The Arbiter Vol. 35 Issue 4 9.29.22

September 29, 2022

Vol. 35, Issue 4

I NDEP END E N T

STUD E N T

VO I C E

O F

B O I SE

STATE

S I N C E

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WINNING MATCHES AND BEATING CANCER KAYLY PAU’S BATTLE WITH LEUKEMIA

NEWS

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The COVID-19 pandemic revealed new challenges for the next generation of nurses.

VISIT US ONLINE:

OPINION

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Burnout can lead to serious mental health afflictions and shouldn’t be disregarded. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

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This year’s Art in the Park featured 240 vendors, 106 of which were local Idaho artists. @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

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The Boise State’s men’s rugby club is aiming for the national title this upcoming season.

@arbiteronline

@arbiteronline

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Editor-In-Chief Andrea Teres - Martinez editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Kelby Andrew onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Brydon Black news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Kate Jacobson news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Hanalei Potempa culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Naomi Priddy culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Editor Adam Bridges sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Reporter Marlei Soderquist sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Amanda Niess opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Kelly Ann Asker copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Rebekah Wilson Digital Content Manager Taya Thornton digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Duck Club hosted its first Flipside Fest, a music and mural festival, in Garden City, Idaho, from Sept. 23-25.

Taya Thornton | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

Kayly Pau went through more than most collegiate volleyball players last season af ter her leukemia diagnosis. However, Pau didn't give up on her passion, and she was able to successfully play volleyball for Boise Statewhile undergoing cancer treatments.

HOW TO REACH US:

Graphic Design Manager Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu

CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites

Graphic Designer Dorothy Martin

MISSION:

Digital Content Producer Elise Ledesma

Illustrator Alieha Dryden Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, 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 offices.

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

MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

*Valid 10/6 - 10/10. Excludes sale/clearance, tickets, food/beverage, and consignment apparel.

NEWS

September 29, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

BOISE STATE BACKPEDALS AFTER $700 CHARGE FOR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST

The university said its payment policy for records requests will remain the same going forward Br ydon Black | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n Aug. 25, reporter Kevin Richert published a story for Idaho Education News detailing how Boise State University threatened to charge the news publication more than $700 for 1,660 pages of emails.

The content of the emails were in regards to political science professor Scott Yenor. The University ultimately did not charge Idaho Education News for the request.

Yenor made headlines for his cartoonishly misogynistic comments at the National Conservatism conference back in November of 2021. In his speech, Yenor talked about the “personal and political evils” that arise from feminist ideologies.

According to Richert’s story, the coordinator for Boise State’s public records, Robert Adelson, said Boise State has rarely charged for public records requests. Yet, because of a “rapid increase” in records requests, the university told Idaho Education News that it will bill for records in the future, when requests take more than two hours to complete.

“The University will waive the costs of our review in this instance — or rather, stated another way, the University will bear the costs instead of Idaho Education News,” Adelson wrote to Idaho Education News on July 19.

“We were concerned, it’s so unusual to get a bill like that,” Kevin Richert told The Arbiter by phone. “I think requesting and reviewing public records is accountability journalism, watchdog journalism. We should be able to do our job.”

Richert said that it’s normal for a back and forth to occur between news agencies and the groups providing record requests.

However, in the case of the Yenor request,

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Boise State University’s $700 charge for a public records request made by Idaho Ed News left journalists puzzled and concerned about the future of transparency with the university.

Photo courtesy of Derek Reeves the University went straight to requesting the bill.

Richert said he filed the records request through communications, and the email they got asking for the payment came from Adelson. Richert then wrote back and said they were really troubled over the large pay request.

“We just wanted to know how the university handled this national controversy, it’s clearly in the public interest,” Richert said. “The subsequent request is going better, and I hope that’s where we’re going. I hope in the end the billing doesn’t become common practice like they said it might.”

According to Idaho law covered under the Public Records Act, agencies can

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charge after the first two hours for additional labor fees or extra costs incurred, making the initial $700 request puzzling to Idaho Education News.

“Idaho law makes it really clear that everyone has a right to see the public records of their government and see how their taxpayer money is being spent,” President of the Idaho Press Club Betsy Russell told The Arbiter by phone. “Any public agency, including a public university is covered by Idaho Public Records Act.” Boise State University will receive $124.6 million of taxpayer money in 2022-2023. Student tuition and fees will be $150 million, according to the Idaho Education News story.

The University has said it will ensure members of the public have access to records.

“Boise State University’s policy related to public records has not changed and is pursuant to Idaho Code. Students or community members requesting records will not need to worry about any charges unless requests result in more than 100 pages or if the labor involved in redacting or evaluating those documents exceeds two hours,” “Boise State will always work with members of the public to find ways to structure requests to avoid extra costs,” Mike Sharp, director of media relations at Boise State, told The Arbiter in a text message.

NEWS

ARE WE STILL IN A PANDEMIC? HERE’S WHAT BOISE STATE STUDENTS SAY

A survey of 95 students reveals that most believe the pandemic is over Kyle Oldham | Staf f Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n March 7, 2022, Boise State University no longer required students to wear masks indoors while on campus.

This day struck anxiety in some, and relief in others.

Political affiliation was traditionally an indicator on how the pandemic is perceived, but one’s political party is no longer relevant on this matter.

In a 60 Minutes interview on Sept. 18, President Joe Biden said that we are no longer in a pandemic. One group believes that the pandemic is still strong and we should keep adhering to safety precautions, whereas the other group see the loosening rules as a sign that we are finally out of it, or at least can return to a feeling of normalcy.

Now that both federal and state governments have gestured toward an ease of COVID-19 restrictions, there is debate on whether the pandemic is in the past or if we are yet to turn the chapter on this virus.

After asking Boise State students through a non-scientific online survey, as well as in person inside Boise State’s Interactive Learning Center, the divide became clear. In the survey, 95 students were asked about their political leaning and their opinion on the state of the pandemic.

It is important to note that as far as political leaning goes, the survey was evenly split. 55% of people identified as independent, 22% identified with the Democratic Party, and 23% identified with the Republican Party.

According to the survey, only 30% of students believe that we are in a pandemic.

Additionally, only half of the left-leaning students surveyed belong to this group of believers.

“No, we aren’t [in a pandemic],” said junior civil engineering major Joseph Heath.

“The relative herd immunity and availability of a vaccine make it more endemic like the flu.”

Endemic, when referring to diseases,

means that it holds a steady prevalence in the population rather than coming in surges. For example, the common cold is endemic while the Ebola virus is not.

Heath’s evaluation is somewhat correct.

According to the CDC’s weekly account of new cases, infections have been relatively steady in the last year. However, they are not at a complete standstill, as there are still spikes in reported COVID cases.

During the first week of September 2022, there were approximately 90,000 newly reported cases per day in the United States, which is about typical now. However, in January 2022, this average was well over 700,000 new cases per day. In fact, on Jan. 10, 2022, the United States had over 1.2 million new cases.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, though the virus is becoming milder with time, COVID-19 causes more significant afflictions when compared to the influenza virus, including being 10 times as fatal and leaving lingering taste loss.

“I acknowledge that we are technically probably in a pandemic,” Heath said. “But it just doesn’t feel like it. I just don’t care anymore.”

For those that no longer feel as though we are in a pandemic, the responses were remarkably similar.

“Yes, we are [in a pandemic], but nobody cares,” said Eric Platt, senior interdisciplinary studies major. “I had it about a month ago. It’s still around, but I still go to concerts and movies. It isn’t worth staying inside for anymore.”

The vast majority of students, at least according to those sampled, agree that technically we are in a pandemic, but after two and a half years of masking and quarantine, apathy has taken over.

Despite the lack of regard that many people seem to have for the pandemic, the World Health Organization and other experts still believe that the pandemic is very much active.

“Yes, we are still in a pandemic,” Dr. Carly Hyland, professor and postdoctoral researcher for Public Health and Population Science at Boise State, told The Arbiter in a phone call. “However, for most of us, the desire to go back to normal outweighs the risks.”

According to Dr. Hyland, wearing masks, while never being a bad idea, is now something of a judgment call rather than a universal rule. Since Boise State lifted its mask mandate, most students have moved on from masks and social distancing. However, not everyone has had the opportunity to stray away from COVID-19 safety recommendations.

“Some of us still have friends and family that are at risk for COVID,” Hyland said.

“If you are traveling, or those you are dealing with are being cautious, be courteous.”

According to a non-scientific online survey conducted with 95 students, only 30% believed that we are still in a pandemic.

Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

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NEWS

DID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY EFFORTS AT BOISE STATE?

The pandemic shed light on the significance of accessibility in both in-person and virtual spaces Kate Jacobson | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The COVID-19 pandemic led to improvements in accessibility practices across Boise State’s campus.

Taya Thornton | The Arbiter

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ince the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities have needed to adapt to maintain a productive learning environment. One challenge brought on by the pandemic, and perhaps overlooked, was how to ensure accessibility standards are still met amid all of these changes.

At Boise State, the pandemic presented a handful of obstacles in maintaining and continuing to improve accessibility.

Requirements such as wearing a face mask indoors made it difficult for hard of hearing students to follow along with their peers and instructors, because they often rely on lip reading and facial expressions for cues.

“There were some negatives with accessibility as far as masks go, and sometimes

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the [problem] was just getting the accessible materials to remote students,” said Julia Gorman, assistant director of the Educational Access Center. “For example, how are we going to get materials to a student who’s blind [and] needs their textbook in Braille when we weren’t able to meet in person?”

An analysis by Frontiers in Public Health found that disabled college students were almost twice as likely than their non-disabled counterparts to experience increased anxiety and increased financial strain due to the pandemic, making it more vital than ever that these students’ needs are met.

Some of the issues in accessibility caused

by COVID-19, surprisingly, also led to improvements that may not have otherwise been made.

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“In a lot of ways, I think [the pandemic] created some barriers, but in more ways than that, it brought to light … ways that these spaces are not accessible for everybody,” said Stenson Stanger, Boise State University’s deaf services coordinator.

“We didn’t take into consideration some of these things that people came to realize were necessary for everyone.”

Clear masks becoming standardized in medical spaces when working with hard of hearing or deaf patients and professors regularly recording and providing captions for lectures are examples of positive accessibility changes caused by the pandemic, according to Stenson. “[The pandemic] demonstrated how we can be more accessible and have more of a universal design approach when it comes to our events or our classes,” Gorman said.

“So I’d say there’s definitely some positives when it comes to the accessibility and the responsiveness to student needs holistically.”

The Education Access Center is continually making improvements to best serve the campus community. Boise State recently began utilizing a software called Note Taking Express to help students who need assistance taking notes for class.

Rather than being reliant on a peer note taker, this resource allows students to record their own lecture. The recording is then sent off to a Note Taking Express employee (one specializing in the same field of study) to be turned into notes.

“This is the first semester that we’ve used [Note Taking Express], and so far we have loved it because the accountability is on the student who needs the service rather than accountability being on the note taker,” Stanger said. “If the student decides not to record the notes that’s their choice.

But at least they know that they have the autonomy and the option to be able to make that happen.”

Beyond the tangible resources, Stanger explained that one of the best things that

can be done to improve accessibility in the campus community is to continue increasing awareness and education about it.

“I think accessibility is definitely one of those things that just kind of gets lost in the shuffle of things,” Stenson said. “But there’s always room for improvement.

There’s always more that can be done.”

The Educational Access Center works in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning to better train faculty and staff on campus about what accessibility looks like and how student needs can best be met.

Over the summer, the Educational Access Center and the TRIO Academic Coaching and Educational Support (ACES) program combined into one organization to provide a more comprehensive, holistic approach to supporting students.

ACES provides individualized support to students with disabilities in regards to academics and career planning.

“In a lot of ways, I think [the pandemic] created some barriers, but in more ways than that, it brough to light ... ways that these spaces are not accessible for everybody.”

- Stenson Stranger, Boise State deaf services coordinator

“We need to [put] accessibility at the forefront of our minds when we’re talking about diversity and inclusion,” Gorman said. “Being consistent and proactive when it comes to being accessible versus being retroactive and implementing supports or accommodations after the fact is always going to be the best practice.”

THE STRUGGLE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

NEWS

The crisis has served as a motivating factor for Boise State nursing students Br ydon Black | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ealth care workers, especially nurses, saw a side of the COVID-19 pandemic most people were never exposed to — a pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 1.1 million Americans brought on hopelessness, economic collapse and uncertainty to the lives of millions.

What has often been overlooked during this nightmare is the mental toll placed on humans who did everything in their power to save lives, and had to call the families and coroners for those they couldn’t.

What has also been ignored is how the next generation of practicing nurses would respond to seeing the challenges faced by

those in their field, and who would step up next in caring for the sick and dying.

Aimee Brooks has been a critical nurse practitioner for six years. She spent nine years in the US army, four years in military intelligence and then five years as a nurse in a combat support hospital. She served in Iraq from 2003-2004, during the height of the war.

After her service, she became an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse and is now working at St. Luke’s in Meridian, Idaho.

“It helps a lot having been a soldier because it’s a lot of the same things you go through, the PTSD parts, the death,” Brooks said.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed the lives of 1.1 million Americans, created an uncertain future for the next generation of nurses. Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

Brooks said that normally they would experience about one death per day in the ICU. At the height of the pandemic, they experienced about five deaths a day, many of which were white and Hispanic males in their 40s.

“It felt like a lot of helplessness because we would throw everything at them to try and get them better and regardless of anything we had to offer medically they would still die,” Brooks said. “That was so unexpected. I think that played a little bit of a role in the disbelief with the public.”

Brooks would have patients who, because of something they read online, assumed she would make more money if a patient died or got put on life support, despite the claim having no basis in reality.

Nurses are salaried and get paid for the quality of work they do.

Some people would refuse to believe the health care they received was the reason for their survival or an improvement in health, citing prayers or soup being brought in by parents as reasons for recovery. At one point, people carrying guns had gathered outside of Brooks’ workplace at St. Luke’s and threatened to break into the locked down hospital in a desperate effort to see their families.

This led some nurses to question why they still held onto their job. At the end of the day, support from community members, the number of lives saved and the comradery among her co-workers encouraged them to push forward.

2014 Boise State Alumni Jocelyn Johns was an ICU nurse at Saint Luke’s for eight years up until November 2021. She now works as a nurse practitioner.

“It was difficult for the medical staff to have our care and decisions questioned when everything we do is research and evidence based,” Johns said. “At the same time, I felt we had overwhelming community support from many local businesses and families. We were given food, smoothies and many little treats to keep us going.”

For Boise State nursing students, the pandemic served as a motivating factor for them to pursue their field, not a deterrent.

Junior nursing major Meagan Mulligan told The Arbiter that her family experiences were a major factor in shaping her decision to study nursing.

“My whole life has revolved around medical care. My brother, he was special needs. He recently passed away a month ago. My mom was his full time caregiver for 23 years,” Mulligan said. “The nurses themselves, just because we were there at the hospital all the time, they were just such a strong point for our family in helping us throughout our time in need.”

These experiences inspired her to help other families when they needed that rock to hold onto when their loved ones were in the hospital. Working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in the ICU during the pandemic pushed her more toward the field to help families and address nursing shortages. ”I am a CNA in the health care field, and I was a CNA during the pandemic at St. Lukes. [The pandemic] actually made me want to become a nurse even more,” said Hannah Whinery, second-year nursing major. “Watching the struggle was hard during the pandemic, especially the shortages, but it actually made me want to be a nurse even more.”

Whinery told The Arbiter that both her family and the desire to help people inspired her to go into the medical field. Her sister is also a nurse at St. Luke’s in Boise.

The COVID pandemic changed the world forever, from transforming the ways governments approach public health and new trends in the labor market, to long lasting mental and physical health problems. One of the few certainties is that the health care field will continue to draw in people with a mission to help others and a will to keep society healthy, despite the recent challenges on full display.

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OPINION September 29, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS ISN’T FAIR An insight into the life of a working college student Guest Author | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ollege: the best time of your life. At least that’s the case for some.

When I was in high school, college was the one burden that loomed over my head, all hours of the day. I thought; how will I pay for my future in a university? Where will I go? Should I just give up? Do I take a gap year? Is a college degree something I want to achieve?

“After years of panic, anxiety and loneliness that comes with having to pay my student bills, it doesn’t seem right that everyone else gets to walk away unscathed.”

As I began receiving acceptance letters from my dream schools, I couldn’t believe how far I had come. My excitement was through the roof. My dream schools wanted ME. They wanted ME to attend their school, and I wanted them too. The only thing that didn’t want me to go was my bank account.

From my understanding, I could only further my education through academic scholarships, athletic scholarships, loans or by working long hours to support my bills.

As I narrowed my options down, I had to make THE decision: where to go.

I could go to my dream school located across the country, in a beautiful state, with bountiful opportunities, a new city, tremendous academics and a 10.5% acceptance rate.

Or I could go to the college that I always knew of. The one I drove by everyday.

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The college I despised. I wanted to get out of my town and live elsewhere with new people and more of a diverse setting, but it was the only college I could afford.

The decision ultimately came down to my home town college.

I still had to face the dreaded question: How do I afford it?

Idaho schools, such as Boise State, offer a lower semester average cost for in-state students than most colleges, averaging $7,010 a year, yet I still needed to find a way to pay my way through college.

Not only did I have to think about tuition, but I also had to think about a place to live, food, extracurricular activities, clothing and my day-to-day life in general.

I made the conscious decision to not take out loans and pay off my student debt after I graduated, so I had to make adjustments.

This is how I decided to do it: I work three jobs, have little-to-no social life, apply for all possible scholarships and juggle school work at the same time.

Being a student with good grades and Native American heritage, it was fairly easy for me to find scholarships. I got grants from the tribe I am from and was able to scavenge scholarships that were offered through my college.

I am on track to graduate college debt free and loan free with some extra cash in my pocket. I am proud of how much I work, the grades I maintain and being a self-sufficient college student, worker and friend.

However, the villain that stands before me and my pride is Student Loan Forgiveness.

The Biden administration released significant new details on its plan to implement a wide-scale student loan forgiveness.

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In other words, Student Loan Forgiveness no longer requires you to repay some or all of your loans from college.

Under this new initiative, millions of federal student loan borrowers will be eligible for $10,000 in loan forgiveness, or up to $20,000 if they received Pell Grants.

Most of my friends got to live out their dreams, moved across the country to go to their dream school, didn’t have to work, maintained a social life and focused their energy solely on school, all with full college loans. Now, those loans may not have to be paid.

After years of panic, anxiety and loneliness that come with having to pay my student bills, it doesn’t seem right that everyone else gets to walk away unscathed.

As this new plan passes, I sit back and

wonder what could’ve been.

I could be in a different place, living a completely different life, more content, trying new things, seeing new places and having a higher education — all of the professional opportunities and new people I could have met along the way.

Yet here I am, working myself to the ground so that I don’t have school loans or debt. Just so everyone else has the chance to never worry about what I have dealt in my early adult life: student loans.

With the implementation of a wide-scale student loan forgiveness, it feels as though it demotes all my hard work and accomplishments. It makes everything I have worked so hard for — all the sacrifices and hardships — meaningless.

After working hard to go through college without pulling student loans, it doesn’t seem fair that everyone else gets away debt-free.

Elise Ledesma | The Arbiter

OPINION

BURNOUT IS REAL AND IT’S HERE TO STAY

Exploring the mental exhaustion that burnout brings to a college student’s life Amanda Niess | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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t’s only week six, I tell myself. How could I feel this way already?

I remind myself that I am human.

This is a normal feeling to experience, especially when I step back and realize how busy I really am. Working two jobs, going to school full time, living on my own, paying bills and caring for a dog at the same time. Burnout is real and it’s here to stay.

Being stressed about turning in assignments on time is one thing, but this isn’t burnout. Clocking in late to work isn’t either. Having constant panic attacks and disassociating from the people and things I love because of my exhaustion. That is burnout.

There is no true diagnosis to determine burnout, since everyone experiences this phenomenon differently. On top of that, there is no true cure to improving mental states caused by burnout besides medication, which I refuse to cooperate with.

In racing terms, when a car performs a burnout, the driver keeps the vehicle stationary, while simultaneously hitting both the gas and brake pedals. This causes the friction between the asphalt and tire to create heat and smoke.

Burnout within a person feels the same way in the sense that the human body, or a car’s tire, is going at a constant speed but the brain, or car, isn’t moving. My brain is burnt out. The driver has caused enough friction between my body and brain, to the point where I am burnt out.

When someone experiences burnout, they need time to disassociate, in a healthy manner, and figure out what step they need to take next to escape this situation and progress in a forward motion. This is where I am at.

I have disassociated for long enough, for I have lost contact with many close friends and colleagues, to the point where I find myself lost in places I have been many times prior — such as my workplaces and my own home.

As I have experienced this before, I

Burnout can lead to serious mental health afflictions like depression and anxiety.

see burnout as one of those phenomena that cause one domino to fall on another.

Feeling this stressed and exhausted opens the trapdoor to a whole world of mental concerns such as depression, anxiety and other emotional and behavioral troubles.

In today’s world, I feel as if doctors disregard burnout as a serious health concern because of the more common mental health complications like anxiety and depression. There needs to be more attentiveness to burnout. It exists, and it thrives among people who may be working on the clock, going to school full time, raising a family or those who are just trying to support themselves.

Everyday stress and burnout — two completely different issues that are equally as prevalent in today’s society.

Two completely different issues that many people disregard in other’s daily lives.

“Get outside,” they say. “Take a three-day weekend,” they say. “Burnout is real and it is here,” I say.

So, how can I cure my burnout on my own accord? Ultimately, I cannot. However, I have found ways to combat feelings of mental exhaustion throughout the week.

Music is my first escape — finding one new album a week and listening to it from start to end, learning about the artist and what they stand for in their music.

Illustration by Alieha Dryden | The Arbiter Another is writing out my emotions in a journal. No, this is not a teenage diary, but rather a place where I can find shelter to shield myself from outside influences and stressors.

My last suggestion is to use Boise State’s Health Services or any outlet in which you can express your stress and frustrations to someone who is not involved in your everyday life.

Burnout is real and it is here to stay.

However, there are ways to overcome the heaviness of it all, and the resources are there. It just takes time and perseverance.

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WINNING MATCHES AND BEATING CANCER: KAYLY PAU’S BATTLE WITH LEUKEMIA How cancer survivor and volleyball star kayly pau “battled her way back to be on the court ” adam bridges

| sports editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ancer did not stop Kayly Pau from doing what she loves.

Junior outside hitter Kayly Pau joined the Boise State volleyball team from Tokay High School in Lodi, California, three years ago. During her high school career, Pau was a threetime all-league honoree and named her conference MVP as a senior.

Pau has one start and played in all 15 games during her first season. Her first appearance as a Bronco was against San Jose State on Feb. 4, 2021. She recorded 11 kills and four blocks to finish with 13.5 points.

“I thought that Lauren (Ohlinger) and Kayly (Pau) performed really well for us,” volleyball head coach Shawn Garus said after the game. “They were strong offensively, but they also did a good job defensively as well getting up for the block to cause problems for their setter.”

She continued to perform at a high level throughout the season, recording 140 kills, 35 blocks and 159 points. She also averaged 2.55 kills per set, 0.64 blocks and 2.89 points.

However, while getting ready for her second season, Pau faced a road bump that would completely change her life.

Battling cancer on and off the court Pau was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2021.

“One night, I was just constantly getting sick,” Pau told Bronco Sports. “I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to go to the hospital where they ran some tests on me and saw that my blood levels were all out of control … When they said, ‘we think you have leukemia,’ it was kind of just like a moment of silence.”

After receiving the news about the diagnosis, Pau turned to her doctors at home in Lodi, California, to help her come up with a plan to balance her top priorities: her long-term health and her volleyball career.

Pau was fortunate enough to get an early leukemia diagnosis and was able to start treatment before it reached a terminal stage.

“I would go in and get chemotherapy which would knock me out for about three to four days,” Pau told Bronco Sports, “but I knew if I were to stop and give this treatment my all I would lose all of my

volleyball within an instant. So, I decided I’m going to split both. I’m going to keep going until they tell me I can’t or my body just fails. I would take my treatment on a Friday or Saturday so that my off days would be correlated with my volleyball off days.”

Pau said she had played volleyball for many years prior to her diagnosis and was not ready to give up on her passion that quickly.

“I’m here and this is my dream to be here,” Pau said about playing volleyball at Boise State. “I wasn’t going to let this illness stop me because everyone thinks … you’re starting to just kind of dwindle down and everyone’s starting to empathize with you. I didn’t want that. I wanted to know that I’m not going to let this stop my dream … I worked too hard to get to this point that something so little, yet so big, wouldn’t take over my life.”

Pau devised a game plan with her team and coaches after she decided she was not going to give up on her volleyball career, despite the diagnosis.

“When I learned about Kayly’s illness, I did not know what it meant,” Garis said.

“I have not dealt with that before with a player.”

Playing volleyball and going through cancer treatment turned out to be easier said than done. In order to do both, Pau and the team had to make sacrifices and adjustments for their plan to work.

Pau would only play one game a day throughout the preseason. As the preseason progressed, Pau was only allowed to play once on the weekends. These limitations did not stop Pau from trying to sneak into drills, according to associate head coach Candy Murphy.

“When they said, ‘we think you have leukemia,’ it was kind of just like a moment of silence.”

- Kayly Pau, junior outside hitter for Boise State Volleyball

“There would be times where [Garus] would make her stay on the sidelines and he would not even let her dress,” Murphy told Bronco Sports. “He would tell her,

‘You are coming in sweats. You are coming in flip flops.’”

Practices were not any easier to manage.

“Dealing with treatment along with practice was a little hard,” Pau said. “There were Mondays where I felt great, and there were Mondays where I did not feel great.”

Pau and the coaches tried their best to get her all of the practice and training she needed while also being flexible with her schedule. Despite both parties being very cooperative with each other there were times that they would ‘butt heads,’ according to Pau.

“... If I were to stop and give this treatment my all I would lose all of my volleyball within an instant ... I decided I’m going to split both. I’m going to keep going until they tell me I can’t or my body just fails.”

- Kayly Pau

“I think it was a challenge for her,” said assistant coach Hayley Peterson about Pau in a Bronco Sports video. “I think coach Garis did a really good job [because] we wanted her to be healthy, that was our priority. We wanted her to be able to come to matches and be there and be present.”

A challenging season Pau and the team found success throughout the 2021 season despite the troubles they faced.

The team was aware of Pau’s situation but was not informed of all of her struggles. Pau wanted the team’s performance to be the focal point of the season instead of her leukemia, according to Pau and Murphy.

“There were times we landed and [Pau] went straight to the hospital,” Murphy told Bronco Sports. “Nobody knew about that except our staff. She literally battled her way back to be on the court.”

The team had their second-best start in program history after holding a nine-game win streak and going 11-1 overall. The

team also pulled off the largest upset in program history after defeating No. 10 University of Utah.

“You know, we’ve played ranked teams before, but I don’t know if we have beaten anybody as high as [No.] 10,” Garus told the media after defeating Utah. “It’s just confidence building for all the players and it validates all their hard work, and should motivate them to keep working for more.”

The team went on to win the Mountain West Championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The team was eliminated in the first round of the tournament by No. 11 BYU. Pau was not able to play in the last 11 games of the season because of her treatments, but recorded 136 kills and 40 blocks in two starts and 20 appearances.

She was also named to the Boise State Classic All-Tournament Team after helping lead the team to wins over Santa Clara University and Oregon State.

“I’m thrilled with the 3-0 victory,” Garus said. “I thought it was a bit of a grind. Santa Clara came out and did some things that stressed us a little bit early.

Some of our key players didn’t get off to good starts offensively. So it’s great to see people like Kayly Pau step up and fill the void for some of the others when we needed her too.”

More than a match, more than a win Pau was declared cancer-free in spring 2022.

She is now focused on feeling 100%, and playing 100% this season and has made appearances in six games.

“I love this game 10 times more, and my passion [and] drive has increased tremendously,” Pau told Bronco Sports. “To me, it wasn’t that I was going through something. It was that I was missing out on my full potential and that I decided to make my own story. I decided to choose my own fate … I did everything I could, knowing how far my limits were, and honestly, after going through all this, the sky is really the limit.”

To honor her fight against leukemia, the team hosted a Leukemia Awareness Night against New Mexico on Sept. 22. Fans were advised to wear orange, the color for leukemia awareness.

C U LT U R E September 29, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

HOW A BASQUE ARTIST USES WOOL TO TELL CULTURAL STORIES

Laurita Siles tells the story of sheep, heritage and nature in her MING Studio Exhibit Naomi Priddy | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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rtist and inventor Laurita Siles combines stories of sustainability, women’s roles in society, loss of heritage and the importance of sheep in her wool-strung homage to Basque culture at MING Studio Gallery.

Laurita Siles is a native Basque artist who participated in a month-long artist residency at MING Studios from June 27 to July 27 with her exhibition available for public viewing on July 23 through Sept.

10.

Siles’ exhibit, “I AM MAKING WOOL,” featured handwoven txapelas (hats), graphite sheep drawings, fabric and wool-woven decor and drawings made by children in the Basque community.

Siles has always made art but didn’t adopt that title until high school, and now in her adulthood, the creation of art and stories remains a present love of her life.

“When I was child, I craved these things, you know,” Siles said. “For me, it’s like I grew up making art … I didn’t stop playing.”

While working at MING Studios, a Boise-based gallery, Siles had the opportunity to carve out time to work on her art. Since her home is nestled in the mountains, she wanted to pay homage to that aspect of her life and the life of the sheep herders that neighbor her. She decided to do this through the use of wool.

“Here in the Basque Country … we see a revival of wool … all the wool in the Basque Country goes to the carpet.

Nobody uses it, and five years ago we developed our yarn and sold it to make costumes, and we made shoes and we made socks,” Siles said.

When she first stepped foot in Boise and spoke to other Basque individuals, she was

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surprised to find that their experience with Basque culture in Boise had not evolved with what had changed in the Basque country.

“When I spoke in Basque with many people in Boise, they kept the past life from another century,” Siles said. “They speak old Basque.”

According to Basque Block, there are approximately 16,000 Basque individuals living in Boise.

In her art and her conversations she emphasizes the importance of holding onto heritage and tradition, yet still maintaining innovation.

“I’m really interested in heritage, folklore and all these kinds of things. Now, we are living in a global area … I don’t believe that all our heritage should be put in a box, you know, repeat every year the same, I think I have to mix all the time,” Siles said. “It’s like in a show. We dance the same as our grandfather, we don’t move anything. We repeat the same. This is okay, but creation has kind of stopped.”

Siles advocates for the importance of understanding the role of sheep and how wool and other fabrics are created.

“People tell me, ‘Well, I never thought about the birth of sheep, or I don’t know that the bighorn sheep is the only one local sheep from Idaho.’ [I want people to] be thinking a lot about the land,” Siles said.

Duringher exhibit and one month residency at MING studios, Siles told the story of Basque identity and history through her artwork.

According to MING Studios, “I AM MAKING WOOL” is a story based on traces left by America’s Basque shepherds in conjunction with the concept of sovereignty of joy; the exhibition is composed of wool-focused textile, photography,

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Laurita Siles’ exhibit “I AM MAKING WOOL” tells the story of Basque identity and history through her use of wool.

Photo courtesy of Naomi Priddy and film works that emulate traditions of representation and rethink the preservation of culture.”

The role of women in the telling of Basque identity and stories is a prominent undertone in Siles works.

“All the imagery that we have here in the Basque Country about the people that went to America doesn’t show women,” Siles said. “The woman [were] really like, very important to keep the heritage, to keep the culture, because they are cooking the traditional foods at home. They are sticking to the children. The young telling the story. The woman is so strong. We remember.”

In her artistic experiences in Idaho, Siles connected with the Idaho Basque community and the Idaho community as a whole in a way that shaped many aspects of her work. For all of her woven art, she participated in wool spinning circles with other women in the community, where they had

the opportunity to tell stories, form bonds and create.

“This group of women helped me to find the different kinds of wool and all the different kinds of sheep and we met together to spin wool on the Basque block … [we talked about] the Basque community, about women, about maternity, about the, you know, all the things about wool spinning,” Siles said. “It was really amazing also to meet many different women from Boise that … are not Basque.”

In her future art exhibits, Siles hopes to focus on the commercialization of wool.

“I’m very interested in Australia … They never used wool from the Basque Country,” Siles said. “The wool in Australia is very developed in the factory, like, almost all the wool that we use in the world is from Australia. And it’s interesting that all the sheep that are from Australia are originally from Spain.”

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‘THE BEST YEAR YET’: VENDORS SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AT ART IN THE PARK From new artists to old, Art in the Park brings the community together Naomi Priddy | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

the Park.

“It was all worth it in the end,” Chanell said.

This year, the Gene Harris Bandshell stage hosted entertainment for all three days of the event including The Star Belly Dancers, local indie folk rock band The Trees of The Trees, folk singers Blaze and Kelly and the Ballet Idaho Academy Youth Company.

Among all the amenities of food and entertainment, a large white tent across the Rose Garden made space for children’s hands-on art sessions. Kids had the opportunity to create collages and paint in a setting inspired by art.

Artist Chris Efstratis, a more seasoned Art in The Park veteran, declared that this year was the best.

This year’s Art in the Park was well-received by vendors and was considered by many to be “the best year yet.”

Photo courtesy of Naomi Priddy

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ne of Boise’s most beloved local art events of the year came around during Sept.

9-11 and once again, did not disappoint. This year’s Art in the Park featured 240 arts and crafts vendors, 49 new artists and 106 local Idaho artists.

The Boise Art Museum’s Art in the Park provided a splendid weekend of food vendors, live music, entertainment and artists across every medium.

Jann Harris Smith of Salt City Smithery fell in love with the event as a regular customer and had her first experience as a vendor at Art in the Park this year.

“I truly enjoyed being there. I had always wanted to be in the show because I used to live in Boise and that was the big event of the year, being able to go to Art in the Park,” Smith said.

Smith is a metalsmith based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, with roots in Idaho. Her studio, Salt City Smithery, is best known for their classes like silversmithing and beading. In her preparation for Art in the Park, Smith worked tirelessly.

“I did a lot of prep, like 12 hours a day, working my way up to it into the studio,” Smith said, “but it was a labor of love, and it went really well … I had good sales and it was so worth it.”

Smith, along with many other artists, mentioned that this year’s Art in the Park couldn’t have gone better.

“I had good sales, and it was so worth it. I was blown away,” Smith said. “I did very well, far more than I expected, and it’s such a pleasant setting. The weather was perfect. You couldn’t have asked for better than that.”

Lindsey Chanell, an artist based in Teton, Idaho, who creates detailed nature-inspired mugs, had just as noteworthy of a first-time experience.

She noted that it was an incredible market in which to sell her mugs and one of the best-suited events she had the pleasure of selling at.

“I’ve been to a lot of events that I wasn’t suited for, but this one was just a good match, and I sold more than I expected,” Chanell said.

Just like Smith, the preparation was time intensive. Chanell mentioned that the prep for the event was not quite what she expected, and she had to hone in on her woodworking skills to build all the shelves needed to display her work.

Still, she expressed her anticipation toward participating in next year’s Art in

“I truly enjoyed being there (at Art in the Park).

I had always wanted to be in the show because ... that was the big event of the year.”

- Jann Harris Smith, co-founder of Salt City Smithery

“It was the best year yet — [the] most people, [the] most sales and the best weather,” Efstratis said.

Efstratis is a ceramist, painter and multimedia artist with an emphasis on sculpture. He is based out of his Sacramento ceramics studio and is constantly on the road. He has commuted down to Art in the Park for the past three years.

The environment of this year’s Art in the Park was one of good energy with families, artists and event-goers alike dancing and enjoying the communal spirit of the event.

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C U LT U R E

NEED HELP WITH YOUR WRITING? GIVE THE WRITING CENTER A TRY

The Writing Center provides students from all majors feedback on their writing Hanalei Potempa | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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s fall sets in, more and more students are drowning in writing assignments, papers, presentations, and even graduate school applications and job resumes.

For those looking for free help with their writing, Boise State’s on-campus Writing Center can provide hands-on support.

The Writing Center provides students one-on-one writing consultations for revisions and feedback.

The center is located on the second floor of the Liberal Arts Building and offers 30 and 60-minute writing consultations for students. Consultations are available in person, on Zoom or even asynchronously — meaning a student can submit a document and a consultant will respond with comments.

Melissa Keith, the current director for the Writing Center, shared that all types of texts are viable to be brought into the Writing Center. Everything from essays, PowerPoints, presentations and scripts are welcome to receive feedback and revisions.

“We really believe that writing is important across majors, and it’s a skill that different disciplines and employers all value.”

- Melissa Keith, Writing Center Director

Keith emphasized that most of the consultation staff are undergraduate students, and consultations between students and consultants are very conversational.

“It is peer to peer, like when you sit down with someone or get written feedback from someone, it’s really like a fellow student, just one that’s been trained

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The Boise State Writing Center is located in room 200 in the Liberal Arts building. to provide writing feedback, but a fellow student that you’re having a conversation with which is really nice,” Keith said.

Students are encouraged to book these consultations online but are always welcome to stop by in person to see if a consultant is available.

Keith shared that writing consultants vary in educational disciplines, and students studying all majors are encouraged to utilize the Writing Center to improve their written communication.

“We actually recruit people who come from different majors so we can have that diversity of thought among the staff,” Keith said. “We really believe that writing is important across majors, and it’s a skill that different disciplines and employers all value.”

Julia DuBois, a current senior majoring in communications, works at the Writing

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Center as a consultant. She shared that during her training she studied various theories of writing and different ways to work with writing to make it effective.

DuBois shared that although consultants are helping with beneficial revisions to the project at hand, utilizing the Writing Center can help improve students’ writing skills overall.

“We focus more on helping you specifically as a writer improve your writing,” DuBois said. “So it’s not just about one specific paper. It’s about a bigger picture of how in the future [we could] use this paper to teach you about being a better writer moving forward.”

DuBois emphasized that all students regardless of disciplines can receive help from consultants as written communication applies to every field.

“Adding in new perspectives I think

Claire Keener | The Arbiter goes a really long way,” DuBois said. “In every major, in every field of work you’re going to write something, you need to communicate a message effectively, and so it’s important for all of us to learn skills of how to be well written in general, so I think every field will be looking for that, so everyone can improve.”

Students can also use Writing Center consultations to work on personal or professional writing outside of school, such as applications or resumes.

“I really think everyone needs a reader, and that’s really what we’re providing,” Keith said. “No matter what someone’s relationship with writing [is like] or how they feel like they struggle with it or not, everyone can still benefit from having an active engaged audience, engaged with their writing.”

C U LT U R E

‘BLUETS’ IS A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING LOSS

Maggie Nelson’s “Bluets” pays homage to the color blue in her collection of poetic essays Naomi Priddy | Culture Repor ter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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aggie Nelson’s 2009 part-essay, part-literature book titled “Bluets” pays homage to the color blue and the symphony of loss.

“Suppose I were to begin by saying I had fallen in love with the color,” Nelson wrote. “Suppose I were to speak this as though it were a confession, suppose I shredded my napkins as we spoke. It began slowly. An appreciation, an affinity.

Then, one day, it became more serious.

Then (looking into an empty teacup, its bottom stained with thin brown excrement coiled unto the shape of a seahorse) it became somehow personal. And so I fell in love with a color-in this case, the color blue.”

Nelson collects anything blue: small knick-knacks, pieces of trash, fabric and

scraps; blue is her love language.

Following the themes of grief and loss, her focus on blue becomes somewhat of a fixation and a distraction from the other challenges of her life, and in that the color blue itself becomes a more complicated metaphor for the loss of love Nelson has been grieving.

“Life is a train of moods like a string of beads and as we pass through them they prove to be many-colored lenses which paint the world their own hue, and each shows only what lies in its focus,” Nelson wrote. “To find oneself trapped in any one bead, no matter what its hue, can be deadly.”

The book is organized into sections titled one to 240, rather than chapters, and each section reads similarly to a poem.

The reader is given an intimate glimpse

into the author’s mind during process of writing her book, mentioning how she told people for years that she was working on a project about the color blue.

“At a job interview at a university three men sitting across from me at a table,” Nelson wrote. “On my CV it says that I am currently working on a book about the color blue. I have been saying this for years without writing a word. It is perhaps my way of making my life feel ‘in progress’ rather than a sleeve of ash falling off a lit cigarette.”

As evidenced by the book’s title, much of Nelson’s writing explores blue. She discusses blue art, other writers’ relationships to the color, the science of blue and the history of blue, but more so, she invites her readers to understand why she has fallen in love with the color.

‘Bluets’ is a collection of essays about the color blue, published by author Maggie Nelson in 2009.

Naomi Priddy | The Arbiter

Nelson also processes the themes of heartbreak in a profoundly poetic manner, making this piece lean more toward poetry rather than a collection of essays.

“Last night I wept in a way I haven’t wept for some time. I wept until I aged myself. I watched it happen in the mirror.

I watched the lines arrive around my eyes like engraved sunbursts; it was like watching flowers open in time-lapse on a windowsill. The tears not only aged my face, they also changed its texture, turned the skin of my cheeks into putty. I recognized this as a rite of decadence, but I did not know how to stop it,” Nelson wrote.

“Bluets” stands as one of the most raw and poetic tributes to loss and heartbreak I’ve read this year. It is a quick read with only 112 pages, but one that requires re-reading to truly grasp its depth. It is the kind of book you re-read at different stages of life, and in turn, you will be greeted with a heart-aching tour of what it means to feel deeply.

Having the opportunity to re-read Nelson’s work only enriched my love for the author and her themes. Collections of essays stand as one of my favorite genres of literature, as more often than not they allow the author more creative freedom.

Maggie Nelson is no exception.

“199. To wish to forget how much you loved someone—and then, to actually forget—can feel, at times, like the slaughter of a beautiful bird who chose, by nothing short of grace, to make a habitat of your heart.”

Her wording is laid out in a poetic fashion, often disposing of grammar rules. I came to fall in love with her folly of grammar rules, it only enriched her passages and humanized her in a way not a lot of authors can achieve. Her book feels like sitting with a friend, pouring her heart out to you; and that sacred moment between friends is often like a stream of consciousness, it’s not always grammatically correct.

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S PORTS & REC September 29, 2022 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

BOISE STATE MEN’S RUGBY IS CHASING A CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2022

How the Boise State men’s rugby team have elevated from No. 4 overall to becoming champions Alec Simeone | Staf f Writer | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Boise State men’s rugby club is kicking off their 2022 season. They had a great season last fall, and it’s only going to get better this year.

Ranked fourth in the nation, the team has one goal in mind: rise above last year’s loss to Virginia Tech in the semifinals and become D1AA Champions.

The team is coming off of an undefeated regular season last fall, during which they made it into the playoffs but were eliminated in the second round after they ran into health and endurance issues.

“We were up 10-11 [points] at half.

We lost about eight starters at half due to injury, which was not good for us,” said senior integrated media and strategic communications major and team captain, Kyle Curry. “We lost, and that team went on to win the trophy.”

Despite this loss, Curry felt that the Broncos could’ve been in the No. 1 spot.

It’s a new year and a new season for Bronco rugby, and the players are confident in the work they put in during the offseason.

The team implemented a rigorous offseason workout program and acquired new members to the coaching staff over the summer, according to senior marketing major Brandon Besler.

One of these coaches is three-time collegiate All-American, Nartus Wessels.

“We got a new coach, and he definitely brings more rugby IQ and a different look on how we play rugby,” said senior business administration major Bennett Mantz.

One of the team’s biggest strengths this year is its returning talent including Curry and Mantz, who were named Scholastic All-Americans by National Collegiate

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Rugby.

“I think in general we’re just very technically skilled compared to other teams, and we’ve got [a] really high IQ which really helps us out,” Besler said. “We’re not always the biggest team, but we usually can beat teams due to being better at the fundamentals and just more skilled.”

This season is shaping up to be something special for the club. Years of hard work have brought the team to where it is today.

Not long ago, Bronco rugby was more of a “social club,” according to Besler.

The rugby club was reestablished in 2006 as the Boise State Fighting Flamingos, according to Curry.

“They wore these bright pink jerseys,” Curry said. “We’re going to pay homage to those coaches and players by debuting the pink jerseys this season at a couple of home games as a ... throwback.”

The team has since found their new identity. When many of the team’s seniors were freshmen, they won only two games out of nine. Now, the club has only lost two games in the last two years.

Many veteran players have dedicated their time after class to building a blue-collar culture that is focused on winning, according to Curry.

The team is not financially supported by the university unlike some of the teams they play against, like Nazareth College in Rochester. According to Mantz, Besler and Curry, this puts an extra chip on their shoulder.

“When we found out Nazareth was varsity, we knew there was no holding back,” Curry said. “We like to think of ourselves as a blue-collar team. When we played Nazareth, we beat them 46-19, and they were all scholarship athletes and

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After ranking fourth in the nation during their 2022 season, the Boise State’s men’s rugby club is looking to rise towards the No. 1 spot.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter we were not.”

It’s championship or bust for the club.

The team says they want to leave a legacy behind and build rugby culture around Boise State.

“Last year was the farthest our club’s ever gotten,” Besler said. “To leave on a high note, being a champion and leave that legacy behind as the first champions in Boise State history, it would be amazing.”

The club says that winning a championship would not only mean a lot to the university, but to Idaho as well.

“It would be a symbol of how far we came, and if we won it would feel like something we definitely worked for and deserved,” Curry said.

The team hopes to have lots of fan support this year and have made admission to their games free of charge.

“I hope that people come to the games because it means a lot to us,” Mantz said.

“Having fan support there definitely keeps us that much more motivated.”

Boise State men’s rugby kicks off its first week in Pullman, Washington, against the Washington State Cougars.

The team will play its first home game against Gonzaga University on Oct. 1 on the Lincoln Turf Field.

SPORTS & REC

CFP BOARD OF MANAGERS VOTE TO EXPAND PLAYOFFS TO 12 TEAMS How the new College Football Playoff configuration impacts Boise State Marlei Soderquist | Spor ts & Rec Repor ter | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

to be done.”

With the most recent major success being the 2019 Mountain West Champions, the Boise State Bronco football team can set their sights on something bigger.

As the new expansion is set to be implemented in the next few years, Boise State will have a possible path to a National Championship title.

“Anytime you can provide hope for your fan base, it makes every game meaningful and it makes seasons that much more meaningful,” Boise State Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey said to reporters pertaining to the new expansion.

Bronco football head coach Andy Avalos is on a five-year contract with the Broncos until 2024. Avalos could be one of the first Bronco head coaches to lead the team to a national title.

Although achieving this title seems like a stretch, it’s a hopeful thought for many Boise State fans.

The College Football Playoff board of managers unanimously voted to expand the playoffs from four to 12 teams.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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he Boise State Broncos win the 2026 National College Football Playoff Championships.

This potential statement might not be far-fetched after the College Football Playoff board of managers unanimously voted to expand the playoffs from four teams, to 12.

In the past, Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference teams have dominated the College Football Playoff National Championship podium.

The current format, which entails the top four teams playing against each other, doesn’t give equal opportunities to other schools to win the highly coveted CFP National Championship Trophy.

With the new College Football Playoff (CFP) layout, 12 teams in the Division 1

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will participate in an elimination style competition in order to crown the national champions.

The larger field will begin with the 2026 season, though the College Football Management Committee will look into possibly moving up to the 12-team field for the 2024 or 2025 season.

The 12-team playoff will be made up of the six conference champions ranked highest by the committee, with no minimum ranking requirement, and the six highest-ranked teams not among the conference champions.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be ranked No. 1 through No. 4 and will receive a first-round bye.

The other eight CFP teams would play in the first round. The matchups would

be as follows: No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 at No. 7 and No. 9 at No. 8. Games are to be held at the higher seed’s campus site or another location selected by the higher seed.

The impacts of an expanded playoff are far and wide, especially if it happens within two years.

Expansion would generate a combined $450 million in estimated additional revenue in 2024 and 2025, some of which may be distributed for athlete benefits such as health care and family travel. “[Next thing] will be the beginning of the implementation process,” CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock said in his initial statement. “I’d say identify the steps that need to be taken to implement in 2026 but also what might need to be done in ’24 and ’25. There’s a lot of work

“With the new College Football Playoff layout, 12 teams in the Division 1 National Collegiate Athletic Association will participate in an elimination style competition in order to crown the national champions ...

Avalos could be one of the first Bronco head coaches to lead the team to a national title.”

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SPORTS & REC

NEW FAN EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE

INTRODUCING ANDREW MEADOW

The committee adds new activities to tailgating

Meet Boise State men’s basketball’s newest commit

Marlei Soderquist | Spor ts & Rec Repor ter | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Mat thew Valento | Staf f Writer | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Boise State football team held their season home opener on Sept. 17 against the University of Tennessee at Martin.

A new fan-based organization made its football debut before the game.

In early December 2021, Jeramiah Dickey, athletic director for Boise State, announced a new Bronco Football Fan Experience Committee labeled as the Experience Blue.

The committee consists of 15 members, some being season ticket holders and others die hard Bronco fans.

The goal of this newfound committee is to create engagement within Bronco Nation and cultivate a positive gameday experience for all in attendance.

“Albertsons Stadium has proven to be one of the most difficult venues for opponents in the country,” Dickey said. “And that is a direct result of Bronco Nation and the impact it can have on a game.”

The committee plans on placing their efforts on the pregame fan experience, ingame fan experience and concessions.

“We want to make sure our fans have the best experience possible while cheering on the Broncos, with no regard for kick time, day of the week or opponent,” Dickey said.

Boise State will also be unveiling their new upgraded video board located in the north end zone. This new board is 77 feet by 37 feet, making it significantly larger than the last and increasing the viewing area by roughly 25%.

Games will also feature a Bronco light show. Fans can sync their flashlight on their phone with the song that is playing in the stadium using the Bronco Athletics app.

Boise State Athletics will also relocate the student tailgate location to the intramural field outside the Student Union Building (SUB) where students can cheer on the team as they walk from the SUB to Albertsons Stadium.

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To engage fans, the committee will incorporate fireworks into the Bronco Walk. These fireworks will go off hours before kickoff to let fans know to head toward the entrance to welcome the team into the stadium.

Feedback from fans expressed a desire for a more premium barbecue option. In turn, the new Blue 32 BBQ will now be located at every concession stand in the stadium.

For added convenience, fans will have the option to skip lines entirely by ordering concessions directly on the Bronco Sports App. Bronco Alley, a feature of multiple food trucks, will also be making a comeback this year, as well as extra beverage stands and additional restrooms. Bronco Alley will be open on the east stadium parking lot for two hours, starting four hours prior to kickoff.

“Albertsons Stadium has proven to be one of the most difficult venues for opponents in the country, and that is a direct result of Bronco nation and the impact it can have on a game ... We want to make sure our fans have the best experience possible.”

- Jeramiah Dickey, Boise State athletics director

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Three-star recruit Andrew Meadow will join Boise State’s men’s basketball team in 2023.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Bryant

T

hree-star recruit Andrew Meadow announced his commitment to the Boise State men’s basketball team.

He made the announcement through an Instagram post on Aug. 11.

Meadow is currently a senior at West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch, California, and will attend Boise State in fall 2023.

Professional basketball trainer Taylor Statham has trained Meadow since he was 10 years old and witnessed Meadow’s progress to where he is today.

“What I do is train players. You don’t see that kind of growth,” Statham said, referring to Meadow’s improvement over the past three years. “But when someone is working out two, three, four times every single day, [you see it]. I have to tell him he needs a rest day.”

Meadow was a highly valued prospect and had 60 schools trying to recruit him, according to Statham.

“I was in the gym with (Brooklyn Nets point guard) Kyrie Irving last week, and [Meadow’s] approach isn’t like anyone his age,” Statham said. “His approach is that of Kyrie’s. He is the first one in the gym, and after playing he is still getting shots up.”

Meadow has shown clear talent since the first day he arrived to play at West Ranch High, according to his coaches.

“We had put him on our JV team for our summer camp, and he was only there for a day,” Coach Jeff Bryant said.

“We knew from that day that he was our future.”

Meadow averaged 19.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his junior season, according to MaxPreps.

This past spring, Meadow made his name known when joining NBA Star Lebron James’ AAU team: Strive For Greatness.

“To see him on the biggest stage in the Nike circuit, versus the best players in the country and being able to compete, it was a surreal moment,” Bryant said. “To see him hit a game-winner with Lebron sitting courtside, it was definitely nice to see.

Bryant and Statham believe that Boise State University and its fans will love Meadow and that his hard work will make him a valuable player for the Broncos.

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