The Arbiter 2-24-11

Issue no.

45

Volume 23

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February 24, 2011 arbiteronline.com

Sports

Sustainability Club grows ambitions An experiment in ecosystems, community gardens Eden Engberg

Check out The Arbiter’s preview of the young gunnin’ Boise State softball team.

Journalist

A grant will provide an excuse for students to get down and dirty. Volunteering efforts could be rewarded with more than just the satisfaction of a job well done; it could also mean an armful of fresh, organic produce.

Boise State anthropology Associate Professor John Ziker and the Sustainability Club were recently awarded the Fullbright EcoGrant for $3,500 to spend on their vision of a community garden.

The project’s official title, “Sustainable Space and Community Garden,” was envisioned as a means to observe patterns of consumption and local ecosystem impact and interaction.

Karl Mertens, anthropology graduate student and the project’s manager, wants this garden to become more than just a space to grow food, but a place to inspire BSU and the community and encourage sustainability.

“We’re going to need lots of volunteers” Mertens said. With a smile on his face, he seemed eager and ultimately satisfied with their progress.

“We’ve already done a Service Saturday in January, and are looking forward to doing another one, hopefully in March” said Crystal Stuvland, a senior English major with a writing emphasis and Sustainability Club member. “About 20 people helped turn ground and clean up by raking and pruning back bushes.”

The property on Juanita Street near campus has been allocated to the Sustainability Club by Boise State.

When the news was near official, fliers were distributed to the surrounding neighborhood to garner feedback to support the inclusivity of community within the space and gather volunteers.

“The immediate neighbors are excited to watch the progress of the garden,” Mertens said.

Probable access to the irrigation line behind the property is also underway. Mertens envisions an off-the-grid existence for the garden, relying on solar energy to pump the water from the irrigation line to supply the garden.

Mertens is working with BSU administration to demolish the house to make more space for the garden. There is already a shed and a garage with office space which means the vacant home is more of a hindrance than a help to the project. The building is yet to be planned for demolition.

Sustainability Club has also proposed

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Opinion Is it acceptable to use electronically mediated methods to confess your sins?

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News photo courtesy sustainability club

Members of the Sustainability Club clean the plot of land awarded to it for a community garden via funding from the Fullbright Eco-Grant.

The new garden will be located 1415 Juanita St. internships for working in the garden or for organizing and administrating its efforts to the Environmental Sciences Department.

Discussions with those in the Biology Department ushered in ideas surrounding the sharing of the space for more than just the garden.

Mertens and other Sustainability Club members are open to a truly cooperative effort to utilize the space as best possible. They hope to work with other community gardens to foster a viable working relationship and to get advice for how to start.

“We’re planning and designing how to divvy up the space right now; we have to be mindful of how small it is. I would love to see mostly cold crops this year,” Mertens said.

A long list of produce was then proposed by both Mertens and Stuvland as the two brainstormed ideas for what exactly to plant. Expect

to see cabbage, potatoes, parsnips, radishes, rutabagas and kale. A bank of blackberry bushes and the likely prospect of herbs are already established.

“We’ve even started a compost pile. There are definite plans for a picnic area and a fence to be built,” Stuvland said.

The club hopes the growing visibility of the project and exciting lineup of events for Earth Week in April will bring in volunteers and the work will be effectively executed. For now, they’re just counting down the days until spring is finally in the air and warming their freshly turned soil.

For information on how to volunteer, e-mail Karl Mertens at karlmertens@u.boisestate.edu or find out more about Sustainability Club and its efforts by e-mailing Jenna Duffin at jennaduffin@u.boisestate.edu.

Boise State awarded big grant for biodefense research.

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Take notes on how to save our planet Lindsey Hileman Journalist

Every day is Earth Day at the Bookstore.

An entire line of Earth-friendly products are available: notebooks, index cards and sticky-note pads made from recycled materials and pens made from plastic water bottles. The store even has biodegradable pencil cases and sheet protectors. Holly Hunsaker, supply buyer for the Bookstore, said she feels the push from her suppliers to purchase more recycled products.

“But if the price point isn’t there, then the students aren’t buying,” Hunsaker said.

Bookstore employee and senior history major Alan Butcher admitted he had never

had a specific request from a student for these recycled products. While it’s true the retail price of the recycled products might be slightly higher than its less environmentally friendly counterparts, the cost of the impact on our planet could be greater.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 900 million trees are cut down every year for use in American paper mills. Then, approximately one billion trees’ worth of paper is thrown away in the U.S. each year. As far as plastic goes, it is estimated that less than 30 percent of plastic bottles are recycled. According to Beverage Marketing Corporation, in 2006, the average American conRecycled pens, sumed 28.3 gallons of bottled water. pencils and note-

“I think we are going to see a steady increase not only in the availability but in the purchase of recycled products,” Hunsaker said.

Aside from the clearly marked products, often packaging is green not only in color but in nature. Many of the imprinted products the bookstore sells are made, at least partially, of recycled materials.

Currently, most of the recycled products are made of post-consumer materials but because of the murky gray color that results, there will soon be a push for the new sugar cane paper. Sugar cane paper is made from bagasse, a by-product of the sugar

making process. This paper is whiter and brighter than its environmentally friendly predecessors.

“That (the color) was one of the biggest complaints before,” Hunsaker said.

Pilot Pen Corporation has found a way to do its part with its BeGreeN line of products which includes pens, mechanical pencils, highlighters and markers. Its newest addition, B2P (Bottle to Pen), is made of 89.9 percent post-consumer recycled content.

More specifically, recycled plastic water bottles. One plastic water bottle can make two B2P pens and the pens are refillable with the popular Pilot G2 refills.

books are sold at the Bronco Bookstore in the SUB. Water-butter pens were introduced to the store recently.

illustration by ryan johnson cody finney/THE ARBITER

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2 Culture

February 24, 2011

Three inexpensive spots to munch like a vegan Eden Engberg Journalist

If you’re sick of eating sandwiches and pizza, check out these three all local and good-for-you-and-your-wallet-too options. These suggestions are directed toward vegetarians and vegans, but all three locations also offer

something for carnivores.

Parilla Bar and Grill

Parilla Bar and Grill is in the heart of Hyde Park located on 13th St. and has cozy outdoor seating with a bar.

As for the grill portion, the unique style of burritos and tacos that Parilla has to offer are especially veggie friendly.

Vegetarians can order the Veg-

Pesca-what?

Demystifying green eating

by Lauren Hooker Face it; people eat some pretty funky stuff. But what about when they limit their diets and label them different things? What exactly is a “vegan” and how does it differ from a “vegetarian?” Restrictive diets aren’t just for tree-huggers -- many people adopt them for ethical, political, religious and health related reasons.

Vegetarian: The most commonly known, vegetarianism is a diet that consists of everything but meat, and sometimes eggs. Some vegetarians also choose to abstain from by-products of animal slaughter, such as gelatin, whereas others don’t mind.

Ovo-vegetarian: This variety of vegetarianism includes eggs, but not dairy products. They’re not quite vegan, but a little bit more intense than just a vegetarian.

Lacto-vegetarian: This form allows dairy products, but excludes eggs.

Pescatarian: This form of vegetarianism includes fish and seafood, but does not include other types of meat. It also typically allows dairy and eggs. Often used as a transition to complete vegetarianism, or as a way to incorporate more protein.

Vegan: This form of eating eliminates all meat, dairy and animal byproducts from the diet. It is restricted to vegetables, grains, fruits and nuts.

Raw vegan: A little bit stricter than regular veganism, raw vegans only consume raw foods; this means no cooking or processed foods allowed.

etarian Burrito, consisting of a full size (there is a smaller option also available) flour tortilla, black or pinto beans and cilantro lime rice. Garnish with lettuce (cheese and sour cream if you’re feeling it) and avocado and go for the corn salsa!

Fried tofu with panko can be added, but vegans beware, the oil is shared with fish. At just under $8, it’s almost spendy, but you can get two servings out of the full-size burrito (or get the smaller version for a few bucks less) and it comes with chips. Complement your creation with a Jarritos mexican soda.

Oriental Express

Oriental Express is an Asian food gem in downtown Boise.

Most people don’t know where or what it is. I hate to give up my best-kept vegan secret, but their food is too good not to share. It’s been brightly repainted, Oriental Express is on 11th Street between Main Street and Idaho Street.

This is one of the few Asian places in town that has vegetarian potstickers, but as for being vegan-friendly, you’ll have to inquire when ordering.

For vegans, all tofu options can be made soy-based and fried in fresh (and heart healthy) canola oil.

Two rather tasty dishes are Orange-Peeled Tofu and General Tao’s Tofu, both listed in the menu as “hot” on the spicy scale but can be made more mild. There aren’t any veggies

glenn landberg/THE ARBITER

Peppers, which are high in Vitamin C and Zinc, were used by health practitioners in the nineteenth century to battle rheumatism, arthritis, depression and chills. in these particular dishes but a heaped serving of rice and the sauce will fill you up.

Their vegetable section on the menu is extensive and should please just about anyone, especially for less than $10 a person. Get some hot tea and enjoy the best service in town. Lunch specials are the same, just smaller portions and less money.

Donnie Mac’s Trailer Park Cuisine

Lastly, we’re gettin’ classy with Donnie Mac’s Trailer Park

Cuisine. Located on Grove St. between 16th Street and 15th Street, it wasn’t until a few months ago that I was informed of vegan options on their menu. The first time I went, I missed these and ordered my stand-by and immediate favorite, the Trucker Mac n’ Cheese with sweet potato fries and trashy sauce (has sour cream).

For the vegans, they have The Mac’s BLT, Killer Chili or their delicious Corn Dawg on a Stick (try it miniaturized as well). Get yourself a cold glass of Kool-Aid to top it off and

feel the full force of trashiness.

Most options are less than $10 a person and you can have lunch for two for no more than $15.

It’s hard to beat the prices and their service is also excellent, the decorations titillatingly trashy with great drink specials that made me wish I was 21 and that it was late enough to start drinking.

So the next time you’re feeling up for something new, keep in mind the variety that’s available within blocks of Boise State and support your local veggie and vegan-friendly restaurants.

There’s a Hooker in the kitchen Lauren Hooker

Vegan Lentil Soup

Assistant Culture Editor

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding vegetarianism and veganism; you won’t get the nutrients you need, you won’t get enough protein...

However, these ideas aren’t true. As long as you’re a wellplanned vegan or vegetarian, the incorporation of correct amounts of nutrients in your diet is a “piece of cake.” Vegetarians get a bad rap from pasta-tarians -- those who think copious amounts of pasta equal a balanced, no-meat diet.

Lentils are the third highest plant-based protein. This soup is packed with flavor and nutrients, and is cheap to boot. Find your lentils in the bulk section and you’ll save even more.

Ingredients: 5 cups vegetable broth (make sure not to get chicken or beef, as they have animal by-products in them) 1/2 onion, diced 2 large carrots, sliced 1 tsp. vegetable oil 1 tbsp. minced garlic 1 stalk celery, chopped 1 tbsp. lemon juice 2 tbsp. Italian seasonings 1 tbsp. parsley, chopped 2 bay leafs 1/2 cup yellow corn 1 tsp. dried thyme 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. pepper 1 cup lentils 1 tbsp. tomato paste

Directions: 1. Heat up the vegetable oil in a large soup pan. Sauté the garlic and onions for four minutes on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the carrots and celery, and saute for three minutes longer. Add the corn.

2. Mix in the vegetable broth, lentils, parsley, Italian seasonings, thyme, bay leaves and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat. Simmer for 60 minutes, or until the lentils are tender (not mushy!).

3. Stir in lemon juice, salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaves, and serve.

Makes roughly 6 servings.

ROBBY MILO/THE ARBITER

The corner office can wait.

Some corners of the world can’t.

Live and work overseas. Learn more: Thursday, March 3 • 4 to 5:30 p.m.

BSU • SUB • Brink Room

www.peacecorps.gov Celebrating 50 years of world peace and friendship in 2011

Knitting Factory

Fri 2/25

MacKayla Hunter Nate Fowler Reckless Abandon

Gabba Gabba Heys- Tribute to The Ramones

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Hunter Valentine Vanity Theft DJ Kathy O’

Wild Nothing Abe Vigoda DJ Ryan Brackney

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Pengilly’s The Arbiter

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Mon 2/28

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2011 Poetry Reading

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Jonathan Warren & the Billygoats arbiteronline.com

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Computerized Confessions

3

February 24, 2011

Republicans rape rights of women Jessica Swider

Assistant Online Editor

Forgive me Father, for I have tweeted Megan Bronder Journalist

It should come as no surprise that this generation is on a quick slope toward zero interpersonal communication. Men request women to be a Facebook friend rather than ask for their phone number. Hungry people use smartphone apps to locate nearby restaurants rather than open a Yellow Pages.

Starbucks orders are taken via smartphone before standing in line. And now, even a personal relationship with a higher being has gone digital.

First, it was iPrayer Journal to tweet prayers and prayer requests. Now, a company called Little iApps LLC has released a smartphone application for the Catholic act on penance called “Confession: A Roman Catholic App.” The app boasts a text message-like conversation the program describes as being an examination of conscience specific to each user.

It is password protected and has a step-bystep guide to the sacrament, inviting Catholics to “prayerfully prepare for and participate in the Rite of Penance.”

It is not the fact that people are praying and confessing via smartphone that is astonishing. Because really, there are apps that look like a beer being drunk out of a glass, and an app for putting funny mustaches on a talking mouth. Odd apps are not shocking.

This app stands apart from others by bridging the gap between a centuries-old ritual and the modern tech-savvy world, offering the same guidance to the new generation, but in an updated way.

Equally amazing is the official backing the Confession app has received. This app is said to be the first smartphone app to receive imprimatur, or a formal sanctioned approval from the Catholic Church. This is in the wake of Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 World Communications Address that officially blessed social media networking and spreading God’s word via the Internet.

Don’t think of it as stooping to a low level of religious zealots -- think of it as reaching a generation that is always connected to the Internet. As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” In this case, it’s about time that religion stepped out of the stuffy sanctuary and into a place that will reach more people.

Campus Minister Chuck Skoro at St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center supports the app and the pope’s

There were 565 forcible rapes committed in the state of Idaho. Of that number, only 121 arrests were made, according to the Idaho State Police, in 2009, .

While this statistic is alarming in itself, the consequences of these rapes are what is truly worrisome. Beyond the psychological and mental effects, unwanted pregnancy is frequently a result of rape. In a piece of legislation titled “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” House Republicans are attempting to redefine our status quo regarding abortions. While abortions are certainly controversial, that does not give any one party the right to attempt to drastically limit the personal choices available to women.

The original text of the bill meant to redefine rape, which would have excluded any women who became pregnant from being drugged or unconscious, or were victims of date rape and statutory rape. According to the Huffington Post, the bill attempts to ban all Medicare or Medicaid money from being used to pay for abortions, except in the case of rape or incest, as well as restrict federal subsidies for any health care plans that cover abortion, even if the cost of the abortion is paid entirely with private funds.

Boise State junior and English major Rachel Hammes does not support these changes.

“I’m extremely furious about this,” Hammes said.

“The idea that a group of people-- are mainly men- can reduce a women’s trauma and decide what really effects someone and what they can do about is utterly ridiculous.”

Republicans are also submitting a bill called the “Protect Life Act,” which would allow hospitals to refuse emergency abortions to women, even if they would die without one.

While these bills have undergone recent changes due to public outrage, both are awaiting a vote in the House.

In addition to these atrocities, Planned Parenthood and Title X is raging and South Dakota has attempted to redefine the murdering of abortion providers a justifiable homicide.

Chad Shohet, a Boise State junior theater major feels this kind of action is unnecessary.

“Planned Parenthood is an organization that promotes the education of safe execution of sexual activities,” Shohet said. “Including the advocation of safe-sex practices which protect young people from STI’s or unwanted pregnancies. The removal of funding for this organization will have devastating effects, as without proper education for safe sexual practices unwanted pregnancies will skyrocket as well as transferences of STI’s.”

Personally, if I didn’t know better, I’d say pigs were flying. It’s an embarrassment to the American public that such large steps backward are even being considered, let alone voted on. What better way to encourage girls who are victims of a horrific sex crime to keep their mouths shut than to pass bills discrediting their trauma? All these pieces of paper are doing is making it likely that women faced with an unplanned pregnancy will take desperate measures. To ban funding for family planning institutions, redefining rape and killing providers of legal abortions won’t stop people from having sex and getting pregnant -- it will result in a lot of back alley traffic.

While the re-wording of certain bills is already a step in the right direction, it’s imperative that society continues to realize the significance of these bills and the potential consequences they hold. Showing support by signing petitions, such as Planned Parenthood’s open letter to congress and MoveOn.org’s Political Action petition are a simple way to let the government know that this can not be tolerated.

modern progression in technology.

“We should always be in a position of growing and changing while holding onto the wonderful treasures of the scriptures and our traditions,” Skoro said.

Skoro is also glad the Pope is catching on to the generation’s most prized form of communication.

“Not everything on the Internet is wonderful and uplifting, but some things are -- or have the potential to be -- very good,” Skoro said. “We need to say that and say it often.”

Senior mass media major and practicing Catholic Ryan Bradshaw is also supportive of the new app.

“I think the idea of using new media is great,” Bradshaw said. “I can say from personal experience that I was more nervous about how to confess than what to confess, this app might calm a lot of nerves.

I don’t think it will be harmful, I think it will be helpful.”

Verbalizing thoughts or feelings holds a person accountable to those emotions. Once it is voiced, it can’t be unsaid.

Similarly, telling someone, even a smartphone app, about a committed sin is holding that person more accountable to his or her actions. The Confessions app can act as a faceless sounding board and potentially alleviate heavy guilt.

“We human beings have incredible powers of self-deception,” Skoro said. “And we find all kinds of ways to rationalize unacceptable behavior. Perhaps that’s why Jesus gave the task of forgiveness to the Church rather than leaving it as something that is solely between the person and God.” While the app goes through the motions of expressing remorse and asking forgiveness, it is still expected of the confessor to seek a priest for absolution. Bradshaw agrees that even though the app is intriguing and he will probably try it, it would not replace the act of confession, because it can’t.

“It is there to help guide you, to assist you in the process. It’s an aid not a replacement,” he said.

Everything on the Internet seemed unusual at its conception -- online dating, shopping for clothes without trying them on, playing virtual boardgames with strangers -- but eventually those strange things become common and widely accepted.

Perhaps prayer and confession are the newest members to the strange-at-first, super-helpful-later club that can help transmit religious values across a larger area than ever before.

“Media has a special place in our faith lives. Media is the new evangelism,” Bradshaw said.

L e tt er

to

e Edit or

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Tuition and fee increases

Once again this spring brings us the threat of tuition and fee increases. This year’s increases could top eight percent, yet nobody on campus cares. Many people ask-- should tuition and fees go up or go down? We write today to say that whether they go up or down is simply a short term solution to a long term problem. Higher education needs to be released from the shackles that public funding places upon it and allow individual students the incentive and responsibility to manage their own advanced learning.

Across the country and in Idaho we do a great injustice to the lower class and many in the middle class. In Idaho, every citizen who buys anything or has a job is required to pay taxes for our state’s higher education programs whether they use them or not. This creates a gap of injustice; minorities and those in the lower class use state higher education at a much lower rate than those in the middle and upper classes. So what does that mean? It means that the poor in our society, many of which do not receive education beyond high

school, are forced to pay for the advanced learning of those in the upper and middle classes in our state.

Currently, many attend our state universities simply because they are told to do so or because their friends are doing it. Because of this a majority have very little of their own equity invested in their higher education. All are subsidized through tax payers and most receive aid from the federal government. This translates into a four year graduation rate of just six percent at Boise State.

How do we fix this problem? Public funding for universities needs to be eliminated which makes attending higher education more valuable to every student. If the majority of your education was paid for by you, and not by somebody else (society) you would have the incentive to finish in four years with a degree that is valuable in the market place. Funding for higher education should only come from tuition, fees, donations, and endowments.

If you had to pay for 100 percent of your education how much

E ditorial S taff E ditor - in -C hief Bob Beers

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harder would you study? How much faster would you finish your degree? Would you be interested in paying for a bicycle center, a pool, bowling alley, student news paper, or more importantly degrees that give individuals very little skills. Or would you only be focused on your goals as a student? There may be different answer to those questions, but the underlying principle is freedom and responsibility. If we increase choice and responsibility we will have a four-year graduation rate that is higher than six percent because our university will be full of people that are here to be educated.

We only have so much space in this article; this is just the tip of the ice berg. We have so much more to share with you in regards to reforming higher education, please stay tuned.

Trevor Grigg is a senior majoring in entrepreneurial management. Joesph Bunt is junior studying political science.

B usiness J ournalists Christine Ritchie, Eva Hart, Megan Bronder, Tyler Kirkham, Tony Madonna, Jana Hoffman, Tony Rogers, Natalie Craig, Trevor Villagrana, Eden Engberg, David Gasch, Lindsey Hileman, Edina Macic, Sherry Horton, Tasha Adams, Stephanie Casanova, Kimberley O’Bryan, Wyatt Martin, Genevieve Nutting, Justin Dalme, Nikki Hanson, John Garretson, Ty Hawkins

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February 24, 2011

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Researchers get sprayed with $300,000 national biological defense hazards grant

News Briefs

University News At the intersection of science and technology, there is just as much potential for danger as progress. Bioterrorism has emerged as one of the most significant threats to national security and public health, prompting the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) within the U.S. Department of Defense to invest heavily in research that addresses chemical and biological hazards.

Boise State University faculty Jodi Mead and Inanc Senocak are conducting research as it relates to reconstruction and simulation of hazards once they are detected in the atmosphere.

They have been awarded a grant of more than $300,000, jointly funded by DTRA and the National Science Foundation (NSF), to support their work. Per capita, the total dollar amount of the award to Boise State is the highest of any of the 32 given in any state thus far through the NSF’s Algorithms for Threat Detection program.

Senocak, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, worked on a similar project as a postdoctoral fellow at the Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining Boise State. Using statistical algorithms and simplified models of air pollution, he was able to reconstruct the dispersion of contaminant plumes in the atmosphere.

At Boise State, he is expanding his research to rapidly simulate the dispersion of contaminants in the air with the goal of reduction and control of threats to civilians in urban areas and troops on the battlefield.

“It’s essentially situational awareness,” Senocak said. “But to produce refined projections of a contaminant dispersion event, a high level of computational capability is needed to move from simple modeling to complex mathematical modeling.”

That’s where Mead, a profes-

mct campus

Sherry Horton Journalist

University welcomes new health and recreation services executive director

mct campus

2nd Lt. Tom O’Neil, of Lawrence, N.J., writes a letter home during a bio-chemical drill at Marine base LSA7 in the Kuwait desert Feb. 9, 2003. O’Neil commands the weapons platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. sor of mathematics, comes in.

An expert in numerical analysis, she provided new algorithms aimed at making models and predictions more accurate.

“When a sensor detects a threat in the air, you want to know what it is, where it’s coming from, where it’s going to go and how fast it’s going to happen. And you want to be able to do that without losing public confidence or expending unnecessary resources,” Mead said. “As the level of fidelity in the physical model increases, the uncer-

tainty decreases.”

The uncertainty is the margin of error built into any prediction based on a physical model.

From simulating space missions to creating weather forecasts and advising communities during an emergency, that margin can affect human lives, and Mead and Senocak are focused on closing the gap.

“Our collaboration in mathematics and engineering is a unique strength in addressing a viable threat on the horizon,” Mead said.

The Division of Student Affairs welcomes Libby Greaney, the new executive director of University Health and Recreation Services, effective Feb. 14.

Greaney’s hire brings more than 24 years of experience in health, recreation, wellness and management. She served for the past 10 years as director of health services at Western Kentucky University.

Greaney earned her doctorate of educational leadership and organizational development at University of Louisville.

She also holds a master of business administration and master of health care administration, both from Western Kentucky, a master of exercise science from the University of New Hampshire and a bachelor of science in health education from the University of Vermont.

The executive director of University Health and Recreation Services is responsible for providing comprehensive patient programs and services that protect and promote the health of university community members, including direction of the assessment and monitoring of campus health issues.

Greaney leads a diverse staff that provides medical and counseling services, fitness, aquatic and outdoor programs, wellness and membership services, injury prevention, care, and facilities management.

MBA program hosts open house The Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) program will hold an open house for prospective students and interested companies in the Stueckle Sky Center at Bronco Stadium Feb. 28 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The program is designed for middle-to-senior-level professionals who wish to obtain a master’s degree in business administration on a schedule that minimizes disruption of work and personal pursuits. Participants will earn an MBA in two academic years’ part-time class attendance.

The MBA program began in 2006 and was the first program of its kind in Idaho. It is unique in that it was created in partnership with a consortium of businesses.

Participants lauded the program for its creativity in the evaluation of business problems, the immediate link between class projects and work tasks, an integrated curriculum that took into account a wide range of business units and a trade mission-style international experience in Vietnam.

More than half of Boise State’s Executive MBA graduates said they received promotions or advanced their careers as a result of their participation in the program.

For information and to make reservations, visit http://emba.boisestate.edu or call 426-4034.

Fine arts program brings Wisconsin poet, Abraham Smith to campus Boise State’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Reading Series features Wisconsin poet Abraham Smith, Sunday, Feb 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Pengilly’s Saloon. The saloon is located at 513 W. Main St. downtown and is free and open to the public.

Smith will read from his newest book, “Hank,” which is a tribute to country music legend Hank Williams Sr. Smith is a literature and creative writing instructor at the University of Alabama. His journal credits include American Poetry Review, jubilat, Northwest Review, Denver Quarterly, Typo and Ninth Letter, among others.

Other accolades include Smith being named a Writing Fellow in 2004 by the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and his first book of poems, “Whim Man Mammon,” which debuted in 2007.

“To see Abraham Smith read his poetry is to watch a man on fire for the word,” said critic Erin Mullikin.

The reading series brings nationally renowned authors to the Boise State campus. For information, contact Torin Jensen at TorinJensen@boisestate.edu.

Students can sign up for those fun-inthe-sun Summer classes Registration for 2011 summer sessions is now open. Eligible students can register for classes through open registration -- appointments aren’t necessary.

The summer program offers more than 500 courses which include core, upper division, graduate and distance classes. Workshops and educational travel programs are also available. Students can take courses on campus, online, at other satellite campuses or in the field.

Perks for students who enroll in summer courses include getting a degree sooner, lower class cost and easier parking and smaller classes.

Sessions begin May 16, June 6 and July 11 and are offered for 3, 5, 8 or 10 weeks. Workshops are offered throughout the summer. Students can view a complete schedule and register online by logging onto BroncoWeb at http://broncoweb.boisestate.edu/.

For information, visit www.boisestate.edu/summer or call the Boise State summer program office in Extended Studies at (208) 426-1709.

The Arbiter

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News

February 24, 2011

Bookstore apparel

Luna’s truck gets tagged Natalie Craig Journalist

together paychecks and education Edina Macic Journalist

The bookstore now carries a new line of apparel.

Not only are its sales making a difference in a another country by selling this brand on campus, but it costs no more than other well-known brands.

Students can buy T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies on campus that will help elevate workers of Alta Gracia from poverty.

Alta Gracia provides university apparel and pays its workers living wages in the Dominican Republic.

The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), an independent labor rights organization, has performed a market-basket analysis to establish a living wage standard for apparel workers.

The Dominican Republic legal minimum wage is less than $150 per month.

Alta Gracia pays workers the WRC’s determined living wage of $510 per month, 340 percent of the minimum wage, or more than triple the legal minimum wage.

Alta Gracia said it pays enough to make sure workers are fed, clothed, housed and can educate their families.

Students who buy Alta Gracia apparel affect each worker in more ways than just being paid above minimum wage.

The WRC verifies Alta Gracia pays its workers enough to allow them to meet basic needs, including nutritious food, drinkable water, housing and energy, health care, transportation, education, childcare and the opportunity for savings, according to Gena Madow, spokesperson for Alta Gracia.

She said the goal is to provide the people of Dominican Republic a chance to build their lives and protect themselves and their families.

The company is located in Villa Altagracia -- which is where the name Alta Gracia comes from, meaning “high grace” -- a small town in the Dominican Republic.

“I care about where my clothes come from. I like presenting the style of the brand I’m wearing but, also the meaning it gives,” said Arianne Sermonia, a 20-year-old theater arts major.

More than 350 colleges and university bookstores sell the apparel, according to Alta Gracia.

Sermonia said they are willing to represent workers and bring awareness.

Students interested in speaking with workers of Alta Gracia can take part in a virtual worker tour hosted by Jess Caldwell-O’Keefe, director of Women’s Center, today at 4 p.m. in Simplot C Ballroom inside the Student Union Building.

Lauren Hooker/THE ARBITER

Alta Gracia is located in Villa Altagracia -- which is where the name Alta Gracia comes from, meaning “high grace” -- a small town in the Dominican Republic.

BROADWAY BAR

IS BACK!!!

Alta Garcia virtual worker tour

For information about the tour, contact Ethan Miller at (301) 741-6674 or Alana Meyer at (208) 426-2496.

For information about Alta Gracia visit http://AltaGraciaApparel.com.

$2.00 Cocktails

STOP BY THE OLDEST FOR THE COLDEST BEER ON BROADWAY 2 0 8 -3 4 2 -9 9 5 1

The Arbiter

Tom Luna, Idaho’s superintendent of public instruction, woke up to a nasty surprise Feb. 17. His pick up truck had been vandalized overnight at his Nampa home.

The perpetrators have not been identified or found.

At 4:36 a.m. Nampa Police were dispatched to Luna’s home. Officers who arrived at the scene found the word “Luna” had been painted with an “X” over it in black spray paint on the passenger side door and two tires were slashed and flattened. Evidence suggested this incident took place overnight. The investigation continues, as there is no evidence leading to suspects.

According to Department of Education spokeswoman Melissa McGrath, both Luna and his family have been receiving threats and unwanted visits to their home.

The weekend before the vandalism of Luna’s truck a man came to Luna’s mother’s house to confront her about the plan.

Luna happened to be there.

“Superintendent Luna asked the man to leave and to call him or e-mail him at the office Monday, but the man would not leave for several minutes. (Superintendent) Luna did report this incident to the police,” McGrath said.

This incident followed Luna’s proposed reforms for public education which include: expanding online schooling, eliminating more than 700 teaching positions, introducing merit pay for teachers, increasing class sizes and eliminating the need for new teachers.

“We do believe the incidents are related in some way to the proposal to change the public education system through the ‘Students Come First’ plan,” McGrath said.

“In recent weeks, the level of rhetoric and misinformation around this plan has been escalated.”

Hearings on this legislation were supposed to continue in the Idaho Senate Feb. 16. The proposed reforms are being remodeled due to unpopularity with teachers, lawmakers and the parents of students.

McGrath said that Luna’s plan proposes to spend existing state revenues differently.

“There is no other plan on the table to do anything else, except to cut Idaho’s schools deeper cuts. That is not an option,” she said.

According to some sources, Luna and his mother’s addresses and other personal information leaked by e-mail from the union of teachers through the Idaho Education Association (IEA). However, all accusations have been denied by the IEA. “We did not put out any addresses, we send out hotline messages that address bills and current legislation,” said Sherri Wood, president of IEA. “Never once did we put out an address through e-mail.”

Open 7 Days a week 10 AM -2 AM

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February 24, 2011

Classifieds Sudoku

Crossword

By M. Mepham

Sell It

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visco memory foam mattress. Brand new in plastic. Must sell. $225. 9216643

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So you wanna place a classified ad?

1. Go to www.arbiteronline.com and click on the link to the classifieds section and place your ad online, 24-7.

2. E-mail ad requests to classifieds@arbiteronline.com.

Include your name, phone number and ad text.

Comics

Calendar 02/24 - 02/28 Thursday, February 24, 2011

12:00 PM - 2:00 PM HIV Testing Location: University Health Services, Norco Bldg 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Alta Gracia: Virtual Worker Tour Location: Simplot C Ballroom 6:00 PM CONVICTION Location: MG-113 (mathematics geosciences building) 6:00 - 7:00 PM Visiting Artist, Andy Holtin public lecture Location: Barnwell Room, Student Union Building 7:00 PM Undergraduate Poetry Reading Location: The Writing Center

Friday, February 25, 2011

6:00 PM CONVICTION Location: MG-113 (mathematics geosciences building)

Saturday, February 26, 2011

2:00 PM Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Location: Morrison Center 8:00 PM Enigma Variations Location: Morrison Center

Sunday, February 27, 2011

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM The Emperor’s New Clothes Location: Morrison Center Stage 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HIV Testing Location: University Health Services, Norco Bldg

Monday, February 28, 2011

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM HIV Testing Location: University Health Services, Norco Bldg

Club Organization Contact classifieds@stumedia.boisestate.edu to place your club’s ad

The Arbiter

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Sports

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7

Sports Editor

trentlootens@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Assistant Sports Editor

February 24, 2011

brittneyjohnson@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Softball Preview

R Rings & Regional’s 2

Expectations couldn’t be higher for one of the nation’s youngest programs

Spring 2011

Schedule February Long Beach Kickoff Tournament Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. Loyola Marymount Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. Long Beach State Saturday, Feb. 13 vs. Long Beach State Saturday, Feb. 13 vs. Loyola Marymount

Louisville Slugger Classic

Friday, Feb. 18 vs. #23 BYU Friday, Feb. 18 vs. #3 Tennesse Friday, Feb. 19 vs. Cal Poly Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. Long Beach State Sunday, Feb. 20 vs. Oregon

2-1(W) 0-2 (L) 0-2 (L) 3-4 (L) 11-12 (L) 1-15 (L) 7-5 (W) 5-7 (L) 0-10 (L)

UC Riverside Tournament (Riverside, Calif.)

Friday, Feb. 25 vs. UNLV vs. UC Riverside Saturday, Feb. 26 vs. Cal State Northridge Saturday, Feb. 27 vs. UC Riverside

10 a.m.

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

11 a.m.

March

Joey McCullough

Boise State SpringHill Suites Invitational (Mountain Cove Softball Field)

Producer

There is nothing like snow flurries to spark the mood to break out a mitt, bat and a ball.

That is, unless you’re the Boise State softball team. Granted the Broncos have been playing in warmer weather than in Boise, but come sun or snow, this team is ready to play.

The Broncos’ season began nearly two weeks ago in California, facing Loyola Marymount and Long Beach State. The Broncos earned the victory against LMU, but dropped the following three games.

Playing in Las Vegas last weekend at the Louisville Slugger Classic, the Broncos earned a win against Cal Poly 7-5, but lost by a single run to then No. 23 Brigham Young University 12-11.

The Broncos also fell big to No. 10 Tennessee and No. 13 Oregon.

Head coach Erin Thorpe talked about how BSU shouldn’t be afraid to face its remaining opponents after what the Broncos went through last week. Thorpe was also impressed with other aspects.

“Pitching definitely started out better than in our previous two years,” Thorpe said. “I think our offense has struggled a little bit, but we saw a much better offense the second weekend than we did the first.”

This season comes with a lot of expectations for Boise State to set the bar for the future. Sophomore Holly Bourke recognizes these goals.

“R-squared. Which means a ring for (winning the) WAC Championship and to make it to regional’s. Those are our two big goals,” Bourke said.

Bourke, who played in all 61 games last year for Boise State, can expect even more playing time this season at the plate and all throughout the infield.

“I think this team is capable of making it to the postseason,” Thorpe said.

In only the third year of coaching, Thorpe and her staff are still building and cultivating the program -- one that currently has no seniors.

“We expect the best for this season, but we’re all looking to build going into next season when we have everyone back,” Thorpe said.

So with no seniors, the junior class will be looked up to as leaders on and off the field.

Junior Kelly Caplan understands that her leadership starts with being a good example by giving it her all in practice and in games.

“Having two and a half years under our belts, it feels as if we’re all coming together,” junior Aubray Zell said. “We’re there to show (the freshmen) how we do things, but they have been catching on really quick and doing a good job.”

Chemistry is what binds this team together

Friday, March 04 vs. Southern Utah (DH) Saturday, March 05 vs. Seattle vs. Southern Utah Sunday, March 06 vs. Seattle

2 p.m., 4 p.m.

12 p.m.

2 p.m.

12 p.m.

Santa Clara Bronco Classic (Santa Clara, Calif) Friday, March 11 vs. Santa Clara Saturday, March 12 vs. Santa Clara vs. UC Davis Sunday, March 13 vs. Albany (DH)

7:15 p.m.

12 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m., 1:15 p.m.

Judi Garman Classic (Fullerton, Calif) Saturday, March 19 vs. Arizona St. vs. Penn State Sunday, March 20 vs. Washington vs. Cal State Fullerton

WAC Conference Games March 25 -- vs. Nevada 26 -- vs. Nevada 29 -- at Utah Valley 30 -- at Utah 2 p.m.

April

nik bjurstrom/THE ARBITER

1 -- at San Jose State 2 -- at San Jose State 3 -- at Saint Mary’s 8 -- vs. Louisiana Tech 9 -- vs. Louisiana Tech (DH) 15 -- at Utah St. -- 3 p.m.

16 -- at Utah St. (DH) 18 -- at Weber St 22 -- at Hawai’i 23 -- at Hawai’i (DH) 29 -- vs. Fresno St. 30 -- Fresno St. (DH)

4:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m., 3 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

1 p.m., 3 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m., 3 p.m.

1 p.m., 3 p.m.

TBA 10 p.m.

8 p.m., 10 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m., 3 p.m.

The 2011 Boise State softball team has already faced three Top 25 teams, proving this squad isn’t afraid of a challenge.

May

and the team is noticing the fusion. “(Team chemistry) is something that is going to help us make progress quicker,” Thrope said.

The Broncos are ditching the cold weather and heading to California for a second time to be part of the UC Riverside Tournament.

Boise State will be looking to right the ship after

11-14 WAC Softball Championship (Fresno, Calif) * Double Header (DH)

its 2-7 start.

“We just keep working hard at practice and have a mindset to keep working hard,” Bourke said. “Eventually the wins will come even though the first two weeks didn’t show it.”

Boise State’s first home stand starts Friday March 4 against Southern Utah at 2 p.m.

6 -- at New Mexico St. 7 -- at New Mexico St. (DH)

6 p.m.

2 p.m., 4 p.m.

Tazz Weatherly has

started all nine games for the Broncos this season. Weatherly is tied for the team lead in runs batted in (RBI) with five.

Aubray Zell

Allie Crump

is second on the team in innings pitched (16.1) and holds the teams lowest ERA (3.00).

leads the Broncos in home runs (3). Crump also has recorded 20 strikeouts and two wins.

Kellie Caplan

leads the Broncos in batting average (.419) and has the most team at-bats (31).

Holly Bourke

has the best on-base percentage (.452) for the Broncos and leads the team in walks (6).

Maghan Yurek

made her 45th-career start behind the plate last week against No. 14 Oregon in Las Vegas.

Photo Illustration by Bree JOnes/THE ARBITER

Roster

Head Coach Erin Thorpe

17 Vanessa Alvarez Sophomore, utility 10 Brittany Barcellos Sophomore, outfield 26 Morgan Barnes Freshman, pitcher/utility 24 Georgia Behne Sophomore, catcher/outfield 06 Holly Bourke Sophomore, utility 31 Devon Bridges Freshman, utility 03 Kellie Caplan Junior, utility

Assistant Coach Justin Kloczko 15 Christina Capobianco Junior, infield 18 Ashley Collier Sophomore, pitcher/outfield 08 Allie Crump Junior, pitcher/utility 20 Megan Harvey Sophomore, catcher/utility 07 Natalie Kelley Freshman, outfield 01 Jessica Kraft Sophomore, infield 16 Trisha Nobridge Freshman, utility

Assistant Coach Shelly Prochaska 04 Jessica O’Donnell Freshman, utility 05 Kelly Sweeney Junior, utility 02 Tazz Weatherly Junior, utility 22 Mackenzie Whyte Freshman, infield 21 Lela Word Sophomore, pitcher/infield 09 Maghan Yurek Junior, catcher 61 Aubray Zell Junior, pitcher

8 Sports

February 24, 2011

Road to redemption

WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships preview

BSU wrestlers look to take back Pac-10 title Nikki Hanson Journalist

The Pac-10 Championship is a national stage for the Broncos to showcase their talent and domination -- also it’s a platform for revenge.

Last year Oregon State took the title, beating the favored Broncos by a mere two points, but this year Boise State is seeks a different outcome.

“We just want to get the title back in our hands. I think each individual has something to prove themselves. They all want to be Pac10 Champions. We just need to wrestle to win each and every match,” head coach Greg Randall said. “Each guy has to worry about himself and not worry about everybody else.

If we do that then we should have quite a few champions and the team race will take care of itself.”

The Beavers’ win last year at the Pac-10 Championship doused the rivalry that exists between the two teams with gasoline.

However, the men are not allowing what happened in the past to override their focus on the present and what they have accomplished this season.

“I think you have something to prove every

year. I don’t think we are necessarily riding on what happened last year, but we are taking it as if it’s our year to win. We have eight seniors on the team and we want to end off right and get that Pac-10 title and then head on off to nationals,” senior Kirk Smith said. “We aren’t hanging our hat on what happened last year or years before, we are only interested in this year right now.”

Seniors Adam Hall and Smith both put on impressive performances last year in the individual conference championships.

Smith dominated his three matches with two wins by fall and one win by major decision. He opened up Pac-10 action with a pin in the quarterfinal round, earning a spot in the 184-pound title match with a 9-1 major decision in the semifinals. Smith finished the weekend with a win by fall to secure his second straight conference title.

Hall opened the tournament with a win by fall in the quarterfinals. However, the semifinals would prove to be a challenge, as he managed to avoid an upset. Hall then wrestled Cal Poly’s Chase Pami, who had previously beaten Hall in the 2009 title match to capture the Pac-10 Championship. However, Hall wrestled to a 5-1 decision to secure his first conference title.

“I got the job done. My semi-finals match

Justin Dalme Journalist

ROBBY MILO/THE ARBITER

Senior Kurt Swartz defeated Stanford’s Garrett Schaner 8-4 Jan. 28 at Taco Bell Arena. Swartz will try to do the same at the Pac-10 Championships in Corvallis, Ore. at the Oregon State campus. was a little shaky. I ended up having to fight off a pretty close attempt at the end. Finals were a really good match because I was wrestling my nemesis in college. I wrestled a really smart match and it was a breakthrough as far as that tournament goes, because I hadn’t won a conference tournament yet,” senior Adam Hall said.

The goal for the Broncos now is to stay healthy and to mentally and physically prepare themselves during practice. The Pac-10

Championship will prove more challenging for Smith as he is coming off a sprained ankle.

“When it’s time to tape it up, it’s time to go. I think we’ll be surprised how much fight Kirk has in him when he actually steps on to the mat,” Randall said.

Boise State will begin its fight for a Pac-10 title Sunday, Feb. 27 in Corvallis, Ore. “It’s just another thing to check off the checklist: win a Pac-10 (Championship),” Hall said.

The indoor track season comes to an end for Boise State at the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Track and Field Championships. The meet will take place Feb. 24-26 at the Jacksons Indoor Track in Nampa.

The Broncos have 10 athletes nationally ranked and three looking to defend WAC titles. The men will look to capture the team title with numerous others vying for individual titles. Here are some athletes to watch for this weekend:

Eetu Viitala

The junior long jumper from Finland has won every competition in which he has participated. He leads the WAC with a jump of 25-4, nearly a foot farther than anyone else. Viitala will not only be competing for his first long jump title, but he is also looking to hit the automatic qualifying mark for nationals. He is currently two inches short of that mark.

Racquel Jones

Jones has won four meets this season competing in the long jump, including three straight. She sits No. 4 in the WAC with a jump of 19-0.

Relays

The men’s 4x400-meter relay team is undefeated this season, winning four-straight events. They ran the second fastest 4x400-meter time in Boise State history this year with a time of 3:14.98. Two members, Manoah Wesson and Jeff Daw, rank nationally in the open 400-meter, No. 95 and No. 99 respectively. Wesson is coming off his first 400-meter title, running a career-best 47.98 seconds.

On the women’s side, the distance medley relay team leads the WAC, setting a season-best time of 12:16.42 at the final meet of the season.

Rolando Trammel

Another member of the 4x400 relay team, Trammel has won threestraight events in the 60-meter hurdles. He set a career-best in the event two weeks ago, running a 7.96. The time is the best in the WAC and No. 41 in the nation.

Kurt Felix

Felix will be looking to defend his heptathlon title. He set a new WAC record in the heptathlon this year with a total of 5,669 points.

The junior is also a threat in the long jump, high jump and triple jump, with a rank of second in the WAC in each event.

Trevor Kraychir

Kraychir will be defending his weight throw title. He has won five out of six events this year, throwing a career-best 66-3, which ranks him No.19 nationally.

Mele Vaisima

The junior will defend the weight throw on the women’s side. She is undefeated this season, winning all six events. Vaisima also set a career best throw of 61-10 ½ and will be looking to improve upon that this weekend.

Brian Pierre

The distance runner came back this season after spending two years away from the track due to foot surgery. He has won two-straight 3,000-meter titles, running a career best 8:28.25 at the last meet of the season. Pierre will have to hold off teammate Jeff Howard who won the 3,000-meter last year.

University News

Mele Vaisima is one of many Broncos looking to assert themselves this weekend at the WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

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