seasons and an FCS playoff berth in his short tenure with the team. This season, Lehigh has averaged almost 30 points per game, while keeping opposing teams to 20 points per game, closing out their season with a 6-game win streak. Cahill also won the Patriot Conference Dick Biddle Coach of the Year award.
Paige Wilton ARGONAUT
A $162 million bond for the construction of new housing units on the University of Idaho’s South Hill and the renovation of the current housing amenities in the Wallace Residence Center, Theophilus Tower and Elmwood Apartments was approved by the Idaho State Board of Education on Nov. 21.
The new South Hill housing is set to be finished by August 2026, with renovations of Theophilus Tower and the Wallace Residence Center to be completed between August 2025 and August 2027.
In the presentation given to the State Board on Nov. 21, Brian Foisy, UI’s Vice President for the Division of Finance and Administration, stated in the presentation that, “UI needs additional student housing to accommodate enrollment growth and address deferred maintenance needs.”
What’s to be expected of this new construction is the availability of 251 single beds and 150 married/ parent beds at South Hill. However, South Hill currently has 431 beds, so 30 beds will be lost. UI is in the process of demolishing the old South Hill apartments. Jodi Walker, UI’s Senior Director of Communications, explained that the improvements will allow for a higher quality of living.
“The married/parenting housing and graduate housing project is intended to improve the housing and meet the expectations of today’s students,” Walker told the Argonaut. “While it is a net loss in beds, it is a huge step forward in the quality of the housing and the amenities; thus, it is more attractive for graduate students and families.”
The Vandals will go to war against the unranked Lehigh University Mountain Hawks on Saturday. The Mountain Hawks finished their regular season at 9-3 and beat the Richmond University Spiders to advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs against UI.
The Vandals will look to curb the formidable Mountain Hawk offensive attack, which features a QB with a near perfect QBR, two All-Patriot Second Team RBs, one wide receiver and three offensive linemen.
For the past decade Lehigh has made the FCS playoffs twice, including this season, with four winning seasons and six losing seasons.
Lehigh is overseen by second-year head coach Kevin Cahill, who has led Lehigh to two winning
Lehigh’s offense is led by QB Hayden Johnson who has had a stellar season with 10 passing TDs on 1,229 passing yards and 6 INTs. Johnson also boasts a 159.9 QB rating with a near 71% completion rate. Johnson’s two favorite targets are WR Geoffery Jamiel and WR Mason Humphrey. Jamiel, who is WR1 for the team, has caught 56 passes for 951 yards this season with 8 TD grabs. Jamiel also attained the AllPatriot Football Second-Team nod for his 2024 season. Johnsons other favorite target, Humphrey, has caught 39 balls this season for 489 yards with 5 TDs.
no decisions made
Georgia Swanson ARGONAUT
The Idaho State Board of Education announced its resolutions to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs from Idaho institutions at its special board meeting on Nov. 21, but did not vote on them. This left University of Idaho faculty, staff and students were left in confusion regarding the future of DEI on campus.
In preparation for the State Board’s resolutions regarding DEI passing, UI held a closed-door meeting on Nov. 18 with the people who would be affected from the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Diversity Center, the Black and African American Cultural Center, the LGBTQA Lounge and the Women’s Center. At the meeting, UI announced plans to close the offices by the end of the year.
Josie Gaturutura, the ASUI Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a member of the first cohort of the Black and African American Cultural Center, was one of the students at that meeting and said the news was heartbreaking when it was announced.
One of the State Board’s resolutions that would directly ban DEI says, “Institutions shall ensure that no central office, policy, procedure or initiative is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, except as required for athletic compliance, academic program-specific accreditation, academic research, academic instruction, eligibility for federal grants and programs and scholarships.” Idaho State Board of Education meeting ends with
“These spaces did nothing but foster a community for people to feel safe in and have never excluded anyone from joining and being a part of their community,” Gaturutura said. “It’s
unfortunate that [the Idaho] legislature is putting pressure on higher education without taking the time to see the programs themselves and see the many students these programs were benefiting.”
Because UI discussed its plans to close DEI offices by the end of the semester to select staff and students, those who were alerted were confused when no announcement of the closure of DEI programs was made on Nov. 21 after the board meeting. As a result, student clubs Movimiento Activista Social (MAS) and UNITY held an impromptu public meeting on that night.
At the meeting, Blaine Eckles, the Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students and Yolanda Bisbee, the Chief Diversity Officer and the Executive Director of Tribal Relations, explained the situation and answered questions.
According to Eckles, UI was expecting the State Board to vote on the DEI resolutions at the Nov. 21 meeting. Instead, the resolutions were discussed by board members before they concluded that they needed to further communicate with Idaho institution presidents to better define what DEI means.
The renovation of the preexisting housing is attributed to a high percentage of students having deemed the living conditions less than desirable.
“Nearly 75% of students reported that living on campus had a positive or very positive impact on their overall UI experience; however, 40% of residents in Theophilus and Wallace rated their living conditions as less than satisfactory,” Richard Rieth, a Principal at Reith Jones Advisors (RJA) who is involved in the project, said.
In the meeting, a State Board member asked what will happen to on-campus students while these renovations are in effect. Cami McClure, UI’s Assistant Vice President of Auxiliary Services, explained that the live-on requirement for freshmen will remain in place and that, while there will not be as much room to house upperclassmen on campus due to this, there are other options off-campus that the university can help students with.
Erik Elordi, UI’s Executive Director of Campus Services, also mentioned the role the North Campus Communities will play in this process.
“Throughout the phasing of the construction in Wallace specifically, we will have about 200 beds per year that come offline,” Elordi said. “We have 200 spaces that are available at North Campus Communities, and so the spaces that come offline for the next two academic years will be able to be backfilled through the NCC to help ensure that as many students who want to stay on campus can during these renovations.”
Regarding the new housing that’s to be built on the South Hill, students to be impacted by the future construction were previously notified. Those living there were notified last spring that no contracts would be renewed, as the plan for the new buildings began.
Payton McGriff’s work making uniforms for girls in Togo recognized
Allyssa Dotson ARGONAUT
Payton McGriff, a UI alum who graduated in 2017, has used her entrepreneurial knowledge to help the oppression of girls across the world as the founder of Style Her Empowered (SHE). Recognized for her work, she is now one of five finalists up for CNN Hero of the Year–an award that celebrates ordinary people whose work improves the world around them.
If she wins first place, the $100,000 prize could further her organization’s reach in addition to the invaluable international exposure.
Since 2017, SHE has helped clothe,
fund and educate girls from more than 20 rural villages around Togo. The idea for this organization all started in a UI classroom after McGriff was challenged to create a business as a project. That project has since led to real impacts on the world, far from Moscow, Idaho.
As a Marketing major, McGriff saw herself in the business world until she took an entrepreneurship class her senior year. She read the book “Half the Sky” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
“Half the Sky” is about educational oppression of women around the world. McGriff was shocked to learn that more than 129 million girls and women were not allowed to go to school because of basic necessities like uniforms and supplies. Instead, they were supposed to do the majority of work around the home.
During her entrepreneurship class at UI, she was tasked with starting a nonprofit or business and remembered the book. She visited Togolese Professor Romuald Afatchao, who encouraged
her to go to his hometown during spring break to conduct field research.
While in Togo, McGriff talked to many women and children about what they needed to go to school, and the most frequent answer was uniforms. With a place to start, McGriff returned to Moscow, pitched her idea at an entrepreneurship competition and won $35,000 in seed money to see her vision come to life. Style Her Empowered (SHE) was born.
After graduating, McGriff went back to Togo and began hiring a team of seamstresses to make the uniforms. However, she quickly realized the children were outgrowing them too fast. This is when the idea of a “uniform that grows” was made into reality, with an adjustable cord on the sides of the dress it can grow up to six sizes bigger and become a foot longer. All of the uniforms are eventually recycled and made into menstrual pads for the girls who lack sanitary products.
With the team thriving in Togo,
UI has no plans to create its own police force
Paige Wilton ARGONAUT
The University of Idaho, a school of 12,286 enrolled students, does not have a police department of its own. Although there are many security measures put in place to ensure the safety of the school, it’s uncommon for a university of its size to not have an established department.
While UI does not have a police department in its name, there is an established contract with the Moscow Police Department that works in partnership to keep both the town and campus safe.
Steve Mills, Executive Director of the Office of Public Safety, Security and Parking, explains that the difference between a PD and campus security is in relation to state law.
“The principal difference between a campus security team and a police department is statutory authority. Members of a campus security team, specifically UI Vandal Security, are
Eckles and Bisbee claimed UI preemptively planned to close its DEI offices prior to the State Board passing its DEI resolutions in anticipation of resolutions and laws being passed in Idaho that aim to prohibit DEI.
“The university’s been in conversations with State Board members as well as legislative members that have been talking about this. We don’t want to wait for something to get enacted,” Eckles said. “It’s about controlling your future in where you want to go. I’ll be honest, they can pass a law that literally fires all the people in the [equity and diversity] units, and we would not have any way to support them.”
not police officers; therefore, they do not have the powers and authorities prescribed by law that peace officers have,” Mills said. “This means that observations involving student conduct are reported to the Dean of Students Office, and potential criminal or otherwise suspicious behaviors are reported to the Moscow Police Department, Latah County Sheriff’s Office, or Idaho State Police as appropriate.”
Like UI, Boise State University also lacks a police department of their own. Rather, they partner with the Boise Police Department to provide security for their students. Idaho State University on the other hand, although also lacking a department exclusive to their school, has Public Safety Officers that remain armed while on campus.
When asked why there is a contracted relationship with the MPD and not a university led department, Mills mentioned that there’s a lack of qualification from the university that prevents the establishment of a PD.
“The partnership between the University of Idaho and the Moscow Police Department places uniformed peace officers on campus, specifically for campus,” Mills said. “Under
At the meeting Bisbee explained that the plan was to create a new student engagement center with a first-generation support component to it and a cohort system proven to be successful within DEI offices. The first-generation student success unit was announced by UI on Nov. 14 with no indication it was related to the closure of DEI programs.
The latest announcement regarding DEI made by UI on Nov. 22 states, “Because the university does not want to act too quickly or take actions that do not meet the expectations of our board, we have not and will not move forward with the closure of any units until
Idaho Administrative Code, a university is not an agency and therefore cannot submit a peace officer candidate to Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training for certification; certification of peace officers is a critical component to standing up a sworn police department.”
Not having an established campus police force doesn’t equate to a lack of security measures, however. With programs like the Office of Public Safety and Security, the Campus Safety Team, and the ongoing contract with the Moscow Police Department, the university has a number of safety outlets. Each works together to provide services to ensure student security.
demand a well-coordinated effort by these programs,” according to the Office of Public Safety’s website.
“Issues related to infrastructure, research activities, occupant protection and emergency response are elements of institutional safety that
we can be sure of such alignment. We need to proceed in a way that allows us to provide quality support services for our students while meeting the requirements of the resolutions.”
The State Board will meet again on Dec. 18. More information regarding the future of DEI at UI is expected to be known after that meeting.
“We recognize this uncertainty is challenging and frustrating, but it is important that we end up in the best place possible for our students and employees,” the latest announcement said. “We will continue to keep you updated as these conversations take place.”
“The University of Idaho has no plans to create a police force in the future as Idaho Administrative Code does not authorize the certification of officers employed by the UI,” Mills said.
“The building itself was our monument”
Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT
The university plans to recognize the financial contributions of former students to build the Kibbe Dome by erecting a “Joe Vandal” statue in front of the stadium.
Some alumni believe that doesn’t go far enough to acknowledge the millions of dollars students paid through a special student fee in the 1970s to help construct the $7 million dome, which accounting for inflation today, is around $41 million now.
Losing “ASUI” from the current official name— P1FCU Kibbie Dome—doesn’t sit all that well with alumni, either.
To help build the dome, a $37 fee per student (equivalent to $285 in 2024) was put in place from 1969-1975 to help fund it when the construction was
complete. A $5 roof fee was added to student fees around 1972, according to the Argonaut archives.
Despite the fees being a vital part of the dome’s construction, students had mixed feelings about an athletic complex at the time.
“The student body was divided,” Kenton Bird, a UI alumnus who was a freshman at UI in 1972, said. “In part because there was a strong segment of the community who were opposed to any student fees for intercollegiate athletics.”
Bird said that students were won over by administrators with the promise of a multipurpose stadium that would not just be used for football. Track, tennis, concerts and more were promised at the facility.
“The stadium is not just a football stadium,” Athletic Director Ed Knecht said in a February 1971 edition of the Argonaut. “It is designed to be used for graduations, intramural sports and many other activities. I hope it can be in use 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.”
Tom La Pointe, a UI alumnus who attended in 1972, stated that his support of the stadium was a due to a promised ice hockey rink.
“They would try to get around [not charging tuition] by coming up with fees for various add-ons beyond academics,” Warnick said. “I think the message was clear to the administration.”
The dome construction began in 1969 when Neale Stadium, an outdoor field and track, burned down that same year. Many suspected arson as the cause of the bleachers burning down, but the theory was never proven.
“There was no reason other than that for a fire to start in the old wooden structure,” Moscow Fire Chief Ralph E. McAllister said in an Argonaut article published November 1969. In the end, student fees paid for most of the dome. The estimated cost with the roof was around $5 million, but the total construction up to now has been around $7.8 million.
“This is the beginning of the much needed, long
legedly, after he died, the full amount was never paid by his heirs, only the down payment of $50,000.
“To some of us, that feels like the great injustice that now, 50 years later, Kibbie’s name stays on the building and ASUI’s name goes off,” said an alumnus from the ‘70s who asked not to be identified. “Even though the ASUI contribution was slow and steady over the years.”
This claim was addressed in the September 1975 edition of the Argonaut by Kibbie’s lawyer Robert S. Campbell. There was controversy over a previous article that said that Kibbie had not yet fulfilled his pledge to the school.
“The timing of a pledge and a gift of this magnitude is of great importance to the donor,” Campbell said at the time.
Campbell said that the full amount would be paid by March 1, 1976.
“There was a great deal of sensitivity to the student fees that were being paid at the time,” Bird said. “There was considerable suspicion by a series of ASUI presidents that the administration was not being transparent where the money was going.”
At the time, UI was not allowed to charge tuition or any money for instructional materials which included faculty pay, books and more. Students suspected that the fees they were paying were for
instructional materials that the university was not disclosing.
A protest against paying student fees was organized in 1975 where students wrote on their checks “paid under protest” after new fees were instituted, including the ones for the roof of the dome.
David Warnick helped organize this protest and, in the fall of 1976, won the ASUI election for president.
delayed athletic complex,” Frank P. McCreary, the Director of University Relations in 1971, said in an edition of the Argonaut. “We are finally off the drawing boards and into the ground.”
When the complex was first being built, it was designed to have a roof over it and the artificial turf wasn’t designed for rainfall. Putting the roof over the dome became a vital part of the construction, but the estimated cost for it at the time was over $2 million.
“They were always talking about a roof,” La Pointe said.
The Kibbie Dome, along with the roof and an East end addition, was completed in the summer of 1975, just in time for the first home game.
Despite the vast history the dome has had with students, in summer 2023, the ASUI Activity Center’s name was changed to the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. The naming rights were purchased by P1FCU Credit Union for $5 million.
The dome is still named after William H. Kibbie, a UI alumnus, who donated $300,000 to the dome. There is speculation among alumni that he never donated the full amount after his death—al-
According to all records, there is no official documentation that Kibbie paid this amount. However, the athletic complex’s page on the UI website acknowledges Kibbie’s donation.
“I’m disappointed,” Warnick said. “I understand the pressures of sponsorship and so on, but it seems to me that you could have made it a joint name.”
To compensate for the name change and to recognize students, ASUI has proposed a monument in students’ honor in front of the dome. The proposal for the statue is an 8-foot Joe Vandal statue.
“The idea that a statue of any kind would be adequate enough to somehow denote the contributions of students who for 10-15 years paid student fees is something I heartily disagree with,” La Pointe said. “The building itself was our monument.”
with a fourth one being recorded in December and gained a notable following in the Pacific Northwest.
Cooper Trail sat in a hot van waiting to arrive at his next destination. He was far from home in Nevada, sitting on the passenger side looking at the rolling desert passing by him. To pass the time, he got out a pen and notepad and started doodling. He drew a horse that looked more like a hotdog, then looked up from his hotdog-horse amalgamation and stared into the endless desert and dust. Only one word came to his mind: desolation. He quickly scribbled the word onto his drawing.
Years later, Trail started a solo project, writing music and playing instruments in the studio by himself. His friend, Nevada Sowle, engineered the sounds together to form songs. The only thing he needed for his music project was a name. Remembering his drawing, he went with Desolation Horse.
Trail returned from touring in Europe after the COVID-19 lockdowns, looking for a fresh start. When he started Desolation Horse, it was only him. The band has now evolved into a four-person, indie-rock band based in Moscow. The band has since released three albums,
Joe Mursh, 31, the guitarist, would join the band in 2020. He had previously known Trail from another band, agreed to play the guitar at a Halloween show for him and became a full member of Desolation Horse after that.
Corey Ogelsby, 36, the bassist, was Trail’s across-the-street neighbor in Moscow in 2021. Ogelsby had heard of Trail’s musical talents from around town, and once he and Trail became friends, he officially became the bassist a few months later.
Bill Tracy, 34, the drummer, had been friends with Trail in Moscow. He had always been impressed by the way Trail could write songs and play music. Even though Tracy is mainly a guitar player, he agreed to play the drums for Desolation Horse in 2021.
Though Desolation Horse is technically an indie rock band, its music fits a very distinct, niche genre. All four members have different opinions on the genre of their music.
“It’s guitar-driven pop. It’s kind of like a combination of indie pop, indie rock, alt rock and Americana. One time someone said it was post-Americana, which I really like,” Trail said.
“It’s like pop music that is very informed by alternative and punk and country music, because we really like pop chord progressions and song structures,” Mursh said.
“It’s kind of like indie pop with shiny hints of country. Not like honky-tonk country, but there’s slivers of twang,” Tracy said.
“It’s like a guitar-driven post-pop. But with the last record we recorded, there were hints of disco, dance beats and a soft piano ballad. I guess indie rock would work for most people defining it,” Ogelsby said.
In an interview with KUOI in 2023, Trail said that the recorded versions of his music differ from the live performances due to the amount of people involved in production. Instead of Trail writing everything, each member can contribute their knowledge of their instrument into the music.
Desolation Horse’s music can be found on Spotify and YouTube; Instagram is the only social media platform that the band currently uses.
Each member said that they intend to be a part of Desolation Horse as long as they can. Trail graduates from UI soon and may go to grad school. Although the future of the band isn’t certain in the long run, each member is living in the moment, appreciating every second they get to play together.
“I can say that I will keep making music for sure. That’s something I will always do. And I can also say that about the other guys in the band,” Trail said, “As long as the four of us are around each other, we will keep doing stuff together, and if we end up living in different places, there’s still ways to make recordings together or even meet up and play shows. So I would hope that we could do that.”
The Esports Program experiences massive growth in its second year
As the fall semester comes to an end, so does the first half of the University of Idaho’s Esports Program’s second year. The program is still fairly new, but they’ve been kicking things up a few notches this semester.
The first year of the program’s existence was mostly dedicated to establishing interest from students, but now that they’ve gained that interest, they’re moving into a different phase: figuring out long-term funding and where their space will be.
“In a year, we easily outgrew our space. And we’ve basically outgrown our funding too,” said Wayne Ebenroth, the Founder and Director of the Esports Department. “So, we’re now looking for opportunities for sponsor engagement, alumni support, donations, in order to help grow this program even further and support our efforts for recruitment and retention.”
According to Ebenroth, there are 127 esports players in 23 different team-and individual-game formats, including
Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends, Mario Kart 8 and many more.
“That’s across about 30 different teams and a lot of individual players,” Ebenroth said. “For a second-year program to have that many players consistently coming to the lab and engaged, that’s fantastic.”
For the students that either work in the lab or play on a team, Ebenroth says that they’re gaining very useful social skills for their futures, such as teamwork and effective communication. These skills will become very useful in the events coming up at the end of this semester and the beginning of the spring semester.
Currently, the department has five teams in competition for the championship and they’re pushing through the semi-finals and finals. Both Rainbow Six Siege teams, the Counterstrike 2 varsity team, Rocket League varsity and the Mario Kart 8 teams are still competing, hoping to make it to the championships.
“I would be really surprised if at least a couple of them don’t come away with championships. We have a better understanding and more maturity when it comes to how we compete as a team,
how we grow as a team, and how we compete with the opponents,” Ebenroth said.
He said that having teams make it to the championship would be validation that all the time, effort and hard work that he has put into the department and the teams have been producing results. Although it’s not the most important thing to make it to the championship, it would be a great accomplishment for the team or teams that make it and for the department as a whole.
“I want students to grow, I want students to have a good time and I want them to feel like they have a place to go when they don’t necessarily know where else to go on campus,” Ebenroth said. If you have any questions about the department, want to look into working there or joining a team, or want to support the department, contact Wayne Ebenroth at webenroth@uidaho.edu.
The Christmas season is expensive, so DIY crafts can help you save some money
Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT
Buying Christmas presents can add up quickly, especially if you have a large family or a lot of friends. Adding decorations on top of that makes things much more expensive. Participating in the festivities of the Christmas season can be quite fun and getting crafty with your decorations could save you some money to spend on other things, whether that is presents, a Christmas party or something else entirely. These DIY Christmas decorations can change your house into a scene straight out of a Christmas movie!
1.) Christmas Wreath
Supplies:
Wooden wreath base
Ribbon of your choice
Additional decor of your choice
Pinecones, flowers, ornaments, holly, sprigs of cranberries, bells, etc.
Hot glue gun
Instructions:
Start by wrapping your ribbon around the wooden wreath base and glue down sections so that it sticks. You can either wrap the whole thing to cover up the wood or you can leave gaps. Once that is completed and the glue has dried, begin placing your additional decor around the wreath and glue them on. If you have leftover ribbon, you can make a little bow for the wreath. It’s recommended to play around with where to put things before you commit and glue them down.
2.) Mini Ornament Trees
Supplies:
Styrofoam cone
12–15-inch cones recommended, but you can use any size
Ornaments of your choice
(be sure to get various sizes)
Hot glue gun
Optional: tinsel and garland
Instructions: Cover the Styrofoam cones with ornaments, using hot glue to stick them on. Start with larger ornaments at the bottom of the cone and transition to smaller ones as you work your way up the cone. If any, fill the gaps with smaller ornaments to ensure that the cone is fully covered. Optional: add some tinsel and a mini garland for added decor.
3.) Christmas Garland
Supplies:
Plain pine garland
Two types of ribbon (of your choice)
Thin wire or twist ties
Optional: a string of lights and additional decor (bells, ornaments, etc)
Instructions:
If you choose to include lights, string them around the garland first. If not, begin by putting your first ribbon around the pine garland and securing it into place with thin wire. You can either wrap the ribbon around the garland fully, or pinch it together with the wire, about every 5-6 inches, to create a slight looping effect. After this step, you’ll want to do the same to your second ribbon but be sure not to put it directly over the first ribbon; you want to see both and place them in separate spaces. After this is done, you can add the additional decor of your choice. As with the wreath, it’s recommended to play around with the placing of things before you secure them down with the wire.
Once you’re happy with your design, find a nice spot to put your new garland!
4.) Candy Cane Center Piece
Supplies:
A clear, smooth vase
A few boxes of candy canes (depends on the size of your vase)
Ribbon
Hot glue gun
Instructions:
Clean your vase with a mild soap and water or rubbing alcohol, and let it dry completely. This will help the candy canes stick better. Using the hot glue gun, place a bead of glue onto the candy cane (wrapper still on), and place it onto the vase, holding it in place until the glue has cooled. Repeat this until you’ve covered the entire surface. Cut some ribbon and tie it into a bow around the vase and candy canes. If you’re
worried about it staying in place, glue it down.
5.) Festive Glitter Planters
Supplies:
Terracotta pots
Foam brushes
Red and gold paint and glitter
Mod Podge
Recommended: clear sealing spray
Instructions:
Paint the inside and outside of your pots and let dry completely. Once dry, brush a layer of Mod Podge onto the entire rim and sprinkle a generous amount of glitter on top before it dries. Once dry, seal with clear spray.
Here’s some activities to keep you busy over the holiday break
Sierra Rode ARGONAUT
1.) Skiing and snowboarding Winter is the perfect season to go out and participate in some outdoor
As soon as the snow comes, it’s the best time to unpack your winter gear and head to the mountains.
2.) Watch holiday movies
Christmas time leads to a lot of movies. Whether it’s Hallmark, comedy or Christmas romance, there’s a genre for everyone! You can settle down with
a Christmas classic or explore the new releases that come out for the year. This is a great way to relax and enjoy your break.
3.) Stay inside and bake
Nothing makes the house feel cozier than settling in and having a day full of baking. You can make treats for you and your household while also creating fond memories.
4.) Go ice skating at the Palouse Ice Rink
The Palouse Ice Rink has public skating times every day and you can enjoy some fun physical activity without having to go too far. Rent or bring your own skates and have some laughs. The ice rink also offers skating lessons. Check out their website for more details!
5.) Read some books or visit a library
Wintertime is one of the best times of the year to settle down with a good book. To keep warm from the cold
weather outside, you can easily relax and enjoy your break with an immersive story. If you don’t have any books, no worries! The public library will be open for almost all of Christmas break.
6.) Crochet, knit or craft
Do you like making gifts for yourself or for your friends and family? Crocheting, knitting and crafting can be a fun way to make perfect presents for the people in your life.
7.) Winter cleaning or organizing
If you’re feeling cooped up with nothing to do over break, that’s the best time to start cleaning and organizing your home. Start afresh at the new year with a new look or layout!
8.) Family or friend puzzle gettogethers
What better way to spend quality time with your friends and family than doing puzzles together? It’s nice to sit together and do something fun while talking about whatever is on your mind.
Gift ideas for your friends and family
Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT
The holiday season is coming up soon and so is gift shopping. Here are the top gift ideas for this year.
1.) Headphones
If you have someone you know who loves music, headphones are always a good gift idea. They can range from $50$200 depending on whether they are new or used or what brand they are.
2.) Portable Charger
This is always good to have for anyone who needs it for work, school or life in general. Portable chargers range from $20-$40.
3.) Rechargeable Hand Warmers
If you know someone who always has cold hands or needs to warm up for the winter, rechargeable hand warmers can be a great gift idea. These can range from $9-$20.
4.) 3D Printing
If there is someone who loves to design or build things, this can be a great gift idea. These can range from $30-$50.
This will be useful for anyone who gets warm easily or overheated in the summer. Portable fans can range from $10-$30.
6.)
This would be good for anyone who hates going to bed cold, especially in the wintertime. Heated blankets can range from $40-$80.
7.) Portable Speaker
Portable speakers can be good for anyone who loves music while traveling and with friends. Portable speakers can range from $40-$100.
Idaho continues to find success under head coach Jason Eck, however that is only part of the story. While Eck may be responsible for recruitment, play calling, strategy, practice sessions and just about another dozen things for the team, the one thing he isn’t responsible for is exactly how players perform on Saturdays.
That is up to the players.
And this year, Idaho’s players performed very well. The Vandals had 14 players making the All-Big Sky First, Second and Honorable Mention teams, the only team having more players on the teams are the undefeated Montana State Bobcats. The All-Big Sky teams are voted on by the coaches of the teams that make up the Big Sky, with no coaches being able to vote for players on their own team.
Idaho’s players that made the Big Sky First Team are as follows:
Ayden Knapik- A junior Offensive Tackle from Kennewick, Washington. Knapik has been
instrumental in Idaho’s game plan for three seasons now and has made the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention team in 2022 and 2023.
Jaxton Eck- A sophomore Linebacker from Brookings, South Dakota. He is Coach Eck’s son and one of the leaders of the defense. Eck has accrued 110 total tackles and an interception on the season.
Keyshawn James-Newby- A senior Edge from Helena, Montana. James-Newby spent time as the sack leader for the entire FCS this season. He has sacked opposing QBs 9 times and has 13.5 TFLs.
Dallas Afalava- A sophomore DT from Seattle, Washington. Afalava has been a key member of Idaho’s front line posting 5 sacks, 26 tackles, 6 TFLs and 8 QB hurries.
Tommy McCormick- A senior Safety hailing from Fallon, Nevada. McCormick made the All-Big Sky third team in 2022 and was an All-Big Sky honorable mention in 2023. This season McCormick has been invaluable to Idaho’s secondary, posting 3 INTs, 47 tackles and 4 PD.
Andrew Marshall- A junior DB from Eastvale, California. Marshall had 42 total tackles this year, as well as a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Marshall also attained a second AllConference honor this season, being nominated to the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention team as a Kick Returner for the Vandals. He has both a punt-return TD and a kick-return TD.
Dwayne McDougle- A redshirt junior DB from Oakland, California. McDougle had 51 tackles during the season. After stepping into the starting spots midway through the season McDougle was nothing less than dominant and has also been a key player on special teams.
The Idaho players that made the All-Big Sky Second Team are as follows:
Jordan Dwyer- A redshirt WR from Puyallup, Washington. Dwyer has been the favorite target for all of Idaho’s QBs this season. His ability to shred coverage has left him or his teammates open on almost every passing play for the Vandals. He finished the regular season with 837 receiving yards and 8 TD grabs.
Mike Martinez- A senior TE from Long Beach, California. Martinez has been a staple of the UI offense with his blocking and his receiving ability. Martinez finished the season with 85 receiving yards and 2 TDs.
The Idaho players that made the All-Big Sky Honorable Mention Team are as follows:
Mark Hamper- The other half of UI’s receiver duo, a redshirt freshman from West Linn, Oregon. Hamper hauled in 5 TDs and 853 yards. His feature play from the season was a 74-yard screen pass touchdown to ice the game against Weber State.
Nate Azzopardi- A redshirt junior OL from Pacifica, California. Azzopardi is a key member of Idaho’s offensive line and never allowed a sack all year, as well as being the vocal leader of Idaho’s front line.
Malaki Williams- A redshirt senior DL from Gilbert, Arizona, Williams is a huge point in Idaho’s defensive success. He tackled 32 ballcarriers this season and had 3 QBH and one FF.
Isiah King- A redshirt senior OLB from San Diego, California. King had 42 tackles, 1 INT, 1 QBH and 1 FR and was instrumental in UI’s pass coverages this season.
Zach Johnson- A redshirt sophomore OLB from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Johnson had 76 tackles, 2 QBH and 1 FF. Johnson is a key member of Idaho’s run defense, including a seven-tackle game in a close game against UC Davis.
Bryce Norwood ARGONAUT
Stats Perform has released their finalists for the FCS National Awards, and Idaho’s very own Mark Hamper and Keyshawn James-Newby received the honors of being named finalists for two separate awards.
Mark Hamper was named a finalist for the
Jerry Rice Award, which honors the best freshman in the FCS. Hamper, being a redshirt freshman for the Vandals, has had himself a great season, putting up 41 catches for 858 yards and five touchdowns on the year.
Mark Hamper had an excellent ending to his regular season, where he scored four of his five touchdowns in the last two weeks and was voted Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week in week 11 after an eight-reception, 187-yard, threetouchdown game against Weber State.
Hamper looks to become the second Vandal in three years to win the Jerry Rice Award, with former Idaho quarter Gevani McCoy winning the award back in the 2022 season.
Keyshawn James-Newby was named a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the best defensive player in the FCS. James-Newby
has had himself an incredible senior season, putting up 54 total tackles, 30 solo tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Newby leads the Big Sky in sacks and ranks 24th in the country for tackles for loss, and tied for 15th for sacks, despite missing time with an injury. James-Newby looks to become the first Idaho Vandal to win the Buck Buchanan Award.
James-Newby has shown high success against elite competition, with great games against Idaho’s two FBS opponents with three tackles for loss and three sacks against Wyoming, earning him Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week for week two, and 2.5 TFLs and two sacks against the No. 1 team in the country, the Oregon Ducks in week one. Find out later today if any of our Vandals brings home an award when the winners of all FCS awards will be announced.
Idaho’s
Liam Bradford ARGONAUT
It is common knowledge that an offense is only as good as its quarterback. Sure, quarterbacks need weapons to productively lead an offense, but offenses in general cannot operate without a skilled passer at the helm.
The Idaho offense has been one of the most consistent groups in the Big Sky this season, but the situation that the quarterback room has endured is quite unique.
The Vandals started the season led by sophomore Jack Layne, the only non-freshman in an inexperienced quarterback room. The Oregon native started the season opener against the Oregon Ducks and threw for 168 yards and a score before exiting the game with a broken collarbone.
With the only guy who had any collegiate experience going down for the foreseeable future, the Vandals turned to the next man up, redshirt freshman Jack Wagner.
Starting as a quarterback at the Division-1 level has a significant learning curve, and the future of the Idaho season seemingly hung in the balance before the opener even concluded. It was a simple concept: Wagner needed to get comfortable in the starting role quickly for this team to stay competitive in a talented Big Sky Conference.
Through seven starts, Wagner exceeded these expectations, as the team went 6-1 in these games, with the lone blemish being a two-point loss on the road against a gritty UC Davis team currently standing in second place in the conference. Since the team began FCS play, Wagner has thrown for 1288 yards, 11 touchdowns and only four interceptions in six starts.
backs have established their presence.
“We have three quarterbacks we can win with and that provides a great future to Vandal football,” Head Coach Jason Eck said. “The QB touches the ball every play; They are critical to the team’s success. You need to have good depth in that room if you want to be a playoff team.”
Though Layne’s sophomore season was temporarily put on hold, he took on a leadership role helping the younger guys get their feet under them.
“After breaking my collarbone against Oregon, my role for the team changed,” Layne said. “While I was still just as valuable to the team as healthy guys, my value showed through how I helped the other quarterbacks and offense as a whole. It was still my job to be a leader for the guys.”
Regarding his injury, Layne says what helped him the most during recovery was leaning on his faith. He also feels the injury positively changed his perspective.
“The biggest things I learned from this injury are patience and gratitude,” Layne said. “Every time I step onto the field, I am so much more grateful than before. You gain a new apprecia-
ingly every week this year and we just keep responding. It’s cool to see.”
Having four rushers with over 325 yards on the ground apiece does not hurt either. The quartet of Vandal running backs have combined for 1,606 rushing yards and 12 touch-
more games, you see different looks and you start to see things better. Experience is the best teacher.”
Though injuries in football often lead to teams struggling to develop an identity, Eck praised his offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner’s ability to form an efficient game plan regardless of who is commanding the huddle.
tion for the game when you deal with a long-term injury.”
“It was huge for me because now I know I can win games at this level,” Wagner said. “I still think I have a lot to show, and I haven’t reached my best football yet. I don’t think our offense has truly shown what it’s capable of.”
Though it was initially a scare for Vandal fans, Layne’s injury allowed the freshmen to gain valuable experience that they likely would not have gotten otherwise. This whole journey has solidified the offense’s potential in the future, as three different quarter-
Nick Josifek also made the most of his opportunities on the field. He and Wagner are responsible for helping Idaho cruise to the secure position that they find themselves in with just one game to go in the regular season.
“We do not adjust our goals with injuries,” Eck said. “We have confidence in the next man stepping up. Jack Wagner and Nick Josifek both did an excellent job when they were in there.”
Layne also was not shy to praise his teammates, adding, “I thought the guys were awesome when I was out. Our team has faced adversity seem-
downs with an average of over 5.7 yards per carry.
It is very impressive that through all the personnel changes, Idaho still finds itself in a position to host a home playoff game. Additionally, Eck says the difficult schedule the team has endured has prepared them well for the playoffs. The three teams the Vandals lost to have a combined record of 31-2 this season.
Since recovering from his injury, Layne has started two games, throwing for 518 yards and five touchdowns.
“I would say the game slowed down a lot from freshman to sophomore year,” Layne said. “As you play
“We are always looking for ways to improve the offense and find the best way for us to move the ball, score points, and win games,” Eck said. “We are constantly evaluating what gives us the best chance to do that…We always adjust our game plan to play to the QB’s strengths.”
Wagner says a lot was going on in his head when Layne went down because nobody knew the extent of his injury, but he came into the game with the mindset that he always needs to be ready to come off the bench and help his team. “Coaches always said ‘You are one play away from being the starter, so you have to prepare like it.’ So, my mindset was just staying ready and preparing to the best of my ability.”
Transitioning into the starting role, what boosted Wagner’s confidence was the belief that his teammates and coaches had in him every step of the journey. He leaned on his teammates, and they have had nothing but great things to say about the job he has done. Layne mentioned how proud he is of Wagner and Josifek because he knows how hard they work.
Wagner’s go-to passing target, sophomore wideout Jordan Dwyer, said, “I think Jack Wagner has done a great job stepping into the fire as a freshman, winning games and preventing turnovers. I have a ton of respect for Jack Wagner; he’s excellent and I love playing with him.”
This unwavering belief that Idaho has in itself and its players has become somewhat of a mantra for this team.
“‘We believe’ is the big thing for us,” Wagner said. “A lot of people doubted us, but to us, that was outside noise. We knew what we were capable of and that we had a chance. All we did was believe in ourselves and our play. We know what it takes and what we need to do. Now we just need to do it.”
Wagner says that this team has a special bond that makes it an ideal environment.
“I feel like we have a true brotherhood,” Wagner said. “If we are successful right now, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this team.”
The Vandal wide receiver has greatly impacted his team’s success this season
Liam Bradford ARGONAUT
Every great offense needs a security blanket that the quarterback can consistently turn to when the going gets tough. The type of guy who racks up a handful of targets and big plays in each game without fail.
Through all the injury problems and personnel changes at quarterback, the Idaho Vandals offense has relied on standout sophomore wideout Jordan Dwyer to fill that role, and he has done exactly that. Not only has he established himself as the team’s top receiving target,
Lehigh’s rushing attack is led by RBs Luke Yoder and Jaden Green. The RB duo has been deadly this season with the two backs cutting through defenses with ease. Yoder has 951 rushing yards and 10 TDs on 183 carries and Green has 762 yards and 10 TDs on 129 carries. Both RBs made the AllPatriot Football Second-Team. Idaho will have their work cut out for them, but with 15 All-Conference team performers it may not be the uphill battle that some think.
but he has become one of the most prolific offensive weapons in the Big Sky.
“Dwyer is a very reliable target who has played well all year and been effective no matter who is in at QB,” Head
Coach Jason Eck said.
Dwyer played a role in the Idaho offense for two seasons before breaking out in 2024. He maintained his redshirt eligibility after only playing in four games in 2022 due to an ankle injury that caused him to require surgery. He scored touchdowns in both games prior to the injury and finished the year averaging 34 receiving yards per game.
“Getting back healthy again and coming back even stronger was the main thing I overcame,” Dwyer said. “I feel like I’ve been prepared to be the guy, I was just waiting for my opportunity.”
Last season, Dwyer found his role in the offense below the team’s top options on the depth chart, Hayden Hatten and Jermaine Jackson. He scored
Idaho’s offense will be led by starting QB Jack Layne, who suffered a broken collarbone in the first game of the season. In his absence, backup QBs Jack Wagner and Nick Josifeck performed fantastically, especially for each making their first college start at some point during the season.
Layne has posted great numbers this season in spite of his injury. He has passed for 902 yards and nine TDs with only three INTs.
WRs Jordan Dwyer and Mark Hamper will be at the forefront of the Vandals passing attack, Dwyer has posted 837
“Hamper and Dwyer have had outstanding seasons and been great playmakers for us,” Eck said. “They have really stepped up to fill the void of the great wide receivers we lost last year with Hatten and Jackson.”
Dwyer has posted an impressive 49 catches for 703 yards and seven touchdowns through 11 games this season. He has scored touchdowns in more games than he has not.
A good indication of how crucial his play has been to this offense: the Vandals are 6-0 when Dwyer scores at least one touchdown. They are 2-3 when the opposition manages to hold him out of the endzone.
Idaho’s offense has had to adjust to continuous cycling through quarterbacks due to injury and strategic reasons.
“It’s been tough dealing with different QBs, but they’ve all done a great job,” Dwyer said. “We’ve been able to be productive as I show them every day in practice the type of player that I am and just continuing to build connections and trust with those guys.”
Dwyer gives a lot of credit for this team’s resiliency to his coaches and the game plans they have made to give the team the best chance at a win each week.
four touchdowns and made some explosive plays, including a 36-yard touchdown in the Vandal’s season finale. He was a dynamic option but was by no means a premier target in a passing game that received most of its production from Hatten and Jackson.
With Hatten and Jackson both departing for the NFL, the wideout room had big holes to fill. However, the offense has seemingly not skipped a beat, averaging nearly 28 points per game with just one regular season contest remaining. This smooth transition can be credited to Dwyer, the leader of the new receiving room, along with his counterpart Mark Hamper who has been riding a hot streak as of late.
Hamper leads the Big Sky in yards per catch and has the fourth most total receiving yards in the conference. Dwyer has been extremely versatile all year and he ranks among the top seven in the conference for receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns.
receiving yards and eight TD grabs on 60 receptions. Hamper has hauled in 858 yards and five TDs on 41 receptions while also averaging almost 20 yards per catch.
Idaho’s RB room has been incredible this season. With Elisha Cummings, Nate Thomas, Deshaun Buchanan and Art Williams all taking snaps at the RB1 position this season. The RBs have a combined 1,767 rushing yards and 12 TDs across all games and have had success rushing almost all teams this season.
Idaho’s defense will be doing the heavy lifting while
in and game out. His ability to outmaneuver defenders and come down with incredible catches on 50-50 jump balls is unmatched.
Dwyer began his football career as a running back, the position he shined at until seventh grade. He then transitioned to wide receiver, and shortly thereafter became a prominent high school football player. He says he realized his potential to play Division-1 football in his freshman and sophomore years of high school and continued to separate himself through his upperclassman years.
Dwyer attended Puyallup High School in his hometown of Puyallup, Washington. He was somewhat underrecruited, coming out of high school as a 3-star recruit with one FBS and five FCS offers.
Dwyer elected to attend Idaho because “I thought I could come in and make an impact right away, and I felt a connection with the coaching staff as well.” He says despite the improvement in speed and strength at the collegiate level, he considered it a smooth transition as he settled into the college football atmosphere watching the preparation of Hatten and Jackson.
“The coaching staff has played to our players’ strengths and made sure everyone is comfortable out there with the game plan,” Dwyer said. “Sometimes when your QB goes down, you have to simplify things a little bit, which has worked for us.”
There have been a handful of times on third down this season where everyone in the Kibbie Dome knew exactly who the ball was going to on the next play. That is how reliable and dominant Dwyer has been as a vertical threat, game
Dwyer looks forward to the final stretch of the season, adding that this Idaho team is very battle-tested and more of a tight-knit group than last year’s team.
It is clear that being a Vandal means something more to Dwyer, who has earned his role as the team’s starting wide receiver.
“Every single game, suiting up with my brothers; Blood, sweat and tears with those guys,” Dwyer said. “Every day is a great experience. I’m very blessed and I cherish it.”
trying to stop the potent Lehigh offense. Led by MLB Jaxton Eck who has accrued 60 solo tackles and 110 total tackles, the defense has been the best in the Big Sky at getting to the QB. The Front Seven the Big Sky in overall defensive pressure on opposing QBs.
The Vandal defensive line has been key to the defensive prowess of the Vandals, led by the trio Keyshawn James-Newby, Dallas Afalava and Malaki Williams. Newby is tied four ways for 15th in the FCS in sacks with nine total. Afalava has five sacks, six TFLs and eight QB hurries, and Williams
has 32 tackles, three QBH and one FF.
Idaho’s secondary has been nothing less than dominant this season with nine total INTs. The secondary is led by “Takeaway” Tommy McCormick who has three INTs and four PD and Dwayne McDougle who has six PD and 24 solo tackles. McDougle stepped into the starting safety role halfway through the season and has also been very valuable on special teams.
The Vandals will look to keep their FCS Championship hopes alive this Saturday at 6 p.m.
backline and prepare them for the 2021 season.
At 5-6, it wasn’t the finish they’d hoped for, but in that moment, the seeds of something bigger were already being planted. Change was in the air, and between the white lines, the Vandals knew they weren’t just looking at the end of a season; they were staring down at the beginning of a new era.
With their quiet determination, the Vandals transformed into a powerhouse. Their record of 51-25-10, three consecutive Big Sky Championship appearances, and a place in the NCAA tournament last season are a testament to their unwavering determination. Their journey is one to be proud of and will be remembered for years to come.
Graduate midfielder and team captain Margo Schoesler summed up her illustrious Vandal career and the team’s four-year historic run.
“A roller coaster,” Schoesler said. “Lots of really high highs and low lows, but overall, an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. It was always what we had hoped for, but having it become a reality was surreal.”
After an abysmal 5-12-2 2019 campaign, head coach Jeremy Clevenger landed the recruiting class that changed the landscape of Vandal soccer. In the recruiting class were the eventual captains Schoesler and forward Maddy Lasher. Schoesler and Lasher, being club teammates with the Spokane Sounders, brought chemistry to the black and gold.
Along with the electric duo, midfielder Hannah Alfaro-Black, outside back Alyssa Peters, forward Jadyn Hanks, outside back Maya Hamilton and many more exciting freshmen joined the Vandals.
The 2020 shortened season was challenging but the Vandals, led by junior midfielder Savannah Foster, pushed ahead and went 5-6 on the season. Even with the subpar record, the Vandals built the stepping stones to a brighter future.
The Vandals signed a pair of center backs, Cassidy Elicker and Rebekah Reyes, in the offseason to help bolster the
Behind a combination of youthful energy and experience, the Vandals finished the season 10-6-2 before falling to the Weber State Wildcats in the Big Sky tournament 3-0.
The Vandals turned a corner after the 2021 season, and heading into fall 2022, they landed goalkeeper Kira Witte and transfer midfielder Jayd Sprague to bolster their team as they looked to continue the momentum from the previous season.
The 2022 season went better than anyone expected. The Vandals rolled to a 12-3-3 record, boasted 13 shutouts, and had the best backline in the Big Sky. A huge part of this was the play of the center-back duo Elicker and Reyes in their first full season, starting side by side.
“We worked hard to keep our spots that year. Our success led to that. I feel we connected well, and we trust each other so much on and off the field and that showed, and that’s why Jeremy kept us back together,” Elicker said.
The Vandals, with their lockdown defense, advanced to their first-ever Big Sky championship game. They took on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, and after a hard-fought game, the Vandals fell on penalty kicks, leaving Greely Colorado devasted and hungry to bring a trophy back to Moscow.
The Vandals’ championship loss fueled the upcoming season, and from start to finish, they were on a mission to capture what they had lost the year before.
The Vandals got going and finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak, which gave them the second seed in the Big Sky tournament and momentum as they hunted for a championship.
Behind a penalty kick goal by Hannah Alfaro-Black, the Vandals advanced to the championship game for a second consecutive time against NAU.
This time around, the Vandals would not be denied. After goals by Lasher and redshirt sophomore Naomi Alvarez, the Vandals defeated the Lumberjacks 2-1 and got their first-ever championship, a feeling that was four years in the making
for the group of Vandal seniors.
“We all came in during the COVID year, and to see us finish it and win that trophy proved that all of our hard work throughout those four years paid off,” Lasher said.
The Vandals captured their goal and achieved another one as they headed to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, an achievement that was a favorite moment of the team and especially of Elicker.
“Playing in the NCAA Tournament, along with the championship, I think was my favorite moment because it was the first time Idaho has ever been to the NCAA tournament, so I think that was exciting for all of us.”
The excitement was at an all-time high as they headed to Spokane to take on Gonzaga. After a hard-fought game, the Vandals fell 1-0 to Gonzaga and ended their historic season.
After their best season in program history, the Vandals’ quest for back-toback championships was underway. With a new goalkeeper, redshirt freshman Paula Flores, and two new starters, the Vandals looked like favorites to win back-to-back championships.
The Vandals finished the season with an almost identical record of 12-5-3 but were defeated in penalty kicks
by Sacramento State in the Big Sky championship.
Many of the Vandals’ careers came to an end, what they left behind was something better than between the white lines.
“The biggest thing that we’ve done as a group, my class, is make sure that we always have strived to create a sisterhood within the team,” Schoesler said. “It’s like having siblings: You don’t always have to like each other, but you always love each other.”
“That’s been our main thing, and what I hope carries on an Idaho soccer is that you might have your differences with certain people sometimes, but at the end of the day, you still have to have their back,” Schoesler said.
For the final time, the Vandals walked off the field in Missoula, Montana, falling short of back-to-back championships and another NCAA tournament appearance.
The Vandals may not have the glory of another championship trophy, but their journey from a 5-6 team failing to win and a team full of potential blossomed into a powerhouse that, through hard work, determination and fight, wrote their own story.
Graduate student Miya Carmichael wore number 17 for UI and recorded 329 assists, more than anyone this season and last season. She averaged 4.16 assists per set, putting her towards the top of the stat sheet. She was one of only four players on the team to play in all 27 matches this year. Playing a total of 79 sets, second most behind Taylor Brickey at 80. Carmichael stated her mindset going into each game this year, “We wanted to prove something and it’s a new fresh start for Vandal volleyball.”
Carmichael also had the highest attack percentage on the team at .302, recorded 10 service aces, tied for third with teammate Chiara Gennari and had more aces than service errors. “Every day I came into the gym, before every game I told myself just to do my best and to just leave it all out there on the court,” Carmichael said reflecting on her performance this season.
This -for the time being- was her final season of playing volleyball as she was still uncertain about what the future holds.
Carmichael came to Idaho after graduating from Eastern Kentucky in just three years. She had one more year of eligibility and wanted to play volleyball one last time, so she entered the portal and found UI. When she came out to visit, she instantly fell in love with the town of Moscow, and the UI campus. “I immediately felt connected to the community,” she said. She felt very welcomed by the Vandal coaching staff and players. “I felt comfortable with these girls, and this was the right place to be for my last year,” said Carmichael.
Carmichael’s volleyball story goes all the way back 15 years when she was just seven years old. She would tag along with her older sister, Miki, to her volleyball practices where Carmichael began to learn how to play the sport. “I’ve always been really grateful for volleyball,” she said, the game has brought her to so many places especially being part of a family that was moving frequently. Volleyball
was the one staple for Carmichael, something she could always find no matter where she was.
Aside from volleyball, something Carmichael enjoys is cooking. Around the holidays she likes to make her grandma’s recipe for sushi rolls. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her family. Recently, they’ve been watching the show,“Yellowstone.”
Carmichael has traveled so much throughout life, which she enjoyed, but one of her favorite places was in California, where her family lived for a while. “There was lots of good seafood,”, she said coming from a family that likes the fruits of the sea.
Carmichael put her best efforts on the court and in her studies. In high school, she was a three-time, allscholastic team member and part of the ASUN conference honor roll and National Honor Society. She was an undergrad psychology major and is currently taking classes at UI towards her master’s degree in business administration. “It’s just honestly been an amazing experience at Idaho,” Carmichael had to say. She is set to graduate next summer, and she is finishing her degree online.
Carmichael hinted at the opportunity she might return to the volleyball court in her future, stating, “There is the possibility I might play overseas next fall.” For now, she is focused on receiving her master’s. Carmichael enjoyed her time playing for the Vandals, one of her favorite memories was coming back to get their first win
against Sienna College on Sienna’s home court and the first win for the team and coaches. “It was just the most rewarding experience because we worked so hard and we left it all out on the court, and getting that win was just the most amazing feeling ever,” Carmichael said, reflecting on that moment.
Carmichael is one of five Vandals that are leaving the team as they are all set to graduate. Despite the season not being one of the better ones, she is super grateful for the support. “I learned so much,” she said. She’s thankful for her teammates for being the most amazing friends and support system through this season.
She’s grateful for the opportunity head coach Romana Redondo Kriskova gave her to come to Moscow and play one final year. “She’s a legacy in the volleyball world, a Wisconsin legend. I grew up watching her when I was little so having the opportunity to play for her was honestly a dream come true,” Carmicheal said.
Lastly, Carmichael appreciated all the fans and family that came out to watch the team this season.“The environment was absolutely electrifying,” she had to say about the home games this season. She’s glad her family was able to make it to every game and supported her all the way. As Carmichael got ready to say goodbye to the university and her team, she loved every moment, saying, “I will be a Vandal for life.”
Idaho’s Board of Education proposed DEI removal is a disappointing move in the wrong direction
The Idaho State Board of Education is seeking to dissolve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices in publicly funded universities and colleges across the state. Considering Idaho ranks amongst the worst in the nation in terms of diversity with an estimated 92.5% white population according to the U.S. Census Bureau, this proposition poses legitimate risk to those who do belong to minority groups.
During a meeting on Nov. 21, the board proposed a resolution to completely ban the resources that provide students with a sense of community and belonging. Offices that would be affected here at UI and other state colleges include the Women’s Center, the Black and African American Cultural Center and the LGBTQA Office among others.
Josh Whitworth, the executive director of the State Board of Education, discussed at the meeting how the plan is meant to provide all students access to success centers, saying the proposition is coming from “an inclusionary point of view.”
It is baffling how banning resources specifically meant to foster inclusion and promote diversity will actually bring forth more student community. In a homogenous place like Idaho, it can feel isolating to look around and not see others who look like you or share similar values.
DEI offices offer students a place to make friends, forge connections and celebrate their cultural identities and histories. Without them, this already heightened sense of separation will be further increased.
While affected offices seek to serve a specific population, they are also
clear on their stance of welcoming all students – even if you yourself don’t fit into a certain identity, these are spaces anyone could go to find commonality and broaden your scope of understanding.
It is clear that this decision is coming from a place of attempting to depoliticize college campuses. State Board of Education member David Turnball gave a comment that well exemplifies this, saying “identity has become a way of separating us instead of bringing us together.”
erance. Removing DEI offices removes the tangible opportunities meant to accomplish these things.
contribute to the University of Idaho’s mission,” as per the UI Mission, Vision and Values statement.
Unfortunately for the Education Board and Turnball, politics and identities are deeply steeped into higher education, a historically exclusionary facet of society. We tend to forget just how recent laws that banned desegregation in schools or allowed for equal marriage were enacted. Despite how far we’ve come as a society in terms of acceptance of others, the prejudiced ideals of the recent past are still felt today.
This decision from Idaho’s Board of Education is a huge step back in terms of progress to make the world around us a more accepting and celebratory place. College campuses especially are meant to provide young adults with chances to meet new people, learn new things and overall increase understanding and tol-
The Board of Education has yet to make a concrete decision on the matter, but UI is preparing to meet the expectations of DEI dissolvement. While President Green assured that all staff affected by this displacement would be relocated and ensured job security, what will the students who have dedicated so much time and effort be left with? The same students whose tuition helps run this school will have the clubs and communities they’ve worked so hard to foster taken right out from under them.
While UI is a state school and therefore must abide by the decisions of the board, it’s disappointing for the university to bend to their will, seemingly without much of a fight. This is the very school that “believe[s] that an institution is only as strong as its ability to include diverse perspectives that critically
Thankfully, because no official resolution has been made, there’s still time to make your voice heard on this matter. Dean of Students Blaine Eckles encouraged students to do so at the Nov. 21 meeting, saying, “I would encourage you to exercise your right…and convey how important these programs are to you and how much you benefited from them whether you were a direct participant in the programs or not.”
As disheartening as it is that we as students and Idaho citizens must spearhead this fight even in the modern day, making your voice heard by communicating with the Board and state legislatures while this decision remains in limbo is the best plan of action to take in an attempt to save these resources. The Board of Education will meet regarding the matter again on Dec. 18.
We should do more to advocate for Indigenous students in education
UI provides many resources for Native students, but more can be done nationwide
Maddox Durham ARGONAUT
The University of Idaho is currently located on the ancestral lands of three Native American tribes: the Coeur d’Alene, Nez Perce and Palus (Palouse). We acknowledge these tribes who were removed unjustly from their lands.
To gain a better understanding of UI’s resources and support for Indigenous students, The Argonaut conducted an interview with Philip Stevens, an Associate Professor of Anthropology, Director for American
Indian Studies, and a member of the San Carlos Apache tribe.
As someone who grew up in an Indigenous community and attained higher education through multiple universities across the United States, Dr. Stevens offered a detailed perspective on UI’s efforts to accommodate Indigenous students.
When asked what he thought about UI and its resources for Native American students, Dr. Stevens stated, “It has been really strong. With my experiences with other universities, there was less recruitment through Native American Student Centers.”
He then went on to speak about the Native American Student Center and how, though it is active with student involvement, it is mostly dependent
upon the volunteer time of staff and faculty. He also brought up Vandal Nation, a student drumming group that traveled around the Northwest to various Powwows, which are Native American cultural celebrations.
The group often helped the university recruit Indigenous students by showing off one of UI’s many clubs and organizations. To his knowledge, students participating in Vandal Nation pay for the traveling expenses out of their own pockets.
Furthermore, Dr. Stevens discussed what he thought could be done better at UI to serve Indigenous students. His thoughts went far deeper than just student resources and clubs, instead focusing on the higher education system in its entirety.
When asked what he thought would help the static Western education system evolve, he said, “Calling attention to the way things are taught and written. Any differentiation of the status quo is seen as a threat. American education is normalized as ‘white education,’ and many people are afraid to see this change.”
When it comes to UI’s student resources for Indigenous students, we can see many useful contemporary organizations that have helped to accommodate its Indigenous students. Nevertheless, if we are going to truly support Native American students and their cultures, we must be able to recognize not just Westernized or white-washed ways of knowledge and teaching, but also be open to Indigenous approaches to education. This includes a more holistic way of educating, where students develop all aspects of themselves rather than just their intelligence as we traditionally understand it. Similarly, students and faculty at UI should not view Native students just as a minority group, but as students coming from their own sovereign nations. The university should be aware of and withstand laws that harm Native students. From Pell Grants to other scholarship resources, Indigenous students should be offered full compensation and respect for their cultural status.
You’re trying to cook pizza from scratch and you just can’t figure out why the cheese keeps sliding off. You agitatedly pull up Google and look up “cheese not sticking to pizza” in hopes of finding a solution. Luckily, the helpful Google AI Overview will dig through the search results and present some solutions directly to you! You’ve got some useful tips now:
“Mixing cheese into the sauce helps add moisture to the cheese and dry out the sauce.” Weird, but okay. “You can also add about ⅛ cup of non-toxic glue to the sauce to give it more tackiness.” Alright, less okay.
The instance described above was a real piece of advice proposed by Google AI Overview, as discussed in a Wired article from earlier this year. As funny as it sounds, in reality, it’s a frustrating, disturbing example of how unreliable Google is becoming due to its over-reliance on artificial intelligence.
Imagine how easily AI could destroy your credibility in an essay, nullify your argument in a debate or unwillingly involve you in the spread of misinformation when you put your trust in it.
Google’s self-proclaimed “AI Perspective” says that “AI can unlock new scientific discoveries and opportunities and help tackle humanity’s greatest
challenges—today and in the future.” Tragically, eating glue probably doesn’t align with these lofty ideas of enabling scientific discovery.
Yet another worrying factor of AI overviews like Google’s is their process. They basically skim the search results of your topic and pull what seems like relevant information before packaging it up into a simple summary. These summaries can have details lost in communication or can pull information from unreliable or satirical sources before presenting them as fact.
These instances are called “hallucinations” or when AI will present false information. Fortunately, Gemini, the AI that powers Google’s overview, recognized that it is not infallible and presented a concise, thoughtful solution! Their FAQ recommends that you should “basically double-check Gemini’s responses.”
Their recommendation is to Google your Google. At that point, why not just start with reading a humanwritten article? Why isn’t Google just starting by boosting those credible sources to the top, rather than presenting misinformation? Why are we being told to eat glue?
There are a couple of alternatives to swerving the omnipresent Google AI. For one, you can manually use the filters Google offers. For instance, jumping directly to the “news” tab after hitting enter will lead to a list of articles rather than the AI response.
Further, you may install a browser extension that automatically directs you to AI-free search results. Finally, you can always use a different browser altogether. DuckDuckGo is my favorite. DuckDuckGo does have its own AI assistant, DuckAssist, which is currently in beta testing. But unlike Google, it asks if you would like an answer to be generated for you. It won’t automatically formulate one or tell you unprovoked that you should eat glue.
AI is a prominent feature in everyday life now, and it’s only going to become more so as we keep tripping over our feet into the future. Awareness of the fact that AI can be (and often is) unreliable has become an absolutely necessary tool.
Anya Zuercher & Olivia Lune GUEST VOICE
Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane called Idaho’s 2024 General Election “an accomplishment that should be celebrated.” As students who witnessed voter suppression firsthand, we are not celebrating.
Secretary McGrane said he is devoted to making elections “accessible, secure and transparent.” While Idaho has never had an election that was not secure, the November general election was far from accessible to students and new residents.
Take Election Day at the University of Idaho, for example. Despite a robust effort by student leaders to educate their peers about new voter registration laws, help students register and vote early and ensure the Student Recreation Center polling location was accessible, volunteer work could not overcome bad policy.
Hundreds of students waited in line for over five hours, some just to be told they didn’t have the correct documentation to vote. Students lined the walls, filling out voter registration forms due to lack of table space. The polling location ran out of registration forms three times, compounding wait times and frustration. Some students were still in line at 10:30p.m. while others gave up and went home.
Meanwhile, at BYU-Idaho’s polling place, hundreds of students waited
in line, then were turned away due to new Idaho laws that specifically target students.
Students were blamed for not registering early online, but new laws made online registration difficult or impossible for many students. Most students’ driver’s licenses list their parents’ address, not their current college address, disqualifying them from completing their voter registration online.
The increase in student voter turnout was entirely predictable given Idaho’s population growth and get-out-the-vote efforts from groups like Associated Students, student clubs and BABE VOTE. This should have been planned for.
No, Secretary McGrane, the trend of voter suppression laws coupled with a lack of accountability in red states is not something to celebrate. When the Idaho Statesman pointed out that legitimate Idaho voters were the first victims of new Idaho election laws, you criticized their editorial board for “discouraging Idahoans with their opinion.”
In 2023, Idaho’s Legislature passed, with Secretary McGrane’s support, HB124 and HB340, laws that removed student IDs as acceptable identification for registering and voting and imposed additional barriers to registering and voting. Students and community members warned elected officials of the harm these bills cause to eligible Idaho
residents. They passed them anyway.
Young Idahoans already face challenges in housing, childcare, healthcare, employment and education cost—issues that should be addressed by our elected leaders. In this environment, our right to vote is crucial.
We’re often told that young people don’t care about politics, and that we are apathetic voters. If this election proved anything, it’s that students care deeply about their government and who represents them. We want our voices heard, but we’re met with a broken system designed to ignore us.
We understand that good policy is difficult to craft and that running a statewide election is challenging and complex, but it is the duty of elected officials to evaluate the impact of their laws and be willing to go back to the drawing board when they fail the people they represent.
While it’s difficult to quantify the
full scope of voter suppression, the fact remains that real individuals—legally eligible voters—were denied their constitutional right to vote.
So, let’s be clear: to Idahoans dealing with disenfranchisement, if you waited for hours or were turned away, know this: it’s not normal or acceptable and we hope it doesn’t discourage you from exercising your civic duty in the future. Visit BABEVOTE.org to learn more, get involved or offer support.
To Secretary McGrane and Idaho Legislators: it’s time to give the people who are directly affected by voting laws a seat at the table. And when we testify on proposed legislation, it’s past time you listen.
As a coalition of students advocating for just, livable climate futures, Sunrise Palouse condemns the decision to shut down the Black and African American Cultural Center, the Women’s Center, the LGBTQA Office and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
By abandoning these initiatives without a fight, the university is not only leaving behind under-resourced students but also abandoning the principles which serve as a foundation for higher education.
Simply put, climate justice is social justice, and we will continue to advocate for resources that support student success. It is a brazen act of cowardice to pretend that this move is to protect jobs when, in reality, it is solely motivated by potential financial hits.
While we are grateful for the university attempting to protect the staff of these offices, it is clear that the university views its own students—without whom this institution would not exist—as entirely expendable in the face of a state government which has turned its back on entire swathes of its constituents.
Conceding in advance—regardless of any public statements to the contrary—shows that the university’s administration does not care about the wellbeing of their students. If they did, they would fight for us.
Sunrise Palouse has not given up the fight. If the university is intent on throwing entire communities under the bus to appease a legislature which has shown open hostility to public education, then it falls on the community to remind them of their obligation to us and push them back onto the right path.
where individuals gather somberly. As usual, I was impressed by the Vandal Family’s ability to come together.
Hello, Vandals! My name is Martha Smith, and I am your ASUI President. I am grateful for the opportunity to be Student Body President for this academic year, and it feels surreal that the first portion is coming to an end. I’ve learned a lot in this role and feel grateful for the ASUI team this semester.
This semester, we are saying goodbye to three stellar individuals on ASUI: Rebekah Boyd, who will be graduating this semester, Taylor McKinnon, who will be studying abroad and Shakil Salim, who is concluding his senate term. We are incredibly grateful for this work advocating for student interests and look forward to where their professional endeavors will take them. Applications for Director of Public Relations and Director of Sustainability are currently open on Engage.
During November, ASUI hosted a gathering on Nov. 13 at the Vandal Healing Garden. Personally, I learned a lot about how to host an event like this
ASUI also volunteered for the Veterans Day Banquet in the ICCU Arena. We helped to serve the meal hosted by Idaho Eats and worked to ensure the event ran smoothly. We also completed our fall cycle of funding board and senate elections, both run by Director of Internal Affairs, Lalit Bansal.
We had over 500 students vote in the election and distributed over $7,000 to clubs. This wouldn’t be possible without Lalit, who consistently goes above and beyond in his position. (If you are reading this in the print edition of the Argonaut, bring a copy to my office in the ISUB and I will buy the first three people a cup of coffee or something from Soda Spout, whichever you prefer. Thanks for reading and supporting student journalism.)
We elected Izaak Krohn, Erika Amaral, Andrea Leal and Zoha Aqeel to the ASUI Senate, and I am so excited to see what each of them will do. We’ve also opened applications for our annual Legislative Ambassador Program, which is a stellar opportunity for students to gain an understanding of the legislative process and represent UI on a free trip to Boise. More
information is available on our Instagram, @asuidaho.
Personally, I spoke at FirstGeneration Celebration Day, which is near to my heart as a first-generation student, and finished the selection process for the artist who will be creating the ASUI monument outside of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. These are only some of the things happening in ASUI, but, as always, feel free to reach out to find out more.
For the semester, Senate spent $1,087.99, Cabinet spent
Am To 9:30 Am DeAdBeAt RuMbLe
• 9:30 Am To 12 Pm RoCk AnD RoHe
• 1 Pm To 2 Pm ThE HiDdEn FrEqUeNcY
• 4 Pm To 6 Pm ThIs MuSt Be ThE PlAcE
• 7 Pm To 9 Pm
DeMoCrAcY NoW
• 8:30 Am To 9:30 Am
ThE BiG BoBbEr ShOw
• 12 Pm To 2:30 Pm
ThE StOrYtElLeR’s LoUnGe
• 3:30 Pm To 5:30 Pm
FiRsT ThErE Is A MoUnTaIn
• 6 Pm To 8 Pm
fOxCaTcHeR
• 9 Pm To 11 Pm
PaRaDiSe RiDgE AnD A DeAd
MuLe
• 11 Pm To 2 Am
VaNdAl ScOrEbOaRd
• 10 Am To 11 Am
RaTs EaTiNg SnOw CoNeS
• 1 Pm To 3 Pm
BaToRuDoRaGoN, battle
fairy paix verte
• 4 Pm To 6 Pm
AlL ThInGs AlT
• 10 Pm To 12 Am
$1,504.40 and the President/ VP spent $1,897.28 on various student engagement efforts, supplies and events. As we move into the next semester, I anticipate our spring expenditures to outpace the fall because of the Winter Social event and Legislative Ambassadors event in Boise.
For a complete breakdown of this semester spending-wise, please feel free to reach out. We value transparency and feedback and can only effectively do so with communication from the
student body.
Moving into next semester, we are not experiencing the amount of turnover we typically see as a result of the appointment process accounting for the lion’s share of the senate and great retention in our Cabinet. As a result, ASUI is well equipped to hit the ground running in the spring, which we intend to do.
Thank you all for allowing me to serve as ASUI President. Here’s to one more semester! Until next time, Go Vandals!
DeMoCrAcY NoW
• 8:30 Am To 9:30 Am In KaT’s HaT
• 12 Pm To 1 Pm
JaMmIn’ WiTh JaMeS
• 5 Pm To 6 Pm
SiLvEr SpIkEs
• 7 pm To 8 Pm
HoT WaX
• 10 Pm To 12 Am
DeMoCrAcY NoW
• 8:30 Am To 9:30 Am
ThE Mo ShOw
• 12 Pm To 1 Pm
JaZz FrEaK
• 4 Pm To 7 Pm
MiX-uP
• 7 Pm To 9 Pm
SoMeThInG ViCiOuS FoR
ToMoRrOw
• 10 Pm To 12:30 Am
EaSy SkAnKiN’
• 3 Pm To 5 Pm
MeSsAgE FrOm MaRs
• 6 Pm To 7 Pm
lAtE NiGhT At ThE LiBrArY
• 10 Pm To 12 Am
