offered each member of the team $2,000 to aid with equipment and travels. Idaho Regional Director of CAF, Jennifer Skeesick, described the significance behind adaptive sports and why the foundation chose to help Boise State develop a wheelchair tennis program. “Many times when we talk to people with disabilities, there’s a feeling of isolation or loneliness – feeling like they don’t fit into a community,” Skeesick said. “So, if we can find that community in sports,
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Corbett and his team will head to Orlando, Fla. for the national championship in April. Chandler Thornton | The Arbiter truly, that’s where a lot of people find their identity and self-esteem… Boise State students deserve all that and more.” With the funding provided by CAF, Corbett is able to take his team to Orlando, Fla. for the National Championships in April of this year. Alongside him will be athlete Eugene Sanders, who will be transferring to Boise State from CWI in the fall of 2020. Sanders began playing tennis five years ago when he met Corbett through wheelchair basketball and, according to Corbett, his talent has developed immensely. Now, Sanders is regarded as a top competitor for the Broncos and is grateful for the effort of those working to accommodate athletes with disabilities like his own.
“It makes me excited. It makes me feel like it’s being taken seriously,” Sanders said. “It’s a huge deal and it’s great to have BSU’s support.” Meanwhile, in preparation for the championship, Corbett will continue training the team and scouting for potential athletes. There are two positions open on the team, specifically to beginners looking to experiment and increase their physical activity. As wheelchair tennis and basketball continue to plant a stronger foothold on campus, an array of other adaptive sports are expected to follow. Resulting from such programs will be much-needed support for disabled students at Boise State.
BRONCOS DOWNED BY BUZZER BEATER
Women’s basketball falls to the Aggies 56-58 Amanda Sprowls | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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fter gaining an 11-point lead in what would be a heated fourth-quarter brawl, the Boise State women’s basketball team ultimately lost 58-56 to the Utah State Aggies on Saturday, Feb. 8 at ExtraMile Arena. The Broncos went into the fourth period with a four-point lead and built that lead over the Aggies well into the period. But with three minutes remaining, the Broncos slowly began to lose their 11-point lead. With a great push, the Aggies fought down to the last seconds of the game to tie up the game at 59 seconds. The Aggies’ Steph Gorman was able to make a 3-pointer for her team to bring the score to 54-54. Boise State fought for the ball and Braydey Hodgins attempted a 3-pointer from the corner after a Boise State time out. Hodgins was unsuccessful, and the Broncos found themselves in a tough spot. With only 2.5 seconds, the Aggies’ Marlene Aniambossou beat her defenders to the glass and laid it in. Following timeouts from each side, the Broncos were able to perfectly execute their inbounds play. Mallory McGwire caught Hodgins’ lobbed pass in the air and, in one motion, laid it off the glass to tie it up 5656 with 1.4 seconds left. The Aggies called one final timeout to seal the Broncos’ fate. Aniambossou was able to get between the key and 3-point line and turn around to make the game-winning bucket right as the buzzer rang. “I thought Utah State was a hungrier team, and we played not to lose like we’ve done in the past. We just didn’t execute down the stretch,” said head coach Gordy Presnell. “We had three turnovers, and two wide-open missed shots from the corners, and didn’t get stops on the other end. They hit two 3-pointers on us down the stretch where we were supposed to go over the ball screen, and we went under because it’s easier. Yeah, just tough.” The game featured a crowd “pink out,” put on by sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) to
show support of Breast Cancer Awareness and Education. Saturday’s game also paid tribute to the organization’s 50 seasons of women’s basketball. Fans were given “Think Pink” ribbons provided by ZTA in addition to pink shirts. ZTA noted that they were very grateful for all those who stopped by to grab a ribbon or shirt, showing that they stood not only with their organization but also Boise State women’s basketball. “Personally it shows that the women’s basketball team is supporting both ZTA and Breast Cancer Education and Awareness. By supporting [ZTA], it shows that the athletic department cares about students outside of the sports programs which in the past it hasn’t felt like that,” said sophomore ZTA member Natalie Mercick. “It’s definitely nice that the women’s basketball team is in support of all students and I think that even though BSU as a whole has a long way to go in terms of supporting all students, that this is a really great start and hopefully something that is very meaningful.” At halftime, Boise State honored the 50 seasons played by the women’s basketball team. Players from over the years were asked to come back to be recognized for the efforts they gave to the team over their time spent with the Broncos. Boise State (16-9 overall, 8-5 MW) is on the road this week, traveling to face Air Force on Feb. 12 and San Diego on Feb. 15. The team currently sits at fifth place in the conference with just two weeks left in the regular season. The Broncos have been the regular-season Mountain West champions for the last two years (2018-19) and Mountain West tournament champions for the last three years (2017-19).
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HOT TAKES
Autum Robertson | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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he men’s basketball team bested the Utah State Aggies 88-83 in their last meeting on Jan. 18. The Broncos had a colossal second half, putting up 50 points to push the game into overtime where they would eventually win. This time around the result was different. Boise State was on the road this time on Feb. 8 and the Aggies came out on top 70-61, snapping the Broncos’ five-game winning streak and dropping them to a tie for third place in the Mountain West. Here are my hot takes. The Broncos needed to win the freethrow battle
Both teams were in foul trouble all night, combining for 49 total fouls. The Aggies went 30-for-35 from the freethrow line and the Broncos went 11-for19. The Broncos never gave themselves a shot to win with the number of fouls they committed. To be fair, there were some pretty bad calls. Robin Jorch and RJ Williams fouled out and RayJ Dennis and Derrick Alston picked up four fouls each. Three of the Broncos’ starting five led the team in fouls. In the end, both teams committed too many fouls, but that just attests to a hardfought game. If the Broncos would have won the free-throw battle, they might have moved on to a six-game win streak.
led the Broncos with 20 points followed by Alex Hobbs with 15. No other Bronco reached double-digits. The Broncos needed Alston, but he was unable to step up. Alston is a valuable asset to this team and if he does not bounce back quickly, the Broncos’ season is as good as over. The Aggies had an 8-0 run to finish the game
If the Broncos losing the free-throw battle and Alston only putting up seven points did not kill the Broncos, the Aggies’ 8-0 run to finish the game surely did. That’s right: the Aggies scored eight unattested points in the last minute of the game. The Broncos’ last points were a layup from Riley Abercrombie with a little over a minute on the clock to bring the game within one point. After that, the Broncos were quiet, except for a turnover and three missed attempts. The Broncos had a chance and they blew it. The Broncos played poorly but with five games to go, they have a good chance of being seeded high in the Mountain West tournament. Next up, the Broncos are at home on Feb. 11 to take on Air Force, who they lost to earlier in the season.
Boise State’s leading scorer got nothing going
Derrick Alston is averaging 18.5 points per game, but only managed to put up seven points against the Aggies. Alston’s four fouls and seven points were underwhelming and were a big reason why the Broncos could not win. Justinian Jessup FEBRUARY 11, 2020
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SPORTS & REC
SOFTBALL STARTS 2020 SEASON WITH 4-1 RECORD AT NORCAL KICKOFF Boise State softball looks to their senior veterans to lead them to another winning season
Zach Krufka | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu
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fter finishing fifth in the Mountain West last season with an overall record of 36-16 and a 12-12 record in conference, Boise State softball is looking to build on a good season and potentially take the 2020 Mountain West conference title. The Broncos only lost three seniors to graduation last year, giving them an older and more experienced team. This team, with seven seniors compared to three last year, has many veterans to help make a strong push to the top of the Mountain West standings. “We are pretty excited. We have a big senior class and a lot of veterans that know what it is supposed to look like,” said head coach Maggie Huffaker. Boise State introduced Huffaker as their third new head coach in program history last year. She helped lead the team to its second-highest total number of wins and second-highest single-season winning percentage in their 2019 season. “This is a completely different year,” Huffaker said. “The Mountain West has changed drastically and it is still going to be super competitive so we are just trying to focus on getting better every day, every single practice, every single weekend and every single game so we are prepared for the Mountain West.” From Feb. 6-8, the Broncos played their opening games of 2020 at the NorCal Kickoff. They faced UC Davis, Saint Mary’s College of California and Santa Clara University in Davis, Calif., then traveled to Sacramento, Calif. to face Sacramento State and UC Santa Barbara. The Broncos won all three of their games at UC Davis, including a 4-0 shutout against Saint Mary’s thanks to outstanding pitching performances by senior Kelsey Broadus and junior Hannah Bailey. Boise State won their second game 11-6 against Santa Clara, featuring the season’s first home run from sophomore catcher Serena Huchingson. Lastly, the Broncos beat UC
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FEBRUARY 11, 2020
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In 2019, the Broncos went 36-16, their second highest total number of wins in program history. Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter Davis 9-3 with junior infielder Alison Seng missing the cycle by only a double. The second set of games in Sacramento were split 1-1 for the Broncos. Boise State won the first game against UC Santa Barbara 8-0 with two home runs by junior outfielder Ashlyn Adams and Huchingson. The second game, however, did not go in the Broncos favor as they fell to Sacramento State. They managed to come back from a 3-0 deficit to take it to an extra inning, but ended up losing in the bottom half thanks to a walk-off. Coming off of three seniors graduating, the Broncos brought in a few younger players to fill the roster. One of these players is infielder Bella Rocco from Fontana, Calif. She played third base all throughout high school for Jurupa Hills High School and, just like many other freshmen, Rocco
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looks to her fellow seniors for guidance. “They are really great role models. They taught me what to do, especially coming in nervous as a freshman,” Rocco said. “You go to some schools and they can get on you if you do something, but this team gets to me by their motivation rather than them getting on me.” One senior who takes the leadership of the Broncos is pitcher Broadus. Last year she led the team with a 15-7 record and an earned run average of 3.01 in just 29 games with 21 starts. The year that stuck out the most for Broadus was her sophomore year. She won a total of four awards: Mountain West Pitcher of the Year, All-Mountain West First Team, NFCA All-Pacific Region Second Team and Mountain West Pitcher of the week in May. But the biggest reward
she gained out of her first three seasons was her sisters on the team. “Our senior class is super tight. We hang out off and on the field all the time since we all started playing here,” Broadus said. “Even Bradie Fillmore after she transferred here because most of us already knew her. Having a senior class like that helps with the shared leadership.” From Friday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Feb. 16, the Broncos will head south to Tempe, Arizona to play in the Littlewood Classic. The tournament will feature the two powerhouses of Arizona State University and University of Kentucky, as well as Illinois State and Detroit Mercy.
OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.
AQUARIUS:
You are feeling confident this Valentine’s Day, Aquarius. You do not need anyone else to tell you how to spend your day. You are the one who makes things happen, your effort is what puts things in motion and has helped you reach milestones of achievement. You will feel just as secure this day like any other.
PISCES
FEB 18 - MARCH 20 Communicating with those you love on Valentine’s Day will be very easy for you. You and those close to you will feel the love and will share the love via stories and loving memories. You will discuss topics with your loved ones which will warm your spirit.
AR JA N U
ARIES
Y
20
MARCH 20 - APR 20
-F
EBRUARY 17
TRISHA KANGAS
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR TRISHAKANGAS@BOISESTATE.EDU
Venus is still with you this Valentine’s Day, Aries. Any plans you could possibly dream of, even the most magnificent ones, will come true. All you have to do is visualize it and your underlying Aries fire will make it happen for you. You will put in little effort and receive big results. Needless to say, you will be happy this Valentine’s Day without too much stress.
TAURUS
APR 20 - MAY 21 Do something you might not normally do this Valentine’s Day, Taurus. Uranus will guide you with eccentric, rebellious energy. Break outside the mold and spend your time this day making memories that will last a lifetime. If all goes the way you want, you will remember this unique day for years to come.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUN 21
Spend Valentine’s Day with people you love, Gemini. That could be friends, a romantic interest or your partner. It does not matter too much to you. You just want to be around others, spreading and feeling the love. As such, do your best to make others feel special on this day and the same will come right back to you.
CANCER
JUN 21 - JULY 23
You should plan an extravagant night for yourself. Take time to plan out the details, leave nothing to chance. If you are meticulous, you will spend a meaningful night feeling all warm and fuzzy. That kind of positive and loving momentum will carry you on through the next several weeks.
LEO
JUL 23 - AUG 23
Valentine’s Day will go smoothly for you as long as you are in the right mindset. Having a partner or not, either one is not a reflection of your selfworth. Remember that you and everyone around you deserve love simply on a human level. If you keep this in mind, you will feel fulfilled and cared for on this day. Make sure to use that energy to make someone else feel the same way.
VIRGO
AUG 23 - SEPT 23
Unfortunately, Virgo, you are going to have to put in some work for a smooth Valentine’s Day. Be aware of miscommunications. If you are not clear in what you want and need on this day, you may run into a few snags. You want a realistic, carefully planned and meaningful day. So, reach out and get it. Do not expect things to come to you.
INE DEADL ED! D EXTEN
LIBRA
SEPT 23 - OCT 22
As it just so happens, Libra, you might not be feeling particularly romantic this Valentine’s Day, and that is okay. You might feel a bit more inclined to delve into self-care by way of a relaxing and calming evening. Do not pressure yourself to be romantic if you are not feeling it.
SCORPIO
OCT 23 - NOV 21
Low key is the name of the game for you this Valentine’s Day, Scorpio. You would feel just as good kicking up your feet, watching a rom-com and eating movie snacks as you would going out to a spendy dinner or getting a bouquet of flowers. You are content to be silly and not take things too seriously, which, in turn, will make this day full of fun for you and those around you.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 21
Do things this Valentine’s Day that makes you feel good. The moon is stopping by for you this week, which means it is totally okay to think about what kind of things you would like to do on this most lovely of days. You spend much of your time thinking about others. Today, instead, think about what would make you feel the most loved and go for that.
CAPRICORN
DEC 21 - JAN 20
Valentine’s Day events are simply going to fall into place for you, Cap. Without much effort, planning or worry you will find yourself having an amazing time on this day. Surround yourself with people who make you happy and everything will come together seamlessly. Put your mind at ease and trust the universe will help everything fall into place.
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