The Arbiter 11.18.21 Vol. 34 Issue 6

November 18, 2021

Vol. 34, Issue 6

I NDEP END E N T

STUD E N T

VO I C E

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B O I SE

STATE

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PUBLIC SCHOOL, POLITICS AND THE PANDEMIC WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE POLITICAL WORLD ENTERS THE CLASSROOM

NEWS Idaho State Board of Education makes some university student fees optional for fall 2022.

VISIT US ONLINE:

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OPINION

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Idaho Legislature needs to prioritize health and welfare of constituents rather than personal agendas. arbiteronline.com

CULTURE

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Dr. Marlene Tromp’s “unconventional” presidential portait reflects not just herself, but the university. @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

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Boise State’s attempt to rebuild its football program may lead to more underwhelming seasons to come.

@arbiteronline

@arbiteronline

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Editor-In-Chief Blake Hunter editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Ashley L. Clark onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Andrea Teres - Martinez news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Fenix Dietz news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Amanda Niess culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter Julianne Gee culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Editor Lexi Almeido sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports & Rec Reporter Adam Bridges sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Paige Wirta opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editor Kelby Andrew copy@stumedia.boisestate.edu Social Media Coordinator Becky Wilson Digital Content Manager Claire Keener digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Corissa Campbell Graphic Design Manager Sasha White design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Cassie McGarty Illustrator Alieha Dryden Distributed every few weeks during the academic school year and online daily, The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free. Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

Boise State President Dr. Marlene Tromp participated in the half-time show on the Blue Thunder Marching Band for the home football game against her alma mater, the University of Wyoming.

Corissa Campbell | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

As school districts struggle with funding, political attacks and COVID policies, Idaho K-12 teachers are ex tending themselves above and beyond to meet daily expectations for their students and classrooms.

Front page: Graphics by Cassie McGar t y | The Arbiter

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NEWS

November 18, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

IDAHO STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAKES SOME STUDENT FEES OPTIONAL

Starting in the fall of 2022, students will have the option to opt out of paying student government fees Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Idaho State Board of Education has approved a plan to make some student fees optional for Idaho’s four-year universities.

The new fee structure, which will go into effect in the fall of 2022, separates student fees into four separate categories: • Student Enrollment, Engagement and Success • Institutional Operations, Services and Support • Student Health and Wellness • Student Government Of the four, students will only have the option to opt out of the Student Government fees.

Student Government fees serve to fund Boise State’s student clubs and organizations. Each year, clubs are allowed to apply for grants from Boise State’s student government, the Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU). The grants, which are funded by student fees, are then used for club activities open to all Boise State students.

During the 2021 regular legislative session, a bill was proposed to make all student fees optional on the grounds that students should not have to pay for services that don’t specifically benefit them. Examples of these services cited during the session included inclusion and diversity centers, club sports, childcare programs, minority student programs, advising and other student support services.

However, rather than make all student fees optional, the Idaho State Board of Education opted to design a system that would allow for transparency in what the fees are being used for.

“As a board, we’re really focused on improving access and affordability for all

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students,” said Kurt Liebich, president of the Idaho State Board of Education.

“We just want to make sure that [the fees] are really transparent so that when you choose to go to Boise State, you know what you’re getting and what you’re paying for.”

The board’s goal was to find a system that would remain consistent across Idaho’s four-year universities. Liebich explained that, the way student fees were previously organized, their purpose was not always clear.

“When you look across our four-year schools, the way we did student fees was pretty opaque,” Liebich said. “It wasn’t really clear to students where their money was going.”

Despite students’ intentions to not utilize certain university resources, Liebich emphasized that retaining funding for some of these programs and resources could be integral for a university’s mission.

“The reality is, in the beginning of the year most students don’t know what’s going to happen in the year. They don’t know if they’re going to need counseling or not,” Liebich said. “[We] recognize that not all students are going to use all services, but they’re just sort of the basic foundation that you really need to have a healthy community.”

As universities begin to prepare for changes in funding, a question that remains is how Boise State plans to inform students of their option to opt out of student government fees.

Kayla Magana is the vice president of Student Organizational Affairs for ASBSU’s funding board. She oversees the approval of funding requests and works alongside student clubs to help them through the application process.

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Board members and university administrators during a hybrid meeting on Oct. 21.

Andrea Teres-Martinez | The Arbiter In order for students to opt out of student government fees, they will need to fill out a request form from the university.

Magana hopes that going through this process will inform students about how their decision will impact what they participate in and how student organizations are able to function.

“I hope if they do decide to promote [the option to opt out], that they put those contingencies behind it once they know what those look like,” Magana said.

“I really think we should have something that lets students know that it’s okay to opt in or out, that’s totally up to you. But just know that there might be things that won’t get funded or that you can’t join.”

Accountability among students is another common concern; more specifically, those who try to opt out of paying student government fees may still try to participate in university programs they didn’t contribute to, and maybe even request funds from

ASBSU themselves.

“I think that’s going to take a few discussions. It’s going to impact a few parties, not just students or advisors,” Magana said.

According to Liebich, the issue of accountability is something that needs to be addressed by the individual institutions, meaning many of these decisions are in the hands of the university’s administrations and student governments.

Magana hopes that students consider opting into the fees, which can provide valuable experiences for students.

“I want to encourage students to opt in and keep an open mind because I feel like that’s something I wish I would have done my first year. I wish I’d gotten more involved, because I know I would’ve had a better time,” Magana said. “I feel like when students have an environment that they feel comfortable in and somewhere they belong, they’re going to do better educationally.”

FEDERAL VACCINE MANDATE AT BSU

NEWS

BSU RECOGNIZED FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Details are unclear, but rule applies to employees

Third-party assessor gives BSU a silver star rating

Andrea Teres- Mar tinez | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Jaelyn Quisel | Staf f Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Idaho State Board of Education has voted to join a lawsuit filed in Georgia challenging President Biden’s executive vaccination order. For the time being, federal contractors, including Idaho’s four-year institutions, will have to comply with the order because the lawsuit will be settled after the compliance deadline has passed.

According to the mandate, all federal contractors must receive a COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 4, 2022.

A Nov. 5 email from the university’s Human Resources department notified employees of the Board’s decision and that guidelines are still being determined.

“However, it should be noted that the executive order appears to apply to many of our employees (subject to limited exceptions for religious and medical exemptions),” the email stated.

Mike Sharp, the university’s director of media relations, told The Arbiter on Nov. 5, after the Human Resources email, that more information will be released soon.

“We are still working to identify which employees may not apply to this order,” Sharp wrote in an email. “We have a few employees working in remote locations that never come to campus and we’re

assessing whether they’re included.”

A Nov. 2 press release from the board indicated that while the lawsuit is ongoing, institutions should comply with the order to ensure they don’t lose federal funds as a penalty.

“The Board also gave formal approval allowing the institutions to take actions to comply with the President’s order to protect $89 million in federal research contracts that could be at risk otherwise,” the press release stated.

The Governor’s Office and Idaho State Board of Education are working alongside Idaho’s four-year institutions to “determine the scope of the vaccine requirement and align with other state agencies.”

While the vaccine mandate does not apply to students, student employees do fall under the category of those affected by the order.

“...it should be noted that the executive order appears to apply to many of our employees (subject to limited exceptions for religious and medical exemptions).”

- Boise State Human Resources Department email, Nov. 5

Idaho’s college and university employees must be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, with some exceptions allowed.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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oise State received a silver rating in sustainability efforts this past month in the university’s first-ever report to an international organization that promotes sustainability in higher education.

The organization, called the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), uses a pointsbased system called the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating Systems (STARS) to evaluate sustainability on campuses through a universal metric.

The Boise State Sustainability Department submitted a STARS report this year for the first time, which contained compiled information from different university departments.

“Sustainability is all things: energy, water, waste, transportation, accessibility, affordability. It’s just kind of everything,” said Kat Davis, sustainability director at Boise State.

The STARS report also looks at academics, engagement, communication, planning and innovation to calculate a university’s score.

According to Davis, Boise State’s high rating can be attributed to high community engagement, academics and research.

The university has also made strides towards using cleaner energy through the use of geothermal energy, which heats over 700,000 square feet of campus.

Boise State’s Sustainability Department has worked to “educate and engage students, faculty and staff to live a more sustainable lifestyle,” according to Davis.

Mackenzie Egelston is a junior environmental studies major and a Work U student with the Sustainability Department. She shared her experience working on RecycleFest, which aims to educate students living on campus about what can be recycled.

“RecycleFest has been impactful because we got to talk to so many students and tell them this is what we’re doing and this is what you can do specifically,” Egel-

ston said. “There was a lot of engagement we got that really told us we’re not the only ones who care about this.”

Luke Lundblad is another Work U student within the Sustainability Department. He is a Boise State senior majoring in business administration with a minor in sustainability, and has been working on food waste assessments at campus dining locations. “[The assessment] was data collection and outreach at the same time. Getting that experience and also being able to stand there and talk to people, I felt like I was doing a lot all at once,” Lundblad said.

Information from these food waste assessments will contribute to a grant for a food digester for South Fork to help decrease food waste on campus.

The Sustainability Department also has programs for recycling during events at the ExtraMile Arena. Additionally, the Trash Club works to responsibly dispose of trash. The Sustainability Club manages the Juanita Street gardens, and ASBSU’s Sustainability Committee pushes for policies that support sustainability.

“Everyone on campus has that opportunity to contribute to building a better future on campus, and our campus is uniquely receptive to student voices.”

- Kat Davis, sustainability director at Boise State

“Everyone on campus has that opportunity to contribute to building a better future on campus, and our campus is uniquely receptive to student voices,” Davis said.

Egleston also stressed the importance of making sustainability a priority.

“Our world will not continue on if we do not implement these sustainable practices,” Egleston said.

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NEWS

PANDEMIC-FUELED INFLATION INCREASES FINANCIAL STRAINS ON STUDENTS

Consumer price increases over the last year are the highest since 1990 Alaina Uhlenhof f | News Repor ter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Inflation has increased at the highest rate in 30 years, straining the wallets of consumers and over-extracted students.

Photo courtesy of Anna Shvet

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onsumer prices continue to rise with rapid inflation, especially in food, energy and housing.

The New York Times reported that in October, prices were 6.2% higher than in the previous year — the highest inflation rate since 1990. Experts largely attribute this inflation to supply chain shortages caused by the pandemic.

“So the rate from last year to this year is about 5% which is already twice the rate that [The Federal Reserve] targets, which is about 2%,” said Dr. Samia Islam, a professor of economics at Boise State.

A surge of new demand after economic reopening also contributes to this issue, according to Islam.

For students, rapid inflation can put further pressure on an already economi-

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cally struggling demographic.

Gabriel Miklja, a senior at Boise State studying finance with a minor in supply chain management, pointed out that steep inflation has already been affecting students for years.

“You look at textbooks over the last ten years, they’ve increased 87% or 8.7% a year, tuition and fees 63% or 6.3% a year, and housing which is big here in Boise, 51% or 5.1% a year,” Miklja said, citing estimates from the Bureau of Labor statistics.

Additionally, salaried jobs tend to do a better job keeping up with inflation, but most student employees work at an hourly wage that has likely not kept up with inflation, according to Miklja.

Many students already face financial struggles, with about 30% of undergrad-

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uates borrowing money from the federal government, some in crippling amounts.

The effects of inflation in Boise are not exclusive to students, especially when it comes to housing costs, with rents in Boise up 39% since March 2020.

Inflation combined with low inventory of buildings has made it difficult for individuals and companies to find locations in Boise and surrounding areas.

Inflation in lumber prices also makes it expensive to build new buildings, compounding the issue further, according to Bethany Ineck, the director of economic development for the Boise Valley Economic Partnership, a private nonprofit entity with a board of directors from both industry and city representatives.

“There are lots of things that lead to the overall health of the economy. Inflation

pressures are just one aspect,” Ineck said.

Experts are not sure how this inflation will cycle out in the economy due to unique factors created by the pandemic, according to Islam.

Historically, inflation resulting in high production costs might lead to decreased wages or layoffs. However, the opposite problem plagues companies today. Labor shortages continue to affect the nation months after the workforce was expected to return from lockdown.

The inflation does not appear to be as temporary as was predicted, and it seems the inflation cycle will just have to play out as these unknown factors continue to change the status quo.

“We are all stumped,” Islam said.

In the meantime smaller businesses may bear the biggest burden due to “menu costs,” a term which gets its name from the idea that big restaurants spend a fraction of their money printing menus, but to a small restaurant that could be a higher percentage of their revenue.

“When you have a long inflation cycle, loans can become harder to get for small businesses, whereas if you’re a large establishment, they are probably more or less unaffected by that issue,” Islam said.

As markets fluctuate in the coming months, Dr. Islam hopes people remember that although the value of their homes or cars may seem to be skyrocketing, U.S. dollars are also losing value, meaning that is not always a safe assumption to make.

“Behavioral economics research has shown that we human beings aren’t very good at differentiating between real versus nominal prices when we are trying to make choices or make decisions,” Islam said.

According to Islam, consumers will definitely pay the price for higher production costs in the months to come, and it is important to evaluate real, inflation-adjusted numbers before making big purchases.

NEWS

CYBERSECURITY COLLABORATION LAUNCHES ENTREPRENEUR CHALLENGE

Venture College and Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity create student engagement initiative Kelby Andrew | Staf f Writer & Copy Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Many computer science students competed in the CEC, along with students from other departments and colleges.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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s part of Boise State’s ongoing wave of cybersecurity intiatives, the Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity and the Boise State Venture College have teamed up for the first Cybersecurity Entrepreneur Challenge (CEC).

The challenge is a week-long event aimed at addressing difficulties faced by the cybersecurity industry through student-generated solutions, all while competing for over $30,000 in cash prizes.

This reverse pitch competition, which took place from Oct. 11-18, was open to higher education students across Idaho.

According to the 2021 CEC event summary, “Participants chose a problem statement provided by [CEC’s] industry partners, and formed interdisciplinary teams to propose solutions to that problem, while building a viable venture for themselves and making helpful connections to mentors and industry leaders.”

The debut of this challenge came during a time of exponential growth within the state. The Idaho Department of Labor reported a 160% increase in the

state’s cybersecurity job opportunities since 2015, which has been “sustained by accelerating demand across multiple industry sectors.”

The CEC is one of the many ways that Boise State is seeking to boost its cybersecurity initiatives and engage students across all disciplines with this industry.

“You don’t have to be a computer scientist to go into cybersecurity,” said Ed Vasko, director of the Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity. “You can be a sociology major; you could be a political science major; you could be a history major like me and have a terrific 30-year career in the industry.”

Nic Miller, executive director of the Venture College, explained that he and Vasko were interested in seeing cross-disciplinary participation when discussing the creation of the CEC. “Our hope was that we would attract more than just cybersecurity students and get everyone to see that they have a role to play,” Miller said. “A cybersecurity student may understand the problem, but they will need another discipline —

another skill set on the team to get that message out to the world.”

Devonne Busoy is a second-year student double-majoring in information technology management and supply chain management. She and fellow Boise State student Robert Kinney created Lexius — a contract-building software application aiming to reduce costs associated with lawyer-mediated negotiations by bridging the communication gap between cybersecurity companies and their potential clients.

If that sounds impressive, the judges of the competition agreed — Lexius tied for second runner-up at the competition, receiving the $5,000 Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity Award.

“What sparked my interest was the idea of getting to take my knowledge and apply it to a problem,” Busoy said. “I think [the CEC] is a great way to learn about the exciting field of cybersecurity, especially since it’s a growing field and demand is really high. Every business has a cybersecurity side to it, so perhaps that’ll help you in the future if you’re a business student like I am.”

Like Busoy, many other Boise State students found themselves at the forefront of the competition. Second-year computer science major Tatum Jones, alongside College of Western Idaho (CWI) students Cameron White and Alexander Mitchell, took first place at the competition for their venture, TAC Security.

“Our problem statement that we were looking to solve was integrating physical security, like cameras [and] badges, with the computer side of security, so log-ins and servers,” Jones said. “Our platform kind of mended those two and looked at both aspects of security and was able to make them work together in an easier way than what’s in place right now.”

According to Miller, the members of TAC Security first met each other only 10 days before claiming the $12,000 first-

place prize, having been matched together by the Venture College after needing teammates to compete with.

“All of us just kind of wanted to get involved. We all have that in common,” Jones said. “We got paired up, and we actually fit together as a team perfectly. Each of us had our own different strengths, and we worked together really well, which doesn’t always happen when it’s a random pair.”

No matter the initial hesitations students may have about joining a competition like the Cybersecurity Entrepreneur Challenge, Miller encourages them to take that leap of faith.

“There is a community of people at the Venture College that want to help you try to be a successful entrepreneur,” Miller said.

“Students right now, this is the time in your life to try new things … take a little bit of risk, and there can be a huge reward.”

BSU student Tatum Jones (right) and CWI teammates with their CEC prize.

Photo courtesy of Angie Smith

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OPINION November 18, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

AS IDAHO LEGISLATURE RECONVENES, LAWMAKERS NEED TO PRIORITIZE HEALTH COVID-19 should not be the political battle that it has turned into Paige Wir ta | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The Idaho state legislature recessed in May, and has reconvened to legislate unnecessarily on vaccines and mandates.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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his week, the Idaho legislature reconvened after voting to recess, rather than end, the regular session earlier in May. This means that the reconvention will be a continuation of the 2021 regular session rather than a special session, and legislators will not be limited on what bills they can introduce.

The starte of the renewed session will mark its 309th daym making it Idaho’s longest legislative session in history.

The 2022 regular session is set to convene in just seven weeks.

In most cases, the legislative session begins in January and convenes for up to three months before ending the session for the year. The 2021 session is an outlier, but in more ways than one.

The House Ways and Means Commit-

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tee met Monday morning to consider what legislation to introduce for the session. According to the Ways and Means agenda, most of the 29 bills that will be considered deal with COVID-19 issues and regulations.

It’s no secret that the Idaho government is largely against any kind of vaccine or mask mandate; Gov. Little has joined two multi-state lawsuits against President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates. So it’s not a surprise that a number of proposed bills are working to not only make it illegal to mandate vaccinations but to also limit “federal overreach,” according to one draft legislation title.

Legislators will also try to make any mask mandates illegal, despite continu-

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ous research supporting that masks are one of the best ways, behind vaccinations, to stop the spread of COVID-19.

According to the CDC’s COVID-19 County Check, Ada County remains in a high transmission state and recommends that people in Ada County continue to wear masks indoors in public settings.

Among the first duties of the lengthened legislative session was a 49-19 vote to formally censure Rep. Priscilla Giddings (R-White Bird). The vote followed Giddings’ decision to reveal the identity of Jane Doe, an intern who reported former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger for sexually assaulting her.

Giddings revealed the identity of Jane Doe in a blog post she shared on her Facebook page, including a photo of the victim and her full name. Even after Jane Doe’s identity had been protected by other lawmakers and police, Giddings seemed to go out of her way to identify the victim, which, at best, is just an awful, immoral thing to do.

According to Katie Terhune with KTVB, Giddings stood by her choices and said, “I would not have done anything differently. I think my intent was pure.” However, intent is not the most important thing here, especially with Giddings refusing to admit what she did was wrong.

It’s pertinent that people involved with a sexual assault case treat the victim with respect and understanding; doxxing the victim when she has chosen to keep her identity undisclosed is incredibly harmful and can lead to harassment, issues with the case and can prevent other victims from coming forward.

Even though Giddings’ actions weren’t illegal, the decisions still had consequences and poor judgement.

The decision to censure Giddings came after a two hour debate on Monday morning. Giddings testified that she hadn’t even read the post before she shared it, so she wasn’t aware that both Jane Doe’s real name and photo were in it. However, this isn’t an excuse — it’s just another example of poor judgement. If our lawmakers begin sharing information without reading it over first, how can we trust them to keep our wellbeing in mind?

“We need to set partisan beliefs and opinions aside and listen to our healthcare professionals when they tell us that the vaccines are safe, that masks are important and that if we care for one another, we can push through this crisis together.”

With the censure of Giddings out of the way, the continuation of Idaho’s longest legislative session will be focused on COVID-19 related bills. I urge Idaho lawmakers to keep the health and wellbeing of their constituents and citizens in mind — COVID-19 has been turned into a political issue, despite the fact that it is a health crisis affecting every person on this planet in a drastic way.

We need to set partisan beliefs and opinions aside and listen to our healthcare professionals when they tell us that the vaccines are safe, that masks are important and that if we care for one another, we can push through this crisis together.

OPINION

IT’S TIME TO CHANGE HOW WE DISCUSS ADHD

A reflection on my mid-pandemic diagnosis

Kelby Andrew | Staf f Writer & Copy Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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or most of my life, I thought I was doing okay managing the challenges being thrown my way — that is, until the rigid structures of our world came tumbling down with the arrival of COVID-19.

It was hard knowing that I couldn’t control the pandemic that raged outside of my apartment walls, but what I found even more bothersome was the rapid changes I noticed within myself.

For so long, I had overcompensated for my struggles by maintaining a death grip on the structures ruling over my life, and now that they were gone, all of those struggles boiled to the surface in one concentrated charge.

I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on March 31, 2021. I was 19 years old and finishing up my second year of college.

My story is not a unique one. Statistically, the odds were always stacked against me for getting an early diagnosis. Of children ages 3-17, 11.7% of boys are diagnosed with ADHD as opposed to only 5.7% of girls.

The reason behind this disparity is multifaceted and can’t be boiled down to one specific root cause. However, much of it has to do with outdated stereotypes surrounding the condition.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts an individual’s executive functioning — a collection of mental skills that include working memory, cognitive flexibility and impulse control. In the past, earlier medical knowledge defined ADHD on the basis of childhood hyperactivity.

As a result, boys were usually the children referred for clinical treatment, as they were more likely than girls to demonstrate disruptive and rowdy behavior. According to ADDitude Magazine, “Early studies were based on the behaviors of these white hyperactive boys; these findings helped shape the diagnostic criteria and assessment scales

still in use today.”

Women aren’t excluded from experiencing hyperactivity, though their symptoms tend to manifest as inattentive behavior such as making careless mistakes, experiencing organizational difficulties or struggling to follow directions. Although these symptoms can present prolonged personal challenges, they are usually overlooked due to their lack of outward disruption.

Women are also known to “mask” their ADHD symptoms due to societal pressure. Masking can be defined as the act of hiding or diminishing neurodiverse symptoms or traits to present a facade of normalcy, and it can make the diagnostic process difficult.

Having a delayed diagnosis proved to be incredibly damaging to me. At 19 years old, the “abnormalities” I had suppressed were so deeply ingrained into my lifestyle that it was hard to grasp what I was supposed to feel.

One of the most troubling symptoms I’ve encountered as a result of my ADHD is time blindness. I can never accurately tell how long a task will take, and I find myself panicked when even the smallest of assignments are added to my to-do list. An email that may only take three minutes to type feels as monumental as a five-page paper.

I also find myself hesitant to take on additional responsibilities when I have a “main event” scheduled for that day.

If I have a meeting to attend at 3 p.m., I feel like I’m unable to do anything beforehand, as I can never estimate how long tasks like going to the grocery store or having lunch with a friend will take.

The inability to self-monitor or balance responsibilities without some kind of assistance or accountability measure is a vicious cycle. Pandemic learning was especially painful. Although rolling out of bed five minutes before a Zoom class certainly had its upsides, there was nothing helping me remain present with my work.

One symptom of ADHD can be time blindness, making it difficult to manage or predict the time it takes to complete tasks.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter Tuning out became an inevitability.

I was told that college would be a time of self-discovery, but in the seven months following my diagnosis, it feels as if I’ve had to continuously “unlearn” myself. I could no longer equate my overcompensation to coping. Simply because I’d managed to crawl my way towards the finish line through sheer willpower did not mean I was properly managing my symptoms.

I still have plenty to learn when it comes to understanding how my brain operates. However, I’m certain of one thing: we need to reevaluate and change our discussions surrounding ADHD. In her TED Talk “This is what it’s really like to live with ADHD,” Jessica McCabe said, “Society is our user’s manual. We learn how our brains and bodies

work by watching those around us. And, when yours works differently, it can feel like you’re broken.”

For too long, we’ve been spoonfed a mishmash of stereotypes that continue to fuel the diagnostic disparity we see today.

Rather than confining ADHD to hyperactive behavior, we must view the condition for what it is — a difference in cognition that spans a vast range of symptoms.

By giving proper representation to ADHD and gaining a more equitable understanding of how it manifests for different people, individuals can receive the proper support they need to develop healthy coping strategies that are suited to their way of thinking, and maybe in the future, it won’t take the eruption of a pandemic for people to happen upon this discovery.

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n Friday, March 13, 2020, Carmi Scheller, a fourth-grade teacher at Star Elementary, said goodbye to her class for the weekend with a declaration of “see you Monday!”

On Monday, March 16, 2020, West Ada School District moved online.

With a trembling voice and tears in her eyes, Scheller said, “We didn’t ever see those kids again, as a class … there’s [been] no closure. We haven’t had time to process it or deal with everything that’s happened.”

Many Idaho teachers have been left feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by the pandemic. COVID guidelines, in addition to accusations of indoctrination, have brought political attacks into the classroom more directly than ever before.

Idaho has also been struggling with a teacher shortage, and these issues will only intensify as these politicized issues continue to gain traction. The result is an uncertain future filled with both hope and hopelessness.

“I have seen no evidence of indoctrination…”

On a normal day, in a normal year, teachers already deal with a host of issues — issues that have only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

“There simply isn’t enough time,” said Sarah Royter, a sixth-grade teacher in the Boise School District. “I can’t grade papers, and prep activities and assignments, and counsel kids and sanitize my classroom in all the time that I have.”

Many teachers find that they have to work outside their contract hours to complete all the necessary tasks.

According to Scheller and Royter, there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish what needs to be done, particularly when considering the amount of time required to adjust to COVID guidelines.

“We continue to struggle with a teacher shortage in Idaho, and the fear and confusion caused by the pandemic have likely aggravated that shortage.”

- Sherri Ybarra, Idaho state superintendent of public instruction

In a press release from August 2020, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said, “We continue to struggle with a teacher shortage in Idaho, and the fear and confusion caused by the pandemic have likely aggravated that shortage.”

In April 2021, the Idaho House killed a $1.1 billion teacher pay bill supported by Superintendent Ybarra.

The bill’s opposition came from mostly conservative legislators who were concerned about “critical race theory” and indoctrination.

In an interview with KTVB7 in April of this year, Superintendent Ybarra said, “I have seen no evidence of indoctrination or politically motivated teaching.”

When asked about indoctrination, Royter commented with a chuckle, “If I could indoctrinate my students, I would indoctrinate them to come to school on time and complete their assignments.”

Accusations of indoctrination started with criticism of higher education, particularly Boise State. In the past two years, the university has been on thin ice with a lawsuit from Big City Coffee and accusations around University Foundations classes.

However, third-year Boise State student and education major Julia Zickefoose said, “In all my classes, it’s expressed pretty explicitly: you set

aside [your political views], and you go off of what’s best for the students and for the parents.”

Even teachers at Boise State who teach about race feel the accusations of indoctrination are unfounded.

“[Students] learn about things that will create cohesiveness, not divisiveness ... In my classes, there is no ‘right answer’ or ‘wrong answer.’”

- Dr. Dora Ramirez, professor

of sociology and director of ethnic studies at BSU

“[Students] learn about things that will create cohesiveness, not divisiveness … In my classes, there is no ‘right answer’ or ‘wrong answer,’” said Dr. Dora Ramirez, sociology professor and director of ethnic studies at Boise State. “I’m not in a classroom to change their perspective or position. I’m there to [add to] their understanding of that moment … to add complexity.”

“I’m exhausted, and I’m overwhelmed, and I’m frightened…”

The volley of unrelenting political attacks, on top of normal teaching

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responsibilities, have led many dedicated teachers to lose hope.

“I know several teachers … that are on a two to three-year plan out of education. It’s fairly horrifying the number of people working their way to something else … and I think it’s a loss of hope,” Scheller said.

In an essay published by Idaho Ed News, Morgan Stewart, a second-year special education teacher in Nampa School District, described how working in Idaho education is “like being in a toxic relationship.”

“I have been gaslit into believing I’m not doing enough after working myself into tears — trying to perfect my instruction, meet the deadlines, push an endless pile of paperwork, navigate the adults and support my students,” Stewart said. “My sad reality is I often have nothing left to offer when I get home to my own small children.”

“I’m exhausted, and I’m overwand I’m frightened, but I still love hanging out with my kids everyday.”

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Still, many teachers try to weather the storm.

“We adapt,” Royter said. “I’m exhausted, and I’m overwhelmed and I’m frightened, but I still love hanging out with my kids every day.”

Royter must change her group activities to fit with COVID-19 guidelines. She explains these adjustments by saying “because we live in ‘COVID-land’...,” and the kids take it in stride.

“It’s overwhelming,” Zichefoose said. “It can be really hard, but that is why we need to keep learning and keep doing. I just hope that I maintain an excitement for education, despite all the new obstacles we’re gonna face.”

Scheller said that at parent-teacher conferences, parents showed appreciation beyond the normal “thanks.”

They would make very clear statements of gratitude, an important antidote to the public animosity directed at teachers.

“They’re never my students.

They’re my kids.”

“As the world becomes more divided [and] more polarized ...

People are looking to educators Sarah Royter, sixth grade to cultivate children into this new teacher, Boise School District world, this new way we are living,” Zickefoose said.

Four retired Idaho superinten-

dents wrote in an essay that “support for public education is the tie that binds Idahoans together.”

There is a disconnect between the politics of education and the support of the public. Where children are involved, it is impossible to get away from the fears that a pandemic and political unrest have wreaked in our society.

“If we don’t have teachers, then it has a negative impact on all of society,” Scheller said. “Public schools make a difference in the world, and we need teachers, especially good ones.”

According to both Scheller and Royter, many teachers are afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation.

“Over the years it’s felt like we’re an easy target. We’re busy all day. We’re interacting with people about their children, so it’s not a position where we can become the enemy and stand up for ourselves,” Scheller said.

The burden of looking after and educating children is not an easy one. Many teachers feel this responsibility personally, as Sarah Royter does.

“They’re never my students.

They’re my kids,” Royter said.

Supporting Idaho students and education is not only teachers’ responsibility, but also the responsi-

bility of Idaho communities and the legislature.

In a public statement Superintendent Ybarra said, “This is about the well-being of Idaho’s… students, who are the future of this state. Please call your local school or district office today. You are needed!”

“If we don’t have teachers, then it has a negative impact on all of society. Public schools make a difference in the world, and we need teachers, especially good ones.”

- Carmi Scheller, fourth grade

teacher, Star Elementary

K-12 EDUCATORS ARE STRAINED AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS STRUGGLE WITH FUNDING, POLITICAL ATTACKS AND COVID POLICIES Julianne Gee | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphics by Sasha White | The Arbiter

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November 18, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

DR. TROMP’S PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAIT ARTIST TELLS US HER THOUGHTS

Presidential portrait artist says her portrait not only reflects Dr. Tromp, but also Boise State Julianne Gee | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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fter being delayed by the pandemic, Dr. Marlene Tromp’s presidential portrait was finally revealed on Nov. 3 in the Center for the Visual Arts.

In 2019, a call was sent out for artists to apply to create the presidential portrait. Among the three applicants for the portrait, Erin Cunningham, adjunct instructor and Boise State alum, was chosen to do the portrait.

University art curator Fonda Portales told The Arbiter that the committee was energized by Cunningham’s passion and the research and vision she brought to the interview, and they felt that she was the best artist for completing such an historic portrait on campus.

The portrait is an oil on panel, which is conventional for portraiture, but the goal was not to be conventional.

“There is a conventional language that’s used for portraits of administrators in higher ed.

I wanted to work against some of those conventions [because Tromp] is just so generous and caring and thoughtful in everything that she does and says.”

- Erin Cunningham, faculty member and portrait artist

“There is a conventional language that’s used for portraits of administrators in higher ed.” Cunningham said. “I wanted to work against some of those conventions [because Tromp] is just so generous and caring and thoughtful in everything that she does and says.”

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The portrait, by faculty member Erin Cunningham, was unveiled in the Center for Visual Arts (CVA) building on Nov. 5.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter According to Cunningham, Tromp said that in her portrait, she didn’t want to be “locked away.”

“The choices I made in the painting reinforce [the denial] of those standardized images … by putting her into an outdoor space by putting the emphasis on her interaction with the viewer, so it’s very direct. It’s very frontal,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham worked with a combination of images and photographs to capture Tromp’s likeness. Cunningham and Tromp had multiple conversations and sessions to help establish the “demeanor and a variety of expressions,” which is crucial to the portrait-making process.

Although Cunningham was tasked with making a human likeness, she couldn’t help

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but let her own artistic concentrations come through. Cunningham is particularly interested in the land of Idaho. She said there’s a kind of “meticulousness” to both the land and her artistic perception of it, and that people often misunderstand the land.

“They think [the landscape] is beige,” Cunningham said. “They think it’s not important or not interesting, but it really is …

Boise is a point of convergence. Boise State is also a place where … different experiences come together and these unique students with different backgrounds come and so I felt there was unity there.”

Cunningham included the complexity and nature of Idaho in the portrait with bluegreen sagebrush and yellow flowers in front of a background of gleaming blue sky.

Cunningham expressed how the land was also important to Tromp. They both spent time away from this area or similar areas — Tromp is from rural Wyoming — and then returned to it because of a “longing” for the land.

The importance of the portrait goes beyond its execution and even its subject.

Cunningham also mentioned the importance of the portrait to the art department as a whole. She said that it is important for people to see “the quality of artists … being produced by this department.”

“I am both a product of this department and somebody who works within it,” Cunningham said. “I am so grateful for the experience to have gotten to work with [Tromp] and to represent this department.”

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A LOOK INTO THE EVER-ADAPTING COLLEGE OF INNOVATION AND DESIGN

The college, housed in the Albertsons Library, has expanded in recent years into an “incubator” of ideas Mark Whiteley | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The College of Innovation and Design is located on the second floor of the Albertsons Library and includes several certificate, research and bachelor programs.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter

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oise State’s College of Innovation and Design (CI+D) lives up to its name as it provides students with resources to pave the way for a more informative and successful future. CI+D focuses on nurturing new ideas and increasing the value of Boise State’s education for students across all disciplines.

CI+D offers a wide range of opportunities for students seeking a degree within the college, but also allows students to earn a variety of certificates promoting skills that increase their employability and success in their future careers.

Veronica Roper, the outreach coordinator for CI+D, describes the college as a place for fostering new ideas and creating the Boise State of the future.

“I look at us as this kind of incubator space where we prototype new ideas, we

launch them, then they grow and graduate to other parts of the university,” Roper said.

CI+D expands across many disciplines and programs and is much more than just its academic offerings.

Dawn Shepherd, a new addition to CI+D and the program launch director of the Digital Innovation and Design BA, cites the college’s versatility and extensive offerings as being what stands out to her about CI+D. “[CI+D] includes academic programs, like certificates that live in the College of Innovation and Design and some degrees, but there are also research units that live there,” Shepherd said.

The college consists of two bachelor programs, five certificates, research units like Human-Environment systems and other programs such as the Venture College and the Society for Ideas.

The Venture College is a program within CI+D that presents students and faculty a space to learn how to start a business. From budgeting courses to competitive business skills, courses within the Venture College promote entrepreneurial growth for anyone on Boise State’s campus.

“If you have a business idea, they’ll help you go through and launch it,” Roper said of Venture College staff members. “Or if you already have a business, they’ll help you find seed money and connect you with different community resources, and that’s open to any student on campus.”

However a student chooses to utilize the services and courses within CI+D, they will be exposed to new and innovative ideas and skills. Whether it is business and entrepreneurship-oriented or specific to design and technology, these classes provide students

with the knowledge and experience they need in a technology-driven world.

Erin Colburn, a CI+D student and Boise State staff member, has taken an abundance of these classes and says she has been given opportunities she never thought she’d have.

“I would’ve never thought in my wildest dreams that I could be a drone pilot,” Colburn said. “I took emerging technologies as well and that allowed me to do VR (virtual reality).”

Colburn also mentioned the impact of these classes on her personal life. She credits Brad Weigle and Jenny Myers, two of the CI+D directors, for giving her access to books and resources that have taught her just how many programs and tools are freely available.

“Brad and Jenny, because of their background and expertise, bring to the table a lot of tools you don’t even know are at your disposal,” Colburn said.

Students from any discipline across Boise State can find something to learn through the courses and programs within CI+D. Focusing on a brighter future for Boise State and its community, CI+D continues to grow and provide more opportunities for connection and learning for communities and individuals across campus.

To learn more about CI+D and its offerings, you can visit the College of Innovation and Design web page.

“I look at us as this kind of incubator space where we prototype new ideas, we launch them, then they grow and graduate to other parts of the university.”

- Veronica Roper, outreach coordinator for CI+D

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‘RUST’ TRAGEDY EMPHASIZES SAFETY CONCERNS, CHANGING FILM INDUSTRY BSU’s film and television program prepares students for unique challenges on a production set Patrick R. Kaufmann | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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tudents graduating from Boise State University’s theatre, film and creative writing program may witness a new stage in the film industry’s evolution when they step onto their first live set.

Ongoing negotiations between the International Alliance of Theatre Stage Employees (IATSE) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) continue to slow production schedules on major studio films and televisions shows as IATSE advocates for changes in the industry.

IATSE is a labor union negotiating on behalf of members who want a living wage,

a share of internet streaming revenues, health care benefits and safety assurances for film crews.

Most projects filmed in Idaho do not employ crew members affiliated with the IATSE, according to Blue Banner Films Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Catrine McGregor, but rather one that people may be more familiar with.

“If you hear about a film in Idaho being a union production, typically they’re going through the Screen Actors Guild (SAG),” McGregor said. IATSE covers production crews employed by studios for big-budget films, according to McGregor.

The recent tragedy where a woman was

Mike Miller, vice president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), at a rally on Sept. 26.

Photo courtesy of Myung J. Chun, LA Times

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accidentally killed by Alec Baldwin due to a lack of gun safety on the set of “Rust” emphasizes IATSE’s concerns.

“There is never a reason to have a real gun on set,” McGregor said of the shooting.

For students preparing to work on film and television sets, McGregor stressed the importance of being proactive and notifying the production’s assistant director (AD) when they observe an unsafe act.

“The AD is ultimately the one who is in charge of safety,” McGregor said. “If the AD doesn’t react right away or change things, it’s your job to put it in writing.”

Documenting safety violations and related conversations can not only prevent injury or loss of life, it can also protect the reporter from liability, according to McGregor.

The IATSE-led strike is another example of the changing nature of the employer/employee relationship.

“Whether it’s a film or Starbucks or another restaurant or a construction site,” McGregor said, “the employee wants better pay … and the employer wants to spend as little money as possible.”

Boise State’s film and television arts program enjoys steady growth, with 2020 enrollment numbers more than double what was expected. McGregor attributes some of that growth to the program’s relocation to Pioneer Hall, a move spearheaded by College of Arts and Science Interim Dean Leslie Durham.

“Dean Durham and [Boise State President] Dr. Tromp are both very proactive in creating a film program that teaches you not only what camera to use, but what to do with that knowledge once you get out of school,” McGregor said.

Growth for Boise State’s film and television program is symbiotic with the economic development of the film production community within Idaho, according to McGregor.

“Idaho doesn’t have tax incentives for film productions, but look at the bottom line,” McGregor said. “If you can come to Idaho and make a less expensive film, that can

negate the benefit of any tax incentive.”

Some of the planned developments for the university’s film and television program include a series of practicum courses led by industry professionals who can instruct students about stunt work and the use of weapons and pyrotechnics on set.

“If you really want to be a filmmaker, these are some of the most important things there are to know,” McGregor said.

“I don’t think that the film and television program’s expansion is due to a growing film industry in Idaho.

I think it’s the other way around, and the Idaho film industry’s growth will be due to programs like the one at Boise State.”

- Catrine McGregor, CEO of Blue Banner Films

McGregor envisions a future where Boise State is known for a film department that can be mentioned in the same breath as the University of Southern California or the American Film Institute.

“I don’t think that the film and television program’s expansion is due to a growing film industry in Idaho,” McGregor said.

“I think it’s the other way around, and the Idaho film industry’s growth will be due to programs like the one at Boise State.”

The success of film and television programs like Boise State’s Narrative Television Initiative suggest a positive trend for students interested in exploring their creative passions through media like television, theatre and film.

But the rest of us may have to wait longer than expected for the latest sequel or new seasons on television as Hollywood struggles to adapt to a new employment paradigm.

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ALL BANDS ON DECK: THE SHIVAS

Check out these four musicians from Vancouver, Washington, and their 2021 album “Feels So Good // Feels So Bad” Amanda Niess | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ristin Leonard, Jared Molyneux, Eric Shanafelt and Jeff City began a school group project together where they wrote, recorded and performed music for their class. That was 15 years ago — now, the secondary school group project is performing on big name stages.

Meet The Shivas.

The band’s name came from a day calendar which happened to showcase a Shiva, the third god in the Hindu triumvirate.

Molyneux thought it would be a fitting name for the group of secondary school students who started making music together all those years ago.

The Shivas is a band from Vancouver, Washington that has been performing all across the country and Boise was lucky enough to experience their music for the ninth annual Treefort Music Fest.

Lead singer Jared Molyneux plays the guitar alongside his bandmates Kristin Leonard, who is on the drums, Jeff City on the guitar and vocals and Eric Shanafelt, who plays the bass.

Just like any other music group, the pandemic hit The Shivas hard, making it difficult for them to produce and perform their songs to large groups of people.

The Shivas’ 2021 album “Feels So Good // Feels So Bad” has been a big turnaround for the band since the beginning of the pandemic, but this unprecedented time was not as big of an inconvenience as the band thought it would be in regard to making music.

“The pandemic changed everything, from the writing and recording of the album to what promoting an album means in the pandemic.”

- Jared Molyneux, lead singer and guitarist of The Shivas

Molyneux shared that his current favorite song to play is the opening track of the album, “Feels so Bad” because of the energy that it exerts to both the crowd and the band themselves.

“We wrote that song during COVID, or at least the words and the structure and all that stuff,” Molyneux said. “So we never got to play it live and through a lot of the quarantine I was just thinking like ‘man, I cannot wait to play this song at a show just because I know the energy of it would be really good for a live show,’ and so it does feel very gratifying to finally be able to get out and do that.”

Guitarist and lead singer Jared Molyneux shared this experience of writing “Feels So Good // Feels So Bad,” which debuted Sept.

24 of this year.

“The pandemic changed everything, from the writing and recording of the album to what promoting an album means in the pandemic,” Molyneux said. “We are on tour right now, which is crazy because we haven’t been on tour in a long time.”

The band performed their album, in addition to other songs from their previous works, at Treefort Music Fest this September. The band was happy to share that they had produced a total of seven music videos to promote their new album throughout the thick of the pandemic.

Their music video production was one of the many back up plans that the band had incorporated into making “Feels So Good // Feels So Bad,” just in case the pandemic shut down music venues.

“I think we made seven [videos] for this album, and we would have not have done that otherwise because we probably wouldn’t have had the time,” Molyneux said.

Molyneux noted that he and the band find inspiration from a wide range of genres and musicians but the two that stood out from the rest were Velvet Underground and Hank Williams. These inspirations can be heard in many of the band’s songs, both new and old.

Members of The Shivas (L-R): Kristin Leonard, Eric Shanafelt, Jeff City and Jared Molyneux.

Photo courtesy of Jared Molyneux

With the help of the new album, The Shivas were able to showcase their post-pandemic work to an entirely new crowd, not only to those in their hometown of Vancouver but also to those who came to Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho.

Artists and other musicians have put a lot on the line to perform during a pandemic, but Molyneux was confident to mention that Treefort had been one of the safest venues that he and the band have played so far.

This was not the first time The Shivas had performed at Treefort in Boise, for

they had participated in the music festival about three to five times prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Treefort feels like the safest place I have been so that was really a relief for us,” Molyneux said. “Festivals like that make tour possible for us and the anchor dates cover the expenses for the smaller ones.”

Make sure to listen to The Shivas’ newest album, “Feels So Good // Feels So Bad” on all streaming platforms and check out their mid-pandemic produced music videos that accompany the album.

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SPORTS & REC November 18, 2021 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

COMMENTARY: BRONCO FOOTBALL MIGHT SUFFER FOR A FEW YEARS

With huge coaching staff changes, the rebuilding of the program could mean more underwhelming seasons ahead Adam Bridges | Sports & Rec Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

A season of tough losses at home signal a change for Bronco football.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter possibility as to why Boise this season, the news came as a shock to State football is underperform- Bronco Nation. ing this season is because the While nothing has been confirmed team is trying to rebuild from about the reasoning behind Thomas no the ground up. longer being on the team, an anonymous From trying to establish a winning and source in the program told The Arbiter dominant culture to removing players who that Thomas was removed from the team are not buying into the culture change, due to “academic reasons.”

Boise State is doing everything they can to There is also speculation that Thomreimage the Boise State football program. as arrived late to team meetings. These The Boise State football program has assumptions came after Avalos called out been keeping the fact that they are trying players in a postgame press conference to rebuild under wraps, but with the recent for being late to team meetings three days news of senior receiver CT Thomas no prior to Thomas’ departure. longer being a part of the team, their plans “If we handle things properly, are not are no longer in the shadows. late to meetings and stuff late in the week, On Tuesday, Oct. 19, the news broke then maybe we will have a better consisthat Thomas was no longer going to be a tency,” Avalos said during a press conpart of the program. The news came as a ference following a disappointing loss at surprise, as Thomas was expected to finish home to Air Force on Saturday, Oct. 16. this year after returning as a “super senior.”

After piecing together this move by “I most definitely thank the fans for the the Boise State football team, previous support and won’t ever forget the bonds comments from head coach Andy Avalos I built from my last couple of years being and the statements from Athletic Director here,” Thomas said to the Idaho Press.

Jeremiah Dickey shutting down the possiThomas played well this season, having bility of Boise State changing conferences 10 catches for 85 yards in the span of any time soon, it seems as though Boise six games. With how he was playing State football is making moves to rebuild

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the culture of the team.

“What we want from our players more than anything is to be able to learn how to commit and be consistent with preparation,” Avalos said. “That starts with us by teaching them and making sure that we are our best. For us, those are the things that you learn when you come to Boise State.

Those are the things that we are working to reestablish here. All the little things become big things. I know in due time we will reestablish this foundation and get back to doing things more consistently.”

Avalos has emphasized the importance of “reestablishing the foundation” of the Boise State football team ever since receiving the head coaching position back in January 2021. Now that the team is at 5-4 on the season, having the same amount of losses as their worst record since 2015 (9-4) and lost three straight home games for the first time since 1997, it makes sense for the team to be looking for a complete program rebuild.

The fact that Boise State football is rebuilding its program gives Dickey’s statements about staying in the Mountain West more context and makes the statement seem less questionable.

“I have consistently stated since arriving at Boise State that our institution is a proud member of the Mountain West, but we will always do our due diligence in regards to what is best for our department and university,” Dickey said in a released statement. “While our on-field successes and positive trajectory of the University have created opportunities for us, we remain committed to the Mountain West.”

With his statement about what conference Boise State will play for in the future, Dickey shut the door for Boise State entering conferences like the Big 12 or the AAC for the foreseeable future. This

seemed odd, because Boise State would be gaining more publicity by joining these conferences, and had seemed interested in transferring in the past.

In the same released statement, Dickey also reiterated a message similar to Avalos by stating that Boise State is wanting to focus on reestablishing its athletic programs and committing to helping its coaches and student-athletes grow stronger.

With Boise State football’s attempts to rebuild now out in the open, the question of why they have been keeping their intentional rebuild a secret from everyone remains.

However, the answer to this is simple.

Teams that try to rebuild lose out on some revenue that their team makes because fans tend to not want to show up to games when they know their team is not going to achieve anything that season. Fans also tend to not buy merchandise when they are fully aware that their team will underperform for the next few seasons.

According to an article in the Idaho Statesman, the Boise State football team brings in half of the school’s revenue with around $24,000,000 per year, including $24,801,525 from their previous season. On average, $5,000,000 of the $24,000,000 that Boise State football brings in is from ticket sales.

If Boise State openly stated that they will not have a great season along with underwhelming future seasons due to rebuilding, then fans will most likely be less inclined to show up to games and buy merchandise. The lack of fan attendance and merchandise sales would lead to a significant decrease in revenue coming into the university.

These moves may be the first of many that will lead to a rebuilding of the Boise State football program.

SPORTS & REC

MEN’S BASKETBALL STARTS STRONG

WOMEN’S SOCCER COMES TO AN END

Lexi Almeido | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Lexi Almeido | Spor ts & Rec Editor | spor ts@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The season opened in an electric ExtraMile Arena

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oise State men’s basketball is back. The team opened their 2021-22 season with a win over Utah Valley 76-56 on Nov. 9.

Bronco Nation filled ExtraMile Arena with 7,457 tickets sold for the team’s home opener. On Oct. 21, Boise State Athletics announced a full-capacity arena for both men’s and women’s home basketball games.

Before tip-off, head coach Leon Rice announced free pizza to students on Twitter.

Tickets were distributed to 1,211 students, and Bronco Nation made its presence known within ExtraMile Arena.

“I was so happy to see the crowd and hear the emotion when we made a good play,” Rice said. “It lifted our guys. It makes a difference to have the energy back in the building.”

Utah Valley scored first, but a minute later, fifth-year forward Abu Kigab got the Broncos in the game with a driving layup.

Kigab scored 12 points throughout the game including seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.

“Defense is something I love and I really take pride in it ... the only stats I really care about are my defensive ones,” Kigab said.

Senior guard Devonaire Doutrive led the team with 18 points.

“I’m just doing basically what the coaches need me to do,” Doutrive said.

“Today is my night. Tomorrow it could be

somebody else’s night and I’ve just got to come every day and give it my all.”

Behind him, senior forward Naje Smith trailed with a career high of 15 points and matched his career best with five rebounds.

One of the most exciting plays of the first half was a behind-the-back pass from sophomore guard Pavle Kuzmanovic to Smith for a two-handed dunk. Kuzmanovic finished with a career high of nine points and two assists.

The Broncos took the lead 38-27 before heading into halftime.

Utah Valley made a comeback early in the second half, but Boise State responded with a 15-point run to secure their largest lead of the night (56-34). Redshirt senior forward Mladen Armus and redshirt senior guard Emmanuel Akot combined for 13 points during this run. One of Armus’ points was a driving dunk in traffic.

The Wolverines attempted to close the gap to 11 points with roughly four minutes left of play, but Smith closed out with eight points in the final three minutes. “[Smith] takes great shots. He moves the ball, he knows his role,” Rice said. “15 points off six shots, you couldn’t be more efficient. He’s also a great team guy and loves to get assists.”

The Broncos lost at UC Irvine Nov. 13, and will head to Charleston, South Carolina for a tournament on Nov. 18-21.

Senior guard Emmanuel Akot (14) inbounds the ball against Utah Valley in the Extra MileArena on Nov. 9.

Corissa Campbell | The Arbiter

A magical run ended in a MWC championship loss

After landing a spot in the MWC tournament, the Broncos made it to the championship, where the top-ranked Lobos took the win.

Claire Keener | The Arbiter their territory, but in the 33rd minute, he Boise State women’s soccer the Lobos put one past senior goalkeeper season officially came to an Sydney Smith. end with a 2-1 loss in the In the second half, the Broncos showed Mountain West championship against New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 6. a fight with three shots on goal in the first three minutes.

Weeks earlier, the team sat at 11th It came down to the 79th minute for in Mountain West Conference (MW) Boise State to come back and make a play. standings, but on the final day of the Junior midfielder Morgan Stone scored regular season, the Broncos clinched the sixth and final spot in the MW Champi- a goal off an assist by freshman forward Carly Cross. onship tournament.

The match was sent into overtime after After upsetting the No. 3 seed San Disophomore forward Mia Burns attempted ego State 1-0 and beating out No. 2 seed to score a deflected ball off her shoulder Fresno State in penalty kicks 6-5, Boise but rolled wide of the net.

State earned their way to the championIn the opening minute of overtime, the ship game against New Mexico. However, the match ended in an unfortunate loss for MW Offensive Player of the Year Jadyn Edwards scored for the Lobos, bringing the Broncos. the Broncos’ 2021 season to a close.

“When you look at a whole season Boise State women’s soccer finished it’s usually a roller coaster of opportutheir season with an overall record of nity and emotion,” said head coach Jim 11-7-4 and their fifth straight trip to the Thomas. “An individual 90 minutes is MW tournament. no different. Today we went down early, “We have championship DNA in this then came back. Everything seems to be program, and we’ll continue to develop refined down into a 90-minute period. our players with the idea of being in big That’s why we all love the game, because matches and being able to handle that of the drama. I’m just proud of how we moment the way we handled it today,” responded in the game.”

Thomas said. “The championship DNA In the first 15 minutes, the Lobos took has been here for a number of years now control of the match with three shots on and we will continue to breed that.” goal. The Broncos did well at protecting

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17

SPORTS & REC

MEN’S GOLF STAR HUGO TOWNSEND AIMS FOR HIS BEST SEASON YET

All-American Townsend is tied for the most top-25 finishes in program history, with another season to come Matthew Valento | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Men’s golf senior Hugo Townsend was recently named the Mountain West Men’s Golfer of the Month.

Photo courtesy of Boise State Athletics

enior Hugo Townsend grew up in Boden, a small city in the northern reaches of Sweden. When Townsend’s dad retired from professional golf, he moved his family to Sweden when Hugo was six years old.

Coming to Boise State, Townsend has had an immensely successful career as a Bronco with 68.89 strokes-per-round, two top three finishes, and 7 par-or-better rounds out of nine. On Nov. 11 Townsend was named Mountain West Men’s Golfer of the Month.

In Sweden, Hugo Townsend played on the Swedish national team, where he helped the team get fourth place in the European Championship. Townsend played in a tournament in the United States where he met Boise State men’s golf coach Dan Potter. After meeting Potter, he decided to go to Boise State.

Townsend is one of the best golfers to ever wear a Bronco uniform because of his many accolades and accomplishments. He ranked among the top 25 for the entire

Athlete last season.

“This is a big deal for Hugo and for our program,” Potter said. “Hugo has been dedicated to being great ever since he arrived in Boise and it’s nice to see his work pay off like it has. He’s a big-time player and this is a big-time honor.”

Currently, Townsend is tied for the most top-25 finishes along with Troy Merritt and Matt Hastings. Also, Townsend is fourth in program history with 52 rounds that are under par.

After graduating from college, he hopes to play pro golf in the United States, but is still uncertain if he will be able to play in the U.S. or not. Either way, he remains focused on the season at hand.

“Every tournament is a good challenge,” Townsend said. “You always have a fresh mindset going into every week, someone played good even if you didn’t play good you still want to try to win.”

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2020-2021 season and made the 2021 NCAA Dision I PING All-American Third Team. Townsend also has 21 total top-25 finishes and received a first-place medal at the Duck Invitational.

“I want to play as good as I can and improve,” Townsend said. “I do not think about big awards and legacies or anything like that. I just want to play [well]. Legacies and rewards are not a good focus.”

Townsend did not get caught up in the thrill of placing first at the Duck Invitational. He displays discipline on the golf course and is always focusing on the next week, instead of the past.

According to men’s golfer and fifth-year student Skyler Eubank, Townsend leads by example by doing the little things. He played golf almost every day last summer to improve his game and is the first one on the course to practice chipping in the rain.

Also according to Eubank Townsend has made an impact on his teammates by the level of play and how he leads.

“Hugo is very hardworking and disci-

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plined with his practice, and I think that motivates others to be just as motivating and hard-working,” Eubank said. “He sets the example. If he thinks he doesn’t play good he will immediately go practice on some stuff. He raised the standards for the team.”

“Hugo is very hardworking and disciplined with his practice, and I think that motivates others to be just as motivating and hard-working.”

- Skyler Eubank, fifth-year senior and men’s golfer

Townsend also shows excellence in the classroom, having achieved Academic All-Mountain West every season on the team, from 2019 to 2021. The senior golfer was also a Mountain West Scholar

CAPRICORN DEC 22- JAN 19

LIFE HAS BEEN BUSY FOR YOU, AND THE STARS SUGGEST YOU CANCEL NONESSENTIAL PLANS AND FOCUS ON YOURSELF.

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HUMANITARIAN ISSUES ARE CONSUMING YOUR MIND, SO LET YOUR COMPASSION GUIDE YOU AND JOIN A WORTHY CAUSE.

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THE SPOTLIGHT IS SHINING ON YOU. EXPECT TO MONEY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MIND, BE AWARDED FOR ACADEMIC OR PROFESSION- AND THE STARS ARE IN YOUR FAVOR TO MAKE IMPACTFUL FINANCIAL DECISIONS. AL EXCELLENCE AND REMAIN HUMBLE.

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