The Arbiter 3.26.19 Vol. 31 Issue 26

March 26, 2019

Vol. 31 Issue 26

I N D EP EN D ENT

S T UDENT

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BO IS E

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MEET YOUR ASBSU CANDIDATES NEWS

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Grant to the gaming, interactive and mobile media (GIMM) program will provide $250,000 per year

VISIT US ONLINE:

OPINION ASBSU’s ban on tobacco use on campus takes away students’ freedom of choice arbiteronline.com

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CULTURE

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Vince Staples and JPEGMAFIA visit Boise for this year’s Treefort festival @arbiteronline

SPORTS & REC

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Boise State’s women’s basketball team falls to Oregon State in the first round of NCAA tournament

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@boisestatearbiter

Editor-In-Chief Jordan Erb editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Online Editor Ximena Bustillo onlineeditor@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Editor Jordan Erb and Ximena Bustillo news@stumedia.boisestate.edu News Reporter Taylor Rico-Pekerol news@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Editor Logan Potter culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Culture Reporter David Collie culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Editor Delaney Brassil sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Sports Reporter Autum Robertson sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Copy Editors Christopher Duggan Digital Content Manager Taylor Humby digitalcontent@stumedia.boisestate.edu Digital Content Producer Mackenzie Hudson Graphic Design Manager Maddie Ceglecki design@stumedia.boisestate.edu Graphic Designer Isabel Sarhad Illustrator Wyatt Wurtenberger

Distributed Tuesdays during the academic school year The Arbiter is the official independent student newspaper of Boise State University, where student editors make all content decisions and bear responsibility for those decisions. The Arbiter’s budget consists of fees paid by the student body and advertising sales. The first copy is free.

Additional copies can be purchased for $1 a piece at The Arbiter offices.

Copy Editor Chris Duggan takes notes while covering a show at Treefort last week.

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter

ON THE COVER:

Elections for ASBSU will be taking place in the first week of April. The feature this week profiles each of the candidates in the running. Cover by Taylor Humby and Maddie Ceglecki.

HOW TO REACH US: CONTACT US: editor@stumedia.boisestate.edu 208.426.6302 PHYSICAL LOCATION: Located on first floor of Lincoln Avenue Garage Suites MAILING ADDRESS: Student Media MS 1340 1910 W Universit y Dr. Boise, ID 83725 -1340

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NEWS

MARCH 26, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

NEW GRANT FOR BOISE STATE’S GIMM PROGRAM

The Old Coot and Maggie foundation will provide up to $250,000 per year to fund research projects Emma Freitas | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The new grant will help students use VR to assist those with disabilities and illnesses.

V

irtual reality (VR) is a tool that allows users to view a three-dimensional environment and interact with it. The technology is still new, but the applications are endless. For students in the gaming, interactive and mobile media (GIMM) program at Boise State, it’s a technology that is revolutionizing how we understand disabilities and illnesses. A grant from The Old Coot and Maggie Foundation will provide up to $250,000 every year to the GIMM program to fund research and projects to assist the community.

Anthony Ellertson, the GIMM program director, is looking forward to giving back to the community with the projects the grant money can fund.

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“So the whole idea behind this (program) is trying to take the education that we have here at Boise State and that we have here on campus and take it to the community that’s out there,” Ellertson said. “And so the notion behind the grant is that it’s really going to create this kind of a ground swell of people. It’s meant for Idaho citizens, although, if we make something that can be helpful to people outside of the state it’s good too.”

The technology only seems to be becoming more accessible and more advanced, and the grant money that the GIMM program will be receiving gives them the opportunity to make the program grow the next few years.

According to Karen Doty, the clinical

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Taylor Humby | The Arbiter assistant professor of GIMM technology, the project they are focusing on right now is creating a platform to help people understand eating disorders.

“So this particular project is virtual reality. You’re actually experiencing the story of an artist who had struggled with eating disorders throughout her life. So through VR, you’re able to look around, sense, hear and see all the things that she experienced with hopes that you can understand this story a little bit closer,” Doty said.

Jamey Dunn, a freshman in the GIMM program, detailed the range of issues they intend to tackle now and in the future.

“There are programs that will help kids with autism, or hearing disorders, and just things that are going to help people in

the community and those who don’t have access to this technology normally,” Dunn said.

While there are challenges in making VR a reality, it is becoming more accessible.

“Working with the client and seeing what technology they can use is another big challenge because a lot of people don’t have the infrastructure to be able to have a bunch of virtual reality headsets,” Doty said. “But the technology is going to get there. It’s only going to get easier as time goes on.”

For Olivia Thomas, a junior in the GIMM program, the experiences in the program have helped shape her potential.

“It’s a great program that is really like nothing else on campus or at a lot of other universities. I think it’s about not only learning how to how to create things, but how to how to pick up new skills; going through the design process and be able to work on your feet and figure things out as you go,” Thomas said.

Virtual reality is a relatively new technology, and being able to use it at Boise State is an opportunity the GIMM team is thankful for. Doty noted that the program is becoming about much more than just games.

“I think it’s really exciting because technology has potential to make a lot of very positive changes. And now to be able to not only have the ability to do that, but be able to have students create something like this (VR programs) is just remarkable,” Doty said. “One of my favorite things is when you go out to explain virtual reality to people, a lot of times they think it’s gaming, but it’s so much more than gaming. They realized it could really be tool for social change for sure.”

NEWS

BOISE STATE’S MFA PROGRAM HAS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Newly hired faculty signal positive growth for the program Taylor Rico-Pekerol | News Reporter | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Boise State Master in Fine Arts (MFA) is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. The program only accepts 16 students into the program, eight in poetry and eight in fiction.

Recently, the program hired a new coordinator, Elizabeth Gutting, and co-director, Brady Udall. Martin Corless-Smith is the other co-director and has a focus on poetry, while Udall is a fiction writer.

“This way it just means that we have quicker access to the community, if it’s two of us. It’s a community, you know, things happen communally. We don’t have someone making carte blanche decisions,” Corless-Smith said.

Boise State now offers three new degrees for the bachelor’s department. Students can receive a bachelor of arts in creative

writing (BA), a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) in creative writing and a BFA in narrative arts.

Students in the MFA program are fully funded, receive a stipend of around $10,400 and health insurance. They are also graduate assistants who teach creative writing and work in the graduate college.

Every student receives a terminal degree in creative writing and are able to receive the teaching experience.

A terminal degree in creative writing means that students who receive a master’s degree can go on to teach at a college level without receiving a PhD. “When you have eight students in a fiction workshop or eight students in a poetry workshop, they are getting to know each other’s work really well. They are really supportive of one another and they have

such close access to their professors who are extremely successful published authors with careers behind them, that are people who can mentor them,” Gutting said.

The MFA program is unusual in that it takes three years, instead of the normal two. According to Gutting, the last year is used to focus on a student’s thesis. The first two years are for students to learn in-depth what it means to be a writer and to figure out what their writing is going to be about.

Mary Pauline Lowry is a third-year student in the MFA program and is having her thesis published by Simon and Schuster, a publishing company out of New York City.

“Through the program, I was also able to attend the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference last year in Tampa, where I was able to make a

connection with someone in the publishing industry who helped me find the perfect agent for my novel,” Lowry wrote in an email.

Support from Brady Udall and others in the program helped Lowry cultivate her book and was a big support system to her, she said. For the MFA program, 12 students and alumni have published a collective total of 21 books.

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NEWS

IDAHO SENATOR PROPOSES NEW EDUCATION PROGRAM

“Idaho Promise” would provide financial aid to committed students Scott Herrick | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The proposal would help students go on to attain a higher education.

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daho frequently falls short in measures of education, and statewide “go-on” rates — the percentage of high school students who go straight to college after high school — are no exception to this trend. According to the Idaho State Board of Education, the state’s go-on rate has been stuck right around 45 percent for the last four years. This educational stagnation is a problem for the growing and increasingly technical economy in the state, as employers will struggle to find qualified and certified candidates to fill their job openings, and people will find themselves in low-earning jobs because of a lack of continued education.

Idaho Promise, a new program proposed

by Senator Grant Burgoyne, modeled after similar programs in four other states and set for serious consideration next legislative session, aims to kick-start the stagnant go-on rates with very precise use of state funds. At

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“Idaho Promise would provide ‘last dollar’ scholarships to students seeking certificates and associate degrees at Idaho’s community colleges, regardless of age or income.”

Grant Burgoyne, senator

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Taylor Humby | The Arbiter its core, the program offers free financial aid.

However, it is not a need-based or a community-service-based scholarship, and the state does expect to see a return on its investment.

“Idaho Promise would provide ‘last dollar’ scholarships to students seeking certificates and associate degrees at Idaho’s community colleges, regardless of age or income,” Burgoyne said. “This will fast track more Idahoans to good paying careers in fields our state needs most. It will also help provide a foundation for students who choose to continue toward a bachelor’s degree.”

The program would operate by providing the final bit of tuition to students who have already secured some form of financial aid, not including student loans. Prospective students would go find financial aid, and if the aid amount wouldn’t cover the full cost of their associate’s degree or professional certification, the Idaho Promise program would cover the difference between the scholarship

amount and the cost of tuition.

“We do not have a go-on problem,” said Jean Hensheid, the educational analyst working with Burgoyne. “We have a last mile problem.”

Idaho Promise would also require students to complete community service prior to receiving any state funds and during their time in their program. As the Idaho Promise is only draft legislation, the details of the community service have yet to be worked out. However, Idaho Promise is based most directly on a program called Tennessee Promise, which requires eight hours of community service for the fall, spring and summer terms while a student is in school.

The Tennessee Promise has shown good results for Tennessee. According to data from the College System of Tennessee, in the first year after implementing the program the number of first-year freshmen students rose 24.7 percent and the number of students who received a certificate or degree after five semesters rose 60 percent.

By providing assistance to students who have shown their commitment to their education through finding scholarships and completing community service, Burgoyne believes that the state will be providing aid to the students who are most likely to succeed, and that the state money used will be maximally effective with minimal risk.

The Idaho Promise program may be the answer to Idaho’s stagnant numbers for education after high school, but many lawmakers are likely to balk at the $18 million price tag. That number is a conservative estimate in which the state would pay the full cost of a student’s education, and would decrease after students receive financial aid. The state is also likely to see an increase in tax revenue from a degree-holding resident’s higher income. However, cost is still a serious concern to Burgoyne.

“This has to pencil out,” Burgoyne said.

NEWS

LIFE AS AN UNDERPAID AND OVERWORKED UNDERGRAD

Students share stories of holding multiple jobs while in school Celina Van Hyning | Staff Writer | news@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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hen Vanessa Campfield, a non-traditional chemistry major, enrolled at Boise State seven years ago, her life was turning upside down. For the eight years following her enrollment, she was battling cervical cancer, narcolepsy, and working nights as an in-home pediatric nurse.

“I had classes five days a week, and worked two to three nights a week on graveyard shift (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.),” Campfield said. “It meant I had to endure a 34-plus-hour-long ‘day’ each week so that I could (continue to do) day shift for my classes.”

Along with her days that seemed endless, Campfield also had to make time to take care of her health.

“I had to schedule multiple surgeries around my classes during the week, and bigger surgeries waited until semester breaks — one of my spring breaks consisted of a hysterectomy,” Campfield said. “I even scheduled giving birth to my daughter the day after I took a final and had two weeks recovery before summer classes started.”

Campfield is just one of the 25 percent of full-time students that are also full-time employees. For students like Campfield, one income is not enough to make ends meet every month, so some have no option but to work more than one job. “(From working two jobs) I had money to pay the bills, the kids and I could eat, and I worked while they slept so I didn’t feel I missed as much and it allowed me to go back to college,” Campfield said. “I got my nursing license so that I could get a higher paying job in order to work fewer hours, (and because of this) I could go to college.”

Having young children during this time made the experience even harder for Campfield, but there are plenty of students who experience the stress without the children.

Working full-time is commonality among students, and can act as a barrier to education.

Kaitlyn Shepherd, a sophomore psychology major, has been working two jobs since her freshman year at Boise State.

Shepherd said that while she would prefer to work only one job, the experience has impacted her negatively and positively.

“Working two jobs while in college has negatively affected my study time because I don’t have much time to do just that,” Shepherd said. “However, working two jobs has given me priorities and taught me not to procrastinate.”

Shepherd is enrolled full time this semester with 16 credits. She said she would prefer to work only one job, but many places do not offer full time. Her first job wasn’t giving her enough hours to pay her bills, so she had to take on a second one, she said.

Debbie Kaylor, director of the Career Center at Boise State, understands that this

lifestyle is the reality for many students and wants to help them be successful.

“No matter what job you are doing, you’re gaining professional skills that will benefit you in your career,” Kaylor said.

Kaylor noted that employers do want their employees to have a good work ethic, but not at the expense of their degree.

“It is so important for students to sit down and lay out the pros and cons of working more than one job,” Kaylor said.

“I realize that many students don’t have a choice, but their main focus should be getting through school and getting good grades.”

For students who are struggling, Kaylor said the Career Center is always available to help and wants to see every student earn a degree. “(The Career Center) is here to help students figure out their difficult situa-

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter

tion and achieve their goals,” Kaylor said.

“We’re always willing to help students find on-campus jobs or jobs relevant to their major so they can focus more on school.”

This lifestyle that many students have become accustomed to is very stressful, but Campfield offered these pieces of advice to the hard-working students of Boise State.

“Any progress you make today, no matter how small, is still progress. It is better than where you were yesterday,” Campfield said. “And life is all about priorities.

School is very important to me so that I can afford a good life for my family. If there is a strong priority, you will find a way to accomplish it — even if it means pulling 34-hour days for six years without a weekend.”

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OPINION MARCH 26, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

E-CIGARETTE POLICY ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL STUDENTS’ FREEDOM OF CHOICE Is banning tobacco products intended to promote health or control students?

Tommy Drorbaugh | Staff Writer | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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resolution passed through ASBSU banning E-Cigarettes and tobacco products on campus on Nov. 18, 2018. This isn’t the first time Boise State has attempted to ban tobacco on campus. ASBSU member, Makaela Bournazian, explained to an Arbiter reporter the reason for passing this policy is “a comprehensive tobacco and e-cigarette policy in order to promote a healthy and safe environment for all.”

But is student health really the intention behind this policy? Or is it to control a choice seen unfit in today’s society?

Caffeine is the single most addicted-to substance in America with 90 percent of Americans responsibly consuming caffeine in one form or another every day. Like nicotine, caffeine is an addictive drug. Caffeine can cause heart problems, panic attacks, dehydration and sustained use can decrease your body’s ability to retain nutrients. But, because coffee is a socially accepted drug, nobody bats an eye at this scourge of an addiction. Heck, even preschoolers are allowed to drink caffeine by their parents, according to one article.

Caffeine clearly is a health risk to Boise State’s student body, so where is the regulation for an unhealthy drug?

There isn’t one, because society has deemed it an acceptable addiction to over-consume and abuse.

Heart disease is a leading killer in America, with tobacco being a cause of heart disease. But you know what else causes heart disease? Bad diets, like high-sugar diets and lack of exercise. Has there been regulation of processed and sugary foods on campus? As well as mandatory daily exercise? If the goal and logic behind these regulatory, invasive policies is to “promote a healthy and safe environment,” then restricted diet and mandatory exercise should be mandatory too.

While vaping is not as healthy as choosing not to inhale any chemical, it is much less harmful than tobacco. And although long-term

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study is needed to see if vaping has serious long-term side effects, nicotine is not the chemical in cigarettes that causes cancer.

“Although nicotine is the reason people become addicted to smoking, it is the thousands of other chemicals contained in cigarette smoke that causes almost all of the harm,” says Public Health Matters, a blog for U.K’s Public Health England, an executive agency of the

Department of Health in the United Kingdom.

ASBSU claims a big reason for pushing this policy through is because FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, claimed in a statement E-Cig use amongst teens is an “epidemic” — “Teens” being a keyword in his statement. We can all agree chemical abuse by minors is bad and should be controlled until they come of age to make in-

The new policy at Boise State takes away students’ freedom of choice.

Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter

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formed decisions themselves. However, Boise State University, a college campus, means the majority of students are not minors. So the argument claiming this policy is to “promote a healthy and safe environment” because of Scott Gottlieb’s statement about teen abuse, seems intellectually dishonest. Furthermore, Gottlieb didn’t denounce vaping for adults in his statement, only in teens, saying: “I saw the opportunity to advance new technologies like electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as an alternative to cigarettes for adults who still seek access to satisfying levels of nicotine, without all the deadly effects of combustion. I believed then – and I continue to believe – that we must recognize the potential for innovative, less harmful products that can efficiently deliver satisfying levels of nicotine to adults who want them.”

Adding to the problems of this policy is the lack of enforcement by Boise State previous times a policy like this passed.

“The problem with the no-smoke campus is that there was no enforcement. There was no agency to say that if you do smoke, who is going to respond to that. The program itself, while good intentioned, has never had any enforcement behind it,” said Emily Gravel-Fletcher to an Arbiter reporter, a health specialist at University Health Services.

So not only are students and staff ignoring the policy, but Boise State does not even enforce it.

Although smoking and vaping can adversely affect your health, so can a plethora of other substances that are legal to consume for adults in the United States. But, a responsible adult should be able to make their own decisions when it comes to their bodies.

Although the smell of tobacco or vape may be annoying as you catch a whiff walking to class, in the grand scheme of life, is it worth taking away one’s freedom of choice?

OPINION

ORIENTATION’S INFORMATION OVERLOAD FOCUSES ON THE WRONG ISSUES

Orientation fails to provide information on important campus resources Zach Hill | Opinion Editor | opinion@stumedia.boisestate.edu

T

he summer before my freshman year, my mom urged me to register for an orientation session she could go to. She wanted to know about all the things I’d be doing, what classes I’d take, and if I had a plan set out for the rest of my life.

So, reluctantly, I went to orientation and brought my mom.

When I got to orientation, I was definitely nervous. It was a brand-new chapter in my life! However, I quickly realized that I had no idea what I was doing. I wasn’t sure how to register for classes, I didn’t know what resources were available to me for academic help, and I definitely didn’t know if I wanted to join any clubs.

Eventually, I did figure out how to register for classes, and it was probably easier than I had made it out to be. The same was true for my fear of not finding my way around campus. The only problem? I ended up with more stress regarding my upcoming workload and being involved than I was about finding my way around campus or finding a job.

Orientation puts a significant amount of weight on what students do during college.

Joining clubs, being an athlete, going to campus events, and other messages telling me about all the opportunities that existed at Boise State took up the majority of the time we spent at orientation.

While they were talked about to some degree, I never felt like I would be able to get help from mental health services if I needed it, because at that point I didn’t know it existed. It wasn’t mentioned during my orientation. I realized the problem this created, as college students face increased levels of stress, and the growing concern over how to handle crises of this nature.

The focus on getting involved certainly doesn’t help this issue. Wanting students to engage in organizations on campus isn’t an inherently bad thing but focusing all of the energy orientation has into that specific

part puts more pressure on students. If they don’t join a club or organization, they’re not involved, and won’t get a good job and so on.

It’s this framing of campus involvement that can become toxic. For some students, time is a huge issue, and working a job while going to school may be their only option. For them, mental health services are likely more important. For first year students, career and academic counseling are probably great resources for understanding their path to graduation.

Orientation would be better off focusing on these things as opposed to involvement, especially given that clubs and organizations often take advantage of tabling in the Quad. Each day when I walk to class, I get stopped at least twice on average by clubs asking me to get involved.

Why are we pretending that involvement is the part of the college experience that matters most? Involvement can be a great thing, but at the point where having a job is an absolute necessity for many students to make ends meet, wouldn’t our resources be better spent elsewhere during orientation?

Orientation has the potential to do some great things for students, helping them understand their place on campus, resources that are available to them, and creating a degree track. But in order to truly leave a mark, orientation needs to focus on the things that matter most, not the things that create added stress.

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

Orientation should focus on more important things than getting involved.

Taylor Humby | The Arbiter MARCH 26, 2019

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F E AT U R E KALEB SMITH

CANDIDATES

TAYLOR RICO - PEKEROL

NEWS REPORTER

NEWS@STUMEDIA.BOISESTATE.EDU

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PRESIDENT

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he candidates for the five positions for next year’s Associated Student Body of Boise State (ASBSU) positions are now posted on their website. Election debates will happen on Wednesday, March 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Bishop Barnwell room in the Student Union Building. A campus-wide email will be sent out to every student on April 1 with a link to vote. Students will be allowed to vote from April 2 at 12:01 a.m. to April 3 at 11:59 p.m.

President and Vice President - Kaleb Smith and Mikayla Melchert Kaleb Smith is the current ASBSU president and is running for the same position.

Mikayla Melchert is the ASBSU secretary of academic affairs and is running for the position of vice president. Both Smith and Melchert are campaigning as a ticket item, meaning they will be voted on as one unit not as separate candidates.

Last year during campaign season, Smith and Melchert ran into each other in Walmart at midnight buying poster supplies. They both come from the same hometown area but had never been close until they both joined ASBSU and met at

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MIKAYLA MELCHERT

JACK BRIGGS

VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

Walmart that night.

“Looking over the past year, there’s a lot that we’ve done, but I don’t think we’ve done enough. And to be completely honest, I don’t think I’m done here,” Smith said. “I really liked it (the position) and working with the students has been an amazing and humbling experience.”

The pair has a website for students to learn more about their platform and it includes a video that goes more in depth into why they are running. Smith and Melchert are running unopposed and if they are elected this will be both of their second years in term.

Their main platforms include Title IX and mental health, open educational resources and lowering course materials, community, collaboration, working with the incoming university president, and continue working on plans ASBSU already has in motion.

“There were a lot of things that I started to do and got the ball rolling and it’s really hard in just a year to get everything done.

So, I really wanted to run again and have the opportunity to continue those things with the backing of ASBSU,” Melchert said.

Secretary of Academic Affairs - Jack Briggs Jack Briggs, a sophomore political science major, is running for the position of secretary of academic affairs. He is running unopposed and if elected this will be his first year in term.

According to Briggs, he wants to increase diversity among faculty and ensure there is an inclusive learning community. Further, he hopes to have a student hiring committee or have students’ voices heard when it comes to hiring for the different colleges.

“While in the classroom, I’ve talked with other students and I’ve had experiences.

There’s a lot of things that I think can be improved,” Briggs said. “I think that faculty and the administration are sometimes very far removed from a student-centered learning approach.”

Briggs wants to continue some of the plans already set in motion, such as the lowering of course material costs and working on a new dead week policy. Also, on his website, he discusses his platform and ways he wants to improve Boise State.

F E AT U R E RILEY MCCRADY

MEGHAN EDGERTON

TALON DRAKE

LYDIA HERNANDEZ

SECRETARY OF STUDENTS ORGANIZATIONS AFFAIRS

VICE PRESIDENT OF INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Secretary of Student Organization Affairs - Riley McCrady

Vice President of Inclusive Excellence Lydia Hernandez Lydia Hernandez is a sophomore political science major and is running for the position of vice president of inclusive excellence.

Hernandez was on ASBSU assembly during the fall semester and has spoken with students to understand their perspectives on inclusivity and diversity on campus.

“I feel like if I had this position, I want to be able to bring in these students, these marginalized groups and have them speak out on their experiences on campus,” Hernandez said.

As a transfer student, Hernandez came to Boise State last year and wants to initiate creating a bond between the organizations and giving them a platform to have their voices heard.

“I want to make sure that the people with privilege and the tools can be allies for the underprivileged, underrepresented students,” Hernandez said. “And I want to make connections. I want to make sure that students feel at home or that they’re able to find a healthy outlet.”

Riley McCrady is a junior elementary education major and is running for the position of secretary of student organization affairs.

Currently, she is on the student funding board and wants to make sure all the clubs and organizations on campus understand that they can receive needed funding.

“There’s a handful of clubs who don’t get funding. So trying to scope out if they know that they get funding, or even other resources like 150 free black and white printing from the Student Involvement and Learning Center (SILC), or they get cheaper button-making materials at the SILC and just seeing if they know about that and (other) resources,” McCrady said.

This will be McCady’s first term if she is elected. She wants to make sure all clubs and organizations understand that they have the opportunity to ask for funding.

“Making sure that all of our clubs are represented on the same playing field or the same level. So when we do get new students or transfer students, they know, ‘Hey, this is Boise State.’ We have 100-plus clubs and organizations on campus and there’s something that will probably meet your interest or your passion,” McCrady said.

Secretary of Student Organization Affairs - Meghan Edgerton

Meghan Edgerton is a sophomore applied mathematics major and is running for the position of secretary of student organization affairs.

“I’d like to advocate for more organizations on campus and make sure that (the funding board) is more accessible and that it’s more accessible for organizations to come to me and discuss funding,” Edgerton said. “My main platform is to maintain efficiency and to more facilitate the process.”

Edgerton’s first year on campus did not make her feel at home because she was not involved, she said. Once she became more involved in different clubs and organizations, she realized Boise State is where she is meant to be and she wants for every student to feel this way.

“I’ll be most excited about connecting with all the organizations on campus just meeting more people. All the people that are in every organization obviously those people are in it because they’re really passionate about the organization out there and for the cause and I think that it’s really cool,” Edgerton said.

If elected, this will be Edgerton’s first year in term.

Secretary of Student Organization Affairs - Talon Drake Talon Drake is a freshman psychology major and is running for the position of secretary of academic affairs.

Drake did not attend a traditional high school and was not able to be involved in student government, so he believes this position would be a good transition into the program.

“I want to make the whole process of getting funding a lot easier to understand for organizations. I talked with a couple presidents from different organizations, and they said that they didn’t really understand everything they couldn’t spend money on,” Drake said.

Drake proposed making a list for clubs and organizations that listed exactly what they could and could not spend funding on so that way students do not have to go through the entire funding board code.

“I want to make sure that the organizations have a voice in the funding board. So, I was thinking that it would be kind of cool to have an evaluation for the funding board, and after an organization has gone through the process, they can fill it out, kind of like the professor evaluations,” Drake said.

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DANCING THE LINE BETWEEN ART AND ATHLETICS

The physical demands and expressive movements make dance difficult to classify David Collie | Culture Reporter | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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lthough many ballet dancers begin at an early age, sophomore biology major Emma Casselman didn’t start until she was 16. In an attempt to catch up with peers, who often had more than 10 years of experience over her, Casselman began spending more than 15 hours a week on practices. So much practice for a physically demanding task seems like something one would find in a sport. But despite this physical aspect, dance is full of artistic elements, as well. So, which is it? It’s not an easy question, and it likely doesn’t have a definitive answer.

Casselman finds the debate to be very subjective, and although she sees athletic and artistic elements present, she views ballet as more of a sport, and pointed to the push for perfection often seen in athletics.

“They’re always pushing for bigger and better,” Casselman said. “Perfectionism is the golden rule.

It’s also unattainable, but that doesn’t mean we stop pushing for it.”

According to Casselman, there is also a great

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deal of variation between different forms of dance, and in ballet, there are even differences between roles.

“As a ballet dancer, going into something like Salsa or Cha Cha or Bachata, it seems less athletic to me,” Casselman said. “I’m used to there being this definitive hierarchy of, ‘Yes, you’re doing it right,’ or ‘No, you’re doing it wrong.’ And no matter if you’re doing right, you could still do it right-er.”

Looking at another form of dance, junior psychology major Kayla Daughters shared her thoughts as a dancer with the Boise State Mane Line dance team. She explained that people who watch dance from the outside don’t always see the work that goes into it.

“I really feel like it’s both,” Daughters said. “I think a lot of people don’t recognize it as a sport because there’s a performance and a physical appearance aspect to it, and I think that’s what makes it more of an art form. The fact that we do things that are considered beautiful and delicate and represent more of a softer side of dance, but then people don’t really see the work that goes into it, which is really what makes it so much of a sport.”

This mixed perception about dance even extends to an organizational level. According to Daughters, dance is recognized as a sport by the university, meaning dancers are required to take drug tests and meet with nutri-

tionists. It is not considered a sport by the NCAA, though, which means that a majority of funding must come from fundraisers and out-of-pocket expenses, and there are no regulations on the amount of hours that dancers can practice.

To shed some more light on the subject, the head coach of the Spirit Squad, Kassondra Landry, weighed in on the conversation.

“I really don’t think that you could say it’s one or the other,” Landry said. “When it comes to the art of dance, I feel like there is this expression. Like, they have this really beautiful ability to tell a story through their movement and through their body, which I would definitely say is a form of art. I feel like you have to be some sort of artist to express that.”

Landry also explained that, in addition to performing for sporting events — which tends to be more athletic and team-focused — dancers also have their own competitions, which allow for more personal, artistic expression.

With all of these perspectives, it seems impossible to push dance into one side of the spectrum. Dance seems to walk — or perhaps, tiptoe — along a fine line between arts and athletics. But, as Landry explained, this is a line that is walked gracefully.

“I really do think that dance has this, like, perfect balance of being a sport and an art,” Landry said.

With elements of athleticism and expression, dance is a hard medium to define.

Wyatt Wurtenberger | The Arbiter

C U LT U R E

JPEGMAFIA AND VINCE STAPLES GIVE BOISE A NEW SOUND

The distinct style differences between the performances created a dynamic live show Connor Flynn | Staff Writer | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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n the first night of Treefort 2019, Boise was greeted for the first time by rapper and producer JPEGMAFIA (JPEG) and headliner Vince Staples at the Knitting Factory. Both are currently on the “Smile, You’re On Camera” tour, playing their acclaimed 2018 albums “VETERAN” and “FM!,” respectively. JPEGMAFIA opened the show with a passionate and high-energy set before turning the stage over to Vince Staples, who would tour his discography, but focus on songs from his most recent album.

The Baltimore rapper JPEGMAFIA nonchalantly walked to a small stageside table, where he picked up a mic and greeted the crowd before immediately breaking into “Vengeance.”

This aggressive cut from Denzel Curry’s “Taboo” album would be followed by the grimy “CURB STOMP,” where JPEG moved rapidly across the stage, putting all of his energy into the song, yelling it to a crowd who yelled the song right back.

Intermittently between songs, the audience would chant “Peggy!” repeatedly, to elicit a sarcastic spotlit dance by JPEG. But, when he heard this chant for the first time, there was an apparent surprise on his face upon seeing the reach his music has. In a city that JPEGMAFIA may not expect to find fans, Boise made it clear he was welcome.

JPEG would then work through songs mostly from “VETERAN,” but he also would perform his more recent single “Puff Daddy,” as well as a song off his 2016 album “Black Ben Carson.” One thing that both JPEGMAFIA and Staples excel at as performers is their stage presence. Neither has a DJ on stage with them, allowing them to carry the entire show on their own shoulders.

Both also bring a distinctly different energy to their sets, with JPEGMAFIA’s music being a grimy, dark trap-based exploration of what fuels societal and political anger, and he explored where he falls into the mix through his lyrics, which he shouted to the audience. For each song of his nearly 40-minute set, JPEGMAFIA put all of himself into his performance, falling and contorting his body across the stage, or standing toe-to-toe with the audience, clutching them as he shouted a freestyle.

After JPEGMAFIA’s simplistic yet deep show, the stage was cleared for Staples, with a single microphone on center stage. Staples started his set with the bouncy but cut-throat “Feels Like Summer,” the opening track from “FM!.”

Staples’s goal behind “FM!” was to create an album with a radio-friendly Californian sound in the production and big-name hooks, while still keeping the dark honesty in his lyrics that fans have come to expect.

Staples then played “Don’t Get Chipped,” another song from his new album, before kicking it back to the album he was popularized through, “Summertime ‘06.” After playing “Street Punks” and “Lift Me Up,” Staples would return with the recently released “Relay,” before diving into hits from “Prima Donna” and “Big Fish Theory.”

It was near this point that the crowd began to realize that Staples didn’t have the most energy on stage early in the show, and seemed distracted by his photographer and stage crew.

This was apparent after JPEGMAFIA’s powerful set, creating what seemed to be a lull in the energy.

This would luckily be short-lived, as the crowd was drawn in by the atmospheric and spacious production on tracks such as “745” and “Rain Come Down,” both from the EDMtinged “Big Fish Theory.” For these songs, the stage lighting changed into a glass disco-balllike pattern, with white light circles enveloping Staples and the entirety of the Knitting Factory.

From this detour, Staples returned with more songs from “FM!,” which was played in its entirety, aside from skits. Staples closed the show with songs from both “Summertime ‘06” and “Big Fish Theory,” hitting his high-energy bangers one after another. From the infectious “Party People” to the iconic “Norf Norf,” Staples closed out the night with “Yeah Right,” an aggressive, bass-packed track. Staples thanked Boise, whose politeness didn’t go unrecognized, and played the concert of his fallen, longtime friend Mac Miller.

Day one of Treefort Music Fest saw the Boise Knitting Factory at capacity and rowdy, with two very different, but also very talented emcees rocking the venue. If the “Smile, You’re On Camera” tour is coming to a city anywhere near you, it is well worth it. Both Staples and JPEGMAFIA are pushing the envelope concerning what can be done in a modern rap album.

JPEGMAFIA (above) performed with Vince Staples.

MARCH 26, 2019

Connor Flynn | The Arbiter

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FOSTERING A NEW GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS

Directors describe the film school experience for up-and-coming creators Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

Director Tyler Taormina screened “Ham on Rye” at Filmfort.

A

nn Lupo was just 23 years old when she encountered her first taste of unrequited love. After an incredible date with someone Lupo later fantasized about marrying, “as hopeless romantics do,” she was friendzoned. After what she described as an agonizing year of being no more than friends with the man she hoped to fall in love with her, Lupo went into a state of self-reflection. “(I realized), ‘I need to wake up from whatever is going on right now,’” Lupo said in an interview with The Arbiter.

It was from this statement that Lupo’s first feature film, “In Reality,” was born.

The autobiographical romantic comedy was screened as part of Filmfort, and closed out the final night’s festivities. Born as an idea for a short film, Lupo’s creation quickly grew into something bigger than she initially imagined. It was then that she recruited some of her classmates from New York University’s (NYU) film school to create the film that embodied her vision.

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How Lupo ended up at NYU to begin with, however, is a different story. Not every great filmmaker will have the educational background to go with the final product, but Lupo decided from a young age that film school would be her future.

“I had always grown up making movies with my family,” Lupo said. “We would make these D-horror movies on our vacations, and I would edit them. That was when I decided I love this, I want to go to film school and be a director and a filmmaker. I went to film school, and I’ve learned from a lot of really great mentors along the way. Mostly, it’s just that I like making movies and it is my creative outlet.

It’s what I know best.”

Lupo isn’t the only Filmfort director that got the education to match their goals –– for the most part. Tyler Taormina, director of opening night film “Ham on Rye,” studied at Emerson College for screenwriting with no intention to make movies. That changed, however, when he came up with the idea to adapt the novel

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Photo courtesy of Taromina

of the same name into his first feature film, which Taormina described as his love letter to the suburbs in which he grew up.

“I think film schools has two, maybe three big valleys,” Taormina said. “You really get all the shit out, all of the impulses that you will later be very embarrassed by and you get to watch other people do that, too. You don’t have to go to film school, obviously not. But if you do, you meet a lot of people that are going to help you out, and they’re going to be your friends, too. That’s the best combination for making a film.”

This opportunity, however, may not be as commonplace for those coming from schools with new or nonexistent film programs. Boise State, for example, has only recently adopted its film and television program, leaving it without the same resources as many bigger and more “prestigious” programs nationwide.

Senior theatre arts major, Jonah Leisure, knows this dilemma well. After recently creating and producing his own television

show, “Something Eerie,” he described the excitement and struggle that comes with developing a project entirely on your own.

Although Leisure had personal, family and some crew support, pioneering a series of what are essentially short films without being part of the new program was no simple task, albeit rewarding.

“The attitude that I kept in the remainder of my time is that I want to stay in theatre, but I wanted to create opportunities for myself in film,” Leisure said. “It’s kind of awkward when all of your friends are cast on the play, and you didn’t audition because you’re working on something that you are dealing with entirely by yourself.

I’ve definitely come more into my own in the last year and a half. Being able to balance both of those sides has been really great.”

Even with a fresh program, Leisure believes that the key to creating a film or series with little resources is to stay dedicated and passionate about the project in question. Leisure described it as a chain effect, and knowing that one Boise State student is up to the task may mean that many others will follow in his footsteps.

Lupo, however, wants students to ensure they’re truly up for the task before starting on a passion project in the current industry.

“I don’t want to beat around the bush,” Lupo said. “I come from a ‘dream big’ background, and it was for sure the only way I could make this movie. I didn’t believe anything would stop me from making it, but I would say, from where I stand right now, I had to go through a lot of tempering my expectations. It is really, I like to say, both the hardest time to be an indie filmmaker, but also the best time because there are so many distribution resources. Be prepared if you really are dedicated to it.”

WRAPPING UP TREEFORT’S EIGHTH YEAR

The five-day festival brought in big crowds

Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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ver the course of just five days, the Treefort Music Festival managed to bring in a multitude of performers, volunteers and community members alike to create one of the most sought-after opportunities of the last eight years in Boise. Each attendee of the jam-packed event takes away a different feeling, and the diversity of experiences is part of what makes Treefort such a successful event year after year. Although considered a music fest, Boise State students and community members alike prove that the music isn’t everyone’s main attraction.

Most who live in the area know how many opportunities Treefort provides, but few may be able to articulate the educational value of an event like this one. One of these attendees, Adrienne Kerr, a senior multidisciplinary studies major, is also a returning performer at the festival. A principal dancer with Ballet Idaho, Kerr has created a deeper understanding about what it means to be a Treefort attendee beyond the festival season, and she explained it for the medium she knows the most about: dance.

“Coming to Treefort really exposes all different kinds of dance, and it doesn’t matter if you like only one thing, you’ll see everything,” Kerr said. “It’s a very up-close and personal experience when you’re watching dance at Treefort venues and, because they’re more interactive, they really draw interest and educate people on the versatility of dance. Once they see that, they become interested in their favorites or that style or that organization, and they can expand that and come to other performances within the community.”

While the performing arts are a fundamental part of Kerr’s festival experience, there are some festival-goers who find themselves more immersed in the way Treefort is created throughout the year and, more specifically, on the week of the event. Ellie Saunders, a senior communication major and internal communication director for PRSSA, described the way Treefort presents itself to the community, beyond the musical headliners.

“I think the best representation (of

Treefort) is how everyone is on board with what’s happening,” Saunders said. “There’s so many artists and venues, and all of these businesses are coming together. It really takes the entire city to make this happen. It shows this sense of community, because everyone is putting forth their best effort to make these five days the best they can be.”

C U LT U R E

JUST A THOUGHT The college acceptance scandal is a reflection of Hollywood’s elitism Logan Potter | Culture Editor | culture@stumedia.boisestate.edu

“I think the best representation (of Treefort) is how everyone is on board with what’s happening.”

Ellie Saunders, senior communication major The community value is a highly praised aspect of the at-home retreat of sorts, and Emri Moore, Boise State grad and Treefort volunteer, explained that the attitude of the entire city changes. Because the fest falls in the month of March, Moore described it as the kickoff to spring, creating almost an atmospheric change in attitude for the rest of the season.

While others wrapped up the festivities with a takeaway beyond the music, Moore’s interests lie in the basics. She believes the music at Treefort is enough to create relationships and bonds outside of the stagefront crowds.

“You can describe it in so many different ways,” Moore said. “I think Treefort is a way to meet new people, especially if you’re new to Boise or you’re really invested in music.

You can share something in common with other people. You’re making connections, (because) you’re surrounding yourself with something you love with people you will love in your community.”

I

’d be lying if I said I didn’t live a very privileged childhood. Growing up for the first six or so years of my life near Los Angeles, the sky was the limit as far as the things I was able to do. Disneyland every month, vacations to places like Hawaii and Florida and, as far as things I needed, I had them all. Once, without exaggeration, I asked my father if camping had room service, and moreover, I was disappointed when he said no. I grew up high maintenance, and I was never told that there was another way to live. I had and still have privilege, but I didn’t throw away my work ethic and drive in exchange for unlimited Starbucks drinks.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Olivia Jade and her mother, Lori Loughlin,

among others.

Elitism exists everywhere, without a doubt, but it becomes exacerbated under the Hollywood lights. Power complexes spread like wildfires, even affecting the most B-list of actresses like Loughlin whose stints include frequent starring roles in Hallmark originals and a reboot of a 90s TV show on Netflix.

Money has always been a negotiation tool, and a dangerous one at that, so it’s no surprise that many who have it are willing to risk corruption to use it to their advantage — or, in this case, their children’s.

The University of Southern California (USC) is considered a highly selective school, accepting just under 18 percent of all applicants to the college, and Jade wasn’t set to be one of them based on academic merit.

Rather than simply picking another school or continuing her career on YouTube, Jade and her mother opted to take the hard way around: bribing recruiters with over $500,000 in cash to accept the YouTuber onto the campus. Not only is this a gross show of wealth, the assumption that Loughlin wouldn’t be caught was a terrific display of that elitism that flows like blood through the entertainment industry.

This is a reflection on the university’s admissions office, as well. If these incidents of fraud are slipping through the cracks, how many other injustices are being overlooked on a day-to-day basis? It’s time to consider the consequences of excessive wealth and its play in corruption, even just on college campuses, and take down the displays of elitism that plague the campus and entertainment communities.

Use wealth for good, combat corruption and recognize that work ethic and passion to succeed are far more important than faking it for a college degree — just a thought.

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SPORTS & REC MARCH 26, 2019 | ARBITERONLINE.COM

“TRI” THIS CLUB OUT

Swimming, biking and running make up the triathlon club at Boise State Lexi Almeido | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

The triathlon club at Boise State will have its next race on April 12.

F

rom the biology club to the lacrosse club, there are plenty of opportunities on campus for students to get involved. One of these opportunities that many students might not be aware of is the triathlon club.

This club is open for anyone to join. Some of its members have never competed in a triathlon before and want to continue to stay active throughout college.

“Anyone with any sort of ability can be a part of it.

It’s really geared towards what you want to get out of it.”

Allen Skirvin, vice president of the triathlon club

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“Anyone with any sort of ability can be a part of it,” said sophomore Allen Skirvin, vice president of the triathlon club. “It’s really geared towards what you want to get out of it.”

A triathlon is a race that is made up of three different events: swimming, biking and running –– in that order. The types of races that triathletes compete in vary by distance. A sprint is a shorter triathlon consisting of a 500-meter swim, 12-mile bike and a five-kilometer run. An Olympic triathlon is longer, doubling each distance.

“I’d always been into sports; I was a baseball player all through high school,” Skirvin said. “When I got here, I was thinking ‘what do I want to do next?’”

Skirvin discovered triathlons from his mom who was always curious about them.

He took a class at Boise State that was an intro to triathlons. From there, his professor got him set up to continue participating in athletics in a new way.

The triathlon club was started in 2016 by alumni Travis Wood and Carl Breiden-

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bach. They were competitive triathletes in and out of school and wanted to create an activity that anyone could join and practice. Since then, Wood and Breidenbach have offered guidance to their club members to help them improve anything from the speed of their transitions, prep and recovery, to their performance while they are competing.

Most triathlons that the club competes in are in Boise through the YMCA, however, they have traveled to different races in the past such as the Oregon Dunes and the Bengal Triathlon in Pocatello.

“I love seeing how hard I can push myself and how far I can go,” said junior club president Kyle Reid. “I’ve always been competitive and this is a way I can show off my competitive side when we race.”

Due to the diverse nature of the race, the club attempts to train wherever they can.

The Rec Center pool, cycle room and track or Greenbelt are all places they frequent.

Group sessions are held almost every week, but most of the training is individual and

Isabel Sarhad | The Arbiter

can be done on one’s own time.

The members typically use an app called Training Peaks and use heart monitors or watches to track their progress. Their previous president will send them workouts through the app that they can either complete on their own or as a group.

When competing in triathlons, these athletes must be individually motivated while putting their bodies through that much pressure. Therefore most practices and training are focused on the individual, but they try to practice as a team, so they can motivate each other and themselves to complete their workouts.

Although the training is strenuous, the result is worth all of the hard work.

“It pushes me past what I think I can do,” said sophomore Kristin Dwyr. “I’ve never experienced anything as intense as training for a triathlon.”

The club’s next race is the Spring Sprint Tri in Boise on April 12.

SPORTS & REC

OT HEARTBREAK

Broncos lose to Oregon State in first round of NCAA tournament Delaney Brassil | Sports Editor | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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erhaps junior guard Braydey Hodgins put it best in a Twitter post following the Broncos’ 8075 season-ending loss: “#unfinishedbusiness.”

No. 13 Boise State (28-5) took on No. 4 Oregon State (25-7) on Saturday, March 23 in the first round of the NCAA tournament to prove that they could hang with the Beavers, and challenge the 13-seed that they were handed. Last year, the Beavers made it to the Elite Eight, but lost to No. 1 Louisville 76-43.

The Broncos were looking to win their first game in six tournament appearances, and gave Oregon State quite the run for their money in the process. In front of the Beavers’ home crowd of 5,089 in Corvallis, the Broncos never fell behind by more then 14 points and even led 47-45 by the end of the third.

Despite a decent Rating Percentage Index (RPI) of 39, a regular season title and conference championship title, the Broncos were given a lower seed than many predicted and did not get a neutral site game. Determined to overcome the adversity, the Broncos were clearly ready for a fight.

A scrappy fourth quarter saw the Broncos leading 66-62 with a mere 17 seconds of regulation to go, but a layup and two good free throws for Oregon tied the game up.

“To be up four with 17 seconds left on a great team, there’s something special about this team,” Hodgins said. “I think it shows a lot. And if that didn’t prove that we weren’t supposed to be a 13 seed and we weren’t supposed to be in this position, then I don’t know what does.”

Senior guard Marta Hermida (team high 22 points) just missed her jumper at the regulation buzzer. In the end, overtime play proved detrimental to the Broncos.

“I have the best team and I know that.

No matter what, I could not do this without them. We lost today. We had the win.

We had the win,” Hermida said. “We were winning, Oregon State at Oregon State.

No. 13 seed. I couldn’t do it without them or my coaches.”

An emotional press conference summed up the hard work and dedication of this team’s season, and was a send-off for seniors Hermida and Joyce Harrell. “(Hermida is) everything that you could ask that exemplifies a student athlete. Joyce has just been the person that bonds our team together. She’s the barbequer, she gets them together when things are not going great,” said head coach Gordy Presnell.

“The careers they had at Boise State are pretty impressive.”

The Broncos finished their season with a record-breaking 28 wins and five losses, and will return a powerhouse of players such as Hodgins, Riley Lupfer, Rachel Bowers and more.

“Obviously we have a great nucleus coming back and two great kids sitting out, but you can’t replace tonight and you can’t replace this week,” Presnell said. “I’m just really proud of the two seniors.”

“To be up four with 17 seconds left on a great team, there’s something special about this team. I think it shows a lot. And if that didn’t prove that we weren’t supposed to be a 13 seed and we weren’t supposed to be in this position, then I don’t know what does.”

Braydey Hodgins, junior guard

OUR ELITE EIGHT Autum Robertson and Delaney Brassil | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu Like many of our fellow Broncos, we spent much of our spring break immersed in the first and second rounds of March Madness 2019. From dominating No. 1 seed performances to some exciting upsets, here are our Elite Eight picks.

DUKE VA TECH

DUKE

LSU MICHIGAN STATE

LSU

GONZAGA FSU

GONZAGA

TEXAS TECH MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN

VIRGINIA OREGON

VIRGINIA

PURDUE TENN

PURDUE

UNC AUBURN

UNC

HOUSTON UK

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SPORTS & REC

BOUNCING BACK WITH NO MERCY

Boise State softball clinches a series win over the Aztecs with a 16-1 victory Gavin Gorrell | Staff Writer | sports@stumedia.boisestate.edu

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he Boise State softball team was able to clinch the series win on Saturday, March 23, with a 16-1 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs. The Broncos have continued to put up a great amount of run support and play elite defense all year long, and the final game of the series was no different. The 2-1 series with San Diego puts the Broncos at 23-5 overall and 3-3 in Mountain West play.

The Broncos started out sharp in the field; sophomore catcher Serena Hutchinson threw out a runner trying to steal second base, and outfielder Kora Wade gunned down a runner trying to stretch a single into a double.

The bats for Broncos were absolutely scorching in the bottom half of the first inning, starting with the power of senior infielder Rebekah Cervantes. In a twostrike count, she was able to lift a ball into orbit as it flew over the left field wall for an early 3-0 lead.

“I show bunt at first with two strikes which allows me to have my hands in the right place, honestly just trying to put the ball in play and get the job done with runners on is my main focus with two strikes,” Cervantes said.

If three RBIs in the first inning for Cervantes did not seemed like enough, in the same inning she came to the plate again and drove in two more runs with a triple down the right field line, making the score 9-0.

“Moving me back into the third spot of the order settled me a bit today,” Cervantes said. “Allowing myself to hit on both sides of the plate allowed me to see the ball more confidently and really take good swings.”

More runs were added on in the bottom of the first inning by junior left fielder Jessica Mckay with an absolute bomb to right field, her seventh home run of the year, extending their lead to 11-0 after the first inning.

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The softball team saw a 16-1 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs on March 23.

Some may say that pitching is made easier with that kind of run support and defense behind it. Redshirt senior pitcher Rainey Dyreson got the win on Saturday, improving to 3-1 on the year.

“The offense really unloaded today, going out there I struggled a little bit, but knowing the offense and defense had my back I was really confident on the mound, it was really easy to pitch behind,” Dyreson said.

The runs kept pouring in, and just when the fans thought the senior shortstop was

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done, Cervantes still had unfinished business to attend to. It came in the bottom of the third inning, when she blasted another three-run homerun. Cervantes finished the day 3-3 with two home runs, a triple and eight RBIs. “She hasn’t always had those big days like today, it was fun to see her come alive and see her do it for her teammates more than anything else,” said head coach Maggie Livreri.

After a loss in game two of the double

Mackenzie Hudson | The Arbiter header yesterday, it was important for the Broncos to turn things around like they did today.

“It was good for us to bounce back and become a little more resilient in today’s win,” Livreri said.

The Broncos look to ride this momentum into a three-game series against San Jose State on March 29-31. A series win for the ladies is going to make the weekend more enjoyable for all of Bronco Nation.

OUR BEST GUESS The Arbiter aligns your stars.

ARIES, you’re finally on the home stretch,

which means you need to put in all possible effort and finish out the semester strong. It may feel like you’re being pulled every possible direction, and that may mean it’s time to take a step back and reflect on the amount of responsibility you’ve given yourself. Keep the important tasks and postpone the side jobs until your stress level is down.

ARIES

MARCH 20 - APR 20

TAURUS

APR 20 - MAY 21 Your mood isn’t as stable as it usually is, Taurus, but don’t let some unpredictable emotions get you down. Maybe it’s a visit from someone in your past or a lifestyle change that has you down; regardless, embrace the change and you’re more likely to stabilize your mood this week.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUN 21

It’s time to start getting excited about your future, because it’s just around the corner. Now that spring break has come to an end, you can focus on the coming months and where they’ll take you.

Even if you’re not graduating, an exciting educational opportunity may be on the horizon for you.

CANCER

JUN 21 - JULY 23

It’s nearly April, which means it’s time to stop putting off the things you’ve been passionate about.

There are no excuses this late into the year, so take that passion project and run with it. It may not be accepted universally by your peers, but your work will be internally rewarded at the least.

LEO

JUL 23 - AUG 23

Love is in the air this week, Leo, but only if you’re up for the task of loving yourself. It’s easy to get lost in the excitement that comes with the midway point to the semester, so do your best to focus on yourself. Maybe a prospective relationship, friend or otherwise, will find its way into your life, then!

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEPT 23 You are your own harshest critic, Virgo, but don’t let your own words get the best of you. Rather than criticizing your own work, pass it off to a neutral party that can give you an honest opinion.

If you get into the habit of this, you’ll have a much smoother and anxiety-free semester!

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

You may not have had the most epic spring break ever, Libra, but spending time with those you love can be just as rewarding as a trip to Cabo. Make sure you’re valuing the smaller experiences in your life that create the bigger picture, and allow that sentiment to bleed into the rest of your week.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21 You’ve never felt so motivated, Scorpio, but that feeling won’t last long. A milestone event for the week will most likely slip through the cracks, and you’ll be left scraping together something impressive at the last minute. It isn’t the end of the world, but you should prepare for the struggle.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 22 - DEC 22

Just when you felt like you were getting a fresh start, Sagittarius, drama from your past has once again risen to the surface. Use this week to dissolve the situation and rebuild your game plan for the rest of the semester, cleansing your life of impurities from the past and moving on for good.

CAPRICORN

DEC 22 - JAN 20 You’re anxious to get out of the same old routine, but wait until you have more wiggle room to adjust. Your flight mentality is taking over this week, but you don’t want to use the midway point of the semester to adjust to a whole new lifestyle. In this case, waiting around will come to your benefit.

AQUARIUS

JAN 20 - FEB 18

You are much more competent than you believe, so it’s time to put the self-doubt behind. An important event will define your near future this week, which means it’s crucial that your confidence comes out at the right time. Take a breath and make the magic you already have happen.

PISCES

FEB 18 - MARCH 20

This week is going to feel pretty dull for you, but don’t get trapped in a boredom box. Although spending money on material items may cause momentary validation, you’ll regret your financial decisions come the end of the semester. Channel that boredom into something creative instead.

WILL & BEN’S MAGICAL MOVIE HOUR A SHOW ABOUT MOVIES! REVIEWS, DISCUSSIONS & EVERYTHING ELSE. THURSDAYS FROM 6:15 TO 7:15 PM

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