I n d ep en d en t
Issue no.
S tu d e n t
V o ic e
o f
B o is e
S tat e
Sin ce
1933
40
February 2013
Volume 25
w w w.arbiteronline.com
Boise, Idaho
4
First issue free
Top Stories
Student debt
What is the emotional toll of thousands in student loan debt?
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Art of war
“Circumstances of War,” Luma Jasim’s exhibit, hits the SUB.
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Gymnastics and wrestling competition.
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What’s Inside News Briefs
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News
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Opinion
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Sports
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The Arbiter
Emily Pehrson David Shenker, junior mechanical engineering major, moved slowly toward the entrance of Bombshell Salon. He was using a walker to navigate over the wet, uneven terrain, but moving under his own power—a victory after being recently bedridden by a life-threatening infection caused by staphylococcus in his spine. Once inside the salon, Schenker tucked the walker under a counter and surveyed the scene. The salon was beginning to come to life. The coffee pot was percolating and was giving off a rich aroma. In the back, a woman was having her dreadlocks removed and two other stylists stood waiting for the arrival of clients. Salon owner Danielle Chetele welcomed Schenker and his girlfriend, junior computer science major Jenny Kniss. It was the long friendship of Kniss and Chetele that prompted this small business owner to open her doors and share her profits. On Thursday, Jan. 31, Bombshell Salon held the “Save the Dave Cut-a-Thon.” Every dollar paid for services performed between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. went directly to Schenker to help pay the medical bills he had accrued
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while fighting the infection. “When we heard about what happened to (Schenker) we really wanted to see if there was anything we could do to help,” Chetele said. Near the beginning of October, Schenker began experiencing back spasms so severe he had to be hospitalized. When his back had finally relaxed enough for the doctors to perform an MRI, they could see what was either a stress fracture or an infection in his lowest vertebra. The doctors performed a biopsy to determine which it was. When test results came back, everything was negative and it seemed Schenker was suffering only from a fractured vertebra. Schenker returned five weeks later for a follow-up. After a second biopsy, he was rushed to the hospital. The new biopsy showed Dave had staphylococcus in his spine, a severe infection known as osteomyelitis when it is in the bone. “There was pus in the disk and missing bone and all kinds of crazy stuff,” Schenker said. The infection had also spread into his blood, a potentially fatal condition known as sepsis. Kniss stayed beside him through it all. “There was a moment
when the doctors told us he shouldn’t be alive,” Kniss said. “I ended up crying in the office. I didn’t realize how much danger he was in.” For the last seven weeks, Schenker has had a permanent IV line in his arm. Once every 24 hours he receives intravenous antibiotics and will continue to do so for two more weeks. After that is completed, he will need an additional three months of oral antibiotics. He was bedridden for months, and then was only able to get around with the help of the walker. “I’ve been stuck in bed 23 hours a day for three months,” Schenker said. “I’m the kind of guy who does stuff: go out and work on the truck, ride my bike to school.” Schenker was forced to withdraw from three of his five classes for the fall 2012 semester and to accept incompletes in the other two. He has since completed one of those courses and will complete the other soon. For the spring 2013 semester, he has been able to re-enroll in the classes he was forced to abandon last fall. This has been a journey for Kniss as well. She simplified her life to maximize her time with Schenker. “I was constantly busy and overworked and stressed out, so I ditched everything.
My main focus was Dave and work,” she said. “When we first got home, it was to the point where I didn’t feel comfortable leaving him alone for more than an hour, so I was constantly going to work, then coming back, then going to work, then coming back.” Kniss has little doubt that everything she and Schenker have gone through together will be worth it and the ordeal has actually brought them closer together in their relationship. “Jen has been amazing,” Schenker said. “She has been a rock. I really appreciate what she’s done.” Schenker still has goals. In addition to finishing his degree at Boise State, he plans to continue furthering his goals to expand clean energy. “The vice president (of Greenspeed) and I recently started an Idaho non-profit called Greenspeed Research which will continue the same mission as the student club,” Schenker said. With the new non-profit he hopes to be able to reach a wider audience. Barring any setbacks, Schenker is expected to make a full recovery. “It will take about a year,” Kniss says. “A year before he’s back to himself.” A time they are both waiting for with optimism.
EXPENSES:
It’s too soon to say what Schenker’s medical bills will be. However, with hospital stays, biopsies, MRI’s, prescriptions and numerous other expenses he will be facing a hefty bill, even with insurance. To help with medical costs, Kniss set up a Save the Dave account online. “She set a goal of $10,000, just shooting for the stars kind of thing. We actually met it. It’s amazing,” Schenker said. STAPH FACTS: Staphylococcus can be found in roughly one third of a population at any given time. That is not to say one third of people are ill; it can lie dormant, usually in the nose. The bacteria waits for the body to be compromised, or is simply passed on to someone else. It’s just one more good reason not to go digging around up there.
Broncos upset Rebels at home Lucio Prado Staff Writer
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A student fights an illness that should have killed him
Staff Writer
Beauty and the beast
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Personal Battles
Junior Ryan Watkins lifted his right hand and covered his right eye shaping an “O” flashing the famous “three goggles” to the crowd. The 9,356 Bronco fans erupted, setting the tone for the night. The Broncos opened the game on an 11-2 run and never let the rebels take the lead. Sophomore Anthony Drmic led Boise State with 22 points as the Broncos (15-6, 3-4) ran the Rebels out of Boise on Saturday night winning 77-72. UNLV (17-5,4-3) led by freshman Anthony Bennett who scored 25 points on 9-16 shooting. Senior guard Anthony Marshall twice brought UNLV with-
in one but with that was the closest the Rebels would get to taking the lead. “He has got to be the best freshman in the country,” Head Coach Leon Rice said. “He shoots well, physical, strong, really good player.” The Rebels allowed 11 second chance points despite being out-rebounded 30-28. UNLV had trouble containing the Broncos, who shot 49.1 percent from the field. Boise State continued to swing the ball from side to side to get easy buckets in the paint and got the rebels in foul trouble. UNLV’s Justin Hawkins missed a three pointer that would have pulled the Rebels within one and a missed layup by Khem Birch and two missed free throws
CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
Junior Jeff Elorriaga fights for possession during Saturday’s win over UNLV. from Marshall, forced the Rebels to foul. “The student section was going crazy,” junior Jeff Elorriaga said as Marshall stepped up to take his last pair of free throws. “We have to thank the crowd on
that one. It was loud.” The win is Rice’s 50th career victory. He is the fastest to achieve fifty wins in school history. After crediting the seniors he inherited in his first year and staff for all
their work, Rice admitted he was not satisfied. “Fifty doesn’t sound like enough to me,” Rice said. The Broncos will get their chance to get Rice win No. 51 on Wednesday at San Diego State. arbiteronline.com