I n d ep en d en t
Issue no.
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August
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2012
Volume 24
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Boise, Idaho
Top Stories
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First issue free
ASBSU aids in articulation Ryan Gregg’s biggest fear: “I am honestly—and I am not joking at all—I am honestly afraid of a zombie apocalypse. I hate to tell you that because it’s embarrassing to me, it’s irrational, but I have safezones on campus. I know if it were to happen on campus, I know where I would go and what I would do.”
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Chick-Fil-A
CODY FINNEY/THE ARBITER
Ryan Gregg, president of ASBSU, is prepared for this year and a possible apocalypse.
Ruffled feathers or just lunch? The food chain caused a stir.
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New Faces
DJ Harper leads new faces for Bronco backfield.
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According to BroncoWeb, Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) has two central purposes. The first, “to facilitate educational, intellectual, social, and cultural engagement at the University, and second, to advocate for the interests of students at the University.” ASBSU is the official student government at Boise State. ASBSU is run in its entirety by students, for students and all fee-paying students are considered members. “The most unique thing about Boise State is it’s a place where people listen to students,” said Ryan Gregg, ASBSU president and senior majoring in political science. “Everything that happens on this campus is put to students in one way or another. The way they (campus administrators) look to get that opinion is through student government.” Even on a comparatively smaller-sized campus, Boise State is still home to roughly 20,000 students. “It’s difficult to find a student that can easily represent all students and so instead of representing all students I like to say
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For Gregg, “it’s a real fear.”
Association as a sophomore, an ASBSU senator and finally, ASBSU president. After having lived in the resident hall, Gregg believes it’s very important for every student to be on their own. The resident halls provide an opportunity for students to be on their own, but in a controlled environment. Gregg, a Boise-native, could easily have lived at home, but opted to live in the dorms. He would recommend every student give on-campus housing a shot, for a least a year. Now a senior, Gregg is looking toward the future. After graduation, Gregg plans to apply to the Teach for America program and spend time teaching in an inner-city school and ultimately would like to teach high school government. Gregg comes from a family of Broncos with at least one Bronco in every generation since the 1950’s, but Gregg didn’t ever really consider Boise State. “I looked at other places and when it came down to it, it came down to the fact that I wanted to be a political science major and
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they have a great program here. We have some international and even world-renowned professors here for the political science department and it was less expensive to stay in-state and I got to stay close to my family. Family is very important to me. So I was really pleased I could have all three of those things,” Gregg said. One of Gregg’s favorite things to do is talk to people. He said he likes to learn about individual passions and enable students to reach those passions. This fall, assembly meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. in the Lookout room of the Student Union Building although no dates are available yet. The meetings are open to students who would like to share their opinion or simply listen in. Gregg is also available to meet and speak with students. His e-mail address is available at http://asbsu.boisestate. edu.
Cabinet secretary visits Boise State Mallory Barker
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assembly is to issue formal recommendations on issues that have been deemed important to Boise State students. The formal recommendations are composed of a single majority student opinion, but also other minority opinions as well. Assembly members vote on a single opinion that represents the thoughts of the population they represent. “So without a student government it would be very difficult for administrators to figure out what students thought about issues, that’s one of the biggest reasons it’s very valuable,” Gregg said. Gregg stressed his opendoor policy and willingness to meet and talk with students. “I am committed to being the most accessible ASBSU president that we have had,” Gregg said. “The one thing I do is I really am the steward of the student voice. And I do mean to use steward because you have to take care of that, you cannot abuse that power.” Gregg has played an active role on campus for years. Starting with president as his resident hall as a freshman, president of the University Housing
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I can give you a lot of students,” Gregg said. Gregg said he personally enjoys talking with a variety of students, but a more thorough way of discovering what students think is through the student assembly. The student assembly comprises one student from every academic department on campus but it also has students from concentrated populations as well. When the assembly meets there are generally about 60 students in attendance from the assembly in addition to campus administrators who can provide pertinent information to the topics being discussed. Gregg maintains his role as president with authority, but also grave responsibility. “The person who is in my role in student government has a lot of ability to tell people what students think, so it’s a privilege but it’s also a burden because if you don’t know what students thinks and you say things some students might not agree with you and you have to be very clear on how you found out what students think,” Gregg said. The role of the student
“The freight elevators on campus are very fortified. I’d recommend if you could find a freight elevator and stop it between floors it’d be the safest you could be.”
General Eric K. Shinseki, retired Chief of Staff for the United States Army and current Secretary for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, had high praise on Friday, Aug. 3 when he visited Boise State to discuss the Veteran Success program hosted here on campus. Boise State is one of twenty-two campuses in the nation that has been selected to host the Veteran Success Program on their campus. Vet Success is a collaborative program with the United States Veteran Affairs (VA) to help veterans complete their education. One out of every twelve students here at Boise State are veterans eligible for the benefits of Vet Success. Shinseki spoke highly of Boise State’s Vet Success counselors and
administrators. “Their primary purpose is to help insure that veterans have access to the benefits and services they have earned. VA established the Vet Success on campus program now up and running on twentytwo campuses, primarily to provide the student veterans with a direct link to VA services as they transition into campus.” Shinseki said they have adequately performed these duties. Before the press conference, Shinseki met with faculty and Boise State veterans in a private sit-down to discuss issues veterans have been facing. Shinseki described those veterans as “talented young men and women,” telling them, “we are very proud and you here at Boise State are privileged to have them in your student body. They will be among the best of your students.” Shinseki told those
students his one-word speech: “Graduate.” “America needs the skills, knowledge and attributes that veterans bring back from their military experiences. It is that kind of experience that will help us build an economy that will last,” the General said. Shinseki then mentioned upon these students’ graduation, they will be looking for employment. “Veterans make excellent employees and I say that with conviction,” Shinseki said. “Not only do they have tangible and tested skills and experience. But what they bring to us is something that we don’t usually find elsewhere and that’s leadership. “ Shinseki said in a press conference a man once demanded, “Show me your budget and I’ll tell you what you value.” After this statement, he informed the public the budget for the
Department of Veterans Affairs has increased 40 percent for the upcoming year of 2013. “President Obama has been very clear in his commitment to veterans. It is clear, it’s genuine, it runs deep with him and it is unwavering.” Shinseki said this was evident through the increase of budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs during a time of such economic struggle when so many things are being cut. Lisa Harris, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs, said she could see on the faces of the students they were inspired by Shinseki’s words and the faculty of Boise State is also inspired by the partnership of Vet Success and all of the great things they can do together. “It was nice that he took the time to come and to get a feel for the student veterans and he didn’t have to sit down and do a
round table but he did and that shows that maybe the bigger system does care and gives us a chance to be heard,” said Dan Foot, a student veteran currently a senior year history major. Foot also said he would just like to encourage veterans to come in and meet the great staff and find out what benefits they can receive from Vet Success.
ONLINE Check out other stories the Arbiter has on Veteran Services provided by Boise State at arbiteronline. com arbiteronline.com