The Arbiter 2-28-11

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Broncos boast a portion of the title this weekend at the WACs.

Issue no.

Opinion

Is the road to less stress an increase in technological spending at BSU?

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February 28, 2011

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Construction wins gamble, comes back from Reno with green

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Suzanne Craig

Assistant News Editor Studying higher mathematics is great, but what can you do with it?

Two professors on campus are developing an algorithm to predict the dispersal and source of airborne contaminants.

Inanc Senocak, Ph.D. and assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department, along with Jodi Mead, Ph.D. and professor in the math department have recently been awarded a grant by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop an algorithm that can take information about the dispersal of an airborne agent of any kind and then determine where it originated and how far it will spread.

Applications of this algorithm can include industrial accidents, defense (since they’re a main source of funding), viruses in the case of an epidemic and air pollution. In 2005, a train collision in Graniteville, S.C. led to the release of 90 tons of chlorine gas into the air,

where there are the most shipwrecks per year. So it’s a lot of risk, a lot of safety went into our bid methods,” Staub said.

At around 10:30 p.m., after the team turned in their bid which included a project schedule, cost estimate and technical proposal, they had eight hours to put together a presentation.

“These guys get interviewed the hard way: actually getting a problem and making them present it,” said Woodall. “It is a great place to make your mark and get a job.”

But the competition isn’t only stressful and serious. They get to see top executives in a nonformal environment.

“You get to undo the button on the collar and just let loose a little bit and just be yourself around people,” said Staub.

You get to undo the button on the collar and just let loose a little bit and just be yourself around people.

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resulting in nine deaths and the evacuation of more than 5,000 people while HAZMAT crews cleared the area. The algorithm Senocak and Mead are developing could help easily determine how far out people will need to evacuate, send resources straight to the source of the contaminant and figure out how quickly the contaminant could spread.

“The focus is to develop a methodology that will hopefully be used in the future ... the application motivates the methodology,” Mead said.

This focus on methodology instead of application carries over to the skills needed to perform this sort of analysis and algorithm development. Students who are working on this project or similar ones are learning computational modeling and general computational science and engineering, which can be used for all kinds of disciplines in a vast variety of ways.

The two graduate students working on this project, Ray De Leon and Chad Hammerquist, are mechanical engineering and mathematics focused, respectively. The two are also taking classes in

each others’ fields, creating a multidisciplinary skill set that is highly desirable in the work force of today.

“It is critical to have a workforce where individuals are qualified in more than one field -- we are training interdisciplinary students who excel in both areas,” Senocak said.

The future of this project looks brief, as this week Mead and Senocak are going to an academic conference attended by engineers and mathematicians to discuss the theoretical portion of their algorithm, while this summer the team is going to a Defense Threat Reduction Agency workshop. This is different from the academic conference in that the workshop only has participants funded by the DTRA, making it more of a presentation focused on viability than a theory focused session.

“At that point DTRA can use the algorithm we’ve developed and adapt it however they want,” Senocak said.

“The applied side of the problem is not in the scope of our project. The fundamental mathematical methodology is our focus.”

—Jared Staub, senior

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Whooping Cough on the Rise Kimberley O’Bryan Journalist

Last year 21,000 cases of pertussis, better known as whooping cough, were reported in the U.S. Studies by the Center for Disease Control, putting it at the highest rate of whooping cough in 40 years.

No one knows why.

Anyone is at risk, even those who’ve been vaccinated. But babies under 1 year old should not be exposed to the disease as it can cause complications and even death.

Whooping Cough Symptoms: • Fever under 102 degrees.

• Runny nose • Nasal congestion • Loss of appetite • Chest-wracking cough that

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can cause the patient to vomit or turn blue • Severe coughing attacks that make a whooping sound and bring up thick mucous Most children are vaccinated for whooping cough, but the vaccinations only last 5 to 15 years.

Annual cases of the bacterial infection pertussis, or whooping cough:

40,000

Vaccination: Prevents infection; remains effective only for 5 to 10 years without booster

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• March — Green marketing • • April — Emphasizes the “people” part of green business • • May — Energy efficiency Start-up businesses looking for additional resources can contact Katie Sewell of the Idaho SBDC and the newly-created resource, Boise Greenhouse. The city of Boise and the Idaho SBDC created the Boise Greenhouse in Sept. 2010 to provide a wide range of support services for new start-up companies.

To register for the sessions visit the Idaho SBDC website at idahosbdc.org and select “Workshops.”

For businesses interested in taking advantage of the services of Boise Greenhouse, visit their website: Greenworksidaho.org.

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Treasure Valley businesses wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and do their part to save the planet now have the support of local organizations.

The Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has partnered with GreenWorks Idaho to offer a series of workshops designed to help small businesses become more environmentally and socially conscious.

The Idaho SBDC’s mission to enhance the success of small businesses combined with GreenWork’s goal of supporting businesses as they transition into the green economy make the Green Acceleration Series a valuable resource.

The workshops provide an opportunity for businesses to learn from experts and hear from local entrepreneurs that have experience with more environmentally sustainable business practices. Located at the Watercooler on 14th Street and Idaho, the sessions are $14 for the general public and $7 for GreenWorks members. Lunch from Zeppole is included in the workshop price.

The Acceleration Series aims to put environmentally-friendly theories into practice.

The first two sessions are finished. Three remain:

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Construction management students were given a challenging task in Reno: to compose a bid 16 hours after being given a problem statement, something most construction companies do in six weeks.

Students and coaches flew to Reno Feb. 16 to compete in the 24th Annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) student competition. Made up of seven regions, with over 1,000 participants in the 6 and 7 region combined, it is the largest student construction management competition in the world.

The heavy civil team won first place in their category, topping Colorado State and Montana State. The Multi-Family and the Design Build teams placed second.

The competition brought the program about $30,000, according to team coach and special lecturer Tom Woodall.

Boise State contributed 10 teams of six students to the competition, in addition to a few students who went along to observe so they could compete next year.

Each team had a separate challenge, which varied based on their team specialty.

Preparation for the competition began last semester with weekly meetings, training, research, practice problems and presentations.

Until the first day of the competition, students had no idea what kind of problem they’d be given.

The heavy civil team had to be up and running by 6 a.m. Feb. 17.

They were given a project which was completed by a construction company.

“They have to break the entire project down. They give us the plans and the specifications for the project and they give us a brief overview of what’s it’s like,” said Steve Earl, senior team captain.

The team was given 600 pages of instruction on how the job should be done before going straight to work. Four of the six members have been to Reno before.

“We all had different jobs. Some of us were estimating; one guy was building a schedule; another guy was handling all the sub-contractor quotes. Everybody’s got a job,” said Jared Staub, senior from Tulelake, Calif.

The team’s project was to build a jetty or “a big wave breaker,” in Tillamook, Ore. “It was basically rebuilding a jetty in one of the most unforgiving points in the western seaboard,

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February 28, 2011

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Technology fee increase means better services, less frustration Tyler Kirkham Journalist

Boise State is currently in the bottom 20 percent of student technology fees, and is near the low end of the spectrum for campus technology use compared to other universities, according to Max Davis-Johnson, Assistant Vice Present of Student Technology. The increase in the Student Support Technology fee is an opportunity to change that. The support fee funds campus technology services such as the wireless networks, the

help desk, BroncoWeb, Blackboard, and Boise State’s website, and is one of two technology fees students pay.

The other -- the computer labs fee -- is to maintain various campus computer labs.

Spend any time in a crowded area on campus, and it’s apparent the wireless network struggles with a large number of devices trying to connect.

The fee increase will allow the Office of Information Technology to increase the number of access points, which allows more devices to connect to Boise State’s networks without overloading the current infrastructure.

John Shinn/THE ARBITER

ASBSU President Stephen Heleker (right) sits on the panel during the Student Tuition/Fees hearing, which took place on Feb. 10 in the SUB. The proposed increase would cost full-time students an extra $20 and part-time students an extra $2.

Better access to the campus network means less frustration for students.

Help desk hours would also expand with the increased support fee. While the help desk wouldn’t immediately be available around the clock, that is the eventual goal of OIT. They are also interested in creating a hands-on tech center next fall. Students would be able to bring in their computers and get help with software and networking problems.

Boise State’s website is another item the OIT would tackle with the fee. Right now, BSU’s website is “lame and inconsistent” according to Davis-Johnson. OIT wants to update BSU’s web pages to be more useful and consistent. They also want to try to better integrate web services so students don’t need to jump to many different pages just to find what they need. While rebuilding BSU’s web pages helps the university look more unified, most student issues are with BroncoWeb. “I hate that they have to shut BroncoWeb down at midnight every night,” said Rebecca Black, freshman chemistry and secondary education major.

“Half the time that’s when I’m trying to use it.”

This concern is one reason why OIT is trying to get PeopleSoft -- the software on which BroncoWeb runs -- to work 24/7. Their goal is to have PeopleSoft available all day by Spring Break. The reason why PeopleSoft isn’t available after midnight is to perform maintenance such as backups and updates. Eliminating this service interruption could make a huge differ-

ence for students who need to check grades or register for classes late at night. And Davis-Johnson is looking into a specialized portal for students, where they would find their data from Blackboard, BroncoWeb and Google in one location.

“Right now, BroncoWeb is just a collection of links,” said Davis-Johnson. “We want to change that to data.”

The support fee would also go to a more long-term goal, “virtualizing” applications. These applications would be stored, run on servers and distributed to students over Boise State’s network. This allows students and faculty to use the virtual application on almost any device, from Android phones to iPads to Windows laptops. All that needs to be installed is a small program called a receiver.

The receiver contacts the server and receives the data necessary to show the application. These virtual applications would be rolled out to computer labs first, especially ones with special software needs. And using virtual applications results in a net cost savings because less money is spent on computers and software updates. This is a real benefit to BSU and is the kind of long-term thinking that will continue BSU’s growth.

“Technology is a tool we need to take advantage of,” said DavisJohnson.

It’s a tool Boise State can use to provide better and more consistent services to students, enable and encourage more innovation, and let students get what they need with less time wasted.

Illegal downloading: The real cost of ‘free’ music Everyone loves free stuff: whether it’s free food samples at Costco or a free gift with purchase at a favorite retail store. With the economy the way it is, people will take as much free stuff as they can.

Even more exciting than getting free samples is getting free music downloads. But downloading music raises an ethical question: “Is it stealing?”

The answer is yes. Just because it’s easy to do and hard to get caught doing, downloading music from unauthorized sites is stealing.

Downloading free music is breaking copyright laws, which was exactly the point the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) was trying to make by suing LimeWire for copyright infringement. The RIAA is entitled to $150,000 for each registered work infringed. The number of infringing works is likely in the millions -which is absolutely too many songs being stolen.

Copyright laws exist to help protect the artists’ intellectual work, and the people who are making money from the artists’ music, such as the record company, stores that sell the music and the artists themselves.

According to the International Fed-

“

eration of the Phonographic Industry, 95 percent of music downloaded online is illegal. In hopes of lessening illegal downloading, the RIAA attempted to make an example of LimeWire and scare other companies away from using file sharing.

The lead singer of local band Bernen Fir Jeff Cochran does not approve of illegal downloading.

“If you want to support the band you like, you’ll buy their albums,” Cochran said. “It’s different for local music to be downloaded for free, as opposed to corporate level, because you want people to listen to your music as a local artist and you’ll do anything to be on their playlist.”

It’s one thing for bands to give out their music for free. It’s another when a band who isn’t giving away free music is being stolen from -- especially from their so-called “fans.” If these people care about the well-being of their favorite bands and are genuine fans, they’ll take responsibility for their actions and stop stealing music.

When people download free music, they probably aren’t thinking of all the people they are affecting. According to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Innovation, music piracy causes $12.5 billion of economic losses every year, 71,060 U.S. jobs are lost with a loss of $2.7 billion in workers’ earnings. People who down-

load free music might as well be laying these workers off themselves.

Ammon Roberts, a senior biology major, agrees it is wrong to illegally download.

“I don’t do it because I don’t feel it’s right,” Roberts said. “If I were making the music, I’d be upset if people were downloading it for free.”

Most people wouldn’t go out and steal a shirt from a retailer, or steal a

car from a car dealer. These people are causing others not to make the money they worked hard for and deserve.

“I used to download music for free all the time, but I started feeling bad, seeing as though I’m an artist now,” said Cochran.

Now, others who download music illegally need to echo the sentiments of Cochran and buy music the way it was intended -- legally.

“

Eva Hart Journalist

It’s different for local music to be downloaded for free, as opposed to corporate level, because you want people to listen to your music as a local artist and you’ll do anything to be on their playlist.

—Jeff Cochran, lead singer of local band Bernen Fir

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

M anaging E ditor Kirk Bell

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Editor Ast. ed

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Trent Lootens Brittney Johnson Haley Robinson Karey Hoke Rebecca De León Lauren Hooker

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Eden Engberg Stephanie Scheibe Rachel Huffaker

Survey course of religions would allow tolerance, appreciation Jana Hoffman Columnist Tweet that inspired this week’s column : HuffingtonPost Glenn Beck apologizes: ‘I was wrong...I didn’t do enough homework’ http:// huff.to/flpRuM Undergraduate students attending public universities across the country should be required to take a survey course on world religions as part of graduation requirements.

It’s that simple.

A survey released in 2010 by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life revealed that Americans know about half as much as they should about the world’s major religions.

Religious intolerance is pervasive. Yet, the fact is many who claim to disagree or even hate certain religions never bother to take a closer look at what they teach.

Take Glenn Beck, for instance. This is a guy who millions of Americans hail as a great voice for conservatives.

He is also a guy who last Thursday had to apologize for a nasty comment he made the Tuesday before. Beck went on his radio show and said that Reform Rabbis “are generally political in nature. It’s almost like Islam, radicalized Islam in a way.”

Reform Judaism is nothing like “radicalized Islam.” The religion has nothing to do with hijacking planes and running them into skyscrapers full of innocent people. On the contrary, Reform Judaism encourages women to serve as rabbis and is “committed to the full participation of gays and lesbians in synagogue life...” Still, it is doubtful Beck will lose any listeners over his ignorant statements -- even listeners who hold college degrees.

That is a problem.

When young people enter the doors of universities, they carry the beliefs they acquired through family life, friendships and the watereddown accounts of history offered at public high schools. They are in the perfect position to examine, objectively question and learn what others may have to say about important issues.

College is a perfect and neutral forum for discovery of the many ways humanity searches for purpose through religion.

The United States needs diplomats. We need people who have a better understanding and compassion for the issues facing the world. It’s not enough for the U.S. to have mass arsenals and good old boy patriotism. Public institutions must make adjustments to prepare this country to function as a leader in our globalized reality.

Spiritual beliefs are intrinsic to most cultures across the world. Because the American superpower mentality is prevalent in our culture, it is often difficult for citizens to understand why other countries don’t want to be mini-Americas.

Changing this mentality will take deliberate action and some brainwashing, for sure.

Taking one survey class isn’t going to fix the problem, but it may open a door to something better. If students were required to gain even a minuscule awareness of the great many beliefs in our world, they could very well develop a deeper interest to even further expand their knowledge.

Perhaps taking one survey course could light a spark of desire to better understand the complex world we live in. By learning about these sensitive issues which greatly impact us all, students would be prepared to make decisions based on fact rather than fear.

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February 28, 2011

BSU alum stays active in community Genevieve Nutting Journalist

Robby Milo/THE ARBITER

Manoah Wesson ran a 21.60 in Saturday’s 200m dash at the Jacksons Indoor Track. Wesson, and the other members of the men’s winning 4X400 team (Karrie Butler, Rolando Tramel and Paul Robertson) helped seal BSU’s share of the WAC Championship.

Men’s track and field team claims share of WAC title, women finish fourth Journalist

Saturday, the Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships wrapped up in thrilling fashion. The men’s championship came down to the final race of the day, the 4x400-meter relay.

The Broncos trailed Utah State University by two points heading into the race. Boise State dominated the 4x400 all season and it didn’t disappoint Saturday.

The relay team of Kerrie Butler, Paul Robertson, Rolando Trammel and Manoah Wesson won the event in 3:12.13, setting a new Boise State and WAC meet record.

“It feels good, because we’ve been working at it all year,” Wesson said. “We’ve had setbacks, and people have been hurt, we’ve just been going at it. It was the whole team. Every event, somebody did good and stepped it up.”

Utah State finished second in the relay, securing their share of the WAC title. The tie is the first in WAC history, but sharing the title didn’t dampen the Broncos spirits. The exciting finish had the whole track buzzing.

“We came out to be champs,” head coach J.W. Hardy said. “So if it’s all said and done and we match up the effort (of another team), so be it. I’m pleased with the effort of our team. We stepped up. We had some ups and downs throughout the meet, but at the end of the day, when it comes down to the 4x400, like we’ve talked about all season long, and defending your home and defending your track, that’s what they did today. To break the meet record and school record en

route to being a champion, that’s special.” with a score of 5,691 points. He was able to win all One of the Broncos that stepped up was Trammel. but two events, finishing second in the 3,000-meters He was the ‘iron man’ of the championships, com- and fourth in pole vault. Felixs’ score moves him to peting in seven different events and earning points No.5 in the nation in the heptathlon. in each. Along with the 4x400-meter relay, he com“It means a lot to get an automatic qualifier for napeted in the high jump, long jump, 60-meter hurdles, tionals,” Felix said. “That was my main goal, and then 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash and triple jump, fin- try to come back and do as much as I could to help ishing 5,4,2,5,3, and 2 respectively. the team win this championship.”

Along with winning the 4x400, the men won the Besides winning the heptathlon and triple jump, triple jump and weight Felix placed second in the throw.

Kurt Felix long jump and high jump. jumped 50-0.75 to take He was also named the the title, while Trevor 2011 WAC Men’s OutWe’ve had setbacks, Kraychir defended his standing Field Performer and people have been WAC title with a throw and the WAC Men’s High hurt, we’ve just been of 66-8.75.

Point Performer for the going at it. It was the “It feels fantastic. I let second consecutive year, whole team. Every the throws come, and I earning 36 points for the event, somebody did worked hard for them.

Broncos.

It’s really good to see Continuing in the field good and stepped it up. results,” Kraychir said. events, Eetu Viitala won —Manoah Wesson “Every day to throw is a the long jump with a mark blessing because I love of 25-1.25 to earn his first it.”

WAC title. Viitala was able The throw was also a to finish the season undenew personal record for Kraychir. feated, winning all six events he competed in this year.

“Any day you get a PR is a good day, that’s what On the women’s side, the Broncos finished fourth my old man used to tell me,” Kraychir said. “I didn’t and were helped by Alexi Morton who won the first accomplish the goal of making nationals, but I had a ever pentathlon for Boise State. Her score of 3,769 PR, I won the WAC Championship and I supported points broke the old Boise State school record of my team.”

3,700. She also earned the 2011 WAC Female FreshOn Friday, Felix won the heptathlon, and in the man of the Year. process he qualified for the NCAA Indoor National The NCAA Indoor Championships will be held Championships. Felix broke his own WAC record March 11.

“

Gymnasts hold nothing back against Blue Devils Genevieve Nutting Journalist

The Boise State gymnastics team made a statement in its neon pink breast cancer awareness leotards Friday, Feb. 25, as the Broncos competed against No. 70 Wisconsin-Stout.

Not only did BSU raise awareness of

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breast cancer in honor of ‘Pink Night’, but it showed supporters and the Blue Devils why the Broncos are ranked No. 13 and on a mission to make the Top 12 nationally.

With a final score of 195.125181.325, the Broncos came out on top winning all four areas of competition as well as the all-around.

“I don’t look at rankings very often.

I look at the way our team performs week-to-week,” co-head coach Neil Resnick said. “If you go into the gym and give your best from day to day, the scores, the rankings, all that stuff is going to take care of itself.”

Junior Amy Glass brought her focus and sense of attention to detail once again. With confidence and strength

“

Justin Dalme

throughout her performance, she shared the bars title with senior Hannah Redmon with a score of 9.800 and shared the beam title with senior Kelsey Lang with a score of 9.825.

Glass also received the all-around title, making it her fifth this season win and No. 10 for her career.

“I have the mentality when I compete that it’s just another practice. But you have to show it off and get everybody excited about it,” Glass said. “If you have confidence in yourself, then

The beginning to a compassionate life filled with a constant need for adrenaline began in the small town of Twin Falls, Idaho, where Lance Sellers was his high school’s class president and All-State star in football. Sellers continued his football career as a walk on for Boise State University in 1982.

During the four years he played for BSU, Sellers ironically played against present day head football coach, Chris Petersen, when Petersen played for UC Davis. It didn’t take long before his talent shined and he quickly became part of the starting lineup as a linebacker.

Immediately out of college, Sellers was drafted into the NFL by the Miami Dolphins in 1986.

Sellers played one-year for the Cincinnati Bengals and ended his football career with the Minnesota Vikings from 1988-1991.

“My adrenaline rush in football is when you turn the corner and that quarterback doesn’t even know you’re there and you hear his vertebras crack when you hit him,” Sellers said. “That was a rush.”

After his football career came to an end, he decided to take on the challenge of competing as an American Gladiator. Sellers traveled across the country competing and winning and was eventually asked to compete on the actual show in California.

“We were beat up. A lot of stitches, lots of broken bones,” Sellers said. “But I would do it again, if my body could take it now. It was a lot of fun.”

Sellers decided to bring his experience and knowledge back to Nampa, Idaho, where he taught high school. With a major in psychology and minor in U.S. History, he taught world history and coached football on the side.

While he loved the coaching aspect of the job, he felt too constrained in his teaching methods and left shortly after they asked him to obtain his minor in world history in less than two weeks.

But the best was yet to come for Sellers. Towards the end of his teaching career, he received a phone call from the fire department offering him a position. He started out working for the Caldwell Fire Department and eventually ended up at the Boise Fire Department, Engine 4 and has been working as a fireman now for over

See ALUM next page

it will show in your performance.”

Redmon received her 19th-career win on vault with a score of 9.875, making it her third-season win. She also scored 9.875 on floor allowing her to capture her 21st-career win in this event and the fifth win this season.

“Ever since I was little my club coach, Patty, was always telling me ‘Sell your

See GYMNASTS next page

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February 28, 2011

ALUM [from page 3] 20 years.

“I just like helping people,” Sellers said. “It’s the next best thing to playing ball. It’s an adrenaline rush. Every time that bell goes off, you know you’re out there to help somebody.”

In the little spare time that Seller has, he still finds time to broaden his palette and spread his kindness towards others. An avid professional hunter, Sellers is constantly traveling for competitions and engaging in ethical hunting.

He also started the ‘First Hunt’ program where he educates and takes kids out to hunt as their last wish.

GYMNASTICS [from page 3]

One of his biggest passions is through his involvement of being an ambassador with the Special Olympics of Idaho. He recently co-organized the Penguin Plunge to raise money and awareness of the organization. For 24 hours, he and a handful of others jumped twice an hour into the freezing cold water to raise money to send the athletes to their competitions.

“I’ve done so much with my life. If I can help them just for one day, I made a difference,” Sellers said. “As long as I make a difference, or try to, and put a smile on their face. Then that is one day that they enjoyed.”

floor routine, sell your floor routine.’ So it’s just something I’ve grown up with,” Redmon said.

“When I get out on the floor, it’s more of a performance, you’re performing for the crowd. It’s one of my favorite events and it’s easy to smile when you’re having fun. “ Though the team is competing at its best ever and ranking the highest they have in school history, they don’t let the pressure get to them during practice or at meets. Their energy remains high, their heads level and their support for one another shows as they rush to each other’s side after each competition to congratulate and pump one another up for the next phase of competition.

“We’re pretty much like a family, we’re sisters.

We spend five hours a day together almost every day,” sophomore Brittany Potvin-Green said.

“Blood, sweat, tears, all that stuff. So we pretty much know each other’s needs, we know each PHotos by Robby Milo/THE ARBITER other’s wants and we know what we need to do.”

The Broncos will be in action Sunday, Feb. 27 Kelsey Lang celebrates with after mainagainst Utah State. Check arbiteronline.com for taining her balance and sticking her the meet recap. landing on the beam.

Boise STate Library Archives

Lance Sellers (43) began his football career at Boise State in 1982 and went on to have a successful stint in the National Football League.

Jan y R ae Seda

Idaho Gr ain Elevator Contemplated 2.26.20 11 - 4.4.20 11

Stu de n t Un ion Ga l l e ry

Light refreshments will be provided during reception Free and Open to the Public Free parking will be available in the Liberal Arts parking lot during the reception #208.426.1242

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Classifieds

5

February 28, 2011

Sudoku

Crossword

By M. Mepham

Sell It

Work It

Furniture

Other

Queen Tempurpedic style

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

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Bed-Queen Pillow Top

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Full size orthopedic mattress Brand new in pack-

age, warranty Sacrifice $99. Call 921-6643.

7-Piece Cherry Bedroom

set. Brand-new in box. Retail $2250, sacrifice $450. Call 888-1464

Cherry Sleigh Bed Solid wood. Brand new w/ matressset.

Retail $1199. Sacrifice $299. Call 888-1464.

King size pillowtop mattress set brand new in bag. Must

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Brand New Microfiber

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sell, $199. Can Deliver. 921-6643.

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

Horoscopes Today’s Birthday (02/28/11) Use your talents to take advantage of the opportunities that come this year. Your number of friends keeps growing. Treasure those true friends that you can count on in times of trouble. They are your true wealth. Take care of a garden for delicious peace. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 6 -- It’s funny how confidence can turn so quickly into self-doubt. Accept your thoughts, learn from them and love yourself. Trust your intuition.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6 -- You’re yearning for adventure but are afraid of dangers ahead. Don’t let negative thoughts block your imagination. Follow your dreams anyway.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 7 -- Negative thoughts come into your head. Just thank them for their opinion, and move on with your day. There’s plenty of work to do. Reframe with new language.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 6 -- You’re right to be suspicious and trust your intuition. Not everybody is who they say they are.

Choose your friends by their actions, not who they say they know.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 -- Negativity looms and threatens your health. Make sure to get plenty of rest, and don’t take yourself too seriously today. Tell those fears you’ll get back to them later.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6 -- When you strive for perfection, you can be too harsh on yourself. Notice your successes, rather than lingering on failures (that gave you lessons to win).

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 6 -- Your family will always have an opinion. Don’t take it personally. They love you and want the best for you, even if it doesn’t seem so. Look from a new angle.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8 -- It’s difficult to believe your creative productivity over the last few days. Take time to acknowledge your accomplishments with a special celebration.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 5 -- Don’t worry. Just get busy. Economic distress is temporary, and you still have the juice.

Besides, money can’t buy health or love. Enjoy what you have.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 -- Don’t get intimidated by the ideas of others. Get support from someone with more experience to keep you on the right track. Postpone travel until later.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 6 -- Work schedule is full. Bring your top game as you’re going to need it. Leave aside all complaints and negative thoughts, and narrow your focus to win.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 -- You have many work and social responsibilities. Figure out how you can combine them both, to save time. Get plenty of rest when you can or you’ll wear down.

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

The Arbiter

arbiteronline.com

6

February 28, 2011

Culture

ARBITERONLINE.COM

Culture Editor

culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Assistant Culture Editor

laurenhooker@stumedia.boisestate.edu

‘Winter’s Bone’ solidifies place as best picture Tony Rogers Journalist

“Winter’s Bone,” the independent film from director Debra Granik, proves it belongs with the big shots in the Oscars’ most prestigious title. The film, shot and produced with a meager $2 million, has grossed a worldwide total of $7.8 million, impressive for a film festival circuit production. It has swept awards at festivals worldwide, from Sundance to Stockholm. It is no wonder this flick is nominated for multiple awards at the Academy Awards later this month.

The plot of the movie follows Ree ( Jennifer Lawrence, The Burning Plain), a poverty-stricken teenager living in the Ozarks of the south who has to support her two siblings and their mentally ill mother. When her father ditches town after an arrest, putting Ree’s house up as collateral in the process, Ree undertakes a harrowing adventure to hunt for her father, amid the protests of the area locals. Teaming up with her Uncle Teardrop ( John

Hawkes), she must race against time to find closure for herself, and save her family in the process.

The film has a very noir-esque feel to it, and coming from genrebending director Granik, that’s not a surprise. The film -- based on the Daniel Woodruff novel of the same name- was approved by the author himself, on the condition that Granik and fellow accomplice Anne Rosellini be the ones writing and directing it.

What those two accomplished was more than just a satisfying movie, it was a defining piece that took bits from the chase, mystery and thriller genres, and combined them to form a unique work that has no parallel.

In every way, this film has been a breakout performance for Jennifer Lawrence, whose previous credits have been minor appearances on shows such as “Monk” and a lead role in TBS’s “The Bill Engvall Show.”

Overall, this movie is a must see. This spectacular piece of genre-bending entertainment gets four and a half stars out of five.

photo courtesy boise state prssa

Boise State’s PRSSA club will host Taste of Boise this Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1020 Main St. in downtown Boise. For $1 per token, attendees will be able to sample food provided by local restaurants.

op! hots The Sheen Machine David Gasch Journalist

We’re in college, we’ve partied. I even thought I was pretty good at it.

Then I heard about Charlie Sheen, a guy who makes what I do look like an elementary school birthday party at the skating rink. This guy is serious about his parties.

His most recent (I assume) jaunt with snowstorms and liquid courage led to an infamous phone call to his favorite police dispatcher.

After a two-day binge with porn stars, buddies and decent amounts of drugs and alcohol, Sheen reluctantly made his way to the hospital in pain.

This guy is one of the highest paid television actors out there and he parties so much that his show production ceased. The network had to convince another show, “Rules of Engagement,” to produce more episodes to fill the slot of “Two and a Half Men.” The guy’s middle aged and he’s more of a degenerate than my friends and I. You’d think that by this point in his life he’d be past it all, but apparently cocaine and bimbos are life for Sheen.

When Sheen let his addictions get the best of him, he didn’t just hurt himself and a few homebodies who’ll be super pissed to miss the finale of season eight. The entire cast and crew of the highly popular show, disgruntled and not afraid to be open about it, lost their paychecks and possibly their careers.

One man, because of his personal issues, hindered countless people. Even CBS and Warner Brothers are taking a huge hit. So really it’s not about giving him credit for partying or being fun. He has some serious issues to deal with because they’re now affecting plenty of other people.

On top of his excessive binges, Sheen spouted inappropriate comments about the creator of his show,

photo courtesy the writing center

Crystal Struvland (left) and Melissa Hughes (right) address the audience during Thursday’s poetry reading in the Writing Center at Liberal Arts room 200.

The Writing Center isn’t just for research essays anymore

Fresh consultants reach out to creative writers Eden Engberg Journalist

Chances are if you’ve been told about Boise State’s Writing Center, it was because you needed to “fix” a paper. But that’s not all the Writing Center does.

This common misconception about not just Boise State’s Writing Center, but those nationwide has been the biggest myth consultants and faculty have to bust. Boise State’s Writing Center is one of the longest established in the nation with a 30year reign and a legendary founder, Richard Leahy.

Melissa Hughes, a sophomore English major with a teaching emphasis, and Crystal Stuvland, a senior English major with a writing emphasis, are first year consultants at the Boise State Writing Center.

To bring attention to the Writing Center’s latest endeavor, a poetry reading was held Thursday. Space for non-English-major students to want the opportunity to read, workshop poetry and discuss contemporary poets is limited.

“It would be great if writing centers across the country could open their doors to poets, but you have

to start locally when you’re thinking globally. You have to start somewhere and this is a wonderful place to start,” Hughes said.

Ten students bravely took the podium, belting their words to the small but eager crowd.

“We just wanted to have a reading that would be non-threatening,” Hughes said. “Anybody can read, they can read whatever they want; stuff they’ve written for school, or outside of it, anything to get experience doing it.”

Twelve readers total shared their work. Even the Writing Center director, Clyde Moneyhun, read. He opened the event with the work “Roser,” by Ponc Pons. The reading ended with Assistant Director Melissa Keith reading Langston Hughes’ “Dream Variation” as a celebration of the 22nd Annual African American Read-In, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English.

The main goal of these poetry readings and following independent student groups over the coming months is to bring more resources to campus so people who aren’t English majors can try their hand at poetry writing.

Through their research, Hughes and Stuvland have found that there are roughly 300 to 400 students per year in poetry classes who aren’t English majors. This is a rather large demographic that needs attention.

“Basically, the readings are just one aspect of what we hope to do with this project and we definitely want to continue that. It could be something that we can hopefully pass along to new consultants working in the center for creative writing,” Hughes said.

Hughes and Stuvland will be attending the Rocky Mountain Peer Tutor Conference in Salt Lake City in early April to present their original research. Other consultants will also be attending. With some luck, their work could make it to the national conferences in Miami next fall.

Look for the another reading closer to the end of the semester.

Feel free to visit the Writing Center for any and all writing needs or questions. It is located in the Liberal Arts building in room 200. Give ‘em a jingle at 426-1298 or visit their website at boisestate.edu/wcenter.

Editor’s note: This is a truncated version of this article. Visit arbiteronline. com to get all the juicy details.

Chuck Lorre. Sheen was basically fired from the show, and as one of the few sources of comedy the sitcom actually had to offer its viewers, it’s not unlikely that “Two and a Half Men” will soon be a component of our mediocre nostalgia.

We can remember Sheen from his early days, Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn from Major League in the ‘80s. It shaped all his future roles, all similar to each other. He was always the cool, calm, carefree guy with his own charm. Now, however, Sheen may even be excluded from another sequel of that same early film if he doesn’t get his stuff together.

I guess it may be easy to fall into his bad habits, but if I was the highest paid actor on television I don’t think I’d ruin all of that for a line of cocaine. But I’ve never been there.

Until I can skate by with acting and make bank from just that, I won’t know what pissing away millions of dollars on binges and porn stars feels like. Maybe one day, one can only hope.

No shots can be awarded this week. Charlie Sheen, my man, you don’t need any more shots. In fact, you should just give me all your liquor and I’ll disperse it. You’re more of an alcoholic than any college student I know.

PORTLAND TAIKO

F R I MARCH 4 SAT MARCH 5 AT 8:00 PM

SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER

$5 Student $8 Faculty $15 General BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY

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