I n d ep en d en t
Issue no.
S t u d e nt
V o ic e
o f
B o is e
S tat e
Sin ce
1933
51
March
18
2013
Volume 25
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Boise, Idaho
First issue free
Top Stories
Slidin’ home
Women’s softball break even in Dona Larsen Park opener
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8
Crenshaw
Crenshaw talked race and gender with students last Wednesday.
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3
Table Rock’n
“Try it with Tabby” ascends to the top of Table Rock.
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5
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What’s Inside News Briefs
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The Arbiter
CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
The Intramural Field, located outside the Student Union Building, will now be controlled by Boise State Athletics starting on March 25.
Michael Steen Staff Writer
A central point on campus has become the major focus of controversy in the past few weeks. The Intramural Field, located just northeast of the Student Union Building and south of the Appleton Tennis Center, is changing hands on management for the next six months. Traditionally controlled by Boise State University Recreation Services, Boise State Athletics will now be in control starting March 25 as construction to improve the field will begin and continue through to July 31. In spring of 2012, the athletic program approached the University and Recreation Services for a request that the football team be allowed to use the grass field for its early fall camp in August. A $50,000 sum was then put into improving the field over the summer for the August practices. “Our department worked closely with Athletics and Facilities Operation and Maintenance to craft an agreement
that would allow the football said Jared Cox, Boise State Coyle to construct a plan that quests have been denied. team use of the recreation field Recreational Center sports was the most efficient for time The newest addition to the for three weeks in August,” said coordinator. “They put in all constraints and would provide Boise State campus through Boise State Recreation Center that money but it really hasn’t high quality results. this endeavor will be a brand Director Lisa Stuppy. been all that much better, so “Our vice president, Dr. Har- new, full-size, artificial turf Following the construc- that’s where they are saying ris, was in talks with the athletic field. The new field will serve tion of Dona Larsen Park, it’s time to dig it all up, put the director, Mark Coyle,” Stuppy as a temporary home for intralocated just east of Broadway drainage in.” said.“So they had several con- mural clubs and organizations and north of campus, and the The current state of the intra- versations on the importance to hold their events and activinew Gene Bleymaier Football mural field has been a hot topic of scheduling events for us, ties as the football team holds Complex, both grass areas over the past several years as it knowing we were going to be its early fall practices. Once formerly used by the football has contributed to unplayable displaced for spring intramural the football team is finished team were contests and with its use of the current, eliminated, spring clubs.” grass intramural field, it will be “The (new) turf field is not a replaceleaving the M o v i n g returned to students and recreintramural forward, one ation services. ment for the grass field” field as the of the biggest “The turf field is not a reLisa Stuppy next logical challenges placement for the grass field,” solution. Boise State Recreation Center Director facing rec- Stuppy said. “We have plenty Construcreation ser- of participation to keep four or tion and vices is the six fields busy, but we’ll go with maintenance went into the conditions in poor weather, accommodation of the variety two.” field over the summer of 2012 and even student injuries from of events that have historically The new turf field will also to prepare it for the football unstable footing. taken place on the intramural be lined to accommodate four team’s use in August. “For a long time we’ve field, such as spring intramural different sports: flag football, But with a need for high known that we need to redo sports and clubs and the an- soccer, and men’s and women’s quality, terms were once the field, dig it up and plain it nual Spring Fling event. Clubs lacrosse. The turf field will cost again discussed and the cur- so it drains in a good way,” said and organizations will have the $1 million for the initial phase rent plan for construction was ASBSU President Ryan Gregg. opportunity to use the Caven of construction and work. formulated. Vice President of Student Williams Sports Complex, but “The first phase will be the “As you can see on the field Affairs Lisa Harris worked will have to work with recre- turf field, a fence, basically just right now, the results weren’t closely with Recreation Ser- ation services and Harris from the groundwork,” Cox said. there for Coach Pete, the foot- vices, Athletics, and Boise student affairs for approval See Intramural I page 8 ball team and even for us,” State Athletic Director Mark from athletics, as past re-
ASBSU candidates squared off in a forum
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Clearing up the dirt
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Ryan Thorne Staff Writer
Pairs of students professionally dressed in business attire circled around a welllit room. Small sparsely filled rows of chairs faced two wooden podiums, each with its own microphone. Pupils in the front rows whispered and glanced around, smiling and gesturing to those behind them. Though no cameras flashed, and many chairs remained empty, Boise State students prepared to debate for the highest offices in student government. Prospective ASBSU candidates met Wednesday in the small Farnsworth Conference room on the second floor of the SUB. Candidates came to debate issues of importance at Boise State and outline individual qualifications and experience necessary for holding office. After everyone finished shaking hands and found seats, current ASBSU Vice President Nick Gaudioso gave a brief introduction before allowing non-presidential candidates to address the small crowd. “There is a disconnect between the students and the faculty at Boise State,” said Secretary of Academic Af-
fairs candidate Rachel Byrne. “Many of us have gone in to talk to teachers about the issues we have in class and it seems the communication isn’t there.” Byrne and other nonpresidential candidates highlighted problems they would address if elected to their prospective positions. Presidential candidates then took their places at opposing podiums and prepared for questions from the debate moderator and ASBSU budget director Douglas Avera. Current ASBSU president Ryan Gregg and candidate Domenic Gelsomino fielded questions and drew distinctions between each other. Candidate Edel Serafin could not attend the debate due to scheduling conflicts. “When the decision came around to decide whether I was going to run again, I just felt like there was a lot of stuff that we needed to do, and we needed to prove to students that the student government was going to be consistent,” Gregg said. When asked specifically what changes they would implement if elected, candidates had a variety of answers. “There are some things I feel could be improved
upon, such as awareness,” Gelsomino said. “A lot of people, a lot of students do not know about ASBSU. They do not know what we do.” According to Gelsomino, six percent of students vote in ASBSU elections, a percentage he indicated was far too low. Gregg defended his past year in office, but admitted there was always aspects within student government that needed improvement. “I am a big fan of the statement ‘If you are not changing, then you are dying’,” Gregg said. “We want to continue to adapt to what students want to see from us.” Both candidates addressed issues of state funding inequities for Boise State, changes in ASBSU assembly procedure, further branding the university within the Idaho community and immediate issues like the acquisition of the intramural field by the football team. Candidates then fielded brief general questions from the few audience members and stepped down to allow their running-mates to debate. Jamie Lundergreen, Bryan Vlok and Jessica Beuhler took the podiums and an-
swered questions similar to those posed to their colleagues. “Given that I do not have a ton of experience with ASBSU, I feel it is a great opportunity for a fresh look,” vice presidential candidate Beuhler said. Beuhler argued that a new face in the ASBSU executive assembly could bring fresh and interesting perspectives to decision-making. Beuhler’s opponent Bryan Vlok illustrated previous experience with ASBSU and outlined how knowing the inner workings of student government gives an advantage. “I have seen the issues here on this campus. I see what students’ concerns are, and I want to continue to make things better,” Vlok said. Audience members asked questions and candidates thanked those involved with organization. The debates had officially ended. Gregg expressed satisfaction at the number of candidates running for office. “Last year we did not have nearly the turnout we do this year; in fact many of us ran unopposed,” Gregg said. Gelsomino thanked Gregg, a longtime fraternity brother, for his professional-
ism and hospitality. Gelsomino then commented on his current endorsements from Democrat ASBSU members, previous student senators, and members from the LBGT community. “These various diverse endorsements really build on our campaign of awareness, involvement, and diversity,” Gelsomino said. Student voting will take place online March 19 and 20. The website location will be distributed to all students via mass email on election day.
ONLINE Head online to www.arbiteronline.com to take our poll and tell us if you plan to vote in the ASBSU elections this week.
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