The Arbiter 1.12.16 Issue

January 12, 2016 Vol. 28 Issue 18

The Arbiter

St u d e nt

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o f

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i a I do

Kendo Club attends cutting edge seminar. P. 10

Photo by Jared Lewis, Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

In d epe nd e nt

Inside:

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Justin Kirkham

editor@stumedia. boisestate.edu

MANAGING EDITOR Patty Bowen

managingeditor@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

NEWS EDITOR

Patrick Adcock news@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR August McKernan news@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

SPORTS EDITOR

Ali Roberts sports@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Rylan Kobre sports@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

CULTURE EDITOR

Brittany Lindstrom culture@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Jared Lewis digitalcontent@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

COPY EDITORS

Andrea Batten Thayne Casper

DESIGN MANAGER Ted Atwell

Devin Ferrell / The Arbiter

DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

crywolf facebokk page / Courtesy

Boise State Facebook Page / Courtesy

Cheyene Austin culture@ stumedia.boisestate.edu

BUSINESS MANAGER Connor Jones business@ arbiteronline.com

Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University and a designated public forum, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales.

The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

Check your dates, p. 6

Jam with Cataclasm, p.13

Contact Us

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Editor’s note

Find great coverage online first Justin Kirkham Editor-in-Chief

Welcome back, Boise State, to the next semester of your college career. While you ponder your syllabi and arrange your last minute classes, be sure to set aside time on your Tuesdays for The Arbiter. As we work to better arrange our journalistic efforts for the campus and community, our weekly print and online coverage will be well worth your time.

This semester, as part of our online initiative, The Arbiter will be switching to an online-first mode of publication.

This means all of our content

will appear on arbiteronline. com before it makes its debut in the print edition of the paper. As we implement this process, some stories might appear online in tandem with our Tuesday print release. In addition, some stories will likely be lengthened and further researched for their print release.

Think of each print issue as a showcase of The Arbiter’s best work and most pertinent coverage for the week. Picking up that issue, readers will find a fresh feature not yet premiered on The Arbiter’s website, along with the best possible spread of coverage from each of our sections.

These efforts will help us shift our focus to where the majority of our readership lies. And, in turn, our print product will become a collection of our best, most researched journalism instead of a collection of the entire week’s posts. Our website will instead host every piece of coverage we want to produce so our print product can be of the highest possible quality and maintain constant relevance.

In addition to more consistent online coverage, be sure to regularly check Arbiter Online for multimedia packages. Each week, The Arbiter will produce one article

with multiple pieces of digital content. As readers become more eager to watch videos, click through photo galleries and interact with embedded links and posts from social media, our journalism will reflect those preferred mediums.

In the end, these goals are in place to better serve you, our readers. By creating more website-only content and shifting our print product to a showcase of sorts, readers will be able to access a wider array of journalism as well as look forward to a weekly issue filled with the highest quality journalism we’ve created to date.

Visitt Arbiter Online for daily coverage, breaking news and multimedia packages. (Photo from Arbiter Online)

208.888.2799

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12/21/15 1:16 PM

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NEWS

Sex, money, drugs, guns seen on Yeti-Campus Stories News Editor

Piles of money, drugs and guns are what students are posting on the latest app directed at college students.

The app, Yeti Campus Stories, allows users to post pictures anonymously and link them to a university. Users can view all posts linked with the campus in “a story”—similar to Snapchat’s Campus Stories.

The difference between Snapchat’s Campus Stories and Yeti Campus Stories is the content is not filtered before it is posted.

Ben Kaplan, director of communications at Yeti, stated in an email, “The vision behind the app is to be a visual and local communication platform that connects communities in ways never before seen.”

According to Kaplan, the app has been one of the fastest growing social apps on college campuses since its launch last spring.

When asked further questions about the illegal and explicit posts on the app, Kaplan responded, “We’re unfortunately no longer available for this interview. Sorry!”

The company’s terms of use for the app state, “you may not post nude, partially nude, or sexually suggestive photos...you may not use the Yeti Campus Stories service for any illegal or unauthorized purpose,” and, “You are responsible for any activity that occurs under your account.”

After spending only a

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few minutes on the app one can encounter several nude images and a handful of “partially nude or sexually suggestive photos” as well as illegal activities.

More often than not, these images were the bulk of posts from users.

What is most interesting about the app is users are not required to make an account­ — or register an email address—to post images. No personal information is required whatsoever.

Because of this anonymity sophomore kinesiology major, Brian Thomson, feels comfortable using the app.

“I don’t really care if I post a picture of me smoking a bowl or not because no one is going to find out it was me,” Thomson said.

“It’s a really good way for people to see what college is really like. It connects you to people who are doing the same things you are doing, but can’t always talk about.”

According to Thomson, Yeti fills in the gaps Snapchat leaves when filtering its content.

“The craziest thing I’ve seen on the app was a guy snorting cocaine from a girl’s ass,” Thomson said.

“There’s some seriously crazy shit that people post.”

Dean of Students Christian Wuthrich said he is well aware of apps like Yeti, where anonymous users’ posts are tied directly with the universities.

“If students are posting things that reflect poorly on Boise State, our image

and our brand, I would be very concerned,” Wuthrich said. “We believe our image and brand speaks for itself. It’s important to separate what folks post on these platforms and what the institution stands for.

We really don’t know that these are indeed our students.”

Wuthrich is confident the university’s message on mainstream social media platforms will continue to prevail over these smaller social platforms.

Wuthrich warned students to be aware when posting on apps like Yeti, not only because of how it might effect the reputation of the university, but also because of how it could impact the individual’s reputation.

“If students are posting and promoting illegal behavior, that doesn’t reflect on our shared values and we would discourage that,” Wuthrich said.

Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

Patrick Adcock

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NEWS

Boise ranked most caring city

excited that you go there.” with their money as well.

Vice President of Devel- The Rescue Mission opopment at the Boise Res- erates without any govAccording to a recent cue Mission, Jason Billes- ernment assistance, yet study performed by Wallet ter, said he can attest to the is still able to achieve its Hub—a financial analy- genuine care Boise has for $5.8 million budget due to sis company—Boise was its homeless. community donations. ranked the number one “People want to get inThe Idaho Humane Somost caring city in the volved and make a differ- ciety has also seen a great United States. The cat- ence here,” Billester said. deal of success due to the egories Boise excelled in “We operate 365 days a willingness of community most were its care for the year, 24/7, but we really volunteers. community and homeless couldn’t do it without our According to Director of population. volunteers.”

Volunteer Services at the Senior communication According to Billester, Idaho Humane Society, major, Hannah Budke, said the Rescue Mission gets Melanie Larson, last year she was able to be a part of around 9,000 volunteers they saw 1,065 volunteers this caring city because of every year, and they have give 27,000 hours. This Boise State. Budke started a large impact on the city. was the equivalent of havvolunteering her freshmen “We average 500 people ing 13 full-time employyear and said Boise State a year that come to the ees. is a big contributor to this Rescue Mission, that go Because of volunteers’ type of community. from homeless to being efforts, the Idaho Humane “Boise is definitely a independent, self-suffi- Society was able to accept nicer city. Compared to cient, gainfully employed 1,036 cats and dogs from Los Angeles­ —where I’m and are no longer in need other humane societies from—people are really of our services,” Billester whose kennels were full. mean. Everyone is built said. “We’ve seen that the “Boise just fosters cararound the community,” last five years between our ing; it’s an easygoing city,” Budke said. “Boise is pret- four shelters.”

Larson said. “I’m always ty much all about Boise Billester said Boise resi- amazed how people want State.9,000 Everyone really dents volunteers a year Boise are not- only gener-Rescue to give ofMission their time and of comes together and gets ous with their time, but themselves.”

Patrick Adcock News Editor

Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

On average 500 people are rehabilitated due to the Boise Rescue Mission 80 percent success rate recovery program Boise Rescue Mission Last year – 1065 people volunteered giving 27,000 hours equal to 13 full time employees. - Idaho Humane Society

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NEWS

Check your Spring 2016 important deadlines Asst. News Editor

Fee Payment Deadline - Jan. 7 Classes Start - Jan. 11 Last Date to Waitlist or Add Without Permission Number - Jan. 15

Drop Fee Begins - Jan. 17 Last Date For Refund and Last Date to Register, Add, or Drop Without a W - Jan.25 Last Day Textbook Exchange is Open - Jan. 29

Residence Halls, Suites, and Townhomes close at Noon - May 7

Last Date To Drop With a W Or Completely Withdraw - March 18

Last Day to Apply for May 2016 Graduation Using myBoiseState - Jan. 15

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Final Exams - May 2-6

Spring Break - March 21-27

Graduation Commencement - May 7 Grades Due - May 10

Last Date Of Classroom Instruction - April 29

1/12/2016

Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

August McKernan

NEWS

Bookstore learns its lesson

Self-paced study. Anytime. Anywhere!

August McKernan Asst. News Editor

Fall 2015 brought a drastic change to the Boise State Bookstore’s organizational system.

Textbooks were sorted by author’s last name, rather than by course name, as in previous years. However, after negative feedback from students, bookstore management reverted back to the original system for this semester.

According to Nicole Gouvea, interim bookstore director, the decision to move the layout to a “by author” format for the Fall 2015 semester was made by the bookstore’s prior management team.

“The change of layout to author’s last name was done in an effort to better utilize space, eliminate the confusion around books used for multiple classes and process shipments faster, getting books to the shelf sooner for students,” Gouvea said.

Senior English major Marte Noeren, customer service specialist, explained they hoped it would be easier to locate textbooks using the “by author” system, which would localize all individual textbooks to one shelf location.

The current “by course” method scatters identical textbooks in several different areas, since some courses require the same textbooks.

She said some courses run out of the same textbook faster than others, so it can be hard to figure out whether or not the book is actually in stock.

“We figured if we did it by

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Enroll anytime!

Complete in one year or less!

Take ISI courses to resolve on-campus schedule conflicts, obtain transfer credit, satisfy prerequisites, or to pursue professional development or personal enrichment.

Choose from more than 100 online courses: Returning student Russ Mattox searches for a nursing textbook. (Photo by August McKernan / The Arbiter)

author’s last name, as long as you knew the title of the textbook or the name of the textbook’s author, you could find what you were looking for,” she said.

That was not the case for Jeff Martell, sophomore biology major.

A frequent shopper at the bookstore’s physical location, Martell considered the “by author” system an unwelcome change at the beginning of the year.

“I was kind of confused because I don’t usually know the textbook author’s name,” he said.

There were pros and cons to each system, according to Noeren.

“We had to help a lot more people find their books when it was ‘by author,’” she said.

“In that way we were more busy, but it also took us less time to put the books out.”

Employees now have to look up the course or courses each textbook belongs to

while sorting. Noeren said it takes a little longer but it’s just a matter of adapting.

Both bookstore employees reported the majority of students didn’t like the “by author” system.

“We had a lot of customers come to us and be like, ‘This isn’t working. This doesn’t make any sense,’ but others seemed to really like it,” she said.

Gouvea said the decision to change back to a “by course” layout was a direct result of feedback they received.

Under the “by author” system of organization last semester, it took Martell more than half an hour to locate all his textbooks. But as he stood in between book shelves piled high with educational materials organized “by course,” he had a more positive outlook.

“It should just take me like 10 minutes to find the right books that I need,” he said.

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Opinion

Letter to the Editor: “Go-On” and sign, Idaho Special education teacher in Caldwell, Idaho

Cavener is the creator and managing editor of the Idaho’s Promise blog. He is a 2009 University of Idaho graduate with a degree in Education.

There is some irony in the precarious position the Gem State has found itself in. Despite setting a goal in 2010 for 60 percent of Idaho’s young people under age 34 to attend postsecondary education, the Idaho legislature then decided the way to encourage young people to attend college is to significantly inflate the tuition costs for those would-be students in the subsequent years that followed.

This objective was coupled with a comedic “Go-On” and “Don’t Fail Idaho” campaign courtesy of Idaho’s Albertson Foundation, designed to prod would-be students into higher education despite the increasing costs to attend, tethered together with lackluster job prospects in the Gem State to find employment.

It appears Idaho’s leaders would rather ignore simple economics. They chose to pull the rug on funding at exactly the same time Idaho’s families were struggling to simply put food on the table. Even Idaho’s young citizens understand these basic behavioral economics concepts.

Dangling red herrings such as 21st century content standards, more

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school choice and greater STEM focus as the solutions to Idaho’s lackluster college enrollment misses the crux of the issue in entirety. While these topics are worthwhile discussions in the their own right, they miss the fundamental problem young people are facing.

This discussion need not be that complicated: if Idaho continues to ignore rising tuition costs, textbook costs, lab fees and student housing, then the Gem State should also be equally prepared to expect stagnated postsecondary enrollment and a continued brain drain of our most talented young people for greener pastures outside the state.

The Albertson strategy of admonishing young people into postsecondary attendance is as equally cruel as it is ineffective.

Young people living in a state dead last in the nation for wages, a state with exploding tuition costs and a state with negligible public scholarship opportunities are making a rational economic decision for their future when they decline to enroll in higher education upon graduation.

While our state’s leaders may continue to ballyhoo other reasons for this outcome, Idahoans are becoming increasingly impatient in addressing the fundamental problem facing high school graduates. As the price of public postsecondary enrollment continues to rise, the value of attendance in our

higher education programs continues to decline in the eyes of Idaho’s young people.

The two ballot initiatives currently circulating in our state are evidence that citizens have become disillusioned that their elected leaders actually plan on making any tangible changes to this status quo.

The first petition circulated by the group Stop Tuition Hikes has proposed a modest increase on tobacco tax to use the generated revenue in lowering Idaho’s tuition by 22 percent. The second initiative, sponsored by Idaho’s League of Women Voters, similarly, seeks to end tax exemptions coupled with reducing the sales tax to generate additional funds for our state’s budget.

There is a very real chance one or both of these initiatives will generate the signatures required to get on the ballot; there is an equally real chance Idaho’s voters will happily vote to reduce their sales tax and decrease the cost of sending their children to college if they are given the opportunity to vote on such a measure.

If Idaho’s leaders and the Albertson Foundation are truly interested in improving the rate of postsecondary enrollment, I wholeheartedly expect to see them give us the gift of gushing endorsements on both ballot initiatives.

I wouldn’t hold my breath.

"Do you support the initiative to increase tobacco tax to lower Idaho's tuition?"

Ryan Sparrell Sophomore Civil engineer "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

I don't smoke tobacco so sure."

Carla Velez Freshman Social work "Yes, I agree. I think there are things more important than cigarettes and it would make it less accessible for younger people to start smoking."

Tristain Youngstrom, Senior Health education promotion "Yes, I think it’s kind I think for the overall common good its beneficial and its preventative and promotes a healthy lifestyle.”

Chelsea Leasure, Freshman Radiology "Yeah, tuition is high as it is.

Tobacco isn't the best for people so overall it would be a good idea."

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Photos by patricia bowen, Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

Levi B Cavener

opinion

BSU’s insurance policies almost forced non-traditional students out Culture Editor

I am what is known as a “non-traditional” student.

When I started attending Boise State, the campus was “wet,” the Bookstore offered coupons for condoms at the beginning of the semester, students could ride freely in the quad and the fine arts buildings were always embraced by thick clouds of cigarette smoke.

Oh, and General Parking permits were only $68. Let that one sink in for a second.

Boise State has seen many rapid-fire changes in the decade I have spent on and off campus. The quad is less dangerous to navigate, and being around the Liberal Arts building is certainly easier on the lungs.

Yet, not all of these changes have been positive. Modifications to the health insurance policy created a situation where many non traditional students are unable to continue their education full time.

Thankfully, in late December, the Idaho State Board of Education stepped in and suspended the health insur-

1/12/2016

ance requirement before hundreds of students like myself began selling body parts or having babies to afford health insurance.

In February of 2014, Boise State made the decision to discontinue offering health insurance plans to students, even though carrying a plan was required for full-time enrollment. Most students were well aware of these changes and many new and returning students had the option to purchase a lowcost, short-term health insurance plan for the fall semester.

I picked up a semester’s worth of coverage for around $300. The coverage wasn’t great, but it’s what I could afford. Considered a “Cataclysmic” plan, it only covered a small portion of hospital bills should a dire event take place. There was no coverage for medication, regular doctor’s visits or reproductive care. SHIP, while expensive, provided extensive coverage for students and their families.

As I looked into purchasing health insurance coverage for 2016, I found myself longing for the Student Health

“

“

Brittany Lindstrom

The Idaho State Board of Education stepped in and suspended the health insurance requirement before hundreds of students like myself began selling body parts or having babies to afford health insurance.

Insurance Plan. According to the Healthcare Marketplace, instead of paying $300 per semester for coverage, I would have to find a way to dish out over $200 a month—even during summer break—for the same pittance I received on the short-term plan.

While I work part time to make ends meet, I still earn less than the required $11,700 per year to receive a government subsidy. Idaho’s refusal to expand Medicare or Medicaid—which insures elderly and low-income citizens—has created a statewide coverage gap that makes health insurance a luxury.

According to my insurance broker, mothers and young children are the only demographics who may qualify for low-income coverage.

Before the State Board of Education’s ruling voided the insurance requirement, I was left with very few op-

tions to continue my education full time. Purchasing a second short-term plan was out of the question. Idaho is the only state which prevents residents from purchasing two or more short-term plans a year—with exception to school-sponsored insurance plans like SHIP. Purchasing a plan for spring meant no hope for coverage in the fall.

To afford health insurance on top of my basic needs, I would need full-time employment that paid at least $10 an hour. Assuming I could jump on a job fast enough for the January 1 deadline, this type of employment would have left very little time for studying and—depending on the employer’s demands—I would be forced to skip classes or unable to sign up for required courses.

It would also negate any time I could have used for internships and extracurricu-

lars that are necessary to find a decent job post graduation.

Juggling full time employment with schooling is far from ideal, but the other “options” are far worse. My insurance broker’s only advice was to get pregnant or begin selling plasma or my eggs to cover the costs.

The situation was horrible and several of my colleagues were experiencing the same troubles and questionable advice. Selling our bodies grew more tempting by the day.

I doubt my findings are unique. According to the latest “Facts and Figures” published for the 2014-2015 school year, approximately 37 percent of students attending Boise State are over the age of 26 and are considered “non traditional” students.

This means 37 percent of the student body are too old to be on a parent’s plan and are lucky if they have a spouse with insurance. I am sure, among the remaining 63 percent of students, there are plenty of “traditional students” who are facing the same, bleak decisions.

I understand why SHIP had to go. What I do not understand is why Boise State

chose to save the institution money over what could have been most beneficial to students’ education. Demanding health insurance, while not providing it or any assistance to obtain it, created a system that hindered students’ progress and, in my opinion, ignored the university’s core mission of “providing leadership in academics, research and civic engagement.”

While the ruling to suspend the requirement means I will not be needing to bag a husband in order to continue my education, it does mean I will be without any form of coverage for the foreseeable future. The same goes for a vast majority of my colleagues who have decided it’s better to stay in school full time and risk our health now with the hopes of obtaining luxurious insurance somewhere down the road.

The policy suspension is not a solution, nor is it a step in the right direction. What it does is highlight the traditional student population as Boise State’s priority, while leaving the rest of us feeling like the University has stopped caring about non traditional needs.

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Feature

Kendo Club at

“

“

Ali Roberts

I practice as if I’m in a tournament, and when I am in tournament, I perform as if I’m in daily practice.

So going into a tournament really requires strong mental power to keep yourself calm and perform as usual.

—Kazuhiza Kaneda

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kendo on campus

Sports & Rec Editor

In a true meeting of Eastern and Western culture, the Rec Center filled with Iadio practitioners calmly and methodically warming up for the Kazuhiza Kaneda Iaido Seminar, while the speakers of the Rec Center blasted Green Day’s “When I Come Around” over the sound system.

The seminar took place Jan. 9 and 10 and was hosted and funded by the Boise State Kendo Club, who brought in eighth-dan Instructor from the International Budo University and eight-time All Japan Iaido National Champion Kazuhiza Kaneda. Kaneda traveled to Idaho from Japan for the first time to lead the the seminar on Iaido methods.

“Last time I was here I was impressed by all of your skills,” Kaneda said at the opening of the seminar. “I want you to show your dojo all you have learned here.”

“I got into kendo becau cipline and ritual involv There is a deep sense o in kendo that I haven’t other martial art and the that we have here with S is phenomenal,” said juni cation major and membe do club, Tyler Peterson. ery day you get to learn champion let alone some been the world champion For the club here on members focus mainly on Participants use a sword bamboo, called a shinai that covers the head, che wrists.

“I’m very for trying to do) to Idaho. I’ve been t 70 times for work, and so I really am trying to level instruction to this kendo club instructor an alumnus Robert Stroud

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Feature

ttends Kazuhiza Kaneda Iaido Seminar

use of the disved within it. of community found in any e opportunity Stroud Sensei ior communier of the ken. “It’s not evfrom a world eone who has n eight times.” campus, the n kendo form. d made out of i, and armor est, waist and

basics of iaido

“Kendo is Japanese fencing. Within that, there is also iaido,” said Stroud.

“Kendo is like hockey, and iaido is like figure skating. There is more precision, and the opponent is imaginary, so they really are complimentary.”

Students just beginning iaido are given a wooden sword called a bokken or bokuto and graduate to using a dull sword called an iaito. Once a student has reached third-dan; they are al-

lowed to use a sharped sword called a shinken.

The sport of iaido is different from kendo. It uses metal swords instead of swords made of bamboo. And, while there is no physical opponent one fights against, the movements suggest a battle against an imaginary opponent.

According to a video produced by the Kendo World team, in kendo competitions, participants are judged on different sword forms called kata, where competitors use very specific methods and movements to defend themselves from an imaginary enemy.

The standard set of forms called seitei deal with movements that are more physical and require a person to be more grounded.

“For me, I got into kendo about eight and a half years ago, so it’s been quite a long time ago for me. I originally got into it because I didn’t think that there would be any kendo in Idaho, and, to my surprise there was kendo. So I just decided to try it and I stuck with it for

a long time,” said club President Ken Tawara. “Iadio just kind of came with it for me. It was just really interesting—a lot of the forms, the meditative aspects of it and the physical aspects of it are also pretty tough as well, so it’s overall interesting for me.” kazuhiza kaneda sensei

The sole instructor of the seminar was Kaneda Sensei, who first began to learn Iaido from his father, who ran his own dojo when Kaneda was 16 years old.

“I practice as if I’m in a tournament, and when I am in tournament, I perform as if I’m in daily practice. So going into a tournament really requires strong mental power to keep yourself calm and perform as usual,” Kaneda said. “When practicing, I imagine that to maintain my calmness and strong mental power.”

The first type of seminar Kaneda participated in was a cultural exchange in Taiwan 20 years ago where he was a national guest.

Kaneda is also the rank of eighthdan, which is the current highest awarded rank within iaido. The holder must complete over a decade of training and pass a rigorous test requiring extensive knowledge of iadio. The rank of Dan is similar to the different degrees of blackbelts within other martial arts.

“I started teaching while I was learning in the dojo,” said Kaneda. “My father was the master of the dojo who sometimes asked me to teach some of the students. Then, I started working as an iaido teacher over 20 years ago.”

The entire event lasted two days, participants learned from demonstrations and feedback from Kaneda and attendees from all over the country.

“To watch him actually do his form, or kata, there is a presence in the room that doesn’t feel like it’s coming from him,” Tawara said. “He fills the place up. It’s a remarkable energy that comes from his forms.”

Photo by Jared Lewis, Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

o bring (kento Japan over I do kendo, bring higher s group,” said nd Boise State d. “The ken-

do club right now is a small number of students and we have some of the outside from the city club… my goal is to build this club up big enough to attend college tournaments for kendo and to have a kendo tournament here on campus.”

The club on campus is still fairly new, but it welcomes new members and hopes that this seminar will encourage more people to join. The club on campus holds beginner class from 7 to 8 p.m. in room 215 of the kinesiology building every Tuesday.

1/12/2016

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Culture

Cultural differences exist in body language Zoey Nguyen Staff Writer

Strong body language is generally considered a sign of charisma and confidence in the United States and most Western cultures, but certain mannerisms and touching may take on different meanings in other countries. One example of this is in certain Asian countries where body language doesn’t play a big role—rather, people are judged on the politeness of their speech.

Vietnamese freshman communications major Anh Dang understands these differences first hand.

“I don’t think we care about body language that much, since people in Vietnam focus more on the politeness in the way you talk. That’s why using body language is somewhat inappropriate in certain situations.”

“In Vietnam, only people who are close to you feel comfortable with hugging and touching, or else it can be considered

rude,” Dang said.

However, in countries such as Colombia, physical contact is considered more casual and common.

“When saying hello and goodbye to people, you normally give a kiss on the cheek, like women to women and men to women—but not men to men—even if you’re just meeting them for the first time,” said Alejandro Hortet, a senior engineering major.

As for areas like the Middle East, body language is socially regulated by even stricter standards. Adam Coffin, junior international business and accounting major, has spent several years living in the Middle East and explained the vast generational differences.

“Mostly in the older generations, but also in

ours, men do not touch women at all unless they are blood related or married,” Coffin said. “It is acceptable for men to show

physical affection for each other as friends by kissing on the cheek in two separate ways.”

Jan Stephens, Boise State

professor in the Department of Management, said there is a reason for these different rituals.

“It really is a matter of how people are raised. Even among families, if a certain family isn’t touchy, the children grow up to be not very touchy adults as well,” Stephens said. “So it’s the same with cultures. In some cultures it’s disrespectful to look in the eye, but in the U.S. it means you are telling the truth. Yet, in Native American culture it is thought that you are stealing someone’s soul.”

Many students may be uncertain how to deal with those differences.

They may ask themselves, “If two cultures clash, what approach would be the best option?”

As someone who has personal experience with this clashing of cultures, Coffin advises finding middle ground and sticking to a handshake, which is acceptable in most cultures.

As an employee of International Student Services, Hortet also has experience in such scenarios.

“They should first explain each other’s points of view, so it’s not such a shock for either person,” Hortet said. “Then try to respect each other’s culture as much as you can without giving up your own traditions.”

The advice given by Hortet and Coffin is also supported by Stephens, who believes knowledge and mutual respect are what matters most.

“We just need to understand the culture,” Stephens said. “We’re not responsible for those who get offended, but we need to understand that there can be differences and have knowledge to discern which is wrong or right behavior.”

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Culture

Crywolf redefines electronic music with ‘Cataclasm’ Cheyene Austin Asst. Culture Editor

“Cataclasm”—the latest album from electronic music artist Justin Phillips, otherwise known as Crywolf—redefines electronica by relying heavily on his unconventional yet clever musical instinct.

Phillips began his music career remixing tracks as a dubstep artist, but his original sound has since evolved over several albums, from “Angels” to “Dysphoria.” His music was even featured in the 2015 movie “Perfect High.”

The culmination of his experience as a producer is summed

up in “Cataclasm”—an album that doubles as a canvas for his personal expression and reflection. While this contributes to a unique sound, it also creates a challenge in pinpointing its exact genre. However, whatever label gets put on his sound, Phillips’s newest album is an experimental success.

“Cataclasm” was recorded while Phillips was in Iceland, and the influence of the area is clear in the music. For example, track four, “Anachronism,” incorporates mysterious, secluded atmospheric sounds that paint an auditory picture of the county’s dramatic landscape, but at the same time, the music

triggers an unexplained sensation of nostalgia.

Phillips’s musical ingenuity cannot only be heard in the individual tracks, but also in the organization of the entire album. Each song transitions seamlessly into the next, while still maintaining distinction between the tracks.

The album is divided into three acts and an epilogue. The first act is lighter, sweeping and cinematic, with sounds reminiscent of the crystalline environment of Iceland; the second is heavier with emotional vocals; and the third features more experimental, melancholic melodies.

The exploratory track “Act Three: Looming” brings to mind the curiously creepy glitch sounds of Trifonic’s “Parks on Fire.”

The songs progress logically like a story, and for the most immersive experience, the album needs to be listened to from beginning to end.

Phillips’s choice to deviate from the typical sounds of electronica was not a mistake.

While the album is electronically produced like his previous works, it would be a mistake to call it dubstep, chillstep or any related genre. With “Cataclasm” Crywolf proves he is his own genre—authentic.

2 minutes from campus 0 minutes to the River 8 minutes to downtown

Crywolf ’s new album is a successful electronica experiment.

(Courtesy Crywolf Facebook page)

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Culture

Atmospheric truths unearthed: basic science Cheyene Austin Asst. Culture Editor

This January, many students are walking the paths of campus for their first time. Perhaps with pounding hearts and sweaty palms, they look to the sky for comfort and wonder, as many often do, why the sky is so blue. This thought may serve only as a distraction from first week jitters, but what many don’t realize is this passing thought provides a learning opportunity to be pursued.

It is an undeniable fact that science permeates the lives of humans every day.

Regardless of if students are majoring in a science like chemistry or physics, a basic understanding can be necessary for not only a well-rounded education but also a more comprehensive understanding of the world.

Many people are unacquainted with the answer to even the most basic of questions: Why is the sky blue? However, this is not surprising, since the answer isn’t as simple as the question.

According to electrical engineering graduate student Ruthvik Vaila, the sky is blue because of

the Raman effect, which describes what happens when a light beam is deflected by molecules.

In Earth’s atmosphere, there are billions of water, nitrogen and other gas particles. Light from the sun exists in a spectrum, from red to violet, travels in a straight line and produces white light as long as nothing intercepts it.

Interception can occur in three ways: reflection, refraction or scattering.

Scattering is the key to answer the question of why the sky is blue. When light passes through the atmosphere, the shorter wave-

length blue and violet light collide with molecules in the atmosphere and scatter, while the longer wavelength red, orange and yellow light do not.

This means the sky should look bluish purple, but the human eye cannot perceive violet well, so the sky tends to look blue most of the time.

Vaila explained one of the implications of this effect—Raman spectroscopy, or, put simply, the study of how light and matter interact.

“By studying the light emitted from a body we can actually predict its

composition, like different elements, without even touching it,” Vaila said. “It is applied in astronomy to study the composition of atmospheres on different planets or stars.”

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#SteelheadsHockeyRules Pg 14

1/12/2016

Culture Although scattering explains the color of the sky, it doesn’t entirely explain the existence of rainbows—an instance when the entire spectrum is visible. According to NASA. gov, rainbows are actually produced by refraction.

“As the light passes into the droplet, the light bends, or refracts, a little, because light travels slower in water than in air,” NASA states on their website.

“Then the light bounces off the back of the water droplet and goes back the way it came, bending again as it speeds up when it exits the water droplet.”

Since each color refracts at a slightly different angle due to the differences in wavelength size, people see them as separate colors.

Another important topic related to the atmosphere is global warming. People talk about it all the time, but not everyone knows what it is. Besides what the name implies—that the earth is getting warmer—a more complicated process involving carbon dioxide is involved.

“Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is human expansion of the ‘greenhouse effect’—warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space,” NASA’s website explains.

In simpler terms, the sun heats the earth, and normally the heat is reflected back into space. If there is too much greenhouse gas—water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane, for example—in the atmosphere, the heat is absorbed and trapped, thus warming the earth. This is why the burning of fossil fuels are often blamed for the rise in earth’s average temperature.

Clash of Cultures:

The MIDDLE EAST in TURMOIL Please join us at the 32nd annual

FRANK CHURCH CONFERENCE Friday, January 15, 2016 and Monday, January 18, 2016

at BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY Award Dinner Honoring Former Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA, Leon Panetta DAYTIME SESSIONS: Open to Public, Free Friday, January 15th at 8:30 am – 2:00 pm Opening Address: Ambassador Thomas Pickering, Former Under Secretary of State Panel Discussions: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Student Union Simplot Ballroom Free conference parking in Lincoln Garage

LUNCHEON SESSION: Registration Required

Design by ted atwell/THE ARBITER

Friday, January 15th at 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Student Union Hatch Ballroom Luncheon Address: Ambassador Molly Williamson, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Free conference parking in Lincoln Garage

EVENING AWARD DINNER: Registration Required Monday, January 18th at 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Honoring Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta with the Frank and Bethine Church Award for Public Service Stueckle Sky Center Double R Ranch Club Room Free dinner parking at Stueckle Center

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1/12/2016 For more information or to register please visit:

frankchurchinstitute.boisestate.edu

Sports & Rec

Gymnastics seniors look to dominate season Ali Roberts

Sports & Rec Editor

With their first competition against the UC Davis Aggies, the Boise State gymnastics team was picked to finish first in the 2016 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference preseason coaches’ poll for the second-consecutive year.

For senior Maddie Krentz and senior communication major Krystine Jacobsen this season brings hopes of finishing in the top of the division and making long-lasting memories.

“It’s exciting to know that we look the best, act the best

and they believe we can win.

So it’s always great having that look and everybody believing you can be number one. It is nerve-wracking, but with the team we have, we can easily win again,” said Jacobsen.

The team spent their preseason training and working towards being at the top of their game, and feel ready for the upcoming season.

“I think we’ve had such a good preseason and I feel like the kids have worked incredibly hard and have been very very focused, and I’m just looking forward to them actualizing a result after the kind of work they have put in,” said coach Neil Resnick.

“It’s just been kind of a dream team in terms of their commitment to the process. Now I want to see them get out there and fulfill their dreams.”

Krentz and Jacobsen dream of their lives after college and both plan to move on from gymnastics, but still remain faithful to the sport that raised them.

“Well, I’m always going to have really strong ties to gymnastics, I love the sport so much; it’s been my life for probably 22 years that I’ve been alive, so I think I’m going to stick around…” said Krentz. “I definitely want to come back, be a donor, be involved and maybe even do a

little coaching. I just love the sport, and it has just really hit me this year how much I really love it and how lucky I’ve been to do it.”

Jacobsen’s plans keep her closer to the school even after graduating.

“I definitely want to keep my foot in the door. I can’t just walk away so easily after doing it for most of my life, if not all my life. If it’s just coaching rec in the beginning, or judging or something, coming in and seeing these girls compete because this life has been such an amazing opportunity and it’s created me. I just can’t imagine walking away, so I’m excited to see what is next.”

A gymnast competes on the balance beam during a home meet at Boise State. (Photo by Jake Essman / The Arbiter)

SKIP THE CAR AND TAKE

THE BUS TO BOISE STATE! ValleyRide ROUTES to Boise State University

Boise 1

2

3

MONDAY–THURSDAY, 7am–10 pm FRIDAY, 7am–5:30 pm

The Bronco Shuttle has 2 routes (Blue and Orange) that runs during the Fall and Spring semesters.

29

Intercounty Routes -

BSU BUS SHUTTLE

42 Nampa/Meridian Ltd Stop

The last loop of the Bronco Shuttle will begin in the East Stadium Parking Lot at 9:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and 5:30 pm. on Friday.

43 Caldwell Express

For more information, visit:

No Saturday Service

40 Nampa/Meridian Express

44 Hwy. 44 Express 45 BSU Express

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RIDE THE BUS FOR FREE! Boise State University Students can ride ValleyRide buses for FREE throughout the year with a valid ID card sticker. Stickers, are available in the Student ID Office in the Student Union Building or at the Boise State Parking and Transportation Office, located inside the Transit Center. (208-426-7275)

transportation.boisestate.edu/parkshuttle.php

For more information, visit rideline.org

1/12/2016

Sports & rec

Rec offers premium classes, intramurals and more Asst. Sports & Rec Editor

With the new semester, Boise State’s Rec Center will offer several ways for students to enjoy the coming months. From premium classes to Hot Springs excursions, students have much to choose from.

Premium Fitness Class-

es

For a low price of either $5 per class, or $75 for unlimited class sessions for the entire semester, students can enjoy premium fitness classes.

These classes are a step up from the normal, free ones Boise State offers to all members of the Rec Center. These premium classes offer a more personalized option when taking a class. The premium classes provide smaller class sizes, along with more attention from the instructor for one-on-one feedback according to the Boise State Rec Center’s website.

“I like the idea because there are less people so it is a more intimate setting,” said junior supply chain management student Cevin Meador.

“I feel you can get more in depth instruction from the

“

“

Rylan Kobre

I feel you can get more in depth instruction from the trainer.

—Cevin Meador

trainer.”

One premium class offered their will be a climbing conditioning class. The class will combine multiple forms of exercise into one. Strength exercises and yoga will help class participants get into their best possible shape.

Another class, titled “Marks Madness,” will include ket-

tlebells and power ropes for a full body workout.

The spring semester will feature a wider variety of classes, which include TRX, a premium yoga class and an obstacle course class.

If students are unwilling to pay for premium classes, they can still attend free classes, which run all week and in-

clude yoga, cycling, Power Abs, Zumba and much more.

Students can purchase a premium fitness pass at the front desk of the Rec Center and the full schedule of classes can be seen at the, Boise State Rec Centers website.

Intramurals

Spring semester intramural sign-ups will begin on Jan. 11 and will include men’s basketball, co-ed volleyball, and a bowling league.

The men’s 5-on-5 basketball league has a team fee, and play begins on Jan. 24, while volleyball begins on Jan. 25 and also has a team cost.

3.

Bowling will begin on Feb.

Outdoor Events

The outdoor center will have there first Bogus Basin Ski Night on Feb. 5. The trip will cost $28 and will include transportation, a discount on equipment and a snack. Students must register by Jan. 31.

The center will also offer a Hot Spring and Campfire night on Feb. 6. The trip will take place in the Boise National Forest. Students will be able to enjoy the hot springs and a campfire with hot dogs and smores later in the evening.

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Pg 17

FREE FOR CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT

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Practices: Thursday 8:30-10pm at the Rec Pool Join our group on Facebook:

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Sports & rec

Feel good, stay active this spring semester Ali Roberts

Sports & Rec Editor

For students returning or coming to Boise State for their first semester, going to the Rec Center can be a good option to relieve stress and to keep any New Year’s resolution.

According to the Mayo Clinic, being active on a consistent basis can help with a student’s hectic life. Because of the increases in endorphins, which are the, “brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters,” exercise also acts as “meditation in motion,” because it functions as a distraction from the stress of everyday life and brings the brain to focus on the movements of the body.

Right now is the time for students to get into the mind-set to stay active and to have a decent plan for the semester.

“First thing (students) should do is settle in and figure out how their semester is going to look. Finding anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes a day of physical activity is key.

Blocking off a portion of your day will help you stay on track and be consistent,” said graduate assistant of the fitness program Mark Torres. “Having a workout partner is another great why to motivate you to get back into being active. With a workout partner, both can push each other and help each other stay on track. For begin-

ners who don’t have much experience or knowledge working out, attending group fitness classes or getting a personal trainer can be really helpful.”

Torres also suggests that students set up a S.M.A.R.T —specific, meaningful, action oriented, realistic and timely— goal so it’s easier for students to stay on track.

Another thing students can do to stay on track is to make sure students do something they enjoy, so it doesn’t feel like work or extra things to do, and that it’s more so a fun activity.

“The most important thing with any physical activity is that the person enjoys it. If they choose to do something just because they think it’s good for them, they’re not likely to stick with it or feel better and relieve stress as it may seem like work or not be enjoyable,” said Interim Wellness Director Michelle Ihmels. “Students should see it as something they need to do, like eating or sleeping. They have to find something they like to do. It could be something traditional, or it could be something less traditional like playing with a pet or child, gardening, active commuting instead of driving, etc. The key is to find what they like to do.”

The Rec Center provides a long list of different activi-

ties for students to participate in or join, such as the Fitness Challenge. It is seven weeks long and will hold a pretest Jan 11, from 4 - 6 p.m., Jan 12, 12-2 p.m., and Jan 13, 9 to 11 a.m. to take a baseline reading of each participant’s current fitness level. Afterwards, they have seven weeks to improve their fitness. Working out on their own or with a partner, attending group fitness classes and other events can earn them extra points. At the end of the seven weeks, participants will perform a post-test, which will be exactly the same as pretest and the Rec will determine how much they have changed within the seven weeks. Everyone who participates in both

pre and post-tests will receive a t-shirt and those individuals with the greatest improvement in their fitness will win an additional prize. The Rec also offers classes with personal trainers, as well as group classes for students to try.

The main goal is to keep active and find something enjoyable for motivation. Even something simple will improve one’s mood and reduce stress for the upcoming semester. “(Students) need to look at their day and see if they really do have time— how much time are they spending on social media, or watching Netflix or doing something else that isn’t active, but yet isn’t a necessity in their day. Most people

meal plan information www.BSUdining.com

do have at least 10-15 minutes they can find. Most people even have the 30 minutes that are recommended,” said Ihmels. “However, even moving as little as 10-15 minutes each day is better than not moving at all. If they truly don’t have time to be active, they can look to other things that help them relax and improve their mood.

Do they enjoy being with friends? Make time to hang out with them. Do they enjoy music or just complete quiet time? Make time for that. Find a YouTube video on relaxation or yoga and try to do that for a few minutes. There are a lot of options, but each person has to just make sure they make time to do things they enjoy.”

208 - 426 - 4636

Connect with us: /BSUdining

1/12/2016

@DiningBSU

@DiningBSU

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bucking around Sudoku

Local Yik Yaks

Introducing: Sam Fortner Sam is an intern cartoonist for The Arbiter.

More of his work will be featured on arbiteronline.com

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1/12/2016