The Arbiter 3.25.21 Vol. 33 Issue 8

March 4, 25,2021 2021

Vol. 33 Issue 78

I N D EPEN DE NT

NEWS

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CDC reports only 17.1% of Idahoans are vaccinated, as many continue to turn down available doses.

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S T UDE NT

OPINION

V O I CE

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Party culture in college can cause serious danger for those who excessively use drugs and alcohol. arbiteronline.com

O F

B O I SE

STAT E

CULTURE

S I N C E

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Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial receives support from the community after December vandalism. @arbiteronline

1 9 3 3

SPORTS & REC

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The Outdoor Program creates new opportunities and trips for students to get outside and get involved..

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@boisestatearbiter

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Editor-In-Chief Taylor Rico-Pekerol editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Ashley Clark onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Marcos Guadarrama news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Madi Jones news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Blake Hunter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter McKenzie Heileman culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Brad Verbout sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Lexi Almeido sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Paige Wirta opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Delaney Beale copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Trisha Kangas Digital Content Manager Mackenzie Hudson digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Abbey Nimegeers Claire Keener Graphic Design Manager Sarah Schmid design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Jordan Barno Illustrator Alieha Dryden

Distributed monthly on Thursdays during the academic school year, 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.

A peaceful protest was heald at the Idaho Capitol building to "Stop Asian Hate."

ON THE COVER:

Many students at Boise State have learning disabilities, a disability that makes it more difficult for students to retain information. However, the Boise State Educational Access Center is helping students with various tools and resources. Cover design by Alieha Dr yden and Sarah Schmid.

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

MISSION:

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

Paige Wirta | The Arbiter

CREATIVE WRITING FEATURE PERSONAL POEM - "LONG LASTING DAYS"

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Markers to tally the days that pass without goodbye.

A camera used to collect moments sits collecting dust instead, she puckers up with chapstick lips waiting for the flash to never come.

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editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Editor-In-Chief: Taylor Rico-Pekerol he took a sip from her cup, overflowing with what?

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Heirlooms meant to represent the past, hanging from trees above gravestones, she leaves the necklace hanging from branches.

Walking along amethyst earth meant to protect, cleanse, glow.

From what?

Photo Courtesy of Joel Holland

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NEWS

MARCH 25, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

2020 BSU GRADUATES GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS ON IN-PERSON COMMENCEMENT Recent graduates discuss whether or not they will attend this spring’s in-person graduation ceremony Stephanie Gull | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he spring and winter commencement ceremonies from 2020 were just a few of the casualties left out in the immense wake of the coronavirus pandemic this past year.

So, it is understandable that emotions are running high, as these recent graduates decide whether or not to participate in the spring 2021 commencement, which they are invited to attend.

Grace Paduano, a media arts graduate, is bummed there was not any real closure to her college experience, but she does not plan to attend. She believes attending commencement a year after graduating is simply too detached, particularly when she has not connected with anyone she went to school with since last May. “I just think it’s too far removed,” Paduano said. “It will be a year after I graduated, so personally that’s not how I’d like to spend a weekend. It wasn’t possible or safe to have a commencement closer to when I actually graduated and I understand [and have accepted] that.”

Ellie Cowan, a history graduate who returned to school for her degree in her forties, will not be able to attend due to COVID-related health conditions. However, if the pandemic and mask mandates were not an ongoing issue, she would be there.

“Graduation would have been a first for me, and I didn’t realize the impact of not having it until last May,” Cowan said.

“When graduation time hit last spring, it was the culmination of four years of hard work — a Bachelor’s in History, a Latin certificate and the first year of Law School complete. However, it just came and went without any real sense of completion.”

According to Cowan, she’s happy that Boise State is attempting to recognize the students from 2020, but it feels

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like their moment has passed into the COVID-19 abyss.

Samantha Ruth, a psychology and criminal justice graduate, is ecstatic that they have invited the graduating classes from 2020 to be part of the ceremony and plans on attending.

“It may not be the same since many of my friends and classmates are not deciding to walk for graduation, due to it being an inconvenience to their life, but I’m really excited for it,” Ruth said. “There’s some students whose dream is to just walk across that stage and hear their name be called in front of their college that they are graduating from and their family members who are attending, and May 7 will be their day.”

Ruth double-majored in her four years at Boise State, taking 15 credits nearly every semester, including summer. She’s looking forward to receiving a proper graduation as the culmination of all the hard work and time that her education demanded.

“I see it as you only graduate once, unless you plan on getting a master’s degree or furthering your education,” Ruth said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk across that stage and to actually receive the praise we hope to. When the opportunity came up, of course I jumped on it and plan to attend no matter the situations or protocols. It’s like a sense of normalcy we can finally receive.”

Caydon Burnett, a communications graduate, was interviewed by The Arbiter in the spring of 2020, when it was initially announced that the graduation commencement would be held virtually due to the pandemic. Last year he didn’t think he would attend commencement at a later time, an outlook he still holds.

“By the time the ceremony rolls around, that’s already a whole year since I’ve grad-

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Samantha Ruth is a psychology and criminal justice graduate who will be attending in-person commencement.

Photo courtesy of Samantha Ruth uated,” Burnett said. “That’s kind of crazy [that] it’s already been that long, but it only reinforces the notion that I’ve moved on. It’s one of those things that’s very conditional.

It kind of has to happen at the time you actually finish, otherwise the effect isn’t really there. It’s like having a birthday party way after your birthday is already over. Sure it’s fun, but it’s not quite the same.”

According to Burnett, his family has expressed that they may still want him to attend, so if he ends up going, it would be more for his family than for himself.

But other than that, he doesn’t feel compelled to do so. However, he did express gratitude to Boise State for inviting the classes from 2020 to participate in the commencement ceremonies.

“I do appreciate that they’ve made it a thing,” Burnett said. “It’s really nice that they’ve been considerate enough of our class that they are still going to hold it to recognize those who want to participate. I think that’s super rad and it’s nice they didn’t forget us, for lack of a better term.”

NEWS

THE COVID-19 VACCINE SPARKS DEBATE BETWEEN BOISE STATE STUDENTS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 17.1% of Idaho’s population has been vaccinated

Madi Jones | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ith millions of people receiving the COVID vaccine nationwide, the notion of whether or not people want the vaccine has sparked debate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Idaho, 382,219 people have received one or more doses as of March 23, 2021, totaling 17.1% of Idaho’s population.

According to Boise State Public Radio, a survey was conducted of 1,000 Idahoans and concluded that 38% of the survey takers do not want to receive the COVID vaccine. 51% of survey takers identified as Republicans, 27% identified as Democrats, while 13% identified as Independent.

Michelle Ehlke, a junior radiology major, has received both doses of the COVID vaccine. Ehlke says her side effects after receiving both doses were minimal and experienced mostly exhaustion.

Since Ehlke is majoring in radiology, a lot of her time is spent with other students working in hospitals with patients who have COVID, which is why she felt the need to get the vaccine.

“Especially for us, we’re working in hospitals, so we’re around a lot of COVID patients. First and foremost, we’re protecting ourselves against it because we are around so many people,” Ehlke said. “I also think young people like myself are choosing to get the vaccine because we are so ready for our life to get back to normal. We want to do our part to help the eradication of COVID so that someday we might get back to some normalcy.”

According to Ehlke, the radiology program at Boise State advocated for students to get vaccinated and in-turn, were able to work with local hospitals and offer the COVID vaccine to students working in clinicals, but the vaccine is not mandatory.

Makenna Relkoff, a junior marketing major, is skeptical about the COVID vaccine and is concerned the COVID vaccine will become mandatory, which she does

not approve of. Relkoff is also concerned about the impact on fertility after receiving the vaccine.

“One of my biggest concerns with the vaccine is that the impacts on fertility aren’t known yet. That’s been an issue with a lot of other vaccines that have sterilized entire generations of females and, in some cases, males,” Relkoff said.

Relkoff is also concerned with societal pressure to get the vaccine and believes the two companies distributing the vaccine, Moderna and Pfizer, should be held responsible for any deaths or side effects that may occur after receiving the COVID vaccine.

“I just think that the social pressure [to be vaccinated] is what I’m not a huge fan of as well. Moderna and Pfizer, I’ve read a lot about it, aren’t being held responsible for any side effects of the vaccine,” Relkoff said. “With most vaccines, the company is held reliable for [side effects]. Basically, they’re not going to be held accountable for any deaths or mishaps that will happen if you get the vaccine. It’s kind of a scary thought because who knows what this vaccine is capable of?”

According to the CDC, side effects of the COVID vaccine administered by Pfizer and Moderna include headache, chills, fever, muscle and joint pain, and pain in place of injection. Since writing the article, another company has begun distributing the vaccine, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen.

According to the CDC, side effects of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine may include headache, tiredness, chills, fever, nausea and muscle pain.

Overall, Relkoff believes people shouldn’t judge others for the decisions people make in their lives, particularly when it comes to getting the COVID vaccine or not.

“I know a lot of things are very dividing these days. I just think our generation needs to remember that we still shouldn’t judge others. Others still don’t like being judged, so your personal decision on what you chose to do or don’t do in your life

Boise State Public Radio surveyed 1,000 Idahoans and found that 38% of people do not want the vaccine.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter don’t necessarily mean you’re a terrible person or you’re a wonderful person,” Relkoff said. “We’re all still human, and we all still just want to feel like we have some control over ourselves and our lives right now, especially in the time of COVID.” Isabella Birnie, a senior science and public health major, is in favor of the COVID vaccine and any other precautions the public can take to diminish positive COVID cases.

Birnie has not had the chance to receive the first round of the COVID vaccine but plans to get it as soon as she can.

“I think the best option we have to minimize total cases, total deaths, and to keep our society running and get back to quote-on-quote ‘normal,’ is to do all of the above: social distancing, wearing

masks, but definitely getting vaccinated,” Birnie said.

Birnie has mixed feelings about how the vaccination is being handled but is hesitant to judge the system because she ultimately believes society is progressing with the introduction of the COVID vaccine.

“It’s hard to fault the roll-out because it is getting done. But on such a national level with only two companies providing the vaccination, it’s really hard to do so in a way that would be more effective,” Birnie said. “Really, it’s hard for me to say anything negative about it because it’s happening, and the most at-risk populations are getting vaccinated.”

For up-to-date information about COVID-19 vaccinations in Idaho, visit Idaho’s Official Resources for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) website.

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NEWS

THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA MAKES A SPLIT For the fall 2021 semester, there will be two new departments in the media and communication degree Kennedy Barr | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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eginning fall 2021, The Department of Communications and Media are dividing into two separate departments. They will be separated as the Department of Communication and the Department of Media. The goal behind this change is to enhance students opportunities, programs and overall experience, according to media arts Professor Rick Moore.

The Department of Communication will focus on the understanding behind enhancing the quality of communication used in relationships, organizations and within society. The Department of Media will focus on pre-professional with an emphasis on integrated media as well as strategic communications.

“The Department of Media faculty have taken this opportunity to think seriously about what our students might need, and we re-organized a number of our core classes. For example, there are courses in social media, media audiences and analysis, and media content and programming. There’s something exciting about change, even when it is not exactly the change we anticipated or desired,” Moore said.

For the 2021-2022 academic year, these two programs will be managed by new departments. Students who have been working on a Bachelor of Media Arts degree will continue to do so through the new Department of Media.

Students who have been working on a Bachelor of Communications will continue to do so through the new Department of Communications Freshmen Kaelyn Adams is a communications major and believes the department change is a positive decision.

“I do believe that Media Art and Communications should be two different departments because they are two signficigant factors when applying for jobs.

I feel like in the real world they are two

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different things and can help people narrow down on the path they want to take with a more specific major,” Adams said.

Students within the departments are encouraged to work closely with the expert advising office throughout the transition. Students are also encouraged to pay attention to emails that come from the Department of Communication and Media as well as the department Advisor Mary Rohlfing.

“I think the change will be beneficial because as a media arts major, my interests are specific to media arts. I think the change will bring each student exactly what they need academically,” said sophomore media arts major Annie St. George.

To ensure students have a smooth transition, the departments have created a system where some new courses being offered will automatically substitute for

courses that were part of requirements in the Department of Communication and Media. Therefore, students continuing these degrees will meet their remaining degree requirements.

The Department of Communication and Media will continue to prepare students through experiential learning while guiding them to launch successful careers in Media and Communication, according to Moore.

Students with a media degree will continue through the Department of Media and those with a communication degree will continue through the Department of Communication.

Abbey Nimegeers | The Arbiter

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NEWS

BILL TO UNDO LIMITED NUMBER OF GATHERINGS ADVANCES TO IDAHO SENATE

Legislators discuss their thoughts on the amount of people at gatherings in Idaho Marcos Guadarrama | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ep. Brett Crane introduced legislation HCR 2 in the House in January, which would undo COVID-19 restrictions on crowds such as sporting events and other large gatherings.

The HCR 2 bill, which passed the House with a 55-15 vote, would essentially bypass Gov. Brad Little’s current limited gatherings of 50 people in the state, and allow for an unlimited number of people at gatherings.

As reported in the Idaho Press, Crane feels Little could have handled the coronavirus pandemic better, referencing Little’s priority for students in the state.

“We have students that are struggling, depression is up. I walked into my office this morning before I came here today, one of my employees was there. I said, “I’m going to introduce a bill that will lift the 10 person rule and allow sporting events to take place, concerts to take place’,” Crane said.

While the bill currently sits in the Senate State Affairs Committee, Rep. Lauren Nicochea voted against the bill and believes the focus should be shifted to combat the pandemic.

“We must concentrate on continuing to reduce cases, preventing deaths and ensuring a successful vaccine rollout before further lifting restrictions,” Nicochea said.

“We must concentrate on continuing to reduce cases, preventing deaths and ensuring a successful vaccine rollout before further lifting restrictions.”

Senate State Affairs Committee Rep. Lauren Nicochea

The HCR 2 bill would undo Gov. Little’s previous order of a 50 person or 15% capacity limit.

“This was another attempt by the majority party to undermine the governor’s power, even while the legislature has proved to be sluggish in making critical decisions when it is in control.”

Nicochea thinks more focus should be on things such as distributing the federal funds received in December.

“We still have not authorized the release of much-needed COVID relief funds for rental assistance and Meals on Wheels, even though the state has been sitting on those funds since December and thousands of Idahoans are desperate for this help,” Nicochea said. “If the legislature were not in session, the governor would have the power to make this decision and likely would have gotten those funds out the door much faster.”

The recent move to Stage 3 of the

rebound plan allows for gatherings of 50 people compared to 10. HCR 2 will ask to remove any gathering restrictions put in place, a move Nicochea sees as unnecessary.

“We know the coronavirus spreads easily among groups and a new variant is now present in Idaho, so this could pose a major threat. The only way we can get the economy back on track is by getting a handle on the pandemic,” Nicochea said.

Rep. Sally Toone feels that the bill is also unnecessary due to the fact that high school sports have set their own crowd size restrictions along with the Idaho High School Athletic Association (IHSAA).

“Most high school events can have 40% capacity which is well above the 50-person mark. Even the state tournament at their level of 1400 students per IHSAA, is a lot of people,” Toone said.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

According to the Idaho State Board of Education’s website under Stage 3, four year postsecondary institutions such as Boise State can allow up to 40% of their facility capacity, or up to four spectators per student participant, whichever is larger for winter sporting events.

The legislation was filed for a first reading on Jan. 26, no other action has been taken according to Nicochea.

Even though cases are trending downward and the COVID-19 vaccine is continuing to be administered in Idaho, Necochea doesn’t believe the fight is over.

“We’ve been able to reduce case counts, but there’s still so much work to do, especially in relation to the vaccine rollout. We don’t want to end up in the same position we were in a couple months ago,” Necochea said.

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OPINION MARCH 25, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

STUDENTS SHOULD BE WARY OF THE DRINKING CULTURE IN COLLEGE

The lasting effects of binge-drinking in college can be catastrophic and detrimental to the health of students Stephanie Gull | Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Excessive drinking and drug use at a young age can have unconsidered long-term effects.

Photo courtesy of Michael Fousert

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ne of my best friends almost died on my couch last year.

He refused to go to the hospital because he had already racked up an insurmountable number of bills from a few months prior when his excessive drinking put him into a coma.

At 27 years-old, he was an alcoholic whose organs were shutting down, yet he was still too stubborn to admit he needed help.

It was not until he was puking up a black liquid and felt so weak that he could barely stand that he finally allowed me to literally carry him to the Emergency Room.

This story may sound like a scare tactic or

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a rare occurrence, but every single drinker that I know has had numerous nights when they have drunk too much. Some have cried, some peed their pants, some passed out on a random lawn and some choked on their own vomit in the middle of the night.

This is not a scary bedtime story, this is a haunting reality.

The truth is, we live in a society that normalizes and praises drinking culture, particularly among college-aged adults. We are actively perpetuating drug and alcohol abuse, which can lead to dire consequences.

According to the CDC, more than 95,000 people die from excessive alcohol use in the United States each year, and this

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is even more alarming as alcohol sales have soared nationwide this year due to the pandemic.

In a study released by the RAND Corporation in September 2020, the frequency of alcohol consumption among adults from 2019 to 2020 increased by 14%, which was largely attributed to the coronavirus and quarantine.

The news release for this study also suggested that future research should examine “whether psychological and physical well-being are subsequently affected,” as an increase in alcohol use can lead to significant negative health consequences.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse

and Alcoholism (NIAAA) warns that “drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health.” There are numerous negative effects this can have on the body — on the brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system — and it is correlated to several types of cancer.

So, what exactly is “excessive drinking?” It is not as much as one may assume.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines excessive drinking as eight or more drinks per week for women, and 15 or more drinks a week for men. Excessive drinkers also follow more of a binge-like pattern, consuming four or more drinks at one time versus casually drinking throughout the week.

Quite frankly, I am wary of the party culture that surrounds college universities and presses down upon students. Especially in light of the pandemic, I’m afraid that we are creating future generations of dependent adults who are learning to self-medicate rather than seeking help when they need it.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that students shouldn’t drink. But I am urging them to take accountability for their lives; understand the implications and consequences of their actions, learn the difference between drinking casually and drinking to cope, and find a healthy balance when consuming alcohol.

HAVE A COMMENT OR REBUTTAL? EMAIL US AT: OPINION@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

OPINION

THE CONS OF IN-PERSON CLASSES OUTWAY THE PROS

Online classes are the better choice for students and faculty due to the health risks still posed by the pandemic

Amanda Niess | Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Schedule flexibility is another advantage to online classes since students can join from anywhere.

Abbey Nimegeers | The Arbiter

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hen considering student’s lives outside of school, I have often thought about the opportunities I have missed because I chose to attend a number of in-person classes this year.

This semester, more than ever, I have found myself questioning whether or not online classes are worth the time and effort. However, as the semester progresses, I now find myself asking the same about in-person classes.

At the beginning of the spring semester, I had three face-to-face classes planned for the remainder of the 2020-

2021 school year. After a few weeks of attending the in-person classes, I discovered that the advantages of online classes immensely outweighed the advantages of being in person.

Yes, students and staff wear their masks in class. However, we are not seated six feet apart, which makes me feel uneasy.

Soon enough, seats started becoming more vacant and teachers went without addressing the decline of students in each of my in-person classes.

Eventually, one of my professors made the executive decision to transfer our in-person learning environment to a completely virtual classroom, which eased

many concerns and lifted many schedule complications I had previously faced.

Aside from the turmoil that comes with attending in-person classes, I was also challenged with balancing my work schedule and my school schedule. My boss is very lenient and has adjusted my work schedule to accommodate my academic schedule. Although, as I continued to attend these classes face-toface, I couldn’t help but wonder what the consequences of me choosing work over school would entail.

As important as a college education is to my family and me, making a substantial income to support my individual

needs can be just as important, if not more. Living alone in Boise is possible, but it is not necessarily easy.

I was tasked with considering the advantages and disadvantages to working more during the week and not attending a specific class in person. What was more important to me: working and building a more stable income, or going to a class where the lectures become redundant and almost unnecessary?

Despite the sparse amount of in-person classes this year due to the pandemic, campus has yet to shut down. If you miss the campus atmosphere, it is still possible to engage with students and staff in a safe manner. The Albertson’s Library is still available to Boise State students and faculty, which may provide an outlet for those itching to engage in campus culture once again.

I had three months of my freshman year robbed from me last year due to the introduction of the coronavirus pandemic. I do miss going to campus for class because it allowed me to interact with the student body and faculty a lot more.

For me, learning in person is highly desirable but the consolidation to the online environment has almost been more advantageous for me academically, mentally and occupationally. In addition, attending Zoom classes should be highly demanded amongst the student and staff population because it will allow us to return to a full in-person campus experience in the future, which I believe is what most of the student body wants for their college experience.

Yes, there have been many concerns surrounding the mental wellness of students who are forced to learn online.

Despite this, I feel as if this is the most versatile and flexible our professors have been and I am almost inclined to believe that online classes are better than in-person classes.

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McKenzie Heileman | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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s of 2017, more than 200,000 students entering the college setting were or previously had been diagnosed with a learning disability, according to data from College Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities.

This means that many students at Boise State are likely to have a learning disability, which makes it more difficult to learn than their peers who do not have one.

Though a student may have a learning disability, this does not mean that they are any less of a student. Many students with a learning disability want to break down the stigmas surrounding their condition, as these stigmas are harmful and not true.

For a student with a learning disability, there are many ways to receive support in order to learn in a typical classroom setting.

What is a Learning Disability?

A learning disability is a type of disability that makes it more difficult for students to attain information, such as written and spoken word and mathematical calculations, or coordinate movement and focus attention, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Though a difficult situation for many, learning disabilities can be helped through

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support and treatment.

According to Mike Gibson, who works at Boise State’s Educational Access Center (EAC), the EAC provides accommodations for approximately 600 students at Boise State with some form of a disability, including learning disabilities.

“Census data tells us that 10 to 12% of the population has some form of a disability,” Gibson said. “We’re not capturing everybody with a disability, as students do have to identify themselves to us, otherwise it would be considered discriminatory if we were to ask the student themselves.”

Gibson works to keep the campus community educated about learning disabilities, doing things like ensuring all syllabi have the EAC’s information included, and making the general community aware of learning disabilities and where students can receive support for it.

“One thing about learning disabilities is that they cross class and race boundaries,” Gibson said. “[Learning disabilities] can affect anybody at any time. It’s very broad and can affect a diverse range of students, but we have lots of tools to help people out.”

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Student Perspectives One student at Boise State with a learning disability is Claire Tester, a junior english writing, rhetoric and technical communication (WRTC) major.

Tester was diagnosed with a processing disorder at age 12 that affects how she thinks, especially in dealing with the subject of math.

“I didn’t know,” Tester said. “Throughout elementary school I thought, ‘is school supposed to be this hard?’”

Brain therapy helped Tester essentially relearn how to learn, and when she found out she had a processing disorder, all of her previous struggles started to make more sense.

“It doesn’t make me any less human,” Tester said. “I really care about my academics. I’m not broken and my learning disability isn’t a bad thing.”

Tester remembers being embarrassed about her struggles with learning and feels that stigmas and stereotypes surround those with learning disabilities. She wants to break down these stigmas and stereotypes because she knows her learning disability does not define who she is. She is a human beyond her disability.

“I am going to school to become a counselor. I’m learning to see a person past

their diagnosis,” Tester said. “I know that it doesn’t define me, but I understand that everything is part of who I am. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and now I think I’m in a place where I think it’s normal.”

Another Boise State student, a junior studying K-12 physical education, has been diagnosed with a processing and short-term memory problem.

Though they were diagnosed their freshman year of high school, they noticed that school was becoming increasingly difficult around fourth grade.

“My friends would always be in the advanced classes or clubs while I was stuck behind not understanding the information being taught,” they said.

“It doesn’t make me any less human. I really care about my academics, I’m not broken and my learning disability isn’t a bad thing.”

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Claire Tester, junior english writing, rhetoric and technical communication major

F E AT U R E

The student feels that their peers think disabilities are something one can see, while for many students, it is an invisible disability that they are handling on their own, or with support from teachers, friends and the EAC. With help from the EAC, this student receives accommodations that help them learn more like their peers without a learning disability.

“At Boise State, I don’t feel like there is much of a community for people with learning disabilities,” they said. “I feel like everything is kept confidential, which is great, but I don’t know a lot of people like me unless I’m friends with them, though I am pretty open about my disability.”

This student’s learning disability not only affects their academics, but their life outside of the classroom as well. Oftentimes, it is difficult for this student to process what people are saying to them. However, it is important to remain positive, according to this student.

“I would definitely tell other students like me to embrace their differences!” they said.

Boise State Academics with a Learning Disability According to Gibson, the EAC works with each student who approaches them

to understand their individual needs, strengths, and challenges. The EAC works to get to know each student as a person beyond their disability.

As the EAC comes to know the individual student and what challenges they face, they work with the student to show them what accommodations are available.

Accommodations available to students include extended time on tests, alternate formatted books, specialized apps, a pen that records lectures and other helpful tools.

“It’s hard to pin down a specific

“It’s hard to pin down a specific accomodation.

It’s a custom, individualized experience. No two people are the same, so it’s not a cut and dry process.”

Mike Gibson, Educational Access Center employee

accommodation,” Gibson said. “It’s a custom, individualized experience. No two people are the same, so it’s not a cut and dry process.”

Gibson stresses that there are other ways to help students with a learning disability that goes beyond what the EAC can do.

“The biggest thing that other students can do is talk,” Gibson said. “Interact and communicate with one another. Don’t freak out when you learn that the student has a disability, but actually get to know them. Ask questions so you can be a more informed person and provide the right kind of support to help them.”

Gibson feels that there are often preconceived notions on how to help and support someone with a learning disability, which creates more conflict and barriers than is necessary. By making real human connections, students can work together to provide support for one another.

Though the EAC is a great place to begin if a student feels they may have a disability and need support, professors are able to provide help as well.

Andrew Giacomazzi, the interim dean of school of public service and professor of criminal justice, often works with students with learning disabilities to ensure they receive the right kind of support while they

are taking his courses.

“I am an individual who wants to help students achieve their academic goals in any way possible,” Giacomazzi said. “It’s a philosophical thing. I realize every student is different and that the one-size-fits-all approach will not work for every student.”

In his undergraduate classes, Giacomazzi provides a menu of options for assessment, which allows him to work with the individual student to best meet their needs.

“For example, if a student does better with a multiple choice test or a short answer test, I allow them to take the test that best suits them,” Giacomazzi said. “It creates a little bit more work on my part, but it helps my students.”

Giacomazzi encourages students to reach out to their professors because the professors at Boise State are here to help their students.

To get started with the Educational Access Center, a student can visit their website, email them at eacinfo@boisestate. edu or call them at (208) 426-1583.

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C U LT U R E

MARCH 25, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

ANNE FRANK MEMORIAL RECEIVES SUPPORT AFTER VANDALISM

The aftermath of hate: The Boise community has offered an outpouring of help to the Anne Frank Memorial Andrea Teres-Martinez | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

F

ollowing the vandalism of the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in downtown Boise, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights has embraced many changes as part of its response to this act of hate, many of which were made possible by the support of the Boise community.

Several parts of the memorial were found defaced by Neo-Nazis with swastika stickers displaying the words “we are everywhere” on the morning of Dec. 8, 2020.

News of the vandalism received national attention from organizations such as CNN and NBC, which in turn prompted a response from national audiences.

“We got cards and letters from across the country,” said Dan Prinzing, executive director of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. “We received an outpouring of support.”

In addition to this response, the center also received support in the form of donations from both individuals and larger corporations such as Chobani and Micron, both of which have facilities in Idaho.

One of these corporations, the local branding firm Oliver Russel, raised the funds necessary for the Wassmuth Center’s new security system. The GoFundMe fundraiser met its goal of $5,000 within 24 hours.

Additionally, construction for a new Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is set to be completed by the end of 2021, which will include a full work area open to students who want to become more involved with the center.

“There’s this almost visceral sensory aspect to it that you don’t get in a classroom,” said Erik Hadley, a history professor at Boise State University.

Hadley has incorporated trips to the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial into

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the classroom since 2016, through which he aims to contextualize what his students are learning.

“Because you can go there and you can feel something; you can take what you’ve learned and look around you and it makes more sense,” Hadley said. “It serves as a vehicle to talk about issues of human rights and tolerance in Idaho.”

The lesser-known part of this story, however, finds itself in the active involvement of the Boise community in fighting this act of injustice.

“I see the yard signs… what it tells me as I’m walking through the neighborhood is that there’s a house that believes in justice,” Prinzing said. “Look what’s happening right now; we’ve got some folks marching in the streets as upstanders, we have some that are donating to organizations doing the work as upstanders, we have some that are educating themselves.”

Whether it be through sporting a bumper sticker or marching through the streets of Boise with signs proclaiming that “love is everywhere,” many Boiseans have found a way to make it known that December’s events are not representative of their values.

One of the most publicly visible responses to the vandalism has been the banners which currently line the streets of downtown Boise.

The banners, hung by the Downtown Boise Association, show a picture of Anne Frank along with messages combatting the threatening words left behind by the vandals like “love is everywhere,” “we are everywhere” and “we choose love.”

The Wassmuth Center was named after Bill Wassmuth, who became a human rights advocate against the Aryan Nations in northern Idaho in the 1980s. When choosing how to respond to the December vandalism, Prinzing took inspiration from Wassmuth.

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“How do you react to hate? Bill [Wassmuth] did not shrink, he did not shrink away, he got louder,” Prizing said. “Hate cannot become our narrative.”

Matthew Naples, a social work major at Boise State interning with the Wassmuth Center, believes in the importance of letting love and tolerance control the narrative, rather than hate.

“Sometimes the voice of a small minority gets a lot of attention,” Naples said. “It makes sense, but at the same time, has the outspoken love that was articulated afterwards, has that gotten the same level of attention? My hunch is no, but I think that is something worthy of talking about.”

Recently, Boise State President Marlene Tromp has sparked conversations with the Wassmuth Center to discuss tightening the relationship between the center and academic studies, as well as how students can become involved with furthering the center’s mission of Human Rights.

“We look forward to opportunities to interface with Boise State students because the students possess a talent, an interest, a passion, a new generation that can proclaim in their own way: we are everywhere,” Prinzing said.

Naples said that as a student, he sees his peers wanting to engage in that conversation too.

In December of 2020, the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial was vandalized.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

C U LT U R E

NEW UPCOMING EXHIBITS TO BE SHOWCASED IN THE FINE ARTS GALLERY

The Fine Arts Gallery is located in the Student Union Building for students and visitors to observe Kayla Myers | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

D

espite the hardships presented for artists throughout the year, the Fine Arts Gallery on the second floor of the Student Union Building (SUB) has still been presenting exhibitions, including the work of both students and local artists.

“We try to mix [artists who are] students, locals and people who don’t have access to traditional galleries,” said Fonda Portales, Boise State’s art curator and collections manager. “Although, this year has proven to be more difficult as we have had many artists remove their names from the list of exhibitioners due to the current year.”

pictures, all taken on a 360 camera in panoramic style. This allows the images to be zoomed in online, as well as providing information, and a more close up perspective,” Gomez-Navarro said. “Each gallery being put online takes about 40 hours of work, including shooting and editing.”

The mail art exhibition “Postal Outliers” was up in the Student Union Fine Arts Gallery until Feb. 24. From March 5 to April 1, the gallery will host a Red

Cross blood drive while featuring the university’s highlights from the permanent art installations.

Next to be displayed in the gallery will be the work of students who attend the College of Western Idaho, which will be on display from April 9 to May 9. Many of these students are either interested in transferring to Boise State or are already planning to do so. After spring semester ends, the annual Watercolor Society of

Idaho exhibition will be present in the SUB through the month of June.

There is also art up in the Trueblood Pop-Up Gallery, the hallway next to the Trueblood room upstairs in the SUB. Presently, there are Michael Chambers Character Development: Portrait Studies pieces in the Trueblood Gallery until March 14.

Beginning on March 17 through May 16, Trisha Florence, a northern Idaho artist, will have her Drive to Town exhibition up.

“We try to mix [artists who are] students, locals and people who don’t have access to traditional galleries.”

Fonda Portales, Boise State’s art curator and collections manager Even though many artists have removed their artwork from the list of planned showings, there are still many exhibits that are going to take place during the spring semester, both in person and virtual. At least one upcoming gallery will be putting out a call to all artists for submissions to be displayed in the Fine Arts Gallery.

All of the current galleries and past galleries since August of 2020 have been photographed and turned into virtual experiences as a way to view the art without having to see them in person. Manuel Gomez-Navarro is an adjunct instructor of Spanish and the university’s gallery photographer, and has been responsible for turning the galleries virtual and making them more accessible.

“Each gallery requires around 20

All of the galleries have been turned into virtual exhibits since the beginning of August 2020.

Abbey Nimegeers | The Arbiter

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C U LT U R E

HOW BOISE STATE STUDENTS CAN SUPPORT THE BOISE MUSIC SCENE REMOTELY

Venues and artists share how they are building community through the coronavirus pandemic Megan Trawick | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

W

ith most live music events cancelled or postponed indefinitely, many students and community members wonder how they can support local artists and their favorite venues across Boise.

Even for seasoned music fans, getting involved or staying active in the local music scene during a pandemic may seem impossible. But even though in-person events may be in short supply, the artists and business owners haven’t skipped a beat in coming up with creative solutions.

According to a study by Pollstar, both worldwide and North American touring experienced a historically severe drop in revenue with the accumulated grosses dropping over 75%, less than one quarter of what the live music business produced prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the efforts and donations made by the community, businesses that rely on live performance need more to bridge the gap.

This is where community advocacy and political involvement are making a serious impact.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Eric Gilbert, cofounder and festival director of Treefort, has been an active part in multiple programs to help local artists and venues stay open.

In April 2020, The Morrison Center partnered with the Boise City Department of Arts and History and Treefort to create the COVID Cultural Commissioning Fund (CCC) to support artists during the pandemic.

Similarly, Treefort also created the Treefort Live Music Relief Fund which offers support to a wide range of individuals working in the live music industry like musicians, tour managers, and audio and lighting engineers.

Gilbert also played a role in the effort to pass the Save Our Stages Act, now called Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, included in the recently passed COVID relief federal stimulus package.

This includes $15 billion in federal funds for an array of struggling venues and busi-

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nesses which rely on live events.

At the moment applications are not yet open to businesses, and details of this aid program are still emerging.

Even though there are still a lot of questions about who is going to be included, Gilbert is hopeful that this relief at the very least will help businesses get to the other side of this pandemic.

Ultimately, the way the independent music community cwme together landed them on the radar of the state and federal government, and this is something that Gilbert is proud of.

“We don’t typically go to the government and ask for support,” Gilbert said. “We’re not really well organized, but we’re all really scrappy. We’re DIY artists at heart.”

This sentiment was echoed by Boise State student, Madisun Grindell, a senior media arts major with an emphasis in production and a minor in communication. Grindell, who uses the stage name Madisun Proof, is a part of a local mixed genre hip hop rap group called Them.Cees with artists Lyricallshea and Natalie Grace.

Grindell, an active member of the Boise music scene since they were 17, has performed at Treefort Music Festival for the past four years.

Even though they aren’t able to share their voice with other people in a live context very frequently right now, Grindell is touched by the support they’ve received from the community on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Spotify in the form of linking music in stories or sharing content.

Grindell suggests using methods like this to show support about local artists because it reminds artists that they are still being heard and listened to.

“It always makes my day because it’s not like you expect it,” Grindell said. “You expect to see someone coming up to you at your show when you have one, but it’s a whole other thing to just be surprised when you’re just doom-scrolling through Facebook or Instagram.”

Grindell describes that when they see their music being shared online, they

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Student musicians are hoping the independent local-music community can come together to help people get through the pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Sam Moqadam

“It’s really not even about me up with a microphone in my hand. It’s just me with a bunch of other people all in the same space, caring about the same music.”

Madisun Grindell, senior media arts major

receive a reminder that people in the community still care about them even though they haven’t been able to perform in months. This community and shared space is what Grindell misses most about performing live.

“It’s really not even about me up with a microphone in my hand,” Grindell said.

“It’s just me with a bunch of other people all in the same space, caring about the same music.”

ALL ABOUT HEALTH SERVICES

C U LT U R E

REVIEW: “THE SONG OF ACHILLES”

The new “Ridge to Rivers” club is collaborating with BroncoFit

A love story that all readers can understand and relate to

Blake Hunter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

McKenzie Heileman | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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s the weather becomes warmer, Boiseans of all walks of life are looking to the hundreds of miles of trails in the city’s foothills. A new “Ridge to Rivers” club is hoping to bring the foothill trail system a little closer to Boise State.

AJ Gravel, a Master’s of Public Health student and graduate teaching assistant with BroncoFit, is helping to create the club, which will be launched on Earth Day, April 22. The Ridge to Rivers is a City of Boise program that relies on volunteers to act as trail maintenance and stewardship crews, and the club is a way for students to get involved in that work.

“A club member would ideally be able to interact and engage with the public, while representing both the school and the City of Boise,” Gravel said.

As trail stewards and part of the Ridge to Rivers program, students can identify trail problems and also make sure that other users are being respectful and using trails appropriately. Some of the biggest problems the Ridge to Rivers program deals with include people using muddy trails after precipitation and dog owners not cleaning up after their pets.

“Essentially, you hike the trails and hopefully through hiking and enjoying them yourself, you become more knowledgeable.

So, along the trail you’re able to interact and engage with different trail users and remind

Sarah Schmid | The Arbiter

them of trail protocol and standard use,” Gravel said.

The goal of the club is to ensure Boise State students not only know about Boise’s trail system but also can be part of a community that takes care of them so they can be used long into the future.

Gravel said that trail use has “skyrocketed” during the pandemic as Boiseans have looked to the hills for activity, which has increased the toll that traffic takes on the landscape, especially in some of Ridge to Rivers’ most used and recognizable trails, including Table Rock, Hull’s Gulch and those near Camel’s Back Park.

With student mental health issues on the rise, Gravel said that getting outside and using the trails could be a great resource for students to be in community and exercise.

“For someone who — maybe there’s some barriers associated with enjoying the outdoors or the trail system, or it’s not just something that really piques your interest — I would challenge you to go outside and enjoy some of the day, because there are some really tangible health benefits associated with spending time outside in natural spaces,” Gravel said.

Students can find more resources and find the “Happy Trails” pledge from Ridge to Rivers on the BroncoFit website. More details and plans for the “Ridge to Rivers” club will be announced closer to Earth Day on Instagram @boisestatehealthservices.

T

he novel “The Song of Achilles” was written by Madeline Miller and published in 2012. It is a sweet and sorrowful retelling of Homer’s “Iliad,” detailing the love story between the demigod Achilles and his companion, Patroclus, from their childhood together to the Trojan War. Readers learn of both the pleasantries and the difficulties surrounding Achilles and Patroclus’s relationship, especially in the time of the war. Though the two love each other, they must face the encircling hardships in their time together.

Those who have read the original poem, “Iliad,” understand how both the poem and this novel ends, but Miller has injected her own style into the novel.

The novel is beautifully written with each sentence reading lyrically. Miller has a gift to write sentences that read as bits of poetry, while still being able to advance the story and give higher meaning to the novel’s central characters.

Each character, specifically Achilles and Patroclus, is given depth and room to develop as the novel progresses. This makes them not only likable, but also relatable, even though Miller has set these characters in a time period that occurred thousands of years ago.

Readers can understand and relate to the problem Achilles and Patroclus experience: how to love, deeply and fiercely, in the face of adversity.

“I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world,” Miller wrote.

What makes Miller’s writing of Achilles and Patroclus so special is her ability to develop these characters throughout the novel in a way that is subtle and believable.

By the end of the story, both Achilles and Patroclus are different men, formed by many years of love and success, but also tribulation and ruin.

Though this novel is well written, possesses interesting characters and has gay and POC representation, I did not completely understand the hype that has been surrounding this book recently on social media.

Some of the events are altogether lacking or glossed over quickly, such as the sacrifice of Iphigenia during the war, which is concluded with one line, “We were horrified and angry,” Miller wrote of the scene.

Though I understand that not every event can have pages of prose dedicated to it, years and years of the Trojan War were skipped. I believe Miller did this to minimize the war itself, and make room for the conclusion of the story so that the novel was still a digestible length.

When Patroclus, the novel’s narrator and protagonist, is killed about threefourths of the way through the novel, Miller is forced into a strange narrative voice, which doesn’t always work. Miller transitions into this new narrative voice in an awkward manner, ultimately confusing readers.

Miller definitely has skill, but I don’t believe her writing is deft enough to handle this transition and end the novel in a way that is satisfying, beautiful and a tribute to Homer’s original work.

Still, with a beautiful and creative retelling of a classical Greek work, Miller’s “The Song of Achilles” is a novel I would recommend.

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SPORTS & REC MARCH 25, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

THE OUTDOOR PROGRAM IS KEEPING BUSY DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER The staff at the Outdoor Program have been coming up with creative ways to get students involved Aaron Cornwell | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ith two semesters of new protocols and finding creative ways to remain open, the Outdoor Program (OP) at Boise State has some big plans for the spring. These plans include local and safe activities that are in accordance with the BSU Public Health Office.

Jordon Frank, the Outdoor Program coordinator, noted that the experience has really helped the staff with their creativity and has allowed them to showcase what the Treasure Valley and the Boise Foothills have to offer students.

“As far as adapting to it, with COVID, and all the uncertainty, everything has changed and it almost seemed weekly,” Frank said. “But as far as being adaptive, we’ve just been focusing on the stuff that we can do.”

The climbing gym and the outdoor rental center are open to students inside the Rec Center. As the weather warms up, more equipment will become available, according to Frank.

Frank also noted that the number of students making use of the OP is far more than was expected, and allowed for some of the larger programs and events to happen and stay within social distancing and university guidelines.

So far this semester, the OP has almost a dozen trips planned alongside a workshop series that consist of, but not limited to backcountry cooking, nordic skiing and trail etiquette.

“I’m seeing the need for students wanting connection, wanting community and wanting something else to do.

And as long as we can, we’re just going to continue to try to fill that, whether it’s more workshops, more activities in the climbing gym or trips,” Frank said.

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“But it’s just good to see that students are taking advantage of what we have to offer for outdoor programs.”

“I’m seeing the need for students wanting connection, wanting community and wanting something else to do. And as long as we can , we’re just going to continue to try to fill that, whether it’s more workshops, more activities in the climbing gym or trips.”

Jordon Frank, Outdoor Program coordinator

Katie Hampton is a senior majoring in communications and she is a student leader in the OP. Hampton believes students are wanting to get more involved because they are looking for something to do that is different and outside.

“Being outside, it’s kind of nice because you’re naturally socially distant, like in a raft or climbing, and you can kind of almost forget that COVID exists for a little bit,” Hampton said. “And get that headspace break of like, ‘Okay, this is how we’re meant to be, we’re meant to be outside and being immersed in creation, in nature because I don’t think

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The Outdoor Program has multiple trips planned for those who want to participate.

Photo courtesy of the Outdoor Program

we’re meant to be cooped up on screens “We’re gonna do pop up trips,” Belall day.” tramo said. “We did them last semester “The goal this semester is to make the a little bit, but two days before, it would process of participating seamless and be like, ‘Hey, here’s a hike that we’re easy for students,” Hampton said. doing on this day in this location’, and Workshops and events are easy to reg- they would be free, and everyone would ister for and rentals are readily available. come pop up and do that trip.”

The staff is there to help educate both The most recent event was an Interexperienced students and newcomers. national Women’s Day climbing event Grace Beltramo, a junior interdisciin the Rec Center. Registration for all plinary major in gender studies, sociolpop-up trips, workshops and events can ogy and criminal justice, is the team be found at the Outdoor Program’s page building and climbing gym manager on the Rec Center website. for the Outdoor Program, and wanted to inform students about the ease of participating in a workshop or trip.

SPORTS & REC

BOISE STATE’S WOMEN’S LACROSSE TEAM IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

The “rookies and vets” event is held each year to help team members bond Parker Gordon | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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embers of the Boise State women’s club lacrosse team held a “rookie and vet” event at a team member’s house near campus, which took place Jan. 30.

During this event, vet members of the team for more than one season were paired up with a rookie, a first-year member of the team.

With this pairing, vets are meant to mentor their rookies throughout the upcoming season.

Natalie Wallace, a senior on the team, explained in an interview how it feels to be a part of her last “rookie and vet” event.

“This year my rookie is Bently Palic and she is a freshman,” Wallace said.“The fact that this is my last year on the team and is

my last ever rookie makes me so incredibly sad. During my time on the team, I have created such special bonds with my vet and rookie that have made my college experience amazing.”

This event is quite like the events held in Greek life. In Greek life, it is called bigs and littles, but the women’s lacrosse club team uses rookies and vets. The origins of the rookie and vet traditions is unknown, but it has been generations in the making.

During the event, rookies are lined up facing the wall. The vets then walk in facing the rookies’s backs. On the count of three, the rookies turn around facing their vets to see who they got placed with, according to Wallace. This is meant to be exciting and allows for more of a reveal.

Jenna Sunnergren, a senior on the team, explained why the team chooses to do the event.

“What happens during this event is a team bonding experience, and towards the end of the night the rookies get surprised with their vet and some goodies,” Sunnergren said.

Many women treat their rookies to special surprises, whether it be clothes, food or little gifts.

“This year I made my rookie and I matching sweatshirts, but mine said vet on the back and hers said rookie,” Wallace said.

This event is held to kick off the season with exciting new friendships, first-year Head Coach Kristin Lund.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the women of the lacrosse team have found innovative solutions to stay connected.

“I do know a bit about the rookie/vet tradition,” Lund said. “Having not been around the girls yet, I’m pretty out of the loop with traditions like this, but I can tell you that I love the thought of it. Being an underclassman has its challenges and having a veteran you can turn to for help, guidance, friendship, etc. is really great.”

The women’s lacrosse club team is heading into their season after being told they are cleared to practice and play games. According to Wallace, the women are excited to be getting back on the field and continue the traditions of “rookie and vet” team bonding after a long off-season of not playing.

MARCH 25, 2021

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SPORTS & REC

BOISE STATE SPIRIT SQUAD MAKES THEIR DEBUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2021

Almost a year since their last performance, Spirit Squad performs at a men’s basketball game Mackenzie Hudson | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

With the Spirit Squad’s competition season coming up, they are preparing for out-of-state competitions.

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter fter months of hard work, that we finally got the opportunity we’re called upon and we don’t know Spirit Squad prepares for their upcomBoise State’s Spirit Squad made to be out there cheering on our Broncos, when that would be,” Messer said. “We’ve ing competitions. On April 7, the Mane their debut at ExtraMile Arena especially in front of fans. That’s literally been practicing since August, just with Line team will travel to Daytona, Fl. to for the first time this season. what we live for.” that mindset, knowing that whenever it’s compete in the National Dance Alliance Back in October, they were slated to In a normal year, Spirit Squad performs our time, we’re going to be ready to go.”

(NDA) College Nationals competition. cheer at two home football games, but at every home event, including football, Just about a year since their last perforLater that month on April 28, the cheer they never got the chance to hit the Blue basketball, volleyball games and more. mance, Spirit Squad members felt an array team will travel to Orlando, Fl. to compete due to a positive COVID-19 test within Despite not knowing if they would get the of emotions upon their arrival at the arena. in the Universal Cheerleaders Association the program, according to Head Coach chance to perform during the 2020-21 Third-year junior Stephanie Coddens was (UCA) College Nationals competition.

Kelsey Messer. season, Messer made sure that everyone one of the many who has been waiting for “It’s what we’ve been trying to push The excitement from receiving the green would be ready to go at any moment. that day to arrive. all year,” Messer said. “Having that hope light to perform at the final five home The day before tip-off for the Boise State “When I walked in, I immediately felt that we would be able to [compete] and basketball games was hardly controllable men’s basketball game against Utah State, like I was home,” Coddens said. “This now it’s so close. We’re almost there; we’re for senior team Captain Brynn Toliver.

Messer received a call, letting her know is where we belong. This is what we’ve ready to do it and represent ourselves and “I was so excited; I literally cried,” Tolithat the Spirit Squad got the go-ahead to worked so hard for and we finally get to the university. Just be back at what we ver said. “As a senior, I have been dreaming cheer at the game. show [that].” love to do.” about this literally all season. I was thrilled “We just needed to be ready whenever As basketball season comes to an end,

A

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ARBITERONLINE.COM

OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.

ARIES:

Aries, take a moment to reflect on your true passions, both in people and daily activities.

You get overwhelmed by the excitement of the chase, so make conscious efforts to be thoughtful. In a few weeks, you will have better luck in friendships and relationships. Look for opportunities to put yourself out there!

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 19

The next month may be difficult for you. People try to take advantage of your good nature, but now is the time to be confrontational, Cap. Take control of the situation and defend your boundaries. You’ll be happier and healthier when all is said and done.

Just make sure to stay grounded and genuine your future self will thank you

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

Aquarius, isolation has been a burden on you. The next few weeks bring opportunities to focus and expand upon your social life. Take advantage of them and enjoy the excitement. Your gratitude will attract goodness and raise you out of your slump.

But don’t give too much of yourself.

MAR 21 - APR 19

Illustration by Wyatt Wurtenburger

TAYLOR RICO-PEKEROL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

TAYLORRICOPEKERO@BOISESTATE.EDU

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 20

Stubborn seems to be your middle name, Taurus.

Take a step back from the situations you are put into and do some self-care. You may be feeling pressure from work, school or life in general, and a day filled with different routines could help you.

Try jumping out of your mundane life and switch up the path you’re on.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 20

You’re feeling better this week, Gemini. Ride that wave of productivity to finish the month out by finishing those projects and tasks. Create a new to-do list and start crossing things off. As you continue to work hard, make time to recharge so your battery doesn’t run out before the month ends!

CANCER

JUN 21 - JULY 22

Cancer, people are noticing you this week. Don’t worry, they are noticing all of the good energies you are releasing into the universe. Find time to connect with nature this weekend, whether that be soaking in the sun or taking a walk. The next few weeks could feel like you are on a seesaw!

LEO

PISCES

FEB 19 - MAR 20

Looks like you’re growing bored of your current routine, Pisces. Luckily, as a water sign, you have substantial adaptability skills. Use this time to go with the flow and look for new ways to get out of your comfort zone. Predictability might normally soothe your anxiety, but it is bound to make you restless in the coming weeks. Get outside and enjoy the newness of spring!

Leo, you are coming into yourself this week and feeling more confident. Others will start to notice the way you carry yourself and the smile on your face. Find ways to evolve further and learn how to be a better friend and person. Although you are feeling yourself more, you might be looking for clarity on the conflicts in your life right now. Be wary of others’ opinions.

& S K N DRI 1/2 SLUSHIES Y A D PRICE L AL DER R O U O Y WHEN E APP IN TH

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JUL 23 - AUG 22

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEPT 22

The energy you are receiving this week is intense, Virgo. Pick through it to find a friend, co-worker or family member that knows how to cultivate good thoughts and feelings. Have a conversation with your best friend this week about problems you may be facing. They are going to have powerful insight to help navigate the rough waters ahead.

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

April is set to bring on the waterworks, Libra. Press pause this week and check in on your mental wellbeing. It’s time to let go of old grudges. Put down your guard a bit so the healing can start. These relationship pressures can be draining, don’t forget to take some much needed time for yourself .

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

It’s time to set some goals for yourself, Scorpio!

Break out the cleaning supplies or the running shoes from the back of your closet. You may run into a few miscommunications, but good energy and happiness are headed your way. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, just don’t let self doubt consume you. Appreciate your health and take advantage of the sunshine.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 21

After a chaotic start to the year, you’re in for an uptrend, Sag. Focus on your ability to compromise and create balance in the world. This will help advance your career and stabilize your love life.

Maintaining this harmony could also bring you unexpected financial gains. But don’t just focus on work, expand your creativity and artist talents too.

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