WHATS INSIDE
NEWS 1-3
SPORTS 5-6
OPINION 4
CULTURE 8-10 I SSU E
24
The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933
Volume 22
First Issue
F R E E NOVEMBER 12, 2009
ARBITERONLINE.COM
Horizon paints Q400 BSU theme
2
‘As You Like It’ begins Thursday
9
Football preview in this issue
JOSH RASMU
SSEN/THE
ARBITE
R
President Bob Kustra echoes philosophy of Robin Hood
GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER
Tony Fernandez, LCSC Provo, looks over notes with Tracie Bent before the State Board of Education Meeting Monday in the Stueckle Sky Center. KIM KING Journalist
The Idaho State Board of Education met Monday at the Stueckle Sky Center to propose a new vision statement with updated goals and objectives. The current vision statement is summarized in four words - A well-educated Idaho. Interim Executive Officer Mike Rush also presented statistics comparing college graduation rates, both locally and nationally. He said only 66 percent of
first year students attending four year colleges returned for their sophomore year in 2008, ranking Idaho as the lowest performing state. President Bob Kustra said statistics work well for general purposes but can not be assumed to be accurate on all levels. “Numbers are deceiving,” Kustra said. “This data is totally unrealistic when it leaves many students unaccounted for.” He cited the example of a student moving from a com-
munity college after the first or second year to complete their degree at a university. A comparison of the U. S. with other countries shows a national need of four million graduating students with associate or bachelors degrees by the year 2020 to become the most educated in the world. Kustra said we would probably never be able to compete with China and other countries because of budget and other constraints. Idaho also ranked low in state need-based grant dollars
per undergraduate student. Idaho is listed at $17 compared to Washington’s $756 for the year 2007-2008. “What do we do?” Kustra said. “We take from those who can afford it and redistribute to those who need it. We do it quietly as public institutions and without fanfare.” Young people from the lowest income nationally account for seven percent of college graduates compared to 60 percent from high income families. Kustra remains focused on attracting new students while acknowledging the shortage of available scholarships and the need to create more funding. “If we increase tuition by double digits, it must be returned to need-based students,” he said. The suggestion of a double digit increase is new and would impact every student at Boise State. ASBSU President Trevor Grigg is researching and planning ways to avoid any increase in student tuition and fees. He is meeting with other student presidents from around the state this week to brainstorm new ideas. “Student activities will be my focus,” Grigg said. “There should be less staff members in areas that do not benefit the majority of students. Raising tuition is not the answer.”
NIK BJURSTROM/THE ARBITER
Jacob Gilbert, a member of the Army’s 25th Army Band in the Idaho Honor Guard plays the Bugle Wednesday afternoon in the SUB during a speech to honor Veterans. Darrel Manning, a retired Air Force major thanked the university for putting on the event for the United States military. “(It’s a) great honor to serve with great airmen and soldiers in the United States,” Manning said.
BRONCO ATHLETICS
Gene Bleymaier, Boise State athletic director
Boise State Broncos Inc. launches KIRK BELL Editor
Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier announced the formation of Boise State Broncos, Inc. Wednesday at the Allen Noble Hall of Fame at Bronco Stadium. The newly formed corporate entity is an opportunity for fans and athletic supporters to participate in the purchasing of shares in the Boise State Broncos. Each share costs $100 per unit with 200,000 available shares and carries no monetary value and produces no dividends. It will, however, allow those who become shareholders in BSB, Inc. to attend an annual shareholder’s meeting where they can vote on the distribution of athletic funds to support athletic programs. BSB, Inc. was inspired by a similar route taken by the Green Bay Packers. The Packers moved forward with the sale of 4,750,937 shares sold to 112,120 investors. Boise State hopes to raise $20 million to put toward improvements on athletic facilities and to help retain coaches and staff. “We can’t do it without the community,” Bleymaier said. “We need their help in every way, shape and form. This program has worked tremendously for the Green Bay Packers, and we think it can work for us.” BSU wants to move forward with the planned men’s and women’s basketball locker room complex, Dona Larsen Park (track and field) and a south end zone expansion of Bronco Stadium. “We need to appeal to the passion of Broncos Nation to help us keep our coaching staffs add the scholarships
that we need to add and build the facilities that we need to have so that we can keep this program, not just football but the rest of our sports at the level we’re enjoying now,” Bleymaier said. The stocks are transferable to heirs. Stocks do not receive any privileges for tickets, game entry or preferential treatment for athletic events. The purchase of the Bronco Stock is tax deductible. Bleymaier referenced the South Eastern Conference and the athletic support it’s member schools receive. The goal of this corporate endeavor is similar - to garner assistance from fans and supporters, helping the athletic entity progress to the level that other top universities boast. “What we’re appealing to, much like the Packers, is the passion of our supporters,” Bleymaier said. “We’re nothing without the support of our donors, our boosters and our supporters. For us to compete at the level that we are now and to stay at this level it’s going to take passion on the part of this community and of Bronco Nation.” Members will have the option to elect the board of directors at the annual shareholders meeting. The stocks are available immediately. The initial board members include Jerry Caven, Jerry Dancer, Allen Dykman, Richard Fedrizzi, Jon Miller, Allen Noble, Duane Stueckle, Milford Terrell, David Turnbull, George Wade, Larry Williams and Charles Wilson. Bronco Stock is available at the Bronco Athletic Association office located at the Allen Noble Hall of Fame Gallery at the southwest corner of Bronco Stadium.
The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com