Independent Student voice of Boise State since 1933
Inside the Capital Renewal program, Boise State’s $90 million project
18 Hockey Club and St. Luke’s partner for Pink in the Rink Hockey Club skated onto the Idaho Central Arena ice in bright pink jerseys to raise money for breast cancer support programs in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
13
Dance your troubles away with the Country Swing Dance Club
For one Monday night, the quad transformed into a country swing dance floor where students spun, swung and dipped underneath the stars.
10
Vol. 38, Issue 4 October 9, 2025
Boise metal is alive and well
Meet Plea Deal and Pink
two local bands defying musical boundaries.
12
Ghostly history, on wheels
Idahoans take a ride on a vintage, skeleton-operated trolley as they hear tales of downtown Boise’s supposedly haunted past.
Soapy Vomit,
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What's behind the construction all over campus? Over 2023 and 2024, the university received $90 million from the State of Idaho to address deferred maintenance on campus. With almost half of that budget already spent, the Capital Renewal Program is set to be nearly complete by fall of 2027.
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STELLAR COLLECTIVE CONFERENCE INVITES THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE OF ASTRONOMY
Julianna Kelsey | Culture Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Photo by Carter Nash
Astronomers and astrophysicists from across the country visited Boise State University on Friday, Oct. 3, to speak at Stellar Collective, a citizen science conference designed to engage the public in astronomy research and make science accessible for everyone.
Hosted in conjunction with the Boise State Department of Physics and Unistellar, a telescope and astronomical research company, the conference featured scientists whose research welcomes anyone interested in astronomy to participate and learn more about the universe.
“The projects they’re talking about don’t require fancy equipment or a PhD to work on,” said Arianna Japalucci, project manager for Stellar Collective and a senior studying astrophysics. “You can just do it from home, and all you really need is a curious mind. We just want people to know that there’s a place for them in science.”
Speakers at the conference covered a variety of space-related topics.
Dr. Franck Marchis, Chief Science Officer at Unistellar, spoke about a program he founded called Skymapper, a global telescope network that allows citizen astronomers to share what they see on their Unistellar telescopes directly with scientists.
The web of telescopes participating in Skymapper has the potential to allow scientists to view the sky from anywhere in the world at any time. Marchis demonstrated the scientific benefits of this with an example: by using dozens of telescopes across France that were in view of an asteroid occultation, researchers at Skymapper were able to determine
the specific shape of a distant asteroid. One user’s telescope was even able to determine the asteroid had a large crater, showing how the program allows regular skywatchers to make significant contributions to science.
Dr. Patrick Treuthardt, Assistant Head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, spoke about a program he started called Spiral Graph, which asked the public to help trace the shape of thousands of distant galaxies so scientists can learn more about how spiral galaxies form.
Cluster Buster was so successful that Treuthardt and his team turned their attention to the next phase of the project: Cluster Buster, a program that invites the public to verify if the galaxies from the Spiral Graph project are traced correctly.
Dr. Lauren Sgro’s presentation topic would catch anyone’s attention — aliens.
Sgro is a postdoctoral fellow at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute. She spoke about the program LaserSETI, which searches for extraterrestrial pulses across the universe and points scientists toward potential advanced civilizations on other planets.
“We want to try to help shape public opinion that this is real science, that we’re not just a bunch of crazy people looking for UFOs, because that doesn’t help anybody,” Sgro said in an interview with The Arbiter. “There are actual observatories, there are real searches that are being done. If people can take that away, then they can then have more informed conversations with other people in their lives about what that looks like.”
Sgro explained finding life on other
planets would help researchers learn more about where humans come from and how life forms.
“It would open up an entirely new field, biologically, chemically — not just astronomically,” Sgro said. “It would be scientifically valuable across all of the sciences.”
Sgro emphasized the importance of citizen science events and inviting the public to participate in scientific projects in whatever way they can.
“Science is a part of life,” she said. “In order to reconnect people with that wonder of ‘How do things work?’, it’s important to show them they can be part of the process of figuring out how things work.”
“Once we expand our minds and realize that we’re part of something bigger, our motives and how we approach life are different, and we’re more concerned with the whole and trying to improve the betterment of mankind,” she added.
The conference also allowed Boise State students to share their own scientific findings with visitors. Addison Hobson, a senior studying physics, shared a project she worked on over the summer as part of a research experience at Montana State University. Hobson studied how the temperature of the site in Montana affected underground equipment that measures magnetic field fluctuations associated with geomagnetic storms.
Hobson explained that Stellar Collective was a great opportunity to share her work, and the mission of the conference was important to the scientific community.
“This is a super important thing to have for our community here, because
often science seems really daunting to a lot of people,” Hobson said. “You see all of these geniuses doing science, and you’re like, ‘I can’t do that.’ But in actuality, it’s so much simpler than people think, and it’s not nearly as hard to get into as people think. All you need is curiosity.”
Dr. Franck Marchis discusses how the Skymapper telescope network combats night pollution in urban areas.
BOISE STATE ESTABLISHES NEW SCHOOL OF KINESIOLOGY
Grace Stark | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Graphic by Amber Jansson
After years under the School of Allied Health Sciences, the kinesiology program has become the School of Kinesiology, gaining its school designation this fall.
Divisional Dean of Kinesiology, Lynda Ransdell, highlighted that rather than being a program within the School of Allied Health Sciences, the School of Kinesiology now has more freedom to expand student opportunity due to its increased stature and autonomy as an established school.
T he school currently hosts two undergraduate programs, four graduate degree programs and several sub-disciplinary areas of specialization.
With its newfound status, the School of Kinesiology will undergo changes in curriculum, including the number of courses offered and tailoring courses specific to kinesiology. To do so, Ransdell highlighted the importance of the program’s faculty and advisors in identifying “pain points” and areas for it to grow.
T hese curriculum changes also make the school more competitive, which “puts [Boise State] in line with some of the best programs in the country,” Rans -
Undergraduate advisor Maddison Allsop said two major changes to the curriculum include the Exercise, Physical Activity and Sport (E.P.A.S.) degree and the Sports Coaching Certificate. These changes were kickstarted in recent years and will continue to be streamlined within the school.
T he E.P.A.S. degree is an alternative to the Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology, and includes new topics such as telehealth, business and technology in sports, Allsop said. The major is intentionally flexible with a variety of hybrid, online and in-person classes offered, allowing all students to achieve the degree.
T he Sports Coaching Certificate will be developed further due to the kinesiology program’s school designation, and how it utilizes courses and classes built into the core kinesiology requirements. According to Allsop, this makes it easier for students to pursue the certificate depending on their emphasis.
R ansdell noted the kinesiology program’s size and popularity among Boise State students allowed it to come into its own. Much of the program’s work will only be enhanced by its newfound
status as a school, with Ransdell noting the school’s designation “validates the work that the [school] makes to the university”.
“ We were fortunate that people believed in us and moved it forward,” she said.
Because of the program’s blend of lab work, research and hands-on learning for students, Ransdell looks forward to enhanced facilities, allowing for more opportunities in areas of study such as biomechanics and rehabilitation.
Senior and Kinesiology Club President Stephen Harmon said he has been in the program for the entire duration of his time at Boise State and is excited for the school’s future.
A s the Kinesiology Club’s president, Harmon puts on events for the kinesiology program, holds informative events, advertises for the university’s athletics events and attends the American College of Sports Medicine Northwest conference with other club members. He started attending club meetings as a freshman, and said since then, it became an outlet and an opportunity for him to give back to his school community.
Harmon highlighted his experience with the kinesiology program’s faculty and staff adds to his excitement as the school plans to expand course options.
“ There are more and more people getting into different emphases of kinesiology,” Harmon said. “We’ll be able to have more people in the kinesiology major, but also branch out and cover different fields.”
He noted the school designation enhances the university’s status and competition with other programs in the country, and he feels a sense of pride being a part of the program.
“ It’s exciting, especially thinking that I’ll be an alumnus of a great institution and be so proud of the major and the degree that I have,” Harmon said.
Via an email sent to students and faculty on Oct. 2, the Boise State University Presidential Search Committee provided an update to the Idaho State Board of Education on the ongoing presidential search, noting the committee does not have five finalists to present to the Board for consideration as previously anticipated.
This statement was signed by committee members David Turnbull, Kurt Liebech, Lisa Grow, Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, Mike Reynoldson, Bruce Mohr, Jeremiah Shinn and Lisa Bostaph.
“Given these circumstances, the committee recommends extending the search timeline,” the email stated. “This is the most responsible course of action to ensure that Boise State secures a president with the full experience, character and strategic vision to guide the university forward.”
The committee further recommended that the Board “revisit both the approach and the scope of the search in partnership with the firm retained to assist us, as well as with the search committee itself, before resuming the process.”
The committee assures “Boise State remains in capable hands”. No further information was provided regarding the presidential search or why the committee is not presenting five finalists at this time.
The Arbiter will continue to follow the presidential search as it develops.
WITH $39.5 MILLION ALREADY SPENT, THE CAPITAL RENEWAL
PROGRAM
IS SET TO BE NEARLY COMPLETE BY FALL 2027
Olivia Brandon, Grace Stark | Managing Editor, News Editor |
Practically everywhere you walk on campus, there’s a blue covering surrounding a construction site with the words “Capital Renewal Program at work” — but what exactly does that statement mean?
Despite the impracticality of blocked off sidewalks, entire sections of campus being under construction and an added ten minutes to your route to class, this hindrance has a name, purpose and millions of dollars of funding behind it: The Capital Renewal Program
Over the course of two years, Boise State received $90 mil -
lion from the State of Idaho for deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance refers to necessary projects that lack the financial resources to be completed, often relating to safety or efficiency.
The program aims to revitalize campus structures by addressing three common themes: replacing equipment nearing the end of its life, improving energy efficiency and enhancing the safety and longevity of buildings on campus.
These themes are illustrated through the updating of
steam plant boilers, fire alarm systems, roof replacements and ensuring elevators can operate during a power outage.
Stephany Galbreaith, director of media relations for Boise State, explained in 2023, Boise State “received $38 million from the State of Idaho to address high-priority deferred maintenance needs”, resulting in Phase 1 of the project.
The university received an additional $52 million in 2024 from the State of Idaho, which enabled Boise State to begin work on deferred maintenance projects, deemed Phase 2.
Currently in Phase 2, $39.5 million of the budget has been committed to various projects — marking roughly 45% of the full budget.
Central Heat Plant
The central heat plant steam boilers serve 25 buildings around campus.
The project addresses structure de -
terioration in the underground tunnel system and replaces the central plant equipment with more modern technology.
Don Whitehead, Project Manager, Architecture and Engineering Services, explained that the work on the Heat Plant was a project he was particularly proud of.
“I’m very pleased that we were able to complete the Heat Plant project this year, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming work on the Steam Tunnels over the next two years,” Whitehead said. “These improvements will have a significant and lasting impact on campus. The steam system supports 27 buildings and directly affects thou - sands of students,
Photos by Carter Nash, Graphics by Naomi Brown
faculty, and staff.”
This month marks the end of the estimated six-month shutdown for the heating system while it undergoes maintenance. Because the steam system typically shuts down from May to the middle of Sept., about 14 campus buildings that do not have supplemental heating options are projected to experience colder temperatures during October. These include Albertsons Library, the Liberal Arts Building, the Science and Education Building and the Student Union Building.
The current boilers in the heat plant have been serving the Boise State campus since the 1960s, surpassing their expected lifespan. Maintenance on this system will not only create energy efficiency and eliminate deterioration, but also improve safety for maintenance staff.
“This work is critical to preventing future service disruptions. The new monitoring system will detect potential issues in real time and alert the Facilities team within seconds—regardless of the time of day—enabling a much faster response and reducing the duration of any outages,” he said.
connect more of the campus to the City of Boise Geothermal system.
“Additionally,” Whitehead added, “The upgraded Heat Plant will now serve as a showcase facility for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) Engineering students. It will provide a valuable, hands-on learning environment where they can study real-world steam system operations as part of their academic and professional development.”
Riverfront Hall
Described on the campus operations website as “the second highest priority for building renewals”, Riverfront Hall will merge with the School of Public Service (SPS) due to a need for more space after the program’s continued growth. Additionally, the air handler modernization or HVAC system is being replaced with a more energy-efficient unit.
Teresa Vidales, Project Manager, Architecture and Engineering Services, described the process of updating the system as “fascinating”.
“I found the scope of the Riverfront Hall HVAC project particularly fascinating; observing the air handler unit being opened, updated, and reassembled was a great learning experience,” Vidales said.
unit, described as “nearing the end of its life”, was updated and will not only remove heating and cooling, but also the building’s overall energy efficiency.
Liberal Arts
Originally built in 1967, the Liberal Arts building is also receiving some much-needed TLC. The fire alarms were fully updated to a modern system and a more maintainable system, as finding replacements for the system’s old parts is “difficult to find”.
The building’s roof was replaced and the building’s HVAC system, which is responsible for distributing energy throughout Liberal Arts.
“The Riverfront and Liberal Arts buildings are highly utilized and invaluable assets to the campus. A comprehensive refresh was essential to ensure they continue to serve the community effectively,” Vidales said. “It was incredibly rewarding to see all systems come together and have both buildings successfully returned to normal operations despite a complicated schedule.”
Albertsons Library
A design study will determine if the university will replace the steam boilers with new steam boilers or if a 4th-generation heating system will be installed. This heating system would increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and create an opportunity to
Generators were replaced to ensure fire alarms, elevators and OIT (Office of Information Technology) systems run smoothly. The new generators are connected to the campus remote monitoring system, allowing emergency services to have a quicker response time.
The former air handling
Since its opening in 1964, the campus library has undergone many changes with the help of fundraising and grants, and in 1995 was named the Albertson’s Library that we know today.
Capital Renewal Program maintenance in the library targets replacements for switchgear systems and concrete ramps in order to comply
with American Disability Act requirements. These replacements will ensure improved access to the building, the safety of maintenance personnel and the resiliency of the building.
Construction will include replacing concrete ramps, new handrails on both sides of the ramps and stairs and modifying the existing guardrail to meet ADA requirements on the east exit of the building.
As the building’s electrical switchgear system reaches the end of its life, replacing it will improve safety for maintenance personnel who operate it and overall contribute to the building’s resiliency so that it can continue to serve students.
According to Galbreaith and team, all but one of the projects are set to be completed by fall 2027. As the tallest building on campus at eight stories high, the Education Building requires a longer construction process.
More information on the Capital Renewal Program can be found on the Campus Operations website and individuals interested in continuous updates can be added to an email list by contacting Donald Whitehead at donaldwhitehead@boisestate.edu.
OPINION
WHEN THE PLAYBOOK IS HORROR, “HIM” CAN’T FINISH THE DRIVE
Aidan Mattingly | Sports Reporter | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures, Graphics by
Few filmmakers have reshaped modern horror like Jordan Peele, whose production company thrives on stories that stick in the mind long after the final scene. “HIM” tries to follow in that same rhythm, blending football with psychological terror — but this uniquely conceptual movie struggles to reel in an audience.
The film, released on Friday, Sept. 19, features a unique storyline with layered themes, unnerving visuals and a plot exposing the darker costs of ambition. On paper, “HIM” acts as a football movie wrapped in psychological horror antics, and while the trailers seemed promising, the result of this film fumbled.
College quarterback Cam Cade is our main character, who suffers a devastating brain injury that derails his career. Isaiah White, a retired legendary quarterback for the Saviors, swoops in and offers Cade a lifeline. White invites Cade to his private compound, promising to rebuild him into a star.
Training at this compound quickly turns into something ritualistic, as White’s methods push Cade into a psychological spiral. The movie blends sports culture with cult-like devotion,
using long, drawn-out shots of isolated training grounds and distorted sound to turn football drills into scenes of indoctrination.
The film’s eerie style didn’t click with every viewer. Skylar Gravatt, an attendee of the screening, called the movie “odd,” further explaining how it failed to measure up to Peele’s other work. “The trailer looked really good,” he commented. “I was a little disappointed. I get the story – and it wasn’t bad, but I just think the trailer made it look a lot better than it really turned out to be.”
Skylar’s reaction to “HIM” highlights a broader frustration where good marketing can mask expectations and leave fans confused or misled.
Shawn Gravatt walked out with a similar impression, though he never had high hopes from the start. He said the movie played out exactly as he expected. “Nothing really took me by surprise. It was virtually identical to what I expected.” For Shawn, predictability dulled the experience, with the movie relying on extreme visuals to shock the audience.
He added the film leaned too heavily on familiar beats, comparing it to the 1997 film “The Devil’s Advocate” in the way it framed its story. “The only thing
I didn’t like about it was nothing came as a surprise,” he explained. The similarities, he said, made the movie feel less distinct and more like a retelling of ideas audiences had already seen before. While the ritualistic sports training angle gave it a unique backdrop, the writing wasn’t elevated enough to transform the film into something fresh.
The broad consensus online also paints the picture: On IMDb, “HIM” sits at 5.4 out of 10 and then lands a whopping 31% on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences have been a little kinder, giving it a 57% approval, but even those numbers
suggest a division rather than universal acclaim.
Still, “HIM” had some standout moments. The ritualistic training sequences hit the hardest, framing Cade as both competitor and captive. White drives Cade past his limits, forcing the audience to see how sports culture can resemble a cult. The cinematography drives this point home, locking the camera low to the ground and showing Cade as if he struggles under White’s shadow.
“HIM” doesn’t fully live up to its bold ambitions in the end, but it isn’t without merit. The unsettling atmosphere and layered ideas give viewers something to chew on, even if the film is carried by unsettling visuals.
The tension this movie brings outweighs the results, and for many, the trailer may have promised more than the film could deliver. Either way, “HIM” may not reach the lasting cultural impact of cult-classic Peele horror films such as “Get Out” or “Nope,” but it forces a conversation about ambition and the haunting price of chasing perfection — on the field and far beyond it.
Naomi Brown
A SWIFTIE’S
HONEST REVIEW OF ‘THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL’
Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album has high highs and low lows
Julianna Kelsey | Culture Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Photo courtesy of Republic Records
As a proud Swiftie, I can’t complain about the abundance of Taylor Swift music we’ve been blessed with in the last six years. A lot of my favorite songs come from her recent albums, so I was excited when she announced her twelfth studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl”.
However, when Swift began marketing the album as a fusion of “1989” (her most iconic album; think “Blank Space”, “Shake it Off”, “Wildest Dreams”) and “Folklore” (her masterpiece, in my opinion), I was afraid. The blending of two iconic works that caught lightning in a bottle is an impossible
standard to set for any new album — let alone for two albums that won Album of the Year at the Grammys.
Swift painted a luxurious and dramatic picture through the album’s imagery, featuring glittery, scrapbook-style graphics. With most of Swift’s recent albums taking on a more serious tone, I was hoping that this playful imagery meant we would finally get some more upbeat pop anthems we heard on her albums like “Lover”.
Upon first listen, I felt conflicted about the album as a whole. While some of the songs completely blew me away, others left me feeling confused or disappointed. As far as being a blend of “1989” and “Folklore”, I’d say about half the songs on “The Life of a Showgirl” meet that standard.
For me, the top three songs on the album are “The Fate of Ophelia”, “Opalite” and “The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)”.
The first track and lead single on the album, “The Fate of Ophelia”, is one of the best pop hits we’ve heard from Taylor Swift in years. The production and beat of this track are so expertly crafted that you physically cannot stop yourself from dancing.
The lyrics are peak Taylor Swift songwriting — Swift’s effortless poetic imagery paired with general silliness makes it easy to love.
“All that time, I sat alone in my tower / You were just honing your powers / Now I can see it all / Late one night you dug me out of my grave and / Saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia.”
If you’re not a Swiftie, prepare to get sick of “The Fate
of Ophelia”, because I have a feeling it is going to be a hit.
On “Opalite”, Swift returns to form with simple, fun lyricism to make a feel-good pop bop that we really haven’t heard from her since her “Lover” album. “Opalite” is infectiously joyous — a reminder that everything is going to be alright.
“It’s alright / You were dancing through the lightning strikes / Sleepless in the onyx night / But now the sky is opalite.”
This could have been a contender for lead single with “The Fate of Ophelia”, because this really has pop-hit potential too. I’ll definitely return to “Opalite” on my bad days to cheer me up and remind me not to take life too seriously.
The title track, “The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter),” was the perfect note to end the album on. The song is fun, and Sabrina Carpenter elevates it to a new level.
Swift does what she does best here: storytelling. On the track, she spins a fun narrative about meeting an idol who warns her about the demands of a showgirl’s life. Swift decides to pursue that life anyway and doesn’t regret it.
“Sequins are forever / And now I know the life of a showgirl, babe / Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
It’s a warm, cheerful reflection on Swift’s incredible career, and the cherry on top is that Swift and Carpenter sound surprisingly great together.
There are more tracks worth praising on the album, but there are also some songs that didn’t quite meet the mark for me. The bottom three tracks for me were “Wi$h Li$t”, “Wood” and “CANCELLED!”
“Wi$h Li$t” could have been a cute song, but the execution of the lyrics makes it sound out of touch. After mocking her celebrity peers for their luxury lifestyles, apparently, all Swift
wants is to have babies and a house with a basketball hoop. The sentiment just isn’t effective coming from one of the richest women in the world. The lyrics are pretty cliche, and the instrumentals are similar to her work on “Midnights”, which isn’t my favorite production style for her.
I had one thought while listening to “Wood”: We really should all know less about each other.
I don’t think I can defend some of the lyrics on this track. I’ll just say this — I’ve now heard far too many metaphors about a certain football player’s “New Heights of manhood.” I think we should leave the innuendo to Sabrina Carpenter. It is pretty catchy, though.
To me, “CANCELLED!” is the low point of the album. The song did exactly what I feared it would do — tried way too hard to be a “reputation” song. Between the tired narrative of Swift being hated by the media and the boring production, this entire song feels forced and falls flat.
This isn’t a perfect album by any means, but it feels so quintessentially Taylor Swift that I can’t help but love it. It has everything I love most about her work: poetic songwriting, bold lyrics, catchy melodies and glossy, gorgeous production.
The album has received mixed reviews, as Swift’s work usually does. It seems everyone has a take on this album — they either love it, or they think it’s one of her worst. Either way, I think it’s a reminder that whatever you think about Swift and her music, no one else has the world talking like this.
october 9, 2025
“The Life of a Showgirl” grows on me every time I listen. What I love most is the fun of this album — it’s been a long time since we’ve heard Swift make truly joyful, upbeat and dance-worthy songs, and it’s so much fun to see Swift in her pop princess era again. |
The crowd fell silent for a millisecond — just enough time for three figures standing on stage to ready their instruments. The light hum of a guitar distortion, the gentle caress of a cymbal and the crackling of microphones filled the air in an instant. The slow countdown of a metronome, ticking every other second, could not be heard but was felt in the crowd’s anticipation. Static. Then, without warning, a guitar riff broke the silence. The drummer found his line; the crowd roared with arms and legs flailing in a two-step motion. Chaos.
The occasion came courtesy of Slaughterfest Vol. 2, an annual hardcore music festival held every year at the Shredder — the self-proclaimed “heaviest hit ting venue” in Boise. Bands from across the Treasure
Valley and beyond gather at the venue to celebrate genres that often fly beneath the radar: punk, death metal and grindcore.
A community of artists who use
Bunker, a concrete building repurposed into a handy practice studio, Plea Deal aims to revitalize a musical tradition dating back to the 1970s.
The punk movement emerged in the mid-1970s and ‘80s alongside bands like the Ramones, Blondie and the Sex Pistols. Not unlike current groups, these bands used their music to critique economic and social conditions.
Unlike many of their predecessors, Plea Deal employs even heavier instrumentals to convey their message, creating a bridge between punk, hardcore and metal.
“There is a punk scene here, but it’s not like what we’re doing,” said Noah Gouvea, the band’s bassist. Gouvea is joined by bandmates Bro -
den Rider, Caleb Moehlmann and main lyricist Dylan Clark. The group formed in 2024 after Clark moved to Idaho from San Diego, California.
“I started going to shows out here, and it inspired me to start another band because I used to have one when I was a kid,” Clark said. “I met [Rider] because he was playing in all the other bands. I was like, ‘Hey, would you be down to start a punk band?’ That’s how it started.“
The band’s lyrical ethos aligns with their instrumentals: fast, emotional, imperfect.
“I freestyle a lot of it, we practice it, I’ll listen to the recordings, and then I’ll just rewrite it,” Clark said. “It’s fun, we don’t play everything perfectly, and we’re
Valentin Termite | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Graphics by Amber Jansson, Photos by Valentin Termite
Left to right: Noah Gouvea, Dylan Clark, Broden Rider, Caleb Moehlmann
not trying to be perfect.”
Speed and emotional release, rather than accuracy or neatness, are the band’s main concerns. According to Clark, the goal is to get people moving.
“It’s just more towards the community,” Clark said. “If you’re feeling down, you talk to people, come to the shows or listen to the music. Get the emotions out, and maybe someone else will feel those emotions too.”
Songs like “Suicidal”, “No Feeling” and “Not So Friendly” echo these sentiments, wrapping fast power chords and drum loops around Clark’s bleak lyrics.
“It’s just what comes out of my mouth, a lot of hate towards the world and America’s government,” Clark said. Their brief 2025 EP, “A Comedy With Imagination”, followed a self-titled debut album released one year earlier.
“Fuck The Government” and “Lousy Streets”, the first two tracks in the record, continue the band’s themes of social discontent.
“Being an anarchist — that’s probably been the trend since the ‘70s,” Clark said. “We’re just trying to keep it going and bring it back.”
For Plea Deal, the underground community offers people belonging and a way to release their emotions together.
Despite their local roots, Plea Deal envisions big goals on the horizon.
“My goal is for us to get to Europe,”
many or the United Kingdom… that’d be fun.”
Pink Soapy Vomit
Pink Soapy Vomit’s name doesn’t leave much up to the imagination. They combine death metal and sludge to explore eating disorders and transgender issues, packaged inside a flurry of distorted instrumentals.
“I listened to [death metal],” said the band’s guitarist, Emma Herring. “Nobody used that [genre], at least nobody that I knew of, to explore the themes I wanted to explore.”
Herring started the band alongside drummer Jacob Denkers after meeting at a local show. They were later joined by Griffin Richardson, vocalist, to work on their latest EP, “Exhibitions of Dysmorphia,” released in January 2025. Jackary Tiderman was the latest addition to the group, replacing a previous bassist. Together, the band uses music to relate their experiences with bulimia and transgender struggles, according to Richardson.
The track “Samurai Sex Change” exemplifies the band’s personality: mixing fast and aggressive drumming with Richardson’s screaming vocals. Other songs like “Pearly Whites” and the self-titled opener alternate different tempos to create a diverse soundscape, all while never dropping the high-octane feel that characterizes metal as a genre.
however, that they struggled to find a place within the local underground scene. To the contrary, the band said the community opens a creative space for anyone to engage with alternative music genres.
“[The underground community] provides a safe place for people,” Richardson said. “It’s supposed to be welcoming.”
“We don’t tolerate intolerance,” Tiderman added.
For Pink Soapy Vomit, the underground community represents a big family where diverse voices are welcome and personal expression is paramount.
They hope to continue their journey into the future.
“We’re gonna write some more songs,” Denkers said. “We’re probably gonna make an album, and then we’re hoping for a tour [in] fall of 2026 around the Pacific Northwest.”
Members of Boise’s underground music community believe it defies description.
“I’d say that there are a lot of subgenres,” Jake Santiago, a community
member and music commentator, said. “I don’t think we could classify them as one.”
Nevertheless, bands like Plea Deal and Pink Soapy Vomit highlight a common thread: niche music communities offer a safe space for expression, belonging and acceptance.
These spaces allow people from different backgrounds to share their experiences and frustrations with their heavy instrumentals and abrasive sounds reflecting the world around them.
When asked about how to introduce newcomers to the scene, all bands and community members shared a common sentiment: go to local shows.
“You gotta find a good idea, and then you gotta squeeze all the maximum juices,” Herring said of the recording process. “Then you find ideas that are similar, squeeze all those juices and then intermingle them together.”
As a public-facing group with transgender members, the band makes its struggles a foundational motif. They do not shy away from the protest and advocacy inherent in their music.
“They’re trying to get rid of us every day,” Tiderman said.
“I think that’s protesting,” Denkers added.
Their identity does not mean,
Left to right: Emma Herring, Griffin Richardson, Jackary Tiderman, Jacob Denkers
CULTURE
HAUNTED BOISE TROLLEY TOURS TAKES PASSENGERS ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CITY’S
On cold October nights, vintage trolleys roll through the streets of downtown Boise, eerie music drifting out of their windows. Inside, flickering candlelight casts a warm glow on passengers as they listen to ghost stories. As they journey across the city, they pay a visit to some of Boise’s haunted buildings. Boise Trolley Tours offers a spooky twist on their historical tours in the month of October by taking passengers to landmarks in the city rumoured to be haunted.
The old-fashioned streetcars, adorned with creepy decorations, are guided by
an animatronic skeleton named Anita Bone-ita, who offers comedic commentary about Boise’s ghostly past.
Guests travel around town to dozens of supposedly haunted sites, such as the old Idanha Hotel, the Egyptian Theatre and City Hall. The trolley makes stops at a couple of locations where guests can wander around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the fabled spirits who haunt them.
Visitors are invited to take pictures at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, a site considered one of the most haunted places in the state of Idaho.
Boise State University even makes an appearance on the tour. While the trolley doesn’t visit campus, Bone-ita tells the story of the Communication Building, long-rumoured to be haunted by a former student.
Passengers on the trolley were fascinated by the history they learned about on the tour, and appreciated the chance to connect with Boise’s frightening past.
“I’ve always loved the history behind stuff like this,” said Kaycee Charles, a passenger on the haunted trolley tour. “I love it when history gets turned into a story that everybody can follow.”
For some, the tour is a spine-chilling experience. For others, it’s more about novelty.
“For me, it was more campy than spooky,” Charles noted. “But I know I heard some other people on the ride that were definitely a little bit more spooked. I think it just kind of depends on how you actually feel about paranormal shenanigans.”
While this tour solely focused on the paranormal side of Boise’s history, some
passengers noted after the tour, they wanted to experience the regular history tour to learn more about the city’s past.
“There was a point in the middle where it just definitely felt like a normal trolley tour, but at the beginning and at the end, it had the Halloween element that you come for,” said Scott Charles, another passenger. “It was a cool Halloween sandwich with a normal tour in the middle. It definitely made me want to come back and do a normal trolley tour to see what information I can learn from that, too.”
When new ownership took over Boise Trolley Tours in 2024, Kendall Shew joined the team to lead marketing and special programs, breathing new life into the company’s experiences. Shew explained many of the upgrades were inspired by the storytelling and production style of Disneyland attractions.
“We were thinking, ‘How can we make it fun?’” he said. “We both loved that idea of a snarky host like ‘Jungle Cruise’. What if a comedian led it? What if we had a skeleton that does the bits?”
The team decided that they’d do both — a skeleton would narrate the haunted tour, and a local comedian would record the lines.
“Krystal Moore, local comedian, is the voice of Anita Bone-ita. She’s a local comedian around here, with a dry sense of humor and everything. Her voice was lowered to fit the idea of what a skeleton would sound like,” Shew added
The haunted tour pairs the skeleton’s comedic narration with a visual experience. Screens inside the trolley display footage of Boise’s historic landmarks as Bone-ita tells their stories. Shew believes the upgrades have been well worth the
effort, making Boise Trolley Tours a must-see local attraction.
This year’s Halloween tour has been selling out faster than ever before, and the response from the public has been “extremely positive.” Shew and his team are continually working on improving year-round programming for Boise Trolley Tours, hoping to keep drawing in more visitors.
“There are people who travel from out of town to come check out some of these spots,” he noted. “We’re just so lucky that we get to make our own little slice of Disneyland in Boise, Idaho.”
DANCE THROUGH YOUR MONDAY WITH THE COUNTRY SWING DANCE CLUB
Julianna Kelsey | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Photos by Julianna Kelsey, Graphics by Naomi Brown
By day, the quad bustles with busy students rushing to their next class. For one Monday night, however, it was transformed into a country swing dance floor where students spun, swung and dipped underneath the stars.
The Country Swing Dance Club, a popular social group for students interested in country dancing, hosted an “Under The Stars” dance night on Monday, Sept. 22. The club hosts weekly meetings to teach students how to swing and line dance, and attendees have a chance to show off their new skills at dance nights.
“[Swing dancing] is the best thing that you can do in college,” said Juliet McKee, president of the Country Swing Dance Club. “It’s so social — a great little workout, too. I have friends that have met people and gotten married through dancing, and that is so cool. It’s just such a great community.”
McKee, who joined the club as a freshman, quickly grew to love country dancing as a wholesome, fun activity to meet people and learn something new.
“Dancing is such an amazing outlet,” McKee said. “This is a social thing you can do late at night, and you don’t have to drink or pay for anything. It’s awesome.”
Despite having no prior experience in country dancing, McKee said the professional dance teachers and supportive members of the club allowed her to learn quickly.
“I did not dance [before joining the club],” McKee said. “Then I came here and realized, ‘Okay, I know a cupid shuffle, I can spin,’ and now I’m four years in and feel confident. I’ve got plenty of room to improve, but I can have fun with it.”
The club, in addition to its weekly meetings, also hosts a formal dance every semester in collaboration with other schools. Their winter formal will be hosted by Northwest Nazarene University’s swing dance club on its campus.
McKee explained while many members of the club treat it as a casual social activity, some dancers take it on as a serious hobby, dedicating significant time to developing their skills
“You can make it this whole competitive thing where you’re always trying to get better,” McKee said. “There’s so much room for improvement and people you can learn from, and there are incredible instructors nearby that you can get private lessons from. Or, it can just be a fun thing; you go hang out every Monday night for a couple hours and get the free lesson and meet people — it’s super
chill.”
Members of the club expressed their appreciation for such a positive and supportive community on campus.
“Country Swing Dance Club is such a great club,” expressed Torvon Onlund, an officer of the club. “They invite everyone from any discipline [and] at any experience level to come dance, have a great night, to meet new people and just have some fun.”
One aspect of the club that members enjoy the most is the wide variety of people who come out to dance, allowing students to make connections with others they might not otherwise connect with.
“You meet people from all sorts of backgrounds,” Onlund said. “You meet old people, young people — especially in country swing. You meet introverts like me, you meet extroverts, you really get exposed to a different crowd that you’re not used to. It’s very exciting.”
Freshmen Jaycee Weadick and Matt Prigmore shared the Country Swing Dance Club inspired their love of country dancing, and they appreciate the opportunity to learn something new while connecting with others.
ning. That really helped.”
The “Under the Stars” night was a great opportunity for people unfamiliar with the club to discover it for the first time, according to Weadick.
“We’re attracting more people, people just walking up [to the event],” Weadick said. “I think that’s really cool, because it’s kind of hard to find above the SUB. But out in the middle of the quad, we’re attracting people.”
Prigmore also expressed appreciation for the new connections he has made through the club and the unique opportunity of dancing under the stars in the quad.
The club meets every Monday night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and students interested in getting involved can find details about the location and theme of meetings on the club’s Instagram page, @ csdcboisestate.
“Come check it out,” Prigmore said. “You’ll be surprised at how much fun you’ll have.”
“We really like it,” Weadick said. “The instructors are really good at teaching, so it’s really nice. I got a little feedback when they’re teaching us at the begin -
CULTURE
PROFESSOR ROLAND BECERRA AWARDED IDAHO COMMISSION ON THE ARTS FELLOWSHIP FOR FILM, ‘AGATHA’
Grace Stark | News Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Photos and illustrations courtesy of Ronald Becerra
When corruption in society meets the consequences of those who came before us, can we escape the crimes of our ancestors?
Boise State Associate Professor of Illustration Roland Becerra’s film and graphic novel, “AGATHA”, explores the realities of a post-industrial Bridgeport, Conn., rooted in the town’s history of executing “witches” in the 1600s.
Becerra’s film recently received the Idaho Commission on the Arts Fellowship and has previously won over 30 awards.
Originally from Miami, Fla., Becerra studied fashion and costume design at an arts high school before pursuing his undergraduate degree in painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, later receiving his master’s from Yale University.
As his career developed, Becerra felt drawn to film and graphic novels, which led him to develop a unique art style he describes as “experimental animation”.
The haunting tale of “AGATHA” is a decade in the making and follows the story of a professor with terminal cancer, a secret society of modern-day witches and Agatha, a mourning mother facing cosmic consequences.
Becerra’s idea for the film originated from his time living in Bridgeport,
which he described as an “industrial wasteland”.
“I like to make films that are grounded in the history of where I’m at,” Becerra said. “I wanted to mirror contemporary ideas of how modern people will pay the price of what our ancestors did.”
As the director of the film, Becerra used rotoscoping, an animation technique that combines real actors and digital painting to create realistic movement in his film. He then turned it into a 170-page graphic novel using his handdrawn illustrations and digitally added coloring and text.
“We bled to make ‘AGATHA’,” Becerra said. “The music, the sound of it, everything was to be more of a visual experience than a plot-driven movie.”
The team behind the project consisted of Becerra, composer and sound designer Jeremy Santiago-Horseman and Becerra’s wife, Kelly Bigelow Becerra, who assisted Becerra with directing, costume design and working with the actors.
During the production process, Bigelow Becerra was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The film eventually received attention from distribution companies and Los Angeles-based film companies, but after his wife’s death, Becerra said he “put [the film] on sabbatical” and “stopped taking calls”.
The film was eventually completed in 2022 and has since appeared in over 50 film festivals.
Today, Becerra does not have plans to release the film and is “ready for the next thing” in his career. However, he expressed that he may revisit working on the film in the future and is open to the possibility of signing a distribution agreement, should he find a distributor whom he trusts.
“I never wanted to direct alone, and our energies fit together,” Becerra said. “I want to make sure that she would’ve wanted this to be released the way it is.”
Santiago-Horseman met Becerra while taking his class at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Connecticut and the two later became colleagues. He also attended graduate school at Syracuse University, where he studied painting and music. Since the production team was so small, Santiago-Horseman described working on the project as an intimate and hands-on experience.
“There was no distance there, I was in the middle of everything,” Santiago-Horseman said. “That really enriched the ability to produce sound as good as it can be.”
As the composer and sound designer, Santiago-Horseman created the film’s sounds and music “from the ground up,” with little third-party sound development. He noted this project required him to use older recording techniques mixed with digital processes to capture sound, as well as get creative with mimicking specific sounds that were more difficult to record.
“When you start to build these textures over the top of each other, you really start to create a believable universe,” Santiago-Horseman said.
Santiago-Horseman also believes in visual experiences that create a “sensory crossover” between sound and sight, and described working with conventional sound as a “very musical process.”
“For me, as a musician and sound designer, I tend to not differentiate between the two roles because what you hear in nature is rhythmic and harmonious no more than traditional music,” Santiago-Horseman said.
Becerra and Santiago-Horseman noted the importance of straying away from Artificial Intelligence in the arts, a concept that became more popular since the start of creating “AGATHA”.
“It is impressive in what it can do, but it is still hollow and dead to me,” Becerra said. “I can feel the presence of the
filmmaker that only humans can bring to a movie.”
Becerra said he encourages his students to explore their originality and integrity, and to “tell a story nobody else has told”, no matter how small an audience it impacts.
Boise State student Jefferson Cordovero said after taking Becerra’s class in the spring of 2025, he felt compelled to explore original ideas and attention to detail to strengthen his skills.
“I could tell that he really wanted us to push original ideas and not just create something easy,” Cordovero said.
As an independent film, “AGATHA” was solely created and produced by Becerra and his team. Santiago noted the advantages to the independent film industry and encouraged students to keep that in mind when telling their original stories and ideas as artists.
“When names are just numbers on a page, that’s when we’ve lost the point,” Santiago said.
Although “AGATHA” has not been released, it continues to play in film festivals and showings of Becerra’s work. His current solo painting exhibition at Idaho State University in Pocatello will run until the end of October, with a screening of “AGATHA” to close out the exhibit.
The sun shines brilliantly down on the streets of W Ustick Rd between Cole Road and Mountain View Drive.
Instead of the usual crossing cars, the streets are transformed, bustling with people of all ages, riding in and out on bikes alongside their pets and children. This lively atmosphere was all thanks to the Boise Bicycle Project’s second annual Open Streets Boise “car-free celebration”.
The evolving project began in the late 1900s when a man by the name of Jeff Lebesch created the Tour De Fat, a cycling tour that began in Fort Collins, Colorado, to celebrate beer and biking.
After several years of the traveling event running through the streets of Boise, the Tour De Fat eventually moved on, but not without leaving a lasting impression.
In 2018, the Boise Bicycle Project began its own event inspired by Tour De Fat — Goathead Fest, an event where the community came together to pick the invasive weeds known as goatheads.
“[Goathead Fest] was a really fun event where we partnered with the city of Boise to pick goatheads throughout the summer in areas where folks were re -
lying on biking as a mode of transportation,” said Whitney Schrader, marketing manager of the Boise Bicycle Project.
“The Goathead Fest was this big celebration at the end of the picking season to celebrate all of those efforts,” Schrader added. “We ended up pivoting from that because we really wanted to evolve and scale the event and bring in more partners.”
This pivot gave birth to Open Streets Boise, which temporarily transforms neighborhood streets throughout Boise into spaces where Boiseans can bike, walk and roll without the presence of motorized vehicles.
“The Boise Bicycle Project is a great organization that does a lot for the community. I believe in promoting bikes and fewer cars on the road. It just seemed like a fun way to support things that I care about,” said Rebecca Strauss, who has volunteered with the program since it was known as the Goathead Fest.
“This [event] has so much more space and so much more potential to do more community building,” Strauss added. “It’s just bikes, people, dogs and happiness.”
Read more at arbiteronline.com
Kelly Bigelow Becerra
Roland Becerra
SPORTS
KENZIE MACMILLAN MAKES HER PRESENCE KNOWN, ON AND OFF THE PITCH
When Kenzie MacMillan walks into a room, people notice.
Her laugh cuts through the noise, her energy fills the space and her presence has a way of steadying everyone around her. Even when an injury sidelined her for nearly a year, teammates still felt her impact.
The Boise State midfielder for women’s soccer built her career on more than minutes played or goals scored. She’s become known for her bright energy, the kind that uplifts everyone around her and emphasizes the importance of togetherness.
“I’ve learned I can do more than I thought I could,” MacMillan said. “Especially with injury last year — just loving to gain more support, appreciating the experience and the amount of resources I have at my disposal, whether it be a nutritionist or strength coach. The people around me really showed their true colors.”
Soccer has been part of MacMillan’s life since she was three years old. Growing up in Southern California, she excelled early and never looked back, driven by supportive parents and a competitive fire that grew as she did.
Her longtime teammate and close friend, Teryn Newkirk, remembers how intertwined their families were through youth soccer.
“Kenzie’s always been one of the most selfless people I know,” Newkirk said. “She’s always putting other people before herself. You can count on her in any situation.”
MacMillan’s maturity carried her through the ups and downs of her career as a Bronco, especially through the biggest challenge she faced last year.
In Spring 2024, MacMillan suffered a serious knee injury that kept her out for almost a year. Despite this, she found herself rallying the team together in a leadership role from the sidelines.
“Injuries build character,” she said. “It made me step back and look at what I’ve been through and what I needed to be better at. From the first day, I knew I wanted to come back and play my last year. That time built me up as a person for sure.”
The program felt her absence deeply. Cindy Connor, who grew up playing against MacMillan in California before becoming her teammate at Boise State, noticed the difference on the field right away.
“You could just feel like she wasn’t there,” Connor said. “Kenzie’s always the last one on the bus, always hyping people up in the locker room. Without her, it was different. She just brings people together.”
Even injured, MacMillan’s personality carried through. Teammates highlighted her quick wit and laugh that could liven up the locker room. Connor mentioned the “go-get-it” mindset MacMillan brings to the table, noting she is not only a strongly motivated player for the team but a morale builder, too.
When she makes her appearance on the pitch, she plays strong and competitively. Over her career at Boise State, she’s played in more than 60 matches, scoring 10 goals and adding 8 assists — numbers reflective of her finishing touch and ability to create opportunities for her teammates.
One of her strongest performances came in a 1-0 victory over Idaho State when she scored the game’s only goal to secure the win. Earlier this season, she
buried a penalty against Utah Tech to put Boise State ahead 2-0, a moment illustrating her composure under pressure. Whether it’s creating space, drawing in defenders or taking control late in close matches, MacMillan steps up when her team needs her most.
To MacMillan, leadership isn’t something that can be tallied in a box score or delivered in a speech. For her, it means showing up the same way every day.
“I hope they see me as the energy I bring every day,” she said. “Making sure I can brighten someone’s face, making sure I’m there for my teammates.”
MacMillan found ways to lead her teammates while balancing the weight of the game and her personal life. Newkirk said MacMillan balanced the demands of soccer with the relationships that mattered most. “Last year, when she was injured, it was a different role,” Newkirk said. “She was still a senior, and everyone looked up to her. Even from the sideline, she was leading by example.”
Off the field, her world looks a little different.
MacMillan is drawn to Idaho’s outdoors. She loves wakeboarding, going on hikes and attending concerts. Friends describe her as approachable, outgoing and someone who never shies away from finding humor in the moment.
Her outgoing nature is also shaping her future. Once she graduates with her business administration degree in December, she plans to step off the pitch and into sales or property management, careers that let her connect with people face-to-face.
“I like talking to people, not being stuck behind a computer,” she said.
“That’s always been my strength, and I want to continue that.”
The mark she leaves within Boise State athletics won’t be measured by her performances or statistics. It lives in the stories her teammates tell and the energy she brings into every situation.
“She’s the kind of person who makes everyone around her better,” Newkirk said. “That’s what’s going to make her successful in whatever she does.”
DESPITE NO DIVISION 1 TEAM, THE GAME OF BASEBALL IS ALIVE AND THRIVING AT BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Jake Zamora | Sports Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu | Photo courtesy of Boise State Club Baseball
At Boise State, the success and recognition of big-market sports like football and basketball are apparent to students and fans. In the fall, fans pack Albertsons Stadium to watch the Broncos battle on The Blue. In the winter, ExtraMile Arena becomes a comfortable place for fans, not just because it keeps them out of the frigid Boise weather, but also because of the immense support and love that Bronco Nation has for their teams.
For baseball fans, Boise State has not had a Division 1 team they can watch and support since 2020. The original Bronco baseball program was discontinued in 1980 and made a resurgence in 2019. This resurgence lasted just one year, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought on budgeting issues that ultimately caused the school to discontinue the program again.
Despite no Division 1 baseball team representing Boise State for the last five years, students still have the opportunity
to play baseball at a high level for the Broncos.
In 2025, the Boise State club baseball team will compete in the National Club Baseball Association, playing against other schools across the country, such as the University of Utah, the University of Wisconsin and Gonzaga.
For head coach Jeremy Branco, the concept of opportunity is what motivates him to keep baseball alive at Boise State.
“If you ask any player what my favorite word is, it’s opportunity,” Branco said. “Opportunity for those players to continue their career, opportunity for them to get tight and form some relationships, and if in any way it creates opportunities for an NCAA Division 1 program to come back, that’d just be icing on the cake.”
Branco, who is in his third year coaching the team, has been able to bring those opportunities to life. Over the summer, he had four of his players receive lucrative offers to play either Division II or Division III baseball.
“They all asked me for advice and I told every single one of them, ‘if that’s where your heart is, you should go, ’” Branco said. “Not a single one of them walked. Club baseball isn’t recreational, it’s competitive for sure, but it’s competing for the love of competing. Most of these guys are working jobs outside of baseball and school and are paying to be here. They clearly just love it.”
The love and passion that Branco’s players have for the game fuel the team’s close-knit bond.
“The team is seriously like a family,” senior middle infielder Tyler Schubert said. “Without a doubt, this is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of.”
Schubert noted the long van rides, team dinners and other team bonding events are what bring the team together. He mentioned some days, practice is cancelled altogether and replaced with team bonding nights.
“Our biggest strength is the closeness of the team,” Branco said. “There’s very little ego, it’s the next-player-up mental -
ity. The players really trust each other, and that extends off the field as well.”
The tight bond of the team has been a catalyst for their success on the field. Last season, the Broncos finished with an outstanding 25-6 record. Their 22-4 regular season record was the best in program history. In addition, their 25 wins were the second most in the nation behind Penn State. The team was 11-4 in conference play, finishing the season at the top of the conference standings.
The Broncos fell to the Oregon Ducks in the NCBA Championship, but their elite win-loss ratio and their record-setting 10 home runs hit as a team were just a few illustrations of how good the team can be.
Despite not being an official NCAA team, the Bronco club baseball team isn’t going unnoticed by fans.
“I went to a game last season, and was pretty surprised at how good the team actually is,” Boise State fan Luke Hawkins said. “The pitchers’ velo was up there, their bats looked good, I mean, they looked like a D1 team to me.”
The Broncos’ hunt for another successful season and their first NCBA Championship was kick-started by a three-game sweep of the Weber State Wildcats over the weekend of Sept. 20. Their 3-0 start to their fall schedule, which included two lopsided 11-0 wins and a dominant 22-4 win, is just a small sample size of the success to come.
“Even if they weren’t immediately winning conference championships, having a team for the students and fans to enjoy and take pride in would be awesome,” Branco said when asked what it would mean for a Division 1 baseball team to return to Boise. “You look at what football and basketball have done for Boise State, I think baseball would be just another feather in the cap.”
SPORTS
HOCKEY CLUB HONORS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH WITH PINK IN THE RINK
The ice inside Idaho Central Arena looked a little different Friday night as Boise State men’s hockey players skated out wearing bright pink jerseys for the team’s first annual Pink in the Rink game. The event, held in partnership with St. Luke’s Breast Care Services, raised awareness and funds for breast cancer support programs within their organization.
What began as a night of hard hits and quick goals soon turned into something more meaningful. Fans signed pink jerseys that would later be auctioned off, survivors shared their stories and Boise State players skated in support of those impacted by breast cancer. The night ended with a 5-3 Boise State victory over Northern Arizona.
The Broncos came out firing, scoring two goals within the first five minutes to take control early. Ryan O’Loughlin opened the night with a quick strike, followed closely by Jackson Howell, who buried a clean feed from Tyler Hanson. Whatever the Broncos were running was working — they controlled puck possession through most of the first two periods, keeping play largely on NAU’s side of the ice.
Midway through the second, Grayden Pond struck one into the net for another goal to make it 3–0. Two minutes later, NAU finally found the board, but the Broncos quickly silenced the push with a highlight goal from Aiden Engels, assisted by Jonas Rettell.
Retell brought the puck up the middle, cut to the right and sent a heater across the crease. Engels fought through the defender, slipped around the left side of the net, and tapped it in, a moment that carried far more meaning than the scoreboard could show.
The third period saw a bit of backand-forth scoring — NAU added two
more goals, but Boise State answered right back as Retell and Engels swapped roles, with Retell burying one off an Engels assist to seal the 5–3 win.
Engels had a big night on the ice, scoring a goal for his mom, a survivor of breast cancer, and then being awarded player of the game. He mentioned before the game he was going to score a goal for his mom during Pink in the Rink, and he delivered.
“For me, it meant a lot,” Engels said after the game. “My mom [was] going through breast cancer — watching her lose everything and have to start from scratch. It’s pretty tough to see. To see the way she was able to prevail through it all means everything to me and my family.”
Engels’ mom, Jody, sat in the stands that night, a survivor whose strength mirrored the purpose behind the event. She was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer in 2021 and went through chemotherapy and radiation after losing both breasts during treatment.
Jody shared early detection was critical
in her own recovery and hopes others stay proactive about their health. “I was 42 when I was diagnosed,” she said. “You never think it’s going to be you, but it happens and getting checked early made a difference for me.”
She smiled, recalling the moment her son scored and notched an assist in the same game.
“My kid scored a goal for me,” Jody said. “That meant everything to me.”
The jerseys Boise State wore during the game were special, too. Near the main entrance, there was a bright pink jersey with signatures from breast cancer survivors.
Game-worn jerseys were set to be auctioned off after the game, with all proceeds going directly to St. Luke’s Breast Care Services to help cover mammograms and screenings for those unable to afford them.
Christine Myron, who works in public relations for St. Luke’s, said events like Pink in the Rink directly fund early-detection programs and awareness campaigns.
“Access to care is at the center of St. Luke’s strategy,” she said. “Funds from community events like Boise State’s Pink in the Rink help provide grant programs to assist with the cost of mammograms or diagnostic breast studies for those who qualify.”
She added Idaho currently ranks 49th in the nation for breast cancer screenings, making this type of outreach essential. “Events like this bring greater awareness to the importance of regular mammograms and the value of early detection,” Myron said.
The game was about more than hockey. “You never know who it could affect,” Engels said. “It can come at the most random times.”
As the game wrapped up and the Broncos celebrated their 5-3 win, the meaning of the night stretched beyond the ice. Every goal, save and cheer echoed that Pink in the Rink stood for something bigger than hockey.
