The Arbiter 10.3.17 Vol. 30 Issue 8

OCTOBER 3, 2017

VOL. 30 ISSUE 8 I N D E P E N D E N T

Graphic campus protest Page 5

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

O F

B O I S E

S T A T E

Nafisi on imagination Page 13

S I N C E

1 9 3 3

Flores is kickin’ Page 18

EVENTS

Events this week There’s No Press Like Home Opening Ceremony Oct. 3 | Student Union Fine Arts Gallery | 4:30 pm - 6.30 pm

An opening ceremony for the display of distinguished alumni work following their time in Boise State’s printmaking laboratory in the previous spring semester.

Bronco Volleyball vs. Colorado state Oct. 5 | Bronco Gym | 7:30 pm

Boise State Broncos will face off against Colorado State in one of their first home games of the season.

Service Saturday Oct. 7 | Municipal Park | 9:00 pm 1:00 pm

Volunteers are welcome to come to the first Service Saturday in the semester and help clean up Boise.

Walk About Boise Oct. 7 | Municipal Park | 11:00 am

Learn about the history of Boise during a 1.5 hour guided walk through downtown Boise.

See Spot Walk Oct. 7 | Julia Davis Park | 9:00 am - 1 pm

Come enjoy the 25th annual pet-friendly walk with your pet. There will be contests, vendors, and prizes. Register at idahohumanesociety.org

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OCTOBER 3, 2017

INSIDE

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Photo of the week

Editor-In-Chief Brandon Rasmussen editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Online Editor Taylor Munson onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu Opinion Editor Jacob Palmer opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Jordan Erb news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Ximena Bustillo news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Shannon Brennan culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Daniel Gardner sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Peter Huguenin sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Tree-covered mountains tower over Idaho’s beautiful Blue Lake. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

Digital Content Manager Axel Quartarone digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editors Evan Fishburn Harbor Neher

Visit us on social media The Arbiter @arbiteronline

Design Manager Selina Ceballos

@arbiteronline www.arbiteronline.com

On the cover: An Aramark vehicle parked outside the Student Union Building on campus. Photo by Axel Quartarone. Designed by Nabil Rahman.

Graphic Designers Nabil Rahman Olivia Tocher Contact us The Arbiter is located at 1910 University Dr., Mail Stop 1340 Phone: (208) 426-6300 Website: www.arbiteronline.com Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State, 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.

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NEWS

OCTOBER 3, 2017

“Lemons to Lemonade” rally held in Downtown Boise

Boise community and student organizations to gather in opposition of white supremacist concert Carleen Casey | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“

If you look around, you see a diverse crowd of people here. This shows Idaho is not the message we get painted as.

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- Phillip Thompson, board president and director of Idaho Black HIstory Museum here,” Thompson said. “Idaho–Boise in particular–is a rather inclusive, accepting city, and that is what we stand for. Not what the white supremacist is trying to put A local band played at the Lemons to Lemonade event, a rally devoted to spreading diversity.

Photo by Taylor Humby and Taylor Lippman.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, one could hear great music from miles away. If one followed the music to its source, they would have found the Lemons to Lemonade counter-rally, where Boiseans gathered and local musicians played.

The Idaho Black History Museum hosted Lemons to Lemonade as a peaceful counter-rally event on Saturday, Sept. 30 to celebrate the diversity of Boise. As a white supremacist group called the Hammer Skins were having a rally on the same day, this protest was to show Boise that the future is bright and should not be filled with hate. With music and celebration in the atmosphere, Idahoans seemed happy to be a part of the Boise community and spread culture.

Boise State students attended the rally to be a part of the celebration of diversity.

According to freshman Babiana Ortiz, Lemons to Lemonade was a good example of peaceful protest.

“Lemons to Lemonade is what a civil protest should be. Just recognizing there

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are certain biases, and certain people who do believe in certain things,” Ortiz said.

“You don’t have to accept it. You can put in your thought, and also pursue your own agenda too.”

During the rally, people seemed to be enjoying the music that was playing and the speeches people gave about how bright the future can look.

“I hope Boise State students receive recognition, recognition that is respected,” said Phillip Thompson, board president and director of the Idaho Black History Museum. “There is a reason we’re doing (the counter-protest). There’s a why, and we have to understand that why.”

Thompson attended the rally and commended Boise for its inclusivity in such divisive times.

“The biggest thing we are trying to capture is that if you look around, you see a diverse crowd of people here. This shows Idaho is not the message we get painted as.

(We get painted as) a message of hate while the white supremacists are having a concert

out there.”

Thompson went on to detail the importance of student involvement, asserting that universities are where change can be made.

“The most important aspect of getting this movement going–whether it be inclusion and diversity–is the youth,” Thompson said. “Colleges, for the most part, are the epicenter for progressive thought, or for the notion of ‘hey let’s do things a little differently.’”

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Genocide or deceit? Anti-abortion group visits Boise State

NEWS

Pro-life display raises questions about “genocide”

Jordan Erb | News Editor | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

A group of counter-protestors react to an anti-abortion display that arose on the Boise State quad last week. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

Warning signs arose on the quad’s sidewalks on the morning of Wednesday, Sept.

27. The signs, blue and orange in Boise State fashion, read, “Warning: Genocide photos ahead.” For many, however, the signs weren’t enough to keep them from seeing the massive display that followed, positioned in the center of campus.

The display was an enormous anti-abortion protest sponsored by the Center for Bioethical Reform, an international nonprofit that takes this “Genocide Awareness” project to public schools across the nation.

Exhibiting graphic images depicting lateterm aborted fetuses, the anti-abortion event elicited counter-protests from Boise State students, which remained peaceful.

Much debate, however, rose from the group’s use of the word “genocide.”

Genocide, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group.” But for Maggie Egger, project director for the Center for Bioethical Reform, however, the word covers abortion as well.

“There’s a few different definitions of

genocide, actually,” Egger said. “The most common one that people just immediately think of is of an ethnic or racial group, but it can be on religious grounds or even

“

They have the freedom to talk about being prolife. That’s fine. But this is traumatic, and it’s traumatic on purpose.

My opinion is that this is harassment, in that it forces students to see it.

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- Michelle Szurgot, junior astrophysics major socio-economic reasons.”

Michelle Szurgot, a junior astrophysics major and counter-protester, contested

the organization’s use of the word, and explained that it is misleading.

“People think they’re going to be protesting actual genocide–not abortion,” Szurgot said. “By definition, genocide doesn’t mean what they’re using it as. It’s out of context and it doesn’t even make sense.”

The definition of genocide used by the Center for Bioethical Reform posits that unborn infants are the group being systematically eliminated, with the help of the United States government.

“The government uses taxpayer money to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood, which perform abortions by the thousands each year,” Egger said. “I would say the fact that the government is involved in it kind of makes it a little bit more systemic.”

Aside from the fringe definition of genocide, freedom of speech was another issue raised by the group’s appearance. Dean of students Chris Wuthrich explained why the group had every right to demonstrate their beliefs on campus, without interference from the university.

“Regardless of how we personally feel– because everybody’s got their own personal feelings–the institution can’t abridge free speech for anybody,” Wuthrich said.

“There are various limitations to it, and these days it falls to violence, advocating violence or disrupting the activity of the campus.”

Because the event technically did not incite or promote violence, nor disrupt campus flow, Boise State had no reason to expel it. Wuthrich also clarified that students are welcome to create counter-protests. Almost immediately, they did.

“We’ve had three real responses,” Wuthrich said. “We’ve had a ‘pro’ (response); we’ve had folks tell us they appreciate people are able to do this, whether they agree or disagree with the message; and we’ve had a ‘con’ response, which is mostly represented by our wonderful students over there who are promoting their rights to free speech.”

Students falling in the third category began protesting shortly after the display was erected on Wednesday, and continued into midday Thursday. Pro-choice activists created a petition to have the signs removed, according to Szurgot.

“We’re counter-protesting not necessarily because what they’re saying is bad,” Szurgot said. “It’s mostly that the images they have are grotesque, and we have students on campus who have had abortions, and now they have to walk through the quad and see (the display).”

For Szurgot, the sheer size of the display kept passersby from avoiding it, and as such, constituted as harassment.

“They have the freedom to talk about being pro-life. That’s fine. But this is traumatic, and it’s traumatic on purpose,” Szurgot said. “My opinion is that this is harassment, in that it forces students to see it.”

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NEWS

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Ban blocks transgender recruitment into U.S. military

Citing ‘tremendous medical costs,’ President Trump places ban on transgender military recruits

Alyza Lovenguth | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

U.S. ARMY

President Donald Trump placed a ban on transgender military recruits on Aug. 25. Graphic by Olivia Tocher.

President Donald Trump enacted a ban on Aug. 25 stopping the recruitment of transgender individuals into the military, and the removal of serving transgender military is pending on Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’s research.

On Aug. 29, Mattis provided a press release stating, “As directed, we will develop a study and implementation plan, which will contain the steps that will promote military readiness, lethality and unit cohesion, with due regard for budgetary constraints and consistent with applicable law.”

Currently, senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Susan Collins are working on passing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require Mattis to complete his policy review by the end of this year.

“Basically (the government) is saying we can’t be a part of the military because we’re too much of a burden; and I feel like that is a very common narrative that trans people are burdens,” said Boise State Transgender Alliance president, Micah Hetherington.

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Without the ability to enlist in the military, according to Transgender Alliance member Luna Vandusky, many transgender individuals will lose a major employer and the opportunity to have adequate health care.

“As a transgender person, I see the military is one of the biggest employers of the trans community because it’s one of the most easily accessible resources for health care,” Vandusky said. “With Donald Trump revoking rights for trans people to serve the military, it shows how little respect and how much lying Donald Trump has done in his presidency.”

Individuals opposed to the ban, such as political science professor Isaac Castellano, argue that it lacks legal legitimacy, because the ban discriminates based on gender identification.

“In general, I’m opposed to (the ban), and I think the ban is, constitutionally, quite weak,” Castellano said. “I agree with the legal challenges to it and the rationalizations underlying those that point out the fact the ban violates equal protection and some other elements of the Constitu-

tion.”

Many individuals, both for and against the transgender military ban, are challenging Trump’s reasoning that transgender military imposes “tremendous medical costs.”

“There is not a real clear estimate of how many transgender people are currently serving in the military–there also isn’t a clear understanding of what the desires of the transgender community will be if the ban is lifted,” Castellano said. “So, the conjecture that President Trump and others questioning the transgender service members is not backed by any hard numbers or clear understandings of what those

“

The conjecture that President Trump and other questioning the transgender service members is not backed by any hard numbers or clear understanding of what those costs are.

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- Isaac Castellano, political science professor costs are.”

Political Science Association member Madison Grady agrees with the ban, but disagrees with Trump’s stance rooting medical costs as the problem. Instead, she argues that the worry shouldn’t be in the price of gender reassignment or hormone treatment, rather the concern should be placed on the effects of these drugs on transgender service members.

“The president kind of took the easy way out by saying no one can enroll right now,” Grady said. “But I think that is a good thing to do going forward, until we actually have a better idea of how someone

who is taking amounts of testosterone and hormones reacts to combat environment or going through that type of vigorous training.”

However, Hetherington said the idea that all transgender individuals undergo hormone treatment and gender reassignment procedures is a misjudgment.

“There is this misconception that if you’re trans you’re going to have a surgery or you’re going to undergo hormone replacement, which isn’t necessarily true.

Not everyone does that,” Hetherington said. “Even if they do go through it, they may have already had whatever surgeries they wanted, so that argument is really invalid.”

If having transgender service members does pose a significant cut in the defense budget, both Castellano and Hetherington argue there are areas where cuts could be made in order to provide transgender individuals with the ability to serve.

“There is the proposed nuclear weapon overhaul that the Trump Administration has floated since the inauguration that would be billions, if not trillions of dollars over the 10 to 20 year period some of those defense programs would run,” Castellano said. “So he’d save a lot of money by not moving forward with those proposals.”

Similarly, Hetherington said–budget cuts or not–transgender service members are a small price to pay in comparison to other defense spending.

“If you look at how much we spend in the military in general, it’s a lot. To add that tiny bit so people can feel comfortable about their bodies and then they can live their best life, I feel like that’s a really small price to pay to compare to all the weapons that we spend money on,” Hetherington said.

NEWS

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Is composting a possibility at Boise State?

Composting could become a new program at the university MaryAnn Fernandez | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Egg shells, coffee grounds and vegetable peelings. To many, this may just sound like rancid debris, but to environmental and gardening enthusiasts, these materials are considered valuable.

Around Boise State’s campus, there are two prominent green trash cans. One is labeled “recycling” whereas the other reads “landfill.” What if Boise State were to add a third can designated as “composting?”

“I think having a composting program at Boise State would be a great idea,” said Carlo Frode, junior mechanical engineering major. “Composting makes very rich and nutrient-dense soil that plants love and Boise State has a lot of plant life around campus, which makes it such a beautiful campus.”

Frode also had some thoughts on a potential composting program being available on campus.

“If Boise State is benefiting from composting, then students will be more likely to implement similar habits in their current and future lives, which will ultimately help the environment,” Frode said.

This year Boise implemented a new curbside program called “Curb It.” This service includes composting in households across the city. Composting is a natural process that involves organic materials and the decomposition of these components.

Kat Davis, the sustainability coordinator for Boise State, thinks composting could be a possibility at the university.

“Five different entities have reached out for composting at Boise State. A lot of people are excited about it,” Davis said.

“Although the City of Boise has reached its capacity with the new composting program.”

According to the City of Boise’s Curb It website, the program has collected more than 6 million pounds of composting material in just two months. One important reason of having a prosperous compost program is to extend the life of the current landfill for Ada County.

A garden run by the Boise State Sustainability Club. Photo by Taylor Humby.

The entire process takes about 100 days for the compost to be completely ready.

The method includes sorting the materials to remove any possible plastic parts, grind-

“

While there is no current composting program on campus with the city we are definitely on the radar for it.

”

- Kat Davis, the sustainability coordinator for Boise State ing the materials and placing the ground materials into “windrows,” or long rows.

After establishing the windrows, the piles are watered and turned regularly to add oxygen. After the compost is ready, it is used for landscapes at parks across the city. Additionally, it is available free of charge for Boise residents.

Sammi Lowman, the garden manager for the Sustainability Club, discussed the

garden she runs located on Juanita Street.

“We have seven raised gardening beds that we are fixing up. Our current compost bin is broken, but we are working on fixing that. We just received a grant from The Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU) and we will use those funds to help repair them and have more plants in the garden,” Lowman said.

Lowman invites everyone in the community to come see the garden located at 1416 Juanita Street.

Additionally, Lowman said the sustainability committee is working with Aramark to start a food scrap composting program.

“It would be awesome to have a campus-wide composting program. We are even thinking about having a compost drive through the Sustainability Club,” Lowman said.

There are, however, a few concerns Boise State needs to work on before it can start composting.

“We need the funding in order to begin,” Davis said. “We also need the space and resources for composting–finding space is really difficult.”

According to Davis, one of the issues with composting is that the materials are not clean if they have dairy or meat mixed in with them, as it could possibly make someone sick. Also, in order to decompose properly, the materials need to be at the correct temperature.

Davis recently had a meeting with the City of Boise and received some useful information about composting.

“While there is no current composting program on campus with the city we are definitely on the radar for it. We discussed composting with vegetation and food scraps,” Davis said. Furthermore, Davis said the meeting included topics such as a food digester which takes food waste and turns it into gray water, which can be used for irrigation water.

Davis also would like to offer a tour for students who are interested in visiting the Twenty Mile South Farm, where the compost facility for the city is located.

“Students are the voice of the campus and (the) first priority,” Davis said.

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OPINION

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Good news is worth paying for

Subscription-based models offer alternative to challenges in news industry Brandon Rasmussen | Editor-in-Chief | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Paying for news content we consume could be an answer to increasingly intrusive revenue tactics. Photo by Taylor Humby.

For those who like keeping up with the news, the internet can be a perilous place.

Following a series of links, readers everywhere are greeted with a familiar message.

“We hope you’ve enjoyed your 20 free articles this month,” the New York Times’ pop-up says. At this point, many readers click away, and try to find something else less taxing on their wallets.

While there is no shortage of free, adbased news organizations online, many of the more trusted sources (such as the Times, Wall Street Journal and The Economist) now exist behind a paywall. While these paywalls are initially annoying, they could be the future of reliable news. And that can actually be a good thing. Consumers supporting credible news sources will help keep them more independent, relevant and substantial.

It’s nearly common knowledge that print

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ad revenues have been declining for some time, forcing newspapers to make the switch to an online format. According to the The Economist, in order to keep their books in the black, these news sites have resorted to a number of tactics, including what is known as “native advertising,” where sponsored ads are made to look like ordinary articles. While some attempt to make any advertising attempts obvious, many readers can’t always tell whether something is a real article or not.

Many news organizations across the U.S. have survived by being bought out by a larger media companies, leading to a small group of people owning much of the media outlets in the country. These companies can push their agendas onto their smaller branches, such as local newspapers, and often establish requirements in content and how much their content is

viewed.

Obviously, these are huge problems.

Given the current state of financial instability when it comes to news, these paywalls may offer an alternative path forward. Revenue generated by regular subscriptions could negate the need for these less desirable methods. Those more savvy with the Internet may recall a site called Patreon, where users pay an upfront cost for content they support. In the case of YouTube’s content creators, funds generated from this extraneous site allows them to deliver their videos free of ads and otherwise sponsored content. When we apply this method to news organizations we trust, it creates a situation where they are ultimately responsible to their primary source of revenue—their readers.

This switch in the public’s mindset toward news isn’t a far-fetched idea, either.

With services such as Netflix and Amazon gaining subscribers every day, consumers are showing more and more they are willing to pay for online services, so long as they find it worth their time. And in the midst of our contemporary debate over the term “fake news,” I would say this certainly fits the bill.

By moving to a more subscription-based system we can make the news world less about the number of clicks, and more about content. Subscribers would enjoy a healthy stream of well-sourced and editorially independent content without having to scavenge the rest of the internet for something that looks reputable.

Perhaps then, when we are more confident about the information we are taking in, these readers will be more willing to cite their sources in a debate, as we collectively decide what’s right and wrong. There will always be the Breitbarts and Huffington Posts of the world who will continue to utilize alternative methods, but more trusted sources have an opportunity to show the American people what made them trustworthy in the first place.

At this point, it’s important to mention that not everyone can afford these subscriptions. Though they have a comparatively low cost, the simply truth is not everyone will be able to swing it—and that’s all right. Organizations like NPR and the BBC deliver quality news coverage at no cost to the listener. However, for those who can afford it, these two run much thanks to the listeners who support them.

Lastly, the free exchange of ideas involves a shared understanding of facts and knowledge. When we support the news organizations that hold themselves to a high journalistic standard, we are showing what we value. Quality journalism is something we can’t afford to lose, and if we show our interest now, perhaps we can stave off the “death of journalism” yet.

OPINION

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Poetry is alive and well at Boise State

Good poetry is language at its finest – what can be gained through reading it?

Evan Fishburn | Copy Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu Poetry connects us all, providing an intimate view of different cultures and places.

It offers insight into human experiences in an increasingly polarized and individualized world. Unfortunately, not everyone takes advantage of this art form. We could all benefit from more poetry in our lives.

“The dirty secret of poetry,” according to William Logan, English professor and poet at the University of Florida, “is that it is loved by some, loathed by many and bought by almost no one.”

As the proverb goes, brevity is the soul of wit. Some poems, like “The Red Wheelbarrow” by William Carlos Williams, are under ten lines, yet express so much that a short story or novel can’t. At their simplest, poems engage all of our senses, help us understand the complexities of life and death and make us better readers.

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As readers, we want meaning immediately, but the poet challenges us to be patient and appreciate symbols, language, sound and rhythm in new ways.

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“Every good poem grapples with some essential piece of human experience,” said Molly Worthen, author and assistant professor of history at UNC, Chapel Hill.

“It’s time for us to show we care about words again, to rebuild our connection to a human civilization so much broader than our Twitter feeds.”

Currently, more than 100 Boise State students are enrolled in eight sections of poetry, ranging from beginning to advanced levels. Several graduate courses are also offered.

“I think poetry provides a different version of reality and forces people to look at

the world differently,” said Megan Pearson, a senior creative writing major with an emphasis on poetry, adding, “Poetry doesn’t have to be understood to create a feeling or an experience.”

As readers, we want meaning immediately, but the poet challenges us to be patient and appreciate symbols, language, sound and rhythm in new ways. Many Modernist poets, for example, focused on sensations over direct meaning.

Pearson explained that poetry is one place where writers can “express emotion without being so personal that it has to be a confession.”

“Typically people are interested in reading what I write,” Brogan Andrews, a senior English literature major, said of her work. “Or I get those people who say they dislike poetry because it is too difficult to understand or too indirect.”

One place where poetry is not so obscure is in song. Both Pearson and Andrews agreed there is a lot of poetry in song lyrics without listeners realizing it.

For example, in Bob Dylan’s songs, but also Beyoncé’s visual album “Lemonade,” which included many verses of spoken word poetry from the poet Warsan Shire.

“Poetry is dealing with issues like transgender identity, racial identity and social justice in ways that are both moving and informative, while still giving us the lyrical component that poetry is known for,” according to Janet Holmes, Boise State professor and director and editor of the University’s Ahsahta Press.

Holmes went on to say, “In a creative writing course, students in a workshop learn to give and receive pertinent criticism (and praise) for their writing.”

Poetry also thrives outside the University. Last February, U.S. Poet Laureate John Felipe Herrera visited Boise and read his poetry at The Egyptian Theatre, commenting on poetry as a tool of political response and a way for minority voices to be heard.

At Rediscovered Books downtown,

Poetry is an art form students should look into. Photo by Axel Quartarone.

people get involved by entering poetry contests, attending book clubs and hearing local authors speak every Monday night.

At its most recent event, the poets Lydia Havens, Jonathan Schoenfelder and Tyler Brewington read excerpts from their work and spoke of their craft. Havens encouraged young writers to participate in open mic readings and poetry festivals like Death Rattle, which takes place this weekend.

Havens also said the Internet has truly democratized poetry, for better or worse, and has given rise to Instagram and Twitter poets, proving that anyone with a phone can become a poet.

Another project, Poetry in Motion, was created by The Poetry Society of America and displayed poems inside subway cars in New York City. Launched in 1992, the project has grown to include transit systems of twenty U.S. cities, giving passengers the chance to engage with poems from well-known or up-and-coming writers.

“Poetry teaches us to wrestle with and simplify complexity,” John Coleman wrote in the Harvard Business Review, explaining that poetry helps, “develop a more acute sense of empathy… develop creativity… [and] infuse life with beauty and meaning.”

Wondering where to begin? Borrow an anthology, which lists poems by period, topic or theme. Want to ease yourself into reading poetry? Visit poets.org, where you can subscribe to the “Poem-a-Day.” Don’t like Proust? Read Frost or Ginsburg instead. Take a class, talk to others or even try writing your own poems when inspiration strikes.

Pearson said she would love to see poems published in the newspaper, as it “could give the community a good example of the wide genres that exist within poetry.”

Why not start today?

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FEATURE

OCTOBER 3, 2017

More come forward about Aramark workplace mistreatment

Former and current employees disclose experiences of sexism, misconduct and harassment

Taylor Munson | Online Editor | onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State has contracted with Aramark since 2006. The corporation is in charge of all food services on campus. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Prompted by the current investigation surrounding an Aramark workplace harassment case, six former and current Aramark employees contacted The Arbiter to tell similar stories of sexism, mistreatment and harassment.

An internal investigation is being conducted by Boise State’s Office of Institutional Compliance and Ethics looking into Ryan Benson’s accusations of harassment and mistreatment during and after his time working for Aramark.

Since The Arbiter’s Sept. 6 report on the investigation, a handful of other employees came forward, asking to remain anonymous so as to avoid any potential repercussions from Aramark.

Brandi—who preferred her last name not be used—started working at Aramark in August 2015 as a baker in the Boise

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River Cafe (BRC). Throughout the course of her employment, she said she was sexually harassed, denied raises and refused any sort of help from upper management.

Brandi left her job in August 2017.

Brandi recently filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission due to her experiences at Aramark. The Human Rights Commission sent a notice to Aramark on Sept. 7, and Aramark has 30 days to respond.

“The culture there… it’s OK to openly harass and bully employees. The management does nothing about it,” Brandi said.

“I had been complaining since shortly after I started, but I was retaliated against for it.”

Brandi brought up a specific instance when she had to take a day off to take care of her autistic son, since her husband had

thrown out his back.

“I didn’t have to stay at home to take care of my husband that day, I had to stay home to take care of my son,” Brandi said.

Brandi said she later found out that during the day she was gone, the executive chef walked around the kitchen cursing her name and calling her husband a “pussy.” After she complained about this to the general manager at the time, Brandi said the issue was never addressed.

The Arbiter reached out to Aramark for a response to these accusations. Karen Cutler handles media relations and external communications for Aramark—which has contracted with Boise State since 2006 for all on-campus food services.

“I can assure you that we do not tolerate bias or harassment of any kind,” Cutler said in an email to The Arbiter.

According to Cutler, Aramark employs 270,000 people around the world, and the company has received recognition for its inclusion and diversity. Cutler also said employees who have concerns can call a hotline, or email the district manager— Ashley Browne—with concerns.

“We take employee concerns very seriously and look into any concerns or work management issues raised by our team members,” Cutler said.

Brandi, as well as a couple other employees, decided to email Browne about their concerns at the beginning of August 2017.

“I couldn’t take it anymore and I was trying to enact some type of change, so I emailed the district manager, Ashley Browne,” Brandi said.

Brandi said after emailing Browne a list of her concerns, she never received a

FEATURE

OCTOBER 3, 2017

response.

Another former employee of Aramark, Shannon Plumer, worked in the kitchen for about three months. Plumer referred to the group of male managers as the “good ol’ boys.”

“If you weren’t friends with any of them, you weren’t going anywhere. You were going to stay exactly where you were, especially if you were a woman,” Plumer said.

According to Plumer, part of the management problem was the director of operations, Gary Logosz.

“If you had a problem, he was not the person to go to. If you did get to sit down with him, he would talk down to you like you were an idiot. He wanted nothing to do with any problems. He didn’t care,” Plumer said.

As of a few weeks ago, Logosz no longer works for Aramark, according to several employees.

Emily Campbell—a current employee of Aramark whose name has been changed— said she experiences the poor treatment and harassment frequently. Campbell said their direct supervisor is reluctant to give them breaks due to the high turnover, which makes them consistently short staffed.

“I read (that we should get breaks) in the company policy, so I’m not sure why he doesn’t give them,” Campbell said. “He has joked saying he’s a slave driver. Honestly, he is.”

Campbell also said she’s observed women being harassed and supervisors belittling employees, with management never doing anything to resolve the issues.

“Harassment towards women is totally OK, and standing up for yourself as a woman to a man—or to anyone in a top management position—is looked down upon,” Campbell said.

Mia Brady—a former employee of Aramark whose name has also been changed—only worked at Aramark for a few months before she quit.

“A handful of the guys that worked there seemed to be on power trips with the ladies,” Brady said. “It seemed they felt that since we were girls, we were dumb and they always thought better.”

Abigail Smith—whose name has been changed—is another employee who said she has experienced and observed the mistreatment of Aramark employees.

“They degrade employees—big time.

I’ve been yelled at by management for something that wasn’t even my fault,” Smith said.

Smith said many of the employees don’t receive breaks when they should, not even to go to the bathroom.

According to Brandi and Smith, the turnover at Aramark is extremely high.

The employees who have worked there for a longer period of time are overworked because of consistent short staffing.

“I’ve never seen this high turnover in my life,” Smith said.

Another issue many employees struggle with is how they were compensated. Olivia Anderson—another former employee of Aramark whose name has been changed— said many employees were promised holiday pay upon hiring. According to Anderson, during one holiday season, Aramark decided to change the wording in the policy so no one received holiday pay.

Anderson said Aramark did not notify its employees about this change.

“That was very wrong to do it in the first place without warning anyone about it, and then not say anything after the fact,” Anderson said. “They have hundreds of employees who were relying on that benefit.”

Anderson also said no matter how hard she worked, it didn’t ever seem to be enough for her supervisors.

“At the end of the pay period, my boss would yell at me and say that I didn’t work hard enough or I didn’t work fast enough,” Anderson said. “I was giving my all to be the best employee I could be.”

Students wait for their food in the Interactive Learning Center. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Many Aramark employees work at the Boise River Cafe. Photo by Taylor Humby.

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NOTES

OCTOBER 3, 2017

CORRECTION:

Sienna George is indeed opposed to DeVos Title IX action In an article titled “Federal Title IX policy changes impact Boise State,” published in print on Sept. 19, The Arbiter mistakenly mischaracterized a quote by senior sociology major Sienna George on the matter of Betsy DeVos’ actions on Title IX policy. In the article, her quote was contextualized with the following statement: “Change to the policy is not opposed by sociology and communication major and ASBSU President Sienna George, but she hopes it’s well thought out.”

As George pointed out to The Arbiter after the article’s publication, her intent during the interview was to express her disappointment in DeVos’ actions, and point out that if the policy must be changed, it ought to be “well thought out.”

Additionally, while the article lists her title as the President of ASBSU, George was in fact speaking as a student involved with #NotSilentBecause.

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CULTURE

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Distinguished Lecture Series speaker: Imagination as empathy

Writer Azar Nafisi explores the role of imagination, education and literature in democracy Brandon Rasmussen | Editor-in-Chief | editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Boise State’s latest entry into the Honors College’s “Distinguished Lecture Series” was met with a full room, as additional chairs were brought in to accommodate the students, faculty and community members who stood along the outline of the Jordan Ballroom in the SUB on Monday, Sept. 25.

“We hope that tonight’s lecture is not just about tonight—that you will take away a spark of curiosity, and that it will lead you throughout the entire year,” said President Bob Kustra to the ballroom of students.

“

I believe imagination is essential to our very survival as human beings. Once you enter the republic of imagination, time and space loose their meaning.

”

- Azar Nafisi, Distinguished Lecture Series speaker The night’s speaker was best-selling author and English literature professor Azar Nafisi, who grew up in Iran and became an American citizen in 2008. In accordance with previous speakers, Nafisi is also connected to Boise State’s “Campus Read” program, as Nafisi’s is one of the 14 essays selected for students to read and discuss this year. Once at the podium, Nafisi spent the evening exploring the link between imagination and democracy.

“I believe imagination is essential to our very survival as human beings,” Nafisi said.

“Once you enter the republic of imagination, there are no more limitations of nationality, language, race, gender, religion or ethnicity. Time and space lose their meaning.”

Though she touched on many topics, this sentiment echoed throughout the lecture. For Nafisi, only through imagination are we able to establish empathy for one another. Since we can’t physically place ourselves in the life experiences of those around us, we use the hypothetical.

Furthermore, books bring us to that aforementioned space between realities as well.

“When you go to a library or bookstore or university, does anyone ask for an ID card or asked who you voted for before letting you in? No,” Nafisi said.

“Because libraries and bookstores are the most democratic spaces you can find. All the famous authors and different parts of the universe—from different times and spaces—are all living very peacefully side by side.”

Nafisi also spoke on a number of issues facing students, discussing the struggle many students feel when choosing between a liberal arts degree or STEM fields.

Ultimately, Nafisi suggested not only do we need both, but the two are more similar than some may think, as both are rooted in human curiosity.

The speaker touched on the role of difficult discourse on campuses as well, saying a phrase she often hears from students is “I’m not comfortable with that.”

“Well, you’re not supposed to be comfortable with that,” Nafisi said. “Life is not comfortable—it is sometimes comfortable.

Pain will make you aware of wellness. You need pain, discomfort and difficulty. That is why you come to college.”

Primarily, Nafisi urged students to ask questions—to be critical of their environment. Because if—as she argued—education and knowledge are what allow us to have true empathy and therefore democracy, it is indispensable.

“You’re here to question, and to be questioned. You are here to sit next to the person you completely disagree with because this is a democracy,” Nafisi said. “Why should you pay $40,000 a year to go to

Azar Nafisi spoke to students, faculty and community members in the Jordan Ballroom on Monday, Sept. 15. Photo courtesy of the Honors College Distinguished Lecture Series’ Facebook page.

university? Great, quality public education and health are the right of any individual of any society, but especially a democratic society. It is not being lazy—those who are lazy will be left behind if the education is quality.”

Afterward, while signing books, Nafisi expanded on this idea, saying students put so much effort into protesting an unwanted speaker coming to campus, but spend little time protesting and criticizing the quality of their education.

Ultimately, Nafisi hopes students will continue to approach knowledge in a way that creates empathy, and bridges any gap where it is possible to do so.

“Empathy is a word that is used much, but understood very little. Not only do we come together to celebrate our differences, but we celebrate what we share,” Nafisi said. “If you prick us, do we not bleed? We all bleed.”

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CULTURE

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Fallapalooza festival welcomes autumn while donating to shelters

Indigo Idaho hosts event speaking out against domenstic violence and donating to create change Michelle Belden | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“#NOMORE” was the message being spread Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1 at the fourth annual Boise Fallapalooza.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday and 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday in Storey Park in Meridian. Including art, carnival games, food, live music and more, the event partnered with participating vendors to help raise awareness about domestic violence. Part of the proceeds from the event were donated to local shelters.

The event was held by Indigo Idaho, a local event and fundraising organization.

According to the Indigo Idaho Facebook page, “Indigo promotes acceptance of mental health awareness, and supports victims of domestic abuse in collaboration with local businesses and artists.” Brittany Price, founder of Indigo Idaho and event coordinator said, “We as Indigo spread domestic abuse awareness and support victims of that unfortunate situation.”

Indigo Idaho encouraged attendees to wear purple and bring purple items to decorate the stage, as it is the Domestic Violence Awareness color. The event was held on October 1, as October is Domestic Violence Awareness month.

Fallapalooza vendors were also accepting donations of toiletries, grocery cards and baby supplies. Donations were given to Advocates Against Family Violence and Faces of Hope, both of which are organizations that provide support for victims of domestic abuse. As said on the Faces of Hope website, “Our mission is to reduce victimization with a safety net of crisis services.”

Matt Wolfe, owner of participating vendor Sawtooth Glass Project said, “We definitely like to support the message against domestic violence. We like to do non-profit events like this where the proceeds from the event go to a good cause.”

This event helped commence Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Photo by Michelle Belden.

Artists preform at the fouth annual Fallapalooza organized by Indigo Idaho. Photo by Michelle Belden.

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CULTURE

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Off-campus restaurants offer student discounts

While these places no longer take flex dollars, the discounts may make them still worth it Fallon Falore | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Papa John’s is located on campus at the Interactive Learning Center. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Black Rock Coffee is located just down Broadway. Photo by Taylor Humby.

It’s five weeks into the semester, and most of us are tired of on campus food and spending too much money elsewhere.

Since the food options don’t change often, it’s easy to get caught in the same routine of getting the exact meal multiple times.

Ryan Uria, a freshman undeclared major, says that when the Boise River Cafe fails to bring new options each week he ends up eating “a spinach salad with grilled chicken.” Uria even said that he has had this meal “20 plus times in just one week, due to repetitive choices.” For some students it’s frustrating to eat the same meals, after a long day. Luckily, there are numerous places to eat in the area that cater to Boise State Students, mostly in the wallet area.

a fun place for students to go with a big group of friends and enjoy some good food and loud television entertainment. Buffalo Wild Wings is located in downtown Boise.

Pie Hole Pie Hole’s downtown location offers their happy hour Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., where students can get two slices of pizza for $3.50. They also offer the ‘S3’ deal year-round, which includes a soda, salad and slice for $6.66.

The Pie Hole on Broadway offers “Student Day” on Tuesday and Thursday, where students can buy two slices of pizza and get a free drink. For these reasons, Pie Hole is the go-to pizza place for many Boise State students.

Buffalo Wild Wings On Tuesdays buffalo Wild Wings offer 45 cents per bone in wing and buy-oneget-one-free boneless. On Thursdays, they offer 60 cents per boneless wing. This is

Pie Hole’s downtown location on 8th st. Photo by Taylor Humby.

Papa John’s While Papa John’s doesn’t explicitly offer student discounts, many students come in to spend credits from an app called Pocket Points. If students stay off their phones while in class they can earn discounts at numerous food and clothing places. If students put their phones in their backpacks they could end up earning store credit all around Boise. According to the manager of Papa John’s Broadway location, students can earn up to 50% off their order, or even more depending on how long they stay off their phone.

The Matador The Matador is a local Mexican restaurant located in downtown Boise with a happy hour that takes place every day from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Perfect for late night munchies and an empty wallet. The high-quality food and a warm environment make this a popular place among students.

Black Rock Coffee Black Rock Coffee offers a 20 percent discount for Boise State Students on all coffee and snack needs.

It is located on Broadway avenue, right near campus. This rustic coffee shop provides Boise State students with a great homework spot when the library is too crowded.

The Matador is located on 8th st. in Boise. Photo by Taylor Humby.

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SPORTS & REC

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Intramural sports thrive at Boise State

Boise State continues to offer intramural sports at rec center

Abigail Pennecard | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Students play intramural basketbal. Photo curtosey of Boise State’s recreations facebook page

Just because your high school sports career is over, that doesn’t mean you have to lose your competitive nature. Boise State offers many different intramural sports to keep the blood pumping. Intramurals this semester include Bowling, three-on-three Basketball, Indoor Soccer, Volleyball and the Toilet Bowl.

“I didn’t expect as much competition as there was. Overall, I would do it again in a heartbeat,” said Senior intramural volleyball player Ambrea Cuellar.

Intramural sports on campus are geared toward making it easy for students and giving them a great experience, according to Daniel Fragel, Boise State’s Intramural Sports Coordinator. These games are designed to be able to work into students’ schedules. Each season is four weeks, with one game per week, primarily at the same time. Each sport also has a playoff at the end of the season.

“I would say it’s definitely worth it to play if you enjoy meeting new people, getting some physical activity in and overall just want to have a good time,” Cuellar

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said.

In order to sign up, student have to go to the Rec Center’s website, click on the intramural sports link, create an IMLeague Account, pick a sport, a team and participate. For some sports, there are fees that go toward officials and supervisors.

Registration is coming up, and the deadline ranges from Oct. 2 to Oct. 23, depending on the sport. Keep an eye out for three-on-three basketball with registration beginning Oct. 2, as well as the Toilet Bowl, with registration beginning Oct. 16, as soon as possible, as these are the most popular intramural sports on campus according to Fragel.

“I haven’t experienced the Toilet Bowl yet, but I’ve heard registration goes within a day,” Fragel said.

If you have any suggestions for sports you would like to see in the future, Boise State Recreation encourages students to put forth their ideas. If there are any sports Boise State students want to see, they may be able to make it happen.

“Boise State is the place to be right now;

Students play intramural football. Photo curtosey of Boise State’s recreations facebook page

Students pose at the game center. Photo curtosey of Boise State’s recreations facebook page

the vibe is the place to be,” Fragel said.

Students can also be on the lookout for new options this spring semester, such as Disc Golf.

SPORTS & REC

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Boise State football faces recent arrests

Two Boise State football players were recently arrested in the same week Peter Huguenin | Sports Reporter | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

David Moa was arrested on Sept. 15. Photo by Ada County Sheriff’s Office

Michael Young was arrested on Sept. 26. Photo by Ada County Sheriff’s Office

Boise State recently had two football players arrested in the same week. On Sept.

15, Boise State redshirt junior defensive lineman David Moa was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace. The Ada County Sheriff’s office website said, he was taken into custody and released later that morning.

According to a statement provided to the Idaho-Press Tribune, “Two men were observed shoving each other, yelling and challenging to fight. Both of the men, identified as David Moa, 21, and Trevor Buffi, 25, were taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor disturbing the peace.”

“Boise State (University) is aware of the situation involving David Moa,’’ an school offical from the athletic department said in a statement the following morning after the arrest. “We take this matter very seriously, and will handle it appropriately and internally, as we do with all conduct-relat-

state a punishment is if the player has been kicked off the team. Last year two Boise State players were expelled from the university and kicked off the team for an alleged sexual assault. Another Boise State player was kicked off the team for getting in an altercation where he bit off part of a teammates ear downtown.

Kameron Miles was the latest player to be dismissed from the team after being charged with domestic battery. In February of this year.

Compared to other teams around the country, Boise State has a fairly low number of arrests. Alcorn State University had 20 players arrested last year, and the University of Florida currently has nine players suspended due to a case involving credit card fraud. Each player is facing multiple felony charges.

Some recent arrests around the country include Auburn University quarterback Sean White, Virginia Tech linebacker Tavante

ed issues.’’

So far this season Moa has ten total tackles in three games, and has recorded one sack.

However, Moa is not alone, as on Sept. 26, redshirt junior cornerback Michael Young was arrested on charges of a DUI. Boise State handles all disciplinary matters in house and doesn’t release what the consequences are for players. Moa missed the first quarter in the game following his arrest, but played in the rest of the game.

There hasn’t been a game since Young’s arrest so it has yet to be seen if Young will miss any playing time.

An Boise State official from the athletic department said in a statement regarding Young’s arrest that it “will be handled appropriately and internally.”

On Oct. 1 Boise State removed Young from the depth chart for the BYU game on Oct. 6, but he reamins on the teams roster for the season.

The only time Boise State has publicly

Beckett and Oklahoma State University linebacker Brendan Vaughn.

White was arrested for public intoxication and was dismissed from the team, Beckett was arrested for conspiracy to sell/distribute marijuana and possession of marijuana.

His punishment with the team is unknown. Vaughn was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled and dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 2,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia. It is unknown how Oklahoma State will choose to deal with the issue.

Many fans speculate that the reason schools choose not to discuss these matters publicly is to protect players, and so other teams can’t plan for a certain player to be playing or not.

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SPORTS & REC

OCTOBER 3, 2017

Janelle Flores is unstoppable

Boise State goalie gives thoughts on final year for soccer and college

Autum Robertson | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Janelle Flores prepares for a saving kick. Courtsey of Boise State Women’s Soccer’s Facebook page.

Senior goalkeeper Janelle Flores received her sixth Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honor for her standout performances during the week of Sept. 11-17. In that week Flores had a season high—seven saves in the Bronco’s win against Weber State. Flores gave her defensive teammates all the credit for receiving this honor.

Her fiery passion isn’t just apparent on the field, it also shows in her cultural pride. Flores said in this current political climate she has become more conscientious about her roots.

“My grandparents are immigrants, and I’m Mexican American,” Flores said. “Being raised Catholic my family prays and does their hail marys before anything.”

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Flores is appreciative of everything she is granted, and also acknowledges that when she first joined the program she was the only latina on the team.

Flores grew up in Hesperia, California with her mom, dad and her brother. She is the only one to attend a four year university with an athletic scholarship.

“My mom was in drill team so she says ‘(Janelle) you get your athleticism from me,’” Flores said.

Flores committed to Boise State her senior year of high school, and since then she’s earned multiple honors and awards.

She was the first Bronco goalkeeper in the program’s history to be named to First Team All Mountain West in 2016.

“She’s the heart and soul, and truly the spine of our team from an emotional compass standpoint,” said head coach Jim Thomas. “She cares for every single player regardless of their stature, and that enables everyone around her to respond in kind.

I have never coached a player like Janelle that cares for every person she comes in contact with—both inside and outside our program.”

Flores puts everything she has into every game she plays. This spring Flores will be graduating with a degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish. According to Flores, it’s about time for her to start thinking about life after soccer.

“I’m addicted, so I think it will be really

hard for me when i’m not playing anymore,” Flores said.

Flores noted she is incredibly thankful for the coaching staff she has had throughout her collegiate career. She feels especially thankful towards former soccer pro—and now Boise State goalie—coach Maite Zabala.

“She’s my idol,” Flores said.

Flores isn’t sure yet what she wants to do after college, but her love of soccer and the mentors she’s had in the past keeps coaching in the back of her mind.

“I want to be surrounded by soccer for my whole life,” Flores said.

BUCKING AROUND

OCTOBER 3, 2017 Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.78)

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Fri Sep 29 20:00:36 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

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