Vandal Healing Garden opens
the Vandal Healing Garden is and why it was built.
“It’s about coming together in moments of grief and reflection, to share the burden of sorrow that we all experience, and about taking time to reflect on those we have lost and communicate with them in meaningful ways. That is what the essence of the healing garden is about: to be a bridge to those that are no longer with us,” Eckles said.
Hundreds of students, faculty and community members gathered at MacLean Field for the official opening of the Vandal Healing Garden on Aug. 21.
The speakers and attendees praised the efforts made to construct the garden and highlighted its value for all Vandals, past, present and future.
The Healing Garden is a project to memorialize and remember all the Vandals who have passed away while enrolled at the University of Idaho, spurred by the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen on Nov. 13, 2022.
After three months of construction, the previously empty MacLean Field has branching walkways, a diverse plant garden and a gazebo-type structure in the middle. The structure in the middle houses a sculpture and four plaques with the names of the four vandals who died in November 2022. There are also several spaces in the structure where students can leave letters to students who have passed away. The UI Library will be collecting these letters and archiving them. Above the field is a tall silver beacon on the hill that lights up the garden at night.
Blaine Eckles, the Dean of Students and Vice Provost of Student Affairs for UI, spoke during the ceremony. He explained what the purpose of
Eckles also shared that the idea for the healing garden was not a new one. He said that since he started working at UI in 2015, he has known 37 Vandals who have died while enrolled at UI. He named a few Vandals that passed away while enrolled, such as Katy Benoit, Michael Bonar, Hudson Lindow and others.
“The thing that unites all of those students and many more is that they were Vandals enrolled here at the University of Idaho,” Eckles said.
Eckles also thanked students and community members for their help and support with the garden. He revealed that the 19 students who worked on the garden over the summer were not paid and earned no credits.
Katy Benoit month events scheduled
September marks campus safety month
Allyssa Dotson ARGONAUT
September is an important month at the University of Idaho as it is a time of remembrance and learning. UI hosts the Katy Benoit Campus Safety Awareness Month every September to provide students and faculty with safety-orientated events.
Katy Benoit was a graduate student at the university in 2011 when she was killed by a professor who she had a romantic relationship with previously.
The first event of the month is taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Campus Safety Resource Fair in the ISUB Plaza.
The full list of campus events are listed here:
Sept. 4: Campus Safety Resource Fair (11 a.m. - ISUB
Plaza)
Sept. 7-8: “Every Brilliant Thing” play for suicide awareness (7 p.m. or 2 p.m. - Forge Theater)
Sept. 12: Take Back the Night (7 p.m. - Ag Sci 106)
Sept. 13: Campus Safety Crafternoon (12:30 p.m.- Women’s Center Memorial Gym 109)
Sept. 17: Responding to Disclosure of Interpersonal Violence (2 p.m.- Register Online)
Sept. 20: Disfluency Film Screening- Katy Benoit Campus Safety Forum (7 p.m.- Kenworthy Theater)
Sept. 21: Green Dot Bystander Intervention Workshop (9 a.m.- TBA)
Sept. 23: Virtual Green Dot for Employees (10:30 a.m.- Register Online)
Sept. 27: SASS Go Women’s Self Defense Class (4 p.m.- Register Online)
Kingsmore ARGONAUT
Presented by the University of Idaho’s Habib Institute for Asian Studies, AsiaPOP! is underway.
This year’s theme is “Korean Wave,” highlighting the surge of Korean popular culture that has swept its way abroad. From Sept. 11 to Sept. 12, the guest speaker portion of the event will commence.
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, Mijo Park will be speaking on the past and current state of U.S.-Korean relations. Park is the Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle. The discussion will be from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in Admin 204.
Shortly afterward at 12:30 p.m. in the Haddock Performance Hall at the Lionel Hampton School of Music, Korean indiepunk band God of Universe will be speaking on the Seoul music scene.
John Keegan | Argonaut
Two people embracing each other at the opening of the Vandal healing Garden and Memorial
John Keegan | Argonaut
The beacon, a part of the Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial
UI partners with USDA to develop robotic weeding device
Students and faculty use AI to identify and eliminate weeds
Alison Cranney ARGONAUT
The University of Idaho recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to design a robotic system created to exterminate weeds. Developed for use at the Coeur d’Alene Nursery, the robot moves along rows of seedlings, scanning for weeds using artificial intelligence. The project’s main goal is to enforce sustainability and reforestation. By minimizing weeds, seedlings are allowed more access to nutrients from soil and can grow stronger and faster. Streamlining weeding efforts additionally cuts down on costs required to do so manually.
costs and reliance on chemical pesticides and fossil fuels, improving locally adapted plants and strengthening reforestation efforts,” Dumroese said in a press release from UI.
The three-foot-wide robot utilizes electricity to eradicate weeds. Other methods of extermination were considered,
developing the robot includes a plethora of UI students and faculty including computer science graduate students Garrett Wells and Brent Knopp, undergraduate student Kevin Wing, postdoctoral researcher Mary Everett and the director of UI’s Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics, John Shovic.
Kas Dumroese, a former researcher for the U.S. Forest Service who played a vital role in the development of the design, discussed the project’s focus on sustainability. “Autonomous weed eradication will reduce our labor
including lasers and flamethrowers, before eventually settling on the final product. The team responsible for
Shovic currently estimates the robot’s accuracy at 80-89% with hopes to increase that percentage going forward via continuous improvement of the AI.
Officials from all six Forest Service nurseries spanning nationwide were in attendance for the demonstration that took place last month.
Future potential for the project includes trialing the system on other nurseries beyond Coeur d’Alene. Data collection and further experimenting will continue through 2025.
Mobile pantry fights food insecurity in rural areas
Idaho Foodbank serves over 19,000 people monthly with mobile pantries
Rebekah Weaver ARGONAUT
In Idaho, more than 8% of the population are considered food insecure. While that may feel like a small percentage, it equals more than 40,000 children and even more adults. To combat this statistic, the Idaho Foodbank offers various programs, including a mobile food pantry on the fourth Monday of every month at 10 a.m. on the Latah County Fairgrounds.
When people are unable to access nutritious food, it can “negatively affect their health and increase their risk of developing chronic diseases,” according to the Idaho Foodbank.
The mobile pantry program was started to distribute “dry and frozen food to underserved, usually rural, communities,” according to the statement on their website. The mobile pantries create access to food for those who are either in need or have difficulty accessing food assistance. According to a food pantry volunteer, the mobile pantries have made an impact for people in small towns that have limited food options. Mobile food pantries are also attainable for communities that do not have the space or ability to construct a building for food distribution.
For mobile food pantries to work, the Idaho Foodbank loads and transports food in their trucks to take to community volunteers, who then unload and distribute the food to those in need. These food pantries serve 68 communities in 609 mobile distributions over the course of a year, which amounts to an average of 19,873 people served a month, according to their website.
One mobile pantry user said, “[The mobile pantry] is a good resource of anybody that finds it challenging.”
The mobile pantry utilizes the strategy of “keeping it local” to have a greater reach.
The Idaho Foodbank found that people are more willing to accept food assistance and go to these pantries “when they are approached by people they know.” This approach allows individuals to “preserve their dignity” while the program still effectively reaches people.
The Idaho Foodbank continues to support the hunger relief of children, families, individuals and seniors by distributing nutritious food. For more information about their programs and volunteering, visit the Idaho Foodbank’s website, idahofoodbank.org.
Kohberger attorneys still seek a change of trial venue
Attorneys
suggest Ada County over Latah County
Allyssa Dotson ARGONAUT
On Thursday, Aug. 29, Bryan Kohberger and his legal team continued fighting for his upcoming trial to change venues from Moscow to Boise, citing the higher likelihood of an unbiased jury.
Prosecutors continually said that moving the trial 300 miles away would result in more media attention in Boise and inconvenience for all parties.
Latah County Judge John Judge said the decision would be difficult as both sides made fair points for keeping and moving the trial.
Kohberger is being charged with four counts of murder for the deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.
media coverage for the case since February of 2023.
One of the key points to Murphy’s assessment was the difference in population and saturation of media coverage between the two counties. After showing several graphs and diagrams Murphy said, “While [media attention in] Ada [County] spiked, it had a slow decay following and when looking at Latah County it’s been consistent.”
During cross examination pros-
crime occurred. Edelman raised the concern of whether a jury could truly be unbiased with pressure from a small community.
If a juror found themselves wanting to acquit Kohberger, there could be external pressures of returning to a community who has already deemed him guilty.
Edelman conducted a large phone survey to several counties including Latah and Ada to assess and compare the media coverage in each county.
The defense brought four witnesses to the stand in Thursday’s all-day court hearing beginning with James T. Murphy, the president of Truescope, a media monitoring and data analysis company. Murphy and his team have been monitoring
ecutors asked whether moving the trial to Ada County would result in higher media saturation in the area and Murphy predicted the media coverage could spike.
Dr. Bryan Edelman, a trial consultant, said the media coverage has saturated Latah County since the
Within Latah County, 98% of the participants were aware of the crime and roughly 67% claimed to have followed the case as it has progressed with 29% claiming to have watched it “very closely.”
In Ada County about 93% of the participants had heard of the case and 68% believe Kohberger to be guilty of murder. Only 15% of the participants have kept up with the case closely.
Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s defense attorney said the defendant has a right to an unbiased jury which would not be found in Latah County with its persistent media coverage.
An alternative suggestion from the prosecution was moving the trial to the Nez Perce or Kootenai counties to save the state money and resources.
ASIAPOP!
FROM PAGE 1
Later, at 2:30 p.m., Jungmin Kwon from Portland State University will be sharing her speech, “K(Q)ueer-pop: Queer (In)Visibility in Korean Popular Culture,” at the Clearwater Room in the ISUB.
Kwon is an associate professor of digital culture and film studies in the School of Film at PSU. She studies gender and sexuality, media industry and fans and Korean pop culture within digital culture and film. She is the author of “Straight Korean Female Fans and Their Gay Fantasies,” which Iowa State Press describes as “about ardent Korean female fans of gay representation in the media… and, above all, their contribution to reshaping the Korean media’s portrayal of gay people.”
Kwon’s presentation will be related to her upcoming second book, titled, “Between (In)Visibility: Queer Media Cultures in Contemporary South Korea.”
On Thursday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m., Ji-yoon An from the University of British Columbia (UBC) will be speaking on “The Evolution of K-Drama Romances” in the Clearwater Room in the ISUB.
An is a scholar of Korean Studies with an interest in cultural trends and flows who is also trained in film studies. She is now an assistant professor of modern Korean popular culture at UBC.
At 4 p.m. in the Summit Room in the ISUB, writer, director and actor Justin Chon will be giving the final guest speech, “Exploring Honesty in Representation.”
Chon recently directed the Gotham Award-winning series “Pachinko,” one of Apple TV’s most successful television series to date. As a prolific actor, writer and director, his films “Blue Bayou” and “Ms. Purple” have premiered at Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival respectively. According to his bio on the AsiaPOP! site, “he is currently directing the new Jason Momoa-led Apple TV+ series ‘Chief of War.’”
Kohberger and his attorney Ann Taylor
University of Idaho | Courtesy
UI student Brent Knopp, professor John Shovic and students Garrett Wells and Kevin Wing stand with their autonomous wheeled robot that uses AI to detect and eradicate weeds
John Keegan | Argonaut Student looks at Korean Wave gallery exhibit in ISUB
“What you see behind me is the work of student effort. I told our students, when they began on this project last fall, just about a year ago, that they held the heart of the university in their hands and to take care of it, and they have completely honored and followed through with that truly. Our students were the leaders through this project, and they are the reason we are standing here today, dedicating this healing space.” Eckles said.
President Scott Green congratulated the Department of Art and Architecture students who worked over the summer to build gardens and sculptures. He highlighted how the garden is a community response to tragedy.
“Today, we consecrate this ground as a place where all can reflect, honor their memories and heal. It’s a reminder that even in moments of sadness and darkness, we can always find light in the wake of tragedy. I take great inspiration from the response of our community and the amazing resilience of the families involved.” Green said.
Drew Giacomazzi, a member of Sigma Chi, the healing garden committee, and a friend of Ethan Chapin also spoke at the ceremony. He thanked all of the people involved with the healing garden committee, and to all of those who donated money to it. He concluded his speech with a commemoration of each of the four fallen Vandals.
“Do more of what you love to honor Kaylee, spread love with random acts of kindness for Maddie. Be silly, and do something spontaneous and fun to honor Xana, and tell stories with an abundance of laughter to live life like Ethan,” Giacomazzi said.
Shauna Corry, the Dean of the College of Art and Architecture, thanked all of the people involved with the technical side of construction, as well as the students who dedicated their summer to building the garden.
“They worked with material suppliers, local businesses, and numerous facility shops here on campus to make this happen.
They worked a split shift to avoid the record heat, and whenever I visited, I was impressed with their positive attitude and willingness to take every step and every extra effort to ensure the success of this project,” Corry said.
Martha Smith, the ASUI President, concluded the ceremony with a reading of names of Vandals who have passed away since November 2022, followed by a minute-long moment of silence: Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Rajit Raut, Caden Young, Jayson Gray and Rhayman Freiburger.
Scott Lawrence, the lead advisor for the Vandal Healing Garden construction and an Associate Architecture Professor, attended the event alongside the team of students who built the garden over the summer.
He shared some experiences he had while working on this project.
“When we took on the project, it was an honor, and it was daunting as a possibility even to be doing something like this. And I don’t think we had any idea at the time how this would change all of us.”
Lawrence explained that he finds himself reflecting on how much change he has seen in himself and the students participating in this project.
“I think I’m honored to work with students who do this for all the right reasons because they knew that they might be able to help. And so, I feel gratitude for everybody who’s helped on this, making it possible,” Lawrence said.
Aaron Magalsky, an architecture major who worked on the garden, said: “Real blood, sweat, and tears went into this project in a way that I never truly understood that phrase until now.”
Magalsky also recalled a stand-out moment while constructing the garden.
“I remember when we first plugged the beacon in, it was sundown, and the lights were off. We were working until 9 p.m.
That’s when someone
plugged in the beacon, and everyone dropped their tools to turn and look at it. I remember it being pretty amazing,” Magalsky said.
Former Moscow Police Chief James Fry also attended the ceremony and commented on the garden.
“It’s a great, great tribute to all Vandals,” Fry said.
Jazzmin Kernodle, Xana Kernodle’s older sister, also attended the ceremony.
“Everyone involved with this project has done an amazing job. It’s been a privilege to be a part of the planning process. It’s a really beautiful thing to see all of these people coming together to make this happen,” Kernodle said.
She also commented on the future of the garden.
“This garden will be here on campus for many years to come. People will gather here to feel grief, loss, and all of the emotions in between. But what I think is really beautiful is that people will come here to heal.”
“IT’S A REMINDER THAT EVEN IN MOMENTS OF SADNESS AND DARKNESS, WE CAN ALWAYS FIND LIGHT IN THE WAKE OF TRAGEDY.”
John Keegan | Argonaut
The pavilion of the Vandal healing garden stands behind the lights of the beacon
John Keegan | Argonaut Visitors explore the Vandal Healing Garden for the first time
John Keegan | Argonaut
The beacon shines light over campus
John Keegan | Argonaut Dean of Students Blaine Eckles speaks at the Vandal healing garden dedication
Silent Film Festival at Kenworthy this month
Experience 1920’s cinema with live music from local composers
Presley Zimmerman ARGONAUT
The Kenworthy Silent Film Festival is back for its second year, kicking off on Sept. 4 with a month-long celebration of 1920s cinema paired with fresh music from regional composers. The event will be hosted at the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, featuring a different film each week, accompanied by unique classical musical scores performed live by musicians from Washington State University and University of Idaho. Screenings will begin at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $10 to $20, with discounts available for students.
The festival opens on Wednesday, Sept. 4 with “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans,” a 1927 classic with a new score by composer Isabella Morrill performed by the Washing-
ton Idaho Symphony, conducted by Dr. Danh Pham, artistic director and conductor from WSU.
The series continues Sept. 11 with a screening of “The Unknown” (1927), featuring a club jazz score by UI Professor Max Wolpert and musicians from the Lionel Hampton School of Music.
On Sept. 19, attendees can experience “A Page of Madness” (1926), a Japanese psychological drama directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa. This screening will include a new score for cello and sound collage by UI’s Dylan Champagne and will feature live narration by renowned Benshi artist Ichiro Kataoka, who joins the festival from Tokyo on a U.S. tour.
The festival concludes on Sept. 25 with Harold Lloyd’s iconic comedy “Safety Last!” (1923), showcasing a new percussion score by Lionel Hampton School of Music alumnus Liam Marchant.
The festival is supported by the Idaho Arts Commission, Idaho Humanities Council, UI Habib Institute for Asian Studies and The Japan Foundation.
Seasonal work: a place for discovery
being in the woods?” they said. “I think one of the requirements for the job was that you had to like being outdoors.”
On the job application, SIHA explained that this job allowed workers plenty of space to roam.
Only days after moving out of their first-year dorm at the University of Idaho, Morgan McCully was packing up again to head to scenic Stanley, ID, for the summer. Little did they know that their time working at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area would be more than just a seasonal job.
McCully, 19, is pursuing a double major in history and anthropology at UI and worked as a historical specialist for the Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association.
SIHA is a non-profit that works to preserve the heritage of the Sawtooth region, primarily through educating the public. Working closely with the National Forest Service, McCully and their coworkers worked for the Stanley Museum and the Redfish Visitor Center all summer.
“There were two historic specialists… and three naturalists,” McCully explained. While they were in the museum, walking through the displays and elaborating on history, “[the naturalists] worked on boats and at trailheads educating the public” on the natural world around their visitors.
According to the National Forest Service, the Sawtooth National Recreation Area where McCully worked boasts 756,000 square acres. The SIHA website explains that Congress established the SNRA in 1972 and it has since been meticulously cared for as one of Idaho’s greatest natural areas.
“[My job] is just educating people on how to best exist within a space designed to be protected, preserved, and used for generations to come,” they said.
McCully has lived their entire life in Idaho’s great landscapes. Growing up in Troy as part of their family’s ranch work for countless years, McCully grew a deep love of the outdoors. Being inside for too long makes them antsy.
The opportunity to do the two things they loved -- talking about history and being outside nearly 24/7-- made this position a perfect fit for them.
McCully appreciated that, noting how this job was more than just going to work but also living in the forests they were educating on. Exploring that space to was incredibly important to McCully and their coworkers, who all shared similar life stages of an early career.
McCully has a knack
know how to respect it and be a good steward of the land,” they said. McCully found their work to be important, both as a field in general and specifically for the region they were teaching about.
McCully made a point to shout out the UI library archives when discussing what they researched.
“The library has a fantastic digital collection on the CCC in Idaho that contains pictures, documents, and oral history interviews, and I think everyone should check it out,” they said.
“Because we’re an
their passions.
By the time they got to work with SIHA this summer, they found that they much preferred the in-the-dirt work to museum life. To them, though, this realization of not enjoying a particular line of work was just as beneficial as discovering a new passion.
“Getting to explore who I am as a person while doing a job that I thought I would really enjoy… That’s just a big thing,” they said. “I didn’t really enjoy [museum work] that much… I just learned it’s not really my thing to sit at
like that end date could be sooner than you expected.”
McCully and their coworkers were put on a Stage Two evacuation notice, which meant all of their belongings had to be packed and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
Being familiar with the West’s almost annual forest fires during the summer, McCully was less afraid for their safety than some of their bunkmates. They don’t remember seeing a summer without smoke in the air. It was a normal part of their outdoor job.
for educating people about history, saying, “To be able to make history more digestible is really important. It can be really complicated and hard for people to understand—and it can be hard for me to understand, too—but being someone who is getting a degree in this field, I can help break down the sentences so they’re easier to read, in a sense.”
McCully also participated in public outreach through a research presentation. They researched and presented an hour-long talk on the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the SNRA.
The CCC was formed in 1933 from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, which brought young men into the workforce to do conservation work with the National Forest Service. They built roads, trails, powerlines, and campgrounds like those used today in areas like the SNRA.
educational non-profit, you have to know what you’re talking about,” McCully said when delving into their slight imposter syndrome being placed in the educator position.
“There’s so much going into making sure you’re educating the public correctly.” Going into their degree in 2023, McCully initially favored their history major over their anthropology major. They wanted to be a museum curator, making their whole job about educating others on history.
a desk all day.” They add, “There’s something to be said about hands-on work… I missed it. I like being able to flex those anthropology muscles.”
McCully emphasized the personal journey that the position allowed and encouraged. Part of their self-discovery was a pivot in career goals. Though this field wasn’t for them, McCully pointed out that it was still important and could have been perfect for somebody else.
a more in-depth understanding.
The best part about seasonal work that McCully gathered was that “every year is different.”
To them, the most important thing they gained during this summer was building connections with the amazing people around them. They lived with nine other people in a bunkhouse, their housing provided by the National Forest Service. Given the short time with their bunkmates, McCully said that there was “no room to be someone else.” They really valued what the people they spent their daily life with taught them about themself. These people made their summer as special as it was. When asked about the most valuable takeaway, McCully said, “I think I learned most about the importance of putting all of you into something… How many times have I had the opportunity to be in a beautiful place with an amazing job doing the best that I could possibly do?”
Given the limited nature of seasonal work, McCully’s nugget of wisdom was, “There is no bigger regret than knowing you could have done more and understanding that you didn’t.”
“Who doesn’t love
“We’re in such a special place that you need to
However, over the last year, McCully started appreciating their anthropological studies much more. With professors like Mark Warner encouraging them, they found a new passion for archaeological work through their field school in the fall 2023. By working with Idaho Public Archaeology and UI’s Archaeology Program to dig up artifacts near Moscow High School, McCully’s hands-on experiences started to turn the tide on
Near the tail end of their time, there was a complication: the forest fire near Redfish Lake. The fire started Thursday, July 11, only 8 miles south of Stanley. Though McCully was far enough from the fires not to need immediate evacuation, they report Stanley being desolate for several days.
”It was scary and it made a lot of things uncertain,” they said. “Time is already so limited. We all knew we had an end date, but then suddenly, it felt
“I fully trusted the fire crews. Those professionals are doing what they’re trained to do and they did an amazing job,” McCully said. Nonetheless, McCully had to reckon with what was important to them in the uncertainty, both in a physical sense—“What would I be okay burning up in a fire?” they joked— and in a personal sense. Knowing they may have less time with the people they had grown to appreciate inspired fear in them every day they came back from work. “What if this is the last time I see these people again?” they would ask themself. Though they were familiar with living in Idaho’s landscapes, McCully gained a deeper appreciation and knowledge about the surrounding wildlife from their coworkers. They said that being around people who study nature for a living rubbed off on them and gave them more respect for Idaho wildlife through
Living intentionally was another life lesson from this summer. With how little time they had in Stanley, McCully understood the rewards of living in the moment and getting as much from the present as possible. As a worker, student, and person, the value of seasonal work comes from their ability to throw themself into it entirely.
”You can’t swim with your hair dry,” they joked, a poignant analogy for the summer experience. Ultimately, McCully said they would love to return to seasonal work. It’s a great opportunity for students and recent graduates to learn who they are and what they like doing with less commitment, they said.
“It’s a great way to use skills that you are being trained for to give them practical application while also learning about yourself,” they said. “There’s something to be said about going out, trying something new for a couple of months and watching yourself become a changed person… It’s a special thing and I’m so grateful.” Student shares how their summer job impacted
Morgan McCully | Courtesy
Morgan McCully worked in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area for the summer
Kenworthy Performing Arts Center | Courtesy Posters for the upcoming silent films at the Kenworthy
‘Short n’ Sweet’
The pop star’s sixth album blends upbeat vibes with a sharper, more explicit edge
Brooklynn Jolley
ARGONAUT
Singer, songwriter, actress and fashion icon, Sabrina Carpenter, just released her sixth album, “Short n’ Sweet” on Aug. 23. The album features 12 tracks, including some of her hit singles such as “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” After performing on the Eras Tour with Taylor Swift, Carpenter gained mass amounts of popularity, which further skyrocketed after she began dating “Saltburn” star, Barry Keoghan. Carpenter released a teaser song from her album as early as April 11, 2024, then another on June 6, 2024. These hit songs generated a lot of hype for this album, as well as some drama and speculation about the meaning behind her song “Please Please Please.” Fans speculated that her song might have been about her boyfriend, Keoghan, because of his jarring role in the popular movie, “Saltburn,” alongside his appearance in her music video for the song.
“Short n’ Sweet” starts off with a track called “Taste” and then jumps right into “Please Please Please” as the second track. “Espresso” sits in the middle of the
The successful conclusion to 2024’s Screen on the Green
Megan Kingsley
ARGONAUT
The final film showing of this year’s Screen on the Green, “Wayne’s World,” was a hit. The quantity and frequency of laughter that echoed across the lawn was evidence of the 1992 movie’s still-relevant humor. The comedy began before the film. As students and Moscow residents found their seats on the lawn, a member of the Department of Student Involvement set up the projector. There were some initial technical difficulties. The speakers crackled and the audio was fragmented, but the crowd remained upbeat. Jokes were shared while the issues were resolved. Before long, the sky darkened, and the movie began. The absurd humor and references were clearly not lost on the crowd. Viewers particularly enjoyed the jokes about overt product placement. The self-awareness and fourth wall breaks of the film led to constant giggles and commentary. When the film ended, all previous technical difficul-
album, and it’s finished off with a song called “Don’t Smile.”
Carpenter’s album has a very peppy and upbeat vibe to the music, but there’s some very apparent hints of revenge and reminiscence in her lyrics. As the album indicates with the title, she keeps things very “short and sweet” in this album. The title serves as double meaning, representing her as a person, being both short and sweet.
This album was much more explicit for Carpenter. She’s been doing some rebranding to her image, leaning more into the “man eater” pop icon than the “sweet and soft” popstar she started out as. “Short n’ Sweet” is a clear shift from her old image to her new emerging one.
The album has almost all explicit songs, which are all seemingly about an ex-boyfriend as well. The first three songs on the album, “Taste,” “Please Please Please” and “Good Graces” have the upbeat, pop vibes that Carpenter is known for, whereas the next track, “Sharpest Tool,” has a softer flow to it. “Coincidence” and “Slim Pickins” stand out as acoustic songs, something Carpenter hasn’t done with her music in a while.
Towards the end of the album, she has a song titled “Dumb & Poetic” that has a melancholy feel to it, and it truly showcases Carpen-
ter’s amazing range and etherealness to her higher vocals. She slows the album down with slower songs such as “Dumb & Poetic,” “Lie to Girls” and the final song of the album, “Don’t Smile.” It’s apparent that performing alongside Swift on the Eras Tour has had an impact on Carpenter’s music style. This album has many “Taylor-like” elements to it while still maintaining Carpenter’s own image and vibes. Pop lovers and Swift fans alike can definitely enjoy the influence Swift has had on this album and Carpenter’s new image for herself. All in all, it’s easy to see why her popularity has been increasing lately, and it’ll be interesting to see what Carpenter comes up with next.
ties were forgotten. A friendly student thanked the camera operator, which prompted several others to do the same.
“Wayne’s World” is a film of many things but most importantly, it’s a film about friendship. Through wacky ups and downs, Garth and Wayne were there for each other. That message felt particularly appropriate for the beginning of the semester. College is daunting whether it’s your first semester or your last. Having friends close by can help you through any hardship.
There is something magical about watching a movie on the big screen under the stars and hearing the laughter of fellow Vandals. Events like Screen on the Green bring people together.
“Wayne’s World” was one of 11 fantastic movies shown on the Tower lawn this summer. These shows are free, petfriendly and fun. That accessibility can be hard to find. Having fun often costs money, a resource college students must be mindful of. Several students mentioned they had never seen the movie before. It’s wonderful that they were granted that opportunity.
While “Wayne’s World” was the last Screen on the Green film of 2024, you can look forward to next summer. Screen on the Green is an annual tradition that runs on Thursday evenings from early June to late August.
Presley Zimmerman ARGONAUT
The Dean of Students Office, Vandal Health Education and the Idaho Repertory Theatre present “Every Brilliant Thing” starring Assistant Professor Craig A. Miller from the UI Department of Theatre. The life-affirming play is set to take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 And 2 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Forge theater. The play consists of highs, lows, wins, losses and overall complexities with the universal emotions that every human deals with. Written by Duncan
Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, “Every Brilliant Thing” is meant to connect the audience through life’s struggles, while also embracing its euphony. The play is 60-minutes long and will be followed by a Q&A with the Dean of Student Office, Vandal Health Education, and the Counseling and Mental Health Center.
Amanda Ferstead, Assistant Director of Health Promotion Recreation and Wellbeing at UI, is partnering with ASUI to integrate EBT with the University’s Suicide Awareness Week.
“It is not often that media portrayals of mental health get it right, but this show is full of hope, help and strength,” says Ferstead.
This will be the second consecutive year of “Every Brilliant Thing” being hosted at UI, ensuring a connection to suicide awareness for campus and the community. The showing on Saturday and Sunday is free for all to attend and tickets can be reserved online. University of
| Courtesy Sabrina Carpenter on “Short n’ Sweet” album cover
John Keegan | Argonaut The night sky over the palouse
Vandals fall short of upset against Oregon Idaho turns heads as they scare #3 Oregon in 2024 season opener
Bryce Norwood ARGONAUT
The Idaho Vandals traveled to Eugene on Saturday to face the No. 3 Oregon Ducks, who are FBS National Champion frontrunners and lost in a close battle 24-14.
In a game where Idaho was given a .4% chance to win, and Oregon was favored to win by over 40 points, the Idaho Vandals, despite the loss, defied many odds and brought the game down to the wire, being as close as 3 points with less than 10 minutes to go in the game.
Idaho’s defense shined against one of the nation’s most hyped-up offenses, and despite allowing 487 total yards, Idaho only gave up 24 points with some crucial plays, forcing a turnover in the game as well.
Senior Keyshawn James-Newby and sophomore Jaxton Eck both had stellar games for the Vandals.
James-Newby posted 6 tackles on the day, with 2 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in the second quarter on Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, which sophomore Dallas Afalava recovered. Jaxton Eck posted himself 14 total tackles, leading the Vandals.
The Vandals offense was shut out in the first half, only reaching within the Oregon 30 one time, where the drive ended in Layne’s pass being intercepted by Oregon’s Brandon Johnson.
go 3-and-out on their first drive of the 3rd quarter.
It wasn’t until midway in the 3rd when momentum started to swing in favor of Idaho, when the defense forced back-to-back turnover on downs inside of Oregon territory.
With 4:22 to go in the third quarter, Idaho took over at the Oregon 36-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Jack Layne handed the ball off to redshirt junior Elisha Cummings, who pitched it to redshirt freshman Mark Hamper. Hamper then pitched it back to Jack
the Ducks back, making them settle for a field goal to lead 17-7 with 12:43 to go in the game.
That is when the Idaho offense had their best drive of the game, going 75 yards in 7 plays, and after another trick play, Jack Layne kept it on the fake reverse for a 4 yard touchdown, making the score 17-14.
Idaho walked into the locker room at halftime with a 14-0 deficit, which came as a surprise to many. Idaho’s defense came right back out of the locker room with the same fire as they had in the first half, forcing Oregon to
Layne, who found redshirt junior Jake Cox wide open for 36 yards to cap off some absolute trickery on the flea flicker touchdown, cutting the lead down to 7. Oregon was able to drive down the field and once they reached the redzone, a costly holding penalty set
Oregon’s morale and momentum was nearing an all time low in this game, as the crowd was silent in shock over the Vandals being able to bring it within 3. That is until the Ducks, thanks to numerous great plays by Jordan James, drove down the field and reached the redzone. And on a crucial 4th and 7 on the Idaho 17-yard line, Oregon drew an offsides on Idaho’s defensive line, which then resulted in the game-sealing TD by Tez Johnson on 4th and 2. Idaho had very little life left, being down 10 with 2 minutes to go, and when redshirt freshman Jack Wagner came in for an injured Layne, his last effort pass was intercepted to end the game, 24-14. Jack Layne, who earned his first career start for UI against Idaho State last season, broke a collarbone during the game on Saturday. Coach Eck said that Layne had surgery on the shoulder and expected to return this season. Jack Wagner, a redshirt freshman, has been named the starter until Layne’s return this later in the year
The Idaho Vandals will travel to Laramie, Wyoming, to face their 2nd FBS opponent of the season, facing off the Wyoming Cowboys, who sit at 0-1, after losing to the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday. Both teams will be looking for wi-number one on the year on September 7, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. on truTV.
Vandals win home opener over IU Indy
Under the bright lights and roaring crowd of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, the Idaho Vandals women’s soccer team took care of business and won 2-1 against Indiana University Indianapolis in their first game at home this season.
The Vandals, behind two first-half goals from graduate midfielders Hannah AlfaroBlack and Margo Schoesler, closed out the Jaguars and moved their record to 3-2. In the sixth minute, junior outside back Kate Sprink booted a looping cross that found the head of Alfaro-Black.
Alfaro-Black guided her header into the bottom right corner, gave the Vandals an early 1-0 lead and gave Alfaro-Black her first goal of the season and in what AlfaroBlack hopes is not her last goal this season. “The ball got switched and ended up
with Kate Sprink and she was able to give (me) service. I was just on the back post and was able to connect my head to the ball,” Alfaro-Black said.
“It felt really good,” Alfaro-Black continued. “I wanted to start a streak here. I’m hoping this is the first of many, and I can keep going as games progress.”
The Vandals were in firm control and dictated the flow of the game for most of the half. Their sharp combination of passing and teamwork made it difficult for the Jaguars. That teamwork paid off again a few minutes later and the Vandals extended their lead.
In the 24th minute, sophomore midfielder Sara Rodgers picked up the ball just past midfield. She played the ball forward to senior midfielder Annika Farley.
Farley picked her head up and saw redshirt junior forward Sienna Gonzales streaking down the right wing. Gonzales received the ball then cut the ball back to
her left foot and played the ball with her left foot into space, which found the hot foot of Schoesler.
Schoesler struck the ball and curled it into the top right corner, giving the Vandals a 2-0 lead and her third goal in three straight games. The Vandals remained on the front foot the rest of the half and took a 2-0 lead in the locker room. The Jaguars, who registered 0 shots in the first half, came out and began to gain some momentum, and like the Vandals in the first half, struck early in the half.
In the 49th minute, senior forward Cassie Rodriquez stood over a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. Rodriguez’s low shot took an awkward bounce and ended up in the back of the net, giving the Jaguars some hope.
Idaho’s experience and championship DNA took over. They were able to take control of the game and show their composure in crucial moments and hold off the Jaguars’ comeback attempt, walk away with a well-deserved victory.
Even with the win, Head Coach Jeremy Clevenger thinks the Vandals can learn a lot from this game.
“(We) had a great first half, then let them back in the game, which is unfortunate,” Clevenger said. “But we created loads of chances, and I told them, this is a game that (is) a learning lesson for us about not keeping teams around.”
The Vandals took some punches early in the second back but were able to bounce back and react to the Jaguars’ adjustments. Alfaro-Black played a huge part in that the through her composure on the ball and her leadership helped prevail the Vandals
“Coming out at half, it was important to see what changes they were making and what changes we made,” Alfaro-Black said.
“For a little bit there, they did have some momentum, but we were able to get things under control and settle into the game. I think we handled (it) well.”
The Vandals leaned on more of their experience throughout their team, espe-
cially the backline, to get over the line and get the win.
“They know those critical moments,” Clevenger said. “Experience matters in those situations. They’re a big part of us, seeing the game out, and (I’m) proud of them and what they did tonight.”
One of those players has been Schoesler, who has had a steller start to the season with three goals in three straight games. Schoesler has been a big part of the Vandals’ success so far in the season and will be critical throughout the season as the Vandals look to defend their Big Sky Championship.
“She’s a great player. For her to find this kind of form and rhythm, I think once you find the back of the net, it becomes easier and easier,” Clevenger said. “She’s on a roll, hopefully that continues.”
The Vandals have a week off before they return home on Thursday, September 5, when they will face UC San Diego at 6 p.m.
Courtesy | GoVandals.com
Jake Cox taunts Oregon fans after 3rd quarter touchdown pass from Jack Layne
Jayden Barfuss ARGONAUT
Margo Schoesler scores 24th minute game winner, her third goal of the season
John Keegan | Argonaut Kyla Tucker eyes the ball
John Keegan | Argonaut Annika Farley attempts a cross
Does social media belong in presidential campaigns?
Questioning the significance of ‘memeifying’ presidential candidate Kamala Harris
Alison Cranney ARGONAUT
“kamala IS brat” declared Charli xcx, longtime pop star who has recently skyrocketed to A-list fame with her latest album. Posted to X (formerly Twitter) on July 21, the same day Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic nominee, the post has since accrued over 50,000 reposts, 300,000 likes, and has had an unfathomable impact on Harris’ campaign.
The British pop star Charli xcx (who, notably, cannot vote in the U.S.) has since commented on her unintentional spark that lit this strange political movement, telling New York Magazine that it was a one-off comment meant to be “positive and lighthearted.” This, however, is in of itself telling of how powerful social media has become in regards to our sociopolitical climate: all it takes is one post to entirely redefine the image of the person at hand.
If you’ve spent any time on social media whatsoever in the last month, odds are you’ve been subject to what can only be referred to as a “memeification” of politics. Countless edits of Harris’ more well known sayings have gone viral, many featuring remixes of songs from Charli xcx’s aforementioned album “brat”. Most notably,
The ASUI Address
a line from a speech given last year has gained traction, where Harris quotes her mother in reference to younger generations: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” she sports her iconic laugh, “You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”
Initially, the quote was discussed in tandem with other seemingly random things Harris has said during her vice presidential speeches, including her gushing over nostalgia for yellow school buses in 2022, or the time she discussed the Biden administration’s efforts to mitigate COVID19 by saying “it’s time for us to do what we have been doing, and that time is every day.” These moments were weaponized by Republicans to infantilize Harris as a political figure, with Democrats essentially ignoring the occasions altogether. Prior to Harris’ nomination, it appeared the public’s general consensus on the politician was one of dismissal - so how is it that her unserious comments have turned from a laughing stock to a means of political support?
As social media continues to cement itself into the cultural zeitgeist of the 21st century, the further it becomes entangled with important social structures such as politics. This convergence first became notable during the 2016 election, particularly by former President Donald Trump, who boasts an entire article on Wikipedia dedicated solely to his social media use. While before, platforms like X, Instagram, and Facebook were utilized socially, today they are used as a means of influence. Poli-
ticians such as Trump are free to spread whatever they please, such as a recent photoshopped image reposted on Trump’s Truth Social account that depicts Democrats like Harris, Biden and Hillary Clinton in orange jumpsuits. While this may appear to be a far cry from the lighthearted coconut tree edits of Harris, there is an underlying theme of utilizing doctored images and falsehoods to elicit strong emotions out of voters: while Trump is using memes to enforce a level of spite in his supporters against liberals, Harris has used them to make the election and her campaign a relatable entertainment spectacle.
With that said, the question remains whether or not this recent cultural development is ultimately beneficial to the structure of American politics as we know it. On one hand, memes featuring Harris are introducing her to young voters; those who may not have given politics a second thought could be more inclined to show up at the
polls in November thanks to the humor and relevancy her virality has afforded her. On the other hand, the blithe nature of these memes understates the significance of politics and the real life consequences that occur when a specific person or party is voted into office. I believe it can be argued that a large part of Trump’s 2016 win was due to many voters refusing to take him seriously. When a serious matter like politics becomes minimized, it takes power away from voters and into potentially dangerous hands. While Charli xcx had no clue her comment would create the
domino effect it did, this example of intertwining pop culture with politics is not the first and definitely not the last. Like with most things, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the topic of social media use in government affairs. The benefits of reaching a wider scope of potential voters cannot be understated - but the trivialization of politics is a dangerous rabbit hole the U.S. has perhaps already fallen into. Thus, as brat summer turns into election cycle fall, keep in mind the ramifications that a simple post or meme can have.
ASUI president shares plans for 2024-25
Martha Smith talks representing students, transparency, budget, and hot wings
Martha Smith ARGONAUT
What’s up, Vandals! My name is Martha Smith and I am this year’s ASUI President. In the past, we’ve had requests to make ASUI more transparent, so here I am! In every addition of the Argonaut this year, I’m writing a quick article on what ASUI has been up to with your student fee dollars. If you didn’t already know, ASUI staff and budgets are paid through student fees, which is a fee paid with your tuition. Most university student governments operate in the same way. Our ASUI Senate and cabinet both operate with $10,000 respectively and the president and vice pres-
ident both operate with a $2,500 budget each. So far this year, Emma Johnston (ASUI’s Vice President) and I have split the ASUI Retreat which totaled to $1,540, paid to the Outdoor Program. This helped to build relationships between ASUI and is on par with what has been spent in the past. In addition, ASUI is actively exploring grant options to fund student voting initiatives which will help aid in costs, up to $1,000, elsewhere in ASUI. I can assure University of Idaho students we are being intentional, effective and conservative with student fee dollars.
As we kick off the year, we’ve revamped the ASUI Office to make it more welcoming and effective for student feedback. Myself and Emma Johnston are here everyday in between classes to work for the student body. We’ve also hired a cabinet that includes all areas of campus from residence halls, multicultural organizations, greek students, off campus students and athletes. You can find out
more about our cabinet and who they are on our Instagram or by inquiry. We’re also rebuilding our Senate and looking forward to appointing a successful senate class. (We will still have Senate elections in the fall, but for now we are filling vacancies.)
ASUI is committed to representing UIdaho students here on campus and state wide equally, as both are important and a responsibility of ASUI. Jack Hatten, our Director of Athletics, and I have met to devise a strategic plan to ensure all sports are recognized and celebrated through ASUI this year. I’ve also been working with Lezly Macias, our Director of Community and Civic Engagement, to ensure ASUI provides robust and clear communication about voting in November. Given Idaho’s voting laws, we’re taking on the responsibility of making sure students have the resources they need. Please be on the lookout for communication about this and follow our Instagram page, @VandalsVote. Next, Rebekah Boyd, our Di-
rector of Public Relations, has revamped the ASUI Instagram to include a slew of information about what ASUI is doing. Finally, Lalit Bansal, our Director of Internal Affairs, is working on ensuring that the Funding Board has clear expectations for ASUI recognized clubs. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what ASUI has been up to. If you’re curious about what else we’re specifically doing, please feel free to reach out.
Emma and I are actively working on our campaign pillars which included Communicating with the Vandal Family, Enhancing the Student Experience, and Amplifying Student Voices. To communicate with Vandals, we’re ramping up our social media and ensuring that meeting minutes and agenda are actually posted. We also plan to have the ASUI Academic Advisory Council running by October, watch out for applications soon! To enhance the student experience, we’ve been in communication with ticketing to ensure that communication and accessibility of student ticketing is crystal clear, more to come on this soon. We’re also in communication with UIdaho’s emergency management to devise a plan to ensure students are safer in the classroom. Both of these are big projects and will take time, but we will keep you all posted. Finally, we’re amplifying student voices by creating an ASUI feedback form on our Instagram and rekindling the Idaho Student Association. (Shout out to our Director of Legislative Affairs, Bryant Sitts, for taking this on!)
I’ve been in ASUI for a long time and I am so proud of our team for hitting the ground running. I can assure Vandals that this will be one of the most effective and transparent years ASUI has had. If you’d like to learn more about our projects or who we are, please stop into the ASUI Office in the ISUB above Einstein Bagel. We want to hear the good, bad and ugly. One last plug, on September 6th, Emma Johnston (VP), Anya Zuercher (Pro Tempore), Seyi Arogundade (Chief of Staff) and myself will be participating in “Joe’s Inferno.” Basically, we’ll be eating hot wings and answering questions about ASUI. I am absolutely terrible with spice so it should be entertaining. We’ll make sure to link it on our Instagram. Until next time, Go Vandals!
Jacey Coleman Argonaut Kamala Harris featured with Charli xcx’s ‘brat’ album art
