The Arbiter Vol. 36, Issue #1 | 8.15.24

August 15, 2024

Vol. 36, Issue #

I NDEP END E N T

STUD E N T

VO I C E

O F

B O I SE

STATE

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IT WILL ALL BE OKAY: THE STRUGGLES OF TRANSITIONING INTO COLLEGE NEWS

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Evicition rates rise in Boise amid a heat wave following a recent Supreme Court ruling.

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OPINION

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As the economy struggles, recession pop makes a come-back and Americans seek out escapist music. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

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How popstars and TikTokers are influencing the election in the era of “brat summer”. @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

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Boise State’s women’s soccer team is set to have a redemption season with their strong player line-up.

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@arbiteronline

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Editor-In-Chief Kiryn Willett editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Managing Editor Kelly Ann Asker onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Olivia Brandon news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Spencer Rentfro news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Kaeden Lincoln news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Emily Gordon culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Emily Nelson culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Photo of your 2024-2025 Student Media team.

Sports & Rec Editor Cainon Rogers sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ON THE COVER:

Sports & Rec Reporter Roszy McGeorge sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Ella Van Leuven opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Karley Rodriguez Digital Content Manager Omar Saucedo digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu

HOW TO REACH US:

Graphic Design Manager Kelsey Mason design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Naomi Brown

MISSION:

Illustrator Sydney Smith Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, 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.

Photo by Omar Saucedo

Transitioning to college can be a difficult time as students are faced with new challenges and oppur tunities to grow. Students share their experiences transitioning to college, their advice on how to deal with it, and resources available on campus for people struggling to adjust.

CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites

Digital Content Producer Jocelyn Browne

As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-par tisan and socially responsible media.

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

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NEWS

August 15, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

Increased eviction rates during record-breaking heat in Idaho

How the Supreme Court ruling and crimminalizing homelessness leads to high eviction rates Olivia Brandon | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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viction rates are on the rise in the state of Idaho amidst the recent Supreme Court verdict in which the court ruled that unhoused individuals are not protected under the Constitution from violence or “cruel and unusual punishment”. This ruling followed Martin v. Boise where the Supreme Court ruled that ticketing and fining unhoused individuals does not violate the Eighth Amendment, which would protect individuals from cruel and unusual punishment.

Due to both of these factors, but particularly the extreme heat Boise, Idaho, is experiencing, many shelters are facing a significant number of individuals in need of a safe place to live. Jessica Abbott, the Executive Director for Corpus Christi House explained that as the “designated cooling center” this summer, the shelter has had to adapt and establish new resources. Some of these resources include extending their hours from closing at 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and a misting system that was donated by Mr. Misters.

Abbott has witnessed several residents suffer from heat-related seizures and described the shift that has occurred for residents this summer.

“That’s been the big shift as the heat has gone up,” Abbott said. “People used to hang out on the back patio and now everybody’s moving inside to stay cool.”

Abbott iterated that the process of finding shelter as an unhoused individual is not as simple as walking in and requesting somewhere to sleep — many shelters have barriers put in place. These barriers can range from high to low barriers, or have zero barriers like Corpus Christi House.

As someone whose life work is dedicated to providing solutions for unhoused

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individuals, Abbott shared her feelings of frustration toward the Supreme Court ruling.

“For those of us out here doing the work, it’s maddening,” Abbott said. “It’s just maddening to see so much time, money and effort put into the wrong thing. It’s not a solution — our numbers are going to keep growing.”

Abbott hopes that in the future individuals will realize homelessness is an issue that affects the entire Boise community.

“It takes everybody,” Abbott said. “It takes your corporations here, it takes the people paying the bills, having livable wages … It’s more than just a government issue, it’s a community issue and I think that’s where it gets lost.”

Martin Orr, a sociology professor at Boise State University explained how the issue of homelessness, which already is stigmatized, could become even more so due to the verbiage of the legislation. Orr condemned the idea that unhoused individuals have a choice in the matter.

“I think [the word] criminalization itself … the message is that [for] these people, this is not beyond their control,” Orr said.

“Homelessness is something that they could end if they chose to end it, and [it’s] within their power to not be homeless, it’s okay to charge them with a crime of being homeless, so that [idea] is very weird.”

Orr believes that fining and ticketing unhoused people criminalizes homelessness.

Orr highlighted the concept of “mutually reinforcing cycles” between the media, legislation and the issue of homelessness.

“The media ignores it and demonizes it, and the legislation criminalizes it,” Orr said. “People get afraid of it and callous toward it, and add more legislation to keep it out of sight, out of mind.”

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Photo of a melted popsicle on top of an eviction notice.

Krista Paulsen, a professor for Boise State’s Urban Studies and Community Development Program provided her insight into which factors lead to high eviction rates, as well as the lack of education surrounding tenants’ rights..

Paulsen highlighted that one prominent issue affecting access to affordable housing in Boise is the remodeling of rentals or other non-luxury homes.

“Particularly, two or three years ago when the housing market here was just exploding, a lot of properties that had been rentals were sold, or were remodeled and kind of remade into something that was more geared toward the higher end or luxury market,” Paulsen said. “Those kinds of disruptions are also reasons that people get evicted or lose their housing. So when we talk about evictions typically it’s because someone has really fallen behind on their rent, and that can be for a variety of reasons.”

Paulsen pointed out that while some smaller-scale renters may be willing to work with renters, oftentimes larger-scale rental owners are not as flexible.

“When we think about why people get evicted it’s lots of different things,” Paulsen said. “One is being behind because you’re financially tenuous in the first place. Two,

Photo by Omar Saucedo

it’s that maybe the landlord is not willing to work with you, and then three comes down to tenants [not] knowing their rights as tenants and also state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction tenants have different rights.”

For some individuals, after receiving that initial eviction notice, they are under the impression that they must move out that day — which Paulsen says is not always the case. Organizations like Jesse Tree provide tenants with educational resources and strategies during that period before the eviction takes place.

“When some folks get that first notification, they freak out and just say I better get out of here before I get kicked out and that’s really too bad because during that period, there are some resources that are available,” Paulsen said. “There are organizations in the Treasure Valley who are really great at helping people when they’re in that kind of situation.”

Mayor McLean has responded to the Supreme Court’s ruling and declared that Boise will continue to provide “supportive services” to unhoused individuals, however, the city of Boise will continue their ordinances that fine and ticket unhoused people, putting these individuals at risk of being ticketed.

NEWS

Boise State University unveils new student housing complex

Student housing and residence life open up a new housing option for sophomores and above Spencer Rentfro | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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here’s a new off-campus student housing option available for Boise State students starting this fall. The Osprey apartments, a new residence hall for sophomores and above, is set to open on Aug. 15.

Construction for The Osprey began in September 2023 in a partnership with Gardner Company. The new housing structure is located just a block from Ann Morrison Park on South Lusk Street.

It includes four residential floors, each floor with a communal study space and different amenities such as a fitness center and an outside courtyard with fire pits and grills.

Senior Director of Housing and Resi-

dence Life, Lynda Tieck, emphasized the importance for student residents to take advantage of the outside common space.

“We’re going to work with dining to do a night with the chef, to come out and just do a big event out here,” Tieck said. “We’ve got a great partnership with dining, so I just want to make sure that we enjoy the space and that we teach students how to cook properly and just have a great experience grilling.”

Approximately 250 students are expected to move into The Osprey by the beginning of the school year. Each room layout varies in price depending on factors such as room size and number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

“Here, every room is a little bit different

Photo of the new residence hall The Osprey.

because it’s kind of triangular, so you’re going to have some odd spaces,” Tieck said. “It just allows for us to adjust so that if someone has a bigger space, they’re going to have to pay more for that versus someone who gets a smaller space.”

Compared to older student housing spaces on campus, The Osprey also offers more accessible spaces and features for students with physical disabilities.

“We’ve adapted some of those lessons learned from honors college to this building,” Tieck said. “Partnering with the EAC and making sure we’ve got some good accessibility, this building is accessible for hearing impaired and [visually impaired or wheelchairs users] students.”

The new housing complex was built to

Photo by Jocelyn Browne

accommodate the 2.3% increase in overall enrollment at Boise State.

“That’s been a priority of our institution is housing more folks from Idaho and having an opportunity for Idaho students to come to Boise State and have this educational opportunity,” Tieck said. “People want to move to this space and kind of live in the west without being in the city.”

Emily Godtlibsen, an Osprey Resident Assistant and junior human resources major, highlighted the increase in space compared to her first-year living experience.

“I think it’s so nice, especially having my own bathroom and my own toilet,” Godtlibsen said. “It’s definitely a big upgrade from Chaffee.”

Other priorities for the Osprey apartment is the use of reliable technology.

According to Tieck, around $300,000 was invested into IT for students to have accessible internet coverage.

“We want to make sure that if students are in this building, that IT can support them,” Tieck said. “We need to anticipate that need and make it so it’s easy for students.”

Osprey Resident Assistant and senior political science major Yahir Arteaga expressed the benefits of living off-campus.

“It’s like five minutes from downtown, [with] the best food spots ever,” Arteaga said. “You’ve got a great lineup of food.

You’ve also got Buster’s Kitchen right around the corner.”

With The Osprey located a half-mile from campus, Resident Assistant and sophomore GIMM major Joseph Noyes advises future residents to plan their commutes accordingly.

“I would say it’s a little bit removed from campus,” Noyes said. “Wake up earlier, the hallways are really long, so take some time.”

The Osprey’s designed parking lot includes 76 parking spots and the cost for parking will be $1,000 for the year.

AUGUST 15, 2024

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NEWS

How companies like ‘Undetectable AI’ are changing the conversation

AI is becoming a part of daily life, prompting conversations in higher education and new companies Olivia Brandon | News Editor | new@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Illustration of a detective investigating a computer.

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s Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is becoming more advanced, it is also becoming less detectable — especially with the creation of companies like “Undetectable AI”, created by Boise State University graduate Christian Perry in 2023.

Perry established the company after seeing a “need in the finance space” that he, and partners Bars Juhasz and Devan Leos, believed Undetectable AI could address. The website allows users to paste AI content that is then “humanized” and, as its namesake suggests, becomes undetectable as AI. Perry shared that most users of Undetectable AI are companies that often have their content flagged by Google for including AI content.

“The majority of use cases are

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Illustration by Sydney Smith

Google scams,” Perry said. “... Essentially, when you create a blog and post it online, Google likes to determine whether it ranks, a lot of companies want their content to rank well on Google so they can get traffic and sell their product and get more brand visibility all very cheaply that way. And so Google also scans content to decide whether they want to rank it on their search engines, and if it is heavily AI, then they don’t rank that as well.”

Ally Orr, a Boise State alumni who majored in marketing and now works in sales operations has witnessed an integration of AI within a sales-based workspace.

While Orr’s company, that she requested remain anonymous, has utilized AI, she touched on how it is important to balance using the technol-

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ogy as an aid while ensuring it doesn’t accidentally leak data or infringe on people’s jobs.

“The company I worked for … we have been really careful when using AI just because … we have a lot of valuable data that can be leaked,” Orr said.

“But as we’ve been using it to summarize meetings, send emails, do things like that, I kind of wonder if we’re pulling away from seeing people’s value and instead just getting the work done.

How can you get promotions, or lift people up if you can’t see their value?”

While AI may be a formidable opponent for many career fields, Orr feels that marketing possesses too much of a human spark to be seriously threatened by the tech.

“I’d say in the realm of marketing, I do worry that people’s skills could be overlooked by AI,” Orr said. “But I also know that marketing is such a human, very emotional experience- when you see commercials, they want you to feel a certain way. I don’t think AI, at this point, can do that.”

“I think we’re in a very fun and also slightly concerning place now where we can see so many things it [AI] can help but it makes us think about what if it does this or that,” Orr said.

“I think we’re starting to see some of those what-ifs both good and bad. I think we’ll probably see a lot of laws now fall into place.”

Don Winiecki, Professor of Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning, studies the intersection between STEM and equity and inclusion.

Winiecki explained that technology is never neutral as it possesses qualities that allow it to be used for positive or negative purposes — something that is subjective in and of itself.

Many new or developing technologies —- AI included, don’t have builtin safeguards due to the pace with

which they are being created and built.

“The fact is, technology is always released before it’s totally safe and then we blame the humans who are wielding the technology as opposed to those who developed it,” Winiecki said.

“That’s a principal part of the issue, we release technology because it gives an economic advantage or potentially an economic advantage.”

Although placing boundaries on technology may be futile, Winiecki pointed out that placing boundaries on the humans who engage with it could be more productive.

“Ideas of regulating the tool are probably hopeless,” Winiecki said.

“Ideas of trying to fashion systems that put boundaries on what humans do could be a different tack that maybe we have a little bit more leverage to accomplish.”

Winiecki noted the threat to higher education that AI poses when used as a substitute for certain skills.

“The goal of academic work is to add value and to put something out there that can be used to create good somewhere down the road, and if that’s what we’re doing fabulous,” Winiecki said. “... But what has also happened is that an academic degree is a whole lot less important than it used to be because the people who don’t have the training can produce the same level of product.”

As AI becomes an increasingly popular topic of conversation, companies like Perry’s “Undetectable AI” that humanize AI content, as well as companies that claim to detect AI will begin to sprout up more and more.

As Winiecki noted, users now have the opportunity to decide how this technology is used, as well as what guardrails they want to put on the companies and humans who use it.

A new, bike-friendly State Street coming to downtown Boise

NEWS

The proposed changes would reduce it to three lanes, add bus pullouts and a multi-use pathway Kaeden Lincoln | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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da County Highway District Commissioners passed a motion to adopt a new design for State Street between 8th and 14th Street in downtown Boise last month. The change brings a reduced number of lanes for vehicle traffic, an enlarged, multi-use path on either side of the road and bus pullouts.

A more comprehensive overview of the new design, dubbed “Concept B(1)” for the duration of the concept selection process, is available from ACHD’s website.

The project began as an effort to revitalize this stretch of State Street due to deteriorating concrete. Tom Laws, the ACHD planning manager of

the project, said that the concept grew out of a desire to build things out of concrete, rather than asphalt. Concrete can last 50-100 years, whereas asphalt lifespan of roughly 20 years.

Throughout the open meeting where the decision was made, ACHD commissioners referred to the City of Boise’s desire to build a more walkable, bicycle-friendly downtown.

An extensive public comment section at the July 24 open meeting showed support for Concept B(1), many commenters being frequent bicyclists who detailed their personal bicycle commutes. Among them was BSU Assistant Professor Anna Bergstrom, who spoke of her commute which crosses State

Street. As a frequent commuter to the Boise State campus, she voiced support for Concept B(1) because of its integration of multimodal transportation.

However, according to one ACHD Commissioner, Dave McKinney of District 5 (Meridian/Eagle) neither the respondents of their public outreach program, which was done online, nor the large group of bicycle commuters who appeared to give testimony were truly representative of the people using State Street.

“I’m not convinced that the outreach that was done to get public input on this, nor the public input we’ve had here tonight, is representative of the views of the people as a whole,” McK-

inney said in opposition of the project.

“And we have an obligation to the people as a whole.”

Earlier in the commission meeting, when Laws presented the proposed projects to the commission, he called up Sonia Daleiden of Kittleson and Associates, a firm that provides traffic analytics, to explain that in addition to an online survey, they also used data from Replica, a tool that gathers GPS data from phones and other devices to track how and by whom roads are used.

McKinney was largely independent in his stance — Commissioner Alexis Pickering, District 2 (Boise/Garden City/Eagle/Meridian), described this stretch of State Street as “wildly uncomfortable as a motorist”.

“Folks are speeding, there’s a lot of unpredictable movement,” Pickering said. “You’re having to really have your head on a swivel. And that’s not easy for us, as drivers.”

Amid discussion of the proposed designs, commissioners said that a reduction in lanes on State Street should direct motorists to parallel roads.

Commissioner Kent Goldthorpe, District 4 (Kuna/Rural Ada), questioned why the public has not made more use of Whitewater Park Boulevard, which runs past Esther Simplot Park, Whittier Elementary School, and a future CWI Boise campus.

“We built Whitewater Boulevard because there was a demand there.

And as you heard tonight, it isn’t being utilized. That is a great place to avoid State Street,” said Goldthorpe. “Why don’t you use it?”

Ultimately, the commission voted in favor of Concept B(1), which, once it exits the planning phase, will be built by the lowest-bidding contractor, as ACHD is legally bound to do.

Picture of State Street.

Courtesy of BoiseDev. AUGUST 15, 2024

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OPINION August 15, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

Outrageous loans and Chappell Roan: Recession pop is back Difficult financial times often coincide with a revival in the pop music industry Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n times of economic uncertainty, cycles often repeat themselves in unexpected ways. Just as the Great Recession inspired a wave of escapist club pop anthems led by iconic artists like Lady Gaga, Kesha and Katy Perry, today’s financial tensions have inspired a new era of musicians to recreate and redefine recession pop.

“Recession pop” is a genre that originated during and as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. When society is dealing with significant issues, such as hard financial times, people look to art for comfort, and recession pop’s origin was a cultural response to the economic struggles the average person faced during the late 2000s.

Songs that qualify as recession pop are upbeat, high energy and are made to party to. Recession pop allows people to connect and positively relate to others, even when a community is facing challenging times.

Rather than focusing on unemployment, inflation or housing crises, this genre of music gives people an outlet and common interest.

A study from the Journal of Cultural Economics shows that during tough economic times — such as rising inflation, unemployment, high interest rates or declining stock markets—people tend to prefer more upbeat music. This shift is a key element of recession pop.

The U.S. economy has faced significant challenges recently, driven by inflation, geopolitical tensions, and economic stress.

Inflation has especially impacted Americans with higher consumer costs, with a Pew Research Center study reporting that 62% of U.S. adults label inflation as a major issue for the country, and the Federal Reserve’s high interest rates have further strained budgets. Geopolitical conflicts,

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particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, have also contributed to economic uncertainty by causing fluctuating oil prices and disrupting supply chains.

These nationwide economic issues have put severe financial strain on the average person. The country’s financial state is dire, and the music industry has responded. While voices like Lady Gaga, Kesha and Katy Perry were major influences in the first wave of recession pop, a new era of pop artists is redefining the genre in response to modern financial crises.

Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter are all major names in pop music at the moment, with each artist currently claiming multiple spots on the Billboard Hot 100 list. These women in the industry are enabling a comeback of recession pop through their latest releases, a genre characterized by upbeat, danceable music that provides an escape from economic hardships.

Both Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter’s latest music exemplify the essence of recession pop, blending danceable rhythms with themes of resilience and escapism. Roan’s tracks, known for their vibrant energy and candid lyrics, provide listeners with both joy and defiance against their woes, exemplified by a line from hit “Good Luck, Babe!” saying: “Here’s to heartbreaks and making mistakes / We’re dancing through the pain, babe”.

Similarly, Carpenter’s recent releases feature infectious melodies and optimistic energy, offering a musical refuge from financial and social stressors. Carpenter’s recent hit “Espresso” embodies this, with lyrics such as, “Pour me another shot of dreams / I’m dancing in the in-betweens.”

Lyrics like these highlight how both artists use their music to provide listeners with

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an escape and allow them to commiserate about society’s common problems.

Charli XCX has been particularly influential in the recent revival of recession pop with her sixth studio album “Brat”, released in June 2024, and the cultural phenomenon of “brat summer”. Pitchfork’s review of “Brat” defines today as “the era of the relatable pop star….the world’s biggest musicians are apparently also the salt of the earth, perpetually downtrodden by their relationships or jobs.” Pop music and artists today are real and relatable for the average person. The album is full of tracks that are high energy, escapist and empowering, giving rise to the “brat summer” mentality that is rebellious, carefree, and somewhat chaotic.

Characterized by neon green, club pop,

Y2K fashion, indulgence and spontaneity, “brat summer” has gained immense momentum through the album itself and its adoption by social media users. The attitude it promotes is very much reminiscent of the recession pop mentality, particularly the “party girl” essence of “brat summer”.

Some of the worst economic times bring about some of the best pop music the industry has to offer. Pop culture repeats itself throughout history in cycles, and when society is at its darkest, it looks to art for solace. Recession pop, established during the 2008 financial crisis, has evolved across past decades until today, and will continue to reflect the escapism and release that society desperately craves during times of financial disparity.

Graphic of Chappel Roan, Charlie XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter.

Graphic by Naomi Brown

OPINION

Boysobriety and Bumble ads: Gen Z’s rejection of modern hookup culture

In a culture populated by situationships and casual sex, young people are burnt out and taking a stand Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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hile the term “hookup culture” wasn’t established until the early 2000s, hookup culture itself originated well before the 21st century, according to the American Psychological Association. Casual sex became more frequent during the 1920s due to public access to automobiles and new entertainment options, allowing young adults to explore their sexuality outside the home.

This society-wide sexual liberation continued during the 1960s with the rise of feminism, birth control and co-ed college parties.

Presently, in the 21st century, hookup culture has become almost entirely normalized, driven by influences such as popular culture, modern media, and even dating apps. Modern pop culture is a major influence on hookup culture, with frequent portrayals of casual sex in music, television and social media. HBO’s “Euphoria”, for instance, depicts a number of high schoolers engaging in casual sex, normalizing and even glamorizing the behavior.

Dating apps have been another proponent of casual relationships, as evident in an ad campaign ran in May 2024 by popular dating app Bumble. The company ran a series of ads addressing the phenomenon of celibacy that has swept younger generations, with one viral billboard reading “You know full well a vow of celibacy is not the answer” and another stating “Thou shalt not give up dating and become a nun.”

After receiving extreme backlash for their ad campaign, Bumble released a statement on their Instagram account apologizing for the ad campaign, saying that “our ads referencing celibacy were an attempt to lean into a community frustrated by modern dating, and instead of bringing joy and humor, we unintentionally did the opposite.” Bumble’s marketing team was correct, society is indeed

frustrated by modern dating, but Gen Z is finding its own solution.

Younger generations’ unhappiness with hookup culture can be traced to a few key issues with hookup culture. Not only does society’s casual relationship with sex promote instant physical gratification over a genuine connection, making it difficult to form substantial relationships, but hookup culture can also perpetuate issues with lack of communication about consent, emotional health and safe sex practices, increasing the risk of harm to mental health and sexually transmitted infections.

Due to these issues, many members of Gen Z are rejecting hookup culture, prioritizing meaningful connection and emotional intimacy over casual encounters. Younger people are overall having less sex, using dating apps less, and are even making a form of celibacy — “boy sobriety” — a social media trend.

Gen Z is statistically having less sex than older generations. The CDC’s most recent National Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that only 30% of high school students said they had ever had sex, down from 38% in 2019. The Administration for Children and Families found in a 2020 report that reported sexual activity among youth has declined over recent decades, reaching its lowest point since the early 1990s. In the past decade, this decline has been most significant, with 60% of sexually experienced youth wishing they had waited longer.

Gen Z is also utilizing dating apps less than older generations, likely due to their inherently shallow appearance-based nature, as well as the casual relationships that are so commonly formed on those apps. According to an Axios/Generation Lab survey of college students in the United States, 79% of responders use dating apps less frequently than once a month. Statista data additionally reveals that while the 30-49 age group makes up

Graphic of a pro-celibacy billboard advertisement.

61% of dating app users, people aged 1829 make up only 26% of these apps’ user bases. Although Gen Z has grown up in the era of online dating, they are utilizing these platforms far less than older generations.

Young people, particularly women, have even gone so far as to bring back celibacy and repopularize it in the form of “boysobriety”. As of July 2024, #boysober has been used in over 20.1 million posts on TikTok. Discussed and practiced by popular content creators, the trend involves taking a period of time to oneself, meaning no crushes, exes, situationships, hookups or anything in between. To replace these interactions, people on their boysober journey are working to prioritize platonic connection and intentional relationships.

Gen Z’s reinvention of celibacy through

Graphic by Naomi Brown

boysobriety is a clear example of young people’s refusal to participate in hookup culture. Modern dating, plagued by situationships, hookups and dating apps, has left many burnt out and disappointed.

The issues with hookup culture, such as the prioritization of instant physical gratification and the potential for lack of communication about consent and emotional health, have led many young people to seek alternatives to the current modern dating situation. As a result, trends like “boysobriety” and decreased dating app usage reflect a broader shift towards valuing deeper, more intentional relationships. This changing mentality indicates a cultural shift surrounding casual sex, and towards a renewed emphasis on genuine connection and emotional wellbeing.

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It will all be okay: The struggles of transitioning into college

Revealing the truth of uncomfortable change along with the joys of it Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Illustrations by Sydney Smith

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hange is hard. With a new school year beginning, more changes rapidly approach the lives of unsuspecting students, and with that comes an array of difficult feelings. It is normal to wish to reject the transitions and hide away, though it is vital to allow yourself the opportunity to change.

Whether you are a freshman brand new to Boise State University, a senior

facing the looming fears of graduation or a non-traditional student adapting to university life, the pit in your stomach should be faced boldly. College offers the exciting opportunity to change and evolve, and anyone accepting it gracefully and with no hesitation is simply faking it, we all feel the fear of new changes.

Facing the preconceived pressures There are very few things in life that are guaranteed, and unfortunately one of them is failure. You are going to do poorly in a class, make friends with the wrong person, lose touch with someone you didn’t mean to and most of all, it will keep happening.

Just because you failed at one thing, does not mean you yourself are a failure. The best thing we can do as humans is learn to adapt and pivot, no one is expecting you to stand steadfast in the face of failure.

Jose Valle, a counselor located at the Boise State health services sheds light on the tricky feelings that naturally progress as we experience change or disappointment.

okay to feel that way. It's all “It's okay to feel "It's right. But at some point, you say I need to figure out how to that way. It's all ‘okay, untangle this,’” said Valle. “If you right. But at some haven't done it yet, it's because you probably haven’t acquired the skills to do it. We're here to help you.” point, you say A common challenge students face ‘okay, I need to is the ability to stay steady on one figure out how to course. It is okay to start your college untangle this,’” said Valle. “If you haven't done it yet, it's because you probably haven’t acquired the skills to do it. We're here to help you.”

experience as a pre-med student and switch to English literature. It is vital you find a passion and take care of it, at the very least you will enjoy failing at it.

“And so because we live in a world where the target is often moving and changing…you gotta go with what you really want to do,” said Valle. “Not what you think is going to make the most money.”

The concept of failure and discomfort is tragically stigmatized in this day and age. While of course no one aims for failure, it is something we must learn to navigate as its looming threat hovers over us daily.

The country of Finland has gone as far as declaring Oct. 13 as their national “Day of Failure” in which people share their own biggest mistakes in an effort to chip away at awkward and uncomfortable feelings we have surrounding imperfection.

As odd as it sounds, there may be something to learn from celebrating failure. You are living and discovering new ways to do so, that itself is celebratory.

The science of failing Believe it or not, facing disappointments and failure serves a detrimental purpose to your inevitable success, but only if you learn to look it in its ugly face and introduce yourself to it.

Data scientists from the University of Chicago studied the critical differences between initial failures and progress between future attempts.

“The factor that ultimately determined which path an individual took was the extent to which they learned from previous failures and how they applied that knowledge going forward, according to the study.”

Essentially, when you face a failure or experience a form of disappointment, you must simply acknowledge it and try again.

A study from the New York academy of science found that the mindset of a student greatly impacted how they perceived an academic setback.

The study deduced that students who focused primarily on the learning process did not tend to label learning experiences as failures, while students who were more focused on physical

outcomes such as grades and feedback were more likely to label a setback as a permanent failure.

“What we see is college graduates that do well in their profession actually did not have great grades,” said Valle.

“They had balance and turned mistakes [into] growth.”

Receiving excellent grades and excelling academically is not all life is meant to be and it is certainly not an intuitive trait we are born with.

Acknowledging the realistic threat of failure is half the battle, making peace with its inevitable presence is the rest.

The resources available to you Finding solace in facing failure and discomfort is no small feat, unfortunately it will continue to follow you throughout your life.

Boise State University offers multiple ways in which students can receive help when these uncomfortable feelings get too heavy to carry alone.

Health Services at Boise State offers counseling services for all students and they take most insurance providers, although if you do not want your parents to know you are receiving counseling, they offer prolonged payment plans to ensure all students can get the help they need.

Health Services also offers walk-in crisis counseling free of charge for students. “[Walk in counseling] is during our opening hours so that anyone can come in and they will be seen by a counselor for 30 minutes,” said Valle.

“But they won't be charged … So it's okay to ask questions. It's okay to not know something. Because that's what we're here for.”

Another simple yet mighty solution

“[Walk in counseling] is during our opening hours so that anyone can come in and they will be seen by a counselor for 30 minutes,” said Valle. “But they won't be charged … So it's okay to ask questions.

It's okay to not know something.

Because that's what we're here for.”

to helping your new transition is to find a community here at Boise State.

You must fight the urge to hide away from the rapid changes you face.

“We're built to connect with people,” said Valle. “Despite the thought that you can live on an island by yourself.”

In a google form sent out by The Arbiter, students were asked to give ad-

vice to students facing the difficulties of a transitional period, one response said to “keep pushing through because you will find your people eventually.

You have to dig through a lot of dirt to find gold.”

Join greek life, a club or ask someone in your class to set up a study group.

We are not built to go through life alone, let alone go through hardships by ourselves. Chances are you will find someone feeling the same tricky feelings you are.

Being on your own for the first time can come as a shock to many students.

The struggle of learning to do your own laundry and taking college classes can bring up new fears that had never existed before.

If you are only willing to do what is easy, life will be hard. You are going to mess up and it will all be okay.

C U LT U R E August 15, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

Bringing ‘Brat’ to the Ballot: How TikTok and Pop Culture is Shaping the Election

In a time of political uncertainty — how are politicians connecting with their most impressionable voters?

Emily Nelson | Cultural Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ith over half of Generation Z being at or above the legal voting age, their voices are finally entering the political conversation.

The current election season has undoubtedly been one for the history books — with back-to-back events leaving newsrooms across the nation in shambles and internet culture becoming more prevalent than ever in the way politicians choose to connect with young voters.

“TikTok in specific has a large sway on elections. Whichever candidate has the strongest campaign on social media will have a larger voter percentage within the younger demographic,” Lexie Ponce, a current college student at Lewis-Clark State College explains. “Social media is now the best marketing tactic because it is free and can reach a large number of audiences.”

With that being said — can virality and relatability define an election?

On July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next Democratic candidate for the presidential election, following his resignation. This dramatically shifted the trajectory of the presidential race.

That same day, English pop-star Charli XCX made a post on X, formally known as Twitter, stating “kamala IS brat”, referencing her 2024 album “Brat”.

This post alone amassed over 54 million views, and sparked a wildfire of conversation online.

In a TikTok video, Charli XCX explains what it means to be a brat.

“You’re just that girl who is a little messy and likes to party — maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels

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herself but maybe also has a breakdown.

But kind of like parties through it. Very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile.

Like, does dumb things. But it’s brat.

You’re brat. That’s brat.”

Charli XCX began the rollout of her eccentric sixth studio album titled “Brat” early this summer. “Brat”, was critically and commercially acclaimed, debuting at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.

“Brat” became not only a hyper-pop phenomenon, but a way of life. TikTok users coined the term “brat summer”, and began heavily leaning into the iconic aesthetics of the album online.

After the virality of Charli XCX’s endorsement, Kamala’s team decided to lean head first into the craze.

Utilizing the album’s Arial font and lime green coloring, Kamala HQ also began to branch out to users on Instagram and Tiktok — specifically targeting a younger demographic.

For those aware of current internet culture - it is near impossible to not take notice. The Kamala HQ social media pages are up to date on current trends, songs and online memes.

“Right now, everyone is saying Kamala is brat, and it definitely appeals to young voters, especially those who identify as queer,” says Delaney Miller, a student at Boise State University.

Kamala Harris’ outreach to America’s youth doesn’t end at her acknowledgement of “brat summer”. Her campaign seems to be focused on meeting Gen Z voters where they are.

“In our generation especially, social media platforms like TikTok have a huge impact in how we view our presidential candidates,” Amber Jansson, a student

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at Boise State University explains. “I also think that celebrities with mass followings showing support for a certain candidate can sway followers.”

Over the years, TikTok and other similar apps have become a point of discovery for members of Generation Z. For some, connecting pop culture to the political landscape seems like a breath of fresh air — but for others, it may come across disingenuous.

In a voluntary survey conducted

by The Arbiter, students aged 18-27 answered where they primarily consume news related content.

Of 21 students surveyed, over half noted their primary source of news consumption came from Instagram, despite Instagram’s recent decision to avoid

recommending political content to users who do not manually consent to viewing it within their settings.

Utilizing the popular culture to gain support has been a campaign tactic politicians have used for decades, but it is becoming increasingly easier on platforms that utilize personalized algorithms to keep supporters engaged.

“We use social media in different ways than before,” Kennedy Ausbun, a student at Boise State University adds.

“It has allowed us to voice our opinions and connect with each other in different ways.”

Graphic of Kamala Harris and Charlie XCX with an “I Voted” sticker.

Graphic by Karley Rodriguez

C U LT U R E

Things are heating up under Boise: The clean energy city under construction

Despite the positive effects of a sustainable city, long-term construction can be a barrier in every-day life.

Emily Nelson | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Photo of a fenced-off work zone for Geothermal Heating System updates.

Photo by Omar Saucedo

T

he City of Boise, Idaho is widely known for its tree-lined streets, vibrant downtown and rich history. But did you know that Boise has the oldest and largest geothermal system in the nation?

Geothermal energy is defined as a renewable resource powered by heat below the Earth’s surface.

“When we talk about geothermal in Boise, we are talking about something different than most of the rest of the country,” Amy Parrish, Boise State University’s sustainability director explains. “Our geothermal system is essentially tapping into a hot spring that sits under Boise — and that’s unique, it’s not something that a lot of communities have access to.”

Boise has been pioneering the use of natural energy since 1982, with Idaho’s Capitol Building being the only state capitol building to be heated by hot water.

Some notable buildings powered by renewable energy on Boise State’s campus include the Student Union Building, the

Center for Visual Arts and the Administration building.

Taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, Boise State University aims to be entirely carbon neutral by 2050.

“It’s something not commonly recognized by students,” Parrish adds. “It’s actually a really cool thing.”

Despite the positives of utilizing geothermal energy for power, there are also downsides throughout the process.

When explaining the downsides of utilizing geothermal energy, Parrish brings up the likelihood of pipe leaks.

“Some of the pipes are older,” Parrish said. “If there’s a leak, they have to turn the system off to fix it, and then you don’t have heat.”

Boise State University has a contract set up with the City of Boise to be an interruptible service at the time of an emergency within the geothermal system.

As an interruptible service, buildings heated by geothermal energy at Boise State University have the ability to utilize natural gas if something were to go

wrong.

“The way we deal with that at Boise State is we have backup heat in our buildings. If the flow was low for some reason, they could stop giving us service and prioritize buildings downtown,” Parrish said.

Another pitfall of utilizing geothermal energy can be long-term construction projects.

Starting in April 2024, the City of Boise began construction to replace aging sections of Downtown Boise’s geothermal system on 10th Street.

Audrey Dorosh has been working as a barista in the historic Idanha building, located on the corner of 10th and Main, for a little under a year. Dorosh makes a 15 minute commute from West Boise to work in the city.

The construction required a partial closure of the 10th and Main intersection, as well as a full closure on 10th between Main and Idaho. The City of Boise’s seven step plan to replace the systems is not expected to be completed until September.

“It would make the building rattle and shake for an hour or two at a time, causing headaches. Business was very slow, and sales went down quite a bit from it being more difficult for people to walk here,” Dorosh said, referring to the construction. “Since Guru Donuts is at the ground level of an apartment complex, a lot of people that lived here would come in and be like ‘I’m so annoyed the building is shaking.’

The construction occurring on and nearby 10th Street is not only impacting the Idanha. A multitude of other small businesses and tenants are being affected by limited entry and parking options for customers.

Re-POP Gifts is another business that has been impacted by the construction.

To make light of the situation, the shop hosted a ‘Road Construction Survival Party’ in late July.

“Yes, another road closure!” They state

on their website. “The city of Boise is replacing geothermal lines along 10th Street, supporting clean, renewable geo-thermal energy for generations to come. However, replacing those lines comes at the cost of road closures, frustration, and inconvenience.”

Ryan McGoldrick is the program director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, an environmental nonprofit. Conservation Voters for Idaho aims to create a political environment that protects our natural environment.

“It can be frustrating to try and get around,” Ryan McGoldrick said. “But my general thought is, I think it’s worth it to become the type of city we all want to live in.”

On Aug. 10, 2024, Conservation Voters for Idaho hosted a table at Boise’s Soul Food Festival.

“We’re not the technical experts in the environmental industry — we’re kind of the organizers and the connectors,” McGoldrick explained. “Just being out there in the community and helping connect people to decision makers is really important.”

Conservation Voters for Idaho aims to educate and connect people both within the geothermal industry and outside of it.

“I think one of the exciting parts about it, seeing that it’s not just a beneficial source of clean energy in Boise, but something where we can set an example for other communities to follow,” McGoldrick adds. “They can come and learn from our experts and help implement a new clean energy source in other places.”

AUGUST 15, 2024

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C U LT U R E

‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’ T.V. adaptation doesn’t kill the story

AGGGTM may not be entirely book accurate, but it’s a mystery even Pippa Fitz-Amobi would be proud of Kir yn Willet t | Editor- In- Chief | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ontent Warning: Mention of murder and suicide “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” (AGGGTM) by Holly Jackson is a thrilling YA murder mystery that made the New York Times Bestsellers list and took over BookTok, starring “good girl” Pippa (Pip) Fitz-Amobi, following her quest to solve a five year old murder case. In the small town of Little Kilton (or Fairview if you read the U.S. version) high schooler Andie Bell disappears, and her boyfriend at the time, Sal Sign, is accused of her murder. Just days after her murder, Sal is found dead, appearing to have confessed and killed himself. But Pip is convinced Sal is innocent. Fans of the books gushed over the unexpected twists and turns and the heartwarming high school romance that blooms between Pip and Ravi, Sal’s younger brother.

Three years after it was published, a series adaptation was announced. Readers speculated about what the series would be like, anxiously biting their nails and begging for them to not mess up the beloved murder mystery. And while some readers have taken to social media to voice their disappointment with the divergence from the book, the series adaptation keeps nearly all the most important plot points and clues to the series, making an enjoyable watch regardless of whether or not you’ve read the books.

The series is only six episodes long, so naturally leaves a lot out — little clues and large red herrings alike. Pip, played

by Emma Meyers, even discovers the same clues in different ways; she confronts the drug dealer Howie (Thomas Gray) by herself at a party alone instead of with Ravi (Zain Iqbal) at his home.

But given that most of the book is Pip walking around and talking to people, the changes made to the show make sense.

While Pip’s strolls down murder lane to prove Sal’s innocence make a captivat-

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ing read due to her internal monologue, watching a teenager walk around a tiny British town for 40 minutes wouldn’t be nearly as thrilling onscreen.

The soundtrack of the series is masterfully chosen — it nevers fails to flawlessly recreate the edge of your seat atmosphere of the series. The opening of episode one to “The Feminine Urge” by The Last Dinner Party is the perfect introduction to the reckless, rash and ready to commit crimes in the name of justice, Pip, while providing a musical nod to the feminist themes of the trilogy. “Me and The Devil”

by Gil Scott-Heron plays a pivotal scene with Max Hastings (Henry Ashton) and Pip, another great musical nod - this time to one of the series devils.

Speaking of devils, Ashton pulls off an incredible performance as the most punchable man on earth. From the moment he appears as Max Hastings on screen, you can’t help but hate him.

From his casual misogyny and predatory demeanor, Ashton perfectly captures the condescension and entitlement of the character as he mockingly calls Pip a “good girl” and a “hysterical avenging

virgin”.

Still there was one missing person that didn’t escape my notice - Stanley Forbes.

The vitriol filled reporter serves as a minor antagonist to the books, fuelling the racist hatred and shunning of the Singh family in the first book. In the sequel, “Good Girl, Bad Blood”, Stanley becomes a major player, leaving the show with fewer threads set up for the next season.

And if the references made in this season are any indicator, the show is trying to set itself up for three seasons, one for each book.

If anyone is guilty of murder, it’s the industry standard of condensing entire books with complex plots down to six to eight episodes. This format is bound to lose some of the subplots, set-up and nuances of the book, leaving the audience wanting more.

Despite the condensed story, Meyers translates Pip’s awkwardness from page to screen perfectly, creating an endearing (if uptight) teenage mess who becomes obsessed with a case everyone else considered closed. The show uses this as an opportunity to add a sense of

humor to the show the books lack. Pip and her friends have their teenage idiocy and predisposition for shenanigans on full display, creating moments of genuine laughter and love, both for the audience and the characters, giving the otherwise intense story a much needed lift.

The development of Ravi and Pip’s relationship is sweet and genuine, capturing the semi-slow burn of the first book as the two sleuths solve the crime side by side.

While any readers holding out for the iconic “real men wear floral when trespassing” quote may be disappointed, their Sherlock and Watson banter still shines through as a highlight of the show.

Whether you are a first time fan, or long time stan, the AGGTM show is a must watch. The show executes the twists and turns of the story so well, I found myself clicking into the next episode as fast as possible, despite knowing the way the story ends. If you’re looking for a good (if not entirely accurate) book adaption, or heart-pounding, mind blowing mystery with a mood playlist to match, the AGGTM show should be your prime suspect.

Image of lead actress Emma Myers as Pippa Fitz-Amobi in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.

| ARBITERONLINE.COM

Image courtesy of Netflix

C U LT U R E

Skip the remakes and sequels: “Cuckoo” is a terrifyingly unique thrill-ride

“Cuckoo” is an original tale overshadowed by a plethora of sequels and remakes, so don’t let it pass you by.

Kelly Ann Asker | Managing Editor | onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Image of actress Hunter Schafer as Gretchen in new movie Cuckoo.

Image courtesy of Neon Rated

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e are living in an era of film where remakes, sequels and book or video game adaptations rule the screen. “Despicable Me 4”, “Inside Out 2”, “It Ends With Us” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” are dominating the box office while smaller, unique titles hide in their shadows.

In a puddle of mediocre movies, a new — and under hyped — film has just started its run in theaters, and this is one you don’t want to miss.

“Cuckoo” follows Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), a 17-year-old girl moving into a new home at a ski resort in the German Alps in the middle of summer with her father, step-mother and her mute

half-sister. Right away, we can tell the family dynamic is off. While her father (Marton Csokas), step-mother (Jessica Henwick) and half-sister (Mila Lieu) all ride together in their car, Gretchen sits stuffed next to the movers in the moving truck - serving as a symbolic moment to show us the disconnect Gretchen feels from her family.

As soon as Gretchen arrives, things get weird. Her and her family are greeted by Mr. Köng (Dan Stevens), the owner of the resort, whose sly, overly friendly personality is immediately unsettling. After offering a front desk job to Gretchen, she starts to get an idea of the strange things occurring around her.

However, with her presence obviously

unwelcomed by her family, Gretchen quickly becomes desperate to escape back to the United States, but the odds are against her in every way. Mr. Köng’s demeanor gets odder and odder, her family dynamic gets more polarized and the film gets scarier and scarier.

From the very first scene, this movie gets under your skin. Its sounds, editing and lighting all come together to fill you with anxiety. And it doesn’t stop after the first scene. It is truly impossible to relax while watching “Cuckoo” and the director did an excellent job creating the perfect mystery-thriller.

From multiple women choking and vomiting at the resort, Mr. Köng’s persistence to drive her home from work at night and her half-sisters’ new onset seizures — the audience is right alongside Gretchen as she experiences terror after terror.

The biggest compliment I can give to the film’s creators is that I never knew what was about to happen next. I, like Gretchen, was completely in the dark and never knew what lurked around each twist and turn. I was both terrified and wildly excited to see what was about to happen next. From chase scenes, family fights and suspicious figures — nothing is off the table.

This is a plot-line that is near impossible to guess, because we haven’t seen anything like it before, which only makes the film more interesting.

The hardest thing about writing a screenplay, I would imagine, is creating credible reasoning in a fictional plot — especially horror. After the plot has unfolded and the audience is finally let in on what exactly has been happening at this resort, you’re left wondering the logistics behind everything. But that doesn’t necessarily ruin the film, in fact, it almost makes it more intriguing and will have you thinking about our antagonist for days.

One thing I was not anticipating — and had me nearly as shocked as the plot — was Hunter Schafer’s performance in this role. Schafer is best known for her role as Jules in HBO’s hit show, “Euphoria”, as well as her role as Tigris in “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”, the newest addition to “The Hunger Games” franchise. Although her acting has never been necessarily bad, it has never stood out. That is, until “Cuckoo”.

Schafer’s performance in “Cuckoo” is something to marvel at. Every emotion is portrayed to perfection. From boredom to hatred, and terror to betrayal — Schafer is finally able to showcase her full acting range. And wow, she sure knows how to command the screen. It seems that casting directors around Hollywood have noticed the same stardom in Schafer, as she is booked and busy with a wide variety of projects lined up.

Something that seems to be increasingly common in film is over the top, graphic gore. While sometimes it works well with the plot — other times it’s so overdone that it takes away from the positive elements of the film and can seem like overcompensation for a mediocre storyline.

However, that was not the case in “Cuckoo”. There was minimal gore, and what gore there was, was not graphic.

While there is a heavy usage of blood, it’s used appropriately. Don’t be fooled by the minimal gore though, this is an R-rated film. Specifically for, violence, bloody images, language and brief teen drug use.

If you’re a fan of ominous and unsettling thrillers with truly manic plotlines, then “Cuckoo” is a must watch. It is a true mind-boggler, and the lack of publicity might cause it to pass you by — but don’t make that mistake, “Cuckoo” is perfect for a friday night fright.

AUGUST 15, 2024

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S PORTS & REC August 15, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

Redemption Season: What to expect ahead of the 2024 soccer season

Another season for the Broncos women’s soccer team with offseason news, predictions and more Cainon Rogers | Spor ts & Rec. Editor | Spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Picture of Carly Cross#8 and Kenzie MacMillan#23 Courtesy of Boise State Athletics

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oise State is back and better than ever ahead of the 2024 women’s soccer season. After a devastating loss to Utah State in the semi-finals last year, the Broncos are looking for redemption as they hope

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AUGUST 15, 2024

to secure their second Mountain West Championship in program history.

The Broncos are coming off of an 8-21 season in which they fell just short of the Mountain West Championship, as they were ranked as the 3rd best team in

| ARBITERONLINE.COM

the Mountain West. The good news for Broncos fans is that there is optimism going into the season, as Boise State has retained most of their star players while adding some depth from the transfer portal.

Star forwards Kenzie MacMillan and Carly Cross return to the field for their senior season, after a spectacular previous year. After both ending their season in the top three of scoring in the entire conference, they look to pick up where they left off and bring the Broncos to the big game. Macmillan (1st-Team) and Cross (2nd-Team) were each named all-conference and will continue their reign of terror for all goalkeepers that they face this season.

Non-conference season play begins on Aug.16 as the Broncos will be hosting the Portland State Vikings in Boise, Idaho, then the Idaho State Bengals a week later. The Broncos will then play away games hosted by UC Riverside and BYU in the weeks prior. The road trip will then come to an end as our Broncos will host Idaho, Utah Tech and Southern Utah all within a week. Non-conference play will then conclude with a three day long road trip, as the Broncos will shoot it out against the University of Montana on Sep. 19, then Eastern Washington University on Sept. 23.

The opening game for conference play will begin on Sept. 26 as the season will last all through October. The Mountain West Championship tournament will begin on Nov. 3, with the championship game happening on Nov. 9.

Key Broncos: Kenzie MacMillan, FWD- Senior: MacMillan is entering her senior season coming off of the best season of her

career. The senior forward received 1st team All Mountain West honors last season and scored the second most goals in the entire conference. MacMillan is looking to pick up where she left off last season in hopes to bring the Broncos to the big game.

Carly Cross, FWD- Senior: 2nd team All Mountain West, top five in goal scoring, Cross is one of the best players in the entire conference. Paired with MacMillan, Cross is part of the powerhouse Broncos offense which will be every goalies nightmare.

Genevieve Crenshaw, GK- 5th Year: After a first team All Mountain West season in 2022, Crenshaw’s previous season wasn’t as dominant as the previous.

Though she didn’t receive much recognition last season, she still was second in the league in save percentage, which is a show to how great she really is. Going into her final year as a Bronco, don’t be surprised when Crenshaw shows just how dominant she really is.

The Broncos are full of talent and drive as this will be the season that they bring winning culture back into the city of Boise. The Broncos are looking to be dominant in all aspects of the field, to win the Mountain West Championship and to show the rest of the conference what they are all about, as this is their redemption season.

SPORTS & REC

Madsen vs. Nelson: Who will secure the starting QB spot?

The competition continues as Maddux and Malachi battle it out to earn the starter quarterback position Roszy McGeorge | Spor ts & Rec. Repor ter | Spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Graphic of Malichai Nelson #7 and Maddux Madsen#4.

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s Boise State enters a new era with Head Coach Spencer Danielsen, there are high hopes for what the team will accomplish this upcoming season.

With former starting quarterback Taylen Green now at The University of Arkansas, fans are left with one big question: Who will acquire the starting quarterback position? Will it be returning redshirt junior Maddux Madsen? Or USC transfer redshirt sophomore Malachi

Nelson?

A large part of the excitement surrounding this season revolves around Boise’s first ever five star recruit, Malachi Nelsen. Bronco Nation is eager to see what new skills and strategy the former USC quarterback can bring to the team.

Nelson’s talent was apparent at Los Alamitos High School in California, where he posted 7,984 passing yards and 110 total touchdowns (105 passing). Nelson was the #1 high

Graphic by Kelsey Mason

school recruit in the 2022 class, per ESPN recruiting rankings, as well as California’s Gatorade Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2022. He was highly recruited by USC, Notre Dame, University of Michigan, University of Georgia, etc., but with minimal playing time at USC, the question remains, how will he compete in Division I football?

Over summer, Nelson was quickly able to get more comfortable playing with the team and in turn his confidence was able

to grow tremendously.

“Everyone had this expectation for Malachi that he was going to come in here and set it on fire, and that’s tough for any quarterback, especially when they don’t know the terminology,” Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter explained.

“He’s swimming in new terminology but you can see his ability as a thrower. It shines through.”

However, Nelsen will still have to compete at a very high level while learning a whole new system to earn his starting spot against Maddux Madsen who is returning for a third year with the Broncos.

As Madsen is coming back fully recovered from his previous knee injury, he has an advantage as far as familiarity with the team. But will that be enough to earn him that starter spot?

Last season, Madsen played in nine games before getting injured and finished with 1,191 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns and three interceptions.

“Maddux Madsen has a lot of equity with this team. I mean, you talk about a guy that is humble and hungry, low ego, high output — that’s Maddux Madsen.

You talk about a guy that continually competed throughout last season to start games, to win the starting spot last season, but then got injured” says Head Coach Spencer Danielsen. “But competition means through the roof for him and Malachi. Malachi is new in January with Maddux not being able to go through spring ball with the knee injury. Now that he’s healthy, we’re going to be able to go head-to-head competition.”

It is clear both Madsen and Nelson will be competing at a high level, and either way Bronco Nation should be prepared for a potent offensive season.

When asked what will determine the starting spot at the end of the day, “Whoever gives us the best opportunity to win games will be the starter game one” Danielsen said. “Let the competition begin.”

AUGUST 15, 2024

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SPORTS & REC

Boise State Broncos role in EA Sports College Football 25 video game

The Boise State Broncos join 133 other universities in the brand new video game Cainon Rogers | Spor ts & Rec. Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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lectronic Arts (EA) Sports recently released their first college football video game since NCAA 14, which marks 11 years since the blue turf has made its way back to the gaming consoles. The Broncos team will include all real-life players, including freshman and transfers, as the new game is meant to bring recognition to all college football players across the country.

The new game consists of more realistic game animations, complex game modes and most importantly, the real-life players on all teams, meaning Malachi Nelson will be leading the Broncos down the field, just like he will do come football season.

One of the many new additions that EA Sports added in this game is the strength of home field advantage. They created what is called the “Pulse Meter” at away games, which makes the game more difficult to play if you are playing

on the road. The tougher the crowd, the more the Pulse Meter will raise, creating a realistic college football environment within the game.

With that being said, Albertsons Stadium is one of the most difficult places to play for an away team. The blue turf is ranked as the 24th highest pulse meter in the game, which is a testament to how the environment is in real life.

EA Sports did its homework with this game, as they made the video game version of the blue field seem as if it were real. You can hear the Blue Thunder Marching band playing the Boise State fight song, the fans doing the “Boise State” chant and the energetic student section. With all of this going on, Boise State’s opponents in the game are bound to find difficulty, as opponents struggle to take on the Blue in real life.

The Broncos were given a set 82 overall rating (OVR), putting them roughly in the middle of the pack compared to the

other teams. This rating places them at the top of the Mountain West Conference, with Fresno State trailing at an 80 OVR. Though fans aren’t particularly happy with this rating, as the season progresses, the ratings will be subject to change, so Boise State’s ranking may change throughout the year.

Key Broncos Ratings: Ashton Jeanty, RB - 91 OVR: Jeanty’s OVR puts him as a top 10 running back in the game, as he was given lightning acceleration (96) and agility (93). Jeanty’s high attributes that were given to him make him an asset to have on your team, but a nightmare to play against.

Ahmed Hassanein, DE - 87 OVR: Hassanein is one of the most disruptive defenders in the game and is a headache to play against as he is a top 20 defensive end. What makes him such a force to be reckoned with is his pass rush statistics, as he was given the third highest power

Image from the video game College Football 25.

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rush move in the game (95) and the highest play recognition out of all pass rushers (97).

Malachi Nelson, QB - 81 OVR: Many were wondering where the freshman five star transfer would rank in this game, as no one has seen his skills put to use on the college field. EA sports decided that an 81 OVR was fair, giving him nearly all above average attributes. Nelson is very fun to use in this game as he is able to do it all, as he has good speed (86), throw power (90) and throw accuracy (90).

College Football 25 has been out for almost a month now and it is near impossible to stop using the Broncos, as the game further enhances the fans excitement to the upcoming season

Photo courtesy of EA Sports

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