The Argonaut | April 18, 2024

Smith and Johnston win ASUI elections

New Prez and VP promise to amplify student voices

Georgia Swanson ARGONAUT

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Smith expressed admiration for the candidates she ran against, Peyton Loffer and Justin Alder.

“I want to express, I have so much respect for everyone who ran and having a contested election made this worthwhile, and I have an immense amount of respect for everybody who ran,” Smith said after the result was announced.

“I have thought a lot about what the University of Idaho has meant to me these last five weeks, and I can’t put into words, more so, that it’s just life changing. And being ASUI president, I think I can advocate for people who didn’t have the cards dealt right for them for college,” Smith said.

“Thank you to the student body for showing out and voting. I think we had a really great student turn out and it means a lot that people ca re in the first place to vote, and it means a lot that people heard our message and it resonated with them,” Smith said.

The turn out for this semester’s election increased from last year. There were 1,619 total votes, which is about of the UI student population 14.7%, with 26% of the votes coming from residence halls, 40% coming from Greek life affiliated students, 31% from off-campus students and 3% other.

Additionally, 25% of the votes were from freshmen, 28% sophomores, 25% juniors and 22% seniors.

ASUI still has three senator positions to fill. Elections for these positions will take place at the beginning of next semester.

Students protest Christ Church event

Pastors seek to clarify controversies

Student protestors lined the hall of the Administration Building, holding stacks of signs with messages of “Christ Church isn’t welcome here” and “F--- Christ Church.” Police officers stood at either side of the line up, carefully monitoring the scene.

Douglas Wilson, pastor of Christ Church, Toby Sumpter, pastor at King’s Cross and Benjamin Merkle, president of New Saint Andrews College, held the stage at the Administration Auditorium on April 11, hosting the event themed “Honest Questions, Honest Answers.”

The event was set up where audience members would text their questions to the emcee to facilitate the process.

Several students and other protesters who attended the event expressed their dissent at this structure, claiming that the emcee was filtering the questions that were coming in. One protester cited a previous event where there had been a floor microphone. Other protestors continued to agree that their questions were being “cherry-picked.”

The first question of the event revolved around “Southern Slavery As It Was,” a booklet written by Wilson and one of his associates and asked how Wilson could describe slaveholder and slave relationships as being “based on mutual affection and confidence, existing with mutual intimacy and harmony” when the relationships existed in a context that involved oppression and coercion.

On April 10, House Bill 710, the Children’s School and Library Protection Act, was approved and signed by Governor Brad Little.

The bill will prevent public K-12 schools and libraries from “promot[ing], giv[ing] or ma[king] available” obscene materials as defined in the bill. The definitions include images and texts of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement and sado-masochistic abuse that are deemed harmful to minors. The law requires libraries to place the materials deemed obscene in an adults-only section within 30 days of when the materials are identified.

On May 11, Commencement Day, the McKenzie family will gain their college degrees, walk the stage together and say goodbye to their time at the University of Idaho.

Jon decided at 44-years-old to finish his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. He didn’t realize that returning to college would result in him graduating at the exact same time as his two children, Carson, 22, and MacKara, 21. But the stars seemed to align for this family. On May 11, Jon, Carson and MacKara will all be awarded their bachelor’s degrees from UI.

“You are never too old to finish what you start. Whatever you do, don’t quit trying,” Jon said. “I don’t regret putting my education to the backburner. That was my decision, and I hope that it was a better situation for the kids. The proof is in the pudding. They are both graduating together. They are both realizing their dreams and aspirations.”

Rebekah Weaver ARGONAUT

Martha Smith and Emma Johnston were elected as the next ASUI president and vice president respectively Wednesday night.

senators

elected for

semester including Julissa McDowell, Anya Zuercher and Kaylee McCulloch.

John Keegan | Argonaut

Martha Smith holding a banner congratulating her on winning the ASUI elections

Expert testimony in Kohberger case sparks debate over juror survey

Bryan Kohberger did not stalk or follow one of the victims on social media

Bryan Kohberger appeared in court this past week for a hearing regarding a survey conducted by his defense team to determine if Latah County could produce a fair jury.

Previously, the prosecution deemed the questions on the survey “inappropriate” and stated that some of the questions violated the nondissemination

order placed on the court in January 2023. It was revealed that two of the questions asked in the survey were not true. Kohberger did not stalk one of the victims, neither did he follow one of the victims on social media, according to both sides of the court.

The expert Kohberger’s defense hired, Dr. Brian Edelman, testified in court this past week and explained why he included questions that had false information. He explained that in conducting surveys, open-ended questions do not reveal everything a person knows about a specific case. That close-ended “yes or no” questions reveal exactly what someone knows about a case.

He testified that he was aware of the non-dissemination order and that it did not change his work. He testified that the survey’s purpose was to discover the knowledge that citizens of Latah County have of the case, and how it correlates with media coverage. He explained that the questions he used were com-

Kohberger claims he was in nearby park in Washington at time of murders

Defense files alibi in court at deadline

Bryan Kohberger’s defense filed his response for demand of an alibi on Wednesday, the final day of the deadline.

According to court documents, cell phone data places Kohberger near Wawawai park in the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, nearly 40 minutes from the scene of the homicides.

The documents claim that Kohberger was an “avid hiker and runner”

that would often go on drives during the nighttime. Data from Kohberger’s phone includes photographs taken of himself in the countryside late at night and in the early morning on different occasions.

pletely standard in his field.

He shared that only 4% of survey participants did not know about the case and that 96% of participants knew additional information that they failed to mention in the initial openended question. 81% of participants believed that Kohberger was guilty and knew 7 out of the 9 questions asked. He revealed that if a participant did not know of the case, they would not be questioned further.

Edelman testified that even though two of the questions had false information, it did not excuse it from being prejudicial bias that potential jurors could have. He stated that the information had been widely disseminated by “pervasive” media coverage and that his survey was to measure the percentage of people who have been exposed to false information.

“We are not disseminating. We are asking people what they know,” Edelman said.

The prosecution did not like that Edelman did not disclose to participants that two of the

questions had false information and that the questions should be taken out of the survey.

The defense stated the survey was done legally and did not violate the non-dissemination order. They also said they must finish the survey to see if there is presumed prejudice in Latah County.

“Our defense team firmly, and I mean firmly, believes in Mr. Kohberger’s innocence, and right now he’s being held to have a trial in a county that believes that he is guilty,” Elisa Massoth, one of Kohberger’s defense attorneys, said.

The prosecution still believes that the non-dissemination order was violated. They stated that the defense needs to back up, create a new survey, and continue.

Judge John Judge will decide on the survey in the coming weeks. A court hearing has been scheduled for June 27 to hear arguments on the change of venue.

No trial date has been set.

tion materials for young people who need this kind of information,” Sokol wrote. “There’s no way we can keep things ‘behind the counter,’ as some Idaho legislators propose.”

partners with other libraries across the state called the Valnet Library Consortium. This has online materials that, according to Sokol, no one knows how to restrict access to.

Kohberger’s defense intends to offer the testimony of Sy Ray, an expert in cell tower information, to show that he was South of Pullman and West of Moscow, and that Kohberger did not travel East on the Moscow-Pullman highway in the early hours of Nov. 13. Additional informa-

tion about Kohberger’s whereabouts as the early morning progressed will be addressed once the prosecution provides discovery requested by the defense. The defense claims that if this information is not given to them, that Ray’s testimony will reveal that critical exculpatory evidence, further corroborating Kohberger’s alibi, was either not preserved or withheld.

This information will be discussed in a hearing scheduled for May 14. No trial date has been set.

Argonaut wins Idaho Press Club and SPJ awards

Staff awarded best student newspaper in Pacific Northwest Argonaut Staff

The Argonaut won awards from the Idaho Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists.

The University of Idaho student newspaper won the Mark of Excellence Award from SPJ for the second year in a row. This is given to the best college newspaper in Region 10 of SPJ, which includes Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska.

The award recognizes the 30-person staff for its work during 2023. The Argonaut submitted the May, November and December 2023 issues. By winning this award, the Argonaut is entered into the national contest. The winner will be announced later this Spring. The Argonaut also took home awards in five categories from the Idaho Press Club. The paper won in General Excellence for its print editions. John Keegan won for Page Design for his design of page 20 in the December 2023 print edition. Keegan designed a photo gallery from photos he took of the play “What the Constitution Means to Me.” Ben DeWitt won for General News Story for his piece “Honoring the Past, Embracing

Ben DeWitt ARGONAUT Photography Design

the Future.” The piece covers the one-year anniversary of the November homicides. Joanna Hayes won for Serious Feature for her piece “Lahaina will never be the same.” The staff won for its editorial board “Tragedy should not become entertainment.” Connor Anderson won in the photography category for his photo of musician Ani DiFranco at the 2023 Treefort music festival held in Boise. Keegan won in the photography category for his photo of former Idaho basketball player Isaac Jones.

“I am really proud of the hard work our staff has put in over the last year,” Editor-in-Chief Joanna Hayes said.

Library District, commented on the bill.

“This kind of legislation is so new and so foreign to those of us who work in public libraries that we’re only beginning to figure out how to interpret this law,” Sokol wrote in an email. “The Latah County Library District will need to have in-depth conversations with our attorney to interpret what an ‘adults only’ section of the library will mean in terms of allowing minors to even enter our libraries.” Sokol believes that this bill will add censorship to libraries.

“This law will effectively deter Idaho libraries from adding certain types of materials to their collections, especially those with LGBTQ+ topics as well as classic and sex educa-

Sokol goes on to discuss how the Moscow Public Library is set up: anyone going through the main entrance must walk into the adult section.

Another concern is the time and money that would be put into implementing the changes outlined in the bill.

“First, we’ll need to spend an enormous amount of taxpayer-paid staff time and board of trustees’ time to reconfigure our policies and procedures and how we create library card accounts for minors,” Sokol wrote. “We could be spending a lot of time managing requests for reconsideration of where materials are located and finding a place to put challenged materials. And then there’s the potential cost of $250 a pop if the complainant ‘prevails’ in their action for reconsideration.”

Sokol also shares her concerns regarding online materials accessed through the library.

The Latah County Library uses a site that

“How can we control that?” Sokol wrote. “It’s not clear how we would be able to guarantee separate ‘adults only’ access to downloadable materials.” Sokol further states that it is not the library’s place to restrict materials.

“It is up to parents and guardians to take parenting responsibilities and oversee how their children use library resources,” Sokol wrote. “Most parents do not want others telling them what their children should do, and that’s what this allows.”

When asked if the bill would positively impact the library, she said it wouldn’t.

“It’s obvious many of (the legislators) are not familiar with how public libraries work in a democracy such as ours,” Sokol said. “The law will impact the freedom to read, not only for minors but also for adults.”

Anyone interested can view the full bill on the Idaho Legislature’s Website.

Ben DeWitt ARGONAUT

Connor Anderson | Argonaut The Moscow Public Library

Exploring the rights to freedom of the press within Native communities

the central issue in the documentary, during the panel. “Just in one bill that passed,” Travis Snell said. “The free press was dead.”

Freedom of the press in Native tribes was the focus of this year’s Oppenheimer Ethics Symposium featuring a panel of Native American journalists and a showing of “Bad Press” which made its premiere on Tuesday, April 9.

As part of the Renfrew Interdisciplinary Colloquium, the panel discussed Freedom of the Press in Tribal Nations.

Travis Snell, one of the presenters, is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a public relations specialist for the Umatilla Indian Reservation with 20 years of journalistic experience.

Snell talks about his reaction once the Free Press Act was overturned,

Lori Edmo is the editor of the Sho-Ban News and joined the panel via Zoom. “(Mainstream press) don’t cover our stories and for us,” Edmo said. “It’s important that we cover our stories because we know our tribal people best.”

Angel Ellis is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, the director of Mvskoke Media and the main participant of “Bad Press.”

She discusses how the tribal media will help mainstream news cover the tribal community. “So that we are better represented in those archives,” Ellis said, “And that the draft of history is correct.”

Rachel Wilson is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe and serves as their communications manager. During the panel, she discussed the community that the newspaper brought together — the younger and older generations.

Lisa Snell is the editor of the Confederated Umatilla Journal.

Despite being Cherokee and putting out a multinational paper, she saw that people were often looking forward to the paper and were even stopping her when she was driving to get one.

“It wasn’t my newspaper,” Lisa Snell said. “It was our newspaper.”

The Kenworthy Theater

ATVP empowers survivors on the Palouse for more than 40 years

Many domestic violence victims seek aid through ATVP

For more than 40 years, Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse (ATVP) has been a beam of hope for survivors of domestic abuse. ATVP is a non-profit shelter that offers various services, including an emergency shelter located on 407 South Washington St. Their office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They provide legal advocacy, support groups for domestic violence and sexual assault and emotional support for those navigating the aftermath of domestic violence. ATVP is committed to confidentiality, collaborations with local law enforcement and healthcare providers and ensuring survivors find not just refuge, but empowerment. Though their efforts have created a big impact on the community, financial constraints create challenges for non-profit organizations. Reminding the Palouse the importance a community plays in supporting victims of domestic violence.

Kateisha Moreno, the program manager at ATVP explains their different services and how they support victims of domestic violence. They have a legal advocate who helps victims navigate the legal system, for example, if someone wanted assistance seeking a restraining order. They have other advocates to also help with emotional support, housing and employment. If there is a situation ATVP cannot help with, they will refer them to someone in the area who can fill those means.

Moreno stresses that ATVP takes confidentiality very seriously. She says a lot of people come in looking for help and want to respect their wishes.

“Oftentimes, when you are a victim of violence your own autonomy has been taken away from you, and we want to give folks their autonomy back to decide what happens with their information,” Moreno said.

However, ATVP are mandatory reporters. The only time they may disclose anyone’s information is if someone mentions any harm to children, vulnerable adults or if they have intentions to carry out suicidal thoughts. ATVP engages in collaborative efforts through their Coordinated Community Response team (CCR) that meet with law enforcement, prosecutors, hospitals and more to ensure they’re meeting the needs of survivors and discusses any issues that need to be addressed.

For example, Moreno explains the logistics of their Address Confidentiality Program that allows survivors to hide or change physical addresses on any legal paperwork. So, on any paperwork, their address would appear as a P.O. box.

“What that does is if their abusive partner were to look them up, they would not be able to find their physical home address. It would show up as a P.O. box in the state capitol,” Moreno said.

When people use the Address Confidentiality Program or other similar programs, ATVP uses these CCR teams to remind law enforcement, prosecutors and healthcare workers that it’s a legitimate program and to take the victim’s safety into account. One of the biggest issues

non-profits, like ATVP, face is funding. ATVP is funded by the state and federal government, so funding varies depending on what grants are received. They’re actively ramping up fundraising efforts to secure funds to sustain the shelter, the staff and the survivors.

The government didn’t always provide funds to nonprofits serving victims of violence. The Violence Against Women Act in 1994 allowed the government to give those funds to organizations. The law allows shelters like ATVP to educate others on domestic violence and even have an emergency shelter. Moreno says the law allowed many social services to support survivors, which is why it takes strong community efforts to aid nonprofit shelters. What massively supports ATVP is their fundraisers, which allows the community to provide foods, feminine hygiene products and other basic living materials that go a long way for domestic violence shelters. ATVP also accepts donations in Washington and Idaho.

One of the biggest ways to help support survivors is to be aware of domestic violence, understand the depth of the issue, not just to survivors themselves, but on a community level.

If we’re able to properly support victims, it allows them to start contributing to and positively impacting their community.

ATVP has a free and confidential 24/7 volunteer hotline. If you are experiencing domestic violence or if you are curious on how to support a friend or family member that may be experiencing domestic violence, call (208)883HELP and ATVP can talk you through it.

presented the film “Bad Press” Tuesday evening. With an attentive audience, a question and answer session prompted the ending of the film with the filmmakers Rebecca Landsberry-Baker and Joe Peeler and the main participant of the documentary, Ellis. The film follows Ellis and her fight to put freedom of the press in her tribe’s constitution.

Landsberry-Baker is a journalist and the executive director of the Native American Journalist Association.

CHRIST CHURCH

“I had seen other tribes try to squash movements for repressed freedom,” Landsberry-Baker said when asked about their origin story for the film.

Landsberry-Baker goes on to describe how her husband knew Peeler and that sparked their partnership for the film when the act was overturned.

Ellis said that they were helping to maintain press freedom and even looking at some tribes who were trying to add it to their constitution.

Ellis also credited the Indigenous Journal-

“When you read through the narratives of former slaves and those who can still recall slavery times, the responses of the slaves giving the accounts had a wide range,” Wilson said. “Some of them were everything you could think of from an abolitionist’s nightmare… slaves being flogged, and just awful things. There’s also accounts from slaves that fit the description of (mutual affection) … There were relationships between masters and slaves that were decent human relationships.”

One protestor called out from the crowd, “Just tell us you’re racist. It’s not that hard.”

Another person asked Wilson, “What is the biggest misconception that the town of Moscow has against Christ Church and New Saint Andrews College?” Wilson said, “I think the biggest misconception is that we want to conduct a hostile takeover and create a sort of ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ nightmare where we start telling everybody what to do. I think people think we are attempting to do something that has never entered our heads.”

Wilson and the other hosts continued to answer questions that addressed their

ist Association, which has helped her to look at the needs of each tribe individually. When asked to describe the film, Peeler took to the microphone.

“Part of how I describe the movie is a portrait of a democracy that is young enough that one person can still change it in a real way,” Peeler said. “That, as a U.S. citizen, often feels too big for us. It’s both a document about a journalist becoming an advocate, but it’s also a document of democracy shifting because of one person.”

stance on abortion, homosexuality and the role of women in church. They maintained that they believe that abortion, under any circumstance, is murder, that homosexuality is a sin and that women were not permitted to hold leadership positions within the church.

“That’s what the Bible says,” said Wilson. “In the leadership in the church –elders, deacons, ministers – we believe the Bible prohibits (women), and so we don’t do it.”

The next question accused Christ Church of being “intentionally inflammatory,” instead of preaching the gospel. “What happens is, we say things and teach things and believe things that Christians have said for thousands of years,” Wilson said. “We are simply Christians. We have entered an era where, to say those old things that used to not be controversial, are now enormously controversial.”

Furthermore, one audience member asked, “What makes up a cult and how would you explain the difference between Christ Church and a cult?”

Wilson explained that a cult is all about mind control, manipulation and separation of the victims from their friends and family.

“Then what does that make you?” a protestor yelled out.

“Not a cult,” Wilson said.

John Keegan | Argonaut

Joe Peeler, Angel Ellis and Rebecca Landsberry-Baker speaking at the”Bad Press” viewing

Alyssa Johnson ARGONAUT

John Keegan | Argonaut

Rebecca Landsberry-Baker speaking at the Oppenheimer Ethics Symposium Q&A

John Keegan | Argonaut

Doug Wilson and Toby Sumpter, pastors of Christ Church, on the April 10 panel

Facing recycling realities

Why UI’s recycling reboot isn’t more successful

Rebekah Weaver ARGONAUT

After budgeting $35,000 for marketing of “Think Recycle,” the University of Idaho’s recycling reboot, and detailing a 24-page sustainability action plan, one might assume that the state of UI’s recycling is nothing but excellent.

However, the average diversion rate of 19% in 2023, as given by Olivia Wiebe, sustainability manager at UI, speaks truth to the fact that the program is not as successful as the university wants, with a target diversion rate of 30%.

The biggest problem with recycling on campus is the lack of student participation and proper education, according to Friday Hibbard, UI’s recycling lead.

“The issue here is that… some users are still unsure of the exact rules of recycling and, more often than not, do not speak up about this,” Hibbard said about the lack of recycling education. “I find myself a year later still answering basic questions about the program to staff, faculty and students, as the route to gain this info is either unknown to them, or they haven’t read the provided information available online.”

Hibbard said that there wasn’t a lack of information available but rather a lack of initiative to read the information.

“We have posters placed at every bin and The Daily Register has links to recycling information quite often,” she said. “There’s not much that we can do here to ameliorate this ignorance; we can’t force users to read our posters or online information. The only solution that may help is a mandatory annual training about solid waste and recycling, but that is a large and expensive task to

When Jon was first enrolled in college over 20 years ago, his son Carson was born with a congenital heart defect which caused him to need open heart surgery at three days old. Because of this, Jon decided that his education could wait. He would start working construction in order to care for the health and wellbeing of his family.

In 2012, Jon enrolled at North Idaho College, but again, he placed his education to the side in order to provide for his family.

“To say that the kids’ lives

accomplish.”

She also spoke about the lack of participation.

“Some users are also anxious about recycling, believing that a single small bit of contamination, like one ring on a bottle or a tiny bit of soda in the bin, contaminates the whole bin.

I have caught people throwing out good recycling due to this misplaced anxiety,” said Hibbard. “Yes, we need to avoid as much contamination as possible, but we are allowed a small allotment of contamination without turning the whole batch into landfill waste. When I’m removing whole meals, milkshakes, tools, wood, clothes, wires and hardware, computer parts, coffee and foam products, an empty sticky can is not a concern.” Hibbard mentioned how a lack of communication may also play a role in the shortage of recycling, recounting a specific instance where she was approached by a user who didn’t have enough recycling bins. This had been a problem for the better part of a year and, instead of contacting the recycling team, the user’s department resorted to throwing their recycling away into the landfill bin.

With the new recycling initiative started in April 2023, the university made the decision to switch from multi-stream to single-stream recycling. This decision was made due to the ease of single-stream recycling, according to Hibbard.

“Less sorting for the users means more potential recycling for us,” Hibbard said. “Lots of users do not want to put in the effort to put glass in a glass bin, and paper in a paper bin, leading to a massive amount of contamination. Amalgamating the recycling streamlines the collection process for the users and saves labor hours in sorting for the university. The

have been hunky dory, peachy keen and sunshine and rainbows would be a total farse,” Jon said. “They have gone through some of the most agonizing things in life that we have all walked through together. There have been so many awful things we have had to endure together, but we did it together.”

Resilience, determination and grit—or what the McKenzies describe as stubbornness—have become the anthem of their lives. Trials crept in at every corner to stop Jon from gaining his degree while simultaneously raising a family. Carson didn’t want to go to college after the anxiety the pandemic poured over his family.

recycling center that we contract with does single stream as well, so this makes cooperation with them much easier for everyone involved.”

Wiebe spoke on this issue as well, citing contamination as the main reason to make the switch.

Overall, the single most prevalent roadblock in a more successful recycling program is the high level of contamination. If 10% of a bin of recycling appears to be contaminated, the entire bin must go to the landfill, according to Hibbard.

Recently, the labels on the bins in the ISUB food court have switched from recycling, compostables and landfill bins to all landfill only. According to Hibbard, these recycling bins have a history of a near-100% contamination rate, and that this is a problem in multiple locations around campus.

“There are cases of bins that will be removed, but these are bins that have been identified

MacKara thought she would drop out of college after becoming pregnant in her freshman year.

It seemed like the McKenzie’s futures were ones without diplomas. But stubbornness pushed them to the finish line.

“I’m not doing this to make anyone proud to be honest with you,” Carson said. “I wanted to make myself proud because I wanted to show myself I could do it, even if I didn’t want to.”

“I had the option of following a completely different route and quitting school and just focusing on being a mom,” MacKara said.

She said that her dad pushed her from a young age to get her degree immediately after high

as problem bins and they are only taken after a three-week warning is unheeded,” Hibbard said. “I place a red contamination notice sign on those bins.” Wiebe also said that those bins have not actually been recycled in a while due to the remarkably high contamination, and that relabeling the bins had been on their to-do list. She continued to say that placing recycling bins in food courts or cafeterias often leads to this issue, as plastics or other recyclable materials with any food waste on them are deemed unrecyclable.

“The bins in the ISUB are some of the most contaminated bins on the campus,” Wiebe said. “We made the conscious decision to move recycling bins away from so much food.” This is also the reason the university does not recycle glass.

Sarah Dawson, the university sustainability director, said that

school. He pushed his kids to pursue a college degree from a traditional standpoint. That lesson motivated both Carson and MacKara to gain their degrees as soon as possible.

Carson will graduate with a degree in Film and Television and MacKara will graduate with degrees in Psychology and Communication. Carson is planning to move to Atlanta in the coming months to begin work in the film industry. MacKara is looking to continue her education with a master’s degree in psychology. She hopes to one day open her own counseling practice.

Jon applied to UI’s law school. He repeated over and

glass contaminates other recyclables, especially when broken shards get in paper and plastics.

“(Glass) has been handled independently,” Dawson said. “We have had conversations about trying to instate a glass recycling program; the problem is that glass isn’t recycled anywhere in the region. Some providers will accept glass, but they just grind it up into small pieces, mix it with other materials to become a substrate and use it on the ground outside. We’d like to find a way to truly recycle the glass so that it can stay in the loop and be used infinitely.”

Ultimately, recycling should be the last resort -- reduce waste, reuse and repurpose items and compost when it’s available.

“(Recycling) isn’t just a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” Wiebe said. “We should still be very conscious about our consumption.”

over that graduating with a college degree is proof of the family’s determination, but it isn’t their end goal. He is even prouder that his kids have dreams to make names for themselves in the world.

“What’s next? That’s what life is all about. What’s coming down the pipe? What can we plan for?” Jon said. “Yes, graduation is coming, but what’s next?”

“Constantly push yourself, and for those things you think you’ll never be able to accomplish, shoot for the stars. Shoot for it. Even if you don’t hit the stars, maybe you’ll fall on the moon. Who knows?”

Connor Anderson | Argonaut

A UI student recycling paper

Carson Mckenzie | Courtesy McKenzie family at 2022 graduation

Across: 1. With 6-across, Alfred Upham's longstanding campus tradition that became an iconic scenic pathway for Idaho students and faculty alike 6. See

25. Not necessarily wise?

26. Take one, in theater

29. Classically slow

31. Pocket payments

32. Sponsors the largest Jazz Festival in Idaho since 1960

33. "Zounds!"

34. Together

Down:

1. Tompkins, Helm, and Hume-Douglas' combined efforts created this Idaho state song in 1931, "__________ Idaho"

2. Olde-school "Control Z"

3. Bifocals, for example

4. TV-type choice

5. Strait to the Adriatic

6. A thin confection for confession

7. Encompassing?

8. "Elementary" star, Lucy ___

9. This stadium, a misnomer in the sports industry, is actually a barrel-arch roof

16. Chrome competitor

19. Fernando ______; won the 2005 and 2006 World Drivers' Championship, whilst Driving for Renault

20. 1976 Nobel-prize winner in Economic Sciences for his work on consumption theory; ______ Friedman

22. If someone's on your rear, you're considered _____

27. Camel's butt, abbr.

Jazz Fest 2024: What to expect

Jazz Fest events you don’t want to miss

Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT

The Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest is a staple event at the University of Idaho and you’ll definitely want to attend! Named for the renowned jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, the annual festival features artists from all over who will grace the campus with their talents and wonderful shows, and there are tons of fun workshops to try out. Check out this scheldule of concerts and events that are a must-see for all jazz lovers this week.

p.m.

World Music Celebration

Concert Schedule: Hamp’s Gala Need a great way to spend your evening? The traditional show to kick-start Jazz Fest that features the Lionel Hampton School of Music student group is one option. This event took place in the Admin Auditorium on Wednesday, April 17 at 7

This is a wonderful event to appreciate music from all around the world and embrace diverse cultures! It features artists such as Jovino Santos Neto, a Brazilian pianist and composer; Samir LanGus, a Moroccan gimbri player and singer; U of I Jazz Band I (directed by Vern Sielert); U of I Jazz Choir I (directed by Dan Bukvich); and the World Music Ensemble (directed by Navin Chettri). It will take place at the ICCU Arena on Thursday, April 18 at 7 p.m.

Veronica Swift

Swift is an American jazz and bebop singer whose vocal performances shouldn’t be missed. Some of her popular songs include “I Am What I Am” and “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me,” which are both from her 2023 album titled “Veronica Swift.” Some other featured artists at this event include the U of I Chamber Jazz Choir (directed by Dan Bukvich); U of I Jazz Band I (directed by Vern Sielert), and Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors. These concerts will take place in the ICCU Arena on Friday, April 19 at 7 p.m.

Lionel Hampton’s 116th Birthday Celebration

Come to the ICCU Arena

to celebrate Lionel Hampton’s birthday with some amazing performances. The artists featured at this concert include Kenny Garrett’s Sounds From The Ancestors, Lionel Hampton Big Band ft. Joe Doubleday, and Hamp’s Jazz Ambassadors. This concert will take place on Saturday, April 20 at 7 p.m.

Jazz Fest includes tons of different workshops Thursday through Saturday that are completely free and open to everyone!

Some of the workshops present at this year’s Jazz Fest

Painting-Pups-Pints supports Humane Society

Brews and art for Palouse Humane Society

Tanner Allen ARGONAUT

The Moscow Alehouse commenced a new relationship with Craft Artbar and Studio in their first partnership in support of the Palouse Humane Society.

From noon until 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7, the Moscow Alehouse hosted “Painting, Pups, Pints,” on their patio, encouraging pet lovers and paint enthusiasts alike to enjoy an afternoon in the sun full of painting, raffles, gift baskets and the community’s furry friends.

Craft Artbar and Studio brought paint, stencils and pint glasses for participating guests to decorate, all while enjoying their favorite brews and supporting their community and local humane society.

Owner and operator of the Moscow Alehouse, Wendy SmileyJohnson, is always willing and looking forward to strengthening her ties and support of the community through giving back and assuming the responsibility of her position as a “working manager” by bringing people together and collaborating with the likeminded proprietors in the area. “I’ve always been team Moscow… So, for me, working in the community has always been a big deal. For years I’ve been doing different events, because I have been very fortunate to have a nice big parking lot and a nice big patio. Moscow is really all about people helping people,” Smiley-Johnson said.

Entry was free, but tickets for both painting and a pint were sold for $25 and those for just painting were $20, with proceeds going back to the humane society. All attendees were given a complementary gift bag with dog treats and a beer from Happy Dog Meadery, along with assorted goodies.

For every dog treat bag, Happy Dog Meadery donated a dollar back to the Palouse Humane Society.

In addition to painting, beer and gift baskets, Smiley-Johnson was

handing out free Vandal Sausage hot dogs from her stand Wendys’s Wieners.

Attendee Carlos Santos, was excited about the opportunity to spend a day out in the community with his dog.

“Dogs are man’s best friend, so in any event that includes dogs, great people are going to show up and have fun bonding over animals,” Santos said.

Jacob Ness, thinks the Moscow community is unique, “I think Moscow is really good at having events and having people show up. I think it’s pretty cool and you don’t see that everywhere.”

Smiley-Johnson has worked with and fundraised for the humane society more than 10 times over the last 15 years. This event marks her first collaboration with owner-operator of Craft Artbar and Studio (formerly Wild at Art), Meghan Miller. She was excited about the event and for the future of their relationship.

“We’re going to make a whole bunch of money for a staple in this community that literally takes as good a care of its pet community as our police department takes care of our people. We have to support each other, so I try to take care of them wherever I go,” said SmileyJohnson.

Miller shared similar sentiments regarding the event and her personal connection with the work being done.

“The point of the event is to,

you know, make as much money for the Humane Society of the Palouse. It’s an organization that’s near and dear to our hearts, as well as Wendy from the Alehouse,” said Miller.

Smiley-Johnson had reached out to Miller and her husband for the collaboration. “…And we were over the moon and more than excited about the opportunity to collaborate,” Miller added.

The event sold out quickly. With room for an estimated 50 guests on the patio, 54 tickets were sold before the event - according to Smiley-Johnson. However, walk-ins were accepted, and the turnout far exceeded expectations.

“I think exceeded, extremely,” said Sierah Beeler, director of the Humane Society of the Palouse after the event.

Though tickets sold out, there were other means of donations accepted and encouraged throughout the course of the event.

The Moscow Alehouse agreed to match whatever cash donations were collected during the day.

More than $600 was raised through donation and raffle ticket sales alone, not including the money raised through ticket sales.

For more information about future events or to show support of the Humane Society of the Palouse check out the webiste at https://www. humanesocietyofthepalouse.org/

Grace Giger ARGONAUT

are Meet the Artists, Broadway Jazz, Disco Jazz, Improvisation Games, African Dance, Swing Dancing and so much more. All workshops are completely free and open to UI Students and the Moscow community. The festival also brings in thousands of public school students from across Idaho to learn from workshops, attend concerts and participate in performances. The full schedule of workshops can be found on the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival page on the UI website: https:// www.uidaho.edu/class/jazzfest

Released April 5, Benson’s Boone’s newest album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” has taken the momentum from his viral hit “Beautiful Things” and created an unforgettable sound that might just become the soundtrack of the summer.

Boone first came into the spotlight as a participant in the 2021 season of American Idol, and in the past few months, his breakout single “Beautiful Things” has risen to the top five of Billboard’s Hot 100 and amassed nearly half a billion streams on Spotify so far. His first full album, “Fireworks and Rollerblades” has made quite a splash on social media, and it seems Boone has hit the ground running with his soulful lyrics and haunting voice.

The album opens with an all-new track, “Be Someone,” an upbeat love song that showcases Boone’s lyricism and song writing brilliance. To a peppy drum line, Boone swoons about the ways he could change in order to be the perfect soulmate for the girl he loves.

The next track is “Slow it Down” which is a slower and more deliberate song which really brings Boone’s legendary rasp showstopping voice, which seems to resonate for minutes after the song has finished.

Next comes the song that rocketed him to fame: “Beautiful Things.” The power ballad includes hard-hitting lyrics that have exploded on social media, and the chorus perfect for scream-singing in the car: “Please, stay, I want you I need you, oh God, don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got.”

The album continues with several slower ballads including “Cry,” “Forever and a Day” and the prereleased “In the Stars” which has circled social media and made an impact for its devastating lyrics. Tackling the unique kind of heartbreak that comes with the death of a lover, the song oozes emotion and pure feeling.

The tone picks back up with the pop-rock beat “Drunk in My Mind” that begs to be sung along to with a catchy chorus and gorgeous vocals from Boone. The album continues with “My Greatest Fear,” a song that carries similar themes to “Beautiful Things” with heart wrenching lyrics throughout.

Later in the album, his first released single “Ghost Town” makes an appearance. With the lyrics and haunting vocals that made it a hit immediately upon release back in 2021.

The final track “What Do You Want,” finishes this whirlwind of an album with a bang. Both upbeat and heartfelt and as always, full of powerful emotion, the song is the perfect crescendo to bring the “Fireworks and Rollerblades” to a close.

As the name suggests, listening to this album feels like cruising down the street with fireworks attached to your rollerblades, young, wild, a little bit out of control and full of possibility.

Boone captures the experience of being young, in love, heartbroken and free to be yourself all in one album. “Fireworks and Rollerblades” is the best kind of catharsis that feels like an authentic celebration of life even after surviving heartbreak; a true masterpiece that’s surely just the start of a star-studded career.

Courtesy | Argonaut Marcus Miller performs in the 2023 Jazz fest

Royce McCandless | Argonaut Workshop during the 2023 Jazz Fest

Tanner Allen | Argonaut

Moscow Alehouse patio during “Painting-Pups-Pints”

ArtAbility celebrates adults with disabilities

On April 29 from 5 – 7 p.m., University of Idaho students and the Moscow community are invited to attend the artAbility open house hosted by the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development in the 1912 Center.

The event is a culmination of the artAbility project which allows adults with disabilities in the Moscow area to explore creative talents, develop skills by working with local artists and spend time with friends. The artAbility showcase is free to attend and includes interactive art activities and a chance to view and purchase art from participants.

UI student and artAbility Coordinator, Alena Ramkissoon, explained that the artAbility project is just one facet of the many resources and services the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development provides.

“Our mission is to serve disability across the lifespan and in all aspects of life. So, we have multiple different projects that serve multiple different aspects of disability at different stages,” said Ramkissoon.

Along with artAbility, the Center also rents educational support resources through the Assistive Technology Project and provides childcare through the Idaho Stars program among others. ArtAbility is a program that invites adults with disabilities in the community to attend

free art workshops throughout the year hosted by local artists, with the culmination of the program being the annual artAbility showcase where participants can present the results of their hard work for the community to enjoy. “We provide free and accessible art workshops here in the Moscow community,” Ramkissoon said. “Typically, we have three to four in the fall and then three to four in the spring semester and these workshops are free for participants to access. All the materials and everything are covered by us.”

Not only do the workshops give community members with disabilities a chance to improve their art skills, but they also serve as a chance to build relationships, make friends and be an active part of the Moscow community.

“People with disabilities need things to do,” Ramkissoon said. “They are people, and every person needs community, every person needs fellowship with their peers, every person needs self-expression, and art is very self-expressive.”

Individuals with disabilities need community just as much as anyone, and this project goes a long way towards providing that community in Moscow.

“ArtAbility also provides a social aspect, and we saw this need in the community to have engaging and enriching and self-expressive times and places for people with disabilities so that’s why I think it’s important for people to be able to gather here to go and see their friends, Ramkissoon said. It gives them a chance to do something fun, do something expressive.”

The program was founded 10 years ago by a UI student and continues to be run by UI

students like Ramkissoon today.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the artAbility program, this year’s showcase is going to have some big changes and surprises.

In addition to being able to view and purchase art, this year’s attendees will also have the opportunity to make some art of their own through mini workshops hosted by UI students and faculty.

“This year, I wanted to give people participating a little bit more, so they’ll not only be seeing the art but also creating some art,” Ramkissoon said. “We’ll be having a mini art workshop taking place during the showcase where people can walk through and create their own tree ring art.”

There will also be a chance to participate in something called “ripple mapping” which will demonstrate the lasting positive effects of a community program such as this one.

“So, what we’re going to be doing is taking stories and personal experiences and how artAbility as project has impacted people. We’ll be asking everyone; community members, participants, family members, friends, students, whoever is there and willing to share our story,” Ramkissoon said. “It will be documented and written up on a board to show the different interconnections and it’ll be really cool to show how artAbility has impacted people the past 10 years.” There will also be a free art raffle where all attendees will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a print of one of the first art pieces ever made at artAbility 10 years ago. The event is open to everyone in the UI and Moscow community, and Ramkissoon encourages everyone interested to attend.

“So, coming to the event, you get to meet the participants, you

UI hosts Tutxinmepu Powwow

Celebration of Native American culture and traditions

Grace Giger ARGONAUT

Saturday, April 6, the University of Idaho and Moscow community gathered in the ICCU Arena to celebrate and honor the Native American culture and traditions from area tribes. The event was open to the public and included drums, dancing, food and vendors selling authentic crafts and jewelry.

Opening with a grand entry ceremony at noon, the Powwow ran well into the night, with a long lineup of traditional dances and events. Dances included the Potato Dance sponsored by UI’s Native American Student Association, the College Graduate Dance Special and a Womens’ Traditional Putlaapa.

The event also included several competitions where participants competed in dancing and drumming in several categories, from juniors and teens to golden age and tiny tots. A new set of Tutxnimepu royalty was also crowned following a special performance from the previous royalty.

The dancing and drums were continuous throughout the day, with the constant beat of drums and jingle of the dresses worn by women dancers resonating throughout the ICCU arena. The song and dance paused for a break only between 5 and 7 p.m. when guests and participants enjoyed a community dinner of stew and frybread.

The Powwow was a constant celebration of Native American culture and a way to foster community on the Palouse. Tribes from across the Pacific Northwest were represented, and participants of all ages and skill levels enjoyed dancing and drumming together.

The events were an exciting way to honor Native American traditions, learn about culture and support local Native craftsmen. More information and a schedule of upcoming events can be found on the UI Native American Student Center website.

get to meet the self-advocates and artists who created all this work, and you get to meet a community of people that you might otherwise never interact with,” Ramkissoon said.

For those interested, there will be art available for purchase, but no purchase is necessary to enjoy a lovely evening supporting the artAbility community and viewing some great art.

“People are welcome to purchase art pieces that are for sale, with the proceeds going directly back to the artists who created it,” Ramkissoon said.

“But there’s a lot of things to do, you can come and spend money you or you can come without spending money and still can end up going home with something. It’s a win-win.”

More information about the artAbility project can be found on the Idaho Center on Disability and Human Development website.

17 films will be shown at this year’s KINO

The 24th Annual KINO Short

Film Festival will happen at the Kenworthy on April 26th Herman Roberts ARGONAUT

The 24th annual KINO Short Film Festival is set for Friday, April 26 at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the program will feature a series of 17 films that are all 10 minutes or less.

Like past KINO’s, all the films that will be shown are created by filmmakers in the Pacific Northwest. Unlike past KINO’s, this year’s group of filmmakers is solely made up of students, including both high school and college aged creatives.

“The event as a whole is a special night, especially now that it’s all student films,” Maddie Timm said. “There are some amazing stories that come out of it.”

Timm is a director and screenwriter for one of the 17 films that got selected. Working in partnership with Alyssa Peck, the film’s director of photography, the pair managed the filmmaking process and produced their film together. Both are looking forward to watching their film on-screen alongside the other students’ submissions.

“These are not films that you’re going to see on Netflix soon,” Peck said. “This is probably the only opportunity to watch a lot of these films.”

This year’s festival will include a wide variety of films, even some that are animated. The program will be in three parts and after each one, the audience will have the chance to ask questions toward the filmmakers during a live Q&A session.

A group of judges will recognize and award the best films at the end of the event. Also, those attending will be able to vote for their favorite film, and the winner will be recognized with the Audience’s Choice Award.

Tickets for preferred seating can be bought online and in advance for $10, an option that will remain open for purchase until April 24. Otherwise, it will be free for all guests at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

Otto Waddell Argonaut Powwow particpant dances to tribal drums

Lilly Giger | Argonaut Tribal members march in intertribal drum song

Kino Film Society | Courtesy Kino Film Festival logo

Alena Ramkissoon Courtesy Attendees enjoy the 2023 artAbility showcase

Mindfulness and Muffins

How a cookbook helped me deal with living alone

If you are anything like me, you love a good latenight baking adventure. When you spend all of your classes as well as your time at work squinting at screens and writing article after article, essay after essay, you need to take a break from the screens from time to time. Nothing is quite as therapeutic as pulling an indulgent treat out of your own oven.

“Baking by Feel” by Becca Rea-Tucker takes this concept a step further. She has not only written several delicious and delightful recipes for sweets, from cream cheese sour cherry muffins to a butterscotch cake with honey-maple buttercream, but she has paired each recipe with an emotion that the treat is meant to help you tackle.

Jump into spring with these 8 fun activities

Take advantage of the warm spring weather in Moscow

1. Take a hike

Want to stretch your legs and enjoy the spring weather? There are many fun trails to take in Moscow to do just that. Some of the most popular spots are the Headwaters Trail, East Moscow Mountain Trail and the Idler’s Rest Nature Preserve.

2. Have a picnic

The Palouse is full of rolling hills, whether on or off campus. Just spread out a blanket and gather up some delicious food to enjoy with a few friends or your significant other under the sun. A great on campus picnic spot is the new Arboretum to enjoy the sights of nature without going far!

3. Go stargazing

Looking at the night sky can be really relaxing. You can search for constellations, watch the stars blink, or see the clouds against the dark sky. Stargazing can make for a romantic date idea too. Who knows, maybe you’ll even see a shooting star!

4. Make a bouquet

The book also begins with a forward that details, not only a quick start guide on how to categorize and identify your emotions, but also how to use the cookbook. In short, after you identify the emotion you are feeling, you can then turn to the page

of the cookbook that deals with the emotion and make the recipe on the page. Alongside the recipe, there is also a little entry that contextualizes the emotion by how it feels in your body and how your thoughts react. The entry then typically contains an anecdote revolving around the emotion and some form of journal entry to help you process the emotion while your baked good is in the oven.

Why Wear:

I bought the cookbook two weeks into living in my new apartment. I had gone from living in a sorority house with all of my closest friends to living alone in an apartment on the other side of campus, a move I made to accommodate changes in my life that didn’t end up panning out. Long story short, for the first time in my whole college career, I was truly lonely. And while a cookbook cannot fix all of your problems, it can help you

process them. I brought this book into my apartment, and along with a few good novels, the Peach Bourbon Cake (heartbroken) and a pan of S’mores Rice Krispy Treats (lonely), I came out of the two weeks between moving in and starting classes a lot more okay with myself and my place in the world.

Lonely 20-somethings are not the only people Rea-Tucker has helped process their emotions. The book has more than 100 reviews on Goodreads and is on more than 4,000 people’s shelves. The author of the book is a native Texan, who is also heavily involved in activism regarding abortion access within the state on her Instagram, @thesweetfeminist. She also has an active Substack blog, a little something sweet, where she shares even more recipes and posts about activism, feminism and old 90’s rom-coms. Emotions are a part of life, and that means even the bad ones are going to be around forever. Baking with them and dealing with them can make them all a little sweeter.

Springtime is rife with flowers and little green sprouts. You can go outside and pick enough flowers for a bouquet and gift it to a family member or your significant other.

5. Play outdoor games

Now that the weather is getting warmer, you can enjoy a friendly competition outdoors. You could toss a football back and forth with your friends, play some volleyball or spike ball, or throw a frisbee. The Tower lawn is a popular spot for all kinds of outdoor games and activities!

6. Spring cleaning and decorating

Springtime is for making things like new. You can clean up your living space and rejuvenate with some clean and fresh spring décor. Open your windows for a cool breeze and air out your home.

7. Do a nature photoshoot

If you like to take aesthetic photos, the flowering trees and budding flowers are perfect for a photographic background. Photos of the blooming plants and the spring weather also make great subjects to shoot too!

8. Lay in a hammock

Do you like laying in the sunshine? Hammocking is an enjoyable and fun way to rest in the warm weather. It’s even better with friends and/or your significant other! There are hammock posts in the LLC courtyards, as well as lots of other great hammocking spots around campus.

Everyone has a right to dress Western

History shows that country aesthetics were made by all Americans

If 2023 was the “Year of the Girl,” due to Barbie, Priscilla and “Girl Math”, then there is no denying that 2024 should be deemed the “Year of Country.” One of the most notable reasons for this is the release of an album that landed Beyoncé as the first Black female artist to reach #1 on Billboard’s Country Charts – “Cowboy Carter.”

However, this major genre shift from the popstar led to many people sharing their opinion that, “Now everyone thinks that they can make country music,” according to a viral Tik Tok posted by user @ Shay. While this album has been celebrated across America by all races, some critics have claimed the rising trend of Black people embracing western style as cultural appropriation.

Not only is this historically inaccurate –it continues the legacy of white supremacy in country. For many decades, it prevented other races and people groups from participating in the natural evolution of western fashion and music.

“People talked about Beyoncé and how she was going to take up space in country.

I feel like she’s launching a Black country movement that was already there,” said Van Lathan, former TMZ host and producer on Higher Education podcast.

The American Cowboy is an iconic symbol of western aesthetics, typically worn by a white man. The fashion elements that automatically register someone as country are rooted in America’s colonialism and cultivated from many different influences.

The irony of this is that the symbol of cowboys comes from Mexican and Black people. As Mexicans occupied the South and West of the United States, the Vaqueros (or ‘cow men’) were often hired for their horse riding and roping skills according to American Cowboy. As colonizers moved West motivated by mawnifest destiny, they began to adopt the clothing of the Vaqueros, including the famous wide brimmed hats that we know as “cowboy hats.” Native Americans inspired the look of fringed clothing in western wear as well. As they often used resources near them to make their clothing, it was common that they wore animal hides as well. They sold their clothing and art to white colonizers, such as rugs, jewelry, leather clothing, and beadwork. All these elements are now quintessential to Western aesthetics.

It is clear to most people that Native American clothing was appropriated into what is considered now to be “country,” or

“western.” Hence why the claim that other people groups are “appropriating” white western culture is invalid – one can’t claim appropriation on something that was not solely theirs to begin with.

Other designs do come from European influences though, such as denim which was developed in France. Styles like the bolero jacket come from Spanish cattle herders. The white Americans, originally Europeans, did apply their own inventions to cowboy wear.

In the nineteenth century West, Mexicans, Native Americans, African Americans and white Americans all held roles as cowboys. Despite the inequality between these groups, the creation of the white American expression of “country” can be defined as a cultural amalgamation –an even blending of cultures. The difference is that over time, other cultures managed to maintain their own identity throughout history, while white people managed to claim this new identity as completely their own.

Despite their obvious presence in the ranching industry, Black cowboys and cowgirls were never present in the heroic roles of western movies which popularized the cowboy style for the public. African Americans and Native Americans were often portrayed as villains in these movies. The association of other races as, “anti-cowboy” erased the role that they played in the

cultural identity, while the white cowboy became a symbol of America’s patriotism. The need for cowboys eventually faded away, new methods of transporting cattle meant cowboys were no longer efficient in transporting cattle. Native Americans were placed on reservations. African Americans were prevented from buying land. The Vaqueros began to focus on developing the sport of the rodeo.

The cowboy lifestyle is much smaller today, The Department of Agriculture estimates that there is at most 1,000,000 in the U.S. today. However, Black farmers and cowboys are still around despite their lack of recognition.

“You don’t see too many Black cowboys in Raleigh, North Carolina and if I go to the store in my cowboy boots on and my cowboy hat on, they look at you trying to say, ‘You trying to be a white guy, or you trying to be a Mexican guy or Hispanic?’” Harrison Todd of Black Country Productions said.

The truth is many people who identify with the country aesthetic are most likely not riding horses and roping cattle, they just align with the American culture. One cannot justify excluding other ethnicities from participating in something that is synonymous with American patriotism without subconsciously indicating that they don’t see other ethnicities as truly American.

Celebrate Earth Day at Earth Jam

Celebrate Earth Day April 22

This year, Earth Day is Monday, April 22. To celebrate, the University of Idaho’s Student Sustainability Cooperative is hosting their third annual Earth Jam, on the same day in the ISUB Plaza from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to Mairen Chard, the sustainability coordinator for the Department of Student Involvement, Earth Jam is an exciting event where students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome to celebrate the earth and learn more about sustainability. “Earth Jam is SSC’s annual Earth Day celebration. We have a whole bunch of stuff planned and essentially it is a celebration of earth. We invite community organizations as well as student

clubs to come and talk about what makes them sustainable and how they practice sustainability or environmental conservation,” Chard said.

There will be about 30 tables of student clubs and community organizations to visit and learn more about sustainability in the Moscow community. There will also be free food, live music from Will Fontaine and activity stations such as a T-shirt screen printing station, seed bomb making station and a house plant adoption station. UI surplus has also donated five used bikes to raffle off at Earth Jam.

“We want to make (Earth Jam) a safe space for everyone to come and enjoy and to introduce themselves to things that we all have in common: this planet and all that really goes together with sustainability,” said Chard.

Abigail Spencer | Argonaut “Baking by Feel” has become a clear favorite, rarely leaving my kitchen table

Jacey Coleman ARGONAUT

Sierra Rode ARGONAUT

Georgia Swanson ARGONAUT

John Keegan | Argonaut

A partial eclipse of the sun over a cornice on the admin building on April 8

Abigail Spencer ARGONAUT

Abigail Spencer | Argonaut

The Cherry Cream Cheese Muffins (jealous)

Pribble, Vandals still hungry

Vandal men’s basketball to continue building a foundation

“The program has not had a ton of success over the last four or five seasons. This year was about building a foundation and a culture,” said Alex Pribble, Idaho Men’s Basketball Head Coach.

The first-year Vandal coach explained that he feels good about his start at the University of Idaho. His team’s 11-21 record was their best since the 2017-18 season, when they ended 22-9 under Don Verlin.

Pribble compared the process to building a house, saying that it must be done brick by brick.

“We knew that year one, we were looking for incremental steps. We just want to continue taking small steps forward,” he said.

One small step in the right direction came in the form of a 6-4 start to the season. Another happened on Feb. 17, when the Vandals beat their in-state rival, the Idaho State Bengals, for the first time since 2020.

The biggest leap, according to Pribble, is that 11 players have

decided to stay at Idaho next season. The coaching staff will stay, providing stability for the program.

“The beauty is that this spring, instead of learning each other’s names and the terminology of the program, we’re picking up right where we left off,” Pribble said.

Three players decided to enter the transfer portal after the end of the 23-24 season, juniors Quinn Denker and EJ Neal, along with redshirt junior Terren Frank. Additionally, the team lost D’Angelo Minnis, a 5-foot-10 senior guard who finished his last eligible season.

The coaching staff has wasted no time finding replacements, as two players have already signed to the team. The Vandals signed Jayden Stevens, a 6-foot-7 sophomore from Spokane who appeared in 18 games for the Oregon State Beavers.

They also signed Kolton Mitchell, a 6-foot-1 freshman from Coeur d’ Alene who played 10 games for Idaho State this season.

Mitchell, the Bengal’s backup point guard, was unable to play most of the season due to a finger injury that required surgery. He averaged 7.3 points per game on 48% shooting. Idaho junior Julius Mims praised the recruit.

“In my Juco (junior college) years, Mitchell played at Lake

City. He was a good little hooper for sure. He can facilitate and score,” he said.

Mims is one of the team’s returning starters, who stated that he’s excited to stay at Idaho for his senior year. He was the only Vandal to receive Big Sky honors, being named to the all-defensive team.

“Next year, my main goal is defensive player of the year. I’m not tripping about scoring,” he said. “I don’t care too much about putting

the round thing in the round thing.” Mims goal to play solid defense will be compounded by the return of sophomore forward Tyler Mrus, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury at the start of the season. Despite the hardship, he stayed positive and is back to practicing full time with the team.

“I’m excited,” said Mrus. “I’ve been waiting for my time. I’ve gotten stronger. I’m a better shooter. I’m ready to take the Big Sky by surprise.”

Mims and Mrus aren’t the only players ready to get back in front of the crowd. Pribble finished his thoughts by saying that this team is made up of players who want to be Idaho Vandals.

“We intentionally brought in a young team with the goal of retaining the core,” said Pribble.

With 11 returning players and exciting new talent, the squad is ready to face the tests of their second year.

Eighmey dealing with portal carousel

Five more players leave women’s program

Five players are leaving the Idaho women’s basketball program, according to Jordyn Rolli, the assistant director of athletic communication.

Idaho hoped to revitalize the once dominant women’s basketball program with the hiring of Head Coach Carrie Eighmey for the 2023-2024 season. Her first season was full of transfer players, six total, and only five returning players, with just one starter coming back to the program.

Eighmey coached the young team to a record of 15-16 (8-10) in her first season at Idaho, a slightly worse record than the season prior. Young players, injuries and the transfer portal, affected Idaho’s performance.

However, this spring has proved that the 2023 transfer exodus will ring true in 2024 with a third of the current roster entering the portal.

“The transfer portal has become a reality in college basketball. The landscape of college sports is constantly changing,” Eighmey said in an email to the Argonaut. “As coaches, we have to be willing to adapt.

What we areseeing right now is a change in how basketball teams are built. More than ever, teams will have more of a transientnature because of both the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness).”

Madelynn Muniz, Janna Kilty, Aspen Caldwell, Georgia Gray and Kennedy Johnson will not be returning to Idaho basketball. Johnson, who transferred to Idaho from University of California Santa Barbara last season, entered the transfer portal. Johnson finished her junior season First Team All-Conference in the Big Sky and led the Vandals with 434 points, averaging 14 points per game. She started every game of the 2023-2024 season. She also ranked fifth in the Big Sky for scoring and sixth in rebounding. Losing a player of that caliber will have a definitive impact on the Vandals next season.

“Kennedy was a very successful and impactful player in our program this past season. It’s never ideal to lose a first team all-conference player, but it’s the world we are living in now,” Eighmey said. “Teams all over the country lost significant contributors on their rosters. In the same way you might lose a student-athlete to the portal, you also have opportunities to utilize the portal to fill in holes in your roster.”

Freshman Madelynn Muniz also entered the transfer portal. Muniz saw no action for the entire 2023-2024 season. She has committed to Cal State Fullerton. Freshman Aspen Caldwell also entered the transfer portal. She played in every game of the season, averaging 2.6 points per game. She had a career-high 13 points against Walla Walla University in the season opener. Eighmey confirmed that Georgia Gray and Jenna Kilty are also in the transfer portal. Gray, a junior who transferred to Idaho from Dodge City Community College, only played in the season opener against Walla Walla, scoring four points and grabbing two rebounds. Kilty, a senior who transferred from Portland State University, played in 13 games last season, with a season-high 14 points against Chicago State University.

“I think one of the keys to building a great team in the current landscape is to continue to recruit high character student-athletes who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I also think it’s important that we continue to provide our student-athletes with a great experience,” Eighmey said. “We will spend a considerable amount of time working to build strong and meaningful relationships within our program during our summer workouts. One of the challenges of building a new

team is the limited amount of time we have to build team chemistry. So, it’s super important that we are intentional about that. It’s also super important to familiarize our new team with the university and the community of Moscow.”

Eighmey has signed four transfers for the 2024-2025 season. Tyler McCliment-Call will join the Vandals for her senior season from Stephen F. Austin State University. Olivia Nelson is a fifth-year transfer from the University of Central Missouri. Jennifer Aadland is a fifth-year from Augustana University, and Hope Hassman is a sophomore from Cal State Fullerton University.

“The four committed newcomers are all high character young women. They have similar growth mindsets, and great work ethic,” Eighmey said. “They are all competitive and want to be part of something bigger than themselves. We believe they will all help us continue to build a successful program.”

Eighmey and the Vandals are working to comeback from a season riddled with inconsistency and recover from a rotating roster that resulted from the transfer portal. Eighmey looks to build a foundational culture for the Idaho women’s basketball program, hopefully creating more stability within the program and gain her first winning season.

Willie Gibbs ARGONAUT

John Keegan | Argonaut Vandals huddle during a 2023-2024 game

Joanna Hayes ARGONAUT

Wood Talks Sports: Will Hayden Hatten get

NCAA beats NFL any day

NFL bans hip-drop tackle citing “safety concerns” for players

Jack DeWitt ARGONAUT

57 Super Bowls, thousands of games, thousands of players and thousands of controversies.

The NFL has a rich history as America’s sport. From Pee-Wee to the NFL, football connects millions of people by giving them blow-outs, game-winning fields goals and rags-to-riches stories. But where is it going? My love for football will never go away, but my love for the NFL has surely begun to expire.

The game has changed, the NFL says it’s for the better, but I disagree. Player safety has become the priority concern for the league and its executives, and rightfully so. The league has an obligation to try and mitigate such injuries, but at what cost? The NFL’s desire to make the sport “safer” has created something different.

From new rules around how to hit QBs, to the recent ban of the so called “hip-drop tackle,” and other such rule changes, they have created a league where the offense reigns supreme. Sure, we all love a good QB shootout, but how can defenses hope to contain this era of artificial offense when the NFL’s executive continues to chop the legs out from the defense?

These new rules are very one sided, all of them protect offensive players. Players share this sentiment. After the NFL banned the “hip-drop tackle” just a few weeks ago, the National Football League Players Association released a statement on their website.

“While the players have consistently advocated for health and safety advancements, any prohibition on the ‘hip-drop tackle’ technique is unfair to players and unrealistic to implement. It places defensive players in an impossible position by creating indecision in the mind of any tackling player, puts officials in an unreasonable situation that will result in inconsistent calls on the field, and confuses our fans.”

They change the way the game can be played, and inadvertently affect how the game can be governed. Every rule change places a referee’s discretion more and more into the outcome of games. Referees who are shoddy at best. As the league has given more influence over the outcomes of games to refs, the players lose control over what happens. The difference in calls between referees is obvious from game to game.

There is no standard for a hip-drop tackle like there is for others that have been banned. However, even with the standards,

refs continue to make errors or calls that are, at a minimum, questionable. What rules were seemingly clear and obvious continue to get murky.

The NFL refuses to make changes that the players want. In recent years, players have called for the removal of turf fields in favor of real grass. Leg injuries are at an all-time high in the current era of the league. Now the NFL believes that banning a tackle will fix that. Maybe it will. But something that won’t fix it is having your multi-milliondollar athletes run, fall and jump on hard turf. Turf Toe continues to affect players every year because of how hard the NFL’s turf fields are on player’s legs and yet the NFL refuses to make such changes.

The league that doesn’t have such issues is the NCAA. Collegiate football has not experienced the same issues that plague the NFL weekly. In fact, I would venture to say that the NCAA is the better watch. While college football is no stranger to highscoring, offensively sided shootouts between QB’s, these games are not derivative of rule changes. The game is pure and untainted, and the stakes are higher. Sure yes, NFL teams battle week to week for playoff spots, but in truth, it really doesn’t matter. In fact, of the 57 Super Bowls that have been played, 44 of the winners have been in the first four seeds, and 26 of them were the number one seeds. While the College Football Playoff is relatively new, it boasts six different champions in the 10 CFP’s that have been played. Week to week play is even more important in the NCAA. Every touchdown, every field goal, every fourthand-goal can adjust a team’s ranking.

In the 2023-2024 season, almost every single team’s early season ranking moved at least once, and at the end of the season the rankings were almost entirely different than they were from the start. This leaves tension in every game. Conference games matter, out-of-conference games matter and even player injuries can alter the way a team is ranked. Starting this year, the CFP will expand to 12 teams in total, adding eight from its previous version. This means the stakes are higher than ever before. More teams have a chance to compete, more teams will win and more teams will take risks to up their rankings.

This not only is better for the players, but it is also better for the viewers. Giving the regular season true stakes makes every game a must-watch. They make every game a must-win.

Maybe the NFL can make the necessary changes to balance player safety and invigorating games, maybe they can’t. We will have to see. But I know where I’ll be on Saturdays.

Bryce Norwood ARGONAUT

If you were to ask anybody on campus to name any player from the Idaho Vandals team, most people would say Hayden Hatten.

Hatten made a name for himself throughout his five years in Moscow and is now continuing his career and chasing his NFL dreams, as he declared for the NFL Draft in December.

Overview Hayden Hatten plays Wide Receiver and in his time at Idaho he cemented a prestigious legacy. In his five seasons, Hatten was able to tally 3,444 receiving yards on 243 receptions and an Idaho program record 33 receiving touchdowns.

He ranks second all-time in yards and receptions for the team.

Back when Hatten joined the team, he arrived as a Tight End, flipping to the receiver position when injuries struck the team in his freshman season. Hatten was also able to collect plenty of accolades throughout his time here, becoming a two-time First Team All-Big Sky Conference Team wide receiver and making First Team FCS All-American in 2022 and Second Team FCS AllAmerican in 2023.

Physicals

Hayden Hatten stands at 6-foot-1, and weighs in at 209 lbs., which is slightly above average size for all WRs in this year’s class. Hatten has some physical size concerns when it comes to his arms and hands, as his arm size and wingspan ranks in the lower quartile of this year’s draft class.

At Idaho’s Pro Day, Hatten had the opportunity to to make or break himself by showing off athleticism and try to create some eye-popping numbers. The biggest thing to come out of his pro day was his outstanding vertical jump of 39 inches, which shows off his jump ball

capabilities and ranks near the top of all 2024 WR’s.

Strengths

After getting to watch Hatten play in person these last two seasons, his game seems to be very sharp and shows little to no mistakes when on the field. His ability to work in space is NFL level, as he shows off his quickness and agility when he is able to create space on his routes.

His ability to make plays is phenomenal, as he is able to make the most out of the worst situations when the ball is in his hands. Hatten’s hands may be viewed as small by scouts, but he has some of the strongest hands in the draft. Very few times will one see Hatten drop a catchable ball, and his ability to bring down 50/50 passes is next level.

He has a certain type of fluidity in his game that makes his routes crisp, and his catch and run ability has almost no drop off in speed.

Weaknesses

Hatten ran a 4.68 second 40-yard dash at pro day, which ranks near the bottom in times ran by WRs this year. Hatten has something called in-game speed, where he seems to lose no quickness on the field and is still able to beat corners downfield.

Another weakness in his game is that his size is above average and because of that his run blocking capabilities could see some improvement. His size also leads him to rely on the run after catch to breakaway and seems to not break as many tackles right after the catch.

Projection

As a Vandal student and a fan, I would love to see Hayden Hatten get his name called on draft night, and I think he could be a valuable piece to a team, starting on a practice squad and getting a chance later down the path.

However, I rank Hatten around the WR35-40 in this year’s draft, which lands him outside of the draft. If a team spends their time on him, he could very well be a 7th Rounder, but it is more likely he will end up an undrafted free agent, and sign with a team quickly after the draft.

Spring sports roundup

A look at the Vandal tennis, golf and track teams

As spring sports are nearing an end, here’s a look at where Idaho tennis, golf and track and field have been doing.

Men’s Tennis

Men’s Tennis approaches the end of their regular season and looks forward to the 2024 Big Sky Tournament held in Phoenix, Arizona. After back-to-back championship seasons in 2022 and 2023, this season has been disappointing with the team sitting at a current 5-13 record with one match left before the championship tournament. Matteo Masala leads the Vandals with a 7-6 record.

The Men’s Tennis team’s last match will be against Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff on April 20 at 9 a.m.

Women’s Tennis

The Women’s Tennis team finished the regular season with a 2-5 loss to Idaho State. They look ahead to the Big Sky Championship sitting at a 9-9 overall record. While the team has had a mostly average season, Naomi Schraeder leads the team with a 13-4 singles record and is 9-1 in the last 10 matches. Lena Beckx and Rachelle Starreveld also have an 11-6 record in doubles play. The Women’s Tennis Big Sky Championship Tournament starts April 25 and runs through April 27 in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Phoenix Tennis Center.

Women’s Golf

Women’s golf finished sixth in the Big Sky championship tournament. The tournament, hosted at the Wigwam Golf Course in Arizona, took place on Monday, April 16 through Wednesday, April 17.

Emma Kang gave the best Vandal showing and tied for 13th. She shot 217 over three rounds.

The Vandals came into the tournament off their best performance of the season. Idaho tied for third at the Montana State Bobcat Desert Classic at the Golf Club of the Estrella in Arizona, last week, with three Vandals finishing in the top 20. The performance was the best of any Big Sky team at

the tournament. They also finished ahead of Washington State and Boise State.

Junior Yvonne Vinceri finished the tournament fifth overall, with her low round of 69 coming in during the second round. Freshman Emma Kang showed a strong first round at 69 but finished the classic at 13th. Jenna Bruggeman led the team with a low score of 68 in her second round but ultimately finished tied for 20th.

The team’s strong showing at the Bobcat Desert Classic set them up for the Big Sky championship. Vinceri will start in the No. 1 spot following her fifth-place finish. Kang will start as No. 2 and Bruggeman will be at No. 3.

Zoe Newell will be at the No. 4 spot and Boram Jung will play as the No. 5. Emma Heyman will be the alternate.

Men’s Golf

The Idaho men’s golf team beat the Boise State Broncos by 10 strokes to win the first ever Battle for Idaho at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho. Vandal sophomore Joe Sykes and Bronco sophomore Cole Rueck tied for first place in the duel, ending the competition 6-over par.

Idaho’s final score was 885, giving the team a slight edge over Boise State, whose score of 895 kept them on the Vandals’ heels. Boise State won the first round by seven and Idaho won the second by the same margin. This left the score tied at 591 before the third and final round of play.

Idaho sophomore Sam Johnson finished alone in third place with a final score of 222, only three strokes behind first place.

Idaho swept the competition in the final standings as six of the eight highest players hailed from UI. The only Bronco in the top eight besides Rueck, was sixth year Drew Reinke who finished sixth with a 12-overpar 226.

The tournament was played over two days, April 15 and 16. Six players competed on each side, with the four top scorers being counted for each school.

The next time Idaho men’s golf takes to the fairway will be April 23 at Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Arizona, starting on Tuesday, April 23. The Vandals will take on Northern Colorado, Sacramento State and Weber State in the Big Sky Men’s Golf Championship.

John Keegan | Argonaut Hayden Hatten looks to the crowd in the 2023 homecoming game

Willie Gibbs ARGONAUT

Apple likely to win monopoly lawsuit

The U.S. is suing Apple for violating antitrust laws, but Apple will prevail

The Justice Department and attorney generals from 16 different states claimed on March 21 that Apple is illegally monopolizing the smartphone market.

This marks another significant legal battle in the world of technology, compared with the government’s 1990s lawsuit against Microsoft. The Apple case revolves specifically around how Apple has used its iPhone ecosystem to build a monopoly in the U.S. This is the third time the DOJ has sued Apple for antitrust violations in the past 14 years. This time, I think Apple will win.

A monopoly is defined as one singular company that produces and sells a given product or service. University of Chicago law professor Randy Picker told Yahoo Finance Live, “My guess is [Apple] will win.”

Even if the company has no success in the first-filed case in New Jersey federal court, Picker thinks Apple will succeed on appeals, possibly to the Supreme Court.

pie, a whopping 61.3%, to be specific. But if we are talking about this economically, a “monopolist” commands 100% of a properly defined market. This means that, in the eyes of the consumer, there are no substitutes for smartphones. Competitors like Samsung and Google (Pixel) offer many alternative smartphone options to consumers; most consumers choose for themselves to go with Apple, maybe because it’s just better?

The smartphone market in the U.S. is highly competitive; various manufacturers and operating systems are available for people to choose from. If we are trying to call Apple a “true” monopoly, then we must think of Apple beyond smartphones, it faces competition in other markets, including computers, tablets, wearables and services. I think this really just boils down to the consumer’s choice. Apple products are just popular, and there are reasons for this.

The company’s success stems from their smart business strategies and their role in changing technology as we know it today. One of the main “monopoly” concerns would be Apple’s control over apps and services available on their devices.

through Apple, but thinking of it from a monopoly stance, this is a specific illustration of how the company’s policies limit consumers choice and innovation.

If you do not want to use Apple’s Webkit, no worries, get a different smartphone, we have others to choose from! But let’s say, for example, that you are comparing an iPad to another type of tablet device from another tech brand, they are kind of disappointing.

“Yes, I think that Apple will prevail in the end.”

Apple does not have a monopoly over the smartphone market; it simply engages in anti-competitive behaviors. While Apple holds a very, very large share of the smartphone market, it does not dominate it entirely. Sure, as of December 2023, Apple has the biggest chunk of the

For example, Apple does not allow other browser engines to be used on iOS devices without using Apple’s own Webkit engine, i.e., Safari. That includes large, third-party web browsers, such as Chrome from Google.

And sure, this might sound super rude when promoting other tech companies

I mean, Apple seems to be the only company that still puts effort into the tablet market, constantly improving iPads and Apple Pencils and their capabilities.

But, I know, the lawsuit is for the smartphone industry specifically, but the two go hand in hand. Is it really a

monopoly if consumers are genuinely picking the company for better quality and use?

Apple is jacking up their prices and adding little nick-nacks left and right that we are supposed to buy. People are saying a monopoly starts when people become reliant on the product and charging more is an example of corporate abuse.

Hey, you may be right, the iPhone is basically a billion dollars in my eyes, they might be abusing that, but that doesn’t make them a monopoly.

If I get upset that Apple is charging an outrageous amount of money for my phone, I have the option to change. I, along with the rest of the Apple users, simply don’t want to.

Our View: dangerous subjectivity in library book bill

On Wednesday, April 10, Governor Brad Little signed into effect House Bill 710, also known as the “Harmful Materials” Library Law. The bill—which, contrary to popular belief, does not actually ban any books—requires all public and school libraries in the state to have a form that anyone can use to request that a book be moved to an “adults-only” section of the library if it supposedly contains content that is “harmful to minors.” Failure of the library’s board of trustees to comply and move the book to a restricted section within 60 days could lead to a civil lawsuit of $250 being filed.

While the bill’s premise is reasonable—protecting children from inappropriate material—the dangerous implications lie in the fine print or lack thereof. For one, HB 710 is extremely vague in defining what books are “harmful for minors.”

The bill defines sexual conduct as “any act of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse or physical contact with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals.” Under this definition, even the presence of homosexual characters

in a book could be enough for someone to file a request to have it moved to an adult-only section. For example, popular children’s book “Heather Has Two Mommies” by Leslea Newman does not portray sexual acts in any way but includes homosexual characters, meaning it could be impossible for anyone under 18 to loan without an adult if a request is filed.

The bill also defines obscene materials as “any material which has the dominant effect of substantially arousing sexual desires in persons under the age of 18 years.” Once again, there are many ways in which this could be interpreted. Since arousal is subjective, any person could claim that a book is “arousing” regardless of its actual content, and this book could be restricted from minors without question.

The bill’s most damning and dangerous stipulation, however, is the addition of “any other material harmful to minors” to the list of what books may be restricted. Defining what is harmful to minors is nearly impossible; what is too mature for one child may be perfectly appropriate for another. Additionally, this vague wording allows anyone to claim that material is “harmful for

minors” without having to elaborate further or explain how it is harming minors.

The wording in this bill gives people free rein to request that almost any book in the library is “harmful to minors” and have it restricted.

Obscenity is notoriously tricky to define. When tasked with defining obscenity, Potter Stewart, Supreme Court Justice 1958-1981, stated, “I’ll know it when I see it.” By leaving vague and subjective parameters for what is considered obscene, the State of Idaho is essentially giving free reign to restrict any books without substantial justification.

Along with the vague and unclear wording of the bill, Idaho lawmakers also left out some important parameters to keep the bill in control, without which there may be severe repercussions.

For one, the bill does not restrict the number of times a book can be challenged, nor does it limit the right to challenge books to library patrons or even parents. This means anyone from anywhere can submit a request to have a book restricted, regardless of whether they have ever stepped foot in the library or are a parent or guardian. There is also no cap on the amount that can be claimed in damages if a lawsuit is filed. In addition to the $250 fine, those who prevail in a lawsuit may receive “compensation for actual damages and any other relief available by law.”

While, for now, the bill only requires that libraries restrict books to an adultonly section when a request form is submitted, this law is a slippery slope that could quickly lead to some much more severe repercussions.

For one, the infrastructure of creating an “adult-only” section in every single Idaho Library may also prove to be

nearly impossible, leading some libraries to be forced to remove books altogether. School libraries, which by nature do not serve adults, will be forced to either remove a book from shelves or place it in restricted access where parent permission is required since few public-school students are over the age of 18.

Additionally, those opposing the bill claim that out of fear of liability, libraries and insurance companies who ensure libraries may start removing “harmful” books from the library altogether. This bill could be the start of an exodus of any material deemed “inappropriate or obscene” from libraries, including any books that mention homosexuality or educational books about the body’s functions.

A strong opponent of the bill, Idaho Senator Carrie Semmelroth, spoke regarding the bill to the floor, “Knowledge is powerful, ideas are contagious, and those who value freedom of expression and diverse perspectives know that intellectual freedom and free thinking are critical for a healthy democracy.”

While HB 710 seems innocent right now, there is no telling the lasting consequences and even more censorship this law may cause. Idaho lawmakers are once again jeopardizing free speech and the education of our youth, and the ripple effects may be devastating.

John Keegan | Argonaut

An array of iPhones from students at University of Idaho

Presley Zimmerman ARGONAUT

Football practice kicks off

Spring practice for the Vandals started on March 27 and ends with their annual Black vs. Gold team scrimmage. The Vandals lost many key players in the offseason and look to replace or recreate them with 14 new players who are eligible for spring drills. The Vandals have four practices left in the spring season and will play their Black vs. Gold scrimmage on Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m.

Jack DeWitt ARGONAUT John Keegan

Argonaut

John Keegan | Argonaut

Defensive back Dwayne McDougle goes for a catch during an agility drill

John Keegan | Argonaut Head Coach Jason Eck and other staff watch the team run a play

John Keegan | Argonaut

Redshirt sophomore quaterback Jack Layne pulls back for a pass during a drill

John Keegan | Argonaut

An offensive player drives through the D-line while running a play

A peek into early morning Kibbie Dome practices

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