The Arbiter Vol. 36 Issue 13 | 3.14.24

Health concerns arise after asbestos was found in the Liberal Arts Building during construction.

Although ‘hustle culture’ promotes proactive career development, it can lead to negative long-term effects,

Students have turned to donating plasma as a way to help them through their financial struggles.

Being a student-athlete comes with a lot of mental struggles that are not often discussed

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Local band Plum Vision shoots photos for their upcoming album cover. Photo by Taya Power-Thornton

ON THE COVER:

Boise is known for it's beautiful scenery and local organizations want to keep it that way. Members of the community have been investing into Boise's environmental future by pushing for policy changes, promoting education and creating more volunteer opportunities.

As a student-run organization, we produce accurate and hyper-local information through non-partisan and socially responsible media.

Asbestos discovered in the

Liberal

Arts Building during construction Student health concerns raised over potential asbestos exposures

Kaylie Hilliker | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Construction for new renovations in the Liberal Arts Building unearthed the toxic material asbestos while crews began testing the building before beginning renovation according to Evan Danforth, Executive Director of the Architectural & Engineering Services at Boise State University. Construction began in Oct. 2023 and

the final projects for the Liberal Arts Building are projected to be completed by Fall 2024.

Since finding out the presence of asbestos in the Liberal Arts Building, some students have raised concerns about having classes in the building. One student raised concerns about the possibility that other buildings on campus might have asbestos

that hasn’t been removed or dealt with. Allison Boston, kinesiology major and senior at Boise State, had Anatomy and Physiology 228 in the Liberal Arts Building in past semesters.

“What was the purpose of using that material to build the building in the first place?” Boston said. “It’s never not been poisonous … so was there a specific use? Was there some pro of using that material? It’s funny because that building is made out of brick, which is pretty fire resistant.”

Asbestos is a mineral fiber used in building construction materials that is toxic to the human body when breathed in or ingested, such as when the microscopic fibers are released into the air from the materials.

Asbestos can be found in attic and wall insulation, textured paint, heat-resistant fabrics, vinyl flooring and in other materials.

Asbestos mining began in the 1930s and continued through the 1980s according to Cynthia Curl, Associate Professor from Boise State of the School of Public and Population Health.

“There were observations that a lot of people who were active in the mining of asbestos had all kinds of lung disease happening far in exceedance of of other people … there’s a lot of buildings all across the country in the world that still have asbestos,” Curl said.

Prolonged exposure to asbestos leads to asbestosis, mesothelioma cancer and lung cancer.

“As long as asbestos is not available for people to breathe, it’s not a hazard … asbestos is a problem when it flakes off and gets into the air … it’s better to just leave asbestos where it is then even to do remediation on it, because the remediation can kind of kick it out and get it into the

air and that’s why people are in hazmat suits,” Curl said, referring to construction workers in the Liberal Arts Building who were in hazmat suits during the beginning of construction.

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act passed in 1986 requires public schools and institutions to examine their buildings for asbestos-exposing material and proactively remove or prevent exposure hazards.

The manufacturing and distribution of asbestos materials was banned from the U.S in 1989 under the Toxic Substances Control Act. It’s been 35 years since the law was passed.

“Asbestos was a common building material back in the day,” Danforth said. “Anytime we work on a building, we do an asbestos survey to make sure that to see if there’s any asbestos in the building, that’s the first step of construction is we’ll have an abatement team come and clean up.” Abatement teams dispose of hazardous chemicals and materials.

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act passed in 1986 requires public schools and institutions to examine their buildings for asbestos-exposing material and proactively remove or prevent exposure hazards. The manufacturing and distribution of asbestos materials was banned from the U.S in 1989 under the Toxic Substances Control Act..

Currently, the stage of removing toxins from the Liberal Arts building has passed, allowing for renovation to continue as usual The new renovations for the Liberal Arts Building will include a Makerspace, classrooms, offices and designing spaces for the College of Arts and Sciences, English department and Anthropology department, according to Danforth.

Photo of the Liberal Arts Building entrance. Photo by Taya Power-Thornton

Hundreds gather at Idaho State Capitol to honor Aaron Bushnell

‘Boise To Palestine’ organized a march and vigil to support a ceasefire in Gaza and honor Aaron Bushnell

Kiryn Willett | News Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

In front of the Idaho State Capital, a circle of people are dancing dabke, a traditional Palestinian dance, as music plays from the speakers. The dancers are surrounded by hundreds of people, carrying signs, wearing the blackand-white keffiyeh head scarves, and some clap along.

At 4 p.m. on March 10, the organization Boise To Palestine held a march for a cease fire and Gaza, and a vigil for Aaron Bushnell.

Aaron Bushnell was a service man in the United States Air Force who committed self-immolation outside the Isrealie embassy in Washington D.C. in an act of protest against violence in Gaza, which the International Court of Justice [ICJ] has ruled is plausibly genocide. Bushnell stated he could “no longer be complicit in genocide”

before setting himself on fire.

For the first Boise To Palestine organizer, who prefers to remain anonymous, the ruling did not go far enough.

“It’s unfortunate because the situation really does warrant a lot more intervention from the ICJ especially the fact that the ICJ has stepped in [for] other causes before and I don’t feel like they’re really doing what they should be doing for the Palestinian cause,” they said.

“Just telling Israel a little slap on the wrist and telling them hey, just do better is not really what I was expecting from the International Court of Justice, I was hoping [for] a lot more.”

While the IJC’s ruling is legally binding it lacks enforcement mechanisms. According to another Boise To Palestine organizer, the wording of the ruling that finds a plau-

sible genocide lacks the strong condemnation present in the Russia-Ukraine ruling.

“It is the way that things get phrased, right? With Israel it’s always lenient, they always should minimize, but with Ukraine, they literally ordered an order to cease the operations in Ukraine. And it was a direct statement towards Russia that they must commit, it’s the wordage … it’s the wordage that really matters,” the second organizer said. “And there’s been no clear order by the ICJ towards Israel to halt operations immediately and take all troops back, only to minimize so again, it always goes, it all goes back to imperialist interests in the region.”

Boise To Palestine organized the march and vigil, the organizers feel that the media coverage so far has undermined Bushnell’s “act of extreme protest”.

Protestors and organizers alike criticized headlines that reported on Aaron Bushnell’s death but did not mention the genocide in Palestine — the reason for his self immolation — in the headline. Others described painting Bushnell as mentally ill as a “smear campaign”.

“Self immolation is not a mentally unwell person’s choice for suicide. And I think that Aaron Bushnell made a decision that very few would be able to, in regards to saying I am willing to give my life in turn for trying to stop this genocide,” Morrighan Nyx, an organizer for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), said. “And you know, in Portland, many veterans gathered for a vigil for Bushnell and burned their fatigues, some with medals still attached in honor of Aaron Bushnell and chanting remember Aaron Bushnell. He is not alone. And that I think that’s a very powerful statement of the fact that this war doesn’t have support.”

Boise To Palestine organizers have been hosting events for five months now to speak out against the genocide in Gaza. Israel has bombed a hospital, destroyed a university and fired on Palestinians waiting

to receive aid. Currently, millions in Gaza are facing starvation, due to what the Boise To Palestne organizers believe is a calculated effort by Isreal to further genocide. Israel has called for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, (UNRWA) to be dismantled, after claiming that the members of UNRWA were implicated in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. UNRWA is the largest aid organization operating within Gaza to distribute food, water and medical shelter to Palestinians. The U.N. is currently investigating these claims.

“I can’t stand for this genocide at all. And I can’t understand how the US is paying for that, like my tax dollars are going into this. And I think it’s important to show up and it shows support for Palestine,” Dasani Rustici, a local accountant and member of the PSL said.

The organizers were critical of the U.S. and Biden’s continued support of Israel, while at the same time making a commitment to aid in Gaza. Both the protestors and the organizers described these actions as “hypocritical”.

“There’s a saying back home that we say, which goes like ‘he killed you and walked in your funeral’. So that tells you they’re killing us. They’re sending funds to Israel, but at the same time, they want to drop aid on Gaza to help the wounded and the families are still mourning the people who they helped fund to kill,” the second organizer said. “So it doesn’t make any sense. And it just shows the hypocrisy of the foreign policy.”

On the steps of the Capitol, the organizers had set up a black and white picture of Aaron Bushnell, and laid out flowers. One organizer sang the Grandmother Song, before having a moment of silence in honor of Bushnell.

As they sang, the protestors joined in, and hundreds of people sang “wake up child, wake up, wake up, listen listen”, asking for people to not let the current genocide to go unnoticed.

Photo of protesters supporting Palestine.

Photo by Niamh Brennan

Uncommon pushes back move-in date from August to February

Two students who signed leases share the difficulties they’ve faced

Kaylie Hilliker | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Uncommon apartments took over six months to house student residents who signed leases to move-in in August

Sadie Trowbridge is an integrated media and strategic communications major and a student employee for Boise State working at the Keiser housing front desk. Trowbridge has lived in four Airbnb’s and moved six times in the last six months. Trowbridge signed a lease with Uncommon to move in Aug. 18 of last year before the move-in date was moved to Sept. 30. then Oct. 24. The move-in date has been pushed back six times since the original movein date of Aug 18.

Trowbridge received an email at the end of January from CA management services, a real estate investment services company that owns and manages Uncommon. Uncommon is set for a move-in around mid-to-late February. Uncommon updated Trowbridge Feb. 5 that the company anticipates movein to still be delayed.

Trowbridge is one of hundreds of students displaced due to the construction delays and inspection set-backs. She has been moving in and out of her Airbnb units and living out of her suitcase since all of her belongings are in a storage unit.

There are two options given to students displaced from Uncommon: Stay in a hotel and continue to pay rent with a $60 per day payment in gift cards or checks from Uncommon, or to find other accommodations with abated and receive $150 a day in gift cards.

“They stopped giving us exact dates because they’re like ‘we’re getting people’s hopes up,’” Trowbridge said. “But it makes it a little hard when you’re booking an Airbnb — like the one I moved into on Sunday. I have it

till Feb. 29, the last day of the month, hoping that I’ll get in … maybe we’ll make it … I don’t know.”

In the email Trowbridge received, details explained how the building inspection for Uncommon is incomplete.

“They shouldn’t have been like letting people sign leases if they weren’t going to be ready,” Trowbridge said. “Like they’re gonna push us back by like six months, they’ve gotta have known some kind of delay was going to happen.”

Trowbridge’s stressful living situation makes it hard for her to live a normal student life.

Staying in Airbnbs means Trowbridge has to follow the rules of the property — like how many people she can have inside her unit, what quiet hours are and maintenance of the Airbnb.

“And I feel so isolated from like, friends. I don’t want to go out because I’m stressed about this,” Trowbridge said. “And I don’t want to go home because it’s not my home really.”

A junior and kinesiology major at Boise State, Bailey Jones, is living with family in Caldwell until she can move into her apartment at Uncommon. Jones last year lived in Lincoln Townhomes and originally was excited to move into Uncommon.

“We got an email I think two or three weeks before moving was supposed to happen…and it was going to be pushed back at least a month,” Jones said. “And since then, we’ve had one every month about a week or two before our move in date.”

Jones has seen other building projects and apartments around Boise and the Treasure Valley going up faster and being finished in “half the time” CA Venture’s Uncommon has.

CA Ventures is a global real estate investment company according to the

CA Ventures website, and are responsible for the management of Uncommon. The company in the past has inaccurately promised move-in dates for completed projects.

“I thought about trying to break the lease and look for other places because I just want to be closer to school and to work,” Jones said. “But … you might have to pay back the money that they’ve given us.”

Every two weeks, Jones receives a link to claim her money for the $150 dollar a day option she chose from community rewards Uncommon set up with its tenants. In the fine print, there is a section that states, “If you move out or terminate your lease early, you may be reliable for returning the full amount of this gift.”

Trowbridge explained during her interview how the gift cards she had wouldn’t work for her at specific stores so options were limited. Trowbridge would have low amounts of money left over, and she would have to keep track of multiple cards. Eventually, she started requesting checks.

The Arbiter reached out to Uncommon, but has not heard back with a statement.

Trowbridge received an email update from Uncommon on Feb. 9 stating that floors 2-4 will be ready for movein Feb. 17th, and floor 5 to be ready for move-in Feb. 24.

Cayden Stone, is a sophomore studying political science and the Government Relations Officer of ASBSU. Stone signed a lease with Uncommon last year in February and moved in the weekend of Feb. 17th from his hotel accommodations.

“Delays, yes, they’re inevitable, but… that’s something they could have known a long while back before a lot of us even signed leases,” Stone said. “I think going from the beginning, they could have just said they could have just been honest about it.”

Stone gave his advice to freshmen and students looking for housing.

“Definitely make sure you’re doing your due diligence… just know what you’re signing,” Stone said.

Photo of the entrance to Uncommon apartment complex. Photo by Niamh Brennan

Boise State addresses eating disorders, a campus-wide epidemic Researchers bring awareness to the prevalence of body image issues among students

Molly Jean Balison | Guest Author | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

ABoise State student ran into psychology Professor Mary Pritchard’s office on the sixth floor of the education building crying. “You have to help me,” the student said. She was a gymnast and cheerleader with a muscular build who told Pritchard she needed to lose 10 pounds in a matter of days to keep her position at the top of the pyramid on her cheer team.

Alarms sounded in Pritchard’s head; this wasn’t healthy, let alone achievable. This sparked Pritchard’s ambition to research body image and eating disorders in college students for the next 20 years.

According to the survey Pritchard conducted over the last two years among 11,000 psychology 101 students, 100% of students at Boise State are unhappy with how they look in some capacity. The prevalence of eating disorders and body image issues that plagues college campuses sharply increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Boise State takes steps to address this wide-spread concern.

Students in the survey identified pressure from family and friends, childhood teasing, athletics and the media as factors that impact their negative experiences with body image.

“You read the answers and you just want to cry because people are hurting,” Pritchard said. “They’re really, really hurting because they feel pressured to look like someone that they see on social media that’s Photoshopped and airbrushed and not real and filtered.”

According to Pritchard, students experience the pressures of reaching the societal ideal which is constantly evolving. So, once they catch up, trends have already changed.

Pritchard has 25 years worth of data that shows the direct correlation between the increase in screen time and the increase of eating disorders and body image concerns. According to her research, the average person’s screen time before the

pandemic was 2-4 hours a day, during COVID-19 it spiked to 12 hours a day and now, after the pandemic, it’s 8-10 hours a day.

A 2021 study from the National Library of Medicine found that diagnoses of all types of eating disorders skyrocketed between 2009 and 2021. The study states, “The prevalence of ED was stable between 2009 and 2018 and significantly increased from 31.8% in 2018 to 51.8% in 2021 for women, and from 13.0% in 2009 to 31.3% in 2021 for men”.

Before COVID-19, Pritchard found that 25% of students struggled with eating disorders, now, “Forty percent of our students make the cut off for an eating disorder … but when you ask if they’ve been diagnosed, it’s 5%. There’s a huge gap between people who are getting help and need it and people who are not getting help and need it,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard works with Laci Whipple, a graduate student and Bronco Fit’s first body image intern, to publish their own research on eating disorders.

Whipple is passionate about educating others about eating disorders which stemmed from her own experience with an eating disorder. As a licensed facilitator for “Be Body Positive”, a curriculum by mental health and wellness professionals through the organization The Body Positive, she’s working on initiating an eating disorder prevention program tailored to Boise State Students.

The National Healthcare Agency sent out a collegiate health assessment and Boise State was one of the universities surveyed.

“There’s a question that says ‘In the last 12 months have you had a problem or challenge with personal appearance?’... 57% of our students have said ‘yes’ to that question,” Whipple said.

To recognize National Eating Disorder Week, Whipple coordinated Body Acceptance Week at Boise State that took

place Feb. 26 to March 1. Each day of the week, students participated in events promoting self-acceptance including a discussion on the intersection of media, body image and eating disorders led by Nicole Hawkins, a licensed psychologist specializing in eating disorders from Center for Change.

Rec Center fitness coordinator, Kassidy Hays, invited Whipple to speak to her staff about ways to make a positive impact on body acceptance through fitness. Hays was prompted to take action and remove the requirement to measure an individual’s body mass index (BMI) for personal training programs.

“By shifting the emphasis away from appearance-related goals, we aim to create an inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to move in a way that feels good to them,” Hays said.

Pritchard gave a presentation on her research during the 2023 Body Acceptance Week to encourage faculty to implement eating disorder prevention into student services.

Counseling Services on campus now offer body image group counseling sessions and eating disorder self assessments and Health Services implemented cards students can select to indicate their preference to not be informed of their weight. One at a time, student services consider the pervasiveness of eating disorders and take action to address the underlying body image issues that plague students — even in classrooms.

Pritchard does an exercise with all her psychology students on the first day of class. She instructs them to wrap their thumb and index finger around their wrist and says, “If your fingers overlap you have a small bone build. If your fingers just touch you have a medium bone build, your fingers do not touch you have a large bone build. If you have a medium or large bone build, you are never going to have a small bone build … you cannot change a piece of bone structure. Stop starving yourself. Because you’re never going to achieve this.”

Photo of the lobby for University Health Services

Photo by Niamh Brennan

OPINION

Resource or rival: artificial intelligence and the future of creative fields

Although AI may seem threatening to people in creative fields, it can be an incredibly useful resource

Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“ You’ve heard AI is taking over, right?”

“You know that job isn’t going to exist in 10 years because of AI, don’t you?”

“Why don’t you pick a career that’s guaranteed to be a little more…longterm?”

In a world where artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent and more effective by the day, these are the questions I, and many of my peers, get frequently asked when we say that we want to go into writing or a similar creative field.

As AI rapidly advances and people find new uses for it every day, many people

have begun posing questions about its future in the creative fields and the challenges AI may present to people attempting to enter those fields after graduation.

Students who are interested in creative careers such as graphic design, technical writing, video editing, animation, copywriting etc. currently face a great deal of uncertainty. Will artificial intelligence erase their future career paths?

Erin Pierce, assistant graphic design professor at Boise State, outlined her perspective on the issue.

“I definitely take the approach that this is a tool that we can use,” Pierce said. “But how do we work with it? How do

we design with it? How do we design better products and services using artificial intelligence, machine learning and chatbots, or just be able to bring up information quicker for someone so they’re more efficient in the tasks that they want to perform?”

While AI certainly could replace human labor in certain aspects of creative work, people in creative majors and industries don’t necessarily need to view artificial intelligence as the enemy. In fact, AI can be an incredibly useful tool. Productivity tools such as ChatGPT, Google Bard and Sora, OpenAI’s video generator, all offer students and professionals in creative fields resources and inspiration that can significantly simplify their work process if utilized correctly.

AI can be used for a wide range of creative purposes; it’s a valuable resource for many creatives, such as those who might be looking for new ideas and inspiration for their work, those who might want a starting point for their writing or those who might need to quickly edit their visual content.

For those worried about the potential for AI taking over there future career, it is important to consider that there are limitations to what artificial intelligence really can accomplish. Pierce discussed that while AI can be a useful resource, it isn’t capable of the quality of work many people believe it to be.

“The more you use it, even at a smaller scale, you see it’s not totally accurate,” Pierce said. “It’s not a comprehensive tool in terms of producing the results you want. It requires critical thought on your part, some knowledge beyond what AI gives you to sort through, what is accurate or what you want to move forward

with because it’s a good idea. I think what we need to do across the board is just understand the scope of the tool in terms of what it can and can’t do.”

Art in any form — visual art, music, writing or any other creative work -– made by artificial intelligence lacks the personal connection and emotion that accompanies work done by a living, breathing person.

In an interview for a BGSU article, doctoral candidate Andrew Samo discussed this necessity.

“‘Art was thought to be uniquely human because it gives off a feeling or communicates some idea about the human experience that machines don’t have,’ Samo said. ‘In some ways, it’s to be expected people felt more strongly about human-made art.’”

The products of artificial intelligence also lack the originality that comes with work produced by humans, since AI is only able to pull content from what already exists and cannot generate anything new. This results in a glaring lack of the actual creative element in the “art” that artificial intelligence produces.

While the rise of artificial intelligence tools and uproar in the media might suggest impending doom for creative majors and careers, students who are hoping to enter such a field can resist this by reframing AI as a tool, rather than looking at it as the competition.

AI isn’t the end of creative fields, it’s the beginning of an entirely new set of tools for people who work creatively that allows them to work more efficiently than ever before. As AI continues to advance, so will opportunities for creative majors to work more efficiently and find inspiration for their art.

Graphic of a person using ChatGPT on a laptop. Graphic by Kelsey Mason

‘Get in the grindset’: toxicity within hustle culture

The hustle culture mindset has made its way into academia and led to burnout in students

Ella Van Leuven | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

As “hustle culture” has been popularized, giving everything 110% has become the new giving everything 100%. If you aren’t waking up before 5 a.m. every morning to go on a four-mile run and then take a freezing shower, all before you go to class and then head to work for the rest of the afternoon, are you really prioritizing your future? Are you striving towards your best self?

Hustle culture is a concept that encourages people, particularly those in the workplace, to put in as much time and effort as possible to achieve maximum productivity. An article from Talkspace defines hustle culture as “A common, modern workplace environment that emphasizes hard work and long hours as the key to success … encouraging their employees to put in extra effort and work hours for better results.”

Constantly striving towards betterment is an intrinsic part of hustle culture. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this mentality, this culture of constantly going becomes problematic when people aren’t allowing themselves the time to rest that is also necessary for long-term sustainability and well-being.

Many aspects of hustle culture seem very beneficial to people who want to be the best versions of themselves, whether that’s regarding their finances, career, health or many other aspects of their lives. A culture that encourages people to work their hardest seems like it would lead to people who are as motivated and productive as possible … right?

In reality, hustle culture has had many negative effects on the people who practice it. A constant need to be working, to be productive and to overall be better quickly leads to burnout when people don’t practice self-care and prioritize their rest as well as their goals.

A 2022 survey from Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence reported not only that

“Over 40% of employees feel exhausted, stressed, and overwhelmed”, but also that “70% of C-level executives are seriously considering quitting their jobs for one that better supports their well-being.”

The average person is incredibly burnt out, and this isn’t limited to adults fulltime in the workforce. Many college students have adopted hustle culture principles, which often result in their own type of burnout for people in academia.

In the previously mentioned Talkspace article, therapist Dr. Olga Molina, D.S.W., LCSW, provided her own definition of hustle culture, describing it as “Working excessively without regard for one’s self-care needs and relationships in order to reach professional success.”

When constant betterment and exceedingly high achievement are the

goals, it can be difficult to simultaneously prioritize rest and self-care, both of which are necessary for long-term, sustainable productivity. Many students end up burnt out early in the semester, exhausted and unable to do their best work, because they prioritize achievement over wellness.

Students who are facing the detrimental effects of hustle culture aren’t alone, and they don’t have to accept the rest of the semester as a lost cause. If you want to maximize your productivity while maintaining your sanity, making time for yourself to truly rest and recover from the hustle is essential.

In an interview with Forbes, author Ryan Crownholm of “The Hustle Trap: A How-To Guide for Doing Less and Making More with Your Business”, offered his input on how to combat the toxicity

within hustle culture.

“Understand that your time is invaluable and should be optimized,” Crownholm said. “Embrace technology and tools that can streamline operations. Prioritize tasks and focus on high-impact activities. And most importantly, schedule regular breaks and downtime. Remember, it’s not about working harder; it’s about working smarter.”

While hustle culture has pushed society to value constant productivity above anything else, efficient work isn’t best supported by ceaseless busyness. By promoting a mentality that prioritizes well-being and sustainable work practices, true productivity can be redefined and better achieved.

Illustration of a woman cycling through sleeping, working, exercising, and eating. Illustration by Sydney Smith

Local environmental organizations are dedicated to preserving Boise’s incredible wildlife Environmentalism in Boise has evolved to create a welcoming environment that promotes education and activism

Olivia Brandon | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Illustrations by Sydney Smith

If you love something, you want to preserve it; that’s exactly what environmental organizations in Boise strive to do with Boise’s wilderness. From the beautiful sprawling mountain ranges to the roaring rivers and accessible hiking trails, there is a lot to love about nature in Idaho.

A collaborative and welcoming activism community

Lisa Young, the director of the Idaho chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the nation’s oldest and most prominent grassroots organizations, shared that she has witnessed a shift regarding non-profit and progressive organizations increasing their efforts to prioritize inclusion and equality, something

The Sierra Club is very intentional about.

The Sierra Club works to make some of the inaccessible jargon on websites for organizations like the PUC understandable to the general public and encourages community members to use their voices at public hearings.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) publishes crucial information regarding changes in energy sources, from new price points for energy bills to the creation of new power plants.

“We've gotten more folks involved at the PUC,” Young said. “Our goal over the years has been to get more people

to be aware of and feel empowered to participate in these public comment opportunities, whether it's written comments, attending public hearings and testifying and reducing those barriers to entry.”

Young believes that at its core, activism work is about community. The Sierra Club works to unite people through a love for the planet and the future of Boise’s environment.

“In order for us to grow our movement, and to do so in a way that actually advances our real values, equity, inclusion and justice need to be at the center,” Young said.

As the Sierra Club is part of a national organization, Young feels a sense of community knowing that she is a part of a bigger movement.

“Being able to link arms across the entire nation with sixty-four chapters is really impactful and makes us feel like we can do this,” Young said. “We've seen throughout history, this type of grassroots organizing and movement building. We can create change, it does create change, and it's how change is made.”

The Sierra Club hosts a variety of events from outdoor movie nights to picnics and greenbelt bike rides. Young acknowledged that while on the surface these events don’t seem to be

doing anything for the environment, they actually provide fundraising opportunities and establish a sense of community.

As far as the future of environmental activism in Boise is concerned, Young is excited about the different partnerships and opportunities for inclusion that are being established. Young has watched budding relationships occur between social justice groups, and environmental groups like The Sierra Club.

“Being able to work together towards those goals, and open up what has been a very traditionally majority white majority, upper middle class, movement of environmental conservationists to a much broader range of people,” Young said. “We are all impacted by these environmental issues and particularly low-income folks of color more than anyone else.”

Young highlighted the Outdoors Idaho Program, which provides the LGBTQIA+ community with outings that strive to provide safe and inclusive spaces.

“In many cases, it is not a safe and comfortable space for folks to be openly out and queer in Idaho's backcountry … so having that space where they can build connections with other queer folks, enjoy the outdoors together,

and [are] able to show what it means and what it looks like to create more inclusive outdoor spaces in Idaho,” Young said.

Bas Hargrove, Senior Policy Advisor with The Nature Conservancy’s Idaho chapter, highlighted the organization’s environmental work, as well as what he hopes his work will accomplish. The Nature Conservancy’s mission for the last 50 has been to protect Idaho land and water sources and prioritize regenerative agriculture and climate action through its programs.

Hargrove reflected on how Boise and its environmental organizations have changed and evolved over the 24 years he has spent at The Nature Conservancy.

“Boise has changed a lot since I was a kid growing up here, but even before my time, I think we had a culture of collaboration and environmental conservation problem-solving,” Hargrove said. “You can look all the way back to the formation of the Greenbelt in the 1960’s in Boise to the first foothills levee in 2000-2001 … I think there are just some great examples over time, that have brought people together and made our community the kind of the place it is today.”

Environmental preservation legislation and education efforts

Although one of The Nature Conservancy’s areas of focus is legislation and policy, the organization actively works with those involved in agriculture to ensure that their policy work is well informed by various perspectives.

Working with people who are directly affected by the changes in legislation gives Hargrove and The Nature Conservancy the ability to do policy work with intention and credibility.

Hargrove feels that one of the biggest environmental changes he’s seen has been the funding for the climate policy due to the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding and legislation will increase efforts geared toward climate change solutions nationally.

“In terms of conservation and climate change in particular, addressing wildfire impacts and addressing water supply issues are like the [big] two,” Hargrove said. “Those are the key areas of climate impact where I see there's more work to be done,”

The Nature Conservancy’s impact, events and job opportunities can be viewed on their website, but one event Hargove highlighted in particular was the conservancy’s partnership with Boise State in their public lecture series “Ideas of Nature.” Hargrove feels that inspiring college audiences to get involved in environmental activism is vital to ensuring there are continuously passionate people in these positions.

“I think there's so much energy in youth and working on an issue like climate change,” Hargrove said. “Younger people are just much more attuned. Look at polling, young people are much more passionate about it and so that gives me hope and energy.”

Boise State’s Student Involvement and Leadership Center provides students with a myriad of different environmental volunteer opportunities. Leo Mironovich, the service and volunteer programs coordinator for the center, is passionate about ensuring students have the opportunity to better Boise’s environment.

Mironovich has found that the volunteer events centered around environmental work result in more participation and generate the most positive responses from students who

participate. He also discussed a past partnership with Golden Eagle Audubon Society that allowed students to participate in restoring places along the Boise River.

“A lot of great environmental initiatives are already underway, and well executed throughout the city, and so it's cool when we can kind of bridge their needs with our interests,” Mironovich said.

Student Involvement and Leadership hosts many exciting events, from alternative breaks that occur during fall and spring break, with their upcoming break consisting of a camping trip to Hells Canyon to various partnerships with other organizations like the Idaho Trails Association.

As far as the future of environmentalism goes, Mironovich feels like it’s in capable hands, and is inspired by the students he works with and their passion for environmentalism. But that isn’t to say that there isn’t more work to be done.

“The people that I have been fortunate enough to interact with are so passionate and dedicated to environmentalism,” Mironovich said. “That doesn't mean the rest of us get a free pass, we still have a role to play.”

Leigh Ford, the executive director for Snake River Alliance (SRA) discussed that the inspiration behind the establishment of the organization in 1979 was in response to the Three Mile Island disaster, which was a malfunction at a nuclear power plant. Around this time it was uncovered that radioactive waste was being injected into the aquifer as well, prompting the establishment of Snake River Alliance.

The Snake River Alliance just had a major breakthrough with nuclear waste prevention. NuScale Power had revised its plan to create six nuclear reactors in Idaho rather than the originally planned twelve, and eventually decided to forgo the whole project entirely due to high expenses.

The Golden Eagle Audubon Society is a national organization with a local Idaho chapter that prioritizes the conservation of bird populations in Boise. Sean Finn, volunteer and manager for the Boise River ReWild Project, discussed the chapter’s program to “re -

wild” Boise rivers and restore habitats.

Finn emphasized the importance of putting effort into preserving outdoor spaces that see a high level of human recreation and noted the historical significance of the Boise River to Boise’s history. The Boise River has faced significant strain due to recreational overuse.

“It's a strange irony that everyone in the community loves the Boise River and very few people stop to think about what it takes to care for a place like the Boise River,” Finn said. “Since the very first days of human western encroachment into the Treasure Valley … people have been using the river. It's not some environmental catastrophe like a volcano or oil spill, it’s repairable.”

While the national level of the Golden Eagle Audubon Society is dedicated

to legislation regarding animal protection, Boise’s local chapter also prioritizes a hands-on approach to ecosystem restoration and education.

Providing students with opportunities in early education to get involved with environmental activism is vital to ensuring that future generations are inspired to take care of the planet. Finn noted that it is often difficult to garner the attention of the American public to focus on environmental issues.

From getting involved in local legislation to volunteering at one of the amazing organizations in Boise, the best way to begin giving back to the planet is to simply take action. Real conservation and preservation can only be sustainable if we all work together to prompt change and remain dedicated to the work.

CULTURE

MARCH 14, 2024 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

Step out of your comfort zone: Take part in Boise’s comedy scene

Whether you’re a wannabe standup comedian or in need of a laugh, Boise’s comedy scene has you covered Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

As Boise’s cultural landscape continues to evolve, as does the comedic heartbeat. Boise’s comedy scene is booming with a diverse and growing collection of comedians to share laughs with all who choose to watch.

Local venues such as Mad Swede, Suds Tavern and Watsons Cafe harbor a vibrant nightlife of local comedians, gathering to share sets, build community and take part in this burgeoning culture of comedy.

Jack Wheeler, a junior at Boise State studying psychology, started doing stand-up as a means to get involved in a brand new city his freshman year. Since then he has excelled in comedy and even had the opportunity to open for Bert Kreischer here in Boise after running into him at breakfast.

“I went up and introduced myself and I was kind of being a fangirl,” said Wheeler. “And then my mom told him that I do comedy and stuff and he let me do like five minutes on his show. So that was really fun”

Wheeler explains that performing serves not only the viewers who get to laugh and have fun, but provides a sense of contentment within himself.

“It’s super fun to perform and get a thrill out of it,” said Wheeler. “I think I just like making people happy.”

While not many Boise dwellers are aware of the lively comedy scene that takes place so close to us, local comedian Josh Priceexplained that Boise is a wonderful place for those wanting to try their hand behind the mic.

“I would say about Boise, it’s a great town to start doing comedy, because you have a lot of opportunities to do it,” said

Price. “You could do it as much as you’re willing to. So it’s a really great town right now for new comics or people who want to try it out.”

Mad Swede Brew Hall offers open mic nights nearly every Saturday, and those who want to experiment with standup are urged to test it out. Prepare 3-5 minutes of a set (or wing it) and try something new.

Local comedian Ian Yearlsey shares the sense of community that the Boise comedy scene offers.

“I like a lot of the people that do it (comedy),” said Yearsley. “It kind of makes me feel like I’ve done something good when I do it … I love that.”

Natasha Dash explained the personal benefits she experiences when she does her comedy. She suggests that sharing laughable moments with complete strangers offers a special kind of bond with those listening.

“A lot of people feel alone in specific times and areas of their lives. And so to know that other people have similar headspace as you,” said Dash. “There’s nothing like making a room full of strangers laugh at that.”

Dash also explains the urge for more female comics to take part in Boise’s comedy scene.

“There’s unfortunately still that stereotype that women need to be delicate and sweet and innocent,” said Dash. “And there’s nothing more uncomfortable for people than an abrasive woman.”

“@standupsixfeetunder” on Instagram consistently posts shows in which people are urged to attend.

“I feel like it’s pretty lively. I just feel like not a lot of people know about it,” said Dash,“The only thing that would

make me feel like it’s underground, but we have constant shows…there’s constantly at least every single weekend, a comedy show somewhere.”

The Boise comedy scene is thriving, providing wannabe stand-ups with the

chance to start or simply offering an opportunity for those seeking laughter. Join in on another side of Boise and relish the local comedians who perform nearly every day of the week

Photo of comedian Josh Price during a stand-up performance.

Photo by Taya Power-Thornton

Rising costs prompt students to seek unconventional methods of earning money

Under the stress of both school and finances, Some students have resorted to donating their own plasma

Kate Noden | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

It can be difficult to deal with the financial obstacles of independent living, whether or not you are paying for your tuition. Life can be difficult when you have to balance the demands of being a full-time student while working to make ends meet, especially while living on your own for the first time.

Students at Boise State are collapsing under the demanding financial burden of increasing college fees and the exhausting challenge of balancing work and school, resulting in an unconventional solution to make ends meet — donating their own plasma.

Donating plasma has become a rising trend amongst Boise State students, which is the process where blood is drawn from a donor, then sent through a machine that separates blood from cells, collecting the plasma. The donor’s red blood cells are then returned to the donor, and in exchange the donor receives payment, with new donors earning up to $800, according to BioLife Plasma’s website.

As the population in Idaho increases, so does the cost of living which has resulted in the poverty level hitting 10.7% across the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Boise State will raise tuition by 7.4% starting in Fall 2024, with increases to tuition starting at an additional $836. According to Boise State’s report on “Changes to Student Fees for FY 2024,” student fees will also be raised by 5%, which may seem like a small increase to some but can be detrimental to other students that are already struggling financially.

This is just the start for changes with Boise State’s new modernized budget that will be initialized in the Fall 2024 semester, and then fully implemented by Fall 2025, according to the Boise State’s Office of Budget and Planning website.

A majority of students are forced to find employment, which has an effect on their academics and mental health.

A lot of students are unable to maintain full-time jobs, so they turn to career services on campus in hopes of finding a livable wage while in school. Yet, those who try to find a job on campus are heavily restricted in the amount they can make.

Even students who try to work start at a low minimum wage of $7.25, which hasn’t been raised in 15 years.

According to the Boise State Policy manual, student employees are restricted in the number of hours they work during the school year. Full-time students are restricted to working only 30 hours a week, estimating to a total of only $217 a week before taxes.

Makenna Green is a current senior studying health science and works at the Starbucks on campus.

“I definitely do not make enough to survive solely off of my campus job and would need to be full-time to come close to being fully financially independent,” said Green.

Other students like Mikaela Funiciello, a sophmore studying marketing and business management, work two jobs on campus. Funiciello currently works at both the Student Recreation Center and at housing services to maintain income that she said is spent predominantly on groceries alone.

That is why students have resorted to donating their own plasma in exchange for a few hundred bucks to keep them afloat.

Kaidence Smith, a current sophomore studying civil engineering, is one student who has resorted to donating their own plasma in efforts to make ends meet.

“I am the sole provider for myself in which I pay all my bills and tuition. Because of this I have to work as much as possible which is difficult due to the

amount of time my degree (civil engineering) takes. Donating plasma is not an easy or short process. I would not recommend donating plasma to others but you gotta do what you have to do sometimes,” said Smith

Often plasma service locations will promote deals that offer more money in exchange for more frequent visits, resulting in students going bi-weekly to donate. Donating plasma may seem safe and effective, but there are concerns when it comes to frequent donation.

In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, those who frequently donate plasma have significantly lower protein, albumin and blood marker levels.

Senior Ava Whitehouse donates plasma often in order to pay rent, tuition and try to have spending money. Whitehouse opened up about the frustrations that come with struggling financially while trying to get a degree.

“My weeks are spent going to clinicals, class, work and more that leaves me feeling exhausted and worn out,” said Whitehouse. “When the weekend comes, I don’t really have enough money to go

out and let off some steam. Everything I make goes directly back into my tuition and rent.”

Whitehouse is in the nursing program and understands the benefits of helping others through donating plasma, but also feels like students shouldn’t have to do it to survive through college.

“That is why I turned to donating plasma, to give me some extra spending money to have fun on the weekends,” Whitehouse continued. “As a nursing student, I realize what I am doing so frequently may be unhealthy but sometimes there are a limited number of options when it comes to trying to be financially independent.”

Although it may appear radical for students to give their own blood to survive financially through four years of college, at the state of our current minimum wage matched with the rising costs of education and living, it makes sense that students have resorted to giving their own plasma for some pocket money.

Photo of the entrance to Biomat USA Plasma Center off of Overland Road.

Photo by Niamh Brennan

CULTURE

Boise State offers peer mediation for those who need help navigating conflicts

Conflict Support Services createS a safe environment for those experiencing conflicts between peers

Emily Gordon | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Conflict happens. Whether it’s your roommate leaving dishes in the sink or unwanted guests in your space, conflict is entirely inevitable within our daily lives and creates a stressful living environment.

The feeling of stress is an overproduction of a hormone called “cortisol”, which causes that feeling of panic or restlessness. While stress is normal and sometimes cannot be prevented, it greatly impacts the body and overall well-being of those experiencing it.

The American Psychological Association explains that stress can impact the ability to sleep, to regulate food intake and can even cause stomach pains. Conflict between a friend or a roommate can invade the personal space of those affected, creating stress within the home.

Boise State Conflict Support Services offers a mediator for those experiencing conflict. The new service on campus is a group of “peer mediators” trained to stand as a non-partisan party for those needing a little extra help.

Peer mediators range from undergraduate students to graduate students all studying at Boise State full-time. Their purpose is to serve as a third-party mediator to help students navigate conflict within their own lives.

“We want to help build conflict skills, conflict is going to happen. And everything is kept private,”

- Corinne Smearden

“It started because there was a need for it in residential housing,” said Corinne Smearden, a junior psychology student at Boise State and peer mediator. “We

have now expanded beyond on-campus students.”

Any and all Boise State students can now reach out for help regarding a personal conflict. Either through the multitude of fliers around campus or through their email, conflictsupport@boisestate. edu, where students can send a conflict report and be met with help by peers.

Sometimes it’s hard to find your own words and stand up for what you need. Conflict support services offer completely free advice on how to navigate these tricky situations and advice on how to prevent them in the future.

“We want to help build conflict skills, conflict is going to happen,” Smearden said. “And everything is kept private.”

After submitting a conflict report, stu-

dents can expect to meet with a response from peer mediators. Then, they can work with their mediator to discover solutions. “We do a combination of proactive work and reactive work with students,” Smearden said. “And it’s up to the student to tell us where they want to meet.”

It is important to note that all peer mediators are also mandated reporters, meaning if they hear of policy violations such as underage drinking or drug-use, they are required to report it.

Kenna Boyer, peer mediator and graduate student at Boise State says, “We are trained to stay neutral and impartial but we are mandated reporters.”

This means if you have a fear regarding someone else’s well-being or safety, Conflict Support Services are obligated

to notify those trained to help in those circumstances. Conflict Support Services are aimed towards domestic conflicts such as needing to declare boundaries with a roommate or declaring a roommate agreement.

For those who find it difficult to speak out in cases of conflict or those simply needing advice on navigating the troubles of roommates, peer mediators are willing to help and offer as much help as possible.

Reach out via email or through the dozens of QR codes around campus next time you find yourself needing help with a conflict. Advocating for yourself in times of trouble is an important function of being content and happy.

Graphic of men sitting around a table.

Graphic by Sasha White

The Idaho Watercolor Society showcases art from a variety of artists state-wide Artists challenge norms surrounding watercolor, presenting innovative pieces that will be sure to impress

Samantha Holguin | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The 40th annual Idaho Watercolor Society’s Rotunda Show is a must- see exhibit this spring. Since 1979, the Idaho Watercolor Society has created a community for artists to come together and celebrate one another.

For 40 years now, the Idaho Watercolor Society has been hosting an annual show that provides a friendly environment and showcases over 70 artists’ beautiful works of art. The exhibit, open through March 15, is located in the rotunda on the fourth floor of Boise’s beautiful capitol building. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Beth Trott, Idaho Watercolor Society’s

volunteer coordinator, has been a part of the organization since 2019 and started becoming heavily involved in the volunteer process for the show in 2022.

“This show for me has always been the public interacting with the artwork,” said Trott. The Rotunda show is meant for all skill levels. From the serious artist to the hobbyist who wants to let loose and get lost in their work, the overall goal of the Rotunda show is to invite and encourage all skill levels to enter their artwork and feel proud of the art they have created.

Scott Muscolo, chairperson for the juried expedition says, “Many people have untapped artistic ability, and we encour-

age people to explore their innate need to communicate artistically… we are only scratching the surface of community engagement, and are taking steps to increase our visibility and demonstrate our value to young and old in our environment”.

Jane Shimon, Boise State professor in the Kinesiology Department has been part of the Idaho Watercolor Society for over a decade.

“IWS is an organization that supports new and veteran watercolor artists and exposes the community to this fun medium through various workshops, exhibitions and shows,” said Shimon.

The Rotunda Show has frequent return-

ers and is also a great way to meet new members of the Idaho Watercolor Society. The paintings are entered based on a first come first serve basis. There are typically 70 to 75 paintings entered depending on the canvas size, with no specific theme or requirement.

When thinking about the characteristics of watercolor, the Rotunda show has been able to push the limits of what is perceived as “watercolor” norms in society. Many spectators might expect muted landscapes, however, this show has made a goal to create as few constraints as possible for artists when entering their artwork.

“We try to actually give people entering the show as few restrictions as possible … for me I want someone to walk into this show, a guest, a visitor, to look at it and go, ‘that’s watercolor?’ Like that for me would be the best reaction I could hear,” said Trott.

Mary Gardiner, Idaho Watercolor Society member since 2017 said, “There is something for everyone in this exhibit and the good news is, not everyone likes the same art - we are all critics and one person’s masterpiece is another person’s redo. All mediums have their benefits and difficulties’’.

Overall, the Idaho Watercolor Society has been able to bring Idaho artists and art lovers together with different skill levels, experience and inspirations. The nonprofit organization has promoted artist’s visions and continues to create an environment where everyone has an opportunity to share their skills. Moreover, the Idaho Watercolor Society’s 40th annual Rotunda Show has been able to present creativity and positivity at the historic, capitol building in Boise.

Visitors can access the watercolor exhibit from March 2 until March 15, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The exhibit is located on the fourth floor of the capitol building.

Photo of watercolor paintings displayed at the exhibit.

Photo by Niamh Brennan

SPORTS & REC

What to expect from the return of Dirk Koetter to Boise State Football

A Familiar face joins the Bronco offense; here’s How Dirk Koetter got back to the Blue

Alec Simeone | Sports & Rec. Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Now more than ever, Boise State is in need of an offensive mind. Who else is better than ‘new’ offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to save the day.

Head coach Spencer Danielson’s decision seems to be a wise one, as he comes from a defensive background and will have his hands full running a football program for the first time in his career.

Koetter is in familiar territory here at Boise State, as he’s served as the head coach, offensive analyst and offensive coordinator in the past. He looks to be not only as a great source of experience for the offense, but for Danielson and the whole football program as well.

“In adding Dirk Koetter for this season, we are able to get everything I was searching for in an offensive coordinator,” Danielson said. “He is a proven play caller, a great developer of quarterbacks and someone that can not only lead a dynamic offense but also will invest in the lives of our student-athletes, both on and off the field. It will also allow our offense to hit the ground running with spring practice less than two weeks away.”

During Koetter’s time as head coach from 1998-2000, he notched a 26-10 record before departing for Arizona State University. There, Koetter wasn’t just head coach, he also called plays and consistently kept the Sun Devils in the top 20 offenses each year he was there.

After his college coaching career ended, he headed for the NFL and it would be two decades before Koetter returned to the Blue.

He was offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and head coach for the Tampa Bay Bucca -

neers, before retiring from the league. In that time he became known for his pass first offense which ended up being a controversial strategy at the pro level, to say the least.

Koetter retired at the end of the 2020 NFL season, but it wouldn’t be long before he was lured back to the Blue. After two ‘short’’ COVID years away from football, the 63 year old was called back to Boise State in 2022 as an offensive analyst.

That gig didn’t last long however. After four weeks, the struggling Broncos fired offensive coordinator Tim Plough, freeing up a spot for Koetter to take over calling plays for the remainder of the season.

Looking back at the 2022 season, Koetter’s offensive scheme was definitely an improvement to the previous system.

Before Koetter took over the offense in 2022, the Broncos were averaging 22 points per game through four weeks. Upon his return to play calling, they bumped up to 32.5 points per game.

Despite Koetter’s resume reflecting a pass-heavy philosophy, when he ran Boise State’s offense that season, he ran the ball significantly more often than throwing it. In fact, the Broncos averaged 41.9 rushes and 26.3 passes per game (15.9 completions per game) which is great news if you’re an Ashton Jeanty fan. WIth that said, that’s 503 carries over a 12 game season, now with former running back George Holani entering the NFL draft, there isn’t much backfield help to split the carries with him this year.

For the Broncos, it’s seemingly becoming more and more important that Koetter develops redshirt freshman Mal -

achi Nelson, and not in the way that the previous two Boise State quarterbacks were developed.

Nelson likely won’t be a day one hero, most freshman quarterbacks aren’t, but the ground and pound offense that’s been present on the blue turf the last three years is extremely grueling for running backs.

With all of that in mind, Koetter is still a pass first coach, and this year the Broncos will have a new quarterback-coordinator combo that will get to develop for a whole offseason … I feel like we’ve been here before.

In all seriousness, at 65, Koetter is coming with experience, and experience is something that the program can benefit from this offseason.

“Coach Koetter runs an offense that I and our entire staff believes in,” Danielson said further of Koetter returning to The Blue. “His addition is not just a

one-year short term fix, he will be able to coach, teach and guide everyone in our facility in a way that will set our program up for future sustained success.” If sustained success, then Koetter’s arrival is certainly a good start. What is a little suspicious, however, is the one year deal.

There’s many ways to look at it: Koetter could be here to spread experience and knowledge for a year and then officially retire for good once the contract is up. Maybe Boise State doesn’t want to commit long term to a coordinator that is probably asking for a lot of money

The worst conspiracy theory could be that if the offense doesn’t perform well, and Koetter doesn’t seem up to snuff, maybe they don’t want to have Spencer Danielson (35) fire Dirk Koetter (65) and tarnish another former Bronco legacy, as they did with Andy Avalos.

Photo of Dirk Koetter, returning Offensive Coordinator for BSU Football.

Photo courtesy of Boise State Athletics

Looking Back: Top 3 Boise State Men’s basketball games of 2023-24 season

Here are some of the key games that helped shape the team’s season heading into the conference tourney

As the season comes to an end and the Mountain West Tournament looms on the horizon, the Boise State men’s basketball team has quickly become one of the main focuses of Boise State athletics.

With a whopping 169,017 fan attendance over the course of the 2023-24 season, the team set the single season record for fan attendance. The incredible turnout that the ExtraMile saw over the course of the season were given incredible basketball moments and show stopping performances.

This season, the Broncos not only faced some of the hardest competition the Mountain West Conference (MWC) has seen in years, but also was host to a slew of ranked opponents and garnered some impressive matchups.

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

The win against Colorado State University was one of the most exhilarating games at ExtraMile of the season.

Coming into the matchup, the Rams were ranked No.17 and had one of the more impressive starts of the season in the MWC. With a dynamic and fierce roster, the Rams were early favorites for being crowned MWC champions.

With a well rounded offense, the Rams were going to be a lethal team and a crucial must-win for the Broncos to not only secure a Quad-1 win, but also climb the MWC standings early in the season.

In the matchup, the Broncos defense was firing on all cylinders.

The game was one of the most cohesive and well executed defensive games the Broncos had all season, which would

deem incredi bly necessary to secure a huge win.

In the early season matchup, Bronco Nation got an early glimpse into what would soon become a crowd favorite in O’Mar Stanley and Andrew Meadow.

The transfer from St. John’s dazzled the crowd against the Rams and imprinted his name as one of the leaders on the Bronco squad. Not only did Stanley lead the Broncos in points (17), as well as rebounds (11), Stanley notched his third double-double of the season.

This wasn’t just a breakout game for Stanley, but also for Meadow who knocked down three shots from behind the arc.

Though the pair of new Broncos had the opportunity to put on in front of a packed arena, the best part of this matchup was the post-win court storm. A tradition unlike any other.

After the game was secured 65-58 and 0.0 was on the game clock, fans flooded the court and celebrated with their beloved team.

Since the win against No. 18 ranked San Diego State University during the 2022-23 season, ExtraMile hasn’t seen a court storm nor a ranked opponent win. With the electric energy in the arena, there was no doubt that this win would result in a court storm.

SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

There is no denying that San Diego State University (SDSU) and Boise State have bad blood especially when it comes to basketball.

With Boise State’s win over No. 18 ranked San Diego State University in the 2022-23 season, making the Broncos the last team to beat the Aztecs until their loss in the Final 4, the Aztecs and Broncos share a clear resentment for one another.

In what could be dubbed as unanimously the most anticipated home match of the season, the Broncos and the

Aztecs did not disappoint and gave the fans exactly what they came to see — a rematch.

Another “must win” situation for the Broncos came down to the last seconds and cemented another Quad-1 win into the category.

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY

Despite falling to Utah State University 92-84, the Broncos put on an absolute show for Bronco nation.

The matchup had all the makings of a phenomenal matchup. With fiery competition, bickering fans and down to the wire plays, there was no denying this game would go down as one of the best of the season

It was a game that went all the way down to the last seconds and carried on into overtime. With a missed clutch free throw by Stanley the Broncos were forced into an overtime duel against the Aggies.

The Broncos by no means had a perfect game. They struggled on defense and allowed Utah State to shoot 48.3% field goal percentage on the night yet were still able to hold the Aggies to retain the lead going into the final minute of the matchup.

As Bronco fans were crowding the baseline of the court ready to storm, their hopes were absolutely crushed. Utah State’s Ian Martinez took full advantage of Stanley’s missed free throw, took it down the floor, banked a layup to tie the game 76-76 and forced an overtime thriller and ExtraMile.

In overtime, the Broncos were sorely outperformed and shot just 2-10 and completely disregarded playing with haste and urgency as the time dwindled from the clock. Though the matchup ended in a Bronco loss, there is no denying that this game had every ingredient needed to create the perfect basketball game.

Photo of BSU Basketball player #1, O’Mar Stanley.

Photo by Taya Power-Thornton

BroncoBOLD: Spreading awareness on student-athlete mental health

Boise State makes strides to raise awareness and advocacy for Boise State student-athlete’s mental health

Natalie Whitfield | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State student-athletes are placed in the spotlight the moment they step on campus. From NIL brand deals, fan applause or facing backlash for their errors; athletes experience all aspects of publicity.

For many, they have been dedicated to their sport all their lives and finally get to play at the collegiate level. Persistent practice is required and the constant pressure to maintain a high public status is often integral.

Since being a student-athlete is seemingly glamorous, mental health can be neglected.

Whether in uniform or not, an athlete’s presence on campus is prominent. Being a student-athlete creates a sense of community and identity and athletes are often admired and looked at as role models.

The recognition of playing at the university level can boost self-esteem and garner much respect from peers. However, with such a glamorous demeanor, student-athletes may feel hesitant to speak out about potential vulnerabilities.

On top of the normal stressors of any college student; juggling finances, a social-life and academics, student-athletes face additional responsibilities that are incredibly demanding, such as main-

taining strong physical health, seasonal athletic travel and oftentimes maintaining a strong public-image. With all of these extracurriculars, athletes can often find themselves leaving social relationships outside of their sport and placing academics on the backburner.

Record-breaking senior, Nyenuchi Okemgbo, clocking 8.63 in women’s 60-meter hurdles on Boise State Track & Field, highlights her experience with mental health as a student-athlete.

“Typically, when trying to prioritize my mental health between athletics and academics, I will do less schoolwork,” Okemgo said. “Performing and being there for my sport and team is the mandatory we sign up for during the season.” Stephanie Donaldson, a former Division I swimmer and the director of athletic counseling and performance psychology for Boise State Athletics, is the faculty advisor of BroncoBOLD.

BroncoBOLD is an initiative focusing on mental health programming and activities for Boise State student-athletes that was started by a group of student-athletes in 2019. BroncoBOLD strives to normalize the conversation of mental health and overcome the stigma that is often plagued with the topic of mental health.

“When student-athletes are willing to talk about the importance of mental health and share their own lived experiences, there’s a sense of comfort in the commonality of the human experience,” Donaldson said. “When student-athletes utilize the platform of sport to champion this message, the impact can be profound.”

A leadership group of six student-athletes, including Okemgbo, currently serve on the BroncoBOLD leadership committee and are BroncoBOLD High School Ambassador Program Mentors. Okemgbo currently serves as Timberline high school’s mentor. These student-athletes are selected each year through an application process.

“I love seeing the high schoolers taking action to make mental health more talked about,” Okemgo said. “High school is a time that is difficult for many students. It’s great to see their care for their peers”

Despite the six leadership positions that BroncoBOLD has for student-athletes, those who are not looking to serve at the leadership level are still able to sign up to volunteer at BroncoBOLD events hosted within athletics, on campus and around the community.

During the fall 2023 semester, a record-breaking 376.5 hours of student-athlete’s time was spent in advocacy, service, learning and connection, according to Donaldson.

At the beginning of their freshman year, all Boise State student-athletes go through a mandatory mental health training at the beginning of the year and all student-athletes have the opportunity to attend monthly “Mental Rep Talks” that cover a variety of topics that address mental well-being during their time at Boise State.

According to the NCAA, approximately 1.3 million injuries occur yearly among college athletes in the United States alone. Many athletes dream of continuing their

sport by playing professionally, but these often inevitable injuries can either slow an athlete down or cost them their entire career. Transitioning out of competitive athletics can be incredibly challenging and may lead to feelings of loss of identity, depression and anxiety for the future.

Through destigmatizing and fostering a supportive environment, Boise State is dedicated to empower student-athletes to prioritize their mental well-being in order to optimize their overall performance both on and off the field.

“To see the ripple effect of what started as a grassroots idea, blossomed into robust and impactful programming and community outreach has been incredible,” Donaldson said. “It definitely goes to show you the power sports can have to bring people and communities together. No matter what team you’re cheering for, we can all come together to create collective change in the way we talk about and approach mental health.”

Students across campus can be of support to spread advocacy and support student athletics through BroncoBOLD.

“We have undergraduate internships for non-student athletes,” Donaldson said. “We also partner with the Dean of Students office and BroncoFIT to provide joint programming for the entire campus.”

BroncoBOLD’s focus on proactive prevention encourages multiple avenues of a “strengths-based” approach. Building healthy coping skills, engaging support systems and encouraging self-discovery should be an ongoing process. BroncoBOLD instills protocols and raises the importance of teaching students what to do when there’s a medical emergency involving someone’s physical health with an underline prioritizing that mental health shouldn’t be looked at any differently.

Collage of BSU athletes participating in different sports.

Photo by Taya Power-Thornton and Niamh Brennan

OUR BEST GUESS

THE ARBITER ALIGNS YOUR STARS

PISCES

FEB 19 - MAR 20

CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU.

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 19

IT’S OKAY TO BE SOFT AND KIND.

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN. EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL IN LINE.

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 22

REFLECT ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING WELL.

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 19

LOOK UP FROM YOUR PHONE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEPT 22

SPEND SOME TIME IN NATURE THIS WEEK.

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 20

DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. YOU ARE DOING WELL.

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

PRIORITIZE TIME TO READ THIS WEEK.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 20

DON’T FOCUS ON WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE PLAYLIST AND REFLECT ON THE LYRICS.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 - DEC 21

TAKE TIME TO SLOW DOWN.

CANCER

JUN 21 - JUL 22

FOCUS ON YOUR PRIORITIES AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

EMILY GORDON CULTURE EDITOR

CULTURE@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SYDNEY SMITH