The Argonaut | February 29, 2024

READY FOR GRAD SCHOOL?

Senate wants to kill DEI

The Idaho Legislature recently proposed a senate bill that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education if passed. The bill was first presented in December 2023, intending to move forward in 2024.

Senate Bill 1357, advances the idea of the Higher Education Fairness Act, an amendment to Idaho’s education statute, Title 33. This act would prohibit diversity training and political loyalty tests to stop the influence of such things on hiring or employment practices within higher education. The passing of this bill would impact the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State University, as well as community colleges and public career technical schools.

Alums say athletics did poor job in vetting coach at hiring

It was at the Vandal Scholarship Gala in the spring of 2022. Long-time Head Coach Debbie Buchanan, Janicek’s coach, was replaced by Gonzalez, Athletic Director Terry Gawlik told her.

Why did she recognize that name, Janicek thought. Why does it sound so familiar? Was it because Gonzalez had national, international and Olympic volleyball experience? Was it because his accolades reverberated throughout the national volleyball community? No. Janicek remembered she had heard horror stories about Gonzalez.

After the gala, Janicek reached out to her former teammate, Meredith Rice. Rice is deeply connected within the high school and collegiate volleyball world. She is currently the Club Director and Recruiting Coordinator at Academy Volleyball Cleveland, a top 15 club in the country, according to Rice.

When Janicek texted Rice that Gonzalez was replacing their old coach, her response read, “No. Please, this can’t be true.”

UI Athletics did not make the right calls. They did not make enough calls. They did not validate his resume, Rice thought.

Her experience with elite athletes and their journeys toward collegiate careers brought her into direct contact with Gonzalez. Rice had face-to-face experiences with Gonzalez. She knew the rumors that surrounded him. She knew what a reputation he had. If even she knew this, how did Gonzalez pass rounds of interviews and reference checks at the University of Idaho, Rice asked herself.

Gonzalez coached at Mintonette Sports, a volleyball club based out of Columbus, Ohio. AVC and Mintonette would consistently compete at the same tournaments. Rice coached directly against Gonzalez.

“Chris worked for our competitor. We would coach against each other. We worked shoulder to shoulder,” Rice said. “I have full circle experience being his peer.”

Rice said that Gonzalez left Mintonette Sports in 2017 for a few months to coach at American University, a private DI school in Washington D.C. Four or five months into his coaching stint in the nation’s capital, Gonzalez left and returned to Mintonette.

Volleyball recruiting in jeopardy

Joanna Hayes ARGONAUT

The ongoing investigation into alleged abuse by Idaho volleyball Head Coach Chris Gonzalez could have a dramatic impact on the future of the volleyball program, according to a UI volleyball alum.

The timing of this investigation will have a ripple effect on the fall 2024 volleyball roster, says Meredith Rice, a former Idaho volleyball player and nationally renowned recruiting coordinator. Rice, who graduated from UI in 2010, works as the Club Director and Recruiting Coordinator for Academy Volleyball Cleveland, a top 15 club in the nation.

Rice said that the outcome of Gonzalez’s investigation—whether or not he is fired—does not change the fact that the program will be “in shambles” for the years to come.

VB RECRUITING , PAGE 3

The bill is sponsored by State Senators Brian Lenney and Scott Herndon and Representative Elaine Price.

“This bill aligns Idaho with a national growing trend,” Lenney said in a press release. “We’re taking

Andrea

The University of Idaho has extended their acceptance times to allow incoming students to have time to look over their financial aid packages.

“Normally we ask students to accept their scholarships [from the department] by May 1,” Randi Croyle, the Director of Financial Aid at the university said, “We have extended that to June. We also historically have had on-time dates for certain smaller packaging processes that we have, but we’ve taken those away.”

Award letters for students have been delayed too and could raise concerns for incoming students.

“Normally we are sending out award letters around the first week of February to our incoming class,” Croyle said.

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The sun glistening off the edge of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome

Alums worry about reputation of UI program

2023 Leap Day

CrossPolitic’s

On Thursday, Feb. 15, the hosts of the podcast CrossPolitic gave a live show in the ISUB. The title of the talk was “Racism, Tyranny and University Culture.”

CrossPolitic is a podcast that tackles political topics from a religious perspective. Their mission statement, from their website, is to mix “the taboo formula of faith, culture and politics to bring the clarity of the gospel into middle America.”

The hosts of CrossPolitic are Toby Sumpter, a pastor at King’s Cross Church in Moscow, Gabriel Rench, a deacon at King’s Cross and a University of Idaho graduate, and David Shannon, president of the Doane Creative Agency.

King’s Cross Church was planted in Moscow by Christ Church in 2022. Their mission is to make Moscow a “Christian town” and to establish “a family-friendly culture of Christian education in which well-loved and well-disciplined children will learn to stay the course.” They also seek to provide “Christian leadership in the arts, in business, in education, in politics and in literature” throughout the Palouse, as stated on their website.

The talk given ultimately centered around the desire for truth and the supposed lack of it in current college culture.

“College right now is not a race to truth in the classroom but a race to who can have the best amenities,” said Rench. “From the beginning, universities were founded and steeped in Christian ideals and visions.”

Rench continued to back this claim by using the example of teaching evolution versus creationism in the classroom. If there was a desire to teach truth in the classroom, instructors would be willing to present both sides of the argument, he said.

Sumpter adds on to this argument, citing his experience at New Saint Andrew’s College.

“At NSA, we read Darwin’s evolution papers,” Sumpter said. “Because we believe in truth, we read both sides and learn how to interact with them.”

Sumpter and Rench both said that college culture now is fashioned with no regard to truth, but rather caters almost entirely to emotions and creating ‘safe spaces,’ which they relentlessly mocked.

“University culture is not only set up to not care about truth but also to lull you to sleep.” Rench said. “But truth is necessary for flourishing.”

Rench urged students to not “just sit there,” but to actively pursue their truth and bring it to class.

“We’ve gotten to the point where not only is there no truth, but universities seem to be antagonistic towards truth,” Sumpter said.

As an example, he cites the UI Law School’s recent lawsuit involving the Christian Legal Society.

When trying to present their truth regarding beliefs about homosexuality, CLS students were given a nocontact order, he said.

“They didn’t even have an opportunity to respond to their accuser or defend themselves,” Sumpter said.

They summed up their mission into one statement: “Seek truth, find truth, defend truth.”

Historically, defending their truth had led to getting arrested or kicked out of school. Rench was one of the

“We would have awarded letters out to our incoming freshmen by now. We won’t even have FAFSA data until mid-March. We, very likely, won’t have award letters out to that class until sometime in April. It takes us a little longer to get continuing students’ awards out.” said Croyle.

‘Down for maintenance’ is what students have been receiving from the FAFSA page since late December when it opened for its ‘soft launch,’ debuting its new form. The form must shut down once a glitch is found, making it difficult for students, especially in late December and early January, to access it.

“I felt like this year it was easier, although it seemed a little tricky because I went to fill it out earlier, but it wasn’t available,” Lola Green, a fourth-year student, and Sociology major said. “I was a little confused.”

The form was marketed as being easier for students to fill out along with being more streamlined and accessible for students to get more aid.

“I think it was pretty simple,” Meg Brown, a thirdyear student and a Forestry Major said. “Especially because a lot of the information transferred over from last year. It took me 30 minutes, maximum.”

Originally, the U.S. Department of Education was going to send out FAFSA information from students in late January, but that has been pushed back to midMarch. This could impact students’ decisions for next

five people arrested for violating masking and social distancing orders in Sept. 2020 outside of the Moscow City Hall, for what might be called “defending his truth.”

Additionally, during the event, the hosts discussed defending “your truth” to the point of getting kicked out of classes, specifically liberal arts classes, and how that would be the most “exciting” part of school.

The hosts also focused largely on the concept of a “master narrative.”

“Everybody has a master narrative about the way the world is they believe the world is a certain way,” Sumpter said. “Modern university culture has largely embraced the master narrative that everything is fundamentally a power struggle. There are those who have a voice and those who don’t. If power is the reality, then it is limited to those who have it and if you don’t, you’re being oppressed… that becomes the focus of an education.”

He stressed that focusing on power struggles and other “trivial” things like feelings and emotion, wellbeing should not be a priority in a college education, but rather “real-world skills.” He claimed that having these cornerstones is defiling to the very nature of truth and how classes have completely forgone teaching abilities that allow students to succeed in the workforce.

“If everything is a power struggle, then you’re a victim,” Sumpter said. “Everything is a microaggression.”

Shannon also spoke on this way of thinking.

“The claim that ‘it’s not your fault’ or ‘you’re stuck here unless you find a way to start exercising power’ is a lie,” Shannon said. “We tend to see ourselves as being silenced and acting like the world… but nothing can stand up to faith in the truth.”

Everyone has access to truth and can fight for it and change their circumstances, he said.

As for the future, the CrossPolitic hosts believe math and science classes are already following the way of liberal arts classes in denying the truth. The growing lack of truth is a culture-wide phenomenon, they believe, and “If the most important thing is power, truth is the casualty.”

year, especially regarding on-campus housing.

“I think it will affect my housing decisions especially because I’m not entirely sure yet, and then also it’s a hard surface to use,” Cambree Miller, a first-year student and Theater major said. “I feel like they always lose my stuff, or I have to redo things and that makes me scared of having to take out loans.”

While this form may seem new to students, it has been in preparation for a couple of years before launching last December.

“Really, the genesis of the whole thing is the FAFSA Simplification Act,” Croyle said. “The big changes are for 2024-2025. It’s got less questions, it’s easier for students, it automatically connects all the data, so that’s pretty cool.”

The Financial Aid Department at UI has been working on these changes and has been trying to make the transition between the old and new form easier for students, but there are many issues to work out with the FAFSA site, according to Croyle.

“However, to get there, there’s been a lot of programming requirements,” Croyle said. “All of the data from student’s applications come to us in different tables in our student information system. So, they have been programming to make it all work and make it better for students and families. And then we have to program to digest that information. That’s what has really been going on and we have been working on all of this for a really long time.”

The Financial Aid Services has also been working

Kohberger

trial timeline discussed in public hearing

Next hearing is scheduled for May 14

Judge John Judge scheduled a hearing for May 14 to hear arguments on change of venue in the Bryan Kohberger case.

Several pretrial court proceeding deadlines were considered in the case in a Wednesday hearing. Kohberger is the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022.

The prosecution presented a possible scheduling order with a potential trial date set for March 3, 2025. The trial date is the same day Judge John Judge suggested. The defense then reiterated that a trial date in March would likely be too soon and that the summer of 2025 was a more attainable timeframe.

The other deadlines set by the prosecution’s scheduling order include deadlines for discovery, death penalty motions, alibi defense, jury questionnaires, expert disclosure and other pretrial processes.

The defense showed support for the discovery deadline being in September 2024. They shared that the rest of the scheduling order may not work with their timeframe due to the untimely nature of analyzing information. She stated that most of the data she has received has been in high volume and all disorganized.

The prosecution and defense also made preliminary arguments about a change in venue. The defense believes that a change in venue must be made due to a fair trial being unlikely in Latah County. The prosecution believes that this is a premature move.

Prosecution stated that the proximity of media coverage does not mean that a fair jury cannot be found.

“I’ve been struggling with this for months,” Judge said about making a decision regarding change in venue.

Kohberger’s defense and the prosecution also argued over several different issues. They discussed the conditions of experts investigating the IGG (Investigative Genetic Genealogy) materials. The prosecution did not have a problem with experts looking at the materials, but they did not like that the defense did not name the experts.

The defense argued that not naming the experts was done out of consistency. They argued that many of the people in the court documents from the defense were also not named, and that naming the experts now would break that consistency.

The prosecution wanted the experts to be named due to the sensitive nature of the materials, and the defense assured that the experts would follow the conditions of the protective order surrounding the materials.

The judge doubted the relevance of the IGG material investigation and didn’t believe it was relevant to the trial. The defense assured the court that they would not use the materials and investigations to try to find other investigative leads.

There is still no official trial date.

on a new site that will allow students to view potential aid that they might get from the U.S. Department of Education.

“We let students know what their admissionbased scholarships are going to be for their offer of admission,” Croyle said. “We are also advertising today, our net price calculator. Where students can go in and, if they have already filed their FAFSA, they can file their student aid index and some other information and can get a pretty good idea of their aid and other things that they will qualify for. If they don’t have their student aid index, they can answer some questions and they can get a pretty good estimate of what they might qualify for.”

There is a lot of reassurance from the university’s financial aid department for any student concerned about their aid package being delayed.

“Fill out the FAFSA,” Croyle said. “It’s later, but it’s easier. If you’re really concerned, then you can use the student net price calculator. If you have questions about that, come and talk to us because that’s a pretty good estimate. We’ve got some really hardworking, brilliant people on our team. And this is the biggest regulatory change that I’ve seen. It’s a really big change, and they’re in good hands.”

When asked if the FAFSA’s original time frame in previous years will be back to normal next year, Croyle said, “Yes, this [year] is the heavy lift.”

For any questions, students can visit the Financial Aid Services website.

Zach Wilkinson | Moscow-Pullman Daily News | Courtesy Bryan Kohberger listens during a motion hearing

Ben DeWitt ARGONAUT

Dakota Steffen Assistant Copy Editor argonaut@uidaho.edu

Former Vandal athletes stand against alleged abuse, backing volleyball team

250 voices speak out against alleged abuse in volleyball program

Joanna Hayes ARGONAUT

Marvin Wadlow Jr. remembers sitting in the front seat of a 15-passenger van while his track coach Mike Keller drove.

The 1981 Vandal track and field team was travelling to Boise for a meet. The 13 other athletes in the back of the van were asleep. He looked out the window and admired the view: the blue sky, the mountains and valleys. This was why he chose to go to school in Idaho.

His coach looked over at him and said, “Marvin, you are so blessed. You are so blessed to go to school here.”

Wadlow didn’t realize at the time what the impact and meaning of that simple sentence was. He was just a 20-something year old trying to win, trying to earn

a degree. Fast forward to 2024, Wadlow came to terms with the influence that anecdote has had on his life. 40 years after his time as a triple jumper at the University of Idaho, Wadlow read the news about the Vandal volleyball team. He saw the headlines and his heart shattered.

Wadlow read the Dec. 30 Orange County Register article that detailed the alleged abuse current Vandals were falling victim to at the hands of volleyball Head Coach Chris Gonzalez. Wadlow ran next to future Olympians and Idaho Athletic Hall of Famers. His 1981 track team went down in the history books. Those same Olympians, Hall of Famers and track pioneers –about 250 athletes – united with Wadlow to write a letter to President Scott Green and Athletic Director Terry Gawlik about the current Vandal volleyball team (see letter on page 13).

Wadlow said that none of those 250 team members could stand idly

VB RECRUITING

FROM PAGE 1

The investigation is reportedly nearing a close. Jodi Walker, executive director of communications for UI, confirmed Monday that the “report is being written up.” The report will be released to everyone involved including Gonzalez, the players and President Scott Green, Walker said. However, if there is sensitive information on students that is protected by Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, the report will not be released to a wider audience, according to Walker.

If Gonzalez is cleared, the investigation’s headlines and alleged abuse will remain. Rice said if two coaches are recruiting the same player, with one coach from Idaho and one from a competing university, the only thing the competitor must do to beat Idaho would be to send the athlete the Orange County Register article from Dec. 30 that detailed Gonzalez’s alleged abusive behavior.

VB COACH

She said that this back-and-forth period of his career should have been a red flag for future universities. She said that Barry Goldberg, the head coach of American University while Gonzalez was there, should have been called. Rice, who spoke with Goldberg about Gonzalez’s Idaho hiring, confirmed that he was not called.

Rice said Goldberg was alive during Gonzalez’s hiring process but has since passed.

Rice has had many players from AVC play at Ohio State University while Gonzalez was a volunteer assistant for the team in 2016.

“Everyone will tell you he is just very pretentious. He had a belittling relationship with peers and players at Ohio State,” Rice said. “He made comments about the physique of female coaches, creepy comments. He crossed the line.”

The players who played for both Gonzalez and Rice said Gonzalez made them “feel small,” according to Rice.

Rice attended the Triple Crown volleyball tournament in Kansas City on Feb. 17-19. Ohio State Head Coach Geoff Carlston, who Gonzalez worked under, was also at the tournament. He reportedly told dozens of coaches at the tournament that he was never called about Gonzalez, according to Rice.

by and watch an injustice occur. They wanted to speak up. They wanted the volleyball team to feel the support from fellow Vandals across the country and around the world. Wadlow said those supporting the letter come from as far away as Jamaica, Ghana and South Africa. He emphasized that support from the players reaches farther and wider than they could imagine.

Wadlow, whose son was a California all-state volleyball player who is currently looking to pursue a semi-professional career in Italy, has been immersed in the volleyball world for decades. He remembers seeing the Vandals’ losing record grow worse and worse — 4-24 in 2022 and 1-27 in 2023. He watched the players’ heads hang low, with no joy or confidence to show.

“The article came out and I just cried. No wonder they were losing,” Wadlow said. “I read it and I just wept.”

Wadlow said there were times he hated practice, times he loathed his coach and times he fought with his teammates. However, because of the foundational layer of trust, comradery and respect Keller implemented, his team still thrived.

“There were emotional times. We were verbally combative, even physically sometimes. But even the people I didn’t like, we still loved each other,” Wadlow said.

Wadlow said his heart breaks for the current volleyball players. He said that times are going to be difficult when one is a college athlete, but it should never devolve into abuse. Wadlow repeated that everyone in his life questioned why he chose to go to school in Idaho. They questioned why he would choose a school so culturally different from his life in California.

His dad was the biggest skeptic of them all.

But Wadlow recalled one specific track meet in the Kibbie Dome. Reporters surrounded the track. The dome filled with flashing lights. Wadlow stood in front of a camera and gave an interview. He paused the interview and turned to give a young fan an autograph. When Wadlow looked up from the paper he signed, he saw his dad laying down in the stands. His dad, who was diagnosed with colon cancer, was slowly dying.

“After that meet, I remember my dad saying, ‘I was wrong. They treat you like a king. You made the right choice,’” Wadlow said.

Wadlow never regretted his choice to attend UI. Moscow became his hometown. His teammates became his family.

It is almost unfathomable for Wadlow to see the exact opposite experience playing for the current

volleyball team, even though they attend the same school and live in the same town he did, he said.

“I feel horrible for the girls that are mentally crushed. They have to carry that burden of coming forward, of being scared. All the pressure is on them, not him (Gonzalez). This is their memory of being a Vandal,” Wadlow said. “It makes me weep for them.”

Wadlow, alongside 250 other athletes Keller coached, came together and unanimously decided to be outspoken supporters for the volleyball team. He called for Chris Gonzalez to be fired, saying, “Go experience grace, but do it somewhere else. Don’t taint these young people’s experiences.”

“We are 250 Vandals strong. We stand with them. No matter what happened. We stand with them.” Wadlow said fighting back tears. “We honor them. We respect them. We come to their defense.”

“Why choose the school with the headlines?” Rice said. “Nobody wants to risk their future. They have dedicated their lives to volleyball since they were 10 years old.”

Rice said she saw UI volleyball assistant coach Romana Redondo Kriskova at the Triple Crown tournament.

“That poor girl out recruiting that weekend,” Rice said. She referred again to the difficulty Kriskova could have potentially had at the tournament.

Rice said that if Gonzalez stays, the only players he will be able to recruit to Idaho will either be international players, players late to the transfer portal or players that have Idaho as their only offer.

“They are going to get whoever is available. They are not going to get the best of the best,” Rice said. “In this kind of desperate situation, what kind of athletes are you getting?”

An Incomplete Roster

Rice said it is a real possibility that the Vandal volleyball roster will

Carlston said he would not have recommended Gonzalez, Rice said. Gawlik reportedly called Kelly Sheffield, the Wisconsin volleyball Head Coach, when hiring Gonzalez, Rice said. Sheffield, who has had massive success at Wisconsin, recommended Gonzalez.

“Kelly is successful. I understand that his recommendation carries weight. But not enough people were called,” Rice said. Gawlik worked with Sheffield at Wisconsin during her 14-year career as the designated senior woman administrator, a job in which Gawlik “... oversaw the department’s implementation and compliance with policies and procedures regarding Title IX, gender equity, diversity and sexual assault and violence training,” according to her biography. Rice referred to Gawlik’s time at Wisconsin for making the Vandal volleyball players’ claims even more worrisome.

“The girls went to ask for basic needs. To shut them down creates a systemic problem of shame and suck it up,” Rice said. “It’s way worse that it was a woman in a male-dominated profession. She (Gawlik), as a woman, should know how hard it is to speak up against a man.”

“I am so past the Chris stuff. Terry is the one that keeps me up at night. Chris and Terry clearly have a good relationship. It’s Chris

not be full for the fall if Gonzalez is not fired. She also said that the fall team may not have a pre-season (non-conference) schedule for multiple reasons.

“No one will schedule him (Gonzalez),” Rice said. “Idaho’s RPI (Rating Performance Index) is so low. There is no benefit for other schools to beating them.”

Rice said recruiting will still be difficult, even if Gonzalez is fired. She said it will take a while for a new coach to gain credibility, respect and trust from prospective players and recruiting coordinators such as Rice.

“The poor soul who has to come up and clean this mess,” Rice said. “It will be a two-to-three-year scramble. They will have to do the work to prove they are not another Chris.”

The credibility and stability of a coach is of utmost importance for player retention, said Kelsey Bouska, a former Vandal volleyball player who graduated from UI in 2009.

Bouska, who has worked at the

and Terry on one team. She didn’t vet him during the hiring process,” Rice said.

Rice also brought up Gonzalez’s time at Long Beach State University. He was an assistant coach in 1998 when the team completed a perfect 36-0 season, winning the first-ever undefeated NCAA National Championship. However, Rice said Long Beach State’s Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro, was known for making his players weigh in before practices.

“There’s clear rules in the NCAA now that you can’t do that. But these were the kind of coaches Chris worked for,” Rice said.

“A coach can be the most important person in a young athlete’s life,” Janicek said.

Janicek was the Head Coach at Austin Peay State University, a DI school in Tennessee, from 2009 to 2011. She knows first-hand the impact a coach can have on the future of an athlete.

“Not a program in history has been successful where a coach constantly belittles and beats down players,” Janicek said. “Success happens when you have trust and respect between coaches and players. It’s obvious that trust was never built between Chris Gonzalez and the players. Chris wants respect but does not want to offer any respect.”

Janicek went on to say that the problem reaches further than

highest levels of the athletic industry for many years, said that girls are two times more likely to drop out of sports than boys. There are several barriers that cause this statistic.

“Every detail of (alleged) abuse in the (Orange County Register) article hit on one of those barriers,” Bouska said. “It’s sad and disheartening. It’s hard to fathom that it has gotten here this fast.”

“But I am confident the volleyball program will get back to a good place if the right action is taken, and that is a big if.”

The Anti-Gala Bouska and Rice both believe the right action is for the investigation to move as quickly as possible and for Gonzalez to be fired. Bouska, Rice and over 30 other Vandal alumni and athletes chose not to attend the Vandal Scholarship Fund Gala held in Boise on Feb. 23 because Gonzalez has not been fired.

The annual gala brings Vandal donors and alumni together to raise money for University of Idaho schol-

Gonzalez. The problem wasn’t his alleged physical and emotional bullying. It wasn’t just his reported intimidation tactics.

The problem has grown deep roots in the Idaho Athletic Department, Janicek said. She referred to the report’s timeline. Players approached UI administration, including Gawlik, in November 2022. The claims are only reaching the light of day in November 2023. An investigation is being conducted more than a year after the initial claims of abuse.

“So many people failed these kids,” Janicek said. “There are so many people in the athletic department that let these women down. You would think that people in power would use their voices on their (the players) behalf.” Janicek said that the current solution is to put Gonzalez on leave immediately.

“Yes, I want him fired. But he should be on leave right now. You shouldn’t have to be faced with your abuser. This is the university slapping them (the players) a second time,” Janicek said. It’s hard to fathom the memories these players are taking from their time at as a Vandal, Janicek said. She referred to her time at Idaho as some of the fondest, healing moments of her life. Janicek had recently lost her brother, as he was serving in Iraq, before moving from California to

arships. It is an event Haley Janicek, Rice and Bouska, former Idaho volleyball teammates, look forward to every year. However, the three of them did not feel it was the right time to attend the event and donate to the school because of the pending investigation.

“We held a kind of anti-gala,” Rice said, as many of those who chose not to attend still met in Boise on Feb. 23. “It was an opportunity to get together and discuss how what to do about the (Gonzalez) situation.”

Janicek confirmed that more than 30 Vandals that chose not to attend the gala did so specifically because the investigation had not been completed. She recalled one of the donations made at the 2023 gala, saying a single donor gave $50,000.

“This shows the kind of financial impact that not going has,” Janicek said. “This was an actionable thing we could do to speak up.”

Idaho. She was in the depths of grief when her journey as a Vandal started. She directly credited her experience at UI for her healing.

“I am indebted to the university. It was a funnel for healthy proper grieving,” Janicek said. “I had the absolute greatest experience at Idaho, and I credit the environment on the volleyball team.”

However, current players won’t be saying the same in years to come, according to Janicek. Players under the coaching of Gonzalez will remember falling victim to and reporting on alleged abuse. They will remember their voices being quieted, their claims being ignored, Janicek said.

Janicek and dozens of other former Vandals have been working hand in hand with current players to seek justice. Janicek worked with other Vandals to write a letter to UI President Scott Green about the claims and subsequent investigation (see letter on page 13).

“Everyone has a voice. It is the one thing you can control. Use your voice,” Janicek said. “What’s happening isn’t right. So, talk about it.”

Rice said what she thinks were incomplete background checks on Gonzalez’s career are coming back to haunt the volleyball program.

“It’s such an epic failure,” Rice said.

Aaron Serio | Argonaut

The Vandal volleyball team in a huddle

Aaron Serio | Argonaut Duru Vardan passing the ball

Lawmakers threaten legal action over UI’s potential Phoenix affiliation

Crane, R-Nampa, and Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, emphasized in the resolution that legislators don’t directly oppose the deal, but they do directly oppose how the deal was pursued, saying too many vital people were left in the dark.

Lawmakers are threatening to pursue legal action in order to postpone the University of Idaho’s affiliation with the University of Phoenix.

The controversial acquisition has been held at bay several times since its announcement early last year. The acquisition of the online education giant would be funneled through a UI-affiliated non-profit Four Three Education Inc. at a steep $685 million. State Attorney General Raul Labrador filed a lawsuit, that was eventually dismissed at the end of January, saying the State Board of Education violated several open meetings laws. Labrador filed an appeal to the Idaho Supreme Court on Feb. 16, according to Idaho Education News.

“However, with the dismissal, UI thought they had cleared all the legal hurdles in its path, looking to secure the deal in April,” said Jodi Walker, UI’s Executive Director of Communications in an interview two weeks ago. But more legal battles are starting to arise.

Legislators in Boise revealed a resolution on Feb. 15 that threatens a lawsuit opposing the acquisition. The resolution’s two co-sponsors, Rep. Brent

“Process matters to me,” said Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, in a Feb. 15 Idaho Education News article. “We were not dealt into this process at all.”

Rep. Gannon provided a statement to the Argonaut in an email saying:

“Four of my kids and stepkids who graduated or attended the University of Idaho have good jobs and careers and two are avid Vandal boosters. I want to be sure that students continue to receive a quality education and that the degree continues to have value, I am not comfortable that this affiliation will do that.”

“Bigger is not necessarily better, and I note that at the State Board meeting last May it was said the University of Phoenix has only 600 students in Idaho out of 80,000 nationally, I am told. The College of Idaho is very small, but its graduates do very well. I would like the State Board, sitting as University of Idaho Board of Regents, to reconsider its quick decision, and put all of the information on the table. There should be a public hearing and discussion. I am disappointed that the media has to pay for documents related to the trans-

action and, even then, might not get all of the data.

“I am not a fan of lawsuits, and I will let others speak to that except to say it is unusual for Idaho Government to acquire a private company. We had extensive public involvement, review and debate when the State purchased the Hewlett Packard campus, and I ended up voting for it. That is how this half billion-dollar deal should happen.”

The House State Affairs Committee unanimously voted to introduce the resolution, according to Idaho Education News, meaning there will be a public hearing in committee. The resolution asks the State Board of Education to reconsider its supporting vote of the UI and University of Phoenix affiliation.

At the end of the resolution, Boise lawmakers say they will pursue appropriate legal action if a reconsideration is not authorized.

Walker said the looming lawsuit boils down to miscommunication and misunderstanding of the deal.

“We are currently working with the legislature to work through their understanding of the deal,” Walker said in an interview Monday.

Walker said she couldn’t “speak to the timeline” of the deal’s closure or if both Labrador’s appeal and the resolution would alter the April goal.

Idaho bill would ban diversity language in applications and hiring decisions

The bill has passed the Senate and is on its way to the House

Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT

“The university community values people of diverse cultures, classes, races, ethnicities, sexes, gender identities, mental and/or physical abilities, citizenship, nationalities, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds, ages, epistemologies, academic disciplines, veteran status, life experiences and identities,” says UI’s official diversity statement.

If Senate Bill 1274 is passed, this statement, or any statement like it, will no longer be allowed in any higher education institution in Idaho for hiring and admissions processes.

The bill could change employers’ and education institutions’ language in the hiring and admissions processes for potential candidates.

The bill was written by the State Affairs Committee and has been passed through Idaho’s Senate and is now onto the House. If approved there, it will be passed into law and made effective starting July 1, 2024.

The bill’s purpose statement is as follows:

“This bill will make clear Idaho’s state policy that hiring and admissions decisions must be made on merit. This bill will also guarantee that hiring and admissions decisions made by state agencies, including public colleges and universities, are not ‘conditioned on a requirement that applicants submit or ascribe to a diversity statement.’”

The bill details how no applicant should be allowed to make a diversity statement in the hiring process. Similarly, the bill states that any application shall not include the following: “The applicant’s or candidate’s race, sex, color, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. The applicant’s or candidate’s views on, experience with, or

contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Social justice. Confessing one’s race-based privilege. Confessing one’s sex-based privilege. Partisan politics or religion.”

Furthermore, the bill goes on to clarify and acknowledge any diversity laws in place.

“Nothing in this section shall be construed to: To certify compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination law.”

If passed, the bill will permanently change the University of Idaho’s wording on any application that a student will fill out. For instance, if a student puts on their application that they had to deal with any discrimination, this will not be allowed to be accepted and considered by the university.

“Hiring and admissions decisions shall not be conditioned on a requirement that applicants submit or ascribe to a diversity statement.”

This would permit students and faculty to no longer agree with or sign a statement regarding diversity for the school.

“No public post-secondary educational institution in the state of Idaho shall require or solicit a diversity statement as part of an admissions process, employment application process, hiring process, contract renewal process, or promotion process or as a condition of participation in any administrative or decision-making function of the institution.”

The bill was first introduced on Feb. 2, 2024. There has been wide sponsorship regarding the bill throughout the Senate and it was passed with 27 yeas and eight nays.

While the impact this bill will have on the school is still unknown, this will greatly affect different departments like the Office of Equity and Diversity, Women’s Center, the LGBTQA Office and Center for Disability and Access and Resources.

More information about the bill can be found on the Idaho Legislature’s website.

DEI

FROM

“This bill aligns Idaho with a national growing trend,” Lenney said in a press release. “We’re taking a stand against the unnecessary expenditure on DEI bureaucracies, focusing our resources on academic excellence and meritbased opportunities. Our goal is to ensure a fair and effective educational system for all Idahoans, free from the influences of identity politics.”

As stated in the press release, the bill would bar the use of funds to support DEI offices and employees in higher education, eliminate the consideration of diversity statements in employment and admissions processes and prohibit mandatory diversity training for any students, faculty or staff. The passing of this bill would return approximately $4.5 million back to the general funds of Idaho universities.

“This isn’t just about streamlining operations; it’s about ensuring taxpayer dollars are used in the most efficient way possible to support the primary educational needs of our students,” Lenney said.

The act would also ban any “trainings, programs or activities designed or implemented about race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, disability or religion.”

For UI specifically, this would mean the loss of programs such as the Office of Equity and Diversity, Black and African American Cultural Center (BAACC), LGBTQA Office, Office of Multicultural Affairs and Women’s Center. This would also lead to the loss of 16 different employment positions at UI, including directors, project and communications coordinators and administrative assistants within the diversity programs.

From the text of the bill, the act would prohibit the allocation of funds towards any “diversity training” and “political loyalty tests,” with “diversity training” referring to any mandatory diversity training in classes or employment and “political loyalty test” meaning any test given to weigh political views in admissions, employment applications, hiring, contract renewal and promotion processes. “Political loyalty tests” also allude to any preferential consideration to an applicant, teacher, employee, or student for their opinions expressed towards others with a certain race, sex, color, ethnicity,

gender identity, or sexual orientation.

However, the act does allow the continuation of student organizations for DEI. The bill also makes an allowance where universities are not prevented to “certify compliance with state and federal antidiscrimination laws,” to “discuss pedagogical approaches or experience with students with mental or physical disabilities,” to “affirm fidelity to or provide an oath to uphold the constitution and laws of the state of Idaho and the United States,” or for any discussion of an applicant’s scholarly research or creative works, according to the bill.

If the bill passes, the Higher Education Fairness Act would take effect 90 days after the legislative sessions at which it was enacted. Should a university continue to sponsor DEI programs after the enactment of the bill, any individual would be able to notify the attorney general of the violation and the attorney general may file for a “writ of mandamus.”

DEI programs at UI provide a range of support and safe spaces to many students. The LGBTQA Office offers a safe and welcoming space for students to explore sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in a non-judgmental atmosphere. The Women’s Center promotes and advocates for gender equity in every aspect of campus and community life and offers a safe space for all which includes a kitchenette with free beverages, lactation and babychanging areas, lounge areas and study rooms. The BAACC supports Black and African American students with an environment that is affirming, welcoming, equitable, inclusive and diverse. It fosters a sense of belonging to advance potential and growth in students. All these programs seek to create a sense of belonging on campus.

For the Higher Education Fairness Act to become law, a vote must be passed by a majority vote of each house of the Legislature and be signed into law by Governor Brad Little. If the governor vetoes the bill, it may still become law if the veto is overridden by two-thirds of those present in each house, as stated by the Idaho Legislature.

DEI staff did not respond for comment.

Joanna

Sierra Pesnell | Argonaut The Idaho Capitol Building

Guns in schools bill passes House

The only restriction for school employees is an enhanced concealed carry license Georgia

In January, the Idaho House of Representatives voted for and approved a bill that would require K-12 schools to allow employees to carry guns with an enhanced concealed carry license. This bill is known as H-415 and was received by the State Senate on Feb. 1 for discussion.

A similar bill was passed in March 2014 regarding firearms on university campuses in Idaho when the State of Idaho signed Senate Bill 1254 into law. This law permits qualified retired law enforcement officers and individuals who have obtained an Idaho enhanced concealed weapon license to possess a concealed firearm on public college and university property.

To receive an enhanced concealed carry license, an applicant must have a training certificate approved by Idaho State Police that shows the individual has attended eight hours of classroom instruction and has fired a minimum of 98 rounds (with no accuracy requirement) during training that has been done one year prior to their application date.

Any employee or volunteer who has an enhanced concealed carry license must notify their principal and superintendent that they will carry a concealed firearm on school grounds. However, school boards are not required to be notified and administrators cannot deny permission for anyone who meets the requirements to carry under the bill.

H-415 passed in the House of Representatives with a 55-16 vote after the representatives debated it for almost two hours. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ted Hill from Eagle, defended the bill and answered questions and concerns posed by the lawmakers.

“They’re not going to be law enforcement, they’re just there for a final stand,” Hill said at the House voting session on the bill, according to the Idaho Press.

“It passed because it’s an NRA-sponsored gun bill in an

election year in Idaho,” said Ned Burns, a representative who voted against the bill when asked how the bill made it through the House, according to the Idaho Mountain Express.

According to Section 2 of the bill that would amend Section 18-3302D of Idaho Code, “No school employee shall be held civilly or criminally liable for deciding to engage or not to engage in an armed confrontation during a lethal threat to safety inside of a school or on school property. The decision to use a firearm or other deadly weapon during a life-threatening incident inside of a school or on school property lies solely within the school employee and is a personal decision.”

This means that those who carry are not required to engage if there is an incident. Also, if they do engage, they are not held liable for whatever outcome follows.

“There is no other realm where that kind of immunity exists. As law enforcement, if we act negligently or beyond our scope of training, we can and should be held criminally liable,” Morgan Ballis, the president of the Idaho Association of School Resource Officers, said to the Idaho Mountain Express.

There are also concerns about the reduction of local authority on the matter. If this bill is put into law, it will replace Idaho Statute 18-3302D(4)(g) that allows school districts to establish their own policies regarding concealed carrying.

“Idaho has a long-standing tradition of supporting local control,” Blaine County School District Superintendent Jim Foudy told the Idaho Mountain Express about his position on the issue. “This is due to the fact that there are vast differences between and among rural districts and urban districts. Currently, there are rural districts that have more than a 45-minute response from law enforcement and emergency medical support. In those districts they have carefully developed policy and identified one or more individuals who carry a weapon. HB-415 significantly lowers standards and expectations, as well as the training and certification required.”

During a public committee hearing regarding the bill, over 100 individuals signed against the bill, and only five signed in favor of the bill, including an NRA representative.

The Idaho Press noted that some committee members at the meeting received hundreds of emails in favor of the bill, but almost all were identical to each other as public records show.

German naval officer gives presentation on war in Ukraine

International awareness and education of young leaders is vital

On Feb. 21, German naval officer Ulrich Reineke delivered a presentation about the war in Ukraine. The event was hosted by the Martin Institute as a part of Reineke’s week-long visit to the university.

“I believe that the most important thing is ... to educate in particular our young leaders, and we shouldn’t ever underestimate the role of education,” Reineke said. He emphasized the importance of leadership training, deterrence and solidarity as key to Ukrainian victory and the future of warfare globally.

Reineke said that deterrence was one of the most vital actions to be taken in international relations. “If you want peace, prepare for war. It is today as true as ever,” he said, reiterating the importance of international studies programs. “It’s about diplomacy, understanding the international environment, and doing most of the work before conflict.” Utilizing military, technological and even economic deterrents is key, which he said failed in Ukraine.

Technology often improves in times of war, and Reineke believes that software improvements are particularly important. “The future of wars will be largely influenced by software, bringing data information to the right place, connectivity between different weapons systems,” he said. “The use of algorithms and artificial intelligence, are uncrewed systems.”

UI achieves ‘milestone’ with a Gold rating in sustainability awards Alyssa

The University of Idaho has achieved a “Gold” rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) for its sustainability efforts from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS assesses and promotes sustainability in all facets of higher education.

Notably, this recognition is from UI’s self-reporting efforts for the STARS program. All five aspects of the self-report include: academics, engagements, operations, planning and administration and innovation and leadership.

The AASHE and STARS program has over 900 participants in 40 countries and is the largest recognized framework globally for reporting comprehensive data on higher education institutions’ sustainability performance.

Rebuilding post-war is important, too. Without a proper transition from war to peace—with economic, educational and humanitarian support—Ukraine is likely to struggle.

Reineke cites the importance of alliances like NATO and their ability to provide interoperability and strength.

In Europe, where competing interests and limited resources are hard to escape, instability is only increasing. “We are worried about the continuous challenge over the next years, maybe decades, coming out of these countries,” Reineke said.

The war in Ukraine is a demonstration of Russia’s intentions and capabilities and a stress test for the international community.

“In Russia, (Ukraine) is very much about Russian selfperception. For most Russians, Ukraine is a fundamental part of Russia.” Response was limited following the 2014 invasion of the Crimean Peninsula, as many European states had assumed the threat to be minor at the time.

Feb. 24 marks two years since the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. Reineke, Rear Admiral and Director of Plans and Policy for the German Navy, has worked for Germany’s Federal Administrative Defense, NATO and Maritime Operations U.N. His visit to the University of Idaho this week has included interaction with students in the Navy ROTC program and international studies courses.

The Martin Institute has been providing a series of lectures on international topics since 1999. This presentation had a large and enthusiastic turnout. “I am extremely grateful that there’s so much interest among students here at the university for the international environment,” Reineke said. “We must increase our understanding and our shaping of the international environment, diplomacy, understanding; but if deterrence fails, we must win the war.”

UI has participated in STARS since 2019. However, 2024 marks the first year the institution has achieved a “Gold” rating, just below the highest “Platinum” rating. UI is the only college or university in the state to receive this rating.

“After reaching this milestone, the Office of Sustainability is excited to continue our momentum,” Office of Sustainability Manager Olivia Wiebe said. “We have already begun work on growing our sustainability efforts on campus and throughout the state.”

In the report, UI gave itself high rankings in a variety of categories, such as academics, campus engagement and planning and administration. Areas where UI acknowledged efforts could be improved are building operations and maintenance, waste minimization and diversion and landscape management. The university reported “0” for investment and finance; this is related in part to UI not pursuing divesting in fossil fuels and pursuing other sustainable investments, a somewhat controversial issue on college campuses nationwide.

As part of the STARS Gold effort, the Office of Sustainability, established in 2023, has worked with many campus partners to establish a robust catalog of programs that strengthen the campus community to

Moscow Police Chief James Fry retires

After 8 years as police chief, Fry hopes to become Sheriff of Latah County

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Moscow Police Department Police Chief James Fry is retiring later this spring. He is planning on running for Sheriff of Latah County later this year.

“I want to take some of the knowledge that I gained here and move it over to there and give them a different perspective and see if we can make a really good agency a little bit better.”

In 1993, while Fry was still a student at the University of Idaho, he joined the police force as a reserve police officer. In 1995, after he graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice, he was hired as a full-time patrol officer.

Fry spent the next two decades climbing the ranks in the Moscow police force until 2016 when he would become chief of police.

Fry has several notable achievements as police chief. Under Fry’s leadership, the police force got a new police station facility and police body cameras for officers. Fry is especially proud of the addition of a drug sniffing dog that the MPD gained under his leadership.

“We got people dying from heroin overdoses and fentanyl overdoses. Everything we can do to save lives is important,” Fry said.

Fry also believes there is a need for mental health awareness in Moscow.

“There’s a need for more mental health counseling around to help people with their issues that they have going on.”

Fry was the police chief during the events of the King Road homicides, where four UI students were murdered. Fry commented on the MPD’s role in the King Road homicides case, stating, “I know we had a lot of people frustrated, but there were reasons for that. That was to protect the integrity of that case, and I’ll stand by that no matter what.”

Fry commented on how his experience as a Vandal alum helped him in the case.

“It gave me more of a passion to serve. When you are a Vandal alum, ‘Vandal Strong’ doesn’t just relate to that incident that happened. It relates to everyday life. We are a proud group who come from a great university, and I’ll stand behind that any day.”

Fry commented that one of the largest difficulties in his position of police chief was people’s lack of understanding of what law enforcement does and how they operate. “Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Some things take place that we have to react to, and they are not always pretty.”

Fry believes in the community policing philosophy and the power of strong community relationships. He values the relationships with the Moscow community and UI he has maintained.

“I’ve graduated from the University of Idaho twice. I’ve been here 29 years. I love this community. I just want to expand that further into Latah County instead of just Moscow.”

Police Chief Fry’s last day is April 30.

partake in sustainable solutions.

UI statewide sustainability initiatives are acknowledged through the Sustainability Champion award program. This nomination-based program highlights outstanding achievements in sustainability across multiple categories for students, employees, departments, student organization and overall impact.

“UI has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts,” AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser said.

Students and staff interested in promoting sustainability are encouraged to engage in new programs and initiatives. These include opportunities to receive certificates to showcase sustainability efforts, a pledge to Vandals to embrace greener choices, a walking tour showing sustainability impacts in Moscow and ambassador programs aimed to spread the word about proper recycling and integrating sustainable practices into daily life.

“Our campus has a unique culture of sustainability that deserves to be recognized and applauded,” said Madison Dougherty, sustainability graduate research assistant, who worked on gathering data for STARS.

A night of laughter and music: Music department presents “Die Fledermaus”

A Venetian opera with an absurd and daring charm

At 7:30 p.m. on March 1-2, the UI Music Department will be performing “Die Fledermaus” in the Hartung Theatre. Tickets are free for students enrolled in the Lionel Hampton School of Music. Tickets for non-music students are $10 and general admission is priced at $12. Tickets are on sale now for the two-night performance of the show.

“Die Fledermaus” is an Austrian operetta that has been performed for over 100 years in Austria and surrounding countries. First shown in 1874, it is traditionally performed on New Year’s Eve as the themes surrounding the play represent the same ideas of a party before a new age.

However, with just a few alterations, UI’s version of the show revolves around a group of Austrian friends in the year 1899, just before the beginning of the new century, and the fall of what is known as the Austrian Empire.

Director Stefan Gordon said, “This is one of the most central Austrian shows… It comes from the golden age of Vienna.”

While the music will be sung in German, the dialogue for the show will be in English with English subtitles for the music, giving this Austrian attraction an American flair. The show will also feature a live orchestra.

Gordon explained the music will be upbeat and cheery, and the dialogue will

match the music.

“It is a silly show, a bedroom comedy. There is almost never a serious thing in the show,” Gordon said.

Another thing to look out for is the costume and set design, which will be “set 100% in the period and the costumes will be authentically turn of the century,” Gordon said.

The sets will take a more minimalist

UI to host 26th annual Cruise the World event

Program coordinator Mimi Kestle explained that the event hopes to create a sense of unity, “We want to bring the whole Moscow community together and celebrate all of the countries and cultural diversity represented here at the University of Idaho,” Kestle said.

approach, but Gordon is proud of what the combined efforts of the music and theatre departments have come up with.

“They built what we conceived and made it look very nice,” Gordon said.

In a discussion about the show and its plot, Gordon said, “It is set during the days of a crumbling empire” and that the characters can be described as “Gatsbyesque” and “upper-middle class people

University students and the surrounding communities are invited to travel the world from the comfort of our own town.

UI is proud to be hosting its 26th annual Cruise the World event in the Bruce M. Pitman Center from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m on Sunday March 24.

Cruise the World is a highlight of the International Programs Office at UI that began 26 years ago to celebrate many cultures in the area.

The event features everything from live cultural performances to “the best food on the Palouse” from community members eager to display their unique cultural heritage. Admission is free and food will be purchasable with cash.

The event hosts more than 20 countries each year, drawing in over a thousand attendees in the last few years from communities all over the region. This event was originally “set with the intention for anyone to join,” Kestle said. It has since expanded influence in the last few years as travel enthusiasts and families from Spokane to Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston make the trip to Moscow, ready to experience the world from their backyard.

In years past, Cruise the World has taken place in the Vandal and Pitman International Ballrooms, but this year, Kestle said the event will expand to all of the Pitman Center, displaying never before featured cultural attractions.

The first floor will highlight one of the university’s professors, Dr. Sonya Meyer, and her collection of traditional garments from her travels of diverse cultures all over the world.

Apart from a range of cultural performances from song, dance and martial arts, the second floor will also highlight staff members’ and students’ experiences abroad with videos from their travels and stories of what life was like away from their home countries.

UI is home to around 800 international students and employees, representing more than 70 countries. 21 countries have signed up.

With all the work that goes into this event and the new additions this year, there will be no shortage of activities for all. Come prepared to have an unforgettable and interactive cultural immersion experience.

“Just to celebrate that diversity that we have in such a small Idaho town is really enriching for this whole community, and for me personally,” Kestle said.

who are pretending their world is not about to collapse.”

The show is full of drinking, singing and shenanigans. It’s is three acts and clocks at a perfect two-hour run-time, not including the two 10-minute intermissions.

For those interested in attending this exciting night at the opera, tickets can be purchased online at uitickets.com.

Movie Review: “The Beekeeper”

A defense of Jason Statham’s newest action

Grace Giger ARGONAUT

“The Beekeeper,” released Jan. 12, is the newest action flick to feature Hollywood’s favorite tough guy, Jason Statham (“Fast and Furious”). His most recent film, directed by David Ayers, has been slammed by critics as nothing more than a trashy and overly clichéd B-list movie (pun intended), but I would argue this flick deserves a bit more positive buzz.

As per usual, Statham plays a stoic, vengeful and morally gray character with a violent streak and willingness to kill. His character, Adam Clay, is a retired, you guessed it, beekeeper living on a quiet farm in Massachusetts living a peaceful life next to his retired schoolteacher neighbor Eloise (Phylicia Rashad).

Everything changes when Eloise falls victim to online scammers who steal all her life savings, which leads to her suicide after losing everything. Clay soon discovers the scammer tech-bros behind the death of “the only person who ever took care of him.” The audience soon realizes that Clay is more than just your average beekeeper when he barges into the scammer call-center and burns it to the ground (literally).

The rest of the film follows Clay’s vigilante-style revenge mission as he works his way up the tech company and toward the top, where playboy CEO Derek Danforth (Josh Hutcherson) runs his high-tech scamming operation unaware of the seemingly unstoppable Clay who will stop at nothing until the bad guys are dead and “order in the hive” is restored. Along the way, Clay encounters Eloise’s daughter/FBI agent Verona (Emmy Raver-Lampman) who is always one step behind Clay’s path of destruction and dead bodies.

Hutcherson’s villain is one of the most enjoyable parts of the film. The former “Hunger Games” star is clearly having the time of his life skateboarding around high-tech offices and

barking orders at his sea of tech-bro minions. As Clay stabs, shoots and headbutts his way up the chain of command, he discovers that the corruption runs deeper than ever imagined, and he strives to bring the whole system down in the name of standing up for the defenseless.

Clay defeats an unbelievable number of opponents, and it’s slowly revealed that he is a retired member of a secret organization called the Beekeepers whose job is to maintain balance and order in the nation. Clay’s association with this top-secret society explains his seemingly superhuman skills and survival against all odds.

His revenge mission eventually leads him to the very top, the office of the president, whose son happens to be our favorite spoiled tech-bro Derek Danforth. The film ends with a violent confrontation between Clay, Danforth, the president and Verona, the witty and determined FBI agent. As per usual of Ayers’ films, we’re left on a cliffhanger that sets up a sequel perfectly, while still leaving viewers satisfied with the conclusion.

Some might be thinking, do we really need another action film with a morally gra y protagonist and thinly veiled political commentary. To you I say, why not?

This film is the perfect guilty pleasure for action lovers, enough plot to keep audiences engaged, but not enough that you have to really pay attention. Great fight scenes with plenty of violence but not enough to turn your stomach. And a compelling protagonist who is easy to root for and a villain who is a blast to watch as he falls from power.

This film is 1 hour and 45 minutes of Jason Statham kicking a-- and there is no better way to turn off your brain than that. Sure, “The Beekeeper” isn’t going to win any awards, but it wasn’t meant to. Rather, it’s meant to fulfill that cheap thrill that can only be experienced while watching the cool good guy beat hordes of bad guys to a pulp. What can I say, sometimes we don’t go to the theater to think or feel profound emotions, we just want to see a tough dude blowing everything up.

For shameless cheesy action lovers everywhere, this film is currently showing in theaters and will be released soon onto Amazon Prime for streaming. The movie is rated R for violence.

Ryan Beery | Courtesy Opera cast members during a dress rehearsal

Tanner Allen ARGONAUT

Jack DeWitt ARGONAUT

Taste of Sicily: a new restaurant with a Mediterranean flair

The newest addition to dining on the Palouse

Jack DeWitt ARGONAUT

Taste of Sicily is the newest addition to the Moscow dining scene. The new restaurant is an authentic Sicilian restaurant that boasts a large menu of freshly made dinner entrees and also serves a Europeanstyle breakfast and brunch.

Located on Blaine Street near Safeway, the restaurant is open for dinner on Monday from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday from 4:309:00 p.m., with breakfast being served on Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

The restaurant owner and operator, Lonnie Coles, has been part of the Moscow community for 20 years. This is his first time opening a restaurant and he couldn’t be more excited about it.

Coles explained, “I want

to bring a quality dining experience to the Palouse, I want to build something that serves Moscow,” Coles said.

Coles, who had the opportunity to spend some time in Sicily earlier in his life, also said, “When I spent time in Sicily, I was able to meet people and be a part of the culture and I guess it just never left me.”

His recipes are all authentic and made with a passion he picked up while learning to cook from a woman named Signora Gioia in Sicily.

Taste of Sicily offers a wide range of dining options, from Pesto alla Trapinese to Parmigiano Pollo, customers will have a new Sicilian dish to try for a long time. The restaurant also offers rotational, fresh and in-house made desserts like Orange Ricotta Cake and Pinolata Torta. While the restaurant’s Beer and Wine license is still in transit, they still offer a

wide range of mocktails and refreshers that will quench your thirst during your meal. Coles is also willing to waive the corking fee if customers wish to bring their own wine for a meal while they wait for the beer and wine license to come in.

Coles, whose mission it is to serve the community, is working on bringing in discounts for not only students, but also military and first responders. He is also working on bringing special catering options to religious groups throughout the city. In the summer, Coles will be working on making the town’s farmers market his source of fresh produce so you know that every authentic Sicilian meal will be from the farm to the plate. If interested in more information or making a reservation, call (208) 3015127.

ASUI Winter Social is a hit

Fun, food, music and games makes this year’s Winter Social a success!

Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT

ASUI held the annual Winter Social on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the ISUB. The night had a great turnout and the ISUB was packed.

Event attendees were given bingo cards to enter a raffle/giveaway sponsored by ASUI. The giveaway had a lot of goodies, but the grand prizes were a football jersey signed by Coach Eck and a pair of Beats headphones.

There was free food from Qdoba, Chick-Fi-A and Einstein Bagels for people to enjoy, along with some free mocktails and drinks available from the Soda Spout by purchase.

One of the night’s events was the live performance by Matt Mitchell Music Co. a PNW-based Americana and folk band.

Many other activities were included in the Winter Social, such as mini golf, gaming sponsored by UI Esports, Spike Ball, a mechanical bull and tons of free goodies from the various tables at the event.

Some of the tables present included the Division of Student Affairs, the Center for Disability Access & Resources, RHA, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Idaho Fraternities & Sororities and many other student resources and clubs.

Horoscopes: March Overview

Grace Giger ARGONAUT

Aries (March 21-April 20)

Remember that you can’t be everywhere at once this month. Ignore the fear of missing out and simply take a deep breath to enjoy your own company for a moment. It’s okay to say no when your commitments are more than you can handle, and taking some time to cultivate self-care and positive habits in your life will leave you refreshed and help dissipate some of the burnout you’ve been feeling.

Taurus (April 21-May 20)

As your work starts to pile up and your stress increases, it may be time to consider reaching out and collaborating with those around you. Reach out to a coworker or classmate this month. You will be surprised at how willing others are to work with you and the benefits that you both will reap by combining your knowledge and ideas. The new connections you make this month will bolster your career and help you both reach greater success.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This March, you must shake off the fear of failure that is holding you back and take a bold step forward. Your creative side has been waiting to be released into the world, and now is your time to let loose and put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid of what others will think. Do something outside of the box and you will see a ripple effect of confidence and success in all aspects of your life.

Cancer (June 21-July 20)

Out with the old and in with the new this month. 2024 has been a challenging year already for you, but just because it is March does not mean it is too late to take a deep breath and make a fresh start for yourself. Reassess your goals and routines and reprioritize what you want from the year. You can achieve all your goals, so do not let the start of the year discourage you.

Leo (July 21-Aug. 20)

You have been working so hard to bring the future you want into reality, but putting your head down and working without taking a break will only lead to burnout and exhaustion. Take some time this month to explore your passions and embrace your social side. You will not regret carving out time to enjoy the company of others and live in the moment. The future joy you are striving toward can be found right here in the present.

Virgo (Aug. 21-Sept. 20)

There are some big, possibly life altering, decisions coming up this month and you must be careful not to act too impulsively when making these choices. Consult trusted friends and family before making any decisions this month. While it is good to trust your intuition, sometimes the voice of reason and discernment is best found outside of yourself.

Libra (Sept. 21-Oct. 20)

Do not allow yourself to be passive in your own life this month – you can do more than sit back and let what you want to pass you by. You cannot let the perceptions of others dictate how you live your life. Chase boldly after your dreams no matter what anyone else might think.

Scorpio (Oct. 21 – Nov. 20)

You have been working so hard, which is admirable, but you must not let yourself be swallowed up by your commitments and work. This month may be a muchneeded opportunity to return to the activities and people that have brought you joy and life in the past. Get outside to soak up the early spring sunshine, reach out to an old friend, pick up an old hobby again. Whatever it is that makes you happy, carve out some intentional time in your schedule to make it happen this month.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20)

This month may be the time to take a hard look at how what you are doing right now is helping you reach your goals for the future. Think about how your current self can support future you, and make sure your actions are aligned with what you want for yourself several years from now.

Capricorn (Dec. 21-Jan. 20)

This month it is important that you take the first steps to reconcile the relationships that are broken in your life. The conversations you need to have will be hard, but you must stop avoiding them and reach out to heal and extend forgiveness. No matter what happens, the restored connection or closure will bring a sense of peace into your life that will allow you to have more clarity and focus in all aspects of your life.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 – Feb. 20)

There is potential for a promising new relationship or friendship revealing itself this month. But as exciting as the prospect of new love or friendship may be, you may want to look at yourself and what issues in your heart need resolved before you can trust your heart with someone else. Do not commit to another until you feel as if you are comfortable and confident with yourself. Be careful with your heart and the heart of any potential partners or friends.

Pisces (Feb. 21 – March 20)

It is okay to say no to opportunities that do not align with your long-term vision and goals for your life. There is no shame in prioritizing how and when you spend your time and energy. You must put your own needs first. By prioritizing the events and efforts you give your time to, you will have more focus and energy to do your best in the pursuits you choose to put first.

Grace Giger | Argonaut

Delicious pesto pasta dish from Taste of Sicily

John Keegan | Argonaut

ASUI member works mini golf table. For more photos see page 14

John Keegan | Argonaut

Students interact with organizations across campus

Movie Review: “Soceidad de la Nieve” (Society of the Snow)

they would be stranded.

J.A. Bayona brings to life the tragedy of the 1972 Andes Flight Disaster with Spain’s official entry for the best international feature film at the 96th Academy Awards in Spanish-language production: “Sociedad de la Nieve” (Society of the Snow). The survival thriller film was released to Netflix on Jan. 4 with a generous run time of 2h 24m.

Spanish film director Bayona hit the ground running in the new year with the release of his big screen adaptation of the book by the same name by Pablo Vierci. The film follows the true story of a Uruguayan rugby team, Old Christians Club, that was forced to survive by any means necessary after a fatal crash in the Andes Mountains, along with their families, supporters and friends.

Of the 45 initial passengers (five crew members and 40 passengers), only 16 survived the grueling challenges that accompany the harsh environment, ill preparation and above all…starvation.

The flight path from Montevideo, Uruguay to Chile took them through the treacherous mountain range and ultimately led to their premature demise. With no alternatives, the survivors were forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive the extreme conditions for the 72 days

The film wastes no time jumping right into the action after briefly introducing the cast, highlighting the main characters while developing their presence to foreshadow a deep emotional connection that will inevitably form amongst them. Certain doom prompts the characters to band together, combining their unique knowledge to overcome their obstacles.

Bayona executes the historical events in horrific detail, emphasizing the grueling conditions that were the reality for the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 survivors and those lost in the tragedy alike. He methodically incorporates flashbacks which serve as our connection to the intricacies of the individual characters’ lives outside of the historical event, further leaning into the emotional aspect of the film. The intense ambience of the narration is provided through the development of the film, drawing us as viewers in as the events unfold in an incredibly visceral manner. From the plane crash to the duration of their isolation and their rescue, there is never a moment of boredom.

Principal photography took place in the Sierra Nevada of Spain, Uruguay, Argentina and even included the actual crash site, contributing to Bayona’s keen eye for detail. The film was also shot in Madrid and the second unit in Chile, headed by Argentine director Alejandro Fadel of “Murder Me, Monster.”

Bayona’s artwork takes us on a wild rollercoaster of death and loss, but also of the profoundness of the human spirit and our ability to overcome harrowing adversity. By holding onto the power of hope and, above all, maintaining our

faith in one another, the film aims to highlight what can be possible through circumstances in which hopelessness seems like the only logical reaction.

Though this retelling of this historical miracle has been brought to the silver screen in other adaptations — most notably “Alive” from 1993 — Bayona’s may be the most immersive experience yet. This wildly absorbing hit tells the incredible story by capturing, in vivid details, the horrors experienced by the “Society of the Snow.”

Book Review: “The Midnight Library”

“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig is a 2020 fantasy novel that will leave readers breathless and maybe with a whole new perspective on life. The novel took the book community by storm when it was first published, and is still worth a read three years later for its unique concept and impactful message.

As the novel opens, readers find Nora Seed alone. Feeling darkened and defeated by regrets, she finds comfort in her prescribed pills, a comfort that leads her to kill herself or, well, almost. In a minute that could last a lifetime, Nora finds herself breathing in the air of dusted books, swarmed with regrets,

and full of rage that she isn’t dead. Would you be if you woke up in the library? To no surprise, the clock stays still at midnight. In Nora’s eyes, she failed at everything. She lost her cat, her fiancé, her career and now even failed at killing herself.

Taking in the ambience of the silent library, she soon realizes that she is not alone.

Mrs. Elm, a librarian who has helped her numerous times throughout her life, greets her as an old friend. As confusion boils in her head, the book of regrets lands into the story.

This is no ordinary book but a book of Nora Seed’s life and everything she regrets not doing or doing. Some of them start out simple, like not going to Australia with Izzy, pulling out of the wedding with Dan, to more deep, farther back regrets, like not telling her dad she loved him before he died.

Each book on the shelf is

a different life that Nora has lived in a different universe, one where she married Dan, one where she did go to Australia and one where her dad was alive and still part of her everyday life. Lives where she took up the coffee date offer or where she went back to school for her master’s.

Reader warning – spoilers exist beyond this point.

After trying on lives like pairs of shoes, she finally finds the one where her grin is permanent, and she is happily married to someone that isn’t Dan. She is a retired philosophy professor working on her book that waits to be published, and she has a daughter that she loves very much. Guilt washes over her as it is not really her life, but a different Nora’s in a different universe. Sulking with selfishness as deep down she knows this life is not the one she built for herself but one she ultimately stole. Nora lives in this life as long as she can until the Midnight Library sucks her back in like a tornado.

After the library, though, Nora understood that she did not want to die anymore but to chase what she wanted most in life. She understood that she had complete control of her life and the decisions she makes.

College might seem repetitive, but every day is a new beginning and a new chance to change your life. Finding out what you’re chasing and your whole purpose for existing. The Midnight Library changes your perspective on life and stops the mouse race. Every day of life is a new page or sometimes a whole new chapter. Make sure you are writing your own story and not a story of regrets, or else you might find yourself just like Nora Seed, wanting a different life that she did not live for. Would you rather read a life story or a book of regrets? Ask that girl or guy out, apply to that internship and say yes to things you want in your life and no to things you don’t. I highly recommend reading this book. It changed my life, and it might change yours, too.

7 Movies hitting the big screen this spring

Film lovers can look forward to catching these in theaters soon

Grace Giger ARGONAUT

If the winter blues are dragging you down, these exciting films are something bright to look forward to in the coming months. From action to comedy, romance to thrillers, there’s a little something for everyone hitting theaters soon.

“Dune: Part 2”

The highly anticipated sequel to the “Dune” movie, which premiered in 2021, is finally hitting theaters on March 1. This spacedesert sci-fi was one of the most exciting films of 2021, and its sequel brings the return of Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya back to the world of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” universe. Along with Chalamet and Zendaya’s building chemistry, fans will also get to see Austin Butler and Florence Pugh join this star-studded cast as Paul Atreides (Chalamet) embarks on a revenge quest to destroy the villains who killed his family.

“Kung Fu Panda 4”

On March 8, the fourth movie in the beloved “Kung Fu Panda” series will be released in theaters. Fun for kids and adults alike, the fourth installment of the series will star all the familiar favorites: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu. This time around, our favorite cartoon panda, Po, will face off against an evil chameleon as he searches for the new dragon warrior. This film is sure to be a funny and heartfelt addition to the “Kung Fu Panda” universe.

“Love Lies Bleeding”

Also opening on March 8, this romance/action film directed by Rose Glass will be hitting the big screen with a bang. Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian star as a gym manager and bodybuilder who fall in love and embark on a journey through the American West before becoming entrapped in violence and lies. Lust and violence collide in this simultaneously nail-biting and swoon worthy film that you’ll just have to see to believe.

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”

Premiering on March 22, the latest addition to the world of Ghostbusters stars Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”). The film will take place in New York as the new generation of ghost fighters take on the most harrowing villain yet, an ancient force that leaves its victims literally frozen in fear. This supernatural comedy brings back some of the original “Ghostbusters” cast and settings in a film that will delight new and longtime fans alike.

“Monkey Man”

Opening on April 5, “Monkey Man” is a “John Wick”-style action/thriller directed by and starring Dev Patel who also co-wrote the film. Patel stars as an underground bare-knuckle fighter who goes on a vengeful rampage through the underbelly of Mumbai. Sure to keep your heart racing and blood pounding throughout, this will be a must see for action lovers.

“Abigail”

Calling all horror fans, “Abigail” starring Melissa Barrera and Alisha Weir may be a new favorite. Premiering on April 19, this horror features a ragtag group of criminals who are tasked with babysitting a kidnapped 12-yearold ballerina. What they don’t know is that this girl is a vampire, and they’ll be lucky if they can survive the night. A vampire ballerina horror certainly isn’t unoriginal, and this film is full of twists and turns that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

“Challengers”

Zendaya as a former tennis star turned coach, plus a steamy love triangle, yes please! This tennis flick, directed by Luca Guadagnino, stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist alongside Zendaya as she plays Tashi, a former tennis prodigy who now coaches her husband. The past collides with the present when her husband faces off against her former boyfriend and sparks fly on and off the court. This exciting romance/ sports film premieres on April 26.

An unforgettable fantasy capturing the hearts of millions

Leona Marquess ARGONAUT

Bayona’s wildly exciting take on the Andes flight disaster of 1972 Tanner Allen ARGONAUT

IMDB Courtesy

“Society of the Snow” is a film you won’t want to miss

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Eight

“I’m always excited to watch our student athletes compete, and to be able to watch them in a world-class facility, competing for the championship, it’s really special,” Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill said.

It was a great weekend for the Idaho track and field team as multiple Vandals broke personal records and set season bests in the final indoor meet of the season.

Junior Mia Sylvester led the Vandal women with five points in the shot put on day two and 10 in the weight throw on day three. She didn’t PR in shot put, but broke the school record in the women’s weight throw on three separate attempts.

Her second attempt of 20.7 meters, fourth attempt of 20.05m and final attempt of 21m all broke her previous record of 20.3m. This performance led to her receiving Most Outstanding Performer for Big Sky indoor track and field.

“In the record book, we have so many great throwers,” Sylvester said. “My goal was to make the record. I never

knew if I could make it, so the fact I actually got it, I feel pretty proud of myself.”

Alongside Sylvester, freshman Hanna Tait also set a new school record in the 200m. Her time of 24.05 seconds broke graduate student Camryn Crouch’s previous record of 24.13 seconds. Tait also moved to third in Idaho women’s pentathlon history with 3,742 points. Those two performances led her to receive the Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

On the other side of the team, Jurrian Herring also made history. The redshirt senior ran the 60m hurdles in 7.83 seconds, moving him into the first-place spot, held by Paul Dittmer’s 7.84 seconds since 2009.

“Jurrian is a great athlete,” Jerome Campbell of Northern Colorado, who won the men’s 60m hurdles, said. Campbell also handed some advice out after his run, saying, “If you focus on others, you make mistakes, and you can’t afford to make mistakes.”

No one else broke school records, but there was still a lot of movement in the books for both the men and women.

Outside of Tait, two other freshmen put their names into Idaho history. Jana Willems ran the 60m dash in 7.61 seconds to move into fifth all time. Jake Hisaw, son of former Idaho quarterback and track athlete Eric Hisaw, ran the 200m dash in 21.37 seconds to land at number five all time.

“It’s really cool to go to the same school as someone in my family and get to share that connection,” Hisaw said. “It’s really important to me, and I’m really grateful that I get to do this.”

There weren’t any sophomores making moves into the books, but there were three juniors, with two moving above themselves.

Landon Peterson was the first male athlete to move into the record books during the meet as his 4,334 heptathlon points place him in 10th all time.

After him, Noah Culbertson threw for 18.05m in shot put to increase his own record and move above Eugenio Mannucci as he now sits in sixth all time. Finally, Zac Bright ran the 800m in 1:48.97 seconds to move above himself and Leroy Robinson for third.

Culbertson finished second at home in last year’s shot put,

Vandal kicker and punter Ricardo Chavez set his sights on the big stage at the end of the 2023-24 season. After an outstanding performance through all 13 games played this past season, Chavez bet on himself and entered the 2024 NFL draft.

Chavez, who booted in 19 field goals and 39 extra points this year, was one of the most valuable assets that the Vandals had in one of the best seasons from the team in recent memory.

Chavez’s name became a popular discussion in football circles as he is the only kicker in college, and now the only player in the draft, who doesn’t only kick powerful and accurate field goals with this right leg but also punts the ball high and far with his left leg.

Chavez’s punting stats were just as impressive as his kicking stats, as he punted for 1,147 yards this season, pinning opposing teams within their own 20-yard line nine times. Chavez’s leg booted a season-long 70-yard punt as well as seven additional punts that traveled more than 50 yards in the air this season.

Chavez is a California native from the South-Central Valley in Los Angeles. Born to two Mexican-immigrant parents, Ana Viramontes and Juan Chavez, Ricardo is a first generation Mexican American whose dreams of the big leagues didn’t start with football. During his time as a teenager, Chavez was a star goalkeeper who played for Mexico’s Chivas Academy as well as the MLS’s LA Galaxy Academy.

During his time in Los Angeles, Chavez decided he wanted to try football, as his soccer career was becoming less and less of a serious opportunity for him. Chavez told his parents that he wanted to try football.

“My parents felt stung a bit,” he said. “They didn’t even know what football was.”

However, Chavez never doubted himself. “I knew what I wanted to do, so I just stuck to kicking.”

During his junior year of high school, Chavez transferred to Valley View High School, which already held their football tryouts and was in the end of their season. Chavez, who wouldn’t be dismayed away from a new opportunity, asked Dan Barlage, the head coach of his new school, for a chance to prove himself and join the team. The coach agreed and was impressed with Chavez’s leg enough to give him a spot. Chavez was immediately thrown into the spotlight. His first ever game of football was a championship game for his team as the first-string kicker couldn’t attend the game.

Chavez performed well and showcased his skills to Barlage, who was not only the head coach of the high school team, but also the offensive coordinator for the neighboring Riverside City College. Chavez was given another opportu-

so it meant a lot to him to win it this time around.

“It’s pretty cool, and I’m just glad I’m able to do it, just do it for God. I’m very glad he’s put me here and helps me use my talents he’s given me.”

Lastly, there was one senior who used her final time on an indoor track to add yet another record time in the 400m. Prabhasha Wickramaarachchi, who set the school record in the 400m earlier this season, finished the preliminaries in 55.5 seconds, which places her at third, right between her top time of 55.26 seconds and now sixth-place time of 55.87 seconds.

She was also on the 4x400m team with seniors Olivia Martin, Crouch and Franziska Stoehr. The four of them now hold the second-best time in Idaho history at 3:41.9.

“They’re my best friends, and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else,” Crouch said with teary eyes after the four ran their final indoor event. Wickramaarachchi followed Crouch saying, “We all had a great season, (but) we’re hungry for more. Outdoor is coming.”

Graduate student Spencer Barrera shared that sentiment about the outdoor season. Although the men placed in the top three at the indoor championships, they’re still looking to prove themselves in the next leg of the season.

“(There’s) a little bit of revenge in all of us as a whole team,” he said. “We’ve got a lot more to give. We showed grit in this meet, but we’ve got so much more to give as a team, and it’s exciting to know that even at our lowest, we can place top three.”

Idaho will look to rest up and get healthy before the outdoor season kicks off at the Buc Scoring / Combined Events meet in Spokane on March 21.

nity to continue his journey for the junior college team.

Chavez had two record-setting seasons with the RCC Tigers. He accrued the field goal length record for the Tigers at 56 yards, and then broke his own record with a 59-yarder during the CCCAA championship game. He attained AllAmerican, All-Conference and All-California honors and led his team in points scored with 95, all the while Chavez only missed four field goals and one extra point during his two years at the school.

While Chavez was with the Tigers, the team’s season fell victim to the pandemic. With a season canceled and a year of eligibility in question, Chavez didn’t let circumstances dictate his dream.

Throughout the year, Chavez put his nose down and “hit the field, hit the weight room and home workouts,” he said. “And it paid off.”

During this time, Chavez began to teach himself how to punt and credits his years as a goalkeeper as the source of his ambidextrous talent.

“It came so natural. It wasn’t something that I really had to train for,” Chavez said. “My left foot felt the most natural, and trying it with my right felt awkward and off.”

Not long after the 2021-22 season with the Tigers, Chavez began to look for opportunities to grow elsewhere.

The offers from schools were dry at first, but eventually, after receiving an offer from South Dakota State University, Chavez’s phone rang constantly, and the offers were rolling in. During a visit to North Carolina, Chavez received the FaceTime call that brought him to the Palouse.

Idaho was a big adjustment for Chavez. “Idaho is cold,” he said. “I had never seen real snow in my life, and I probably wore my jacket the entire semester.”

Despite the weather, Chavez continued to succeed at the University of Idaho, where he attained an All-Big-Sky second team selection, scored 189 total points, and kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime against Southern Illinois to send the Vandals to the second round of the 2023 FCS playoffs.

With eyes on the future, Chavez was selected to the National Black team for the Tropical Bowl, from which he met NFL scouts and head coaches, all looking for their next kicker or punter. Little would they know, there was a player from UI who can do both.

“Their eyes widen up. They’ve never seen or heard something like that before,” Chavez said, “It’s a gift from God that I can do this.”

As of today, Chavez continues to grind, spending his time in Los Angeles working out, training and keeping himself ready for the 2024 NFL draft.

James

James Taurman-Aldrich | Argonaut Josie Settle of ISU on the blocks for 60m hurdles

The dunking machine

Julius ‘Juice’ Mims

Julius

a name for himself this season

James Taurman-Aldrich ARGONAUT

“It’s been with me ever since I came out,” junior forward Juice Mims said when asked about the nickname. “My auntie’s fiancé at the time when I was born, he was rambling, and he came up with the nickname Juice, and it just stuck.”

Mims’ real name is Julius, but he’s only Julius when he’s “in trouble.” Since he’s arrived on campus, most people have referred to him by the moniker Juice.

Mims came to the Vandals as a junior college transfer. However, his path included some influence from a former Billings Skyview High School teammate, RaeQuan Evans.

“(Evans) was a senior when I was a freshman, and then from there, he went to North Idaho College. Then, Corey Simmons, the head coach there, he knew of me through Rae, and he got me there,” Mims said.

After two seasons at NIC, where he averaged 17.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, Mims decided to make the jump to the Division I ranks.

“After this, I’m trying to pursue a professional career,” Mims said. “I feel like that jump from juco to the DI level is something that could prepare me for going on to that next level.”

That preparation happening at the University of Idaho is no fluke. Mims had minimal recruitment after entering the portal, mostly from Montana State, but then Alex Pribble showed up. The head coach for the Vandals landed his position on March 20, 2023. Not even two months later, on May 2, he secured Mims.

“Throughout the recruitment process,

a lot of teams passed up on me,” Mims said. “Then, Coach Pribble came in a little late and got me down here on a visit. I liked what I saw, I liked his energy, everybody else’s energy, the town is awesome and the community support is great, so I was like, ‘yeah, for sure, I’m here to try and turn the program around.’”

Turning the program around is exactly what Mims, and his teammates, have done. While 11 wins may not seem like much, it’s the most Idaho has had since the 2017-2018 season, with four of them coming in the past seven games.

Eight games ago, Mims returned to his home state of Montana to take on the University of Montana Grizzlies. While his initial homecoming was spoiled, Mims had a great game when the Vandals played against Montana State University.

“My favorite game this season was definitely at Montana State,” Mims said. “The strong support from family and friends, including over 50 people from my community and high school team, created an atmosphere that made it truly special.” He finished that game with 15 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals.

Exactly three weeks after the homecoming win, Idaho secured win number 11, beating Northern Arizona on Feb. 24. With that 11th win in hand, Mims jumpstarted his goal of trying to turn the program around. That turnaround will continue with one goal in Mims’ mind, continuing to get better.

“(It’s) progress toward reclaiming Idaho’s past dominance in the Big Sky Conference,” Mims said when asked about the record. “I believe next year, we’ll shed the negative perception and earn deserved recognition for our hard work.”

Mims and the Vandals will be able to start their run toward that past dominance when the Big Sky Tournament kicks off on March 9.

Idaho soccer set to play five spring games

The Vandals will start spring soccer at home on April 3 against CWU

Jayden Barfuss ARGONAUT

The University of Idaho women’s soccer team is coming off its firstever Big Sky championship and NCAA tournament appearance. The Vandals will kick off their spring season in just under two months with a familiar opponent: Washington State University. The Vandals were defeated 2-0 by the Cougars last spring and look to flip the result when they host the Cougars on April 3 at 6:30 p.m. The Cougars finished the 2023 season 9-6-4 (2-5-4) and should be an excellent test for the Vandals to open the spring.

The Vandals then face a pair of Division II schools. First, Idaho hosts Central Washington, who is coming off a 3-12-4 (2-8-4) season. The Vandals take on the Wildcats on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m.

The following Saturday, the Vandals head to Washington to face Great Northwest Athletic Conference powerhouse Seattle Pacific. Pacific finished with an impressive 13-4-5 (9-0-5) record. They also reached the NCAA Division II tournament, where they fell in the second

round to Point Loma. Idaho faces Pacific on Saturday, April 20, at 5 p.m.

The Vandals will stick around Seattle to take on the University of Washington at noon on April 21. The Vandals are looking to avenge their 3-1 loss to the Huskies last season. The Huskies finished the 2023 season 9-5-5 (4-4-3), landing them seventh in the PAC 12.

The Vandals finally head back home to host the University of Gonzaga, which ended Idaho’s 2023 season, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. The Bulldogs finished the 2023 season 14-4-2 (6-1-1), winning the West Coast Conference and booking a place in the NCAA tournament.

The Bulldogs defeated the Vandals 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament, then went on to lose 2-1 to UC Irvine in the next round to end their season. The Bulldogs will have a new head dog at the helm next season.

Head Coach Chris Watkins accepted the head coach job at Boston College University, so assistant coach Katie Benz will step in as head coach of the Bulldogs.

The Vandals are set up for a great spring season and have a chance to sharpen their irons and develop players before they open the 2024 season in August.

More than an athlete

Kalani Hardyway’s journey to find purpose

Joanna Hayes ARGONAUT

Ocean breeze turned to snowstorms. Sunshine turned to rain clouds. The sandy beach turned to wheat fields.

What if this move is the worst decision? What if my season doesn’t go as planned? What if I am merely an athlete?

All these questions flooded University of Idaho senior triple jumper Kalani Hardyway as she made the decision to move from Oceanside, California to Moscow, Idaho. She had never been to the Palouse. She didn’t even know if Idaho would suit her.

“Idaho? No one goes to Idaho. Where is Idaho?” Hardyway said about getting recruited to be a Vandal.

She grew up with a sole purpose, a sole identity. She was an athlete through and through. Hardyway recalled running through the wet grass of a soccer field to jumping on a trampoline as a gymnast to pointing her toes in a dance class. She played almost every sport under the sun. For her, each sport was a new path toward an affordable education. It would pave her way to a degree.

The one sport that surpassed the flippancy of middle school and high school and into the permanency of collegiate athletics was track and field, specifically triple jump. Hardyway was fine with the fields and courts dissipating, as long as the sand pit secured her a scholarship. Even with a signed letter of intent in hand, being a college athlete did not pan out the way Hardyway believed it would.

Anxiety flooded her mind. She craved validation. She wanted to please the crowds, the coaches, her family. But her scores weren’t always where she wanted them. The exhaustion seeped into her veins. Injury crippled her chances at a season. And her identity seemed to suffer. If she wasn’t an athlete, what was she?

“Even though sports was one of the constants in my life, when I got to college, immediately I was like ‘this is fun, but this can’t be the only thing that’s part of me,’” Hardyway said. “This can’t be my whole entire thing.”

“I’m gifted, but I am not the best track and field athlete in the world, nor (was it) something I wanted to do for the

rest of my life. Finding validation from something that’s not so fickle was hard for me at first.”

Hardyway found that validation in one thing: Jesus. She dove into her faith as a means to cope with anxiety, injuries and purpose. No longer was her audience her friends, coaches, teammates and fans. She jumped for an audience of one, and that was the only way she would see herself as more than an athlete.

“Oh, there’s this man named Jesus who died for me, and he loves me not based on how well I perform,” Hardyway said. “It has nothing to do with my abilities, but he loved me knowing that I might not love him back.”

Hardyway opens meets in prayer with her teammates. She doesn’t ask for places on the podium. She doesn’t ask for school records. She doesn’t even ask to beat her opponents. She asks for nothing.

“Lord, thank you for this opportunity, waking us up and giving us the ability to come out here and do something that we love,” Hardyway prays. “And to get an education at the same time, but would we have fun and also remember that our identity isn’t based in the sport that we play.”

Hardyway said sports live and thrive on pleasing others. If she placed her identity in only being an athlete, she would only be living to please others. Instead, Hardyway chooses to put her identity in something bigger, in being more than an athlete.

“First and foremost, I am a child of God. I am a sister, a daughter, a friend,” she said. “I am more than an athlete.”

Hollywood to Moscow

Kennedy Johnson leads Idaho in points

Jayden Barfuss ARGONAUT

Humble, outgoing, passionate, and creative are four words that junior forward Kennedy Johnson characterizes herself as. Johnson, who wears #21 for the Idaho women’s basketball team, has been a consistent player for the Vandals, but who is Johnson, and how did she get here?

Johnson attended a private school, Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, California, and had a great high school career and some memorable moments. For Johnson, her most memorable moment was after her team won the state championship in her sophomore year. She met some NBA superstars.

“After we won the state championship, we got invited to the Golden State Warriors practice where I got to meet and have conversations with Draymond Green, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry,” she said. “That was a surreal moment. Without basketball, it would have never happened.”

nothing came fully through that I wanted and was sure about,” she said. “Arthur (Moreira), one of our associate head coaches, recruited me out of high school. He reached out to me, and I was at the point of my recruitment in the transfer portal where I was just like, okay, I know him, I trust him, and I thought this was my best bet.”

Johnson has been great for the Vandals, starting all 25 games and averaging 13 points and eight rebounds a game. Aside from basketball and the classroom, Johnson enjoys a variety of things. “I love to hang out with friends, go to coffee shops, watch movies, listen to music and read,” she said. With the Vandals having a lot of road trips throughout the year, Johnson, like many athletes, has a go-to snack for those long hours on the road. “I would have to say popcorn. Every time I go to the airport, I get popcorn and a coke.”

Johnson continued to excel at Bishop O’Dowd, committed and later signed to play at the University of California Santa Barbara. Johnson played two seasons for the Gauchos. In her freshman year, she played in 23 games and averaged three points and three rebounds per game. During her sophomore year, she improved, playing in 30 games and averaging 3.5 points per game.

After her sophomore season, Johnson thought she needed a change. “After my sophomore year, I decided it was time to enter the portal. I thought it was the best for my education and basketball,” she said. “While in the portal, I got offered here to the University of Idaho. I really liked it, and after my visit, I committed and have been here ever since.”

Johnson had other offers, but in the end, she knew she wanted to be a Vandal.

“I was talking to some schools, but

Playing for the Vandals draws a lot of emotions for players, and Johnson is no different.

“It has meant a lot to me in terms of my playing ability, and it has increased my confidence. It has also opened a lot of doors for me,” Johnson said.

Johnson was once an aspiring college basketball player and has some advice for the up-and-coming generation of basketball players.

“I think I would just say to be present in a moment. Don’t be in such a rush to think about where your future is, like where you’re heading in your future,” she said. “Take it one day at a time, one game at a time, and give yourself grace to not be too hard on yourself, everyone’s journey looks different.”

Johnson continues, “But I think if you just enjoy the process and enjoy where you’re at right now, and you do what you love, then you’ll be fine. The rest will solve itself, so I would say take it day by day because it goes by fast the ball is going to stop bouncing eventually. So, be grateful for every opportunity, but be in the moment and take it all in.”

Catch Johnson as she looks to lead the Vandals to a strong finish to the season.

Mims has made

John Keegan | Argonaut

Juice Mims gets ready for the next play during a timeout

James Taurman-Aldrich | Argonaut Hardyway sings the National Anthem

Kennedy Johnson

Thousands of fish dead in the Spokane River

Officials say it’s the largest fish kill in recent history, but no one knows why

Earlier this month, wildlife officials began investigating the mysterious deaths of thousands of fish found floating in the Spokane River. Jule Schultz, waterkeeper for the Spokane Riverkeeper, was interviewed by the Spokesman-Review.

“We have no idea why this happened,” Schultz said, “What we do know is that this appeared to be a very large event.”

Local resident Tom McClellan, a former employee of Long Lake Dam, first noticed the dead fish on shore.

same time, but I have my theories.

Now, the incident was described as an unnatural occurrence due to murky, scummy water reported downstream of the mouth of the Little Spokane River. In his first Facebook post about the incident, McClellan thought it might have something to do with a “mineral oil” spill from a nearby paper plant. This has happened multiple times throughout the years and throughout the country.

They were floating in the banks and being washed downstream—as many as the eye could see—including species such as perch, Walleye bass and crappie.

As of right now, there is no official news on what caused the fish to wind up dead all at the

According to the Environmental News Network, a paper mill spill in Bogalusa, Louisiana, caused a massive fish kill in the Pearl River back in 2011. The spill released a high concentration of waste materials into the river, causing the oxygen to be sucked from a large section of the river. This meant every breathing organism suffocated and died. That could be the case for the Spokane River, but if that were so, would the media not be all over it? I mean, it has been over two weeks now.

You would think something about an en-

vironmental spill would come out—unless they are covering it up, which is a conspiracy theory we probably can’t get into right now.

Another possible reason behind this could be the fact that many fish have died throughout the U.S. due to unusually warm water temperatures caused by, yet again, a lack of oxygen in the water. But the reason for these temperatures would be the change in acidity or salinity, causing toxic algae blooms to take over the river areas.

The ENN says that toxic algae are usually caused by warm water temperatures and high phosphorus levels in the water. But, with the late winter we had this year, recent water temperatures taken by the Spokane Riverkeeper recorded temperatures at an average of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit, while temperatures for harmful algae need to reach closer to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, these algae would most likely be caused by a high concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen to grow in cold weather.

Phosphorus is a common element found in rocks in and near the river. Nitrogen is found in the soil and plants all

Let her cook: Defending the act of home cooking

Cooking at home is healthy, fulfilling and delicious

For me, January never felt like the real beginning of the year. You stayed up late to party with friends and family, only to be awoken in the same cold and desolate landscape you fell asleep in. You still won’t see the sun for another month and a half, and the only thing that truly resets is your academic grades. So, as we approach spring and the year really restarts, I would like to let you all in on my biggest self-care, money-saving, hobbycreating hack: cooking for yourself.

Full disclosure: I grew up in a cooking family. Most of my after-school afternoons growing up were spent at the kitchen table working on homework while one of my parents made dinner.

Cooking in my personal kitchen invokes the nostalgic aromas and echoes of sun-drenched childhood memories, grounding me in the present. This experience holds charm for me as a writer who spends most of the day in her head.

be nourishing your body in a way that is better for you, according to studies from Harvard Medical School.

When you make your food from scratch, not only are you skipping out on a lot of excess salt and fats, but you can also control exactly what’s in your food.

If you are making something at home that has tomatoes, but you hate them, you can take them out. It does not hurt anyone. It’s also a lot cheaper. For example, a plate of pancakes with eggs and bacon at a A Moscow favorite, Breakfast Club, is roughly $13, according to DoorDash, and that is a single serving that is over in one sitting.

around the water, too. But you know what else algae feeds off? Sulfur.

According to Nature. com, sulfur is a great element for proteins, lipids and various metabolites. This means that it can contribute to the binding of metal ions and proteins, which, in turn, is great for organisms to grow and survive on, including algae. Algae are known to synthesize and store more sulfur than natural or local plants. This means sulfur can cause algae to bloom at a faster rate, dominating terrestrial plants.

All of these possibilites, and more, could be reasons for the thousands of dead fish found in the Spokane River. But, if this was all caused by an increase of temperature or minerals, why would there be an unnatural murkiness to the water? Why would the waterkeeper at Spokane Riverkeeper have “no idea” how it happened? Something seems fishy.

As said before, fish kills have happened for years on end through out the entire world. Some are caused by natural acciedents, other not so

much. According to the Spokanesman-Review, fishery biologists are estimating that the amount of fish killed in this event is “making the incident the largest fish kill in that part of the Spokane River system in recent memory.”

Though there are no official statements yet, it wouldn’t surprise me if this incident fades away in the current of media cycles, leaving us with nothing but stagnant information. I hope the Spokane Riverkeeper can find the reasons behind this and a way to prevent it from happening again.

Our view: DEI positions are integral to our university

It is imperative we protect diversity on campus

But let’s look at the facts: when you cook for yourself, not only are you taking care of your soul, you are way more likely to

In contrast, for the same meal made at home, which I do almost every Sunday (because pancakes are delicious and breakfast is the most important meal of the day), I used all the

ingredients I had on hand to make it for $3.69 total, according to my previous Walmart delivery orders.

I also ended up having leftover pancakes to throw in the freezer.

And the loveliest part of leftovers is that, especially if you live alone, you will always have them, which means not only a delightful and delicious dinner, but you get to take some of that lovely homeyness with you to work or class the next day.

But my favorite part of cooking for myself is the ability to hone my skills. As we mentioned earlier, I love the way cooking for myself allows me to slow down and get myself out of my head.

But another part of it is turning this thing that I use to fuel myself into a hobby and a skill that I can use. I can both turn a roast chicken into four different meals and make foods and baked goods that my friends love.

And as someone who loves herself and her friends, cooking is one of my favorite ways to show just how much it matters.

As has been splashed across the news, and even across our front page, the Idaho Legislature has put together a pair of bills. These bills not only ban the use of diverse language or even the mention of diversity in the language put out by the university, but they collapse several departments within the university and 16 separate positions across the university by getting rid of any funding given to diversity and equity offices and employees.

We at the Argonaut stand in firm opposition to these actions by the legislature.

We believe that not only is diversity imperative to the higher educational experience, but that these offices and these efforts do invaluable work in ensuring that diversity is a present part of our campus.

First, let’s look at the facts. In a study from Stanford University, students who were exposed to active DEI programming and messaging had better cultural awareness, were better prepared to work on a global business stage, and in places with diverse faculty, were more engaged in their classes.

Arg

Students were actively improving socially, professionally and academically after being exposed to diversity.

And beyond that, the bill limiting wording is not just limiting hiring, which is difficult in and of itself. It also limits what students can talk about in their admissions statements.

If a student were to speak about their experiences with adversity by speaking about being a minority growing up in a small town, that essay would not be allowed to be considered in their admissions decision, which would negatively affect the student’s chance of acceptance.

More than that, these departments and offices give students safe places to sit and study. The Black and African American Cultural Center always seems to have a student, and more commonly, several students, inside of

their lounge studying or eating lunch.

The Women’s Center provides quiet study spaces and free beverages, as well as pads, tampons, and pregnancy tests. These places provide tangible benefits to the students on campus who use them, and to get rid of them and the staff who run them would be a great disservice to our campus community, which is something we cannot stand for.

We stay strong to our position on these actions taken by the legislature.

Ultimately, undermining diversity efforts and dismantling these vital support structures jeopardizes the richness and inclusivity of our academic environment.

These bills will end up just hindering the potential for growth, understanding and collaboration among the diverse student body that contributes to our university and community. as a wh

Connor Anderson | Argonaut

The clock tower at Riverfront Park in dowtown Spokane

Presley Zimmerman | Argonaut

An average set of groceries bought for a college student

Presley Zimmerman ARGONAUT

Editorial

THE SINCE 1898

I, Robot: artificial intelligence, morally gray

What do we want AI to become?

Dakota Steffen ARGONAUT

It’s something that was once only found in sci-fi and our imaginations. It used to be Turing-era programmable computers, clunky at best and often just glorified calculators. It was one of those things we associated with our foggy idea of the future.

I’m talking about artificial intelligence, or AI, of course. And I don’t want to generate large-scale panic over a future robotic dystopia—we’re still a little far from Roko’s Basilisk even being possible—but it’s hard to deny just how big this new technology is becoming. Tech giant and software company Nvidia has even said they consider it an entirely new industry.

We are at a decisive point for the future of AI. What we decide to do about it now will affect our world forever. AI has the potential to be either good or bad, and it all depends on how we use it. Here’s how.

AI has some good uses, some bad and quite a few are subjective. Some everyday uses of AI include grammar checkers, autocomplete, photo gallery organization and searches, speech recognition, algorithms, search engines, spam filters and targeted advertising. There are also quite a few new developments that we’ve seen, which I will mention under good, bad and morally gray.

Let’s start with the good parts of AI. Companies are using artificial intelligence for some administrative tasks such as scheduling and billing; it’s becoming commonplace in healthcare to provide initial evaluations of scans, specialized treatment plans and triage. AI is even used sometimes in cybersecurity, but its development has also made a lot of existing protections obsolete. AI can also replace some menial jobs, like call centers or data analysis. Finally, we can use it to provide inspiration or a starting point for research.

But that brings us to the edge of what AI can do well and ethically. As I said, a lot of its applications are either hit-ormisses or double-edged swords. AI text detectors, for example. While it seems helpful to check whether a text was written by a human, the detectors are often incorrect or discriminatory against ESL (English as a Second Language) writers.

Research is also rarely something the machines can do on their own. While it can be an excellent resource for outlining or structuring research, ChatGPT and other AI can’t replace the entire process. Just take a look at the case of Mata v. Avianca, Inc., where a New York lawyer filed a court document citing at least six court cases that the AI had made up. In a similar fashion, an airline’s chatbot recently made up an incorrect refund policy, which Canadian courts ruled the airline had to honor. (Funnily enough, this led the airline arguing for the bot’s autonomy to get out of paying the refund—far from the idea that AI personhood would be debated following a murder.)

This leads us to the bad uses of AI. We’ve all heard the stories; maybe we even tried these things ourselves—generative text and visual art, all generated based on human prompting. There are a lot of problems with these. Morally, these programs we’ve created to replace the things we hate are actually replacing the arts— the things that make us human and make life worth living. Plus, the bots generating these texts or images are usually trained off of real people’s work.

This is called scraping—the software will consume incredible amounts of writing, art and photography, all in an attempt to replicate it. Half of the time, it doesn’t work too well. We’ve seen AI that don’t seem to grasp the concept of hands, or articles and essays filled with clunky, surface-level language that never really gets anywhere. These mass-produced books can also be filled with the wrong information, even to the point of being deadly. The problem with scraping for training AI, though, is that artwork is being stolen from countless artists without credit or financial compensation.

Of course, AI has plenty of ethical issues regarding the work it produces. Still, none of this goes to mention its discriminatory tendencies. With many AI systems, facial analysis almost exclusively performs better on male than female faces and lighter than darker skin tones—that is, darker-skinned women were misclassified at error rates of up to 35%. In comparison, lighter-skinned males were misclassified with maximum error rates of 1%.

This trend is mainly due to the underrepresentation of these groups in samples used to train AI. Because AI and other facial recognition software are often trained primarily on light-skinned, male faces, they’re regularly misclassifying female and darker-skinned faces. This leads to further discrimination, as failed machine learning worsens racism and sexism in hiring, law enforcement and even advertising.

That pattern also mirrors the representation of women and people of color in the tech sector. In 2014, 57% of executive and managerial positions at the 75 top Silicon Valley tech companies were held by white employees, with less than 1% held by Black people. Similarly, only 28% of executives and managers were female. In non-tech Silicon Valley firms, 49% of employees were women and 59% were people of color.

What happens when we project our systemic racial and gender biases onto this new technology? AI is supposed to represent a massive part of our future; it’s supposed to be neutral, promoting equality and eliminating injustice. However, artificial intelligence has started to head down the path of becoming yet another tool limited to a small but powerful group of people.

And by combining that with a decline in privacy and automation of creativity, we’re on track to that depressing, dystopian world where machines make art and humans are left only the boring, the menial and the lifeless.

Letters to the Editor

Former track athletes back volleyball players

Dear Green and Gawlick, As former UI track and field student-athletes and members of the Coach Keller Reunion Planning Committee, we wish to express our support for the UI volleyball team members. We all know the stress and rigors of being student athletes are difficult already, but to add to that, the situation they are dealing with their coach must make it horrible.

We want to lend our support, love and prayers to these brave women under these very stressful circumstances. We stand firmly with them as they seek your help in resolving this issue in a positive way that will restore the volleyball program and allow these student-athletes to safely and proudly practice and compete as strong Vandals.

Our coach, Mike Keller, took pride in our performances, but, most importantly, we graduated. We loved our coach (although in day-to-day workouts, we didn’t necessarily like him every minute) and respected him. Please restore this to the women on the Vandal volleyball team.

Thank you, Members of the Coach Keller Reunion Planning Committee:

Sam Koduah, Chair (1985, 1987)

Julie Helbling Taylor (1986)

Scott Knoblich (1977)

Dayo Onanubosi (1990, 1993)

Dave Smith (1986)

Maureen Taylor Regan, Volleyball (1976)

Marvin Wadlow, Jr. (1985)

Everton Wanliss (1987)

Lee Gordon, WSU graduate Plus, many additional UI track and field athletes from the Coach Keller era expressed their support for this letter and for the UI volleyball team members. Some of them are listed below:

Dan O’Brien (Alum 1989), 1996

Olympic Gold Medalist, Decathlon

Vandal Hall of Fame Namesake, UI Outdoor Track & Field Facility

Chris Stokes (1987) Original member of Jamaica’s first bobsled team

Rob Simpson (1989)

Tom Erickson (1988)

Kurt Schneiter (1988)

Bernardo Barrios (1992)

Mike Rousseau (1986, 1988)

The Black Panther Party uniform

members to conceal their identities.

The leather jacket, now considered a timeless wardrobe staple, was a stylistic choice for one of the most impactful African American revolutionary organizations during the 1960s. Due to its impact on Black Pride, the leather jacket should be recognized as a symbol, overcoming stereotypes and fighting injustice.

The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was the most powerful Black group in the 1960s. According to the Smithsonian, the group focused on confronting politicians about civil rights policies and protecting Black citizens from brutality. Like Malcom X, the BPP believed that non-violent protests were the only way to liberate Black people from oppression.

The black leather jacket holds an important moment in history as an element of the Black Panther Party’s sanctified uniform. Ensemble of berets, sunglasses and black leather jackets made up the outfits of BPP

The uniform of the Black Panther Party was a statement against the belief that African Americans should adapt the style of white people to be accepted. During the Civil Rights Movement, Black people often dressed professionally and classily to gain respect. The Black Panther Party wanted to go against white standards and rebel against the cultural erasure of Black people.

The leather jacket was initially created as a military uniform, specifically for WWI pilots – hence the name “bomber jacket.” It became popular with citizens in the 1920s, especially motorcyclists, due to the warmth of the design.

By the 1960s, people were already associating leather jackets with criminal behavior. According to a fashion article by L’Officiel USA, the 1953 film, “The Wild One,” starring Marlin Brando, who played a charming but dangerous gang member, is responsible for launching the leather jacket as a symbol of rebellion. During this time, schools banned wearing leather jackets to prevent the hyper-romanticization of gang culture.

The leather jacket was not the only form of rebellion in BPP fashion. Members of the BPP stopped straightening their hair to match the Eurocentric standard of hair. Before, it was difficult to find jobs with the afro hairstyle, but the BPP went against this ideal by coining the phrase, “Black is beautiful.” After years of white brainwashing, the BPP encouraged Black people to stop conforming to white beauty standards in order to survive.

The leather jacket has evolved since then to be considered a vintage homage with an effortless edge that anyone can wear. While the modern usage of it has evolved from an anti-establishment attitude to classic chic, it signifies a moment where Black people made large advances in taking pride in their appearance against white stereotypes.

Fashion often plays a vital role in history, even the most ubiquitous pieces of clothing possess backgrounds in reflecting socio-cultural movements throughout time. By understanding the apparel of the past, the daily usage of these garments, like the leather jacket, can serve as reminders for what these movements accomplished.

UI alumni address President Green

Dear President Green, Our collective voice, representing current and former volleyball players, parents, alumni, women’s advocates, donors, students, friends and studentathletes has yet to resonate as we hoped amidst the crisis surrounding our women’s volleyball program. Seeking a way to be truly heard, we turn to your own words, hoping they illuminate the way forward.

“While alumni can be deeply invested, and their disappointment with a team’s win/loss record can create pressures for an administration and coaching staff... As president, you should always make the decision that is right for the university, and the rest will follow.”

Our concerns transcend the win/ loss record under Coach Chris Gonzales. In 2022, when the team had a win percentage of 14.3%, UI had our support. We traveled to games, donated money, attended fundraising events and cheered on our Vandals.

In 2023, when the team had an even more abysmal win percentage of 4.3%, UI still had our support. We traveled to games, donated money, attended fundraising events and cheered on our Vandals.

Our primary concern is not about the win/loss record but rather the safety and well-being of the student athletes.

Considering the ongoing OCRI investigation and your decision to await its conclusion before addressing Gonzalez’s situation, we find ourselves at an impasse. While we respect and recognize the necessity of due process, the delay and its extensive toll on student athletes, families and alumni cannot be overlooked.

As a result, many of us within the Vandal family will be suspending various forms of support, such as attending the VSF Gala, until an outcome has been determined and communicated.

Reflecting on your words, “One cannot slow-roll the fix when the ship is sinking,” we see a stark contrast between this statement and the current course of action.

When it comes to student-athlete safety and well-being, the fix cannot come fast enough.

This investigation, long overdue, resembles quite a slow roll for those impacted.

The university’s response postinvestigation will be a testament to its values and its dedication to the welfare of its student-athletes. As such, our request is clear:

Commit to taking immediate and decisive action after the OCRI investigation. The findings should guide a swift response to address not only the future of Gonzalez but also the systemic issues within the Athletic Department that allowed these problems to persist.

Ensure transparency with the university community about the steps being taken to rectify the situation. The athletes, students, alumni and broader community deserve to understand how the university plans to move forward and prevent such failures in the future.

President Green, your commitment to the University of Idaho is evident, as is ours. Our actions are not against the university we love, but in support of the values it instills in us. We stand united, demanding the environment every Vandal deserves—one of respect, safety and integrity. We are committed to this cause because we are Vandals and, like you…

‘WE KNOW NO OTHER FIGHT SONG.’

Our support for the university is steadfast, yet there’s a boundary we cannot cross. Supporting an athletic department that fails to shield its athletes from abuse is beyond this boundary. This isn’t just about withholding funds or skipping galas; it’s about principle and doing what is right. Our hope, President Green, is that you lead the way on this effort.

A note to our volleyball players: We believe you. You don’t deserve this. We are sorry this is happening to you. We are proud of you.

- Vandal Volleyball Advocates

UI clubs and organizations table in the ISUB on Wednesday Feb. 21