The Arbiter 2.13.18 Vol. 30 Issue 22

Vol. 30 Issue 22

February 13, 2018

IN D EPEN D E NT

ST U D E NT

V O I CE

O F

B O I SE

STAT E

S I N C E

1 9 3 3

Fall in love with The Arbiter’s

Valentine’s Day Issue

NEWS

04

Exploring the Old Pen’s romantic history

C U LT U R E

12

Flying M spreads love, AIDS awareness

SPORTS & REC

17

Meet Gary Van Tol, the new baseball coach

EVENTS STUDENT DIVERITY CENTER

TUE FEBRUARY 13 TALK-O-TUESDAY

7 pm

Boise State’s MLK Living Legacy Committee facilitates a discussion around “race, perspectives, challenges and much more.”

STUDENT UNION BUILDING

WED FEBRUARY 14 NAVIGATING TREEFORT

11 am

Learn all about Boise’s very own Treefort Music Festival and how to navigate the hundreds of events that make up the week of downtown merriment.

TACO BELL ARENA

WED FEBRUARY 14 BOISE STATE VS. NEVADA

9 pm

Boise State’s women’s basketball team takes on the Nevada Wolf Pack at the Taco Bell Arena.

STUDENT UNION BUILDING

FRI FEBRUARY 16 BRONCO FAMILY GAME NIGHT

5:30 pm

Broncos are welcome to bring their families of all ages for a night of free fun and games at the SUB’s Game Center.

WHAT YOU MISSED ONLINE PHOTO OF THE WEEK CULTURE Boise State’s Chinese Club put on their annual China Night to celebrate the Year of the Dog this past Sunday, Feb. 11, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Student Union Building.

NEWS

Culture Reporter Logan Potter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sports Reporter Peter Huguenin sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Manager Axel Quartarone digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Evan Fishburn Sophia Uhlenhoff Design Manager Selina Ceballos

Happy Valentine’s Day from The Arbiter! Every section in this week’s issue has a bit of love-related content to supplement everyone’s begrudgingly favorite February holiday. Whether on the subjecct of relationships, community love or even heart health, we hope we can keep you informed and intrigued for this special issue.

@arbiterbsu

News Reporter Ximena Bustillo news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Sports Editor Daniel Gardner sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

SPECIAL EDITION

@arbiteronline

News Editor Jordan Erb news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

POLL

VISIT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @arbiteronline

Opinion Editor Jacob Palmer opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Culture Editor Shannon Brennan culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State club lacrosse wins their first game against UNLV. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

@boisestatearbiter

Online Editor Taylor Munson onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Students will be advocating for programs, funding and scholarships on Feb. 20 for Boise State Day, which takes place annually and aims to connect lawmakers with students.

We took a poll to see what color people feel the new baseball field should be with the options being blue, orange, green or other. The winner: Blue with a percentage of 44% out of 100%.

ON THE COVER

Editor-In-Chief Brandon Rasmussen editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

arbiteronline.com

Graphic Designers Nabil Rahman Olivia Tocher Sierra Nobley Contact us The Arbiter is located at 1910 University Dr., Mail Stop 1340 Phone: (208) 426-6300 Website: www.arbiteronline.com Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year.

The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University and a designated public forum, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter

NEWS

LETTERS FROM THE OLD PEN

Event at the Old Penitentiary explores the romantic history of the site Amelia Albanese | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

On Feb. 14, the Old Idaho Penitentiary will give spectators an opportunity to read love letters from prisoners to their sweethearts. Photo by Taylor Humby.

This Valentine’s Day, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is looking to offer the community an untraditional event. The “Romancing the Pen” event will include stories about inmates and their relationships, games and self-guided tours. It will take place from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 14, at the Old Idaho Penitentiary in East Boise.

Viisitors will get a chance read “Love Stories from the Penitentiary,” and play games like “Match-In’ Mates,” “Honey Bee Heist” and “Pin the Rose on the Gardener.” There will also be refreshments available for the attendees, with “fireside chats with experts,” and “find the true meaning of ball and chain.”

Jacey Brain, visitors director and event coordinator at the Penitentiary explained the event was about bringing the lives of

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the couples in the former prison to the community in new and interesting ways.

Furthermore, he wanted touch on the

“Old Idaho Penitentiary created this Valentine’s Day event to divulge some of its history—its romantic history.”

Jacey Brain, director and event coordinator

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relationship aspect of the inmates. “(Old Idaho Penitentiary) created this Valentine’s Day event to divulge some of its history—its romantic history,” Brain said.

Brain also mentioned that the game, “Honey Bee Heist,” was modeled after an inmate who escaped. According to Brain, Charles Emerson, the beekeeper, said the bees escaped and he convinced the guards to let him go after them. The game will be a bean bag toss with this story as the vision behind it.

Romancing the Pen will include more stories similar to this one regarding the Old Idaho Penitentiary. For instance, a volunteer for this event, Jennifer Finke, ruminated on her experience. Finke said Romancing the Pen is just one of the many

events she volunteers for, and has discussed the history of other prisoners in previous events. One of the prisoners she had talked about in year’s past was Josie Kensler, who was imprisoned in 1897 at the age of 25 for second-degree murder.

Additionally, senior history major Emily Fritchman, said she and her boyfriend are planning to attend the event.

“Not only have I interned for the Pen, but I’m also a student who loves local and city history,” Fritchman said. “It’s a quirky place with lots of rich stories.”

Romancing the Pen is a first-comefirst-serve and kid-friendly event. More information about tickets can be found on their Facebook event page.

NEWS

STUDENTS TO GET THEIR DANCE ON

The 2018 Dance Marathon approaches

Laura Leininger | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The marathon is 17 hours of dancing, games, activities and a meet-and-greet with families and children. Photo by Axel Quartarone and Taylor Humby.

Every 90 seconds, a child is admitted to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, a statistic that ignited a fire for some students at Boise State. For six years now, a “Krew” of Boise State students have held an annual fundraiser to raise money for this cause.

On Feb. 23, this group and many others will come together for a 17-hour Dance Marathon.

When the fundraiser started six years ago, the Boise State community was able to raise $5,000 for St. Luke’s Children’s hospital. This year, Boise State’s Dance Marathon, now the largest one west of the Mississippi, is aiming to raise $190,000.

For the co-director of media relations Kennedy Kaya, the cause means everything.

“I am currently in the Boise State School of Nursing hoping to have a career in

pediatrics,” Kaya said. “Working with kids is everything I want in life, and Dance Marathon allows me to do just that. I am a healthy individual and I dance for those who can’t.”

The Marathon is dependent on the support of the community to be successful. A number of local sponsors like Chick-fil-A and Panda Express donate food for the day of the event and host fundraisers. Haley Olivas, a community fundraising co-chair explained they rely on businesses all year long to host events, although the final weeks are definitely crunch time.

“We like to cram as much as we can into the last month,” Olivas said.

Throughout the year, the Krew relies on a “thermometer,” or drawing that shows how much money has been raised, to track their progress, but in the last month that

thermometer is taken away, which causes a push for lots of fundraising, just to be safe.

“We always find a way to make it work,” Olivas said, but she emphasized the important role teamwork plays in the final month. “I couldn’t do it by myself.”

The marathon, which follows the slogan “For the Kids” through everything they do, has grown into a way for Boise State students to have fun and give back to the community. Though the title may seem daunting, the 17-hour event consists of not only dancing, but games, activities and a chance to meet with the families and kids directly involved in the cause.

Marcus Ross, who is now the Dance Marathon co-president, first attended the event as a freshman, where he was intrigued by not only the cause but the passion of everyone involved. Now, Ross is

head over heels with Dance Marathon.

The final month of planning consists of constant meetings and a lot of logistical work, but for Ross, it’s a time of remembering why they do what they do.

“We have to promote; we have to push,” Ross said. “We’re always thinking about our goal and how we can raise more money for the kids.”

Between the sponsors, the Dance Marathon executive team and Krew and the dancers, Ross said whatever good the event creates, the credit goes to the Boise State community as a whole.

“We 100 percent can’t do it without them,” Ross said of everyone involved in the process. “There are a lot of good people out there.”

Students can register for Dance Marathon online up until the day of the event.

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NEWS TWO BOISE STATE FACULTY NOMINATED FOR WOMEN OF THE YEAR Both Leslie Webb and Loraine Hand to attend awards ceremony as guests

Carleen Casey | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Two members of Boise State’s faculty were nominated for 2018’s Women of the Year award, presented by the Idaho Business Review. Those nominated were Leslie Webb, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, and Loraine Hand, executive assistant to the dean and associate deans in the College of Business and Economics.

This award is for women who are molding Idaho’s economy and community for the better and have an impact on Idaho’s economic future. Webb and Hand, along with 48 other women, are invited to a dinner and awards ceremony to be honored for their nomination. Additionally, they will be published in the Idaho Business Review magazine. However, only one will be named Woman of the Year.

Professional achievements, leadership, mentorship to other women, community service work and community leadership are the five categories used to determine the Woman of the Year. The judges score each nominee off of each category, and pick the one with the highest score to be the winner.

Webb said she is humbled and honored to be nominated for this award. Instead of taking all the credit, she wanted to focus on Boise State.

“For me, it’s about the service to community. It’s about representing Boise State, not about me individually,” Webb said.

As a representative of Boise State, Webb is giving most of the credit to the Boise community that she works for.

“There’s no way I could just go ‘hey thanks,’ with my shiny face. It’s really about the community with whom I work and through which I move and how we leverage our community to support students. That’s a primary focus of maybe why that nomination is relevant,” Webb

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said.

Webb believes receiving this award is something bigger than she can explain.

Although, she is thrilled to be a representation of Boise State.

“It might be my name on it, but it’s indicative of something bigger (that) I’m honored to represent,” Webb said.

John Hand, Loraine Hand’s husband, said he was thrilled to hear about her nomination. He spoke about how the work she does betters the workplace and the people around her. John described Loraine as the type of person that gives and never gets. According to John, Loraine works late hours to finish any task and doesn’t expect any recognition.

“I think Loraine’s nomination illustrates how someone who quietly does important work for her community, for her workplace and for her family can be recognized,” John said.

John said his wife works hard not because it’s her job, but because she wants to make the Boise community a better place.

“She’s resilient and tough,” John said.

“I think what people see is that stuff just happens when she’s involved. It always occurs because she puts in extra time, does stuff on her own, does stuff after hours at work or does quiet community activities that she participates in that just happen.”

According to her husband, Loraine’s nomination was no surprise. He talked about the type of person she is and what type of impact she left on everyone she has met.

“She makes so many emotional deposits in her day-to-day life to people. She would do so many little things. She’s just a giver,” John said.

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Leslie Webb (above) and Loraine Hand (below) were nominated. Photo courtesy of BSU website.

NEWS

HOW BOISE’S RECYCLING SYSTEM IS EVOLVING FROM CHINA’S NEW POLICIES

“If in doubt, leave it out.” Trash mixed with recyclables causes irreversible contamination Alyza Lovenguth | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Due to China’s new “National Sword Initiative,” many of the recyclables being produced in the United States are now going to landfills. These changes mean Boise recycling must adapt and minimize the amount of contamination—which occurs when accepted and non-accepted recyclables mix—to 0.5 percent in recycling that China will purchase, according to Catherine Chertudi, environmental programs manager at Boise Public Works.

China officially began enforcing their purchase requirements this year, according to both Chertudi and Rick Gillihan from Western Recycling. Western Recycling, the processor and marketer of recyclable materials from Idaho Falls to Boise, is faced with managing a major contamination problem.

“We want to be very deliberate about our recycling, becausethe contamination issues are too lage and too costly to collect, sort and send these materials off to a location where no one wants them.”

Catherine Chertudi, environmental programs manager “Throughout 2017, (China) was sending out the message of what their quality requirements were going to be, and they were unsure of an implementation date,” Gillihan said. “I think it was early December of 2017, they came out officially that they are not going to permit anything with

a contamination level higher than one half of one percent to be imported into the country. Traditionally, contamination rate has been five to seven percent.”

Both Chertudi and Gillihan commented on how China’s new policies are nearly impossible to meet.

“Currently, the contamination rate on our inbound stream into our sort facility runs between 12 and 13 percent of everything we get is trash,” Gillihan said.

“So we’re tasked with cleaning that much material out of the good stuff, and it’s just impossible to get enough of it out in order to meet the one 0.5 percent (requirement).”

According to Chertudi, students and Boise citizens should follow the motto: “If in doubt, leave it out.” By understanding what are and are not accepted materials, contamination is either reduced or prevented.

“We want to be very deliberate about our recycling because the contamination issues are too large and too costly to collect, sort and send these materials off to a location where no one wants them; and they end up being landfilled,” Chertudi said.

Because of a $50,000 grant—awarded

by Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics and Keep America Beautiful—a new trademarked and branded program, the Hefty Energy Bag, will allow Boise residents to reuse hard-to-recycle plastics. Through a chemical recovery process plastics of three through seven grade can be reused and sold as diesel fuel, according to Chertudi.

A resin identification code, a number one through seven inside a triangle on the bottom of plastics, indicates what the plastic is made of.

Through a trial period, Boise residents will receive an orange Hefty Energy Bag sometime in the spring along with a list of instructions. Once participants place the bag in their recycle bin, the bags are collected, sorted and shipped to a facility

China’s recycling policies are directly affecting Boiseans and their recycling habits. Photo by Taylor Humby.

in Salt Lake City, where the fuel is made. “(The Hefty Energy Bag program) is something Boise city is going to implement and try to provide an avenue to still recycle or reuse some of the types of plastic China no longer wants,” Gillihan said.

These tough regulations are primarily due to China’s own generation of recycling, which calls for their own recycling system, according to Chertudi. Further, recyclables are just another commodity– something that is traded in a marketplace like any other product. With China being the United State’s primary buyer of recyclables, much of our recycling has no place to go and be reused.

“China (is) our major purchaser for these recycled materials,” Chertudi said.

“And having them say, ‘no more plastics three through seven, because we have very limited use for these materials, and we want to get the contamination down

in our mixed paper,’ puts an immediate stop for anyone purchasing our material because there is no one else available in the marketplace to produce the quantity that we’re creating–on the west coast in particular.”

By asking questions and discussing ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, individuals can become smart consumers, according to Colin Hickman, Boise Public Works’ communications manager.

“What we could definitely use help in is people (being) engaged in the conversation,” Hickman said. “It’s pretty typical for people to get into their own world of recycling at just their home. But where we can see it is in not only one person’s home, but also from all of BSU and all of Boise; the amount of material is staggering.”

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OPINION

LANGUAGE AROUND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS SHOULD BE USED WITH CARE

Terms such as PTSD, OCD and bipolar disorder shouldn’t show up in casual conversation Taylor Munson | Online Editor | onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

How can we work more toward understanding these mental illnesses and what type of treatment they require if we are likening them to commonplace annoyances?

It was about a year ago when my mom was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), after a traumatic event struck our family. While she showed signs of the disorder for quite some time, it took about a year for her to be diagnosed.

PTSD is defined by the Mayo Clinic as “a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event—either experiencing or witnessing it.” PTSD is a serious mental illness that requires medical treatment, and many people may live with it their entire lives.

So why do I hear the term most commonly used in casual conversation as a form of hyperbole?

Mental illness is an important topic that I believe should be discussed openly.

The way in which it is discussed, however, should not demean what the words truly represent. The term PTSD should not be used to describe how you feel after you were embarrassed in class or how you don’t want to go to a restaurant after getting food poisoning. While we may not realize it at times, the words we use can have an immensely strong impact on the way we

see the world, as well as the way we see other people. To be clear, I do not believe these words should never be spoken, but rather I am proposing everyone pay more attention to the contexts and situations they are used in, so as to avoid them from becoming trivial. Language is something to be used with care and thoughtfulness, especially when discussing mental illness.

Words that represent serious struggles and trauma faced by individuals on a day-today basis are not frivolous; they embody a much larger-scale human struggle.

There are other common mental terms that can also often be misused. For example, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is not a character trait of someone who is extremely organized. OCD is a chronic and long-lasting mental disorder in which a person has excessive thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors. Therefore simple daily habits that are generally seen as positive, such as maintaining cleanliness or being organized, should not be paralleled with a genuine psychological disorder. Additionally, if the weather is up and down throughout the day, it should

“THIS MAKES ME WANT TO KILL MYSELF.”

“I’M SUPER OCD ABOUT THAT.”

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not be described as being bipolar. Bipolar Disorder is a mental disorder involving depressive lows and manic highs and can’t be cured. These words represent experiences and pain many people do not have to deal with every single day.

Of course, we all have our bad days; our days of receiving a bad grade, fighting with a friend or, on a more serious level, experiencing heartbreak and loss. This is a part of life and every human is bound to have their ups and downs. However, this should not allow us to equate minor disturbances in our day with the more painful experiences of someone else. I am the first one to say I am guilty of this. I am guilty of saying “I just want to kill myself ” when studying for a stressful exam. However, through my time in learning more about the many mental health struggles faced by many different people, I’ve learned how this casual language can belittle the much more severe hardship of others. Equating a minor stressful blip in my life with someone who is genuinely considering harming themselves does no good to anyone. It causes us to detract from a much more

complex struggle, which can not only feed into stigmatizing mental health issues, but can eventually desensitize us to what these terms actually mean. How can we work more toward understanding these mental illnesses and what type of treatment they require if we are likening them to commonplace annoyances?

Making our way toward better understanding and destigmatizing mental health begins with the language we use to describe it and in what conversations we go about using it. Mental health should absolutely be a topic of conversation between everyone, but it should be a well thought, empathic and productive conversation. If nothing else, take this as a kind reminder to choose your words with care and to realize we don’t always know how much someone may be struggling. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.”

“THAT WAS SO “THIS WEATHER IS EMBARRASSING. SO BIPOLAR.” NOW I HAVE PTSD.”

OPINION

A BIPARTISAN COMMITMENT TO AN EVER-HIGHER DEBT The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board | Piece courtesy of Chicago Tribune

December that the Congressional Budget Office figured would swell deficits by $1.5 trillion over a decade. Republicans argued, with some basis, that the plan would raise our recent tepid economic growth rate,

“Republicans want to lay out extra funds for the military, and Democrats are eager to put more into discretionary domestic programs. It’s much easier, you have to admit, than devising ways to save money.”

Rand Paul has recently criticised a budget deal over deficit concerns. Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service.

Sen. Rand Paul made a stand against a major budget deal Thursday night, blocking action and forcing a government shutdown in an effort to get a vote on restoring spending caps. He also wanted to raise alarms about the additional $1.5 trillion in debt the measure was expected to produce over the next decade.

“I want people to feel uncomfortable,” he said. “I want them to have to answer people at home who said, ‘How come you were against President Obama’s deficits and then how come you’re for Republican deficits?’ “ His colleagues did not respond with a standing ovation.

Paul only delayed the inevitable, with the Senate voting early Friday to approve the bill and the House concurring soon

after. And the spending resumed with big increases on the way. The two-year package will boost expenditures on defense and domestic programs by some $300 billion, along with $90 billion in new funding for disaster aid.

On the virtually foolproof assumption that the new spending will be extended after two years, the long-term price tag will be far higher. “If temporary provisions in the bill were made permanent, the ultimate cost could increase to $1.7 trillion, or $2.1 trillion including interest,” says the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

That’s a shame, because the federal debt already exceeds $20 trillion, double the level in 2009. It’s also regrettable because,

believe it or not, our leaders had made considerable progress in getting control of federal spending. Thanks to disagreements between Congress and President Obama and a 2011 sequestration deal that neither side much liked, inflation-adjusted outlays were almost the same in 2016 as they were in 2009. As a share of GDP, they shrank from 24.4 percent to 21.4 percent and the deficit dropped by two-thirds.

But both parties have decided the time for fiscal restraint is past. Republicans want to lay out extra funds for the military, and Democrats are eager to put more into discretionary domestic programs. It’s much easier, you have to admit, than devising ways to save money.

Congress also passed a tax reform bill in

an achievement that would also boost tax revenue. But if they turn out to be wrong, the added debt will be a drag.

Piling on spending increases at this point is irresponsible. If the economy reaches a permanently higher trajectory, Congress and the president will have more money to allocate to the nation’s needs. If not, the increased outlays will put future taxpayers deeper in the hole.

Last year, Donald Trump offered a budget that envisioned eliminating the deficit, something that hasn’t been achieved since 2001, by 2027. With the economy humming along, now would be a good time to make real progress toward that. But neither he nor Congress shows any appetite for the sort of sacrifices it would require, primarily reforms to federal entitlement programs that are popular with many voters but also big drivers of deficits.

So in good times and bad, our leaders will go on running up debt. It’s a story that can go on a long time, but it won’t end well.

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F E AT U R E

RETHINKING CONSENT AND COMMUNICATION

One student’s story echoes larger national themes

Taylor Munson, Online Editor and Jordan Erb, News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

When Jillian Kelley’s Tinder date came over to her apartment on Oct. 4, she was expecting to watch a movie and get to know him. They had planned to go downtown, but because she had homework, she invited him over for what she thought would be a short movie date.

Within twenty minutes–and without asking for permission–he was on top of her, biting her breasts and kissing her, forcing her hands down his pants, fingering and choking her.

“I was not prepared for that, at all,” Kelley said. “(He did it) without asking if it was OK. It was so sudden, and I was almost in shock. I didn’t take off my clothes. Usually these things are a team effort. One person takes off one article of clothing, and the other person takes off another article of clothing. So I’m like, ‘my bra is off. So are my pants.’ I’m flipping out.”

Kelley’s experience may be indicative of today’s dating culture—a scene marked with dating apps, first-night hookups, miscommunications and assault. Largescale conversations surrounding dating violence and sexual harassment are fairly new to the public sphere, according to Kim Camacho, Boise State’s violence prevention and support coordinator in the Gender Equity Center, and a lot of that has to do with the spread of movements such as #MeToo and Time’s Up. A recently publicized incident involving actor Aziz Ansari has also sparked more widespread conversations about consent and dating violence.

“That’s a conversation we have not traditionally had, and it’s highlighting an experience a lot of women have,” Camacho said. “Part of it is that it’s so normalized in our culture. Many wonder if that’s just a part of dating, but when boundaries are not respected, that is a form of

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Graphic by Sierra Nobley.

sexual violence.”

Before Kelley’s Tinder date allegedly sexually assaulted her, he was nothing more than a boy behind a Tinder profile, a seemingly nice kid with a short and simple bio. It wasn’t until they met for a date that things changed. Kelley, a freshman global studies major, had never used Tinder

“I didn’t even register it as sexual assault for a little while. I just kind of sat there like, ‘Wow, I’m in pain.’ All of a sudden I realize I’m shaking and I can’t breathe and my boobs hurt.”

Jillian Kelley, freshman global studies major before. Encouraged by her friends to get an account, she didn’t expect her first date to turn violent.

“I didn’t even register it as sexual assault for a little while,” Kelley said. “I just kind of sat there like, ‘Wow, I’m in pain.’ All of a sudden I realize I’m shaking and I can’t breathe and my boobs hurt.”

Kelley was concerned enough to file a police report that night, which has been verified by The Arbiter and is consistent with the account described here. The Boise Police filed no charges, though they did visit the alleged attacker’s home to discuss his behavior. A week later, Kelley filed for action with the university’s Title IX office. According to Kelley, after four months, university administration ruled that the man will have to complete 50 hours of community service, sessions with a domestic violence counseling professional and a reflective essay.

Kelley’s story shows that even those involved in incidents of dating violence

aren’t sure what passes for acceptable behavior, or if it’s worth alerting authorities.

According to Adriane Bang, director of the Gender Equity Center, victims of sexual assault may use different forms of communication to convey discomfort, without explicitly saying “no.” Pulling their clothes down if someone is trying to remove them, turning, pulling, or rolling away from the person, trying to initiate different activities to distract the person, or saying they have something else to do are each inadvertent “no’s.”

Kelley said she tried sending many of these signals, each of which was ignored.

“Throughout this whole thing, I did try to kind of lowkey hint that I didn’t want to do this,” Kelley said. “I’d turn away, and I’d start playing the movie again or say, ‘hey, I need to do homework,’ and stop kissing him.”

When the other person rejects or ignores those signals, according to Bang, it sends a message that the person doesn’t care about the boundaries being displayed.

Camacho, of the Gender Equity Center, corroborates this idea.

“Women, particularly, are socialized to be polite,” Camacho said. “We tend to give a ‘no’ in more of a nonverbal or indirect way. Those are ways that we express our discomfort because of the way we’ve been socialized. So, how can we make that shift to where those are understood to be ‘no’s’ and in healthy and consensual experiences those boundaries are respected by their partner?”

According to Camacho, any situation involving the potential progression in physical intimacy boils down to consent, which should be shared by both individuals as verbal, apparent and enthusiastic communication, a ‘yes,’ and it’s continual throughout the activity.

“The absence of a ‘no’ doesn’t always mean consent is present and it can be taken back at any time and throughout any activity,” Camacho said.

Camacho also said there can be a lot of guilt and shame that comes with experi-

encing dating violence, or any other sexual violence. However, she encouraged anyone who is questioning whether or not to seek help to do so, even if they are unsure whether or not they experienced sexual violence.

Though unfamiliar with Kelley’s case, Roberto Refinetti, professor and head of the department of psychological science, said some cases of sexual assault may be caused by serious miscommunication. In some situations, according to Refinetti, moving too quickly through a sexual relationship can lead to discomfort with communicating, if not an entire disregard for communication. Bypassing these critical stages of communication may lead to disagreements about sexual preferences.

“When you have hookups where you don’t even know the person, of course you’re changing the dynamics,” Refinetti said. “If you knew the person and you had talked a little bit, you would have some feeling of how that person will feel about it. Then (when) you have a physical contact, you already have some verification.

When you’re just jumping in, it could be

“Because they are getting physically close faster, there are more chances for disagreements, because they didn’t have a chance to talk about some basic things.”

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sexual relationships, especially with the speed at which they progress.

“Because they are getting physically close faster, there are more chances for disagreements, because they didn’t have a chance to talk about some basic things,” Refinetti said.

Beyond hookups, atypical forms of sexuality may add a new level of miscommunication to the mix, according to Refinetti. Sexual interests that fall outside of societal “norms” may pose opportunities for disagreements between new partners.

More dominant sexual personalities may reach a serious disagreement if met with someone who doesn’t share the same interests.

“Sex is supposed to be a part of a loving interaction,” Refinetti said. “You don’t expect to have a strong disagreement.”

When addressing the path forward surrounding these conversations about dating violence and preventing situations such as these, Camacho finds the narrative tends to focus on “risk reduction,” or learning ways to minimize one’s own subjectivity to potentially dangerous situations.

Although she finds risk reduction to be important, Camacho also believes a larger emphasis should also be put on “primary prevention.”

“Prevention happens on a spectrum,” Camacho said. “The work that (the Gender Equity Center) does focuses primarily on this idea of primary prevention. We’re addressing social norms and behaviors in order to make that cultural shift. By making those shifts, we’re reducing the likelihood that violence is going to happen, or sexual harassment is going to happen.”

Roberto Refinetti, professor and head of the department of psychological science

anything.”

This is particularly common in today’s ever-present “hookup” dating scene.

Refinetti said many students may feel uncomfortable communicating about their FEBRUARY 13, 2018

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PROMOTING LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE THROUGH ART

Valentine for AIDS art auction raises money for local non-profit Evan Fishburn | Copy Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

On opposite walls of the trendy Flying M coffeehouse hang dozens of works of art – paintings, ceramics, photographs and more – many depicting hearts, embraces, relationships and love. This artwork is part of the 25th annual Valentine for AIDS event, which takes place from Feb. 8 to Feb. 18 at Flying M Coffeehouse in downtown Boise.

Since 1993, the event has promoted love and acceptance through art, displaying the work of hundreds of local artists. On the surface, Valentine for AIDS may be about art, love and good coffee, but underneath, the event raises money for people in Idaho

“It definitely puts a face to the disease. A very high percentage of our artists are people who have had someone in their life with HIV/AIDS.” Kent Collins, owner of Flying M Boise who suffer from HIV/AIDS. Proceeds go to the Safety Net for AIDS Program, or SNAP, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to those in the community with the disease.

Lisa and Kevin Myers, owners of the Flying M location in Nampa, created the event after Lisa had a personal experience with the disease.

“One of the original owners, Lisa Myers, had two of her friends from high school die of AIDS,” said Kent Collins, the current owner of Flying M in Boise. “She wanted a way to honor their memories and came up with the idea of Valentine for AIDS because so many local artists hung out at Flying M.” Now in the event’s 25th year, Flying M

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has seen an increase in participation, works of art and fundraising. According to Collins, the auction made $3,600 the first year and over $26,000 last year. In total, Flying M has raised over $280,000.

However, with that growth come certain challenges.

“We send out over 450 invites, then people RSVP by email, which we have to enter into a computer,” Collins said.

“Then, in a span of four days, over 250 people bring their art in and in one day we hang it all with name tags and corresponding bids sheets. When the show is over, we have to call everyone who won a piece, then they come in to pay for it and take it home. It’s so much to keep track of.”

Valentine for AIDS has helped to destigmatize the disease by humanizing it.

“It definitely puts a face to the disease.

A very high percentage of our artists are people who have had someone in their life with HIV/AIDS, family members or friends, who they are participating in honor of,” Collins said.

In 2017, SNAP helped nearly 250 people utilize either food vouchers or emergency financial assistance, according to a cost breakdown by the Wellness Center at Family Residency of Idaho. Furthermore, $7,200 went to food vouchers, $8,328 went to medical payments, $3,295 went to insurance premiums and $1,248 went to eye exams and glasses.

The event relies on creativity and the community for success.

“There isn’t really a theme, but many pieces reflect love and relationships,” Collins said. “I was a manager here before I bought the place, so I’ve worked here for over 18 years and I’ve bought one or more pieces every year since I started. My house is like a Valentine for AIDS gallery.”

Collins said he enjoys seeing how many creative people live in Boise and decide to submit their work for the auction.

One of these creative people is Laurie Blakeslee, associate professor of art at Boise

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Artwork on display for Flying M’s annual Valentine for AIDS silent auction. Bidding ends on Sunday, Feb. 18. Photo by Evan Fishburn.

State, who has created artwork for all 25 years that the event has been held. Professor Blakeslee specializes in photography, but her artistic sensibility shines through all of her work, including her embroidered song lyrics.

Initially, Blakeslee’s work was mainly still life or black and white photography. But later, she began to think about music, specifically the sappy or funny lyrics in pop songs, which combine both the fantasy and the sadness of love.

“My challenge of creating a valentine was clouded by my cynical attitudes of the sentimental holiday,” Blakeslee wrote on her website. “My pessimism of the valentine as an artificial gesture of affection to be sold and consumed; laden with all the expectations of love and romance, that may never be realized.”

Blakeslee, a committed regular to Flying

M since it opened, said she has enjoyed getting to know so many artists in the community and seeing what they do with their valentines each year, but she recognizes the event’s greater significance.

“I lived through the ‘80s when the disease and the people with AIDS were stigmatized, treated poorly by the government and feared and disrespected by the public,” Blakeslee said. “Valentine for AIDS is great at creating visibility around the issue and takes place in a really creative place.”

Collins agreed, saying, “We definitely attract a creative crowd, so raising money for a good cause is a draw. The community support never ceases to amaze me.”

Valentine for AIDS is open for anyone to participate. Prices for artwork range from $5 to over $800. The auction ends at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18.

C U LT U R E

‘PUMPIN’ THINGS UP

Boise State brings awareness to National Heart Health Month on campus Logan Potter | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Many think of February as the month of love on Valentine’s Day or history during Black History Month, yet many fail to recognize that the month, while historically relevant, is also important to the lives of many who have been affected by heart conditions across the United States.

National Heart Health Month spans from Feb. 1 until Feb. 28 and is geared towards the spreading of awareness surrounding issues such as heart disease, congestive heart failure and cardiac arrest--a mission Boise State has chosen to take to heart.

“We finally have the capability to get involved in this project, and we each bring something unique to the team...”

Owen McDougal, Department of

Chemistry and Biochemisty Professor Boise State faculty members Owen McDougal, Matt King, and Lisa Warner began to research a cure for heart disease last fall. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

According to a study done at Arizona State University, college students may be ignoring the threat of heart disease entirely, which is why advocates of the awareness month push the issue nationwide. At Boise State, the Student Involvement and Leadership Center sponsors the Happy Heart Health Drive, an opportunity for students to donate blood, as well as access resources and education on what the month means and how to avoid the high-risk factors that can mean heart disease.

The same Arizona State study quotes that in 2004, heart disease was the most common cause of death in women, and only one quarter of surveyed college students could correctly identify the threat;

in the last semester, the university made its first steps towards changing that statistic. On Oct. 16, 2017, three Boise State researchers reported their acceptance of a $1 million grant to search for a cure for heart disease. The team consists of Owen McDougal, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; Matt King, an assistant professor and Lisa Warner, an assistant research professor in the same department. Their four-year goal is to “create a clinical-grade compound that targets fortilin,” according to the original report posted by the University.

“We finally have the capability to get involved in this project,” McDougal said.

“And we each bring something unique

to the team, (whether) it is chemistry or structure.”

While four years may seem like a lifetime for students working on their degree, scientists have been searching for a cure for heart disease for over 300 years. One in four individuals die of the disease every year. Boise State has a partnership with the American Heart Association through the Healthy for Life Initiative to lower cholesterol in foods on campus in order to promote greater heart health, as well as the American Red Cross, through which blood drives are held at Boise State to promote donation for the benefit of someone in need. Whether students on campus notice or not, university health initiatives are

being placed right in front of them.

By broadening the scope of awareness at the university, students are given the ability to become a part of something bigger than them with events like blood drives; individuals across campus have the potential to be affected by heart disease, and some may already have. All in all, during a month of cultural historical remembrance and giant teddy bears, Boise State University seeks to put the students and their health first— through initiatives and research, Boise seems to only be continuing its journey to a cure and a healthy lifestyle for the young adults walking between its buildings.

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FULL HEARTS, FULL MUGS

Boise State Ceramics Club celebrates Valentine’s Day with yearly mug sale Kyle McCroskey | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Hanmade mugs will be sold by the Boise State Ceramic Club this Valentine’s Day. Photo by Kyle McCroskey

Ceramic sculpting has been around for thousands of years, and has been utilized for both artistic sculptures and the creation of household items, such as bowls, plates and mugs. Unlike many art forms, ceramics is a small subset of the art community that has many uses and functions that may go unnoticed by most people. This is one of the many reasons for the creation of the Ceramics Club at Boise State.

On Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Ceramics Club at Boise State will be hosting a mug sale. This is the first year in which the Ceramics Club has had its sale on this day of love. Mugs of all shapes, sizes and colors will be sold at this event with a price range from $10 to $25.

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Each mug will come with a complimentary refreshment once purchased.

The Ceramics Club has been present at Boise State since before 2012, with a large number of students from all types of majors taking part in what the club has to offer.

“What’s great about ceramics as a medium is that, because it didn’t enter the realm of fine art until the 20th century, the whole community is pretty small and intimate, so the club’s really just oriented to foster that sense of community here at BSU,” senior Mike Vincent, president of the Ceramics Club, said.

Toward the middle of every semester the Ceramics Club hosts an event in which handcrafted mugs made by the students

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are sold. The Ceramics Club decided to shake things up a bit by adding a holiday theme to the sale this year.

“We choose mugs as the staple form for our sales because they are generally an easy thing for us to make, and everyone likes a good mug,” financial officer Emily Farrar said. “We have both wheel throwers and hand builders in our club and the variety of mugs that come to our sale is always fun to see.”

This sale will give them opportunity to sell their crafted work to the students and faculty of Boise State, practicing their craft in a real-world situation.

Professor of arts and ceramics and faculty advisor of the club Caroline Earley expressed her excitement from the students

and their work leading up to the sale.

“They’ve been making mugs like crazy for the past few weeks,” Earley said.

The students of this club want buyers to know they have put not just their time into preparing for this event, but their heart and soul as well. By incorporating the theme of Valentine’s Day into this semester’s mug sale, the club has put a new fresh look on their yearly event. The students and teachers at Boise State have the opportunity to help these passionate students.

The club hopes that the fun Valentine’s theme will encourage the Boise State community to come out and support their campus organization while finding the perfect give for their loved ones.

CO LU M N

AN OPEN LETTER TO JESSE MCCARTNEY Mourning a drifting beautiful soul

Shannon Brennan and Logan Potter | Culture Section | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Dear Jess, Starting out as a Broadway baby, you made it onto our heartthrob radars in 2003 when you released that club jam (and breakup jam) “Beautiful Soul.” At the time, we were ready for so much more to come from you, but now that first single is your only recognizable song. Despite your general lack of “bangers,” we are glad you broke out on your own back in 2002 Dream Street was holding you back, and you deserved those Teen Choice awards back in 2005.

Over the years you’ve thrown in a few acting gigs, but you really made your whole career on Disney soundtracks, but if you know anything about Vanessa Hudgen’s musical moment, you would have realized your mistake sooner. But let’s be real, she’s no you. Where did you go, Jesse?

Where is your beautiful soul?

We don’t want to sell you short, you also had a decently successful, mostly lowkey acting career for a hot minute.

We love looking at you almost as much as we love hearing your voice, so this was a moment to be remembered, indeed. To be completely honest, your cameos in “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” and “Hannah Montana” were some of those shows’ best episodes.

Once your albums (especially “In Technicolor”) flopped, you had to find a new calling, but honestly, we aren’t sure if you really ever did (because you aren’t still writing music, right?). With credits like “Young and Hungry” and “Greek” in your filmography, you were just short of becoming the star you always wanted to be. How unfair.

What is even less fair, however, is that your only acting now is just voice acting.

We would be okay with this if you were singing, but we just don’t get that glimpse of your luscious locks that, obviously, every twenty-something is missing so dearly.

Speaking of which, I think the hair change is probably why your career has plateaued. Even more unfortunate, your most well-known voice gig is “Young Justice,” an animated show that looked like it had a chance but got taken off all streaming services. That’s a disgrace that I thought was only reserved for Disney shows, but even they got their own platform. We are just trying to hold you to a higher standard because we care, Jesse.

Without discrediting all you’ve done, we want to really congratulate you on staying semi-relevant (or at least not completely irrelevant) in a world of Kardashians, even if your only fans are almost-college graduates (i.e. Shannon), some have children and none of them watch your shows. Most of them don’t know more than two songs, but even one-hit wonders get royalties, right? Aren’t you worth like nine million dollars?

In summary: You still have the most beautiful soul, Shannon is still willing to marry you and we are willing to let you take your sweet time (as long as your sweet face is involved). Life is good.

With love, Shannon and Logan

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SPORTS & REC

COACH GARY VAN TOL: A MAN WITH A PLAN

Get to know the new Boise State Baseball team’s head coach Delaney Brassil | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

On Nov. 28, 2017, Gary Van Tol was named the head baseball coach for Boise State. The first season is set for spring 2020, and it will be the first time Boise State has taken the field since the program was discontinued in 1980. Van Tol brings 27 years of coaching experience to Bronco baseball, 17 as a college coach and 10 as a professional league coach. Since the day he was hired, Van Tol has been making plans and taking action to get the program off the ground. From developing his philosophy to establishing groundwork for a new stadium, Van Tol is prepared to take on this challenge and build the best team possible.

The following Q&A has been edited for content and clarity.

What was your path to coaching baseball?

I grew up in Canada, so the winters were long and the summers were short. I grew up in a small town, and I was really fortunate because a lot of my buddies were athletes. So that kept me out of trouble, but hockey was my first passion and my dream was to play in the NHL. I did baseball in the summer to stay busy and stay in shape and I had a couple opportunities to go to the states and play junior college baseball, but hockey was going very well at the time so I decided to focus on that. I left home when I was 16 to go play junior hockey.

I was getting ready for training camp the next year when the head baseball coach at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon called me and said, “I know you’re not playing, but if you have any second thoughts, we would love to give you a shot.” I went into Rick Baumann’s office, the head coach and athletic director who is one of my mentors now, and I said “give me 10 days. And if you don’t think I have a shot at playing then I’ll go back to Canada for training camp for hockey.” He was kind of surprised because the only reason I came to the states

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Gary Van Tol is the coach for Boise State’s new baseball team, which is planned to begin its season in Spring 2020. Photo courtesy of Gary Van Tol.

was to pursue a baseball career. He told me I had a shot to make the team and contribute, so I called my hockey coach and told him that I wouldn’t be coming back.

And the rest is history, as they say. I played two years there then got a scholarship to play at Gonzaga for the last two years. I was selected to play for Team Canada, so I played for them for three years after that, then signed a pro contract in the Netherlands for two years. In the meantime, I was finishing my masters degree at Gonzaga. My undergrad was in communications and my masters was in athletic and physical education administration.

build a program from scratch in a community that my wife and I wanted to raise our family in and at a school and athletic department where we knew a lot of people.

You can coach your whole life and never land in a position where all the stars are aligned, that’s why I was intrigued to throw my name in the hat. I was in a great position with the Cubs Organization and loved my time there.

There was a lot of interest all around the country for obvious reasons because of the opportunity to start a Division I program from scratch in a great community with great support, tradition and culture.

Why did you apply for this position?

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to

How did you feel when you found out that you got the job?

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Humbled. You put yourself in that position where you’re only going to get one of two phone calls. The interview process took a while. Because of it being a new program, the athletic department needed to take its time to make sure that it had everything in line. I heard there were over 100 applicants and some very qualified guys.

When Curt Apsey (Boise State’s athletic director) called me and offered me the job, a lot of thoughts went through my head of all the years, the grind, all the sacrifices, all those days away from your family, and you kind of reflect. I was overwhelmed and thrilled that I was the guy at the end that they offered the job to. It was a cool moment for me, my wife (Christina Van Tol,

Boise State senior associate athletic director for internal operations and senior woman administrator) and four kids.

This is a special place where we are looking to be for awhile. There was a while where we were moving every couple of years, but now I think we have found home. The people here really make it what it is and we both get up every day and we get to do something that we love to do together.

Having a chance to work with student athletes at this time in their life is a unique opportunity and to try and make a positive impact in their journey is really the reward.

That’s another reason for me to come back to the college game because (the athletes) are what make it different from the pro game. You are evaluating high school players, recruiting them and building a relationship with them before they even come to school, Then once they get to school you get to coach them and that could be as long as 5-6 years at times.

This is the first BSU baseball team since 1980; is that a lot of pressure for you?

I welcome that pressure, which I always have. There’s a strong winning tradition and culture at Boise State, not just in football but all the programs. I want to work at a place like that because no one is complacent and kicking their feet up thinking that the world will come to them. I feel obligated, by being offered this position, to put together a well respected program. Of course everyone’s goal is to win championships, but I want to create a program that people will be proud of, that is strong and developing not only professional baseball players, but professionals in every line of work that will go on and represent Boise State with class and professionalism.

Those expectations are big, and I have to just remember to breathe and take a step back because there’s so much that I want to do, but you can only lay one brick

at a time. With our first season being in 2020, we have some time, but the time is now. We’ve got to build a new facility, raise money and right now I’m solo. I’ll be able to bring a staff in around June or July. People are fired up in the community, every day I’m getting an email or a phone

“A lot of thoughts went through my head of all the years, the grind, all the sacrifices, all those days away from your family, and you kind of reflect. I was overwhelmed thrilled that I was the guy at the end that they offered the job to.”

Gary Von Tol, Boise State Mens’ Baseball Coach

call about it... The most important thing is that this isn’t about me, it’s about Boise State and being a Bronco. I want as many people as I can to have input. I welcome any help and comments from anybody that has something to share, like what color our turf should be on the field. I want to know what the students want; for example, I’m thinking of creating a student section along the visiting side. I want there to be a special place for students on campus. That’s part of the experience, and it’s going to be important for our players.

Listening to what people are saying is important to me because at the end of the day, I’m only going to be here for so long and we have an opportunity to really build

something special that will be here for a long time

thing with the club team, I don’t see that happening.

What is your coaching style?

It has changed over time. I look at things a lot differently now after my years of experience. It’s about the player. You need to instill rules and regulations and have expectations and goals, but at the end of the day, you want to empower the players. This is my 28th year in coaching, and I’m always searching for ways to do a better job and I know I still have a lot to learn. I plan to communicate my expectations, make sure everyone understands them and is in agreement and then help each individual player mold his path because everybody is different. I see the value of understanding that even though we play as a team, we all have to buy into helping and serving the guy next to you.

People who don’t know me ask what I do for a living and I tell them that I predict the future and seek the truth. In my line of work, I go watch a high school player and I have to predict who they’re going to be as an athlete 3 years down the road.

Do you have any plans to help cover the costs of the team?

We will do whatever we have to; it took a lot of time to think through with the powers to be at Boise State. I know and understand that there’s a lot of work to be done. We are getting word out to people about season tickets to get a headcount of how many people are seriously interested in purchasing them, and that will help us to determine how big to make the stadium.

There’s no question that there are potential donors out there. There’s a passionate baseball community in town and they’re fired up and will pay for a ticket. It’s not going to bury the university, the decision wouldn’t have been made if it wasn’t possible. The people here are serious and they are going to do it right and fund it.

The ultimate goal would be getting it to be self-sustaining.

Is this program going to be involved with the club team at all?

The club team will run as a club team and we will run independently. But, if there is somebody on the club team that is qualified to compete a D1 level, I will let them try out. And if there is somebody going to school here who has the skill-set to compete at this level, I would love to find out. This may change, but I would like to have a tryout for anyone who is interested in making the team for the guys that haven’t been discovered yet. Baseball is such a late developing sport that a lot of kids don’t even reach their full potential because nobody is offering an opportunity for them to continue to play. We would like to have that opportunity for guys on campus. As far as a partnership or some-

Anything else that Bronco Fans should know?

At the end of the day, we are looking for the right players. Those are the guys who really want to be here, that really feel what this place has to offer. We are going to play hard, with energy and give it our best effort. I think people are going to appreciate the time and money that they spent to come out whether we win or lose and know that our guys are playing the right way and respecting the game. We are going to represent the school and community and be another piece of the puzzle that adds to what this university has to offer.

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CO LU M N

LOVE IS (UP IN) THE AIR

Put love aside and go to the men’s basketball game on Valentine’s Day Daniel Gardner | Sports Editor | news@boisestate.edu

Love is in the air (don’t breathe it in, I wouldn’t trust teenage hormones), and tomorrow is the day that businesses I mean people in love-enjoy celebrating; Valentine’s Day. Tomorrow is the day that couples, families, friends and people waiting until Friday to break up with their partner will go out and celebrate true love.

I URGE you to stop what you’re doing.

It really isn’t worth it. Give up love this Valentine’s Day, at least traditional love.

You should be spending your Wednesday at Taco Bell Arena watching Boise State’s Men’s Basketball team take on Nevada in what will be the biggest regular season game of the year for the Mountain West.

Ball is life. Another part of life is avoiding the voices in the back of your head that tell you nobody will ever love you.

This game is likely to be sold out and the arena will be filled with nervous energy. It’s

the type of energy that will make it easy to forget about your creeping midterms or the underlying racism found within your Tinder swipes. Boise State’s team has won in dramatic fashion many times this season. We’ve already seen multiple overtime wins and buzzer beaters from what some would say is the best basketball team Boise State has had since Leon Rice took over as head coach. While I’m on the topic, a person who deserves your love is Rice. This dude has rode a horse through campus just to get people to come and watch his players. What has your loved one done for you recently that shows that much dedication?

Push the flowers and chocolates to the side. The only sweet thing you need in your life is Chandler Hutchinson’s (Boise State’s leading player) moves. If you were as smooth in real life as he is on the court,

NE DEADLI ED! EXTEND

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you may not have found yourself in this position to begin with, but it’s best to not think about these things. Instead, think about the fact that you’re watching an NBA talent in his final season before he leaves Boise for the big leagues. The NBA will be checking Hutchinson out as he is averaging 20 points per game and is currently predicted to be a first round draft pick with some sources expecting him to go within the first 15 picks.

This will be an exciting game between the two strongest teams in the Mountain West, both with over 20 wins each set to battle it out with conference standings on the line. If basketball isn’t your thing, however, there are other upsides to finding yourself at the game. Love may not be easy to find, but the taco vendor is. If tacos aren’t love, then I’m really not sure what

is. You could argue that burritos are more like love because the tortilla is hugging the ingredients. If you’re a soulless atheist who doesn’t like tacos, maybe actual love will respark your dying flame.

All jokes aside, love is a beautiful thing that makes life worth living. Without love I would probably be panhandling for gold somewhere. Regardless of what you plan to do this Valentine’s Day, ranging from hanging with your significant other to having some “me” time, you should know that you’re loved. There are people in your life that would do anything for you and think you’re an amazing person. Sometimes those people aren’t your lover, but they mean a whole damn lot. Let’s enjoy them this Valentine’s Day, too. In short, go to the dang game.

FUN & GAMES Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.78)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Fri Sep 29 20:00:36 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

It’s YOUR turn!

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CAMPUS LIFE really like for you?

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